Local

Ray King, retiring environmental health director for the North Georgia Health District (NGHD), right, is congratulated by NGHD Health Director Dr. Zachary Taylor during a retirement ceremony for King held last week in Canton. King worked with the Georgia Department of Public Health a total of 40 years. After working in the Columbus Health District, he started with the North Georgia district in 2003 as Gilmer’s environmental health manager. Since 2005, he’s served as environmental health director for the six

Ray King, retiring environmental health director for the North Georgia Health District (NGHD), right, is congratulated by NGHD Health Director Dr. Zachary Taylor during a retirement ceremony for King held last week in Canton. King worked with the Georgia Department of Public Health a total of 40 years. After working in the Columbus Health District, he started with the North Georgia district in 2003 as Gilmer’s environmental health manager. Since 2005, he’s served as environmental health director for the six

Longtime environmental health director retires

The Apple Country Auto Club’s monthly cruise-ins will continue in the park-and-ride area across from Poole’s Bar-B-Q from April to September. Pictured are some of the vehicles that were on display at last year’s cruise-ins.

The Apple Country Auto Club’s monthly cruise-ins will continue in the park-and-ride area across from Poole’s Bar-B-Q from April to September. Pictured are some of the vehicles that were on display at last year’s cruise-ins.

Car club bringing back cruise-ins, Apple Blossom show

The Apple Country Auto Club will be firing on all cylinders through spring and summer with another round of their monthly cruise-ins and the return of a car show that’s long been absent from the yearly event lineup.
Pool construction underway

Pool construction underway

Pool progressing

The site of the new Gilmer County Swimming Pool looks more like a dry swimming hole as construction ramps up in back of the Civic Center. Physical work on the new pool began about three weeks ago. Right now, dirt is being leveled and the shape of the pool area is being formed.
Ellijay Northeast poll manager David Strickland helps voter Karen Ingersoll during the educational sales tax special election last Tuesday.

Ellijay Northeast poll manager David Strickland helps voter Karen Ingersoll during the educational sales tax special election last Tuesday.

E-SPLOST passes in special election

Collection of a 1-percent sales tax used to fund various Gilmer School System projects will continue for at least five additional years following countywide voting last Tuesday.
Peach trees are shown in bloom at R&A Orchards, one of several local peach growers hoping recent freeze events won’t prevent them from having a good crop.

Peach trees are shown in bloom at R&A Orchards, one of several local peach growers hoping recent freeze events won’t prevent them from having a good crop.

Too early to tell if freezes hurt peach crop

With temperatures recently plunging below freezing for several days, the county’s peach crop may have suffered some degree of damage, but it’s too early to know the extent. According to the UGA Environmental Monitoring Network, low temperatures were below freezing for nine days between March 11-21.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Gilmer deputy on administrative leave following arrest

A Gilmer County deputy has been placed on leave following an arrest in Pickens County. Christopher Couch, 42, of Jasper, is charged with aggravated assault and simple battery — family violence, according to a Pickens County Adult Detention Center report.
Members of the Gilmer County Board of Assessors and Chief Appraiser Theresa Gooch present a plaque to board member Tom Porter following his last meeting with the assessor board. Porter served 12 years on the board and chose not to seek another term. Pictured, from left: Bill Logan, Jerry Davis, Porter, Gary Engel, Gooch, John Williamson and new assessor board member Lisa Bradley.

Members of the Gilmer County Board of Assessors and Chief Appraiser Theresa Gooch present a plaque to board member Tom Porter following his last meeting with the assessor board. Porter served 12 years on the board and chose not to seek another term. Pictured, from left: Bill Logan, Jerry Davis, Porter, Gary Engel, Gooch, John Williamson and new assessor board member Lisa Bradley.

Assessors office still ‘chasing the market’ in property values

The Gilmer County Assessors Office is in a similar situation as it was last year with a property sales ratio lower than what the state requires to avoid losing utility tax revenue.