Local

Eric Jason Watkins

Eric Jason Watkins

Man arrested on warrant

News Staff
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Gilmer County Sheriffs Office received credit for assisting in the arrest of a fugitive in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Eric Jason Watkins, 50, of Murphy, N.C., was arrested on a fugitive warrant from Virginia, according to a release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
Left, Gilmer County author Nan Flickinger reads her children’s book, “Ellie J’s Apples.” Right, Gilmer County author Mary Encinias celebrates her birthday. (Contributed photos)

Left, Gilmer County author Nan Flickinger reads her children’s book, “Ellie J’s Apples.” Right, Gilmer County author Mary Encinias celebrates her birthday. (Contributed photos)

Gilmer women write beautiful books

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Life experience and Gilmer County shape the work of local authors. Several of them will be featured in the upcoming Local Authors Forum event hosted by Friends of the Gilmer Library. The event will take place Saturday, April 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gilmer County Library’s Community Room.
Evan Snyder stands next to his plane a day after misunderstanding a presidential restricted air space warning.

Evan Snyder stands next to his plane a day after misunderstanding a presidential restricted air space warning.

Local pilot meets fighter jet in presidential airspace

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Gilmer pilot Evan Snyder got a shock when he saw an F-16 Fighting Falcon swoop past his cockpit. “You could see the missiles on the wingtips,” he said. “That was my sign to go home. Snyder is the co-owner of North Georgia Flight Training, a local aviation training and tour company.
Shown from left are Ben Arp, Ralph Cox, Curt Welch, George Winn, Jennifer Anderson, Fred McGill, Barbara Murray, Karleen Ferguson, Norma Lyons and Jan Wheeler.

Shown from left are Ben Arp, Ralph Cox, Curt Welch, George Winn, Jennifer Anderson, Fred McGill, Barbara Murray, Karleen Ferguson, Norma Lyons and Jan Wheeler.

A memorial groundbreaking

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Community leaders, veterans and veteran supporters start digging for a groundbreaking ceremony on a new memorial wall at Ellijay’s Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Cannery Supervisor Larry Young displays a set of canned foods produced at the Gilmer County Cannery.

Cannery Supervisor Larry Young displays a set of canned foods produced at the Gilmer County Cannery.

Cannery produces 10,888 units of canned food

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Gilmer County Cannery has proven it can can. With a mix of heavy rains and dry weather in summer, it wasn’t the best year for agriculture. “We had an extremely wet May and June,” Gilmer County Schools agriculture teacher Michael Bushey said.
Joe McCutchen, left, stands next to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, right.Gubernatorial candidate visits

Joe McCutchen, left, stands next to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, right.Gubernatorial candidate visits

Gubernatorial candidate visits

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Joe McCutchen, left, stands next to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, right, as Jones campaigns for governor of the state of Georgia. Jones visited Col. Poole’s BBQ in Ellijay Saturday, Feb. 21. 
State Senate candidate Philip Milam

State Senate candidate Philip Milam

State senate candidate visits

Jackson Elliott - Reporter
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
State Senate candidate Philip Milam speaks to voters at a Chateau Meichtry meet and greet event Thursday, Feb. 19. Milam is running for the 51st Georgia State Senate district, hoping to replace Republican State Senator Steve Gooch.
Gilmer County Deputy Dustin Cooper, Cpl. Rodney Sawyer and Sgt. Tommy Humphries were awarded Medal of Merits by Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson for actions they took to save the life of an individual.

Gilmer County Deputy Dustin Cooper, Cpl. Rodney Sawyer and Sgt. Tommy Humphries were awarded Medal of Merits by Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson for actions they took to save the life of an individual.

Board looks at banning foreign owners

Andy Ashurst - Publisher
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Foreign ownership of agriculture land could be banned if the commission chair gets his way. Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris has asked his fellow commissioners to allow the county attorney to come up with language for a ban.