LATEST NEWS

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger came to Clayton on Thursday, April 18, 2024, to present Rabun County Elections Director Tammy Whitmire with the Georgia Election Administration Golden Leader in Excellence (EAGLE) Award for her outstanding service in ensuring secure and fair elections. During the presentation, Raffensberger commented on the continued efficiency of Rabun County’s Board of Elections, noting that the office both exemplifies and showcases itself as a statewide model. The EAGLE Award honors the innovations, achievements, and best practices of county election offices to ensure safe, secure, accessible, and accurate elections provided transparently to Georgia’s voters.

Rabun County Schools report that during the April meeting of the Rabun County Board of Education, the board accepted the resignation of board member Molly Lima, who will be relocating with her family to Colorado at the end of the current school year. Rabun County Schools extends its sincere appreciation for Mrs. Lima’s eight years of dedicated service to the Rabun County School System. In light of this vacancy, Mr. Rick Story has been appointed to fulfill the remainder of Mrs. Lima’s term on the board. Rabun County Schools welcome Mr. Story and look forward to his contributions in serving the school community. Rabun County Schools are confident that his experience and commitment will benefit the district during this transitional period.

The Clayton City Council approved a paving bid for a section of Warwoman Road at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, says Clayton City Manager Trudy Crunkleton. “We put with the Rabun County paving bid, to get a better price, a section of Warwoman Road and the Council approved that bid after receiving the bid quote from Scott Provance with the county. The bid is for a little over $106,000 and that will be paid out of SPLOST or TSPLOST funds.” The paving schedule will be up to the county when all the bids are approved.

A new four-way stop is active at the intersection of Level Grove Road and J Warren Road outside Cornelia. “We urge drivers to use extreme caution when traveling in that area as it may take people who have driven Level Grove Road for years a little time to become accustomed to the new stop requirements,” said Habersham County Public Works Director/Special Projects Manager Jerry Baggett. The intersection was included in a recent Safety Action Plan grant awarded by the Georgia Department of Transportation and resulted in the intersection being changed to a four-way stop. Previously, the intersection allowed free flow of traffic on Level Grove Road while requiring entering and crossing traffic from J Warren Road to stop. From Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2023, 14 people were injured in collisions at the intersection, crash data from the state reporting system shows. Records show that 23 of the 27 wrecks at that location were angle collisions, one was head-on, two were rear-end, and one was with a fixed object. A thorough review of crash data and field observations of the intersection resulted in the recommendation by engineers to install rumble strips ahead of a four-way stop at the intersection. On Level Grove Road, a flashing red stop sign has been installed in each direction, as well as associated striping and stop bars. Rumble strip installation on Level Grove Road is forthcoming. The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office is helping monitor the intersection when possible, to ensure drivers on Level Grove Road are stopping. Habersham County awarded the contract for intersection improvements to Peek Pavement Marking Inc. Traffic Operations Change signs have been in place since the project was announced to allow drivers advance notice of the planned intersection change to a four-way stop. The intersection is approximately 2,700 feet west of the Ga. 365 ramps on Level Grove Road. Level Grove Elementary School’s eastern driveway is roughly 975 feet west of the intersection.

Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund invites the community to the Currahee Brewing Company – Clayton, GA on May 2, 2024, for non-profit night. An anonymous donor has agreed to match the tips/donations the Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund receives up to $4,000. If you aren’t able to attend, consider donating online at https://www.betterunite.com/SidWeberMemorialCancerFund. All funds go towards helping Rabun County cancer patients. So far, the fund has helped almost 700 Rabun County cancer patients and has distributed more than $800,000 since 2005. If you need assistance, don’t wait, call 706-746-3350.

WALHALLA, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - A crowbar and a screwdriver helped convict an Upstate man who has repeatedly committed property crimes. A jury found William David Gunn guilty of violent burglary, possession of tools during the commission of a crime, resisting arrest and malicious injury to real property. In April...

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to the 2024 Rabun County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Law Enforcement Academy. There will be 7 sessions taking place on Tuesday nights at the Sheriff’s Office. Each session will be 1-2 hours long, starting at 6pm, and include in-depth discussion, videos, hands-on training, and simulations. The class is free and limited to 20 people. Register at https://form.jotform.com/241054262216042.