Local

Taylor Abercrombie, left, and Chris Abercrombie, right, celebrate moving into their new house, built in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity.

Taylor Abercrombie, left, and Chris Abercrombie, right, celebrate moving into their new house, built in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity.

Local family builds new home with Habitat for Humanity

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Love can make the impossible happen. For Chris and Taylor Abercrombie, a strong marriage helped them through disaster and into home ownership with the help of Habitat for Humanity. “He’s always supporting me, no matter what,” Taylor said of her husband. “He’s never left me.
Emergency services personnel and supporters line up in front of a firetruck. Shown from left are, front row, Gilmer County Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Mike Dempsey, Commissioner John Marshall, Kevin Panter, Kim Blair, Tara Deen, Manager Robbie Harbour; and, back, Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey, Deputy Fire Chief Jason Bryant, Public Safety Chief Sam West, Austin Panter, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, Stacie Nicholson and East Ellijay Public Safety Director Larry Callahan.

Emergency services personnel and supporters line up in front of a firetruck. Shown from left are, front row, Gilmer County Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Mike Dempsey, Commissioner John Marshall, Kevin Panter, Kim Blair, Tara Deen, Manager Robbie Harbour; and, back, Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey, Deputy Fire Chief Jason Bryant, Public Safety Chief Sam West, Austin Panter, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, Stacie Nicholson and East Ellijay Public Safety Director Larry Callahan.

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911 address signs help Gilmer EMS during emergencies

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
A high-visibility address sign can save your life and the lives of others.  “We’ll eventually have all of [Fannin County] and hope to have Gilmer,” local insurance agent Kevin Panter said of the signs.
Gilmer High School Assistant Manager Jackie Chadwick, left, and Manager Karen Pinson, right, prepare a salad bar including locally grown foods.

Gilmer High School Assistant Manager Jackie Chadwick, left, and Manager Karen Pinson, right, prepare a salad bar including locally grown foods.

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Gilmer Schools improves lunches with local foods

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
The complexity of modern supply chains may connect us to the entire world, but there’s something special about local food. Gilmer County Schools (GCS) is making efforts to give kids more local produce in school lunches, and so far, students love it.
Terri Olsen sits down at her nearly 100-year-old sewing machine, a key tool for making beautiful quilts.

Terri Olsen sits down at her nearly 100-year-old sewing machine, a key tool for making beautiful quilts.

Quilters Against Cancer makes quilts for cancer patients

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Lori Fordham had just gotten difficult news about her cancer treatment.  “At that moment, I was just utterly defeated,” she said. “I even asked God out loud, ‘Why are you ditching me?’” Then, she and her husband heard the doorbell ring.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

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Farmers get discount on permits

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Gilmer County commissioners began the year by approving a discount for local farmers undertaking construction projects. In their first regular meeting of the year, the board voted on this and approved the second reading of a tweak to the zoning ordinance.