Submitted photo. A canoe found in the Chattooga River last year has been identified by the South Carolina Institute of Archeology and Anthropology as a 200-year-old artifact possibly made by Cherokee Indians or early European traders. Local nonprofit Chattooga Conservancy is working with the Forest Service to remove the canoe from the river and preserve it. A group of volunteers works to transfer the canoe into a protective cradle earlier this month.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Stephen Flaherty, left, and Suzie Nixon Flaherty along with partners Dorothy Welch and Rob Hamrick recently purchased the Mountain City Playhouse in an effort to restore it and bring back traditional activities like roller skating, square dancing and clogging. The goal is to bring back the “heritage” of the area. Restorations are planned to be completed within six months to a year.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Ed Fickey, chairman of the Rabun County GOP, shakes hands with Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods at a BBQ event hosted by the Rabun County Republican Party Monday. Woods was one of the guest speakers and is running for reelection in 2022.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Rod Nix from Charles Black Construction, left, hands Rabun County Schools Superintendent April Childers and BOE Chairman Steve Cabe the groundbreaking shovel at the event last Thursday. It marked the start of construction for the RCHS $7 million Agricenter. Charles Black Construction won the bid for the project. The 31 acres of land will be the future home of the Rabun County Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Sheriff Chad Nichols, center, presents the Bravery Award to Deputy Jeffrey Hooper, left, and the Life Saving Award to Deputy Brandon Hyer for their roles in going above and beyond their normal duties to help citizens and save lives. Hyer holds his daughter, Blakely Hyer.

Photo courtesy of the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office. A search warrant executed by the RCSO at a residence in Rabun Gap resulted in the seizure of multiple suspected narcotics, numerous firearms and a large amount of ammunition. The DNR was also called to assist with wildlife remains. Three people were arrested as a result of the investigation.