• Parker awarded Teacher of the Year

    Fannin County, Georgia, School System, Teacher of the Year, Chris Parker, Sabrina Howard, Brittany Newton, Christie Holtman, Karen Goode

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Fannin County School System honored exceptional educators in their annual celebration and named Chris Parker of Blue Ridge Elementary as Fannin County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year award was brought back this year after the school system was unable to participate in the award last […]

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  • Candidates Qualify for Blue Ridge City Election

    Blue Ridge city council candidates

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – Qualifying has officially come to an end for the upcoming City of Blue Ridge election and 13 candidates have thrown their respective hats into the ring. With much contention being expressed at recent City Council meetings, residents not only of the city but also of Fannin County as a whole, are […]

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  • Aquatic Center discussions continue

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – Discussions continue as Blue Ridge City Council Member Mike Panter asks County Commissioners to consider a feasibility study for a proposed aquatic center in Fannin County. “I am speaking not necessarily on behalf of the City Council,” Panter opened, stating that at the time he was speaking as a resident who […]

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  • Council overrides Mayor’s Veto

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Height, Zoning, Building, Restriction, Veto, Override, Fannin County, City Council, Post 1, Harold Herdon, Post 2, Rhonda Haight, Post 3, Mike Panter, Post 4, Robbie Cornelius, Post 5, Nathan Fitts, Mayor, Donna Whitener

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – City Council voted to override the Mayor’s veto of new height restrictions to be placed on future construction in the Central Business District (CBD) of the City of Blue Ridge. The most current ordinance that stood regarding building height placed the restriction at 60 feet. The new ordinance brings the height […]

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  • Ralston responds to Blue Ridge city manager issue

    SB 202 election reform city manager

    BLUE RIDGE, Ga –  Georgia Speaker of the House and District 7 Representative David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge) issued a response concerning the proposal of a city manager for Blue Ridge. Ralston stated that he does not have “a position on the merits of this idea.  [His] only objective is to be sure that […]

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  • RCut funding causes debate among City Officials

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The “look of impropriety” fueled debate over the City of Blue Ridge’s recent involvement in improvements to Highway 515. Previously the University of North Georgia (UNG) had approached the city looking for help in obtaining funds to create an RCut in the median of Hwy. 515. This RCut would allow motorists […]

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  • City Parking Contract to be investigated

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The City of Blue Ridge parking continues to be a topic of discussion as accusations and controversy surround the management of the paid municipal lots. Cesar Martinez, President of the Blue Ridge Business Association and Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, read from an incident report filed to EPS (Executive Parking […]

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  • Panter and Fitts give their opinion on recent affordable housing vote

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Affordable Housing, Beverly J. Searles Foundation, Philip Searles, Housing Authority, Traver Aiken, HUD, Family, Senior, Age Restrictive, Mineral Springs Drive, Fannin County, City Council, Post 1, Harold Herdon, Post 2, Rhonda Haight, Post 3, Mike Panter, Post 4, Robbie Cornelius, Post 5, Nathan Fitts, Mayor, Donna Whitener, Attorney, James Balli, Planning Commission, Family Connection, Sherry Morris

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – Councilmembers Mike Panter and Nathan Fitts are sharing their reasoning behind a recent controversial vote on a proposed housing project presented by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation. The following are direct statements from Panter and Fitts regarding their votes and opinions on the matter. From Councilmember Mike Panter Why I Voted […]

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  • Management of City Parking will not go out to bid

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Parking, Fannin County, City Council, Post 1, Harold Herdon, Post 2, Rhonda Haight, Post 3, Mike Panter, Post 4, Robbie Cornelius, Post 5, Nathan Fitts, Mayor, Donna Whitener, Attorney, James Balli, Executive Parking Systems, Shelli WoJohn, Bid, Process, Contract, veto

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – Tempers flared again as Blue Ridge City Council voted on whether it would be in the City’s best interest to put the management of municipal parking out to bid. In a second Special Called Meeting held on Friday, May 21, 2021, Council Member Nathan Fitts proposed that the City release Executive […]

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  • Council rejects rezoning request on affordable housing development

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Affordable Housing, Beverly J. Searles Foundation, Philip Searles, Housing Authority, Traver Aiken, HUD, Family, Senior, Age Restrictive, Mineral Springs Drive, Fannin County, City Council, Post 1, Harold Herdon, Post 2, Rhonda Haight, Post 3, Mike Panter, Post 4, Robbie Cornelius, Post 5, Nathan Fitts, Mayor, Donna Whitener, Attorney, James Balli, Planning Commission, Family Connection, Sherry Morris

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The proposed affordable housing project to be located on Mineral Springs Drive has come to a halt after a tie breaking vote denied the rezoning request put forward by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation. Emotions were high in a full room as City Council listened to sides both in support and […]

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  • Fannin County honors past Fire Chiefs

    Fannin County, Georgia, Fire Department, Emergency Management Agency, EMA, EMS, Fire Chief, Past, Present, Honor, Recognize, Larry Thomas, Darrell Payne, Tony Petty, Jack Worthey, Larry Waters, Walter Taylor, Robert Graham, Chairman, Jamie Hensley, Post 2 Commissioner, Glenn Patterson

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Fannin County Fire Department (FCFD) along with Fannin County EMA/EMS took time to recognize the past Fire Chiefs of Fannin County.  “It is an honor to be a part of this with you guys,” Fannin County Chairman Jamie Hensley was present to give his thanks: “The hard work and dedication […]

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  • Affordable housing project one step closer to coming to Blue Ridge

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Affordable Housing, Beverly J. Searles Foundation, Philip Searles, Housing Authority, Traver Aiken, HUD, Family, Senior, Age Restrictive, Mineral Springs Drive, Fannin County

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Beverly J. Searles Affordable Housing project is one step closer to coming to Blue Ridge. This comes after the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend moving forward with rezoning of certain acreage to R3 high density residential. The Beverly J. Searles Foundation, a Georgia based nonprofit that develops affordable housing, […]

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  • The Blue Coyote faces alleged ordinance violations

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, City, Blue Coyote, Alcohol, Licenses, Closed, Hearing, Court, Council, Mayor, Donna Whitener, Municipal Judge, Robert Sneed, Petition

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – City Council met Friday, April 30, 2020 in a special called meeting to appoint a Hearing Officer that will oversee a case involving the possible “suspension and revocation of an occupational tax certificate allowing for the sale of alcoholic beverages”. Blue Ridge Municipal Court Judge Robert Sneed will be put in […]

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  • Ramsey named new High School Principal

    Fannin County, Schools, School System, Board of Education, Principal, Assistant, Interim, Erik Cioffi, Debbie Decubellis, Scott Ramsey, Chad Galloway, Bobby Bearden

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – Dr. Scott Ramsey will be Fannin County High School’s new Principal after the Board of Education (BOE) voted 3-2 in favor of the hire for the 2021-22 school year. The search for Principal of Fannin County High School began in 2020 with then Principal Erik Cioffi giving his resignation. Cioffi resigned […]

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  • Blue Ridge playground reopens to the public

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – After much wait and debate, the playground at Blue Ridge City’s downtown park is officially reopen for public use. Several council members, Mayor and members of the city’s Street Department  met at the park on Thursday, April 22 to commemorate the reopening. The park had been closed for several months after […]

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  • Call for investigation into City delinquent tax matter

    Blue Ridge, Georgia, Fannin County, Censure, Conduct, City Council, Post 1, Harold Herdon, Post 2, Rhonda Haight, Post 3, Mike Panter, Post 4, Robbie Cornelius, Post 5, Nathan Fitts, Mayor, Donna Whitener, Attorney, James Balli, Sunshine Law, City Charter, Finance Director Alicia Stewart, Delinquent Taxes, Investigation, Tracie Jo Bracken, Audit Engagement Partner, Welch, Walker and Associates

    Blue Ridge, Ga. – The May meeting of the Blue Ridge City Council could see a motion to investigate uncollected taxes with the blame being laid on Mayor Donna Whitener and Finance Director Alicia Stewart. Council Member Rhonda Haight read from a prepared statement during the April meeting. Haight wanted to go on record to […]

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