Local

Anita Summers, center, and mother, Alice Davis, left, share a laugh with state Rep. Charlice Byrd, who represents Georgia House District 20, at a Gilmer County Library reception for Summer’s retirement as the Sequoyah Library System’s executive director.

Anita Summers, center, and mother, Alice Davis, left, share a laugh with state Rep. Charlice Byrd, who represents Georgia House District 20, at a Gilmer County Library reception for Summer’s retirement as the Sequoyah Library System’s executive director.

Summers retires as library system director

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
An Ellijay native who led the Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) as its executive director since 2014, after previously managing Gilmer County’s library, retired last week.
John McCutcheon is shown performing at the Craddock Center’s 2019 Songs & Stories event.

John McCutcheon is shown performing at the Craddock Center’s 2019 Songs & Stories event.

McCutcheon making happy return to Craddock Center Songs & Stories

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
A world-traveled folksinger and multi-instrumentalist is looking forward to a free concert he’ll soon perform for Cherry Log’s Craddock Center. John McCutcheon will appear at the center’s Songs and Stories afternoon Saturday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m.
Downtown Ellijay

Downtown Ellijay

Almost like a postcard

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
A postcard-like view of downtown Ellijay and the fading fall colors was seen shortly before the Christmas holidays.
New COVID-19 protocols announced for Gilmer Schools

New COVID-19 protocols announced for Gilmer Schools

New COVID guidance released

Robbie Bills - Sports Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
With COVID-19 variants leading to an uptick in positive cases, the Georgia Department of Public Health continues to alter guidance for schools. The Gilmer County School System relayed the latest guidance from Jan. 6 to parents, staff and students in a Monday press release.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Gilmer County board passes 2022 budget

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Commissioners unanimously passed a budget for 2022 which provides for raises to county employees across the board. “The high point of it, over and above everything else, is the employee raises,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “We hope this helps us recruit and retain people.
From left, Albert and Cindy O’Shields, Jaiden Bauer and Roger Bunnell are pictured at a soup stand they recently set up near a Red Cross and FEMA emergency relief center in Bowling Green, Ky.

From left, Albert and Cindy O’Shields, Jaiden Bauer and Roger Bunnell are pictured at a soup stand they recently set up near a Red Cross and FEMA emergency relief center in Bowling Green, Ky.

Local couple reaches out to displaced Kentuckians

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Ellijay residents known for making boiled peanuts recently used their own resources and generosity to help people affected by the December tornadoes that ripped across eastern Kentucky.
Michael Smith cleans the veterans monument on the Ellijay town square.

Michael Smith cleans the veterans monument on the Ellijay town square.

New shine on veterans monument

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
The veterans monument on the Ellijay town square has a new shine after some recent work was done by employees of two area funeral homes.
Conductors for an upcoming spring concert by the Gilmer Arts Community Chorus will include Patrick Young, left, Hannah Carter, right, Charles Claiborne, below left, and Susan Gooch, below right.

Conductors for an upcoming spring concert by the Gilmer Arts Community Chorus will include Patrick Young, left, Hannah Carter, right, Charles Claiborne, below left, and Susan Gooch, below right.

Community chorus to hold spring concert auditions

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
A local community chorus will soon resume live performances, and additional voices are needed for its spring concert. The Gilmer Arts Community Chorus will hold auditions and chorus section placement Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse. Auditions begin at 6:30 p.m.
Ellijay Pepsi plant employees Michael Mull, Craig McFarland and Dwight Childers are pictured in front of the East Ellijay Walmart collecting for the plant’s Fill the Truck Food Drive.

Ellijay Pepsi plant employees Michael Mull, Craig McFarland and Dwight Childers are pictured in front of the East Ellijay Walmart collecting for the plant’s Fill the Truck Food Drive.

Pepsi plant drive brings needed items to food pantry

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
A holiday food drive led by Ellijay’s Pepsi distribution plant brought a truckload of needed items to the Gilmer Community Food Pantry last week.
NGEATFF Law Enforcement Coordinator Joe Gavalis and Vice President Kim Sherk working with Lindsey Wilson of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging, and Murray County Sheriff Jimmy Davenport in Chatsworth. We are training seniors on top ten ways to avoid senior scams prevalent over the holidays. Thank you, Kim Sherk, NGEATFF founding director and vice president (L-R: Joe Gavalis, Kim Sherk, Sheriff Jimmy Davenport, Lindsey Wilson).

NGEATFF Law Enforcement Coordinator Joe Gavalis and Vice President Kim Sherk working with Lindsey Wilson of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging, and Murray County Sheriff Jimmy Davenport in Chatsworth. We are training seniors on top ten ways to avoid senior scams prevalent over the holidays. Thank you, Kim Sherk, NGEATFF founding director and vice president (L-R: Joe Gavalis, Kim Sherk, Sheriff Jimmy Davenport, Lindsey Wilson).

Sights set on senior scammers

Mark Millican - Special to the Times-Courier
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Joe Gavalis was speaking at a seminar in a north Georgia town on scams targeting seniors when he noticed one attendee was becoming tearful. “She came up afterward and was crying,” said Gavalis, a retired federal agent who spent a career fighting organized crime and labor racketeering.