Local

Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Tennessee man killed in crash

A Tennessee man was killed in a crash in Gilmer County. Ronald W. Bettis, 43, of Apison, Tenn., suffered fatal injuries in a crash which occurred Sunday, Sept. 26, at 12:27 p.m., according to Georgia State Patrol.
Following his memorial service at Ellijay First Baptist Church, Ron Gravett is escorted by members of the Special Operations Association Riders to Georgia National Cemetery in Canton on his final ride.

Following his memorial service at Ellijay First Baptist Church, Ron Gravett is escorted by members of the Special Operations Association Riders to Georgia National Cemetery in Canton on his final ride.

Green Beret combat vet Gravett escorted on final ride

While serving in Vietnam, Ron Gravett was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor for potentially saving the lives of several of his fellow soldiers during a Special Operations mission.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Ellijay council approves public safety pay increase

The Ellijay City Council approved a pay increase for city police and fire department employees when meeting Monday, Sept. 20, at City Hall.
Krystal Sumner, Gilmer Health Department nurse manager, preps a patient during last year’s drive-thru flu shot clinic.

Krystal Sumner, Gilmer Health Department nurse manager, preps a patient during last year’s drive-thru flu shot clinic.

Drive-thru flu shot clinic back at ETC Pavilion Oct. 7

Local residents will again be able to protect themselves against the flu without leaving their cars at an upcoming drive-thru flu shot clinic presented by the Gilmer Health Department. The drive-thru clinic will take place Thursday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m -1 p.m., at the ETC Pavilion on Legion Road.
Family of the late Cecil Mathews are joined by Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, center, Gilmer Post Two Commissioner Karleen Ferguson, left, and Gilmer Chamber president Jennifer Grimmer, second from left, for a dedication of the bridge over Turniptown Creek now named in memory of Mathews.

Family of the late Cecil Mathews are joined by Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, center, Gilmer Post Two Commissioner Karleen Ferguson, left, and Gilmer Chamber president Jennifer Grimmer, second from left, for a dedication of the bridge over Turniptown Creek now named in memory of Mathews.

Turniptown Creek bridge named for late sawmill owner Cecil Mathews

Members of a local family are happy to see their father’s name on new markers for the Highway 515 bridge across Turniptown Creek. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston recently joined several members of that family to unveil the new signs and dedicate the Cecil Mathews Memorial  Bridge.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Gilmer Board of Health hears COVID case, vaccine updates

Gilmer County is still seeing a high rate of new COVID-19 cases, but that number has declined recently, the director of the North Georgia Health District (NGHD) reported as the Gilmer County Board of Health met via teleconference last Tuesday.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

School bus mask mandate continues

Gilmer Schools have continued to see a decline in COVID quarantines and positive cases since both peaked Aug. 23. Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said Monday afternoon there are currently 195 students in quarantine, down from 1,100 four weeks ago.
Georgia Transmission representative Dawn Jones, right, helps local business owners Dewell Sanford and Terry Hensley look at maps showing the route of a subtransmission power line proposed to run along Highway 515.

Georgia Transmission representative Dawn Jones, right, helps local business owners Dewell Sanford and Terry Hensley look at maps showing the route of a subtransmission power line proposed to run along Highway 515.

Concerns, questions heard at open houses for power line route

A total of 75 people attended two public open house meetings held last week to address a subtransmission power line now routed to run along Highway 515.
Dream Flights crew chief Jenny Garza waves a 1943 Boeing Stearman biplane carrying World War II veteran John Otwell and pilot Hunter Stuckey off the runway of the Gilmer County Airport. Three WWII veterans from Blue Ridge went up in the vintage plane last Tuesday.

Dream Flights crew chief Jenny Garza waves a 1943 Boeing Stearman biplane carrying World War II veteran John Otwell and pilot Hunter Stuckey off the runway of the Gilmer County Airport. Three WWII veterans from Blue Ridge went up in the vintage plane last Tuesday.

World War II veterans take to skies with Dream Flights

Three World War II veterans from Blue Ridge took to the skies last week as part of a nonprofit’s trek across the eastern U.S. The Dream Flights, conducted by the visiting organization of the same name, were hosted at the Gilmer County Airport.