Become A Sponsor For The Christmas Clash Presented By Team FYN Sports
Featured November 29, 2018Team FYN Sports will be broadcasting live the Blue Ridge Christmas Clash. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Support your local youth and sports and market your company at the same time. Contact us now @ [email protected] or 706.276.6397
Fannin County EMA plans ahead for disaster relief
Fannin County EMA/EMS, News December 3, 2018Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Fannin County Emergency Management (EMA) team continues to move forward with preparedness for the future.
Throughout 2017 and 2018 Fannin County’s EMA made steps to secure the safety and readiness of the department due to projected growth in our area. Grants were applied for and received to better equipment our emergency personnel, and purchases were made by the county to handle residential expansion.
While disasters are rare in our area, they can happen and our EMA is preparing for an all case scenario.
Fannin County EMA Director Robert Graham approached the Fannin County Board of Commissioners (BOC) earlier this year to seek approval for obtaining bid contracts that would take effect if a situation arose that required more than the county is equipped to handle.
At the Nov. 27 BOC meeting Graham was present to open sealed bids that had been received.
The number of bids was surprising as Fannin County Attorney Lynn Doss opened a total of nine packages received from disaster relief businesses across the nation.
“Did you tell these people that we have golden roof tops up here or something?” Post 1 Commissioner Earl Johnson joked as the bids were opened.
“I wish we could have gotten this many bids on anything else we do,” Johnson added on a serious note. “In six years, I have never seen this many bids.”
Graham explained the purpose of the contracts: “This is bids for pre-contracts that would be in place in case we have a disaster. We do not pay anything at this time and unless we activate the contract we don’t ever pay anything. It’s there in case we need additional resources to help remove a lot trees, a lot more than we can handle with our own resources.”
According to Graham the debris removal goes beyond just downed trees, it could include garbage, housing material, or hazardous waste to name a few.
Fannin County Chairman Stan Helton added about having a contract in place, “This is really just to put us in a position for additional federal funds.”
“It’s nice to have this in place,” Graham stated verifying Helton’s comment, “It makes us eligible for an additional 2 percent of disaster match money, should there be a disaster.”
The following companies responded to Fannin County’s request for this pre-contract bid:
Cres Environmental Services (Sarasota, Fl.)
Custom Tree Care Disaster Response (Topeka, Ks.)
Disaster Debris Removal (Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.)
DRC Emergency Services (Galveston, Tx.)
Graham County Land Company (Robbinsville, Nc.)
KDF Enterprises (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Southern Disaster Recovery (Washington, Ga.)
Phillips and Jordan (Knoxville, Tn.)
TRF Enterprises (Lanier, Tx.)
No action was taken in awarding a winning bidder for this contract. Graham requested time for his team to thoroughly review each bid, stating that credentials and references would need to be confirmed: “We’re going to have to vet the companies and make sure they are qualified to provide these services and that they have resources to provide the services as they say they do.”
Graham hopes to have a decision made to present to the BOC during one of the January 2019 meetings.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected]
Clay Co. Lion’s Club Dancing Through The Decades Fundraiser
Community August 21, 2018The Clay County Lions Club is hosting a Fundraiser on Saturday evening, September 22, 2018, from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm in the beautifully renovated Fellowship Hall of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located at 1433 US Hwy 64, Hayesville, NC.
The Fundraiser will be an evening of great music from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s with a live DJ, a spectacular dance, a fabulous dinner by Amazing Grace Caterers, dozens of door prizes, and an available cash bar.
Tickets are $60 per person and are available at the Historic Hayesville Centennial Exhibit, Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Tiger’s Department Store and Bella Boutique in Downtown Hayesville.
Tickets are also available from any Clay County Lions Club Member, and at the Towns County Chamber of Commerce and Monte Alban Restaurant in Hiawassee. A portion of each ticket may be tax deductible.
100% of the net proceeds will go to further the Lions Club’s charitable activities in Clay County, including the providing of free eye exams and eyeglasses to residents in need; donations to local charities such as Clay County Community for Students, Christmas Care of Clay County, the VFW and Shop with a Hero all to help children in need in Clay County; support of Historic Hayesville, Inc.; and recent work to rehab the covered Lions Pavilion at the Clay County Recreation Park that is used by so many residents and visitors to Clay County. For further information, contact Neil Kaplan at (703) 725-9819
Benton MacKaye Trail Association Press Release
Community December 6, 2017PRESS RELEASE:
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) is seeking volunteers to help with trail maintenance for an upcoming work trip.
According to Barry Allen, Georgia work trip coordinator for the BMTA, a work trip is planned for Saturday, Dec. 9, on a section of trail near Fall Branch Falls in Fannin County. This month’s Georgia work trip will focus on completing the re-route at Fall Branch Falls. Allen stated there are a few more steps needing to be installed, which will require hauling timbers, along with a 50-foot section of trail to dig. Also, a number of water diversions just upstream from the falls will be put in place.
Allen hopes to have work completed for the day around lunchtime and mentioned he would bring his grill with him if the weather is nice to grill some burgers and brats for a post-work lunch.
All work trip participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeve pants and shirts, work gloves and, for cold-weather trips, multiple thin layers that can be easily shed one at a time. Also, a daypack for storing food, water or other items is always a good idea for work trips. Food and water are not supplied by the BMTA on work trips; however, tools are provided by the Association. The BMTA recommends workers to bring at least two liters of water for the trip.
Those interested can meet either at The Iron Bridge Café and General Store on Aska Road across from Shallowford Bridge, at 8:00 a.m. or at Fall Branch Falls at 9 a.m.
The Benton MacKaye Trail spans three states – Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina – and nearly 300 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Davenport Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is enjoyed by thousands of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts each year.
For anyone with questions or needing further information, contact Barry Allen at [email protected] or 770-294-7384.
Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) Press Release
Community November 20, 2017PRESS RELEASE:
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) is seeking volunteers to help with trail maintenance for an upcoming work trip.
According to Barry Allen, Georgia work trip coordinator for the BMTA, a work trip is planned for Saturday, Nov. 25, on a section of trail within the Big Frog Wilderness Area in Tennessee. Blowovers and downed trees will be the focus of the work trip, and Allen hopes to assemble a team of six to seven sawyers to work the trail south of Forest Service Road 221. Participants in this trip can expect about a five-mile out and back hike, Allen said.
Depending on the turnout and the number of certified crosscut workers, a second team may work another section of the BMT that follows Dry Pond Lead Trail north to Kimsey Hwy. (FS 68). Allen stated this section has not been worked in over a year and will likely also need lopper work even if only a few trees are down. This section is four miles one way and is a gradual uphill climb.
All work trip participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeve pants and shirts, work gloves and, for cold-weather trips, multiple thin layers that can be easily shed one at a time. Also, a daypack for storing food, water or other items is always a good idea for work trips. Food and water are not supplied by the BMTA on work trips. The BMTA recommends workers to bring at least two quarts of water for the trip.
Those interested can meet either at The Home Depot in Blue Ridge, Georgia, at 8:30 a.m. or at Thunder Rock Campground eight miles west of Ducktown, Tennessee, off of U.S. Hwy. 64 at 9 a.m.
The Benton MacKaye Trail spans three states – Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina – and nearly 300 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Davenport Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is enjoyed by thousands of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts each year.
For anyone with questions or needing further information, contact Barry Allen at [email protected].
2017 Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament Begins Saturday
Uncategorized November 17, 2017Fannin County High School is all set to host the 2017 Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament this Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. This year there are only four teams participating in the tournament, with Gilmer, Pickens and Hiwassee Dam all set to enter the gym for round-robin play. The tournament schedule is listed below:
Sat: 3 p.m. Girls: Gilmer vs. Pickens (boys play at 4:30 p.m.)
6 p.m. Girls: Fannin vs. Hiwassee Dam (boys play at 7:30 p.m.)
Mon: 3 p.m. Girls: Pickens vs. Hiwassee Dam (boys play at 4:30 p.m.)
6 p.m. Girls: Fannin vs Gilmer (boys play at 7:30 p.m.)
Tues: 3 p.m. Girls: Gilmer vs. Hiwassee Dam (boys play at 4:30 p.m.)
6 p.m. Girls: Fannin vs. Pickens (boys play at 7:30 p.m.)
The #TeamFYNSports “Fetch Force” will be courtside throughout the event, tweeting updates on our @TeamFYNSports twitter and uploading photos, videos and brief interview clips onto our TeamFYNSports facebook page throughout the tournament. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for full coverage of the games.
Man who “sextorted” 12-year-old Girl Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence
State & National November 10, 2017MAN WHO “SEXTORTED” 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL RECEIVES
10-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE
ATLANTA – Gerardo Perez Uribe has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for coercing a minor girl in North Carolina to produce child pornography of herself and send it to him over the Internet.
“‘Sextortion’ is a growing problem on social media sites,” said U. S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Our office along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners encourage parents to help us target those who seek to prey on children by watching what your children are doing on the Internet, and who they are communicating with. Most children do not understand the dangers that may lurk on the Internet, and can easily fall victim to predators like Uribe.”
“Social media sites are a convenient way for young children to network with their friends and family, but unfortunately, they also make children easy targets for online predators like Uribe,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office. “Our Crimes Against Children unit is dedicated to weeding out sexual predators who troll the internet for unsuspecting children. They can’t do it alone and that’s why it is so important for parents to educate their children and monitor their activities on social media sites.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In the summer of 2014, Perez Uribe met a 12-year-old girl on Facebook. He first told her that he was 13-years-old but later claimed to be 25-years-old. He asked the girl to send him nude images of herself, and she did. After receiving the images in August 2014, Perez Uribe took over the girl’s Facebook account, changed her password, and locked her out of the account. He then threatened to post the girl’s nude images on her Facebook page if she refused to send him more nude photos of herself. The victim believed Perez Uribe’s threat and sent him four photographs of herself that met the federal definition of child pornography. The girl’s parents discovered the crime and reported the incident to the Cabarrus County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and then referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation once Perez Uribe was located in Georgia.
Gerardo Perez Uribe, 32, of Rex, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty on August 24, 2017. He was born in Mexico but was living in the United States as a permanent resident. He will be deported to Mexico after he completes his prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cabarrus County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul R. Jones and Mary Webb prosecuted the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Senators Release Bipartisan Recommendations For Economic Growth In Appalachia
Politics, State & National September 15, 2017Park Sterling Merging With South State Corporation
News April 28, 2017According to a recent release by South State Bank, a definitive agreement has been signed with Park Sterling Corporation, holding company for Park Sterling Bank.
The release also states, “Combining the two companies will create a $14.5 billion in assets franchise operating throughout the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia.”
While both boards have reportedly approved the merger unanimously, the merger will actually begin transitioning in the fourth quarter of 2017 and continue with systems conversions into the first quarter of 2018 after approvals by regulatory boards and shareholders. At that time, Park Sterling Corporation will be merged into South State Corporation, and Park Sterling’s bank subsidiary, Park Sterling Bank, will be merged into South State’s bank subsidiary, South State Bank.
James C. Cherry, CEO of Park Sterling Corporation, commented on the merger stating, “Our team is proud to be partnering with South State to create what we believe will come to be recognized as the preeminent regional community banking franchise in the Southeast. This combination will substantially fulfill our vision of truly becoming big enough to have the talent and services necessary to help customers achieve their financial aspirations while still remaining small enough and passionate enough to care that they do.”
After the companies merge, Cherry will be appointed to the combined company’s board of directors in addition to another individual to be mutually agreed upon and named at a later date.
As of now, Park Sterling Bank has over 50 branches across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. According to South State’s release, “under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Park Sterling Corporation will receive 0.14 shares of South State common stock for each share of Park Sterling common stock. The aggregate consideration is valued at approximately $690.8 million in the aggregate, based on 53,112,726 shares of Park Sterling common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and on South State’s April 26, 2017 closing stock price of $91.90.”
Fire Closes Nantahala Gorge
Featured, News November 13, 2016A 14-mile section of U.S. 74/N.C. 19 in Swain County has been closed due to debris from nearby wildfires.
The stretch of road, which goes through the Nantahala Gorge, will be closed to all traffic until officials deem the area safe for residents and visitors.
Crews from the Department of Transportation have established a 30-mile detour around the closure, which will add longer travel time for motorists driving in Western North Carolina.
Southbound traffic is being detoured on the following route: North on N.C. 28 to Stecoah, south on N.C. 143 in Robbinsville, then south on U.S. 129 to Topton. Northbound traffic will follow that route in reverse.
Fires in the area have resulted in loose debris and rocks tumbling to the U.S. 74/N.C. 19 creating dangerous situations.
Transportation officials remind motorists that wildfires create smoke that can quickly reduce visibility. Motorists are advised to slow down, obey all posted signs and add extra time into upcoming plans.
Visit the Traveler Services Section of NCDOT.gov for real-time traffic information at follow NCDOT on Twitter.
Transgender Bathrooms in Fannin County Public Schools
News May 12, 2016Fannin County Board of Education is expecting a protest during the public comments section at the Fannin County Board of Education monthly meeting on Thursday, May 12th. The protest centers around transgender bathrooms in the schools in Fannin. Members of protest groups have confirmed to FetchYourNews that they are planning a protest for the meeting, but have not disclosed the exact points of their protest. Likewise, the Board of Education cannot say what the exact points of the protest will be because, if it occurs, it will be during the public comments section on Thursday.
The protest arises on the heels of a decision in Virginia in which a Federal Appeals Court ruled that a transgender high school student has a right to use bathrooms that correspond with the high school student’s chosen gender.
The US Justice Department, US Department of Education and the Federal Appeals Court refer to the Title IX Amendment when making decisions about transgender student rights. Title IX, a civil rights amendment, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded education programs and activities. Subsequent interpretations of the law show that “gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notion of masculinity or femininity” comes under the umbrella of sex discrimination.
Title IX has often been used to push progress against intentional and/or institutional sexual discrimination. In the 1990’s, Title IX forced schools to add girls’ and women’s sports teams. The lack of or very few sports alternatives for females at school amounted to gender discrimination. Because of Title IX, organizations like US Women’s Soccer, the WNBA and countless high school softball teams have been able to recruit, fund and train female athletes.
There has been speculation throughout the county that a student, not the anticipated protest, is why the Board of Education will have to discuss transgender bathrooms at the Board meeting. FetchYourNews asked the system if there is a transgender student in the Fannin school system. The Board of Education absolutely cannot answer that question. FERPA, a precise and strict rule about student privacy, forbids it. FERPA is the same rule that prohibits a teacher from telling your next-door neighbor how your child is doing in school.
The Board of Education has contacted its attorney. Philip Hartley of Harben, Hartley and Hawkins to advise in the case. FetchYourNews understands from an unnamed source that at this time Mr. Hartley has advised Fannin County to follow civil rights (Title IX) and privacy (FERPA) rules because it is not a case they want to fight in court. Hartley also advised that simply converting a faculty restroom into a gender-neutral bathroom is not an option because it spatially stigmatizes a student the same ways Whites-Only and Coloreds-Only theater sections stigmatized non-white audience members.
Indeed, the repercussions for taking on a battle over if or where to place gender neutral bathrooms has cost local and state government entities a lot of headaches. Just look to north of the Fannin County line in North Carolina. The North Carolina law states that people must use the bathroom that corresponds to the gender listed on the person’s birth certificate. Because of this decision, companies and conferences are pulling out of North Carolina. The University of North Carolina system risks losing $1.4 billion in federal funds because of the state government’s stance on transgender bathrooms.
The Fannin County Board of Education stands between a rock and a hard place if it must provide transgender bathrooms in schools. On the one hand, rumors of protests against transgender bathrooms show that the community is not in support of it. On the other hand, federal anti-discrimination laws require that the school system provides equal and similar restroom facilities for all types of students. If the system does not provide transgender bathrooms then it will lose federal funds which are essential for running the school system. And, just like the US Justice Department is suing North Carolina over its transgender bathroom law, Fannin County could be sued by the US government for not providing transgender bathrooms.