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Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. New Clayton mayor Roy Quilliams (center) shares a laugh with Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain at the conclusion of the Clayton City Council meeting on Sept. 9. The council voted in favor of Quilliams filling the unexpired term of former mayor Kurt Cannon, who resigned in June.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. New Clayton mayor Roy Quilliams (center) shares a laugh with Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain at the conclusion of the Clayton City Council meeting on Sept. 9. The council voted in favor of Quilliams filling the unexpired term of former mayor Kurt Cannon, who resigned in June.

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Former rec department director, two-term Clayton councilman to take over role this year

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Clayton has a new mayor -- and earlier than originally expected. Roy Quilliams, a former Rabun County Recreation Department director and two-term member of the Clayton city council, was the lone qualifier to be the city’s new mayor.
Submitted. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School celebrated its third annual Green & Gold Gala on Saturday, Aug. 23, at The Dillard House. Pictured, Head of School Jeff Miles recognizes Gala co-chairs and current parents Sarah Barge and Andrea Sorgeloos. The gala raised $260,500 for Rabun Gap students, teachers and programs.

Submitted. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School celebrated its third annual Green & Gold Gala on Saturday, Aug. 23, at The Dillard House. Pictured, Head of School Jeff Miles recognizes Gala co-chairs and current parents Sarah Barge and Andrea Sorgeloos. The gala raised $260,500 for Rabun Gap students, teachers and programs.

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Rabun Gap’s Green & Gold Gala raises record-breaking $260,500

News Staff
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s third annual Green & Gold Gala set a new fundraising record. The Aug. 23 event brought in an extraordinary $260,500 to support the School’s Cupola Fund, which sustains students, faculty, and programs across all divisions.

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21 candidates qualify for Nov. 4 city elections

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Qualifying ended last week for the Nov. 4 local elections in the cities of Clayton, Mountain City, Dillard, Sky Valley and Tallulah Falls as a total of 21 candidates qualified for mayoral and council member seats up for grabs.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School was recently named one of the “Nation’s Best High Schools” by the U.S. News & World Report by earning a place among the nation’s top high schools in the “2025-2026 Best High School’s Rankings.” The RCHS graduation rate in 2024 was 94.9 percent. The Advanced Placement (AP) participation rate is 21 percent.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School was recently named one of the “Nation’s Best High Schools” by the U.S. News & World Report by earning a place among the nation’s top high schools in the “2025-2026 Best High School’s Rankings.” The RCHS graduation rate in 2024 was 94.9 percent. The Advanced Placement (AP) participation rate is 21 percent.

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County high school obtains high marks

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Rabun County High School (RCHS) can add another recognition of academic excellence to its belt as it has once again excelled among other schools in the state of Georgia and around the nation. The school was recently named one of the “Nation’s Best High Schools” by the U.S.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The community is invited to the third annual Rabun County First Responders’ Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, Aug. 28. Attending the event is a great way to show support to our community’s first responders for their service and sacrifice. First responders and their family members are free. All other guests pay $20 cash at the door the day of the event.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The community is invited to the third annual Rabun County First Responders’ Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, Aug. 28. Attending the event is a great way to show support to our community’s first responders for their service and sacrifice. First responders and their family members are free. All other guests pay $20 cash at the door the day of the event.

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Support our first responders at Appreciation Dinner

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The community is invited to attend Thurday’s, Aug. 28, third annual 2025 Rabun County First Responders’ Appreciation Dinner to thank our first responders for their service and sacrifice. The event is being held at the Rabun County Civic Center, 201 W. Savannah Street, Clayton, beginning at 5 p.m.

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Place of Hope North Georgia voting for new mascot ongoing

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Local nonprofit Place of Hope (POH) North Georgia’s primary focus is to support and care for children entering and living in the foster care system in our area. It provides resources for children who need familial, spiritual, and financial support because of abuse, neglect or homelessness.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. City Attorney Mitch Baker, pictured center at the podium, reads aloud the final version of the amended alcohol ordinance involving farm winery tasting rooms at the Aug. 12 Clayton City Council meeting. Pictured also are City Clerk Kessiah Gipson; Council Member Tony Allen; Council Member Sarah Gillespie; City Manager Trudy Crunkleton; Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain; Baker; Council Member Althea Bleckley; and Council Member Amanda Harrold. Pictured right is Jabe Hilson speaking

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. City Attorney Mitch Baker, pictured center at the podium, reads aloud the final version of the amended alcohol ordinance involving farm winery tasting rooms at the Aug. 12 Clayton City Council meeting. Pictured also are City Clerk Kessiah Gipson; Council Member Tony Allen; Council Member Sarah Gillespie; City Manager Trudy Crunkleton; Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Fountain; Baker; Council Member Althea Bleckley; and Council Member Amanda Harrold. Pictured right is Jabe Hilson speaking

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Clayton passes alcohol ordinance amendment involving Farm Winery Tasting Rooms

Megan Horn
Thursday, August 28, 2025
An alcohol ordinance amendment geared toward Farm Winery Tasting Rooms and other alcohol provisions was adopted by the City of Clayton during the Aug. 12 regular council meeting. The meeting was met with a room full of community members interested in the city amending its alcohol ordinances.