Clay County Progress

27/08/2024

It’s back to school time! We hope all the kids had a great first day! Comment your back to school pictures!

26/08/2024

23/08/2024

It is football time in Clay County and we are ready for it! JV Jackets took home a win against Madison county last night! Make sure to show up tonight Frank R Long stadium to support the varsity play!Go Jackets!

22/08/2024

What a game! Yellow Jackets take home the win! 42-8 against Madison! Go Jackets! 🐝

22/08/2024

Make sure to come out to support our JV Jackets!

22/08/2024

Rylee Kitchens is crowned queen at the 2024 Georgia Mountain Fair Beauty Contest. She is the daughter of Abby Kitchens and the late B.J. Kitchens.

By Deby Jo Ferguson
Staff Writer
Rylee Kitchens, 21, of Towns County, Ga. was crowned queen at the 2024 Georgia Mountain Fair Beauty Contest and was also named Miss Congeniality and awarded for her talent performing the song Hallelujah. Kitchens is a 2020 Towns County High School graduate. She is also graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology with concentration in exercise science. Kitchen’s career ambition is to work as an occupational therapist.According to Kitchens, “I am so blessed and honored to represent the Georgia Mountain Fair and my beautiful hometown. This group of girls hold a special place in my heart and always will.”Others recognized at the event include:• First runner up: Laura Mauldin• Second runner up: Ansleigh HardinThere were 10 contestants including Ansleigh Harden, Deanna Crowe, Carlee Moody, Laura Mauldin and Lilly Cannon all of Towns County; Kelly Young, Elyssa Whicker and Lucy Vinez of Union County and Breeze Hinton of Cherokee County, N.C.The contestants were judged in five devisions including 30 percent during personal interview with judges, 10 percent in active wear, 20 percent evening gown, 20 percent stage question, 20 percent overall presentation. An optional talent cash award and plaque was given to the talent winner. Other rewards included queen, $1,500 and a Fossil Watch from North and Main in Hiawassee, Ga.; first runner up, $300; second runner up $200; talent winner, $100 and Miss Congeniality received recognition. Sponsors included Retreat on the Lake and Red Rooster Realty.

21/08/2024

Thank you to all our laborers for your hard work and contributions to our communities. We hope you get to enjoy the holiday as we also plan to do. We will be closed for Labor Day and will observe early deadlines. Again, thanks to all our laborers and thanks to our readers.

16/08/2024

16/08/2024

Escapee Ramone Alston Captured


KANNAPOLIS - Escaped murderer Ramone Alston was captured shortly before 2 a.m. today at a hotel on Cloverleaf Parkway in Kannapolis, in an operation that included FBI Charlotte SWAT agents, Kannapolis Police and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. He was taken into custody without injuries to anyone.

Shortly thereafter, a female acquaintance, Jacobia Crisp, was arrested in Alamance County and charged with felony aiding and abetting a fugitive.

Alston escaped from correctional officers Tuesday morning as he was arriving for an appointment at a Hillsborough hospital. Since then, hundreds of law enforcement and public safety officials were involved in the search for him.

Alston will be charged with felony escape from prison, and is being taken to a high security unit in the state prison system. There he will resume serving his life sentence for first degree murder and await court appearances for his escape charges.

The investigation will continue to determine his movements since he escaped on Tuesday, any additional accomplices that aided him, and if he committed any other crimes while on the run.

"I am grateful to our DAC staff and thankful for the support and effort from hundreds of local, state and federal public safety officers who helped in the search and investigation that returned Alston safely to custody," said Secretary Todd Ishee. "This was an incredible collaborative effort of many people and agencies."

15/08/2024

We are saddened by the death of a fellow journalist who also served in our region.

Matthew Osborne, editor of The Northeast Georgian since Nov. 2019, died suddenly Tuesday morning at his home in Cornelia. He was 47.
“Matthew was a dedicated family man and editor,” said Alan NeSmith, chairman of Community Newspapers Inc. “He was always fair in his reporting, well respected in the communities he served and a friend to those in need. The CNI family is heartbroken over this tragic loss.”

See The Northeast Georgian's website for more.

15/08/2024

$50,000 Reward for Information Leading to Capture of Escaped Offender
Governor, US Marshals Service and FBI Authorize Reward for Information Leading to Convicted Murderer Ramone Alston’s Capture
RALEIGH: A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of escaped murderer Ramone Alston, 30. Local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies are continuing the search for convicted murderer Ramone Alston who escaped from the custody of state corrections officers Tuesday morning while arriving for a medical appointment in Hillsborough.
Governor Roy Cooper authorized a $30,000 reward from the state, the United States Marshals Service is providing $10,000 and the FBI is providing $10,000.
“State, federal and local law enforcement are working together to locate and arrest Ramone Alston and return him to state custody,” said Governor Cooper. “I urge anyone with information to please come forward and contact the Department of Adult Correction tipline.”
“There is someone out there who knows where Alston is,” said Secretary Todd Ishee of the NC Department of Adult Correction. “We hope that this reward will bring them forward with the critical information that leads to Alston’s capture.”
Alston is serving a life sentence for 1st degree murder after his conviction for 2015 shooting death of a one-year-old child in Chapel Hill. He is a 30-year-old black male who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 230 pounds. At the time of his escape, he had long black dreadlocks, although he may have tried to change his appearance since then.
Anyone with information regarding Alston’s whereabouts is asked to call the NC Department of Adult Correction tipline at 919-324-1082.

14/08/2024

It's finally here, our first Youth League Football & Cheer Preview. Magazines featuring the players and cheerleaders in this week's newspaper and will be available at the Youth league home games.

12/08/2024

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some changes that will be occurring on campus as a result of construction. The first of those changes is the relocation of the main entrance for HMS. The regular entrance is now a construction only entrance, so students/parents/visitors will now enter through the back side of the school. This will be accessed by using the central office parking lot (see attached map); the central office parking lot will now serve as the student drop off point in the morning and will continue to be the car pick up location as it has been in the past. We are adding lots of signage on campus to make this change easy to navigate. This relocated main entrance is in effect now and will remain in place for the duration of the construction project. The HMS open house will be a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with this change! Let us know if you have questions.

10/08/2024

It’s a good day for football! 2024 season opener starts with the Jamboree for the Clay County Youth League

09/08/2024

Rabies Clinic Presented by Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 at Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital, 1619 State Hwy. 17, Young Harris, Ga. Dog and cat vaccinations will be available at discounted prices. Cash or check only. Clinic will offer: Distemper/Parvo Vaccine (DHLPP) $20; Puppy Distemper/Parvo- No Lepto $15; Feline PRCL $25; Feline PRC $20; Heartworm 4DX $30; Bordetella $15; 1 year Rabies $12 and 3 year Rabies $25 - must show proof of current 1 year vaccine to be eligible to receive a 3 year vaccine. For details call (706) 896-1244.

08/08/2024

Correction: Our Hayesville Yellow Jackets are NOT playing in a jamboree Saturday in Murphy as stated in this week's newspaper. The hardworking Jackets begin their football season next Friday when Copper Basin visits Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. We are sorry for the error.

07/08/2024

07/08/2024

07/08/2024

We want to hear from you! 📢

BRMEMC strives to deliver affordable, reliable electric and broadband services to the communities we serve. We also want to ensure we're offering services that meet the needs of our membership. Will you take a couple of minutes to give us feedback by completing this online form https://www.brmemc.com/memberfeedback/. Your feedback will help us in meeting your needs. Thank you!

07/08/2024

02/08/2024

Medicaid expansion topic
of live-stream discussion

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss who is newly eligible for Medicaid under expansion, ways to apply, how to access application support in Spanish and which qualified immigration statuses are eligible for health care coverage.

Event participants include:

Carolina Siliceo Perez, MLAS, Latinx/Hispanic Policy and Strategy Project Manager, NCDHHS
Jennifer Platts, Communications Specialist, NC Medicaid
Sarai Serrano, NC Medicaid Expansion Program Manager, Hispanic Federation
More people ages 19 through 64 years can now get Medicaid in North Carolina as of Dec. 1, 2023, including thousands of individuals who are part of the Hispanic and Latino community. Many people who now qualify for Medicaid under expansion work in child care centers, grocery stores, nursing homes, clothing stores, restaurants and other industries who may not have comprehensive health insurance through their jobs. People who did not qualify for Medicaid in the past may now be eligible, regardless of whether they have children or a disability. Some non-U.S. citizens with qualified immigration status in North Carolina can also get health care coverage through Medicaid.

Cafecito and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:
Who is eligible for Medicaid and how to apply
What health services are covered by Medicaid
Where to find Medicaid resources and application support in Spanish
Impacts of Medicaid expansion on health coverage for the Hispanic and Latino community in North Carolina
While more than half a million newly eligible North Carolinians have already enrolled in Medicaid, nearly 100,000 who may be eligible have not yet applied. State and local support teams are available to provide confidential support and help Spanish-speaking communities better understand their health care coverage options, complete Medicaid applications and navigate enrollment.

The Cafecito will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 108572 #.

30/07/2024

30/07/2024

Please mark your calendars for our Back to School Open House! We can't wait to see you!