Regional

Towns County Sheriff Ken Henders re-indicted

A Towns County Grand Jury has handed up a second indictment against suspended Sheriff Ken Henderson after hearing evidence in the case on Tuesday, May 19.

Drought persists, lake levels lower than normal

Across the entire Tennessee Valley we’re in a drought of some degree. TVA’s Scott Fiedler said that the area here is distinguished as a severe drought by the National Weather Service.

Rumfelt moves to top seven

Murphy native Braden Rumfelt advanced to the top seven after some tense moments as he was announced as the seventh finalist during the live voting results on Monday night’s “Disneyland” episode of American Idol, live from Los Angeles.

Paxton Media Group acquires nine newspapers

Paxton Media Group has acquired nine community newspapers in the Murphy and Franklin regions of western North Carolina and north Georgia from Community Newspapers, Inc., based in Athens, Ga.

AUCTION

Public service, kindness part of Penland’s legacy

By Becky Long Publisher   Clay County bid farewell to its longest serving county commissioner Monday morning. Hundreds of friends, relatives and supporters showed up for visitation and his Monday morning funeral service. Dwight Hunter Penland, 65, died Wednesday, March 11.

Looking to November as primary season ends

By Lorraine Bennett Staff Writer   Former N.C. Governor Roy Cooper and former N.C. Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley, survivors of recent primary elections, are preparing a November face-off promising to be decisive in whether the Tarheel State will continue red, blue or purple.

Spring Forward

Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2026: IRS reminds taxpayers to watch out for dangerous threats

The Internal Revenue Service today, Thursday, March 5, announced its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2026 that threaten the tax and financial information of taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals.