Local

Two mail collection boxes at the Ellijay Post Office remain out of service after being vandalized over the Christmas holidays.

Two mail collection boxes at the Ellijay Post Office remain out of service after being vandalized over the Christmas holidays.

Ellijay mailboxes vandalized

Two outdoor mail collection boxes at the Ellijay Post Office remain out of service after being vandalized over the Christmas holiday weekend.
Harper Hoover, age 6, left, and Maddox Wilkie, age 3, right, enjoy the last snow of 2022, which came during the deep freeze of Christmas week. (Photos courtesy Linda Hoover, Amy DeShields)

Harper Hoover, age 6, left, and Maddox Wilkie, age 3, right, enjoy the last snow of 2022, which came during the deep freeze of Christmas week. (Photos courtesy Linda Hoover, Amy DeShields)

Snow fun

These scenes of the recent winter weather were provided via Facebook by Times-Courier readers. See more on our Facebook page.
An Amicalola EMC crew works to repair a transformer during the deep freeze of Christmas week.

An Amicalola EMC crew works to repair a transformer during the deep freeze of Christmas week.

Winter freeze brought challenges

There’s cold, and then there’s Christmas week 2022 cold.
Gilmer Warming Center volunteers Joey and Laura Lyles set up cots for anyone who spends the night at the place of refuge from the cold inside the Civic Center.

Gilmer Warming Center volunteers Joey and Laura Lyles set up cots for anyone who spends the night at the place of refuge from the cold inside the Civic Center.

Warming center a lifesaver for several during deep freeze

A volunteer-run warming center provided a place for several Gilmer County locals and visitors to wait out the recent deep freeze. Located at the Gilmer County Civic Center, the warming center normally opens at 5 p.m. when temperatures dip below 30 degrees.
Ronald and Tina Watkins with grandson, Holden

Ronald and Tina Watkins with grandson, Holden

Watkins retires from BoE

Longtime Gilmer County Board of Education member and chairman Ronald Watkins is joined above by wife Tina and grandson Holden Mata. Watkins hit the gavel for the final time at the Dec. 15 meeting, and he was recognized for his 19 years of service to the county.
Gilmer County Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson was honored at her last regular meeting on Dec. 8, by Chair Charlie Paris and Post Commissioner Hubert Parker, though she was still pressed into service for a special called budget meeting. Ferguson’s four-year term ended in December. The seat will be filled by John Marshall who was sworn in Dec. 21.

Gilmer County Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson was honored at her last regular meeting on Dec. 8, by Chair Charlie Paris and Post Commissioner Hubert Parker, though she was still pressed into service for a special called budget meeting. Ferguson’s four-year term ended in December. The seat will be filled by John Marshall who was sworn in Dec. 21.

Board nails down final details on 2023 budget

Gilmer County commissioners used a special meeting to nail down the final loose board on the 2023 budget. A total of $146,000 was the final sticking point going into the meeting Dec. 28.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Less than 3,000 voted early in District 7 election

As voters went to the polls Tuesday, Jan. 3, to elect Georgia’s next 7th District House Representative, less than 3,000 early ballots had already been cast in the three District 7 counties of Gilmer, Fannin and Dawson (where only one precinct is in the district).
Traffic slowly crossed the BC Logan Memorial Bridge on River Street Tuesday morning after snow fell the night before. (Photo by Michael Andrews/Mountain Life Editor)

Traffic slowly crossed the BC Logan Memorial Bridge on River Street Tuesday morning after snow fell the night before. (Photo by Michael Andrews/Mountain Life Editor)

Snow, freezing temps cause havoc

As night fell on the day after Christmas in Gilmer County, snow moved into the area and created problems for motorists and travelers. Vehicles lined the sides of many roads with hills Tuesday morning.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Environmental health fee hike requested to increase staff

Short staffing and an increasingly busy schedule have caused the Gilmer County Environmental Health Office to fall behind on local restaurant inspections. Andrea Mathis, the county’s environmental health manager, gave that news to the Gilmer County Board of Health during a Dec.