Over 200 turn out to “Back The Blue”

        At their June meeting, the board of commissioners cancelled all county credit cards that were issued to a handful of departments and offices. The cancellation was “effective immediately.” 

Those cards have been at the center of heated controversy since January. Problems began when  meal charges made by the county commission chair were posted online, and later with former Pickens Magistrate Judge Allen Wigington who faces criminal charges due to purchases he made on the card issued to him.  

The cards cancelled were: two issued to the commissioner’s office; one that was kept by the former magistrate judge who could use it for the entire courthouse; and five that were issued to the sheriff’s office. 

        See full story in this week's print or online editions. 

By Nan Nawrocki

Tater Patch Players

Tater Patch Players is pleased to announce their upcoming production of The Aurelia Women's League Flower and Garden Show Gala Planning Committee, a one act comedy by Judy Simpson Cook.

We will be presenting this delightful short play on July 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 and August 1, 2. The Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. and the others at 7:30 p.m. The seating will be general admission and tickets will be available on the website (www.taterpatchplayers.org) or on show dates at the door for $10 each for everyone. 

Runoffs ahead for tax commissioner, school board post 1

When the dust settled after a vote count that ran for several days, challenger Kris Stancil had knocked off Commission Chair Rob Jones in the GOP Primary, taking 59 percent of the votes cast.

Stancil will face David Shouse, who has announced he will run as an Independent, in the November General Election.

Stancil won across all precincts in the county taking 4,600 votes to Jones’ 3,203. A breakdown of the vote totals in this race from the secretary of state website shows that Stancil drew equal support from all areas of the county and in early, election day, and absentee voting (See breakdown on vote count for this race on Page 11A).

Peach season has arrived. Penland’s has brought their fresh produce from Ellijay peaches to the market for the last two weeks.

Creativity abounds at the latest Farmers Market with forty vendors filling the park & ride lot next to Lee Newton Park. It was a beautiful day for the market and having so many vendors made it for a fun day to shop and stroll.