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Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The City of Mountain City council includes Bill Fountain, left; Brenda Hooper; Mayor Grace Watts; Michael Holt and Eric McCrackin (not pictured). Fountain and Hooper hold up official documents from Tammy Whitmire, director of elections, certifying their wins in the Nov. 4, 2025, General Election. Fountain was elected to the Post 3 Council Member seat while Hooper was re-elected to the Post 2 Council Member seat after running unopposed.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The City of Mountain City council includes Bill Fountain, left; Brenda Hooper; Mayor Grace Watts; Michael Holt and Eric McCrackin (not pictured). Fountain and Hooper hold up official documents from Tammy Whitmire, director of elections, certifying their wins in the Nov. 4, 2025, General Election. Fountain was elected to the Post 3 Council Member seat while Hooper was re-elected to the Post 2 Council Member seat after running unopposed.

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Fountain now officially new Mountain City council member

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 15, 2026
The City of Mountain City now has a new but familiar face on its council with the swearing-in of Bill Fountain during the Tuesday, Jan. 13, city council meeting. Fountain took the Oath of Office as it was administered by Mayor Grace Watts.
Submitted photo. The “Vet-to-Vet Cafe” that is sponsored by Forward Rabun is held at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia on the second Tuesday of each month. The gathering at 10 a.m. allows local veterans to connect more.

Submitted photo. The “Vet-to-Vet Cafe” that is sponsored by Forward Rabun is held at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia on the second Tuesday of each month. The gathering at 10 a.m. allows local veterans to connect more.

Veterans find community, connection at Forward Rabun’s ‘Vet-to-Vet Cafe’

News Staff
Thursday, January 15, 2026
CLAYTON, GA – On the second Tuesday of every month, the quiet morning air at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia -- Clayton (Mountain) Branch is replaced by the smell of fresh coffee and the steady hum of shared stories.

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Grand jury true bills 16 indictments

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 15, 2026
A Grand Jury in the Superior Court of Rabun County on Jan. 7 true-billed 16 indictments involving 15 individuals. The cases are scheduled for arraignment on Monday, Feb. 9, at 9 a.m., according to Rabun County Clerk of Court officials.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Retiring Clayton Police Chief Andy Strait shakes the hand of new city council member Channing Watts at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s meeting. Colt Woodall (far left) and Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain watch..

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Retiring Clayton Police Chief Andy Strait shakes the hand of new city council member Channing Watts at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s meeting. Colt Woodall (far left) and Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain watch..

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Strait retiring as police chief

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Clayton Police Chief Andy Strait will retire effective Jan. 31, as the search began this week to name the veteran lawman’s successor following the official announcement made at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton City Council will see new faces in 2026 after newly elected Channing Watts and Colt Woodall both took the Oath of Office to be official council members. Pictured are Woodall, Post 2 council member, left; Mayor Roy Quilliams; Watts, Post 1 council member; and incumbent Council Member Tony Allen.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton City Council will see new faces in 2026 after newly elected Channing Watts and Colt Woodall both took the Oath of Office to be official council members. Pictured are Woodall, Post 2 council member, left; Mayor Roy Quilliams; Watts, Post 1 council member; and incumbent Council Member Tony Allen.

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Watts, Woodall sworn-in as new Clayton council members

News Staff
Thursday, January 8, 2026
The year 2026 is looking to be a fresh start for the City of Clayton as Channing Watts and Colt Woodall were officially sworn-in as council members for Post 1 and Post 2, respectively, by Rabun County Probate Judge Savannah Dixon in her courtroom Monday, Jan. 5.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley City Hall was packed Jan. 6 with community members who were eager to see the new administration officially govern. Prior to the start of the meeting, the mayor and council members were sworn in.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley City Hall was packed Jan. 6 with community members who were eager to see the new administration officially govern. Prior to the start of the meeting, the mayor and council members were sworn in.

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Sky Valley gives opportunities for 2026 evening meetings

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Sky Valley city council members switched up the times when council members will meet in 2026. In addition to usual 10 a.m. meetings, there will be opportunities to attend quarterly evening meetings. Council members voted on 2026 regular council meeting dates during Tuesday’s Jan.

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Wilson remembered as dedicated, hard worker

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Former Tiger Town Council Member Danny Wilson is remembered by fellow public servants as a hard worker who was dedicated to the Town of Tiger. Robert “Danny” Daniel Wilson, of Tiger, passed away on Dec. 24, 2025, at the age of 70.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr speaks to a room full of community members at Sky Valley City Hall Tuesday, Jan. 6, after being sworn-in. She spoke of many goals for the year and pledged to foster transparency and government efficiency during her time as mayor.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr speaks to a room full of community members at Sky Valley City Hall Tuesday, Jan. 6, after being sworn-in. She spoke of many goals for the year and pledged to foster transparency and government efficiency during her time as mayor.

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Cotton-Orr committed to ‘preserving Sky Valley’s heart and future’

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Tuesday, Jan. 6, was a big day in Sky Valley as the city’s new mayor and council members were sworn-in at the beginning of the organizational and special called council meeting.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Women of Worth (WOW) Recovery women’s residence is on track to open at the end of February. The ‘WOW! What A Deal’ Thrift Store is now open Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pictured in front of the women’s residence building are recovery residence full-time employee Nicole Borth, left; WOW Recovery Director Ashley York; and full-time thrift store volunteers Andy Owens and Diane Clackum.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Women of Worth (WOW) Recovery women’s residence is on track to open at the end of February. The ‘WOW! What A Deal’ Thrift Store is now open Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pictured in front of the women’s residence building are recovery residence full-time employee Nicole Borth, left; WOW Recovery Director Ashley York; and full-time thrift store volunteers Andy Owens and Diane Clackum.

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‘WOW! That’s Recovery’

Megan Horn
Thursday, January 8, 2026
The Women of Worth (WOW) Recovery women’s residence is closer to opening its doors so it can help those in need become sober and navigate that sobriety. The first women’s residential substance-abuse recovery center in Rabun County is on track to open at the end of February.