LATEST NEWS

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for help locating Vaughn Callenback, 77, who has been missing since July 5. Callenback is an elderly white man with a grey beard. Those with any information should contact the sheriff’s office at (706) 782-3612.

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office reports Vaughn Callenback has been missing since July 5, 2024, and the Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating him. If you have any information, please contact the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office at 706-782‑3612.

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing person. Vaughn Callenback has been missing since July 2nd and the Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating him. If you have any information, please contact the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office.

The Rabun County Road Department announces a temporary road closure. Line Crew is planning on closing Bear Gap Rd (between #1007 Bear Gap Rd / #876 Bear Gap Rd) for 3 days, July 15-17 from 8am to 5pm.

The Rabun County Recreation Department is looking for two head coaches for its 10U girls volleyball program. It cannot begin the league until it has the coaches in place. Coaches will need to submit a coach’s application and pass a background check. These can be obtained at the Rabun County Rec Office. For more information, call 706-782-4600 if you are interested in being a coach.

Driving too fast for the conditions caused two recent wrecks in Rabun County. On July 7, 2024, at 5:38pm, the driver of a 2019 Nissan Altima hit a puddle on Georgia 15 at the intersection of Joy Bridge Road and then spun out hitting the guard rail. No one was injured in the wreck. On July 7, 2024, at 7:14pm, the driver of a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle took the curve on Bridge Creek Road too fast, slid off the road, and struck a clump of trees. No one was injured in the wreck.

Deputies of the Rabun County Sheriff’s Offices are investigating a criminal damage to property case in Rabun Gap. On July 1, 2024, a deputy was dispatched to an address on Old Coleman River. The victim stated all the windows of his cabin were busted out and the door to his skid steer was busted out as well. Nothing was taken from the residence. The total amount of damage done was estimated to be $2,700.

At the recent Mountain Judicial Task Force Meeting, Rabun County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Lieutenant Mark Gerrells led an active shooter training focusing on strategies to mitigate risk and ensure public safety during an active shooter incident. “This occurred at North Georgia Technical College. It’s a meeting that is done yearly with the Task Force. We had a lot of folks in attendance whether that be F.A.I.T.H., Power House, Circle of HOPE, and there were some other places there as well. The presentation consisted on how do we deal with active shooters, do we have proper plans in plans, is our security layered, and understanding the elements of run, hide, fight, when does that take place, and the pre-attack indicators. So, it really covered all bases as far as active shooters are concerned. We covered a lot of topics during that time.” Lt. Gerrells hopes the presentation taught. “Preparedness is huge. Making sure that they have the plans in place and that they have an idea of where to go. It’s one of those things, if you wait for something like this to happen you’re already behind the curve but if you’ve made those proper steps to be prepared you have a greater chance of survival and coming out on the other side of that incident.” The Mountain Judicial Task Force is composed of representatives from Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens counties.

Habitat for Humanity of Rabun County says mark your calendars, this is an event you don’t want to miss! Habitat is hosting Touch-A-Truck! This will be such a fun-filled day for all, especially since Habitat is partnering with the City of Clayton, who will later in the evening be hosting a Downtown Clayton Block Party.

It was a fairly busy holiday weekend for Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Wardens on area lakes. In the District 2 region, which includes Lakes Lanier and Hartwell, DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said that as of 9a Sunday, there had been several incidents on Lake Lanier, one incident on Lake Hartwell and a drowning on Lake Rabun.

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. - A north Georgia man has been found dead in Lake Rabun after disappearing overnight. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said they were called to a possible drowning at the lake on Saturday afternoon. According to officials, 39-year-old Dillard resident Robert Clinkscales had been last seen...

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. — A man who drowned during the Fourth of July weekend at Lake Rabun was identified by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Sunday morning. Game wardens were called out around 6:45 p.m. on July 6 regarding a possible drowning. When they arrived, wardens were told that 39-year-old Robert Clinkscales hadn't been seen since the day before, which was Friday around 10:30 p.m.

Crews recovered the body of a man who drowned in Lake Rabun, officials said, one of two deaths reported in Georgia’s wat...

This week, the Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority (RCWSA) heard the June 2024 report from General Manager Brendan Thompson. “The June 2024 ending balance on the RCWSA Operating Bank Account was $143,659.71. June 2024 Water System Total Billings were $387,928.62. June 2024 Wastewater System Total Billings were $168,668.72. June 2024 Water and Wastewater Total Billings were $556,597.34. June 2024 Accounts/Receivable were $267,107.90 as of June 30, 2024. In June, 124 work orders were completed. For the South Water System, Lake Rabun WTP pumped to distribution system volume for May 2024 was 26,582,000 gallons. Pumped to distribution system volume for June 2024 was 26,877,000 gallons; an increase of 295,000 gallons or 1.1% from May 2024 to June 2024. Customers’ June 2024 meter readings were done on June 21, 2024. Bills were sent out on July 3, 2024. There were six new connections for the month of June 2024. Unaccounted for water volume for the month of June 2024 was 6.7%. For the North Water System, Little Tennessee WTP pumped to distribution system for May 2024 was 19,633,000 gallons. Pumped to distribution system volume for June 2024 was 20,415,000 gallons; an increase of 782,000 gallons or 4.0% from May 2024 to June 2024. Please note that the RCWSA’s Standard Operating Procedures has water from the LTWTP being brought to the Mountain City’s Distribution System and the City of Clayton Distribution System through the Control Valve. Meter Reading and Bills were sent at the same time as the South Water System. There was one new connection for the month of June 2024. Unaccounted for water volume for the month of June 2024 was 53.2%. Total Water System Unaccounted-For Volume Percentage for the month of June 2024 was 27.4%. At the Rabun County Water Reclamation Facilities and Collection Systems, regular preventive maintenance on motors and machinery continues and grass mowing and weed-eating are ongoing. There was one new sewer connection for the month of June 2024.” In addition, fire hydrant maintenance and valve exercising is ongoing system-wide.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A 39-year-old man, whose body was recovered from Lake Rabun over the weekend, has been identified. Robert Clinkscales, was last seen around 10:30 p.m. Friday. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, his shoes and phone were found at the entrance of a boathouse the next day.

Lack of rainfall in recent weeks has left much of Georgia under dry conditions, including the northeast part of the state. The latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor lists Hall, Forsyth, Barrow, Jackson, Banks, Habersham, Stephens and Rabun counties under "moderate drought" conditions. Moderate drought is also being recorded in parts of Gwinnett, Dawson, Lumpkin, White and Towns counties, with parts of those counties also falling under a lower level intensity labeled "abnormally dry."