Local

Clear Creek Elementary staff receive toys for students from Gilmer, Fire and Rescue and the Ellijay Fire Department last week.

Clear Creek Elementary staff receive toys for students from Gilmer, Fire and Rescue and the Ellijay Fire Department last week.

‘Record year’ for firefighter toy drive

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Local firefighters and EMS workers faced a different sort of challenge last week as they steered buggies and Christmas shopped for hundreds of local elementary school-age children.
Melody Parkhurst plans to fill and donate stockings for local single mothers this Christmas.

Melody Parkhurst plans to fill and donate stockings for local single mothers this Christmas.

Christmas stockings for single moms goal of local woman

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
What was once a source of holiday sadness now inspires an Ellijay woman to fill stockings for single mothers at Christmastime. Melody Parkhurst, who recently moved here, began that selfless task last year in her hometown of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. This year, she’s busy filling stockings again.
Claude Mathis, of the Morganton-Mountaintown Baptist Association, left, and Dr. Richard Tanner, right, are shown assisting patients during a free medical clinic at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

Claude Mathis, of the Morganton-Mountaintown Baptist Association, left, and Dr. Richard Tanner, right, are shown assisting patients during a free medical clinic at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

Free medical clinics ongoing at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Free medical clinics that have long been held at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church weren’t curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and sponsor, the Morganton-Mountaintown Baptist Association, wants Gilmer County residents to know the free clinics are still being held at the Ellijay church.
Dwight Sanford

Dwight Sanford

Sanford checks Christmas album off list

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
An Ellijay singer and guitarist has fulfilled a longtime aspiration, and it’s something also done by several of his musical heroes including Merle Haggard and The Beatles. Dwight Sanford recently wrapped up his first Christmas album, Merry Christmas Ellijay!
Sylvia Harris, of Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter, presents a check used for the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit to attend a recent training conference in Perry. Pictured, from left: David Ridings with K-9 Milo, Harris, Blue Patterson with K-9 Arlo and Frank Parks with K-9 Novak.

Sylvia Harris, of Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter, presents a check used for the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit to attend a recent training conference in Perry. Pictured, from left: David Ridings with K-9 Milo, Harris, Blue Patterson with K-9 Arlo and Frank Parks with K-9 Novak.

K-9 unit attends South Georgia training seminar

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Three members of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) K-9 Unit were able to take their four-legged partners on a recent trip to Perry, where all attended the 12th annual South Georgia K-9 Seminar. Held Nov.15-18 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Ag.
Santa (Joseph Sevcech), of Ellijay.

Santa (Joseph Sevcech), of Ellijay.

Santa on River Street

News Staff
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Santa (Joseph Sevcech), of Ellijay, sits on his motorcycle and brings a little Christmas cheer to River Street Thursday, Dec. 2.
A recent fire in the Talona Mountain area spread quickly, with such factors as low humidity and wind.

A recent fire in the Talona Mountain area spread quickly, with such factors as low humidity and wind.

Escaped outdoor fires being fought

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Gilmer County Fire and Rescue has responded to multiple brush fire calls over the past few weeks, a time in which weather conditions have been just right for small outdoor fires to get out of control. A Nov.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Gilmer contracts with new waste company

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
After more than a decade, Gilmer County is going to have a new trash hauler, along with some new equipment. This year, commissioners opted to put out a request for proposals for trash hauling in Gilmer County. In the end, three companies sent proposals to the county.
Anita Summers cuts the red ribbon at a 2019 unveiling of the newly renovated basement of the Gilmer County Library, now used as a class and meeting space. Pictured in front, from left: then-library manager Heath Lee, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, Summers and library trustee board member Paul Nealey.

Anita Summers cuts the red ribbon at a 2019 unveiling of the newly renovated basement of the Gilmer County Library, now used as a class and meeting space. Pictured in front, from left: then-library manager Heath Lee, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, Summers and library trustee board member Paul Nealey.

Summers retiring as library system’s director

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
A Gilmer County native who’s worked in the Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) for 32 years — the last seven as its executive director — will soon be retiring.