North Georgia News

07/16/2025

06/24/2025

05/29/2025

***NOW HIRING***

The North Georgia News is hiring for an Advertising Salesperson. Apply in person at the North Georgia News Office, 266 Cleveland Street in Blairsville, or email a resume to [email protected].

05/27/2025

The Sheriff's Office has received several notifications from residents today of a new scam that they have been receiving via text message. The scammer portrays themselves as the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The message goes on to tell you that you have an outstanding traffic ticket that you must pay immediately. The scammer then threatens that your license/registration could be suspended, you will be reported to the DMV, and that you could be prosecuted. The scam message concludes with a link to click on to pay the outstanding ticket.

Neither the DMV nor the Sheriff's Office will contact you via text message requiring you to pay any type of citation. If you receive ANY LINK via text message, unless it is from a known sender, you should always be on alert that it is going to be a scam. NEVER click on any links sent to you via text message or email unless you know the sender and you are expecting a link from them.

If you have clicked on any links and you believe that your information may have been compromised, please feel free to contact the Union County Sheriff's Office for assistance.

05/23/2025

***NORTH GEORGIA VETERANS MEMORIAL MARKERS***
It's time for the Memorial Markers to be placed around town again in time for Memorial Day. If you are interested in having a marker made for a deceased Veteran, please call Leslie at 706-897-4579.

05/21/2025

***UPDATE: Twin brothers' deaths on Bell Mountain in Towns County ruled double su***de, GBI says

The GBI has concluded the investigation into the deaths of Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis. Based on the results of the medical examiner’s autopsy and other investigative findings, their deaths have been ruled su***de-su***de.

GBI agents have met with the Lewis family to share the findings.

Detailed below are some of the investigative findings:

Cellular location data has established a timeline of their location from their home in Gwinnett County to Bell Mountain. In the video that corresponds to those locations, the Lewis brothers are seen alone.

Only one brother (Naazir) went to the airport on March 7, 2025. He never caught the flight and returned home. Records show Naazir is the only person that had an airline ticket.

Records show Naazir purchased ammunition used in the gun. The ammunition was delivered to his home on March 5, 2025.

Internet history from their phones showed searches for how to load a gun, su***de rates in 2024, and other related searches.

Forensic evidence showed that the Lewis brothers fired a gun.

The comprehensive investigation indicates the injuries causing their deaths were self-inflicted.

The investigation will be formally closed in the coming weeks. A copy of the closed investigative file can be obtained by visiting the GBI Records Request Center at https://gbi.georgia.gov.

05/14/2025

✅ MISSING JUVENILE LOCATED ✅
We’re relieved to report that Jocelyn Blaise Hulsey has been safely located.

Thank you to everyone who shared the alert and helped spread awareness.

The incident remains under investigation by the Pickens Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.

🔺 MISSING JUVENILE ALERT 🔺
The Pickens Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help in locating Jocelyn Blaise Hulsey (15), who was last seen by family on or around May 3, 2025.

Blaise is approximately 5'04" tall and 100 pounds.
She was last believed to be in Blairsville, Union County, GA on May 12, but left before law enforcement could make contact.

She may be traveling in a silver Buick sedan driven by a man named Diego.

⚠️ Blaise is suspected to be using dangerous drugs and may be in a vulnerable state.

If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact Detective Sergeant Taylor Cantrell at
📧 [email protected]

Let’s work together to bring Blaise home safely. 💛

05/12/2025

***NORTH GEORGIA VETERANS MEMORIAL MARKERS***

It's time for the Memorial Markers to be placed around town again in time for Memorial Day. If you are interested in having a marker made for a deceased Veteran, please call Leslie at 706-897-4579.

05/10/2025

***EARTHQUAKE***

U.S. Geological Survey has reported a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that originated near Greenback, Tennessee, shortly after 9 a.m.

That's about 50 miles north of the Union/Towns county area, as the crow flies.

The quake registered for hundreds of miles, with people reporting it in multiple states across the Southeast. The newspaper is currently unaware of any damage caused by the quake.

04/30/2025

***PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT***

Georgia Emergency Management Homeland Secruity Agency on behalf of multiple jurisdictions has issued an ongoing MISSING PERSON Alert. Byron Jones, 85-year-old white male. Last seen on April 21st on 76/515 near FANNIN and GILMER COUNTY LINE in a 2015 DARK BLUE TOYOTA CAMRY, GA tag TBX7562. If you have seen Mr. Jones, please CALL 911.

GEMA/HS Field Coordinators are collaborating with local and state agencies in the effort to locate Byron Jones, an 85-year-old resident of Canton. If you have any information, please contact your local 911 center.