Local

(Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress) The October meeting of the Clay County Board of Education should be Scotty Penlands’ last meeting as Acting School Superintendent since Dale Cole will begin Friday, Nov. 1. At the October 17 meeting, Board of Education Chairman Dr. Jason Shook, left, laughs as Penland describes serving food in the school cafeteria earlier in the week.

(Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress) The October meeting of the Clay County Board of Education should be Scotty Penlands’ last meeting as Acting School Superintendent since Dale Cole will begin Friday, Nov. 1. At the October 17 meeting, Board of Education Chairman Dr. Jason Shook, left, laughs as Penland describes serving food in the school cafeteria earlier in the week.

Penland ready to step aside

Lorrie Ross - staff writer
Thursday, October 24, 2019
He does not officially start for a few weeks, but new school superintendent Thomas Dale Cole attended the Thursday, Oct. 17 Clay County Board of Education meeting. Cole had been in town all week to shadow acting school superintendent Scotty Penland.

Veterans Day program to be held on Hayesville square

News Staff
Thursday, October 17, 2019
In the United States, Veterans Day annually falls on Nov. 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day.
(Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress) Hayesville Town Councilman Joe Slaton shows a drawing of proposed changes to the Town of Hayesville signs.

(Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress) Hayesville Town Councilman Joe Slaton shows a drawing of proposed changes to the Town of Hayesville signs.

Rezoning approved for business relocation

Lorrie Ross - staff writer
Thursday, October 17, 2019
About a dozen people attended a public hearing held prior to the Oct. 14 Hayesville Town Council meeting. The hearing was for public comment about spot rezoning a portion of the 13-acre Johnson property at 518 Highway 64 East and the southwest corner of Myers Chapel Road.
Sergeant Joshua Orihood of the North Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Program.

Sergeant Joshua Orihood of the North Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Program.

Town hall focuses on youth, alcohol

Lorrie Ross - staff writer
Thursday, October 17, 2019
“Clay County students do not think alcohol or marijuana is as dangerous as tobacco,” said Kelly Teague, regional coordinator for Community Impact NC, while presenting statistics from the PRIDE school culture surveys completed in May 2019.

Economic Development director leaving

Becky Long - publisher
Thursday, October 17, 2019
After a year on the job, Valerie Flanagan has resigned from her position as Clay County’s Economic Development director. Her last day is Friday. County Manager Mark Pullium confirmed her resignation, but said he was not sure of what was behind the decision. “I hate to see her go,” he said.
(Lorrie Ross• Clay County Progress) Daily pumpkin pie eating contests gather dozens of people to cheer on their favorite pie eaters. The competition sometimes gets fierce between siblings or friends eating pie side by side.

(Lorrie Ross• Clay County Progress) Daily pumpkin pie eating contests gather dozens of people to cheer on their favorite pie eaters. The competition sometimes gets fierce between siblings or friends eating pie side by side.

Pumpkins will fly next weekend

Lorrie Ross - staff writer
Thursday, October 10, 2019
It may look like there’s been a pumpkin revolt several days from now. No revolt, but it will be the 11th annual Clay County Punkin Chunkin, a time when pumpkins really fly.
Pixabay Image

Pixabay Image

Standoff ends with no injuries

News Staff
Thursday, October 10, 2019
On Thursday, Oct. 3, a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a residence in the Snoozy Park area of Brasstown to conduct a civil standby. Many of these are performed annually without incident; however, this civil standby would be anything but typical.
These proposed plans were presented at the latest commissioners meeting.

These proposed plans were presented at the latest commissioners meeting.

High school sports complex moves forward

Becky Long - publisher
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Fans are likely to hear the cracks of bats and balls whizzing over home-plate in a brand new Hayesville High School sports complex, but it won’t be in time for next year’s baseball season.  On Thursday, county commissioners voted to begin soliciting bids to construct the facility.
Hundreds of bales of hay smolder hours after the initial spark sent this hay barn up in flames. (Progress photo by Travis Dockery)

Hundreds of bales of hay smolder hours after the initial spark sent this hay barn up in flames. (Progress photo by Travis Dockery)

Total loss in Warne

Travis Dockery
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 8, fire broke out in this hay barn in Warne. The barn was storing around 200 bales of hay when the fire struck. The loss is especially tough due to the current dry conditions which will make hay valuable heading into the winter months.