Local

Kevin Johnson, Julie Johnson, Brenda Weaver

Kevin Johnson, Julie Johnson, Brenda Weaver

Chief magistrate sworn in

News Staff
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
New Gilmer County Chief Magistrate Kevin Johnson, left, is sworn in for his first term by Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver, right. Holding the Bible is Johnson’s wife, Julie. 
Becky Marshall, Scott Chastain, Danny Marshall

Becky Marshall, Scott Chastain, Danny Marshall

Marshall sworn in for third term as tax commissioner

News Staff
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Gilmer County Probate Judge Scott Chastain swears in Becky Marshall, left, for her third term as the county’s tax commissioner. Pictured holding the Bible is Marshall’s husband,  Danny. 
Pritchett, Parks, Pflueger and Chastain

Pritchett, Parks, Pflueger and Chastain

School board members sworn in

News Staff
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Gilmer County Board of Education members Doug Pritchett (post 3), Michael Parks (post 1) and Joe Pflueger (post 2)  are pictured with Probate Judge Scott Chastain after being sworn in for new terms on the school board starting Jan. 1. 
Santa (Jack Senterfitt) Zooms into a visit with a local elementary school class.

Santa (Jack Senterfitt) Zooms into a visit with a local elementary school class.

Santa goes Zoom, vroom for school visits

Michael Andrews - Mountain Life Editor
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
A Cherry Log man who’s provided Santa visits for local elementary schools the last several years initially thought the COVID-19 pandemic would nix all plans for such visits in 2020.
Welcome 2021

Welcome 2021

What are your hopes for 2021?

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
2020 was certainly one of the most memorable years in recent history and a new year is right around the corner. We would like to know what you want to happen in 2021 — locally, nationally or globally. How do you want next year to be better or different than this one?
Mountain View Elementary’s Tina Watkins is joined by Gilmer High entrepreneurship students who delivered Christmas gifts to MVE last Tuesday.

Mountain View Elementary’s Tina Watkins is joined by Gilmer High entrepreneurship students who delivered Christmas gifts to MVE last Tuesday.

150 elementary students receive gifts

Robbie Bills - Sports Editor
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
The Christmas season was a little more merrier for 150 Gilmer students. A truckload of gifts made its way to Gilmer’s elementary schools last Tuesday and was delivered by students in Josh Snider’s entrepreneurship class at Gilmer High School.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Donors offer $400,000 for animal shelter

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Two unnamed donors have approached Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris with a Christmas present for the county animal shelter, a donation of $200,000. Paris told commissioners earlier in the month a donor approached him about donating $200,000 if the county would match the money.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Gilmer’s 2021 budget set

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Gilmer County commissioners passed a budget for 2021. In a departure from previous years, the commission approved the maintenance and operations budget, the capital outlay budget and the debt service budgets separately. All passed unanimously at a special meeting Dec. 18.
Fifth grader Ja’lan Garrett hugs the Grinch (Melanie Sanford), who brought along an ersatz reindeer, Hope Johnson, to distribute the books.

Fifth grader Ja’lan Garrett hugs the Grinch (Melanie Sanford), who brought along an ersatz reindeer, Hope Johnson, to distribute the books.

The Grinch goes to school

Robbie Bills - Sports Editor
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Mountain View Elementary teacher Carly Chron wanted to encourage reading and give her students a gift for Christmas. Using social media, she asked people to donate by picking a number from one-19 and then matched the number with a book for a student.