Local

Times-Courier

Times-Courier

County departments change leadership

Two Gilmer County departments received new directors following a brief closed session. Following the Board of commissioners regular meeting Aug. 11, Chair Charlie Paris requested a closed session. Coming out of the closed session, he announced the leadership swap.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Ellijay council approves Old 5 property rezoning

The Ellijay City Council approved rezoning a 12-acre parcel near the intersection of Old Highway 5 and Highway 515 to R3 (high density, multifamily residential), but not before the item had been covered, then was later reintroduced for discussion, at Monday’s council meeting.
A food drive that’s now underway will help keep shelves stocked at the Gilmer Community Food Pantry.

A food drive that’s now underway will help keep shelves stocked at the Gilmer Community Food Pantry.

Food drive underway for local community pantry

A countywide food drive that recently started will help keep shelves stocked at Gilmer Community Food Pantry. The local food pantry has seen an upswing in families coming to pick up food following lower than usual numbers much of the past two years amid the pandemic.
At right, Randy Steele, a volunteer at the Gilmer Community Food Pantry, built the first little food pantry to go up in the county, also seen above.

At right, Randy Steele, a volunteer at the Gilmer Community Food Pantry, built the first little food pantry to go up in the county, also seen above.

County’s first little food pantry established

It’s a little box with an important mission — to provide food to those who need it, perhaps at times when there’s no other option. Gilmer County’s first little food pantry was put up last week near the entrance to the health department at 28 Southside Church Street.
Mountain View Elementary art teacher Misti Foster and students Axel Carrillo Godinez, Domingo Loarca Mateo and Moises Reynoso Bautista

Mountain View Elementary art teacher Misti Foster and students Axel Carrillo Godinez, Domingo Loarca Mateo and Moises Reynoso Bautista

School is in session

Gilmer County students were back in the classroom last Thursday for the first day of the new school year. Above, Mountain View Elementary art teacher Misti Foster and students Axel Carrillo Godinez, Domingo Loarca Mateo and Moises Reynoso Bautista make snakes and snails out of clay.
East Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan

East Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan

Police chief’s quick thinking saves life

When an emergency medical call came across the scanner on a recent July morning, East Ellijay’s police chief knew time would be crucial to its outcome. A woman wasn’t breathing at a home on Cherry Street, near the East Ellijay City Hall and Police Station.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Fuel charge added to solid waste contract

Waste Pro took over hauling Gilmer County’s solid waste at the beginning of 2022, but at a special called meeting, commissioners were putting the finishing touches on the contract. Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said everything has been running smoothly with the company.
This photo was taken on a cell phone by Ellen Parks, who lives off Roundtop Road in southern Gilmer County. Parks met with the reporter of this article and shared her phone’s data. The date (June 25) and time (2:36 p.m.) stamps were verified, and the reporter also saw the tree and surrounding area where the photo was taken. The phone showed other data such as the camera’s f-stop (aperture) setting and has a standard 28mm lens. In the photo above, Parks zoomed out to 130mm, according to the data on her phone

This photo was taken on a cell phone by Ellen Parks, who lives off Roundtop Road in southern Gilmer County. Parks met with the reporter of this article and shared her phone’s data. The date (June 25) and time (2:36 p.m.) stamps were verified, and the reporter also saw the tree and surrounding area where the photo was taken. The phone showed other data such as the camera’s f-stop (aperture) setting and has a standard 28mm lens. In the photo above, Parks zoomed out to 130mm, according to the data on her phone

Big cat sighting stirs controversy

When Ellen Parks heard a neighbor’s cat crying outside her home in Creekside Estates, she ventured outside to see what was wrong. “It was way up in the top of a tree, and at that point I didn’t see the big cat,” she said of an alleged panther on a lower limb of the tree.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

East Ellijay no longer allowing fireworks stands

East Ellijay will no longer allow outside fireworks vendors to temporarily set up shop following a recent vote by its city council.