BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Board of Education approved the fiscal year 2021 operating budget during the September meeting. The approved budget matches the previously presented tentative budget. “The challenges we faced in this budget is the very large TBE cut for the state of Georgia…and the added cost of mitigation for COVID-19, which is […]
Read More »Dispose of old electronics on October 24 at NGTC
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Keep Union County Beautiful (KUCB) in partnership with Document Destruction Services and Atlanta Recycling Solutions are taking old electronics on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m at North Georgia Technical College. It will be rescheduled if rain is forecasted for that weekend, so please check with KUCB before making […]
Read More »Greystone Building fire appears to be accidental
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner investigators are looking into the evening fire at the Greystone Building off Hwy. 515. UPDATE September 29: As of 12:30 p.m., the Union County GOP announced that the fire appeared to be accidental. The group’s headquarters was inside the Greystone Building. The fire […]
Read More »UPDATE: Camper explosion injures four people, kills one
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that a Union County woman was killed and four others were injured in an accidental fire at the Rivers Edge RV Park around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22. The explosion involved a camper being used by an elderly couple […]
Read More »October 1 is Environmental Awareness Day in Union County
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – To demonstrate good faith and commitment to a clean future, Union County Sole Commissioner declared October 1, 2020, as Environmental Awareness Day in the county. “The citizens of Union County shown great concern regarding the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams in Union County, whereas the rivers, streams, and Lake Nottely […]
Read More »September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County had the third-highest suicide rate per capita in Georgia in 2018, according to the CDC. Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris proclaimed September 2020 as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month in Union County with Change in Our World Director Rebecca Brendle. Beginning in 2015, Change in Our World had brought awareness and […]
Read More »North Georgia Technical College President dies of COVID-19
CLARKESVILLE, Ga – On September 13 at 8:17 a.m., North Georgia Technical College announced on social media that its President Dr. Mark Ivester passed away from COVID-19 on September 12, 2020. Ivester, 57, battled the virus for several weeks before passing away late Saturday evening in a Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton, Ga. The […]
Read More »Preparing for potential fallout from Hurricane Sally
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – North Georgia is expected to receive heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding as Hurricane Sally moves across the state. Isolated thunderstorms are possible starting on Tuesday night. The main hazards will be occasional lightning and locally heavy rainfall. You can`t rule out a strong thunderstorm over portions of central Georgia with gusty […]
Read More »Blairsville City Council ends Leachate Processing
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a unanimous vote, Blairsville City Council decided to halt all leachate related-contracts and remove the chemicals from the waste treatment facility. Citing the concern of the mayor and council, Mayor Jim Conley, made a motion to discontinue the leachate processing contract. All present councilmembers accepted the contract dissolution. Councilmember Mary Ruth […]
Read More »Blairsville City Council returns to in person monthly meetings
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Beginning in October, Blairsville City Council will return to in person meetings for the first time since the start of the pandemic. In a contested decision, the majority of the council agreed that it was time to return to traditional monthly meetings. Councilmember Buddy Moore expressed a dissenting opinion since Union County […]
Read More »Fatal shooting in Union County, GBI investigating
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Sheriff Office (UCSO) contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to assist with a now fatal shooting investigation in Blairsville, Ga. It’s been concluded that the incident occurred between Panfile Giammarco, 48, and Marion Joseph West, 63, near Mahaffey Place. No arrests have been made at this time. Giammarco suffered […]
Read More »Union County lowers tax increase to 17 percent
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a called meeting, Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris approved dropping the tax increase from 19.98 percent to 17 percent. “After hearing from constituents at the three public hearings, Union County has decided to reduce the proposed property tax increase to 17%. The school portion of your bill is about two-thirds of the […]
Read More »How does the public feel about recent property purchases?
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The raucous crowds at the three property tax budget hearings wanted more information on the two recent purchases for the Hill Property for a little less than $750,000 and the Old Shoe Factory for $800,000. According to Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris, neither of these purchases affected the decision to raise property taxes […]
Read More »Secretary of State unveils new absentee ballot request portal
ATLANTA-Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger unveils a new online portal to make it easier for Georgia voters to request absentee ballots for the November elections. Georgia voters with a driver’s license or state ID card will now be able to request an absentee ballot entirely online. “Georgia is constantly searching for new and innovative […]
Read More »4 non-profits working to end substance abuse and poverty
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Change in Our World, Freedom Ministries, New Hope Counseling, and Family Connection received four substance abuse grants at the August 2020 Union County Commission Meeting. Five local organizations applied for the grant, and an independent committee selected the four winners. The members of the committee are anonymous. The commissioner had zero input […]
Read More »Union County Board of Education lowers tax rate
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In an 8 a.m. called meeting, Union County Board of Education unanimously voted to leave the millage rate at 11.74 mills for the 2021 fiscal year. By leaving the millage rate alone, the board effectively lowered property taxes by not accepting the advised rollback rate of 11.76 mills. In other words, the […]
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