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Submitted photo. Diane White (from left), Patricia Jones, Christy and Charles Martin, Lin Goen, and Elizabeth Darby are all smiles after an afternoon spent with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.

Submitted photo. Diane White (from left), Patricia Jones, Christy and Charles Martin, Lin Goen, and Elizabeth Darby are all smiles after an afternoon spent with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.

Award-Winning New York Times bestselling author Martin enchants local book clubs at Stonewall Creek Winery

Four book clubs — three from Lake Burton and one from Stonewall Creek — gathered at Stonewall Creek Winery for an intimate afternoon with award-winning New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin on Wednesday, June 26.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Chris and Carson Moletz, right, enjoy viewing the detailed work of Jim Craig with his handmade knives during the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival July 13 and 14.  Below: Submitted. At the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival, Sean and Ebony Wilson (left) were the Producers’ Choice Award winners for Best Booth with their woodworking. Sharon Mumbi (right) was chosen by show visitors and awarded the Peoples’ Choice for Best in Show with her mixed fiber-leather, beads and fabric.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Chris and Carson Moletz, right, enjoy viewing the detailed work of Jim Craig with his handmade knives during the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival July 13 and 14. Below: Submitted. At the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival, Sean and Ebony Wilson (left) were the Producers’ Choice Award winners for Best Booth with their woodworking. Sharon Mumbi (right) was chosen by show visitors and awarded the Peoples’ Choice for Best in Show with her mixed fiber-leather, beads and fabric.

Painted Fern Art Festival has best membership ever

The 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival colored the town with unique talents and homemade creations from artists and artisans last weekend as crowds of people showed out to the two-day event presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild.

Painted Fern Art Festival to color town

Clayton will be painted with strokes of colorful genius this weekend as the North Georgia Arts Guild presents the 2024 Painted Fern Art Festival. The event will be held inside the Rabun County Civic Center, 201 W. Savannah Street, Clayton, on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A GoFundMe page called “A Young Life Taken Too Soon” was set up for his family and it surpassed $65,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. The fundraiser can be found at https://rb.gy/wvj6rq.

A GoFundMe page called “A Young Life Taken Too Soon” was set up for his family and it surpassed $65,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. The fundraiser can be found at https://rb.gy/wvj6rq.

DUI suspect charged with vehicular homicide in church bus crash

The allegedly impaired driver from the River Point Community Church van crash has been charged with vehicular homicide and released on bail. Barry Thomas Clark, 64, of Hartwell was first arrested on June 29, the day of the crash at Highway 365 and Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Because of his commitment to the Town of Tiger, Tiger Park was dedicated to Jackie Watts in May 2021 and a plaque is displayed at the park in his honor.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Because of his commitment to the Town of Tiger, Tiger Park was dedicated to Jackie Watts in May 2021 and a plaque is displayed at the park in his honor.

Watts remembered as mentor, dependable ‘good family man’ always helping others

Tiger city council member and former law enforcement officer Jackie Watts is remembered by his community as a dependable, respectful and dedicated “good family man” who loved the Lord and helped his neighbors along the way. He was a mentor to many and will be missed by family and countless friends.

Is Celebrate Clayton coming back to downtown?

Celebrate Clayton may be coming back to downtown. Kathy Ford of the North Georgia Arts Guild informed the CMBA members Monday evening the group’s new event Sassafras has not generated as much money as needed to fund the scholarships that are annually presented to high school seniors.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The annual Rubber Duck race had over 500 entries with children and their families cheering on their ducks as they floated to the finish line. Below: Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Tom DesOrmeaux and Caroline Cobb, 2, don patriotic apparel and wave a flag while awaiting the start of the Sky Valley Independence Day rubber duck race.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The annual Rubber Duck race had over 500 entries with children and their families cheering on their ducks as they floated to the finish line. Below: Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Tom DesOrmeaux and Caroline Cobb, 2, don patriotic apparel and wave a flag while awaiting the start of the Sky Valley Independence Day rubber duck race.

Sky Valley celebrates Independence Day with family fun activities

The City of Sky Valley bustled with activity as hundreds of people celebrated Independence Day in Georgia’s highest city by sporting their red, white and blue attire and accessories and participating in numerous events the city had to offer on Friday, July 5.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Hundreds of people enjoyed the festivities at The Dillard House, which is the last Fourth of July hosted by the Dillard family. Below: Natalie Dillard took this picture of the biggest fireworks show yet at The Dillard House July 6.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Hundreds of people enjoyed the festivities at The Dillard House, which is the last Fourth of July hosted by the Dillard family. Below: Natalie Dillard took this picture of the biggest fireworks show yet at The Dillard House July 6.

Independence Day at The Dillard House goes out with a bang

The Dillard House has been a staple in the Rabun County community for over 100 years as visitors from all around as well as locals flock to the esteemed location whether it’s for holidays, special occasions, or just to enjoy a world-famous family-style meal.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Mary Lou Goehring from the Georgia Cameo Society dresses in 1800s fashion and presents a summer reading program describing the events that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that eventually became the National Anthem of the United States of America. Children participate in the demonstration.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Mary Lou Goehring from the Georgia Cameo Society dresses in 1800s fashion and presents a summer reading program describing the events that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that eventually became the National Anthem of the United States of America. Children participate in the demonstration.

Star-Spangled Banner Storytime at Rabun County Public Library

It was all red, white and blue in Rabun County last week as locals and visitors alike participated in many patriotic events.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Ski Patriots again brought their own version of patriotism to Lake Burton as water skiers went around the 27-mile trek of the lake on Sunday, July 7.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Ski Patriots again brought their own version of patriotism to Lake Burton as water skiers went around the 27-mile trek of the lake on Sunday, July 7.

Showing local patriotism on water skis

Sunday afternoon during the Independence Day holiday break generates a tremendous amount of patriotism on Lake Burton.