LATEST NEWS

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a felony theft by taking case in Tiger. On June 22, 2024, a deputy responded to Covecrest Camp on Falls Drive in reference to lost or stolen property. The victim said he left his Taylor Acoustic Guitar, valued at $2,500, in a case in the fellowship hall. When he went to retrieve it, it was missing. He searched the building and other parts of the property and asked campers and staff, but no one knew anything about the missing guitar. He requested a report for documentation purposes.

Rabun County Sheriff’s Office deputies worked four recent wrecks in the county. On June 23, 2024, at 5:20pm, deputies were dispatched to Sandy Ford Road where the driver of a 2008 Honda Pilot lost control while negotiating a curve, traveled onto the shoulder of the road, struck a tree, and rolled on its side. No one was injured in the accident. On June 24, 2024, at 4:45pm, deputies responded to a vehicle accident on Davis Gap Road. The driver of a 2020 Ram 4500 reacted to an oncoming pickup truck that was driving in the middle of the road and went off the road into a ditch. No one was injured in the accident. On June 25, 2024, at 2:05pm, deputies were dispatched to Persimmon Road for a two-vehicle accident. The driver of a 2020 Ford Transit failed to yield to the driver of a 1998 Ford F150. No one was seriously injured in the wreck. On June 25, 2024, at 8:20pm, a deputy responded to the area of East Wolf Creek Road and Lilac Lane in reference to a single-vehicle accident. The driver of a 2003 Lexus lost control while negotiating a curve and skidded across the road into a ditch. No one was injured in the accident.

Fireworks are synonymous with the 4th of July and many will be celebrating the country’s birthday with them. However, fireworks are dangerous. Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch offers these safety tips if you plan to celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks. “We encourage everybody to have a good time over the 4th of July weekend but you always have to be safe and we don’t want anybody hurt or worse. Some statistics about fireworks, they start an average of 18,500 fires per year including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires cause an average of 3 deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and $43 million in direct property damage in the U.S. every year. One thing that seems very harmless but can actually be of cause for concern with injuries is the sparklers. The tips of sparklers can get up to 1200 degrees, so we need to be very careful when we are letting children play with sparklers. Sparklers actually account for one-quarter of firework injuries every year. Never allow children to handle or ignite fireworks. Don’t wear loose clothing while using fireworks. Never light them indoors or near dry grass. Point the fireworks away from homes, brush, leaves, and flammable substances. Be sure other people are out of range before igniting the fireworks. In case something happens and the device doesn’t go off, don’t stand over it to investigate it, pour water over it, and then dispose of it. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby. Of course, if someone is injured or anything happens with a fire, call 911.” Please follow this safety advice about fireworks from the Rabun County Fire Department and have a safe 4th of July.

North Georgia Credit Union (NGCU) was recently honored by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU & Affiliates) as the 2023 “Credit Union of the Year” for the state of Georgia in the category for up to $500 million in assets. This marks the third time...

The Rabun County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget at a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Rabun County Commission Chairman Greg James gives details. “We did approve the budget. The budget was just a little over $29 million, which is a slight increase from last year but we do expect to roll the millage rate back so there will be a net zero difference as far as tax increases are concerned.” Chairman James thanks the county staff for their hard work on the budget. “A lot of work goes into it. Chief Financial Officer David Conley and County Administrator Darrin Giles, accolades go out to them. But I want to thank the Boards and Authorities, our Department Heads, our Constitutional Officers, the Administration, and certainly, the Board of Commissioners. It is an arduous process but it should be because we need to spend tax money wisely and make sure that we get services out there that benefit our citizens.” The 2025 Fiscal Year runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. A summary of the budget will be available in the coming days on https://rabuncounty.ga.gov/finance/page/budget-summaries.

Rabun County Recreation Director Roy Quilliams says the 9th Annual Rec Shootout at The Orchard on June 18, 2024, was a huge success. “It was a great day. The weather was perfect. It started out really cool, actually, as hot as it’s been and it warmed up a little bit but a great day for golf down at The Orchard. We had 60 golfers, lots of good sponsors, and lots of good prizes that were donated. Keith Woodard and Amy Caraway, that work here for me, did a great job putting it together. It was our ninth annual. It was just a great day. Everybody had fun that I’m aware of. Just about everybody hung around for the prizes at the end and it was just a great day.” To see pictures of the Rabun County Recreation Department’s 9th Annual Rec Shootout at The Orchard, visit https://www.facebook.com/RabunCountyRecreationDepartment/.