YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.— Young Harris College recently welcomed back to campus alumnus Ronnie Milsap, ’64, on Aug. 11 for an evening of celebration honoring the country music legend.
 
Milsap was the recipient of YHC’s 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Career Achievement. “This award is presented to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated great success in their career following a successful foundation made by YHC,” explained President Cathy Cox. “We were honored to have Ronnie, his wife, Joyce, and their friends and family back on campus to celebrate his award-winning career.”
 
Milsap has compiled 40 No. 1 country hits, accrued eight gold albums, and won six Grammy Awards, eight Country Music Association Awards, and four Academy of Country Music trophies, including the lifetime honor. In 2014, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
 
Milsap credits YHC as the place where he discovered his calling to be a musician. “I learned that being an entertainer was what I was supposed to be,” said Milsap. “I learned that here at Young Harris. I learned it from the students. I learned it from the teachers.”
 
More than 100 guests flocked to campus to celebrate with Milsap, enjoy musical performances by YHC’s student-led A capella group, The Altitunes, and listen to stories from those who knew Milsap best while he attended YHC.
 
Two of Milsap’s YHC professors included former U.S. Senator and Georgia Governor Zell Miller, ‘51, and Clay Dotson, Ph.D., emeriti professor of history, former academic dean and interim president. Both shared memories from when Milsap was a student.
 
Gov. Miller composed a special letter read by President Cox during the award ceremony. “I spent many wonderful years and days teaching here at Young Harris. Among the best of those were the years I spent with a young student from Western North Carolina by the name of Ronnie Milsap,” wrote Gov. Miller. “No one was more pleased with his rise to international acclaim and more grateful for his friendship than his old political science teacher here at Young Harris.”
 
Dr. Dotson shared his appreciation with Milsap. “Thank you for having the courage and the drive to use your musical talents to become one of the greatest musical artist of our times,” said Dr. Dotson. “Congratulations to you for being the recipient of this award. It probably doesn’t compare to being in the Country Music Hall of Fame, but for us, it’s big. We are proud of you and for what you have become.”
 
Milsap’s YHC roommate, John Ed McDaniel, ’64, shared humorous and heartfelt stories from their time together on campus. McDaniel expressed how much Milsap’s friendship meant to him saying, “Ronnie, every person you have ever met, you make a difference in their lives.  You certainly made a difference in mine.”
 
During his acceptance remarks, Milsap expressed how honored he was to be back at Young Harris College, noting those were “really happy days.”
 
“John Ed was the perfect roommate, and Dr. Dotson and Gov. Miller were wonderful teachers,” said Milsap. “As with so many of the teachers here, they were all so kind and nice to me.”
 
To further honor Milsap, an endowed scholarship was established with proceeds from the event. “The Ronnie Milsap, ’64, Music Scholarship gives us the opportunity to honor his achievements while helping our talented music students in perpetuity,” said President Cox. 
 
Milsap’s classmates formed a committee to assist with plans for the event and encourage others to make gifts to the scholarship. Members of the committee included Jon, ’65, and Paulette Anderson, Joe Bullington, ’63, Chuck Clowdis, ’64, Phil Hope, ’64, Marvin McArthur, ’65, Charlotte Sparks McCloskey, ’64, John Ed McDaniel, ’64, John Ted McDaniel, ’64, Charlie Morris, ’64, Steve Sharp, ’65, and Peggy Pleasants Thrasher, ’59.
 
Several sponsors also assisted with making the evening a success. Platinum sponsors included Mel and Judy Crocker, ’63, Hall, and Bill, ’52, and Judy Roberts. Gold sponsors included Jimmy Alston, ’64, Cathy Cox and Mark Dehler, and Charlotte Sparks McCloskey, ’64.
 
“We at Young Harris College love Ronnie, and we are so very proud of him—not only of his musical accomplishments, but of the person he is,” said President Cox. “In the words of Gov. Miller, ‘Ronnie Milsap is what he sang in an award winning hit: a legend in his time’.”
 
For more information about making a gift to the Ronnie Milsap, ’64, Music Scholarship, contact YHC’s Office of Advancement at (706) 379-5173 or visit www.yhc.edu/giving.

The following press release has been 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 August 26th, 2016 arrest of 28-year-old Brandon Michael Rice, and 19-year-old Meghan Krystina Blaylock, both of Murphy, North Carolina, for controlled substance violations.

On the afternoon of August 26th, 2016, investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received information that individuals were at the McDonalds in Murphy appeared to be involved in the illegal sale and possession of controlled substances. As investigators approached Rice to question him, he fled from the restaurant and ran across US 64 and was captured after a short foot chase. During the chase, Rice had thrown down a container that contained a trafficking amount of suspected methamphetamine. Blaylock was captured in the parking lot as she was attempting to assist the escape of Rice by warning him of the existence of the investigators.

Rice was arrested for TRAFFIC IN METHAMPHETAMINE OFFICER, POSS W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, RESISTING PUBLIC, POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. He is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $100,000 secure bond and has a September 13th, 2016 Cherokee County District Court date.

Blaylock was arrested for CONSPIRE TRAFFIC METHAMPHETAMINE, RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER. She is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $100,000 secure bond and has a September 13th, 2016 Cherokee County District Court date.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are appreciative of our public’s support and assistance. I would like to point out that this all took place within a few feet of a daycare. This shows the disregard of the people that continue to violate our controlled substance laws. We will continue to go after them.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress ​

From Clay County Sheriff Vic Davis   - 8/29/16
 
The Clay County Dispatch Center received an anonymous call from a cell phone Saturday night at approximately 10:00 PM. The caller advised that a friend was threatening to burn his house down with everyone in it and then shoot up the school.  Clay County dispatchers and investigators were able to determine that a Hayesville student that lives in Cherokee County had unsuccessfully tried to solicit two other students at the school to help him.
 
One of these students turned him in.  Clay County investigators worked around the clock with the assistance of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Superintendent of schools to track down the student that made the threats. He was interviewed and taken into custody.  To our knowledge the student had no access to any firearms. 

Clay County Sheriff Vic Davis said, "Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our school and I want to commend our dispatchers and investigators for their diligent work in averting what could have been a terrible incident."  

​WCU prognosticator: Leaf color quality will hinge on temperature trends heading into fall
 
CULLOWHEE – Leaf-lookers, stay tuned. The quality of the fall colors in Western North Carolina’s mountains this year will depend on the temperatures recorded from September through the typical peak color weeks of October.

That’s the word from Beverly Collins, Western Carolina University’s new fall foliage forecaster. Collins, a professor in WCU’s Department of Biology, is taking over leaf prognostication duties from Kathy Mathews, a biology faculty member who had been evaluating the leaf color potential for 11 years.

Whether it will be a really good year for leaf-looking, or a so-so year, remains to be seen as weather observers monitor the climate to see if the generally warmer-than-normal conditions of 2016 continue through the fall, or if temperatures start dropping and follow the patterns of a “normal” year, Collins said.
The Asheville office of the National Centers for Environmental Information has reported that July was the 15th consecutive record warmest month globally. State climate officials say the monthly average temperatures recorded at the Asheville Regional Airport since mid-February have ranged from slightly above normal to almost seven degrees above normal.

“If our warmer-than-normal weather continues into fall, the colors will be later, more subdued and spottier,” Collins said.

Along with the heat, the summer months brought generally drier than normal conditions to many parts of the mountains, and dry weather in the spring and summer can produce bright fall colors, but only if the fall weather follows its historical and normal trend of increasingly cooler days and colder nights, Collins said. Some long-range forecasters are predicting a cold snap in mid-October, and that would be good for producing colorful leaves, but “we can’t predict October weather in August with 100 percent confidence,” she said.

Each fall, the region’s fall colors emerge as chlorophyll in leaves breaks down, revealing yellow, orange and red pigments that were hidden by the green. Color appears first in the forest understory with the reds of shrubs and vines such as sumac, Virginia creeper and poison ivy. The yellow, orange and red of early-turning trees such as walnut, tulip poplar and maple show up next, and the season ends with the darker reds and browns of oaks, she said.

​With elevations in Western North Carolina ranging from around 2,000 feet in the valley towns to more than 6,000 feet on the ridgetops, weather conditions in the region also vary greatly. That factor, combined with the rich diversity of tree species, can lead to a long and diverse color display, Collins said. The best bet for foliage fans is to plan on peak color the weekend of Oct. 15-16 for the highest elevations over 4,000 feet; the weekend of Oct. 22-23 for the middle elevations of 2,500 to 4,000 feet; and the remainder of October for lower elevations, she said.

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

​Murphy, NC — Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the August 20th , 2016 arrest of 43-year-old Dennis James Lavender, of Murphy, North Carolina for Sexual Assaults involving a child.

In March of 2015, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation with the Cherokee County Department of Social Services pertaining to allegations that Lavender had committed sexual assaults of a minor child.  The investigative case was presented to the Cherokee County Grand Jury in April of this year.  The grand jury handed down indictments for First Degree Sex Offense as well as indecent liberties with a minor.

Once the indictments were issued, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office began looking for Lavender in an effort to arrest him. On August 20th, 2016, information was made known to Cherokee County Deputy Wooten who arrested Lavender without incident in the Martins Creek Community of Cherokee County.

Lavender is currently in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $500,000 secure bond and is expected to be in Cherokee County Superior Court on November 7th, 2016.

Because of the age of the victims and the sensitive nature of the incident, no further information is expected to be released from this office.

​Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County, you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

The following press release has been issued by 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 August 17th , 2016 arrest of 42-year-old Natalie Lynn Scogin, of Marietta, Georgia for controlled substance violations.

During the afternoon hours of August 17th, 2016 a report was received by the Cherokee County Communications Center of an individual driving in a reckless manner from a residence on Tea Rose Lane in Cherokee County. Shortly after information identifying the alleged vehicle was broadcast, Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer observed the vehicle and stopped it.  While investigating the allegations of reckless driving, the driver, Scogin, consented to a search of her vehicle. During the consent search, a sizeable amount of suspected Methamphetamine was seized.

Scogin was arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center and charged with POSS W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE MAINTAIN PLACE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

Scogin is currently being held on a $5,000.00 secure bond awaiting a September 13th, 2016 Cherokee County District Court date.  

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are appreciative of our public’s support and assistance. The extra eyes and ears are of tremendous benefit and together we can continue to make a difference in our fight against controlled substance violations.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County, you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

The following press release has been issued by Towns County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On August 15, 2016, Towns County deputies arrested Sara Carter, age 31 of Young Harris, Georgia, on six (6) counts of Forgery in the 4th Degree. Towns County Sheriff's deputies took a report on July 28th in reference to a burglary and forgery incident, which was reported to have occurred in the 1200 block of Cunningham Road in Young Harris.

On August 12, 2016, Michael Chrisley, age 24 of Hayesville, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with one (1) Count Burglary 2nd Degree for the burglary of a business in Young Harris, reported to have occurred between June 15th and June 16th.  Chrisley was arrested and charged in June, 2016 for a burglary occurring in Hiawassee. 

As well, on August 12th, Lisa Triplett, age 38 of Young Harris, Georgia, was arrested and charged with two (2) Counts Burglary 1st Degree for two separate incidents occurring in Hiawassee and Young Harris..

Nathan Rose, age 40 of Hayesville, North Carolina, was also arrested on August 12th, and charged with one (1) Count of Burglary for an incident occurring in Hiawassee.

Towns County Sheriff's Investigators are searching for Eric Stephens, age 26 of Hayesville, North Carolina. Anyone with information as to Eric Stephens’ whereabouts is asked to contact The Towns County Sheriff’s Office at 706-896-4444.

The following press release has been issued by 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 August 06th, 2016 arrest of 27-year-old Levi Winslow Sutton, a Murphy, North Carolina man, on charges stemming from a domestic incident.

On August 6th , 2016, deputies responded to a residence in the Tomotla Community of Cherokee County to investigate a report of what sounded like someone kicking a door in to a residence. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found Sutton hiding inside the residence of his former girlfriend. Further investigation on the scene revealed that Sutton had apparently kicked the door in and forced the occupant into the bedroom where the occupant had been sleeping. Additionally, information was found that Sutton was out on bond for various charges involving the occupant, as well as violating a domestic violence protective order.

While attempting to detain and transport Sutton, he became aggressive with the officers and resisted them.

​Sutton was arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center for: 1st Degree Burglary, DVPO Violation, Assault on a Female, Interfering with 911 Communication, Resist, Obstruct and Delay, Injury to Real Property.

Sutton is currently being held on a $100,000 secure bond awaiting a August 16th, 2016 court appearance.

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress 

The following press release has been issued by Towns County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Monday July 18th, deputies responded to a residence on Tay Walk Way in Hiawassee, Georgia, in reference to a reported burglary.  The burglary was reported to have occurred that day.  The suspect identified during the course of the investigation was arrested the same day as the burglary was reported.  The suspect was identified as Chelsea Smith, age 23, of Hiawassee, Georgia.  She was charged with one count of Burglary and one count of Criminal Trespass. 

Towns County sheriff's deputies made another arrest on Friday July 15th, 2016.  Josh Smith, age 23, of Young Harris, Georgia, was charged with one count of burglary, in reference to a burglary that occurred on June 25th, 2016, in the 400 block of Hog Creek Road in Hiawassee.  He was the second suspect arrested in reference to the Hog Creek Road burglary.