Local

County Arrest Report

News Staff
Thursday, August 10, 2023
The following warrants were issued through the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for July 31 to Aug. 6. All individuals are considered innocent unless proven otherwise in court. • Travis Franklin Thurmond, 52, of Hiawassee, Ga.
Becky Long • Clay County Progress Clay County Chief Deputy Todd Wingate shakes hands with an American Legion member after the memorial service.

Becky Long • Clay County Progress Clay County Chief Deputy Todd Wingate shakes hands with an American Legion member after the memorial service.

Finally home

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
By Becky Long Publisher   The remains of Marine Lance Corporal Sean M. Willey were reunited with his family in New York Sunday after  coordinated efforts that began in Clay County and continued throughout the 900-plus mile escort.

Drug charge leads to $1 million bond

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Staff Reports   A July 28 surveillance operation that started in Hayesville led law enforcement officers to Asheville, where a local man was arrested and given a $1 million secured bond.
Students in the Global Studies Program plan trip to Scotland in June 2024.

Students in the Global Studies Program plan trip to Scotland in June 2024.

Scotland trip planned for local students

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   Some Hayesville students may get to check a box on their personal bucket lists soon. In June 2024, two Clay County teachers who are both Go Global recipients, Ginger Scerri and Michelle Calascione, will take the students to Scotland for their own global experiences.

Marine’s final journey home

News Staff
Friday, July 28, 2023
By Becky Long Publisher   The remains of Marine Sean MacLaughlin Willey will make the long journey home to New York this week amid full military honors thanks to the efforts of local law enforcement and veterans organizations. Willey, 21, of Ilion, N.Y.

Rogers promoted to Public Health Director

News Staff
Friday, July 28, 2023
By Becky Long Publisher   Clarissa Rogers is marking her eighth year with the Clay County Health Department. She has worked in many capacities there, but perhaps the most important may have been when she stepped into the role of interim public health director in 2021 during the COVID pandemic.
Midge Roach • Clay County Progress Glass shards fill the right back floorboard of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX where the window was broken to gain access.

Midge Roach • Clay County Progress Glass shards fill the right back floorboard of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX where the window was broken to gain access.

Four charged in dealership auto thefts

News Staff
Thursday, July 20, 2023
By Becky Long Publisher   Two vehicles were reported stolen from the Jacky Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram lot in Hayesville on the morning of July 13. The vehicles have since been recovered and four Charlotte, N.C. men face multiple charges in connection to the thefts.
Cindy Thompson Photography Residents in Clay County and in Georgia are rallying to support Trista Cheeks and Logan Gordy.

Cindy Thompson Photography Residents in Clay County and in Georgia are rallying to support Trista Cheeks and Logan Gordy.

Prayers, support for local couple in abundance

News Staff
Thursday, July 20, 2023
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   Prayers for Logan and Trista and #LoganandTristastrong. Posts like these have been flooding social media following a wreck involving Trista Cheeks and her fiancé Logan Gordy. Cheeks, who is from Clay County, and Gordy are both firefighters in Upson County, Ga.
Clay County Paramedic/Peer Support Specialist Program Inaugural Class includes, from left, Ben English, instructor; Kim Fairlie, lead instructor; Kera Guffey, Abbi Sawyer, Wesley Myers, Tyler Robertson, Gerri Mitchell and Jeff Ledford, Fellowship Coordinator.

Clay County Paramedic/Peer Support Specialist Program Inaugural Class includes, from left, Ben English, instructor; Kim Fairlie, lead instructor; Kera Guffey, Abbi Sawyer, Wesley Myers, Tyler Robertson, Gerri Mitchell and Jeff Ledford, Fellowship Coordinator.

Clay County receives $50,000 program investment

News Staff
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Staff Reports   Clay County has received a $50,000 investment grant from Nantahala Health Foundation to fund a coordinator for its Emergency Management Technician Training Fellowship.