Local

The downtown Ellijay roundabout’s curbing and shrubbery could see changes from future improvements being discussed by the Ellijay City Council.

The downtown Ellijay roundabout’s curbing and shrubbery could see changes from future improvements being discussed by the Ellijay City Council.

Roundabout changes talked at council workshop

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Mayor Al Hoyle and Ellijay City Councilmembers discussed possible improvements to the downtown roundabout during a workshop that preceded the council’s last meeting of 2021 Monday, Dec. 20.
Discarded Christmas trees are piled for recycling during one of Keep Georgia Beautiful’s past Bring One for the Chipper events. Instead of being chipped, trees collected in Gilmer County will be used as fish habitat at Carters Lake.

Discarded Christmas trees are piled for recycling during one of Keep Georgia Beautiful’s past Bring One for the Chipper events. Instead of being chipped, trees collected in Gilmer County will be used as fish habitat at Carters Lake.

Christmas tree recycling underway

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
As real Christmas trees come down after the holidays, Keep Gilmer Beautiful is offering a recycling option for the discarded evergreens.
Retiring Gilmer Head Start Director Beth McArthur, left, is pictured in the school’s library alongside new Head Start Director Kristina Jones.

Retiring Gilmer Head Start Director Beth McArthur, left, is pictured in the school’s library alongside new Head Start Director Kristina Jones.

McArthur retires as Head Start director

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
For the retiring director of Gilmer County’s Head Start program, the best part of the job has been working with children at their earliest level of education then seeing many of them grow to teens and adults. “I’ve really enjoyed seeing our children succeed in school and in life.
Santa Von Redman and his Mrs. Claus, wife, Sheryl.

Santa Von Redman and his Mrs. Claus, wife, Sheryl.

Hardworking Santa calls Ellijay home

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
An Ellijay man who just wrapped his busiest season of the year puts his all into being Santa. Von Redman, who’s a member of the Peachtree Santas, North Georgia Santas and the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, sometimes works up to three engagements a day in December.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Preliminary mobile home digest up almost $5 million

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The Gilmer County Board of Tax Assessors approved a preliminary version of the county’s 2022 Prebill Mobile Home Digest during its final meeting of 2021 last Thursday.  The preliminary mobile home digest total of $34.
An example of current wayfinding signage located near Highway 515.

An example of current wayfinding signage located near Highway 515.

Wayfinding signage update heard by DDA

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Members of the Ellijay Downtown Development Authority (DDA) were recently updated on a project being led by participants in a Gilmer Chamber leadership program.
Parkside Skilled Nursing Care resident Kristina Warren, right, receives gifts from Santa (Kristin Estermyer, of Willowbrook Hospice).

Parkside Skilled Nursing Care resident Kristina Warren, right, receives gifts from Santa (Kristin Estermyer, of Willowbrook Hospice).

Christian group brings gifts to Parkside residents

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Members of a local Christian group succeeded in their first-time effort to bring Christmas gifts to residents of a local nursing home. The outreach project by the Gilmer Christian Patriots provided Parkside Skilled Nursing Care residents with stuffed Christmas stockings just before the holiday.
Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store Inc. recently contributed to tornado relief efforts for western Kentucky. Recycle store volunteers pictured above include Stacy Graham, Marcia Phillips, Nancy Petenbrink, Liceann Strauss, Sherry Hooks, Barbara Fogle, Kay Findell, Nancy Hulsey, Susan Keener, Suzy Ganz, Sharon Clearly, Allan Tarr, Alan Lyndsey, David Brooks, Sharon Petty, Ray Brown, Bob Bennett, Beth Pigot, Millie Kelley, Frank Kelley and Marla Tierney.

Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store Inc. recently contributed to tornado relief efforts for western Kentucky. Recycle store volunteers pictured above include Stacy Graham, Marcia Phillips, Nancy Petenbrink, Liceann Strauss, Sherry Hooks, Barbara Fogle, Kay Findell, Nancy Hulsey, Susan Keener, Suzy Ganz, Sharon Clearly, Allan Tarr, Alan Lyndsey, David Brooks, Sharon Petty, Ray Brown, Bob Bennett, Beth Pigot, Millie Kelley, Frank Kelley and Marla Tierney.

Faith, Hope and Charity pitches in for Kentucky tornado relief

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Ellijay’s Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store Inc. recently made a donation of $5,000 to a relief effort for the city of Mayfield and Graves County, Ken. Both areas received extensive damage from a Dec. 10 and 11 tornado that hit western Kentucky.