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Photo courtesy of Melissa Elzey. In each home, volunteers welcomed visitors and shared details about the property during the Lake Burton Tour of Homes on June 22.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Elzey. In each home, volunteers welcomed visitors and shared details about the property during the Lake Burton Tour of Homes on June 22.

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More than $80,000 raised for Rabun County nonprofits at Lake Burton Tour of Homes

News Staff
Thursday, July 18, 2024
The Lake Burton Civic Association (LBCA) hosted the biennial Lake Burton Tour of Homes event, displaying lakefront homes for the organization’s members and raising over $80,000 for Rabun County nonprofits on June 22. The LBCA Foundation will allocate the funds raised in the coming year.
Submitted photo. Diane White (from left), Patricia Jones, Christy and Charles Martin, Lin Goen, and Elizabeth Darby are all smiles after an afternoon spent with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.

Submitted photo. Diane White (from left), Patricia Jones, Christy and Charles Martin, Lin Goen, and Elizabeth Darby are all smiles after an afternoon spent with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.

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Award-Winning New York Times bestselling author Martin enchants local book clubs at Stonewall Creek Winery

News Staff
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Four book clubs — three from Lake Burton and one from Stonewall Creek — gathered at Stonewall Creek Winery for an intimate afternoon with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin on Wednesday, June 26.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Star football players Charlie Woerner, Gunner Stockton and Malaki Starks sit with Clayton Baptist Church Senior Pastor Joey Thompson on Ken Byrd Court in front of hundreds in the Rabun County High School gymnasium during last Sunday’s Night of Champions on July 14.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Star football players Charlie Woerner, Gunner Stockton and Malaki Starks sit with Clayton Baptist Church Senior Pastor Joey Thompson on Ken Byrd Court in front of hundreds in the Rabun County High School gymnasium during last Sunday’s Night of Champions on July 14.

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More than champions on the field

News Staff
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Rabun County High School hosted the first-ever “Night of Champions” with athletes with a spiritual message as the well-attended event was presented by community churches and businesses on Sunday evening, July 14.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Chris and Carson Moletz, right, enjoy viewing the detailed work of Jim Craig with his handmade knives during the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival July 13 and 14. Below: Submitted. At the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival, Sean and Ebony Wilson (left) were the Producers’ Choice Award winners for Best Booth with their woodworking. Sharon Mumbi (right) was chosen by show visitors and awarded the Peoples’ Choice for Best in Show with her mixed fiber-leather, beads and fabric.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Chris and Carson Moletz, right, enjoy viewing the detailed work of Jim Craig with his handmade knives during the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival July 13 and 14. Below: Submitted. At the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival, Sean and Ebony Wilson (left) were the Producers’ Choice Award winners for Best Booth with their woodworking. Sharon Mumbi (right) was chosen by show visitors and awarded the Peoples’ Choice for Best in Show with her mixed fiber-leather, beads and fabric.

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Painted Fern Art Festival has best membership ever

Megan Horn
Thursday, July 18, 2024
The 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival colored the town with unique talents and homemade creations from artists and artisans last weekend as crowds of people showed out to the two-day event presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild.

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Painted Fern Art Festival to color town

Megan Horn
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Clayton will be painted with strokes of colorful genius this weekend as the North Georgia Arts Guild presents the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival. The event will be held inside the Rabun County Civic Center, 201 W. Savannah Street, Clayton, on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A GoFundMe page called “A Young Life Taken Too Soon” was set up for his family and it surpassed $65,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. The fundraiser can be found at https://rb.gy/wvj6rq.

A GoFundMe page called “A Young Life Taken Too Soon” was set up for his family and it surpassed $65,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. The fundraiser can be found at https://rb.gy/wvj6rq.

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DUI suspect charged with vehicular homicide in church bus crash

News Staff
Thursday, July 11, 2024
The allegedly impaired driver from the River Point Community Church van crash has been charged with vehicular homicide and released on bail. Barry Thomas Clark, 64, of Hartwell was first arrested on June 29, the day of the crash at Highway 365 and Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Because of his commitment to the Town of Tiger, Tiger Park was dedicated to Jackie Watts in May 2021 and a plaque is displayed at the park in his honor.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Because of his commitment to the Town of Tiger, Tiger Park was dedicated to Jackie Watts in May 2021 and a plaque is displayed at the park in his honor.

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Watts remembered as mentor, dependable ‘good family man’ always helping others

Megan Horn
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Tiger city council member and former law enforcement officer Jackie Watts is remembered by his community as a dependable, respectful and dedicated “good family man” who loved the Lord and helped his neighbors along the way. He was a mentor to many and will be missed by family and countless friends.

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Is Celebrate Clayton coming back to downtown?

News Staff
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Celebrate Clayton may be coming back to downtown. Kathy Ford of the North Georgia Arts Guild informed the CMBA members Monday evening the group’s new event Sassafras has not generated as much money as needed to fund the scholarships that are annually presented to high school seniors.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The annual Rubber Duck race had over 500 entries with children and their families cheering on their ducks as they floated to the finish line. Below: Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Tom DesOrmeaux and Caroline Cobb, 2, don patriotic apparel and wave a flag while awaiting the start of the Sky Valley Independence Day rubber duck race.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The annual Rubber Duck race had over 500 entries with children and their families cheering on their ducks as they floated to the finish line. Below: Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Tom DesOrmeaux and Caroline Cobb, 2, don patriotic apparel and wave a flag while awaiting the start of the Sky Valley Independence Day rubber duck race.

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Sky Valley celebrates Independence Day with family fun activities

Megan Horn
Thursday, July 11, 2024
The City of Sky Valley bustled with activity as hundreds of people celebrated Independence Day in Georgia’s highest city by sporting their red, white and blue attire and accessories and participating in numerous events the city had to offer on Friday, July 5.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Eventual 5K winner Luke Napier leads the 909 participants at the beginning of the July 6 Rabun Ramble on Lake Rabun Road. The annual Independence Day event has its largest-ever turnout.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Eventual 5K winner Luke Napier leads the 909 participants at the beginning of the July 6 Rabun Ramble on Lake Rabun Road. The annual Independence Day event has its largest-ever turnout.

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Rabun Ramble tops 900 in 5K/10K entrants

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, July 11, 2024
The combination of a busy visitor weekend, community involvement, and Independence Day celebration helped drive the 18th annual Rabun Ramble to a record number of entrants in the annual 5K/10K on July 6 as participants battled the hilly terrain around the lake.