Local

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Clarkesville names Streetman sole finalist

News Staff
Friday, June 19, 2026
By Samantha SinclairCNI News ServiceClarkesville has found its next city manager.At its called meeting and retreat Wednesday, Sky Valley City Manager Jason Streetman was announced as the sole finalist for the Clarkesville role. “I’m excited,” Streetman said during a break at the retreat.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley city council members vote Tuesday, June 16, to accept the resignation of City Manager Jason Streetman (far left). Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr reads aloud a city news release while council members Tony Allred, Beth Pence, Jesse Price and Jim Curtis approve the resignation. Council Member CareySue Beasley recused herself from the vote.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley city council members vote Tuesday, June 16, to accept the resignation of City Manager Jason Streetman (far left). Mayor Benita Cotton-Orr reads aloud a city news release while council members Tony Allred, Beth Pence, Jesse Price and Jim Curtis approve the resignation. Council Member CareySue Beasley recused herself from the vote.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Sky Valley accepts city manager’s resignation

Megan Horn
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Sky Valley city council members voted Tuesday to accept the resignation of City Manager Jason Streetman effective July 31, 2026.Streetman told The Clayton Tribune after the meeting that he was leaving the city to “explore other career opportunities.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Republicans with Rabun ties ousted in Tuesday’s runoffs

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Rabun County’s direct connection to two statewide races ended Tuesday night when those Republican candidates lost in their runoff attempts.Clayton resident Derek Dooley was defeated by Mike Collins for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to oppose Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in November.
Katie Hamby/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Tribune won 13 awards from the Georgia Press Association on June 12 at the Better Newspaper Contest on Jekyll Island. Overall, the Tribune finished third in General Excellence. Pictured are Sports Editor Wesley Branch, Publisher Enoch Autry and News Editor Megan Horn showing the honors as media members from Oklahoma and Louisiana judged the Georgia categories.

Katie Hamby/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Tribune won 13 awards from the Georgia Press Association on June 12 at the Better Newspaper Contest on Jekyll Island. Overall, the Tribune finished third in General Excellence. Pictured are Sports Editor Wesley Branch, Publisher Enoch Autry and News Editor Megan Horn showing the honors as media members from Oklahoma and Louisiana judged the Georgia categories.

Tribune earns ‘Excellent’ honors

News Staff
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Winning 13 editorial honors, The Clayton Tribune claimed third place in General Excellence in the Georgia Press Association’s (GPA) 2026 Better Newspaper Contest at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel on June 12.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Clayton approves ‘thin’ budget

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 18, 2026
A budget described as “thin” was approved by the Clayton city council with an increase of $23,000 from the current budget despite reducing expenditures in various areas. The council voted in favor of the fiscal year 2027 budget at $2,884,665 with an expectation the millage rate will go up.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Pictured are Laura Lane, awarded the J.C. Dover Award; Amy Hulett, awarded the Gold “R” Award; Ashley York, awarded The Wheel Award; Captain Josh Bleckley, 2026 Fireman of the Year; Tate Nichols, 2026 EMT/Paramedic of the Year; Caroline Wallis, awarded The Wheel Award; Rabun County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Rodriguez, 2026 Police Officer of the Year; and Sky Valley Police Department Lt. David Edwards, 2026 Police Officer of the Year.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Pictured are Laura Lane, awarded the J.C. Dover Award; Amy Hulett, awarded the Gold “R” Award; Ashley York, awarded The Wheel Award; Captain Josh Bleckley, 2026 Fireman of the Year; Tate Nichols, 2026 EMT/Paramedic of the Year; Caroline Wallis, awarded The Wheel Award; Rabun County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Rodriguez, 2026 Police Officer of the Year; and Sky Valley Police Department Lt. David Edwards, 2026 Police Officer of the Year.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Rotary Club of Clayton honors community service with awards

Megan Horn
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Community service is a key value for the Rotary Club of Clayton. On June 4 during the regular Thursday lunch meeting, Rotarians recognized members in the community who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving others.

Garden by Joey

News Staff
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Rabun County native Joey Davenport is starting the summer with a successful and thriving garden. Here (right), he holds a cabbage that’s ahead of the patch by weighing in at 7 pounds. He currently is growing vegetables, including several types of peppers also pictured here.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley citizen Jerri Smith addresses council members during a May 26 city council Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing. Smith filed an appeal for an administrative interpretation with the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals following a March 5 decision by the council to adopt an amendment to the Sky Valley Zoning Ordinance that adds language allowing full-time and part-time residents to be appointed to serve on the Sky Valley Planning and Zoning Commission.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Sky Valley citizen Jerri Smith addresses council members during a May 26 city council Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing. Smith filed an appeal for an administrative interpretation with the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals following a March 5 decision by the council to adopt an amendment to the Sky Valley Zoning Ordinance that adds language allowing full-time and part-time residents to be appointed to serve on the Sky Valley Planning and Zoning Commission.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Sky Valley Board of Zoning Appeals denies appeal

Megan Horn
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The City of Sky Valley Board of Zoning Appeals denied an appeal from a local citizen who challenged a March 5 decision by the council to adopt an amendment to the Sky Valley Zoning Ordinance that adds language allowing full-time and part-time residents to be appointed to serve on the Sky Valley...
Photos courtesy of Rotary Club of Clayton. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Clayton, the American Red Cross, and Rabun County Fire Services participated in the Sound the Alarm campaign, canvassing more than 200 homes and installing 57 smoke alarms in 15 households throughout Rabun County. The event was inspired by the memory of Rachel Thorn, whose legacy continues to promote fire safety awareness, preparedness, and the importance of working smoke alarms in every home.

Photos courtesy of Rotary Club of Clayton. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Clayton, the American Red Cross, and Rabun County Fire Services participated in the Sound the Alarm campaign, canvassing more than 200 homes and installing 57 smoke alarms in 15 households throughout Rabun County. The event was inspired by the memory of Rachel Thorn, whose legacy continues to promote fire safety awareness, preparedness, and the importance of working smoke alarms in every home.

 Exclusive Subscriber Content

Rachel Thorn’s legacy inspires local fire safety effort

(not verified)
Thursday, June 18, 2026
CLAYTON, GA — Twenty-six Rotarians, family members, and community volunteers joined the American Red Cross and Rabun County Fire Services on Saturday for the annual Sound the Alarm campaign, helping make local homes safer through smoke alarm installation, fire safety education, and emergency...