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Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. A view of roadwork at Highway 441 and Henry Dillard Street in Dillard. Henry Dillard Street will be closed beginning March 2 while road and bridge work are completed.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. A view of roadwork at Highway 441 and Henry Dillard Street in Dillard. Henry Dillard Street will be closed beginning March 2 while road and bridge work are completed.

Henry Dillard Street shut down starts on March 2 for road work

Megan Horn
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Motorists traveling through the city of Dillard on Highway 441 are no stranger to roadwork in the area as the highway widening project is underway.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. City of Sky Valley officials support planting a Cherry Tree to celebrate Georgia Arbor Day as well as George Washington, whose birthday is Feb. 22, and America’s 250th birthday, which is coming up on July 4. Pictured are Sky Valley Council Members CareySue Beasley, left; Jim Curtis; Beth Pence; Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr; Council Members Jesse Price; Tony Allred; and City Manager Jason Streetman.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. City of Sky Valley officials support planting a Cherry Tree to celebrate Georgia Arbor Day as well as George Washington, whose birthday is Feb. 22, and America’s 250th birthday, which is coming up on July 4. Pictured are Sky Valley Council Members CareySue Beasley, left; Jim Curtis; Beth Pence; Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr; Council Members Jesse Price; Tony Allred; and City Manager Jason Streetman.

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Sky Valley celebrates Georgia Arbor Day with officials’ planting of cherry tree

Megan Horn
Thursday, February 19, 2026
City of Sky Valley officials recently passed an official Tree City USA proclamation declaring Friday, Feb. 20, as Arbor Day in the City of Sky Valley. The proclamation passed unanimously during the Tuesday, Feb. 17, council meeting and was signed by Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Traffic was snarled on Tuesday on Highway 441 between Mountain City and Rabun Gap as crews worked on power lines. The current phase of the road expansion is set to continue until Halloween 2027.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Traffic was snarled on Tuesday on Highway 441 between Mountain City and Rabun Gap as crews worked on power lines. The current phase of the road expansion is set to continue until Halloween 2027.

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Roadwork on Hwy. 441 expansion ongoing

Megan Horn
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Many motorists traveling on Highway 441 through Rabun Gap and Mountain City saw a lot of the bumper of the vehicle in front of them during the lunchtime commute on Tuesday, Feb. 17, as crews continue to work on widening Highway 441.

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Stafford named STAR Student for Tallulah Falls School Class of 2026

(not verified)
Thursday, February 19, 2026
TALLULAH FALLS, GA — Tallulah Falls School proudly recognizes senior Charlotte Stafford as the STAR Student for the Class of 2026. Stafford earned the highest Scholastic Achievement Test score in her class and selected Upper School science teacher Beth Huebner as her STAR Teacher.

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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee names 2026 STAR Student & Teacher Zermeno and Shook

(not verified)
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School proudly announces Ivanna Zermeno ’26 as this year’s STAR Student. She selected Mme. Anne Shook as her STAR Teacher in recognition of her exceptional mentorship, dedication to service, and lasting impact on students’ lives.

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McDade of Mountain Education Rabun Campus named STAR Student

(not verified)
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Mountain Education Rabun Campus senior James Oliver McDade has been named one of the school’s 2026 PAGE STAR Students. McDade chose Tessa Backer, music teacher at Rabun County High School, as his STAR Teacher. Backer is a chorus teacher at Rabun County High School.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Choir Teacher Tessa Backer, left, was selected as the 2025-2026 STAR Teacher by STAR Student Gavin Sharpe, who sits at the piano. Sharpe enjoys playing the piano and composing music, and said Backer has been an influential role model for him in music.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Choir Teacher Tessa Backer, left, was selected as the 2025-2026 STAR Teacher by STAR Student Gavin Sharpe, who sits at the piano. Sharpe enjoys playing the piano and composing music, and said Backer has been an influential role model for him in music.

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Sharpe & Backer in harmony as RCHS STAR Student/Teacher

Megan Horn
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Rabun County High School (RCHS) senior Gavin Sharpe struck the right chords during his academic studies and crescendoed to the 2025-2026 STAR Student spot. Sharpe selected Choir Teacher Tessa Backer as his STAR Teacher.

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Unite Rabun earns grant funding for recovery resources

Megan Horn
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Unite Rabun is a peer-driven Recovery Community Organization dedicated to providing accessible recovery support services that empower youth, families and adults to achieve wellness and sustain long-term recovery. These support services are free of charge.