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UPDATE: Irma Turns West; UCS Closed Tuesday; Watch Jose

News September 11, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – On the 16th Anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Irma weakens to a tropical storm and is moving west while Hurricane Jose dances around in the Atlantic, but is projected to head towards the US East Coast.

Union County Schools will be closed on Tuesday, but will reopen on Wednesday.

A tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Union County. The current projection for Irma’s effect on Blairsville/Union County is wind gusts of up to 47 mph and 2.0 inches of rainfall. The heaviest impacts from Irma for Union County will occur between afternoon/evening Monday through Tuesday morning.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at www.FetchYourNews.com

Featured image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

Blairsville GA Hurricane Irma Union County GA

Updated Hurricane Irma Forecast for Friday, Sept. 8: Georgia Impact

News September 8, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – The Union County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) hosted a weather briefing given by the National Weather Service at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Blairsville at noon on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. UCFD, UCSO, BRMEMC, Union County Schools, UCRD and others were in attendance.

The revised forecast now puts the path of Hurricane Irma traveling west to the southern tip of Florida, then turning north towards Georgia. If the path of the eye of Irma passes across western Georgia, the part of Georgia to the east of the eye will experience tropical storm conditions. The east side of a hurricane is nick-named the “dirty side” At this time, the National Weather Service is warning Georgia residents that, should the eye of Irma pass across western Georgia, they should prepare for 50+ MPH winds, 5-6” of rain and an elevated possibility of tornadoes.

Please see the NWS Sept. 8 Forecast for more detailed information.

Featured picture credit: Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB)/CIRA@CSU

Blairsville GA North Georgia

GA Gubernatorial Candidate Michael Williams Addresses Union County Tea Party at Blairsville

News, Politics August 23, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – GA State Senator Michael Williams, one of twenty contenders for the Office of Governor of the Great State of Georgia, spoke at the Union-Towns County Tea Party Meeting in Blairsville on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Central to Senator Williams’ remarks is the fact, he said, that the present Administration is one of status quo; and the status quo in Georgia is crony capitalism. And that, he said, does nothing to alleviate the hardships and difficulties of Main Street; nor the legal road blocks manufactured by a go-along-to-get -along Legislature, experienced by Georgia’s small business community. Williams also said the financial statements he’s seen in connection with some government projects would be grounds for incarcerating the management of a private business. He said, in his estimation, about a billion dollars a year disappears into a government abyss that no one can explain. As Governor, he said, he will put a stop to all of that. And that, he said, could lead to lowering, maybe even abolishing, the Georgia state income tax.

Georgia State Senator Steve Gooch and Union County Sheriff Mack Mason were present at the meeting.

Sheriff Mack Mason

Sen. Steve Gooch (L) Sen. Michael Williams (R)

Williams said he was a CPA, then a small business owner before he became a Georgia State Senator. He said the difficulties he was faced with as a small business owner were what prompted him to enter into politics. He said he won his first bid for office in 2014 in a landslide victory against a long-time incumbent. He also said he was the first Georgia elected official to support Donald Trump for President in 2015.

Williams is happily married and has four children that he is very proud of.

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Blairsville Eclipse 2017 Event Was Smooth Sailing

Community, News August 22, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – The Blairsville Eclipse 2017 Event, which occurred at exactly 14:35:00 EST (2:35 p.m. at Union County Fire Station 1, located at 507 Shoe Factory Road in Blairsville, GA) was a spectacular sight to behold. The shadow that fell over the area was about the same as if a large thunderstorm had formed; yet, it was eerie because there were no clouds to speak of to accompany the dimness and the temperature drop of about 7 – 8 degrees F. Once second contact had occurred (totality, which lasted 00:01:59 at this location), protective glasses could be removed and the eclipse could be viewed with the naked eye and the legendary “diamond ring” around the moon could be seen.

Performing Arts Center viewing site

Meeks Park viewing site

Blairsville Industrial Park viewing site

The City of Blairsville and Union County were very well prepared for the onslaught of people that traveled here to experience the event. The Blairsville Industrial Park, Meeks Park, the green space between Hwy 515 and Blairsville City Hall, Vogel State Park, and the parking area adjacent to the Performing Arts Center at the Union County High School were all open to the public for free. Brasstown Bald Mountain sold tickets for access due to the limited space available at that facility. And, of course, the trails were open. About 400 hikers trekked area trails without mishap. Over a hundred food vendors from around Georgia and from adjoining states were on hand countywide to serve the visitors to our area. It is estimated that about of 15,000 people came to the Blairsville/Union County area for the event, but no hard numbers were available at the time of this writing.

Athens Clarke Gwinnett Mobile emergency radio relay vehicle standing by.

Other than the expected heightened traffic in the area, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. One person was treated for heat exhaustion at the Performing Arts Center location and there were two motor vehicle accidents in Union County related to the event. The Union County Chamber of Commerce, with the help of the Union County Road Department, handled parking at all the viewing areas and they did a stellar job of keeping the event running smoothly. Though traffic was slow in places, there were no traffic backups/stoppages in Blairsville or Union County as a whole.

NASA volunteers measure eclipse effect on Ionosphere at Meeks Park.

All said and done, local, state and federal agencies that worked this event did a great job of keeping any tragedies at bay and made Blairsville and Union County look great.

Blairsville Emergency Ops Center on Eclipse Day

The next total solar eclipse is predicted to occur on April 8, 2024, but the path of totality will not cross over Union County. We’ll be the visitors for the next one.

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Union County EMA holds 2017 Eclipse Session

News July 21, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – If you haven’t thought much about the upcoming eclipse event that is to occur on August 21, 2017, you might want to take notice. The Union County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), led by Union County Fire Chief David Dyer, held a meeting at 10:00 a.m. on July 20, 2017. Attending the meeting were officials from Union County Fire Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Blairsville Police Department, Georgia Forestry, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority, Union County Schools, Georgia Rangers, Union County Commissioner’s Office, Mayor Jim Conley and Staff, State of Georgia, Georgia State Patrol, Meeks Park, Vogel Park and the Union County Chamber of Commerce.

Union County Fire Chief David Dyer

According to Dyer, it is estimated that 200 million people live within 2 hours driving time of the path of the eclipse. The concern in Union County is the possible influx of people from the Atlanta area, he said. Dyer handed out a questionnaire with five questions to all who were present, then instructed them to break into their respective groups and discuss the questions.

The five questions were:
1) What issues or problems do you expect that will affect your department/area?
2) What is your biggest concern?
3) Are you planning on having extra personnel? How many? Location?
4) What special actions or changes will your department/area have on that day?
5) What are some of your needs? These questions prompted some surprising revelations aside from the typical emergency management protocols.

Some concerns that were revealed were that all motel rooms and every available cabin rental is booked solid for the whole three days (Aug. 19-21). A large number of property owners are renting their properties and even their homes for exorbitant prices to people who didn’t get a room or cabin or ticket to get on Brasstown Bald. There might be people parking haphazardly along the sides of roads and trespassing on private property. Brasstown Bald has been closed to all except those with tickets. There will likely be a large number of campers and hikers flooding the area and attempting to hike to the top of Brasstown Bald, Blood Mountain, and other peaks, so the trail heads will be closed and manned. Vogel State Park is sold out and may close when they fill up, which will create roadside problems on the Gainesville Highway. There is the possibility that cellular service could be overloaded and unavailable for a period of time on that day. Dyer said that they are planning to man all outlying fire stations; licensed amateur radio operators are being asked to assist. With the influx of hikers it is expected that there will be more searches and/or rescues than normal which will deplete manpower from other departments. It is expected that local Blairsville traffic will be very heavy all three days because of the Off-the–Grid Festival on Aug. 18, 19 & 20 at the Union County Arena. There is concern that physical altercations may occur. Law Enforcement Officers will be placed on all dams; some dams may even be closed. Some places in or near Blairsville that are planning for eclipse viewing gatherings, according to the Union County Chamber of Commerce are Blood Mountain, Sawmill Restaurant, Butternut Creek Golf Course, Paradise Cove, Crossing Creek, Meeks Park and the First Methodist Church of Blairsville. Union County Schools have also opened their stadium and baseball/softball field parking lot to viewers.

UCS Superintendent Dr. Fred Rayfield said that he is considering closing the schools for the whole day instead of early release due to safety, security and traffic concerns. He said UCS has ordered viewing glasses for all students for their safety even though they will not be in classes when the eclipse occurs.

UCSO Chief Deputy John George said that the Sherriff’s Department is planning on double staff that day. Though not represented at the meeting, it was mentioned that the Coast Guard will be patrolling local lakes along with the Georgia Rangers.

Dyer said a lot of people think that they have to be on top of a mountain to view the eclipse. That’s not true, he said. Depending on your location (longitude/latitude, not altitude) in relation to the path of the eclipse, the duration of totality (complete ‘lights out’) will vary. For example, the estimated totality in Blairsville, GA is 00:01:58. In Young Harris, GA, totality is estimated at 00:02:19; Hiawassee, GA 00:02:27; Clayton, GA 00:02:35; and Andrews, NC 00:02:39. So, the totality duration increases as one moves northeast of Blairsville, to a point, then decreases. Blue Ridge, GA is right on the southern edge of the path, so folks in Blue Ridge would need to move northeast to either McCaysville or Blairsville for a longer duration.

In Blairsville,the start of the eclipse (partial phase start) will occur at 1:05:43 PM EDT. Totality start will be at 02:34:54 PM and will last approximately 1 minute and 58-9 seconds.

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Scottish Festival Draws Huge Crowd, Lots of Fun in Blairsville, GA

Community June 13, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Senior Drum Major Don Bogue of the Atholl Highlanders

Blairsville, GA – The 2017 Scottish Festival in Blairsville, GA opened on Saturday, June 10, 2017 to a huge crowd. The official opening of the event happened at noon on Saturday with several pipe and drum bands (The Atholl Highlanders Pipes and Drums USA, North Georgia Pipes and Drums, John Mohr Mackintosh Pipes and Drums, and Appalachian Saint Andrew’s Pipes and Drums) parading together as one led by Senior Drum Major Don Bogue of the Atholl Highlanders. The event was officially declared open by Christine Williams. Following this announcement, the Pipe and Drum Corps retired and a surprise wedding engagement

She said: “Yes!”.

took place. Then the games began.

Combined Pipe and Drum Corps

The Blairsville Scottish Festival spanned two days, June 10^th and 11^th, and offered the Games, a large assortment of food, music and song by several Celtic groups, an arts and crafts section that covered an acre of ground, a Celtic dance repertoire, Celtic weaponry, goats, dogs, falcons and hawks and a host of Clan tents that stretched for well over a hundred yards. On Sunday, there was a Celtic Christian Service held at the music tent. It was estimated that over ten thousand people attended the 2017 Scottish Festival.

Clan Fraser was the honored Clan for 2017. The Clans are picked each year from the original Clans that started the Festival.

Seven Nations playing to a packed house.

FetchYourNews.com captured the opening of the event on video, as well as a song or two by Seven Nations, A Celtic rock band:

Blairsville GA

Union County adopts April as Child Abuse Proclamation

Featured Stories, News March 22, 2019 , by Maria Kidder

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.- Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris greeted each person in the audience at the Union County Courthouse with a handshake before taking his place at the podium to begin the meeting on March 21, 2019.

He made a correction to the February 21 meeting minutes to read “the new access road from Highway 515 to Panther Way.” It was erroneously stated by the Commissioner as “the new access road from Highway 515 to School Circle”.

Paris then introduced Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Executive Director Linda D’Angelo

D’Angelo approached the Commissioner’s Office to obtain his signature on a proclamation claiming April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley was not able to be at the meeting, but met with Paris earlier in the day to place his signature on the proclamation.

Paris signed the document with D’Angelo watching. A round of applause was heard throughout the audience.

In two other items of business, Paris mentioned a contract was made between the County and Hayes, James and Associates for Groundwater and Methane Monitoring for the Union County Transfer Station (Advanced Disposal Services) located on Deep South Farm Road. The monitoring will ensure methane levels are minimized and ground waters are not damaged.

Hall, Booth, Smith, P.C. has signed a contract with Union County to provide legal services. The firm is “a full-service law firm with six regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia: Albany, Athens, Brunswick, Columbus, and Tifton.”

The Commissioner’s Office granted Painted Bunting LLC a business license.

Paris concluded the meeting at 6:17 p.m stating he needed to be in another meeting at 7.

The next Commissioner’s meeting will be on April 18, 2019.

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Be advised: Blairsville/Union County in for more frigid cold weather

News January 10, 2018 , by Mark E. Smith

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Update: As of 8:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, Weather Underground (WU) is predicting a significant drop in temperature beginning about 3 p.m. The low Saturday morning is predicted to be 22 degrees. This, according to WU, will kick off another week of deep freeze weather for Union County. Lows mid-week are predicted to be in the single digits. Act accordingly.

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Update: As of 10:17 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, weather forecasts are now calling for rain on Thursday, Jan. 11, and Friday, Jan. 12. Temperatures will drop off overnight Friday night to between 25 and 30 degrees Saturday morning. There is the possibility at this time of snow early Saturday. See Weather Underground and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for current forecasts. Weather Underground, owned by Weather Channel, has spotters and private weather stations in every north Georgia county, whereas the closest official NOAA station is at the Murphy, North Carolina, airport. (NOAA does have private spotters in north Georgia.) This accounts, in part, for the differences in their weather forecasts for zip code 30512.

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – According to Weather Underground, at 9:29 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, another winter storm is on the way. Temperatures are expected to drop overnight Friday night, January 12, into the mid-twenties beginning another week of low temperatures in the teens and twenties and highs in the thirties and low forties.

The forecast from NOAA also warns of an approaching winter storm but with less dramatic temperature drops.

With the drop in temperatures, the storm front will bring rain possibly tomorrow, Jan. 11, Friday, Jan. 12, and, especially, Saturday, Jan. 13. Given the possible temperature drops, ice may be a concern.

Make sure your pipes and pets are covered. Plans for a hiking trip into the north Georgia mountains this weekend and next week would probably not be a good idea. Above all, drive with care.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected].

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City Council votes to allow alcohol sales on New Year’s Eve, a Sunday, Mary Ruth Cook sworn in, 2018 budget approved

News December 8, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – The Blairsville City Council convened on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, for their December meeting at City Hall. Mayor Jim Conley, City Attorney David Barrett, City Clerk Kaye McCann and Council Members Rhonda Mahan, Betty Easter, Tony Dyer and Mary Ruth Cook were present. Buddy Moore was absent due to illness.

City Attorney David Barrett (L), Mayor Jim Conley (R)

Councilwoman Mary Ruth Cook

The Council voted unanimously to allow Blairsville restaurant establishments that hold alcohol licenses to sell alcohol on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, New Year’s Eve. The one-time relaxation of the Sunday restriction on alcohol sales at restaurants in the city of Blairsville will run from 11 a.m. Sunday until 2 a.m. Monday. This only applies to licensees who sell alcoholic beverages to be consumed on their premises. It does not apply to grocery stores, convenience stores and the like.

Barrett presided as Cook was sworn into office beginning her first term as a Blairsville City Council member. Cook is the sister of Martha Cone, who passed away last April, leaving the vacant seat that Cook won in November.

The Council unanimously approved the 2018 Blairsville city budget (Budget Summary). Dyer questioned whether the three percent cost-of-living salary increase was in the budget, to which he was answered in the positive. Comment was made by Dyer that the blossoming of the budget during his time in office is due to progress in Blairsville. Conley added that growth was a big factor as well.

Councilman Tony Dyer

The Council voted unanimously to grant all full-time employees a three percent pay increase based on current employee evaluations, as designated by the Mayor, to be effective as of Dec. 15, 2017.

Council members unanimously approved the annexation of 83 Conley Road, Blairsville, Georgia, Tract 070 028 Union County Records (13.15 acres). Approximately five acres of that tract will be purchased by Fellowship of the Hills Church for their new facility. The remaining acreage will accommodate an apartment project similar to the new Overlook Apartments completed this year behind the Butternut Creek Shopping Center.

Conley convened a public hearing and second reading of Alcohol Ordinance #2017-04. There were no public comments and no questions or comments from the Council. The new ordinance was unanimously approved by the Council.

Department head reports were as follows:

• Larry Stephens, superintendent of the water treatment plant, reported: the actuators are in place and working properly; meters are calibrated for this year; air compressor is fixed; the water storage tanks have been cleaned and inspected; and William Young, an employee, passed his Class II licensing exam. The Council unanimously approved a $1/hour increase in pay for Young.

• John Hamler, Blairsville Airport manager, reported: a new 32-inch flat screen had been installed at the new airport building, which now displays aviation fuel and oil prices and loops an informational video of the airport; the fire marshall will be on site on Dec. 21 to mark out the location of the new Jet-A fuel tank; the security cameras have been installed and will be operational in a day or two; the grounding crew for the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) completed their work; the Blairsville Civil Air Patrol (CAP) held the swearing-in ceremony for their new commandant in the conference room of the new terminal building; the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will have their Christmas Party at the new terminal building; and last, but not least, The Beach Boys flew into Blairsville Airport on Friday, Dec. 1, in a chartered jet for their performance at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, Georgia. Hamler said the airport is staying busy (65 landings and takeoffs in one day about two weeks prior), and that he is now keeping a record of all air traffic, which will be turned into McCann monthly.

• Jody Cook, superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant, said, since his last report, everything was going well.

• Darren Harper, program manager for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), reported that the next DDA meeting would be Tuesday, Dec. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. at City Hall. He said the Light Up the Square event, which included the Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2, was a great success. He said the after-dark venue seemed to be a winner. He said the Light up the Square decorating contest is ongoing between eight merchants in the immediate vicinity of the Square. Harper said this is bringing people into the downtown area which, ultimately, brings in revenue for the merchants and the city alike. He named off the upcoming events planned for 2018: the Spring Arts & Crafts Music Festival on Memorial Day Weekend; Corner Concerts on the Square running from May through October; downtown Blairsville Outdoor Movie Nights, also May through October; Heritage Festival on Labor Day weekend; Hometown Halloween on the Square in October; and Light Up the Square in December. Harper asked the Mayor and Council if they might have some interest in hosting a Taste of Blairsville event in mid to late August in which all the restaurants would participate plus some from our region. Conley and the Council agreed that they would take it under consideration.

Tobie Chandler

Tobie Chandler, of the Blairsville/Union County Chamber of Commerce, addressed the Council regarding the instillation of a 12-by-25 digital billboard on the north side of Hwy. 515 between the Pat Haralson Drive overpass and United Community Bank. She said the sign could be used for a variety of things besides advertising, like time and temperature, driver alerts, weather alerts and such. She said that the Chamber would allow the city of Blairsville permanent space for the life of the billboard. The Council voted unanimously to allow the signage contingent upon approval by Barrett of the license or contract with Allison Outdoors.

Daniel Liberatore, owner/operator of the Blairsville Chick-fil-A, addressed the Council regarding the recent city-wide boil-water alert that lasted several days and caused his restaurant to be shut down from Monday until Thursday of the previous week. Liberatore urged the Council to institute a more timely system of notification of such alerts. Dyer said that the city did “drop the ball” by not following protocol and apologized to Liberatore, but, he said, there is a protocol in place. Conley said there will be some changes to streamline the protocol. He also said that the city of Blairsville has offered to reimburse Blairsville businesses for the cost of water, ice and sodas that were purchased for their continuity of operations during the alert.

There was lengthly discussion concerning various ways of alerting Blairsville and Union County citizens of emergencies like the recent boil-water alert. Barrett suggested that Notla Water send out a request in billing statements that customers provide their phone numbers for emergency notification purposes. It was agreed that the City would announce via newspaper, radio and Internet that citizens can sign up for alerts from Blairsville by providing their phone numbers. This would be voluntary and not infringe on anyone’s privacy.

Blairsville Alcohol License renewals for 2018 were unanimously approved by the Council contingent upon their state of Georgia license renewals being issued.

Conley recited a resolution for the award of a contract to the low bidder, Townley Construction Co. Inc., 24 Laina Bennett Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534, for the Cook Street Water Project for the base amount of $142,660.25. The Council unanimously approved.

The mayor reviewed a letter from Union County Fire Chief and EMA Director David Dyer to the city of Blairsville inviting the city to participate in updating the multi-jurisdictional mitigation plan by providing available staff to assist with local fund requirements. Conley summed up the letter by saying that Dyer is requesting the city provide personnel to attend their planning meetings. The Council voted unanimously to approve city participation.

The Truck Ordinance was mentioned but is still a work in progress.

An Occupational Tax Certificate Application was approved for KTP Insurance, dba Bill Potts Insurance, 281 E. Young Harris St., Cheli Collins, owner.

A sign permit application was approved for Rustic Mountain Décor, 38 Merchants Walk, Suite D, James C. McEldowney, owner.

Blairsville Airport. Blairsville GA Union County GA

Christmas cheer fills the air again in Blairsville

Featured Stories December 4, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – The 2017 Blairsville Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade took place this past Saturday evening, Dec. 2, 2017, around the Blairsville Square under an almost-full moon. The weather cooperated beautifully with just a few clouds and temperatures in the low sixties.

Downtown Blairsville businesses and restaurants kept their doors open for the event to serve Christmas revelers. Well over a thousand people, about half of them children and many with their pets, gathered around the Square for the event.

The Blairsville Christmas Parade was typical of small town parades in rural America. Santa Claus was in full swing. Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley and Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris appeared. The Union County Sheriff’s Department and Union County Fire Department participated along with the Union County High School Marching Band and the Woody Gap Band of Steel. The Blairsville Cruisers made a good showing with their vintage cars, though one of them, a 1957 Thunderbird, had a bit of a mishap. Several floats depicted various Christmas themes. And everyone in the parade threw candy to the kids in the crowd.

As with all other public celebration events in Blairsville, this year’s Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade was good, wholesome fun for everyone, especially the kids.

Blairsville GA Union County GA

Union County Schools, VSO’s Honor American Veterans

Featured November 11, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

American Veterans

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Students from all of Union County’s Schools, parents, teachers, Union County residents and guests gathered at the UCHS Mike Colwell Memorial Football Stadium to honor American Military Veterans on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. The program was hosted by UCS students and local Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s). (Featured picture: Missing Man Table)

Union County Schools Choir and Band

The UCHS Choir and Band came together for the National Anthem, America The Beautiful, Amazing Grace and many more patriotic and heartfelt renditions. The choir even featured Kelly Helton’s sign language class that signs for the deaf.

Civil Air Patrol Color Guard

Madelyn Hood, graduating UCHS senior, was MC for the event. John ‘Buddy’ Viera, Union County FFA Member, Panther football team member and graduating UCHS senior, was the guest speaker who delivered a most honorable message to the veterans, students and guests gathered on the field and in the bleachers.

Union County Schools Students, teachers, guests.

Three Union County veterans were given quilts handcrafted by Quilts of Valor in appreciation for their military service. Sgt. Adam Kish of the Georgia Army National Guard explained the meaning of the Missing Man Table. The Army National Guard Honors Platoon provided the nine-gun salute.

Union County is a very fortunate, very blessed community to be home to such gifted, upright and worthy young people who can show their respect for our American veterans without reservation and who realize, as Buddy Viera said in his address, “Freedom is not free”.

God bless all American veterans this day and every day. Thank you for your service.

Blairsville GA Union County GA Union County High School

Blairsville Wal-Mart Intersection To Be Altered

News October 21, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris announced at the October Commissioner’s Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 that plans are now underway to alter ingress and egress to the Wal-Mart Store at Hwy 515. Paris said that there have been four fatality accidents and a serious injury accident at that intersection in the last three or four years. He said that the approach to the turnoff into the Wal-Mart from west-bound Hwy. 515 (coming from Blairsville) had been moved to allow exiting drivers a better view of oncoming west-bound traffic, but that, apparently, had not solved the problem. Exacerbating the problem is the new Blairsville Airport entrance directly across from the Wal-Mart entrance. The new airport terminal building is located on the north side of the Blairsville Airport runway, opposite the old terminal building, which now requires automobile traffic to enter and exit the airport on the Wal-Mart side of the airport. Paris attempted to describe the proposed changes, including possible changes at the intersection of Hwy. 515 and Kiuteustia Road (K-road), but the description, especially since it is in the planning stage, eluded verbal description. It is a very complicated process involving the county, state and federal agencies. The important thing to take away is that there are some big changes coming in the near future for the Hwy. 515 entrance to the Blairsville Wal-Mart (please see the video).

Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris

In other Union County Commission news, Paris approved the Notice of Award, Contract and Notice to Proceed to Dyer’s Trenching and Backhoe, LLC to construct the Byron Herbert Reece Connector Trail, which will be about a three mile trail. He said the work shall start on Oct. 16, 2017 and be completed on or before Feb. 15, 2018. The contract, he said, is in the amount of $110,865. He said the project will be funded by a State LMIG (Local Maintenance Improvement Grant) of $100,000 and local Union County SPLOST of $10,865.

Paris approved the Notice of Award, Contract and Notice to Proceed to Colwell Construction Co., Inc. to construct a pathway along Hwy. 180, including a concrete sidewalk and railing that will be in conjunction with the new Byron Herbert Reece Connector Trail in the amount of $194,047.96. The project will be funded, he said, with $100,000 from a State LMIG Grant and the balance from local Union County SPLOST funds. He said there is a chance that the Local amount may be reduced if the plans can be altered.

9.7 miles of resurfacing of existing roads and 2.646 miles of surface treatment of dirt/gravel roads in Union County are in the works, Paris said (see picture for details).

Union County Care Givers

Paris declared November as “National Family Caregivers Month”. Representing the “We Care” program of the Redeemer Baptist Church were Pastor Bill Shakot and several members of the “We Care” team. Paris presented a copy of the proclamation to them.

Paris proclaimed Nov, 5, 2017 as Georgia Retired Educators Day in Union County.

Union County Business Licenses were granted to Kellen Cabin Rental and Lake Cove Hideaway.

In his Commissioner’s Comments, Paris admonished drivers in Union County and throughout the state of Georgia that choose to talk on their cell phones while driving. He said that drivers who talk on their cell phones can’t recall what has transpired on the road while engaged on their phones. It’s a major problem, he said.

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Blairsville Fall Festival Parade 2017

Featured October 16, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – The Blairsville Fall Festival Parade went off with out a hitch on Saturday morning, Oct. 14, 2017, to lead off the first of two 2-day weekends of fun, games, arts and crafts at the Union County Sorghum Festival held at Meeks Park out on Hwy. 515 west of Blairsville.

This parade, as are all parades in this area, was mostly for kids… and parents having fun with their kids.

Woody Gap Band of Steel

Cowhands

Tractor following the Cowhands

Made in the USA

The parade started off with fire trucks from the Union County Fire Department flashing lights and sounding sirens. They were followed by tractors, old and new, pulling wagons full of, you guessed it, kids. One tractor was hauling three squash that looked like they weighed about 200 pounds each. Well, this is farming country! There were some beautiful vintage cars rolling along, some more vintage than others, but all restored to better than brand new. Union County’s Woody Gap School Band of Steel, a steel drum ensemble (in Blairsville, GA?) passed by, followed by the Union County High School Marching Band. Blairsville/Union County, GA real, true-life cowboys and cowgirls riding their horses brought up the end of the parade… followed by a tractor and cart, and a guy with a shovel. Perfect.

The parade followed a route through the middle of Blairsville, around the Square and back to the staging area. There is no official count of onlookers, but it’s estimated that well over a thousand people turned out for the event.

The 2017 Fall Festival Parade was just good clean fun for all that were there. This is Heartland America. God’s country. See ya there next year!

Blairsville GA Union County GA Union County High School

Republicans Draw Large Crowd at Celebrate America in Blairsville

News, Politics September 18, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Blairsville, GA – The Celebrate America event at the Blairsville Campus of the North Georgia Technical College on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, a joint effort by the Union County Republican Party and the Union/Towns County Tea Party, was a great success. Over a hundred people enjoyed hot dogs (what’s more American than that?), baked beans, coleslaw and cold beverages. Several Blairsville notables attended the event: GA St. Rep. Matt Gurtler, former GA St. Rep. Stephen Allison and father, UCGOP Chairman Dale Allison, Enotah Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley, Union County Tax Commissioner Lee Knight, Union County BOE Chairwoman Cynthia Odom and Union County Sheriff Mack Mason.

GA St. Sen. Hunter Hill

GA State Senator Hunter Hill, successful small business owner, conservative Republican and the only veteran seeking the Office of Governor of the State of Georgia, was not able to make the event. However, Wesley Ross, Hill’s N. GA Campaign Director and

Tori Thompson, Chair of the Kennesaw College Republicans were there to represent Hill. For more information please visit Hill’s Website.

GA Sec. of St. Brian Kemp

GA Secretary of State Brian Kemp, successful small business owner and conservative Republican candidate for the Office of Governor of the State of Georgia, was attending another event in Athens, GA and could not be in Blairsville. However, Kemp was represented by Andrew Turnage of Blairsville at the event. Please visit Kemp’s Website for more information.

GA St. Sen Michael Williams

GA State Senator Michael Williams, conservative Republican candidate for Governor of the State of Georgia, was the only gubernatorial candidate that made the trip here for the Celebrate America event.

Williams is a successful entrepreneur and CPA. Williams says: “If you want more politics as usual, vote for my opponents. If you want real conservative reform, vote for Michael Williams”. Please visit Williams Website for more information.

GA St. Sen David Shafer

GA State Senator and GA Senate Pro Tempore David Shafer, conservative Republican and vastly experienced in GA politics and government and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, was on hand at the Celebrate America event. Please visit Shafer’s Website for more information.

GA St. Rep Geoff Duncan

GA State Representative Geoff Duncan, conservative Republican, successful entrepreneur and former professional baseball player, was on hand at the Celebrate America event. Duncan said: “I’m focused on creating an even playing field. I don’t owe anyone favors; I don’t owe any lobbyists promises. I won’t play ball with the good-ole-boys”. For more information please see Duncan’s Website.

Mayor David Belle Isle

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, conservative Republican who was on hand for the Celebrate America event, said: “I’m running for Georgia Secretary of State to defend the vote from voter fraud and left-wing legal attacks. I’m running to help our farmers and grow Georgia’s technology industry. I’m running to lead others to make a more irresistible Georgia. Please see Belle Isle’s Website for more information.

GA St. Rep. Buzz Brockway

GA State Representative Bizz Brockway, Small business owner and conservative Republican, whose voting record reflects it, was on hand for the Celebrate America event. Brockway supports our own Enotah Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley. Please visit Brockway’s Website for more information.

GA St. Rep. Brad Raffensperger

GA State Representative Brad Raffensperger, staunch conservative Republican, registered professional engineer and successful small business owner was on hand for the Celebrate America event. Raffensperger sponsored HR 87 (Reduced Red Tape) and HR 781 (No Taxation Without Representation). For more information please see Rafensperger’s Website.

Jim Beck, wife & son

Former Deputy Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner and, most recently, Chief of Staff for Insurance Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens, Jim Beck was on hand at the Celebrate America event. A conservative Republican, Beck’s Day One Priorities are to Serve, Defend and Communicate. Please see Beck’s Website for more information.

Every one of the candidates who graciously made the trip to Blairsville for this event or were represented, are married and are family men with at least one child, if not 3 or 4. Almost all are entrepreneurs who were drawn to politics for the purpose of regaining the freedoms Americans have lost over the last several generations to government overreach. We at FetchYourNews.com strongly encourage you to do your homework; to check the backgrounds and voting records of each of these candidates, even if it means calling or writing them, to make informed decisions. Compare their political platforms and accomplishments to each of the others; and to those of their Democrat counterparts.

These candidates all have businesses and lives outside of politics. They see politics as a tool rather than a lifestyle. They believe in the notion of a constitutional republic based on the rule of law; as opposed to the notion of a democracy based on majority rule. If you read our Declaration of Independence, American Constitution and Bill of Rights, you will not find the word democracy anywhere because our Founders knew that the end result of a democracy is chaos… not freedom. Without the rule of law, an iron clad rule of law that all Americans are subject to equally, America is toast.

Our government today, after decades, even generations, of constant bombardment and infiltration by fifth columnists and self-absorbed opportunists, seems to be about making people equal, which is impossible; as opposed to treating people equally. These Republican candidates seem to be cognizant of the horrible mistake in that way of thinking and, each in their own way, stand against it.

You decide who best can get the job done.

Blairsville GA Union COunty Republican party

Blairsville City Council: Harper Reveals More of Blairsville Facelift; Eclipse Event, Heritage Festival Big Success

News September 9, 2017 , by Mark E. Smith

Darren Harper

Blairsville, GA – The Blairsville City Council convened for their September Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 at 6 p.m. at Blairsville City Hall. Mayor Jim Conley, Council Members Rhonda Mahan, Betty Easter, Tony Dyer and Buddy Moore were present. City Clerk Kaye McCann and City Attorney David Barrett were also present.

Darren Harper, Downtown Development Authority Program Manager, said the Eclipse Event went very well; that the Square was ‘packed’. He said the Merchants Meeting on August 31st was attended by about 40 people, lasted for 2 hours, went very well and that the Blairsville merchants are pleased overall with the way things are going. The main topics of discussion, he said, were parking, sidewalks and crosswalks. Harper said there have been a lot of inquiries about retail space recently. The Heritage Festival, he said, over the Labor Day Weekend was a huge success. All the merchants did well, he said. Hotel/motel tax revenue has consistently increased and about one merchant per month has opened a business in Downtown Blairsville over the last four years, he said. Harper updated the Council on the Haralson property; that is, the planned construction of a new building on Pat Haralson Drive across from the Foodland grocery store between Young Harris Street and the Square. Harper displayed artist renditions of the new building. He said the project has progressed to the point where the design is set; now the construction costs need to be reviewed and approved by the owner, Steve Cochran. Harper also updated the Council on the remodeling of the building on Blue Ridge Street across the parking lot from Copeland’s Restaurant and the planned buildings at that site (see FYN Aug. 7, 2017 article). Harper said the new buildings all together will not only add ambiance to Downtown Blairsville, they will also add about 14,000 square feet of much needed retail space and about 8,000 square feet of residential space. The apartments are planned to be about 600-800 square feet in size.

John Hamler

John Hamler, Manager of the Blairsville Municipal Airport, reported that the Grand Opening of the new W.C. Nelson Airport Terminal building hosted about 150 people and was great fun. He said the day before the Eclipse Event 3,500 gallons of aviation fuel was sold, and the day of the Eclipse 55 planes came into the airport and 5,500 gallons of fuel was sold. He said about 250 people were there for the Eclipse Event. Hamler said airport operations have moved completely over to the new building now. There are a few quirks to work out, but, he said, nothing major. He said Chris Dyer, the Assistant Airport Manager, will be leaving as of Sept. 15 in pursuit of furthering his aviation career and that a replacement was needed. He said they are staying very busy with five jets in over the weekend and three came in that day. The new Jet-A fuel truck, he said, is a real boon for the airport; that it’s been in use every day. Hamler said the Blairsville airport currently averages about 45,000 takeoffs and landings a year.

Mayor Conley brought up the need for ground transport for employees to cross the runway to pump aviation fuel for small planes (avgas), since the new terminal is on the opposite side of the field from the old one. Mayor Conley said he had consulted with Larry Garrett about acquiring a golf cart with a gas engine and would have more on that issue at the next meeting. Hamler mentioned that they would also need another credit card machine, as well, to reduce the number of runway crossings for avgas transactions.

Mayor Jim Conley

Mayor Conley called for a public hearing on the Amended Alcohol Ordinance to which no one spoke. He then asked for a first reading of the Alcohol Ordinance 2017-03 amended to include Sections 10-76(a), 10-76(b) and 10-79(n) regulating signage advertising or promoting alcohol sales. The Sections restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol in the City of Blairsville. The Sections have not been completely vetted and approved by City Attorney Barrett. Barrett pointed out to the Council some vagueness in some of the terms of the Sections after some discussion. McCann said she would obtain a copy of the Union County Alcohol Ordinance so the Council and Barrett can ensure that they are compatible. Copies of the proposed Sections can be reviewed at City Hall.

David Barrett

Mayor Conley presented the Georgia Department of Transportation FY 2018 Contract – Avigation Easement and Land Acquisition for RPZ Obstruction Removal at Runway 8 and 26; DBE Plan Update (18-20); RPZ Obstruction Removal for Runway 8 and 26. He said the contract won’t go into effect until March of 2018, but GDOT needs a commitment from the City for its portion of the cost: $41,833. The Council unanimously approved the contract.

Kaye McCann

McCann explained to the Council the issues involved in the 2018 Health Insurance Renewal for City employees. She said she received notice of an increase of 13 per cent from Blue Cross/Blue Shield though GMA in August. She said they currently have a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) type group insurance plan. She said after she investigated other group plans, that a Point of Service (POS) insurance plan would lower their premiums and would save the City $10,000 per year without any change in deductibles or quality of service. The Council voted unanimously to change over to a POS plan.

In other Department Head Reports, Blairsville Police Officer Michael ‘Bear’ Baxter reported that there were 120 calls responded to in August. He said the Eclipse Event went very smoothly and wasn’t nearly as bad as had been feared. He said the new police vehicle would be delivered this month. Baxter said one thing of note was the first drug arrest in Blairsville that involved the seizure of heroine mixed with Fentanyl, a drug that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine.

Michael ‘Bear’ Baxter

Ottis Franklin, Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Plant reported that the Kimsey Street paving project had been completed; a lot of meters had been set due to the increase in construction this year; and reported no problems.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Jody Cook reported that #1 Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) tank was up and running and the #2 SBR tank was down, but should be back in service in the near future. He said there will be a student tour of the plant with 5th through 8th graders coming up. Cook had no other problems to report.

Mayor Conley addressed the Council regarding a suggestion that the Blairsville Municipal Airport, officially named Robert Colwell Field, be changed officially to another name: Jack Tarpley Field or Charles Hill Field. No member of the Council was in favor of pursuing that name change and the matter was dropped.

The Council approved an Occupational Tax Certificate Application for Harry Norman Realtors, 63 Murphy Highway, David Allsteadt, Corporate Officer.

The Council approved a Sign Application for Ingles Markets, 207B Highway 515, Chad Priest, Applicant.

Having no further business to conduct, the Council adjourned.

Blairsville GA GA

This Week’s Events in Union County January 29, 2018

Community January 29, 2018 , by FYNTV Producer

Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce

www.VisitBlairsvilleGa.com

706-745-5789

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