Rabun County

Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Submitted Photo. Former Rabun County High School teacher and coach Janice Wayne (center) poses with the Rabun County softball team after throwing the first pitch at a game during the 2025 season. Wayne, the first-ever softball coach at RCHS who also assisted athletics in a plethora of ways, passed away on June 24 at the age of 72.

Long-time Rabun coach, teacher Wayne passes

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
A fixture in Rabun County for decades and beloved by the community, Janice Wayne passed away on Wednesday, June 24, at the age of 72. Wayne – who many will remember as “Coach Wayne” – moved to Rabun County in 1976 and spent 38 years as a teacher and coach in the Rabun County School District.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton takes a selfie with youth participants of the Gunner Stockton Football Camp sitting on the field at Lakeview Academy on June 20 in the background. This is the camp’s second year.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton takes a selfie with youth participants of the Gunner Stockton Football Camp sitting on the field at Lakeview Academy on June 20 in the background. This is the camp’s second year.

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Gunner amps up youth football camp

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 25, 2026
GAINESVILLE, GA – Fresh off a Southeastern Conference-winning season, former Rabun County record-setter and current Georgia Bulldog quarterback Gunner Stockton for a second consecutive year got to meet his younger fanbase first-hand at his youth football camp.
File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. At last year’s Rabun Ramble, 5-year-old Carver Harris, runs toward the awaiting arms of her mother Courtney Harris following their 5K runs at the event in Lakemont. This year’s Rabun Ramble will be Saturday, July 4.

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. At last year’s Rabun Ramble, 5-year-old Carver Harris, runs toward the awaiting arms of her mother Courtney Harris following their 5K runs at the event in Lakemont. This year’s Rabun Ramble will be Saturday, July 4.

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Rabun Ramble running strong at two decades

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, June 25, 2026
What started two decades ago as an idea among friends now has become one of the annual highlights of the Independence Day celebration at the lake in the Northeast Georgia mountains.The 20th race of the Rabun Ramble will be on Saturday, July 4, starting at 7:30 a.m.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Campers practiced their swing on water-ballon like balls that exploded with water upon contact.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Campers practiced their swing on water-ballon like balls that exploded with water upon contact.

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Rabun County baseball hosts RCHS Baseball Camp

Wesley Branch
Thursday, June 4, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County baseball program hosted its summer camp this week, June 1-4 at Rabun County High School for children aged 6-12 years old.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

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Rabun releases 2026 Wildcat football schedule

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
The Rabun County football team officially released its schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday, Jan. 8, in a post on the team’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account as RCHS will face both former Coach Shaws with their current teams.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Police Department hosted an event to get Christmas toys for underprivileged children and the Oct. 11 car show/burnout event was successful. Austin Shook’s Dodge Mega 3500 (above) was the first-ever burnout contest winner. See more on page A6.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Police Department hosted an event to get Christmas toys for underprivileged children and the Oct. 11 car show/burnout event was successful. Austin Shook’s Dodge Mega 3500 (above) was the first-ever burnout contest winner. See more on page A6.

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Police department’s car show-burnout shows out for toys

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, October 16, 2025
The Clayton Police Department wanted to do something different to get more Christmas toy donations for underprivileged children this year, and the plan worked despite the Saturday show getting approved by the city council only four weeks before the event.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Youth ages 1 to 4 years old was the first group that had an opportunity to catch a little greased pig at the Oct. 3 Foxfire Mountaineer Festival event at the Rabun County Civic Center pavilions. Many in the tykes would try, but it would be Liam Griffin (blue jacket) who would be the winner.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Youth ages 1 to 4 years old was the first group that had an opportunity to catch a little greased pig at the Oct. 3 Foxfire Mountaineer Festival event at the Rabun County Civic Center pavilions. Many in the tykes would try, but it would be Liam Griffin (blue jacket) who would be the winner.

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Collective cheer for Mountaineer

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, October 9, 2025
With a beautiful blue sky above, the parking lot was loaded with vehicles from multiple Georgia counties and neighboring states as the annual Foxfire Mountaineer Festival on Oct. 4 drew thousands seeking to enjoy the heritage of Appalachia.