Information on candidates

For Pickens and other counties, open burning of yard and land-clearing debris is prohibited

From Ga. Forestry

Georgia's annual ban on outdoor burning begins May 1 in 47 counties. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) puts the restrictions in place during the summer months, when increases in ground level ozone may create health risks.

For seven counties that are normally included in the summer burn ban, restrictions will be activated on June 1, giving them extra time to clear vegetative debris from April storms. Those counties are Banks, Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Upson and Walker.

"From May until September 1, open burning of yard and land-clearing debris is prohibited in some counties where particulate matter pollutants and chemicals from smoke are more likely to combine with emissions from vehicles and industrial activities," said Frank Sorrells, Chief of Protection for the Georgia Forestry Commission. "That's more likely to occur

By Johnathan Ray

Executive Director

North Georgia Community Action, Inc.

I wanted to let you all know that we will begin phasing in essential  MATS transportation services beginning Monday, May 4th. 

We will be limiting transit services to prescription refill trips, dialysis appointments and individuals needing access to finances, particularly the need to cash social security checks or stimulus checks to ensure they have adequate funds on hand for bills and other necessary expenses. 

We feel that with the shelter in place order being lifted that some  caretakers or community volunteers may have to return to their place of work and we want to be available for these essential type trips should an individual need the service.

To comply with social distancing measures under Phase I of the CDC guidelines, we will be limiting transportation to no

        Some of the estimated 3,000 to 5,000 absentee ballot applications awaiting processing in the Pickens elections office.

“We are working as fast as we can,” said Elections Office Supervisor Julianne Roberts, regarding the 3,000 to 5,000 absentee ballot requests that they are processing ahead of the June 9th Primary election.

Roberts said they anticipate having all of them handled within the next two weeks so that anyone who has requested an absentee ballot by mail will have it by the time early voting starts on May 18th.