Local

Left is Caleb Arnold, owner of EverWilder Farm, displays his wares at the Gilmer County Heritage Day at Harrison Park festival. At right, Jason Richards with his daughter Della, 11, and son Hezekiah, 9. Della demonstrated how to make corn husk dolls to festival-goers, and Hezekiah spent lots of time showing other kids how to play old games.

Left is Caleb Arnold, owner of EverWilder Farm, displays his wares at the Gilmer County Heritage Day at Harrison Park festival. At right, Jason Richards with his daughter Della, 11, and son Hezekiah, 9. Della demonstrated how to make corn husk dolls to festival-goers, and Hezekiah spent lots of time showing other kids how to play old games.

Hundreds attend first Heritage Day festival

A unique collaboration between three local entities resulted in the recent Gilmer County Heritage Day at Harrison Park festival, with upward of 300 attendees. “It was a bit of a collaboration,” affirmed Linda Lancaster, director of the Friends of Harrison Park.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

No TSPLOST, no major changes

Gilmer County voters rejected a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). One cent would have been added to the county sales tax if the measure had passed.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

TSPLOST question fails to pass

Gilmer County will not have a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Registered voters opposed the measure 10,107 against to 7,590 in favor. The TSPLOST would have added a one cent sales tax in the county which would be designated for roads and bridges over the next five years.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

Half of Gilmer voters cast early votes

More than half of the registered voters in Gilmer County voted in early voting or mail-in absentees. A total of 12,553 Gilmer County residents out of 26,227 registered voters cast ballots during the three weeks of early voting and more than 900 used absentee ballots for a 51 percent turnout rate.
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Joe Burkhardt in his dress uniform. He retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4th Class after 23 years of service.

Warrant Officer 2nd Class Joe Burkhardt in his dress uniform. He retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4th Class after 23 years of service.

‘Shaken to the core’

As an Air Force “brat” who followed his father’s career around the world, Joe Burkhardt has seen a lot of military bases. However, it was his own pilgrimage in the U.S. Army that saw him serve two tours in Vietnam more than 50 years ago, one in artillery and the other as a helicopter pilot.
Times-Courier

Times-Courier

County approves Joint Comprehensive Plan

Gilmer County’s five-year Joint Comprehensive Plan update has received final approval from commissioners. “The big thing that it means is we can be a qualifying county,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “You don’t want to be an unqualified county.
Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day

Veterans Day celebration

Attention all veterans: Ellijay and Gilmer County will celebrate Veteran’s Day Monday, Nov. 11, from 8:30-10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church on Mccutchen Street.  Coffee and breakfast will be served by volunteers.
Madison Alina Grace Perez, Elizabeth “Rylie” Sue Henson, and Aspen Leigh Cagle

Madison Alina Grace Perez, Elizabeth “Rylie” Sue Henson, and Aspen Leigh Cagle

Three more face charges in death

Three more people, including a 15 year-old, have been charged in connection with the death of a Pickens County woman.  Madison Alina Grace Perez, 19, of Ellijay, was charged with felony murder. Elizabeth “Rylie” Sue Henson, 17, of Ball Ground, was charged with felony robbery.