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It is officially Influenza season and we are seeing a large number of residents in our community who are becoming sick. Influenza (the flu) can affect anyone young or old. Symptoms of the Influenza virus are:
For many people the flu lasts for a few days to a couple weeks with the affected person fully recovering, but anyone can develop serious complications of influenza. Complications can range from pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory distress, even death. Certain people are more likely to develop serious complications – adults age 65 and older, those with other medical problems such as asthma, heart conditions or lung disease, pregnant women, and young children. Emergency warning signs of serious influenza illness are: What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness? In children
In adults
In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:
There are several ways you can protect yourself from getting the flu virus. First, get your yearly flu shot. Everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu shot once a year. The flu shot may not prevent you 100% from getting sick but if you do get the flu, your symptoms may not be as bad. Even if you have not gotten sick this season doesn’t mean you won’t get sick. The sooner you get a flu shot the more protection you have from getting seriously ill. Second, wash your hands! Wash your hands frequently, especially after being in public, after coughing or sneezing, and before you eat or touch your face. Use hot water and soap if possible. Otherwise an alcohol based hand sanitizer works too. Also, try to avoid being around sick people as much as possible. If you are sick yourself, stay home until you have not run a fever for at least 24 hours without medication. Be sure to cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away after you are done. If you have not been vaccinated for the flu, come down to the Cherokee County Health Department Monday–Friday between 8:00-12:00 and from 1:00–5:00 to receive your flu vaccine. We still have plenty of vaccine available and the cost is $25. Protect yourself, protect your loved ones. Get vaccinated today!  The following press release has been issued by Hiawassee Police Department. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Hiawassee, GA – January 27, 2018 – Just before midnight on Friday, January 26, 2018, the Hiawassee Police Department responded to a call from the Hiawassee Budget Inn on South Main Street in reference to a subject attempting to force entry into a room. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a person had been shot. The shooter had fled the scene on foot. The Towns County Sheriff’s Office and Hiawassee Police Department canvased the area attempting to locate the shooter. The victim, 40-year-old Lee Conard of Young Harris, GA, was transported by air ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with a bullet wound to the arm. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations was called to investigate the shooting. As the investigation was ending, 18-year-old Christopher Cody Wiggins, the assailant, returned to the scene and surrendered to the officers still present. Wiggins then lead officers approximately three-quarters of a mile to where he had dropped the gun used in the incident. Wiggins is currently being held at the Towns County Detention Center and has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Investigators learned that Conard sustained the gunshot wound while hiding in the bathroom with 18-year-old Abagail Petoskey of Young Harris. Wiggins shot through the bathroom door multiple times, striking Conard in the arm. Petoskey was not injured.  U.S. Air Force Airman Ian J. Johnston graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Johnston is the son of Jonathan and Charlie M. Dickey of Murphy, N.C. He is a 2017 graduate of Murphy High School, Murphy, N.C. The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On the evening of Monday, January 15, 2018, a Clay County Deputy observed a vehicle weaving in the roadway and crossing into the other lane on Hwy 64 West. The registration plate the vehicle was displaying was also fictitious. Sheriff Davis said the driver, Jeremiah Graves, told the deputy he did not have a valid driver’s license. The backseat passenger, Derrick Ledford, said he had a warrant out of Georgia which was confirmed to be true. Upon getting the backseat passenger out of the vehicle and placing him under arrest, syringes were found in plain view in the backseat. Then a plastic bag containing what appeared to be meth was found outside the vehicle. It had previously not been there, but none of the occupants of the vehicle knew how it ended up on the ground. When tested, it tested positive for methamphetamine. According to Sheriff Davis, all three were arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine. In addition to that, Jeremiah Graves, 36 of Murphy, was arrested and charged with Driving on a Revoked license. Lacy Garland, 27 of Murphy, was arrested and charged with just the meth charges. Derrick Ledford, 40 of Murphy, was arrested and additionally taken into custody for the warrant out of Georgia. They all received $5,000 bonds, Graves has made his and has been released. Ledford and Garland still remain in custody. The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to Sheriff Vic Davis, Clay County Investigators were following up on an anonymous tip on Thursday January 18, 2018, in reference to a stolen truck; when a short chase ended with the recovery of the truck and the seizure of drugs. The information provided gave the location and description of a truck stolen out of Paulding County, Ga. The investigators went to the location, found a vehicle matching that description, and confirmed with investigators from Georgia that it was stolen. While confirming this information the vehicle left and the investigators attempted to stop it, but a short chase was on. Once the truck was stopped on Jarrett Road, two men were taken into custody. The stolen truck was a 2012 Ram 2500 Quad Cab. James Harrell Moore, 37 of Hayesville, was arrested and charged with Felony Flee to Elude, Felony Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Eric Smith, 44 of Hayesville, was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle and Possession of Methamphetamine. Both remain in custody in the Clay County Detention Center under a $25,000 bond. They are scheduled to appear in court on February 5, 2018. Sheriff Davis said he is always grateful when members of the community provide information that leads to arrests. Without the community working hand in hand with us it makes it difficult to do our job. When we work together like this, it continues to make our community a safe place.  The following press release has issued by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the January 16th, 2018 arrest of 28-year-old Samantha Carol Head of Andrews, North Carolina for falsely reporting crimes. On January 14th, 2018 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation of a female who during past two years had been calling the administrative phone lines at the 911 center and falsely reporting an array of crimes. The reports included, vehicle accidents, fights, and breaking and entering in progress. Head was identified as the calling party and it was later determined that she was using an Android application on her phone to disguise her number. Head was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was booked on 19 counts of Falsely Reporting an Incident. Head was released on a $10,000.00 unsecure bond and is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on February 26th, 2018. Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated, “This type of crime might appear insignificant but in realty could have some serious implications. Not only does this tie up our communicators who may be needed on real emergencies, it also ties up law enforcement and other public safety agencies whose services may be needed to attend to serious life threatening situations.” To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-3144 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.  The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On Friday January 12, 2018, a Clay County Deputy responded to a report of a traffic crash on Hwy 64 West at Fires Creek Road, according to Sheriff Davis. The driver, Diego Soto, failed to slow down for the vehicle in front of him and struck it in the rear. While waiting for the North Carolina Highway Patrol to arrive, the deputy noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle that Soto was driving. The state trooper arrived and noticed the same odor. A search of the vehicle revealed a jar containing approximately 56 grams of marijuana. There were also scales and small plastic bags used in the distribution of marijuana discovered with the jar. Sheriff Davis said Diego Soto, 22 of Andrews, was arrested and charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for use of Controlled Substance, and Felony Possession of Marijuana. He was released on January 13th after making a $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to be in court on Wednesday January 17, 2018.  Where's the safest place to take a selfie? Hint: It's definitely not below this melting slab of ice. Though the ice and snow of this past week has been a beautiful site, visitors to the National Forests in North Carolina should be extremely cautious around ice formations that will be thawing as temperatures increase this week. Large slabs of hanging ice and icicles on cliffs and waterfalls will fail and fall and could cause serious injury or death to those in the immediate vicinity. Ice that had frozen over streams is thinning and is not safe to walk across in most areas. Falling trees and branches are an ever-present hazard; the addition of snow and ice makes tree failure more likely. The freeze-thaw cycle can loosen rocks which can roll onto roads and trails. Motorists and hikers should also be aware of the potential for icy conditions on shaded areas of roads and trails. Take into account that thawing roads, roadsides, and trails are more susceptible to rutting and choose activities that minimize the potential for damage. Many roads remain snow-covered and icy due to colder temperatures at high elevations. While gates may be open, drivers should not assume that roads are safe for travel. Your safety is your responsibility. Take these preventive measures to help keep yourself safe:
Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r8/recreation/safety-ethics for more outdoor safety tips.  The Hiawassee Police Department had an eventful and busy 2017. Chief Arvel Walls retired in May after dutifully serving the citizens of Towns County for 33 years. Paul Smith was named Acting Police Chief until he was sworn in as Police Chief on August 1st.
In May, a fifth full-time officer was hired to help combat the growing problem of drugs in our community. Until this point, Hiawassee Police Officers had always worked individually for 12-hour shifts. Having a fifth position allowed for an officer to focus on drug and traffic interdiction, but to also provide back up for other officers. With the new position dedicated to drug interdiction, felony drug arrests nearly doubled over the previous year. By the end of December, the Hiawassee Police Department had arrested 107 individuals for drug related crimes. Of those 107 arrests, 61 were for felony drug crimes, and the remaining 46 were for misdemeanor drug crimes. In addition to the drug arrests, HPD officers arrested 110 other individuals on non-drug related charges, many of which were traffic related crimes. November ended with an armed robbery at Save-A-Lot, the first armed robbery on record in Hiawassee. Detective Brandon Barrett took lead on the investigation, and within two weeks had arrested the individuals responsible for the crime. The Hiawassee Police Department made over 1,500 traffic stops during 2017, resulting in over 800 citations, 200 written warnings, and 500 verbal warnings. Officers responded to over 1,600 calls for service, including everything from an armed robbery to livestock in the roadway. We thank everyone for their support, and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens and visitors of Hiawassee in the coming year. MURPHY, NC, January 4, 2018 - Nantahala National Forest officials offer a reminder that several roads will be seasonally closed starting January 2 on the Tusquitee Ranger District. Certain roads are seasonally closed to motorized vehicles to help protect wildlife habitat, decrease wildlife disturbance, reduce road maintenance costs, and in specific cases to protect public safety during long bouts of adverse weather. The following roads close January 4 through April 15, 2018:  On all Forest Service roads, emergency closures due to weather or resource conditions can occur at any time. For current road conditions and status, contact the Tusquitee Ranger District at 828-837-5152 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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