Local

A rendering shows a preliminary exterior design for bathrooms to be constructed at Harrison Park.

A rendering shows a preliminary exterior design for bathrooms to be constructed at Harrison Park.

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Ellijay council adopts city’s 2021 budget

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Members of the Ellijay City Council adopted the city’s operating budget for the 2021 fiscal year, as well as this year’s millage rate, when meeting Monday, Oct. 19.  Both the 2021 budget and the 2020 millage rate are down slightly from the year preceding each, noted Mayor Al Hoyle.
Tracy Jones was one of many casting votes at the Gilmer County Courthouse during early voting Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Tracy Jones was one of many casting votes at the Gilmer County Courthouse during early voting Tuesday, Oct. 27.

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Final week of early voting

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
With early voting ending Friday and the final day of voting Nov. 3, Gilmer County residents are participating in drives. As of Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6,496 had voted in person, and 3,053 mail-in ballots had been returned out of 4,395 which were requested. Gilmer County has 23,545 registered voters.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

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Vacancy for Ellijay code enforcement position

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The City of Ellijay is looking to hire a new code enforcement officer/building inspector.  Don Schneider, who worked in that role since 2000, retired in September. There haven’t been many applications to fill to the vacancy since then, confirmed Mayor Al Hoyle. “I’m actually surprised.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

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Assessor board still waiting on unattached structure opinion from state

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The Gilmer County Assessors Office has yet to receive an opinion requested from the state attorney general’s office about changing the county’s 65-and-over homestead exemption, Chief Appraiser Theresa Gooch noted during a brief board of assessors meeting Thursday, Oct. 15.
Ralph Chancey performs with his group, The Bluegrass Pickers, at the 2011 Ellijay Heart Fund Show.

Ralph Chancey performs with his group, The Bluegrass Pickers, at the 2011 Ellijay Heart Fund Show.

Chancey’s kindness, music making remembered

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
When speaking to the Times-Courier for a 2010 article about his family’s longtime interest in bluegrass music, Ralph Chancey related that he once postponed a heart operation because it conflicted with performing at the Ellijay Heart Fund Show, a long-running benefit concert for the American Heart...
From left: Gilmer Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman, Gilmer EMA Director Keith Kucera, Ellijay Fire Chief Sam West, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, GBI Special Agent Renea Green, Santa, Gilmer Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs, East Ellijay Police Lt. Shane Bowman, Ellijay Police Chief Ed Lacey, Walmart manager Tom Horton and Ellijay Police Capt. Ray Grace.

From left: Gilmer Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman, Gilmer EMA Director Keith Kucera, Ellijay Fire Chief Sam West, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, GBI Special Agent Renea Green, Santa, Gilmer Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs, East Ellijay Police Lt. Shane Bowman, Ellijay Police Chief Ed Lacey, Walmart manager Tom Horton and Ellijay Police Capt. Ray Grace.

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Shop With a Hero to continue this December Christmas outreach effort

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
A community outreach program through which local elementary school students get to do some Christmas shopping with first responders will continue this year, but it will look a little different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The abundant natural scenery of B.J. Reece Orchards was used earlier this month to film scenes for an upcoming motion picture based on the award-winning Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen.

The abundant natural scenery of B.J. Reece Orchards was used earlier this month to film scenes for an upcoming motion picture based on the award-winning Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen.

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Local apple orchard welcomes movie shoot

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Gilmer County’s apple orchards and farm markets are still experiencing healthy business as fall rolls along, but one of them recently had some different types of visitors than usual.  At B.J. Reece Orchards, a film crew shot footage earlier this month that may appear in an upcoming motion picture.
An array of scarecrows, including the one above, will be on display for trick or treaters during a first-time Halloween event at Harrison Park Oct. 31.

An array of scarecrows, including the one above, will be on display for trick or treaters during a first-time Halloween event at Harrison Park Oct. 31.

Downtown trick or treating to be held at Harrison Park

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
There will be a public trick-or-treat event in downtown Ellijay this Halloween, but it won’t be the door-to-door stroll through downtown that’s been held the last several years.