Politics

The Board of Elections and Registration of Rabun County reports these Absentee Voting Totals for the election on May 21, 2024, as of May 7, 2024. Number of Persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued by mail total: 302. Republican: 234. Democrat: 61. Non Partison: 1. UOCAVA Rep.: 5.

The Rabun County Clerk of Court’s Office announces that jury duty for May 6th has been canceled. All jurors pulled for the week of May 6th do not need to report. The Rabun County Clerk of Court’s Office thanks you for your willingness to serve.

Tallulah Falls School (TFS) announces that long-time TFS board member Gewene Womack was recently recognized with a commendation from the State of Georgia for her commitment to education and community through her exceptional contributions to TFS and her hometown of Cartersville, GA. During the April Board of Trustees meeting, TFS President and Head of School Dr. Larry A. Peevy applauded Womack for her dedication and thanked her for her contributions to the TFS community.

The Board of Elections and Registration of Rabun County reports these Absentee Voting Totals for the election on May 21, 2024, as of May 2, 2024. Number of Persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued by mail total: 287. Republican: 225. Democrat: 61. Non Partison: 1. UOCAVA Rep.: 5.

The City of Clayton reports that Oak Crescent will be closed on Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024, for road repair. The street will be closed to allow Toccoa Natural Gas to repair the road due to a recent line installation. Residents and business owners/employees may access the road from the northern entrance that is marked one-way. Please use caution. The city thanks you for your patience.

The time displayed is local to the original 511 traffic site in Alabama. Local transportation authorities have reported that all lanes on Interstate 85 in Franklin, Macon County, have been reopened. Previously affected commuters can now expect a return to normal traffic conditions on this route. Motorists are advised to continue to drive with caution and to stay informed on current road situations as they develop.

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a Pill Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Pill Take Back Day will be held from 10am until 2pm as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The drop-off location remains the Main Office at 56 Boen Creek Rd in Tiger, and a staff member will be present to help with the collection. The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office will accept old or no longer needed prescription medication, in pill or liquid form, plus over-the-counter medicines and vitamins so those medications can be disposed of properly. Properly collecting and disposing of this medication will prevent damage to the environment from being disposed of in the wrong place and also prevent the medicines from reaching the hands of children or other individuals to protect them from harm. The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office asks that all medications be placed inside a sealed, see-through zip lock bag before delivery. The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office would also like to remind citizens that a Drug Collection Unit is located outside the Main Office. Citizens can bring their unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and place the contents into this Unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Macon County Schools may have to wait until the end of the summer for a decision on the athletic division restructuring coming down the pipe from the North Carolina High School Association. In the meantime, the board continues to hear from Macon Early College families who want to remain a part of high school sports in the county.

The towns of Sylva, Webster, Cullowhee and Cashiers are all connected by five lanes of chaos, better known as N.C. 107. Due to dangerous conditions on the thoroughfare, plans for upgrades have been in the works for over a quarter of a century and finally, those plans have started to come to fruition. But debate over the road’s future and the merits of the construction project are far from complete.

Emergency federal funding provided quick relief to school systems burdened by costs incurred during the COVID-19 Pandemic. For Macon County Schools, some of that funding provided the opportunity for additional art teachers. Now, with that federal funding coming to an end, those additional art positions could be in jeopardy. At...

In the first quarter of 2024, Rabun County Detention Center’s ‘Pathway to Achieve’ Learning Management system has recorded its highest level of ‘Engagement Rate’, 95%, which is more than any previous quarter since launching the program. Through Pay Tel’s intele TABLET, Rabun County detainees are provided a wide variety of educational and re-entry resources specifically designed to provide a path towards successful reintegration into society. The tablet and contents are provided at no cost to the detainees or the Sheriff’s Office through an agreement with Pay Tel Communications. The core of the tablet program is a holistic approach to empowerment, improvement, and stronger communities. RCDC detainees begin their journey by completing a comprehensive Risk/Needs assessment that will guide them to meaningful courses in categories such as Addiction Recovery, Anger Management and Parenting/Family Social Relationships. These three courses alone made up almost 300 assignments between January and March 2024. The program utilizes an incentive-based model so that detainees who successfully complete courses and knowledge tests are rewarded with credits that can be used for entertainment such as music, movies and games. There are over 1000 courses currently available to detainees with new coursework added continuously. Once completed, detainees can share their certificates and transcripts with family and friends as well as their attorney for presentation as part of their case. Other notable statistics during the first quarter include:

The City of Sky Valley announces that beginning at 8am on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Knob Drive will be temporarily closed from Tanglewood Condominiums to Walking Bear Lane while the Public Works crew replaces the culvert. Please use alternate routes during working hours. The city thanks you for your understanding and cooperation.

The Town of Franklin is applying for a $500,000 grant that would be used to start Phase 1 of the park planned for the Whitmire property in East Franklin. If awarded, the N.C. Parks and Recreation…

It will be easier to find a parking space at the polls on May 21st, says Rabun County Elections Director Tammy Whitmire. “The Elections Office will be providing a free shuttle service on May 21st for the Primary Election from the Clayton Baptist Church parking lot, located at 120 South Church Street in Clayton to the Elections Office front door and back to the parking lot. If you have any questions, please call the office at 706-782-1878, option 4.” Election Day for the Primary is May 21st with polls open from 7am to 7pm.

The May 21st Primary is right around the corner and those wishing to vote early can cast their ballots on April 29th, says Derik Pendrey, Elections Assistant with the Rabun County Elections Office. “Early Voting begins April 29th and runs through May 17th. We will be open two Saturdays for Early Voting, they will be on May 4th and May 11th. Hours of Early Voting are 9am to 5pm at the Elections Office, located at 184 South Main Street, Suite 102, in Clayton. Please have your photo ID ready and cell phone turned off. You can check your Voter Registration on your My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.” Election Day for the Primary is May 21st with polls open from 7am to 7pm.

Rabun County Schools is pleased to announce its participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) meal program following approval by the Rabun County Board of Education. This initiative aims to enhance student access to nutritious school meals at no cost to families. With this program, all students will now receive free lunch, in addition to the existing free breakfast and after-school meal services. This program runs on a 4-year cycle beginning in the 2024-2025 school year and will be reevaluated in 2028. While Rabun County Schools are excited to offer this valuable service, it’s important to clarify that certain “extras” typically purchased during lunch will not be covered by the free meal program. Rabun County Schools encourage families to be aware of this distinction. Rabun County Schools believe this program will positively impact students by ensuring they have access to healthy meals throughout the school day, contributing to their overall well-being and academic success. Rabun County Schools are committed to supporting the community and are delighted to implement this program for the benefit of students and families.

The Second Annual Cleaning Clayton’s 7 Cities Initiative was held Saturday throughout the county. One group of City of Jonesboro employees and volunteers met at Massengale Park Saturday morning and then worked at several locations within the city.

Habersham County Emergency Services recognized one of its longest serving employees during the county board of commissioners meeting on Monday, April 15. 82-year old Jimmy Yon first came to Habersham as a young man from Athens, attending Tallulah Falls School. After schooling he moved on to a job working for Georgia Power Co. within the hydro plant maintenance and operation departments.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger came to Clayton on Thursday, April 18, 2024, to present Rabun County Elections Director Tammy Whitmire with the Georgia Election Administration Golden Leader in Excellence (EAGLE) Award for her outstanding service in ensuring secure and fair elections. During the presentation, Raffensberger commented on the continued efficiency of Rabun County’s Board of Elections, noting that the office both exemplifies and showcases itself as a statewide model. The EAGLE Award honors the innovations, achievements, and best practices of county election offices to ensure safe, secure, accessible, and accurate elections provided transparently to Georgia’s voters.

Rabun County Schools report that during the April meeting of the Rabun County Board of Education, the board accepted the resignation of board member Molly Lima, who will be relocating with her family to Colorado at the end of the current school year. Rabun County Schools extends its sincere appreciation for Mrs. Lima’s eight years of dedicated service to the Rabun County School System. In light of this vacancy, Mr. Rick Story has been appointed to fulfill the remainder of Mrs. Lima’s term on the board. Rabun County Schools welcome Mr. Story and look forward to his contributions in serving the school community. Rabun County Schools are confident that his experience and commitment will benefit the district during this transitional period.