Union County Wrestlers Headed to State
Announcements, Community, Panther's Corner, Sports February 12, 2024The Panthers are State Bound! Seven wrestlers qualified during Sectionals for the State Championships in Macon next weekend: Payton Legatt; Paxon Legatt; Eli Flowers; Asa Smith-Foot; Anderson Clause; David Heradia and Beau Webster. Paxon Legatt won his 50th match as a freshman!!! Congratulations to all!
Michael Lindsey of Union County High School Accepted to the Georgia Music Educators Association All State Chorus
Announcements, Community, Education January 22, 2024Congratulations to Michael Lindsey for making a perfect score and being accepted to the Georgia Music Educators Association All State Chorus.
Ayden Burnett Makes 12th Chair Flute in the GMEA All State Band
Community, Education January 22, 2024Union County Schools Announces 99.1 Percent Graduation Rate
Community, Union County Panthers October 19, 2022Union County Schools proudly announces a 99.1 percent graduation rate overall for the 2021-2022 school year. This graduation rate is the 4th highest in the state, 3rd highest among public school systems, and the highest among the Pioneer RESA school districts! Congratulations to all our students, parents, teachers, and staff in this amazing accomplishment!!
Union County Class of 2021 bids farewell to their high school years
Community, Panther's Corner, Union County High School May 22, 2021BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County’s 2021 graduates returned to a more traditional ceremony, as the pandemic continues to ease up across the United States.
The students matriculated arm-in-arm with their fellow classmates at Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium on May 21, 2021. Graduated joked that mother nature canceled all the class of 2021 field trips, never going to the Zoo in second grade, the CNN Center in fourth grade, or Appalachian Trail Hike or State Capitol trip in eighth grade. COVID-19 canceled all trips for a year and a half during their junior and senior years.
Class of 2021 consisted of 180 seniors with 11 going into the armed forces and countless others opting for higher education. They received $5 million in scholarships from national, state, school-sponsored, and local funds.
Aliceyn Covington and Will Potts played an acoustic arrangement. Covington received a horn scholarship and will be attending Eastman School of Music in New York, and Potts received a scholarship for the Bluegrass Degree Program at East Tennessee State University.
All the speakers took their moment to reminisce about their childhood and educational experiences. They shared about their poor Ulympics performances while asking one of the future classes to please beat 2022. Teachers were thanked for their tireless hard work and dedication, especially during the pandemic. Finally, parents and families received recognition for their support and life lessons outside of the classroom.
Valedictorian Hannah Todd quoted Dr. Suess and Steve Jobs during her address to her peers.
“This is the beginning of the rest of your life, our lives, so what now?” Todd pondered. “We’ve bonded together, learned together won together, and lost together, but this is a new chapter in our lives, one in which we won’t be together every day.”
Salutatorian Hannah Patton echoed similar sentiments.
“One thing we all have in common at this moment in time is this small town, Blairsville, Ga,” Patton urged her classmates to think about the foundation Blairsville has provided. “I feel blessed to have grown up in a place like this – a place where God’s creation seen in every angle, a place that has given us so many memories and our best friends.
Once the ceremony ended, graduates and their friends and families enjoyed a firework show from the fine arts center across from the football field.
Woody Gap graduated three students on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Mountain Area Christian Academy had 10 graduates for 2021. Mountain Education Charter High School graduated 26 students.
Congratulations to all 2021 graduates and good luck on your future endeavors!
Enjoy some photos of Union County Class of 2021. The entire ceremony can be viewed on Union County School’s Youtube.
Union County Hires First Female Athletic Director
Sports, Team FYN Sports, Union County High School June 17, 2020Union County High School is making history this week, hiring their first ever female Athletic Director in Mandy Hunter.
Hunter takes over for Banks Bitterman who served as Athletic Director for this previous year. Hunter was previously the Middle School Athletic Director and brings along with her a mountain of experience and tradition, as she led the Lady Panthers to a Regional basketball championship as a standout player in 1994. Stay tuned to the FYN Sports page for more on this developing story.
Union County High School graduation finalized, drive-in ceremony
Board of Education, Community, Panther's Corner May 8, 2020BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – This week, seniors and parents across Union County received long-awaited news about graduation and learned that graduating students will participate in a ceremony.
“Over the last two months, we have been getting ideas sent to us from students and parents about graduation options. We also have been in contact with other North Georgia principals to research what they have planned for their diploma distribution and ceremonies. We have been patient and waited to make the best-informed decision regarding our options for everyone’s safety.” Union County High School (UCHS) Principal C.T. Hussion explained in a letter to parents.
School also formed a graduation committee and contacted more than 40 senior parents to discuss the safest options as well as identify the path forward. Once unanimously agreed upon, they presented it to the high school governance team and then the board of education on May 5 in a called meeting.
Once the meeting ended, Union County Postal Workers quickly sorted and expedited the mailing of almost 200 letters to seniors and parents, so they would be the first to know the plan.
The 2020 graduates will participate in a ceremony unlike any other because of COVID-19. However, Union County Schools and the graduation committee wanted these seniors to participate in as many traditions as possible. They also wanted these events to take place safely.
They will have an opportunity to walk across the stage and receive diplomas, but safely. The stage ceremony will take place across three days and only immediate family can attend – six people or less/one vehicle. Family and seniors are asked to wear face masks, which seniors can remove when walking across the stage. UCHS will film and take photographs of the seniors.
Seniors will have their speeches recorded separately and everything will be edited together for the May 22 commencement.
UCHS is also livestreaming Senior Awards and Honors Ceremony on May 14 and Scholarship Night on May 19 at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube. First Baptist Church is livestreaming the Baccalaureate Service on May 17 at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube.
The actual commencement ceremony will take place on May 22 as a drive-in celebration of the seniors. First, students and families will pile into their vehicles and drive through town and over to UCHS to watch the ceremony from their car.
Each graduate is allowed one vehicle, and families are encouraged to decorate their cars in honor of their senior. Everyone must remain in their cars throughout the processional and graduation ceremony. Cars will be socially distanced and no one can ride in the back of trucks.
The public can show support along the route as well, but UCS assumes no liability for those who do.
Screens will be located at UCHS to families and students to watch the ceremony, and it will be broadcast on Facebook Live, YouTube, and local radio. Graduation will end with the senior video and fireworks.
The YouTube and Facebook Live broadcasts are a great way to involve family members who can’t attend for various reasons – out-of-state, nursing home residents, or high-risk of COVID-19.
Links will be posted by the school at a later date for those interested in attending the ceremonies.
No student will be forced to participate in graduation due to the risks associated with COVID-19. It’s the parent’s choice if their student participates.
If allowed by social mandates, in July a Senior Cookout night is tentatively planned for all seniors, so they can sign yearbooks, celebrate, and say goodbye.
“Though we cannot replace those experiences and memories, we have tried very hard to honor them in our community with their signs around the square, billboards, and social media blasts. Our community has risen to the occasion to support and honor them in ways that should make us all proud.” Hussion also stated in his letter.
Decision yet to be made concerning 2020 UCHS and Woody Gap graduation
Board of Education, Community April 21, 2020BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – During the April 2020 board of education meeting, Superintendent John Hill revealed that Union County High School and Woody Gap principals and graduation committees would prefer to wait until closer to May 22 before finalizing 2020 commencement ceremonies.
COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in school districts across the state thinking outside the box regarding graduation.
“No decision has been made at this time concerning graduation,” said Hill. “Mr. Hussion and Mrs. Knight, along with their graduation committees, have held multiple meetings to discuss all options available to our students – the graduates, the class of 2020.”
Hill affirmed his and the committees’ belief that the correct thing to do is to create several ceremony options, but not decide until closer to graduation.
Some North Georgia school districts have announced commencement plans already. Towns County has pushed the date out until July 31 while White County plans to host a drive-in ceremony on May 22.
“As we have seen over the past few weeks, our situation is very fluid, and it’s changing almost on a daily basis,” explained the superintendent.
The committees will have several graduation ceremony possibilities prepared and make a choice based on the state and federal guidelines in place in May.
“Be patient with us, know that we’re working on this diligently,” Hill stated. “We’re monitoring the situation, and folks are doing a lot of work in the background to prepare for whatever situation [that] we’re in come graduation time. One thing you can be sure of, it’ll be the best decision we can make for these kids to have a fantastic graduation.”
Hill also took the time to thank everyone in the Union County School system and how they came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve their students.
“You are serving as a board member, in my humble opinion, the premier school district in Georgia. I take this one to the bank. Our employees have led the way for our nation in how this should happen, and how folks should take care of each other and make sure all students are taken care of. It’s been a great success,” declared Hill.
UCS Nutrition Department has prepared meals for children in Union County since Gov. Kemp first closed schools, and the UCS police department, Transportation, and other faculty also aided in delivering meals to those in need. Currently, the school is delivering around 20,000 meals a week.
Teachers, paraprofessionals, special educators, speech-language pathologists, and more have all learned how to navigate virtual learning as well as making themselves available at any time of day to ensure “success for all students.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN3CS9F3swQSTAR students and teachers recognized by board of education
Board of Education, Community February 26, 2020BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – STAR students and teachers from Woody Gap and Union County were honored at the February 2020 board of education meeting.
Woody Gap Principal Carol Knight presented Ernest Waldroup as STAR student and Diane Wood was Waldroup’s choice for STAR teacher.
“On thing unusual about [Wood’s] selection is that she was his kindergarten teacher,” explained Knight, “Students tend to select high school or recent or current teacher. In recognition of that, we have gotten Ernest a copy of Robert Fulghum’ s 20th-anniversary edition of ‘All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.’”
Union County High School Principal C.T. Hussion conferred the STAR honor on Will Harkins and his chosen teacher Alecia Frizzell.
“Will will be going to Dahlonega to compete, but really it’s to speak with all the district winners in North Georgia in March. We know he’ll do a great job there,” said Hussion.
Assistant Superintendent David Murphy presented both sets of STAR students and teachers with a certificate from Congressman Doug Collins.
Students eligible for STAR student must be a graduating senior, in the top 10 percent of the class, and hold the highest SAT score in a single sitting.
Hussion and Frizzell also accepted awards from the Georgia Department of Education for AP Honor School. Union County High School received recognition for three areas: AP Challenge School, AP STEM School, and AP STEM Achievement. 44 schools were included in the AP Challenge School. 200 schools received the AP STEM School. 128 schools earned the AP STEM Achievement. Frizzell teaches the STEM courses.
Facilities Manager moving on to a new role
Union County Schools Facilities Manager Chris Crow will be leaving the school system for a “wonderful opportunity” in his hometown.
“Not one time has this gentleman shirked his duty in 23 years of working with our district,” stated Superintendent John Hill. “We’re tremendously appreciative of your service.”
Chairperson Tony Hunter commented, “I believe I can speak for the board when I say thank you for all your dedication. Over the years, you’ve helped us keep this battleship going.”
Images courtesy of Chamber of Commerce Star student banquet.
Panthers dominant in win over Indians in Blairsville
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football September 7, 2019Blairsville, Ga. – From the opening kickoff until the final buzzer, the Union County Panthers were dominant Friday night against Towns County in Blairsville, winning 60-7 to earn their second victory to begin the 2019 season.
Head coach Brian Allison put it simply after the game, saying his team did a “great job doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.”
With the visiting Indians virtually unable to make it to midfield, the Panthers spent most of the night playing offense with a short field, scoring the first nine times they touched the ball.
The Panthers (2-0) were led by senior quarterback Pierson Allison, who finished the night 5-for-7 for 90 yards and three touchdowns in the air, while accounting for 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Sophomore quarterback Logan Helcher also had a solid game. Helcher came in late in the first half to throw a 39-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Dalton Allen. The quarterback finished the night with a rushing and passing touchdown after the junior varsity took over the offense and defense in the second half.
“We got some good junior varsity reps,” Brian Allison said. “It’s always valuable when you can get the young guys on the field.”
Junior Jonah Daniel carried the ball just three times on the night, but had 63 yards rushing with a touchdown.
Seniors Kyle Morlock and Sawyer Drake, and junior Mason McCombs each caught touchdowns from Pierson Allison during the first half.
Seniors Zion Ross and Sloan Sutton, and junior Kaston Hemphill each added a tackle-for-loss on defense for the Panthers.
Allison said he hopes the team can build on the momentum from the win against Towns County with “a pretty big rivalry game next week.”
“Let’s role on this,” Allison said to his team after the game. “Let’s really roll on this thing now and get ready to roll next week.”
The Panthers will head south to Blue Ridge to take on Fannin County (2-0) beginning at 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 13. Union County put it on Fannin County last season, winning 49-7 in Blue Ridge. The Panthers have won five straight against the Rebels.
UCS Special Education Dept. Recognized for Graduation Rates
Panther's Corner, UC Elementary, UC Middle, UC Primary, Union County High School August 21, 2019Blairsville, Ga – Board of Education and the State of Georgia recognizes Union County Schools (UCS) Special Education Department for exceptional graduation rates.
Currently, UCS has a graduation rate of 95.5% for special needs students, one of the highest in the state.
“Our Special Ed department is not just good. They’re really famous, to be honest with you. The level of service that they provide our students with disabilities is truly second to none,” commended Superintendent John Hill.
Families have moved in from California and all over the country to attend UCS because of the entire system’s dedication to helping special needs students achieve.
62 new students moved here and several have IEPs.
“They come here because the data is out there on how well our department serves students with disabilities,” stated Hill, “That 95.5% graduation rate would not happen if folks at pre-k, kindergarten, first through eighth were not doing their job.”
The State of Georgia Board of Education has chosen UCS to serve as a model system for special needs practices. They will share ideas and innovative practices with schools across Georgia to help other districts achieve success.
High School Special Education Department Chair Christal Chastain received the award and said, “It is Union United. It takes everybody for this, not just the high school.”
Extra Mile Award
Middle school student Noel Hyatt received the extra mile award for her efforts to raise funds for underprivileged athletes in Union and Towns County Schools.
Hyatt created t-shirts and communicated with sponsors to raise $1,300 and plans to split the total in half between Union and Towns Counties.
Middle School Principle Gwen Stafford commented, “She got sponsorships, sold the t-shirts and raised money…that is above and beyond going the extra mile in my opinion. Going out and talking to adult and businesses and doing it on her own that is just exceptional.”
2019 State of Hope Site
Katy Jones, Head of Family Connection, received recognition for her State of Hope grant from Georgia to continue the school’s food bank and mentor program.
“We do appreciate Katy and her efforts. It’s not all about achievement. Sometimes, it’s about keeping kids warm and providing tennis shoes, and we do appreciate that,” said Assistant Superintendent Doctor Paula Davenport.
Coach Hussion recognized Arthur McCann for his Ranger Hall of Fame award and praised his consistency in supporting school efforts.
Additionally, Backpack 2 School Bash, United Community Bank, First Baptist Church, Bank OZK, and Union General Hospital were recognized for their dedication to UCS from pre- to post-planning.
Union volleyball falls to Pickens in Blairsville
Sports, TeamFYNSports August 27, 2019Blairsville, Ga. – Despite stand-out efforts from several players, the Union County High volleyball team lost to Pickens County, 3-0, Tuesday night in Blairsville.
After dropping the first game of the match 25-18, the Lady Panthers (3-8) rallied in the second game to give themselves game-point five different times, but couldn’t close the game and fell in a marathon, 31-29.
Coach Megan Swanson said after the match that the tough loss in the second game led to the disappointing, 25-13 loss in the third.
“(The second game) drained us emotionally, physically, and mentally. We lost the momentum we had built in the second game and just couldn’t get it back,” Swanson said.
The first game opened neck-and-neck, with 13 lead changes before the Dragonettes (4-15) took over for good at 14-13.
Senior Adelia Pyle had two kills in the game and sophomore Riley Allison added another, but the Lady Panthers couldn’t overcome a five-point streak and back-to-back four-points streaks from the Dragonettes to close out the game.
Game two looked to be moving in the same direction, with Pickens County building a 22-15 lead after several lead changes early, but six-straight points from Union County drew them within one at 22-21. The run was sparked by two big kills from Allison.
The lead changed hands another five times before the Dragonettes were able to close it out.
“(Pickens) is a good team. They were strong. They didn’t make many errors, and we just made more,” Swanson said. “They are one of the tougher teams we’ll see this year and I felt like we battled them pretty well through those first two games of the match.”
Pyle and Allison finished the night with seven kills each, while freshman Saylor Noe added a kill, and sophomore Morgan Fussell pitched in with a block.
Across the backline, the defense was anchored by senior libero Izzy Zamora.
Up next for Union County is a quad-match with East Hall, Johnson, and Eastside beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday, August 29, in Gainesville.
The Lady Panthers do not open play in Area 8-AA/A until September 24, when they host Oglethorpe County and Washington-Wilkes.
FYN met with Union County School officials on Sexting issue
Union County High School March 14, 2019FETCHYOURNEWS was able to sit down with Union County Schools Superintendent John Hill, Assistant Superintendent Paula Davenport, and Assistant Superintendent David Murphy.
At the conclusion of the School’s investigation, Hill advised there were 46 students involved in the sexting issue.
The investigation is ongoing, according to Hill. “You still have to follow-up on some information.
Davenport stated on the subject of counseling for students who were affected and not affected, “We have advised them to reach out to school counselors. We have met with the pastors in the area and they offered to pass the word there would be some Christian counseling available. Of course, there a few paid counselors in the area.”
According to School officials, the names of parents and students involved cannot be released due to The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA): “a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.”
The students involved are aged 14-18, freshman to seniors. All indicators has been isolated to Union County High School students, Hill said.
More information will be updated right here on FETCHYOURNEWS.com
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Eagles and Panthers hash it out on the diamond
Business April 10, 2018Monday, April 9th, The Union County Baseball team faced off against The Rabun Gap Eagles in a non-region matchup.
Banton took the mound for the Panthers and struggled early as he allowed a pair of hits to open the game. A. Kephue would score for the Eagles on a passed ball to gain the lead 1-0.
Banton led off the second inning win a double and would later score on a fielders choice to tie the game at 1.
Banton struggled in the 3rd as he allowed a pair of singles to begin the inning. A walk followed to load the bases.
The Eagles used a 5 run inning to regain the lead 6-1.
Banton was relieved by Daniel after allowing 5 earned runs, 2 walks, and striking out one batter.
Daniel leadoff the 4th inning with a double and would later be driven in by Rich as the Panthers trailed 6-2.
UC looked to make a comeback as they trailed 6-2 after 5 innings. Dyer leadoff the 6th with a double. Baggett followed with a double of his own to drive in Dyer. Baggett would later be driven in by Ruff.
The Panthers trailed 6-4 after 6 innings of play.
Everett leadoff the 7th with a single and was followed by Kelley who reached with a walk. Scott drove in both runners with a SAC to tie to game at 6. Rich and Dyer helped the Panthers gain the lead as both collected RBI hits. Baggett, Allison, and Harkins all reached base as the Panthers lead 10-6 after 6 1/2 innings of play.
The Eagles couldn’t find offense in the 7th as Daniel struck 2 of the 3 batters out.
Daniel finished pitch 4 2/3 innings in relief allowing only 3 hits and 7 strikeouts.
Rich lead the Panthers offensively going 2-4 with 3 RBI’s.
The Panthers improve to 8-15 and will next play Tuesday at Fannin County in the first of a 3 game series.
Two losses for Panthers at the GAC doubleheader
Business April 9, 2018The Panther Baseball team traveled to GAC, Friday, April 6th to round out the season series by playing a doubleheader as the first game started at 3:30.
Davis took the mound for the Panthers in game one.
Offense for both teams was missing early as a combined 3 batters reached base in the first 2 innings.
The Spartans offense found its stride in the bottom of the 3rd with a pair of walks and singles to gain the lead 2-0.
UC answered with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 4th as Banton collected a walk to reach base followed by Harkins with a single. Davis would later drive both Panthers in with a 2 out single.
The Spartans returned with their offense as they would score 4 runs in back to back innings before Davis was relieved by Everett.
Davis pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing 8 earned runs, 4 walks, and striking out 3 batters.
Everett relieved Davis but struggled as he could not collect an out and allowed 2 earned runs and a walk.
Colwell stepped in to finish the inning.
The Panthers trailed 10-2 entering the 5th inning.
UC got on the bases early as a leadoff error put Banton on base. UC followed with a pair of doubles by Daniel and Harkins to score 2 runs.
The Panthers would go on to score 5 runs as J. Colwell, C. Colwell, and Scott all collected RBI singles.
The Panthers trailed 10-7 entering the 6th inning.
UC got 2 quick outs before a 2 out single. GAC’s Brechbuhl hit a 2 run home run to extend the lead 12-7.
The Panthers fall to the Spartans in the first game of the evening 12-7.
Banton was on the mound for the second game of the evening for the Panthers.
The Spartans used a solo home run in the bottom of the first to grab the lead 1-0.
The Panthers offense struggled early as 2 Panthers reached base in the first 3 innings.
A leadoff walk to open the 2nd inning would eventually score as Bride collected the RBI for the Spartans 2-0.
GAC would score 3 more runs in the 3rd as 2 errors and a walk crippled the Panthers, followed by A Spartan triple that drove in 2 runs.
UC trailed 5-0 after 3 innings.
Banton was relieved after 3 innings allowing 5 runs, 1 of which were earned, 1 walk and a strikeout.
Ruff stepped in to relieve Banton.
The Panther offense got rolling in the 5th as C. Colwell collected a 1 leadoff walk. Scott followed with a walk. Dyer drove in a run on a SAC fly to left field. Ruff reached on a walk and would score on the next at bat as the Spartans erred twice.
The Panthers trailed 3-10 after 5 innings
UC would attempt their comeback in the 7th inning as they trailed 3-12.
A leadoff walk by Schafer got things going for the Panthers. The next 2 batters for the Panthers struck out. Followed by Allison who walked. An error by the Spartans drove 2 UC scorers in. Everett singled to drive in Harkins as the Panthers fall to the Spartans 11-6.
UC falls to 7-15 and 1-11 in region 7-AAA. The Panthers next game will be Monday, April 9th at Rabun Gap High School to face off in a non-region matchup.
7-AAA All Region Teams Announced
Business May 15, 2018Congratulations to all athletes chosen for All Region Honors in 7-AAA baseball for the 2018 season. Union Co. Panthers are represented with 1 first team and 7 second team All Region athletes.