EAST ELLIJAY, Ga, – Gilmer Schools are celebrating this week as the Gilmer County Board of Education has been awarded the designation of 2021 Quality Board by the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA). According to the GSBA, the Board Recognition Program is a 3 tier process to achieve the highest level in board governance. The […]
Read More »City of Ellijay to discuss removal of downtown parking Monday
ELLIJAY, Ga. – More than just citizens living inside the city limits, people from East Ellijay and all over Gilmer County outside of either city’s limits have been voicing opinions and concerns over the loss of parking on the square and down River Street. This Monday, October 15, 2021, will see the Ellijay City Council […]
Read More »Gilmer BOC receives Audit Report
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Receiving their Audit Report, Gilmer County saw a generally good audit, with most portions finding no deficiencies and the company delivering a “clean, unmodified opinion.” According to the Rushton audit report, the county’s general Audit Opinion Letter reported as clean and unmodified, meaning that the company’s opinion is that financial statements were […]
Read More »Apple Festival first weekend sets records for vendors
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Looking at record setting festivals like 2016, a single weekend reaching about 26,000 people visiting the Apple Festival, according to the Gilmer Chamber, may not seem like a record setting weekend. But the record comes from spending according to vendor reports that Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Grimmer shared with FYN. Friday […]
Read More »Scarecrows vandalized in Harrison Park
ELLIJAY, Ga. – A month long fall celebration in Ellijay saw a disappointing weekend as Harrison Park offered a statement confirming vandalism of scarecrows in the park. Saturday night, October 9, 2021, nine scarecrows were destroyed in varying degrees and were later discovered Sunday morning. According to Harrison Park, some could be easily repaired, but […]
Read More »Funding projects through the American Rescue Plan
ELLIJAY, Ga. – While mostly focused on Hazard Pay for county employees, Gilmer County discussed possible areas of need and opportunity for the funding from the American Rescue Plan to go towards. The county discussed a number of options including HVAC Repairs, workforce housing, an ambulance, possibly passing on some funding to non-profits in the […]
Read More »Sheriff’s K9 units Milo and Novak receive new protective vests in donation
ELLIJAY, Ga. – “Invaluable.” This is the word that Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson used to describe the K9 units when they are needed for work that he calls “apprehension.” But even that is only a third of the value that he says the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office receives from K9 units Milo and Novak. […]
Read More »Highway 382 roundabout project now in use as final stages commence
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Highway 382 has seen construction on the roundabout project to connect a direct route to Highway 515 for nearly a year. The Georgia Department of Transportation project began in the latter half of 2019 despite the COVID-19 outbreaks and is still continuing today. However, the project has hit the point now where […]
Read More »County considering hazard pay for employees with American Recovery Plan
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Struggling through the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, many employees working for Gilmer County have tested positive over the last two years and all have seen major risks of exposure during that time, according to the Gilmer Board of Commissioners (BOC). This is why, the board stated, they wanted to look at […]
Read More »Apple Festival sets final preparations for returning celebrations
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Whether its a time when you stock up and stay home or a time when you meet the coming crowds to tour the grounds, two weekends in October undoubtedly change the face of Gilmer County every year with the Georgia Apple Festival. Except, that wasn’t true last year. Amid the pandemic, the […]
Read More »Gilmer to contract compaction testing in developments
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer is moving forward with contracting out some testing and inspections for compaction with regards the subdivisions coming into the county. According to a presentation from Planning and Zoning Director Karen Henson, a quote was requested to have Geo-Hydro Engineers, Inc. take over “compaction testing and drainage inspections on new subdivisions.” Currently, […]
Read More »County approves Clear Creek baseball fields repair under FEMA Project
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Due to the increasing storms of late, weather damage has been a consistent issue for residents of Gilmer County as well as those in public service and electricity attempting to keep roads clear and power lines up. However, another of the county’s departments felt the damage out Clear Creek Road at […]
Read More »A pound and a half of Meth found in single car traffic stop
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on social media today reporting a single traffic stop. A normal traffic stop is nothing of import except that this stop resulted in the seizure of 1.69 pounds of methamphetamine. For reference, federal guidelines referencing the United States Sentencing Commission dictate a minimum sentence […]
Read More »BOE approves plan for temporary “retention pay”
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Utilizing CARES Act funds, a plan was presented this month for the Board of Education to institute “Retention Pay” for classified employees who make less than $12 per hour. According to Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley, the CFO and Director of Finance, Trina Penland presented the idea originally when considering the CARES […]
Read More »Gilmer looks to cut off TikTok trend with parents’ help
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – News sites have recently reported numerous cases of vandalism and destruction of property in schools across the country due to a new “trend” on TikTok called the “Devious Lick.” With arrests, convictions, school expulsions, and many other ramifications coming from these activities, the administration within our local county is attempting to […]
Read More »Animal Shelter designs give insight to expansion possibilities
ELLIJAY, Ga. – With formal approval for the Gilmer County Animal Shelter expansion and two generous donations made for funding the project, discussion now turns to designs and plans for the project. As previously reported from the Commissioners’ September meetings, there does already exist plans for the project. However, these plans now have to go […]
Read More »