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Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress Former NASA astronaut shared slides of his experiences as he spoke to Hayesville students on Friday, Sept. 9. This slide shows him in a rocket with fellow astronauts.

Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress Former NASA astronaut shared slides of his experiences as he spoke to Hayesville students on Friday, Sept. 9. This slide shows him in a rocket with fellow astronauts.

Astronaut brings space to Hayesville

News Staff
Thursday, September 15, 2022
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   Long before he traveled into space, Ron Garan started dreaming about becoming an astronaut. As a young boy watching Americans walk on the moon in July 1969, he made the decision which would eventually have him travel more than 71 million miles.
Deby Jo Ferguson • Clay County Progress The American Legion salutes while the school band performs during the raising of the flag, at the site designated to the memory of band director Jennifer Gibson.

Deby Jo Ferguson • Clay County Progress The American Legion salutes while the school band performs during the raising of the flag, at the site designated to the memory of band director Jennifer Gibson.

Site dedicated to memory of beloved band director

News Staff
Thursday, September 15, 2022
By Becky Long Publisher   Clay County Schools band director, Jennifer Gibson died Sept. 14, 2021, but the memory of the woman many revered for her values and love of children lives on in a memorial site on the same school campus where she taught for more than two decades.
Photo • Shawn Jarrard Towns County Sheriff’s Capt. John McCoy escorting defendant Jason Matheson into the courtroom last week.

Photo • Shawn Jarrard Towns County Sheriff’s Capt. John McCoy escorting defendant Jason Matheson into the courtroom last week.

Matheson sentenced to 30 years in prison

News Staff
Thursday, September 15, 2022
By Shawn Jarrard Towns County Herald Editor   Shooting survivor Crystal Matheson breathed an emotional sigh of relief in the courtroom of the Towns County Courthouse Monday when a jury returned guilty verdicts against her estranged husband, Jason Matheson, who was on trial for attempting to...

Looking back at ‘The Law Ground and the vote’

News Staff
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
By Marcia Barnes          Feature Writer   Herman Eller hasn’t forgotten a lick about the way folks went to the polls to vote in the general and primary elections during the 1950s. It all happened at “The Law Ground,” the name given to a place in Titus, Towns County, Ga.
Becky Long • Clay County Progress Director of EMC’s Broadband service, Alex King explains the process of Internet expansion in Clay County.

Becky Long • Clay County Progress Director of EMC’s Broadband service, Alex King explains the process of Internet expansion in Clay County.

EMC explains Clay’s broadband status

News Staff
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
By Becky Long Publisher   Blue Ridge Mountain EMC  representatives updated the status of broadband expansion in Clay County during the commissioner’s Sept. 1 meeting, explaining how they will move forward after receiving a multi-million grant in July. A $5.

Cherokee Heritage Festival offers dancers, artisans and music

News Staff
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
By Sandy Nicolette Guest Writer   The rich and proud heritage of our Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be brought to life from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, with live demonstrations and presentations at the Cherokee Heritage Festival in Hayesville.

Community Happenings

News Staff
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Announcements If your organization has resumed regular meetings or you have an event to include in the calendar, you must resubmit your information as we are launching an updated calendar. Email: news@claycountyprogress.com or call (828) 389-8431 before 5 p.m. Mondays.

Church Happenings

News Staff
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
• Eternal Praise will be singing at Upper Peachtree Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Pastor Derek Tilley and the church family invites everyone to attend. • Shiloh Baptist Church will be having Homecoming/Old Fashion Day beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 18.
From left, Shannon Palmer from S and P Monument and Joey Buckner sets the stone.

From left, Shannon Palmer from S and P Monument and Joey Buckner sets the stone.

Memorial ceremony for director Jennifer Gibson planned Sept. 9

News Staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
By Robert Seibert Guest Writer   Often times the impact a person has in the world is not recognized until they pass. This is not the case with former band director, Jennifer Gibson. Usually referred to as “Mama G.