Local

Becky Long • Clay County Progress A large group of citizens crowd into the commission meeting room of the courthouse Feb. 5. The majority of attendees, many of them property owners, would be in the path of the proposed TVA Transmission project plan centered around the Shooting Creek area. Several expressed concerns about their property rights and what the project would do to the views.

Becky Long • Clay County Progress A large group of citizens crowd into the commission meeting room of the courthouse Feb. 5. The majority of attendees, many of them property owners, would be in the path of the proposed TVA Transmission project plan centered around the Shooting Creek area. Several expressed concerns about their property rights and what the project would do to the views.

Crowd fills room to oppose TVA project

News Staff
Thursday, February 12, 2026
By Becky Long Publisher   TVA and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC representatives attended the Feb. 5 county commission meeting to explain their plan for a substation in Shooting Creek that includes building 7.7 to 9.5 miles of power line to that substation.
Lorraine Bennett • Clay County Progress Councilman Harry Baughn and Town Clerk/Finance Officer Suzanne Hedden look over the renovations of town hall.

Lorraine Bennett • Clay County Progress Councilman Harry Baughn and Town Clerk/Finance Officer Suzanne Hedden look over the renovations of town hall.

Town hall renovations well underway

News Staff
Thursday, February 12, 2026
By Lorraine Bennett Staff Writer   The Hayesville Town Council held its Monday meeting amid packed boxes, draped tables and a skeleton wall. Renovations at town hall are well underway and the council has decided to remain on the premises. Moving out of the building proved too inconvenient.
Gracie Taylor • Clay County Progress Clay County DOT truck scrapes Highway 64 west near the Jacky Jones Ford dealership.

Gracie Taylor • Clay County Progress Clay County DOT truck scrapes Highway 64 west near the Jacky Jones Ford dealership.

DOT on the job

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
By Becky Long Publisher   Clay County residents woke up to a blanket of snow on Saturday, Jan. 31. The average accumulation was 2 to 4 inches accompanied by wind and temperatures dipping into the teens and below.

TVA comment period extended

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
By Marcia Barnes Staff Writer   The Tennessee Valley Authority announced last week they are extending the commenting period on the Shooting Creek transmission project.
Clay County school buses remained parked on Monday and Tuesday in the aftermath of the weekend snow. School resumed on Wednesday.

Clay County school buses remained parked on Monday and Tuesday in the aftermath of the weekend snow. School resumed on Wednesday.

Weekend snow closes schools

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
By Marcia Barnes Staff Writer   The weekend snow that had been forecast a week earlier closed Clay County Schools on Monday, Feb. 2.
Fort Hembree Baptist Church Hope House offers one month of respite for people with various needs.

Fort Hembree Baptist Church Hope House offers one month of respite for people with various needs.

Hope House offers respite

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   It was a message from God in the middle of the night which prompted Pastor Harold Holbrook to present a new ministry idea to his Fort Hembree Baptist Church congregation.
Sawyer Cook isn't letting anything stop him from getting as much time in the snow as he can.

Sawyer Cook isn't letting anything stop him from getting as much time in the snow as he can.

Snow Days

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Snow Days

Winter Storm Warning until 07:00PM Saturday

News Staff
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Winter Storm Warning until 07:00PM Saturday * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches, with locally higher amounts possible over the higher mountain peaks. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...In North Carolina, Cherokee and Clay Counties.
Rumfelt's on American Idol at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2

Rumfelt's on American Idol at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2

Rumfelt's on American Idol

News Staff
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tune in at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2 on ABC American Idol. #Americanidol #bradenrumfelt @bradenrumfelt @therumfeltfamily @kellenrumfelt @chrisrumfelt @crystalrumfelt @calistarumfelt @Lukebryan @Carrieunderwood @Lionelrichie