Local

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Commissioners Kent Woerner, left, chairman Gregg James, Will Nichols, and County Administrator Darrin Giles present Stephen Arbitter (center) with an award for his 8 years of service as a commissioner at last Tuesday’s meeting. It was Arbitter’s last meeting before vacating his seat.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Commissioners Kent Woerner, left, chairman Gregg James, Will Nichols, and County Administrator Darrin Giles present Stephen Arbitter (center) with an award for his 8 years of service as a commissioner at last Tuesday’s meeting. It was Arbitter’s last meeting before vacating his seat.

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Arbitter honored for commission service

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
CLAYTON--Rabun County Commissioner Stephen Arbitter finished out his 8 years of service to Rabun County at last Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.  Commissioners presented Arbitter with an award honoring his commitment to the community and board over the years.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Clay Pilgrim, CPA from Rushton and Company, presents the county’s FY 2020 audit to the Rabun County Board of Commissioners last Tuesday.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Clay Pilgrim, CPA from Rushton and Company, presents the county’s FY 2020 audit to the Rabun County Board of Commissioners last Tuesday.

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County receives good grade on financial audit

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
CLAYON--Rabun County received a “high grade” for the FY 2020 audit presented to the Rabun County Board of Commissioners last Tuesday.  Commissioner Scott Crane attended via video call due to being deployed overseas.  Rabun County’s Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2020.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Austin Groom, left, Captain Beth Darnell, Officer Patti Saunders, Joshua Arnold, Johnny Riddle and Officer Nathaniel Cross pass out Christmas gifts to the children of inmates on Saturday. They stand in front of the Christmas card made by inmates in C-Pod (center), who won the decorating contest.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Austin Groom, left, Captain Beth Darnell, Officer Patti Saunders, Joshua Arnold, Johnny Riddle and Officer Nathaniel Cross pass out Christmas gifts to the children of inmates on Saturday. They stand in front of the Christmas card made by inmates in C-Pod (center), who won the decorating contest.

Rabun County Detention Center gets in the holiday spirit

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
TIGER-- Christmas is a time where families gather and parents can watch children open presents on Christmas morning.  But those who are incarcerated don’t have the opportunity to give their children gifts or be with them on Christmas morning.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Nurse Carmen Rodgers administers a COVID-19 test on Ray Pagano at the drive-thru clinic at the Rabun County Health Department on Tuesday.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Nurse Carmen Rodgers administers a COVID-19 test on Ray Pagano at the drive-thru clinic at the Rabun County Health Department on Tuesday.

Health Department is offering COVID testing at no cost by appointment

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
CLAYTON--The Rabun County Health Department is offering no cost COVID-19 testing by appointment only.  Testing is Monday-Friday from 8-9 a.m.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Mandy Hopkins, director of performance improvement and care coordination at Mountain Lakes Medical Center (MLMC), left, and Hope Brown, patient care technician in the MLMC emergency department, review a patient's chart in the emergency department at Mountain Lakes Medical Center.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Mandy Hopkins, director of performance improvement and care coordination at Mountain Lakes Medical Center (MLMC), left, and Hope Brown, patient care technician in the MLMC emergency department, review a patient's chart in the emergency department at Mountain Lakes Medical Center.

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Not home for the holidays

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Santa’s not the only one working this Christmas Eve.  While most of us will be gathered around the dinner table, public safety and health care workers will be on the front lines making sure people in the community stay healthy and safe.  “It’s difficult to have to go to work,” said Sgt.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County's Tony and Maryjane Phillips have devoted a decade of their lives helping spread Christmas cheer at Christmas.

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County's Tony and Maryjane Phillips have devoted a decade of their lives helping spread Christmas cheer at Christmas.

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Couple spends holidays spreading Christmas cheer to Georgia children

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Santa and Mrs. Claus have been busy helping children in Rabun County this holiday season.  The Rabun County couple of Tony and Maryjane Phillips have devoted a decade of their life helping children in need by spreading Christmas cheer as Mr. Santa Claus and Mrs. Hollie Claus.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

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Cause of Sunday fire remains unknown

Megan Horn
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
CLAYTON-- The cause of a fire at 334 Rainey Mtn. Rd., Clayton on Sunday afternoon is unknown as of press time.  Stations 1, 6 and 12 responded to a report of a structure fire, according to Justin Upchurch, assistant fire chief for Rabun County Fire Services.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

Sign thieves at work again

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous reports regarding political yard signs being stolen, according to a statement from the RCSO.  “No matter what your politics are, please be respectful and do not remove any signs without the permission of the owner,” according to the statement.
Photo courtesy Lauren Benfield

Photo courtesy Lauren Benfield

Benfield takes oath

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Lauren Benfield is sworn in as tax commissioner by Probate Judge Lillian Garrett on Monday. She begins her term in January. Benfield won the Nov. 3 election for tax commissioner after running without opposition.  She succeeds Sandy Smith who has served as tax commissioner since January 2009.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune

Jones sworn in

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Probate Judge Hobie Jones is sworn in by Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell at the Rabun County Courthouse on Tuesday.  “I appreciate Hobie (Jones) inviting me to administer the oath of office,” Caudell said before administering the oath.