Local

Longtime East Ellijay Mayor Mack West is pictured with wife, Ann.

Longtime East Ellijay Mayor Mack West is pictured with wife, Ann.

East Ellijay Mayor Mack West dies

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Mack West, who served as mayor of East Ellijay the past 50 years, has died. West passed away at age 88 Saturday, Feb. 11, after recently being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. As East Ellijay’s mayor, he followed his dad, Newman “N.A.” West, who’d served as mayor from 1950-1972. N.A.
Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office personnel gather around the memorial marker for late Gilmer deputy Brett Dickey as a ceremony held to honor Dickey’s memory began Monday morning outside the courthouse. Dickey was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 13, 1996.

Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office personnel gather around the memorial marker for late Gilmer deputy Brett Dickey as a ceremony held to honor Dickey’s memory began Monday morning outside the courthouse. Dickey was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 13, 1996.

Brett Dickey remembered

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Cristin “Scarlet” Combs works on sewing a hand-stitched stuffed animal for a friend who’s expecting a baby. A former foster child whose name was changed after adoption, Combs has been trying for several years, but is still unable to obtain a copy of her birth certificate and a Social Security card.

Cristin “Scarlet” Combs works on sewing a hand-stitched stuffed animal for a friend who’s expecting a baby. A former foster child whose name was changed after adoption, Combs has been trying for several years, but is still unable to obtain a copy of her birth certificate and a Social Security card.

Screaming underwater, waiting on an answer

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Everybody calls her “Scarlet,” but a young Ellijay woman isn’t giving up a seemingly endless quest to obtain proof of identity under another name. Scarlet Combs, 23, was born Cristin Albritton, but her last name was changed when she was a teenager, long before she took her current married name.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Water board OKs wastewater plant repairs

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority board members approved expenses for emergency repairs already done to a ruptured sludge line at the wastewater treatment plant and future repairs at the wastewater plant when meeting last Monday.
Gilmer Chamber Citizen of the Year Trent Sanford is shown with the 2023 COTY award after receiving it at the chamber’s recent gala and awards reception.

Gilmer Chamber Citizen of the Year Trent Sanford is shown with the 2023 COTY award after receiving it at the chamber’s recent gala and awards reception.

Sanford proud to be chamber’s COTY

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
The Gilmer Chamber named a longtime member of numerous local civic groups its Citizen of the Year (COTY), while also recognizing its Member and Business of the Year, at the chamber’s annual meeting and award reception Saturday, Jan. 28.
University of Georgia senior Sara Mosley has been named preseason All-SEC and one of the top 50 players in the country by Softball America. (Photo Courtesy of Tony Walsh)

University of Georgia senior Sara Mosley has been named preseason All-SEC and one of the top 50 players in the country by Softball America. (Photo Courtesy of Tony Walsh)

Mosley named preseason All-SEC

Robbie Bills - Sports Editor
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
University of Georgia senior Sara Mosley has been voted to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference softball team. Mosley, a Gilmer High alum, has had a stellar career for the Bulldogs.
Rep. Johnny Chastain

Rep. Johnny Chastain

Chastain wins runoff to represent 7th district

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Johnny Chastain will represent Gilmer County, along with Fannin and a portion of Dawson, as the representative of the Georgia House 7th District. Chastain won the total vote in a runoff election garnering 4,565 votes while Sheree Ralston received 4,085.
The proposed route for Georgia Transmission’s Whitepath Electric Reliability Project, which will run mostly along Highway 515, begins at Industrial Boulevard and ends near Cherry Log Street.

The proposed route for Georgia Transmission’s Whitepath Electric Reliability Project, which will run mostly along Highway 515, begins at Industrial Boulevard and ends near Cherry Log Street.

Hwy. 515 power line construction may start in fall

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
A 46-kV subtransmission power line that will run alongside Highway 515 is still in the planning stages, but construction on the project could begin as early as this fall.