News

(Photo by Joe Davenport) Upon arrival to the home on Hot House Road, firefighters discover the house is fully involved and not safe to enter.

(Photo by Joe Davenport) Upon arrival to the home on Hot House Road, firefighters discover the house is fully involved and not safe to enter.

Fire destroys home in Shooting Creek area

News Staff
Thursday, January 21, 2021
The Shooting Creek community has experienced the second of two structure fires in just over a week. While the first home was saved by firefighters, the second one on Hot House Road was fully engulfed upon arrival, leaving behind framework and charred debris.
Pixabay Image

Pixabay Image

New fire station in the works for county

News Staff
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Brian Anderson hopes Clay County's next fire station will last half a century, just like its predecessor. That's the goal as Anderson, Clay County fire and rescue chief, looks toward building a new station on Highway 64 Business, across from State Employees' Credit Union, by 2025 at the latest.
Jerry Stadtmiller gives a lesson in structure and mechanics to the aviation science class from Tri-County Early College High School.

Jerry Stadtmiller gives a lesson in structure and mechanics to the aviation science class from Tri-County Early College High School.

A passion for aircraft

News Staff
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Jerry Stadtmiller: From line boy to owner of Bipe Inc.   When Jerry Stadtmiller was 12 years old he knew he wanted to fly. In fact, the Clay County resident knew that flying an airplane was almost all he wanted to do. Stadtmiller’s family lived in Rochester, N.Y.
Pixabay Image

Pixabay Image

Hospital stretched

News Staff
Thursday, January 21, 2021
While Clay County continues to experience relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases, area hospitals appear to be struggling to withstand the full brunt of the pandemic's post-holiday spread. In recent weeks, Union General Hospital in Blairsville, Ga.
300 NC Guard troops will be in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of Joe Biden.

300 NC Guard troops will be in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Governor Roy Cooper approves additional Guardsmen to deploy to Washington, D.C.

News Staff
Monday, January 18, 2021
Governor Roy Cooper approved the mobilization of an additional 100 North Carolina National Guardsmen to deploy to Washington, D.C. to support civilian authorities prior to and during the 59th Presidential Inauguration. They will arrive in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
Clay County is in phase 1B where vaccines will be offered to those 75 and older as supplies allow.

Clay County is in phase 1B where vaccines will be offered to those 75 and older as supplies allow.

Virus trend showing improvement in county’s numbers

News Staff
Thursday, January 14, 2021
COVID-19 cases are trending downward across most of Clay County after reaching record highs last week, but Clay County Health Department is urging residents to not drop their guards.
(The Southern Scoop) Macon County officers arrest Benjamin Dann Owens after he led law enforcement on a high speed chase Thursday, Jan. 7. Owens is currently under a $5 million secured bond in Haywood County Detention Center.

(The Southern Scoop) Macon County officers arrest Benjamin Dann Owens after he led law enforcement on a high speed chase Thursday, Jan. 7. Owens is currently under a $5 million secured bond in Haywood County Detention Center.

Police chase ends in capture, wreck

News Staff
Thursday, January 14, 2021
A man on the run from the law was apprehended in dramatic fashion on Highway 64 west near Winding Stair Gap on Thursday morning. On Jan.

Local ties to Capitol

Becky Long - publisher
Thursday, January 14, 2021
A Clay County homeowner faces a federal charge in connection to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. that left five people dead, including a police officer. The Federal Court in the District of Columbia charged Cleveland Meredith Jr.
(Jim Johnson photo) Clay County resident Jim Johnson snaps a photo during an initially peaceful rally that eventually turned into a violent riot in an attempt to stop the Senate from certifying Joe Biden’s election as president.

(Jim Johnson photo) Clay County resident Jim Johnson snaps a photo during an initially peaceful rally that eventually turned into a violent riot in an attempt to stop the Senate from certifying Joe Biden’s election as president.

Local man attends D.C. rallies

Becky Long - publisher
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Clay County resident and noted conservative, James “Jim” Johnson was among a crowd of initially “peaceful protesters” supporting President Trump at one of two rallies held in Washington, D.C. Jan. 6. He had no way of foreseeing the violent outcome of the day’s events.
Judge Richard K. Walker

Judge Richard K. Walker

Judge Richard K. Walker set to enter retirement

News Staff
Thursday, January 7, 2021
On Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 the Honorable Chief District Court Judge Richard K. Walker held District Criminal Court in Clay County for one last time. Judge Walker, a Clay County resident chose not to run for re-election in 2020 to begin a new chapter as he enters retirement.