The News Observer

The News Observer Your local newspaper serving Fannin County, Georgia and Copper Basin, Tennessee for over 40 years.

We are thankful for our veterans.Our annual Salute to Veterans tab was featured in last week's newspaper.
11/11/2025

We are thankful for our veterans.

Our annual Salute to Veterans tab was featured in last week's newspaper.

11/10/2025

All Fannin County Schools will be released early today, November 10, 2025, due to notification of a Winter Weather Advisory for our area. All after-school practices, games, activities, or competitions have also been canceled.

* Student drivers will be released from Fannin County High School at 1:30.
* Parent pick-up for the elementary schools will begin at 1:30 for K-2 students and 1:45 for students in grades 3-5.
* Parent pick-up at the high school and middle school will begin at 2:15.

Buses will leave campuses about an hour earlier than usual.
Those departure times are:
FCHS & FCMS 2:10
Elementary Schools 2:30

Please reach out to your child’s school if you have questions.

11/10/2025

📣 The warming shelter will open at the Fannin County Senior Center, 440 West First Street, Blue Ridge, tonight from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Animals must be placed inside one of the provided crates upon entry.

Find good beer and family values at Buck Bald Brewing 🍺
11/10/2025

Find good beer and family values at Buck Bald Brewing 🍺

Sponsored Content Fannin Co. Development Authority

📣 FULL-TIME GRAPHIC ARTIST NEEDED:✅Will be responsible for designing pages for the newspaper, magazines and special sect...
11/07/2025

📣 FULL-TIME GRAPHIC ARTIST NEEDED:

✅Will be responsible for designing pages for the newspaper, magazines and special sections as well as creating eye-catching ads for our customers.

✅Experience with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop preferred, but we will train!

✅Attention to detail, quality of work and the ability to meet deadlines is crucial.

Position comes with a full benefits package!

Interested? Send your resume and some samples of work to [email protected] or stop by to fill out an application.

No phone calls, please.

11/06/2025

Due to limited access to potable water resulting from the City of Blue Ridge boil water advisory, all after-school activities hosted by Fannin County Schools are cancelled this afternoon, 11/6/25.

In addition, it has been verified by the City of Blue Ridge Water Department that the boil advisory will not be cleared for 24 hours. Therefore, Fannin County Schools will be on a virtual learning day tomorrow, November 7, 2025. Schools will be closed, but all directors, principals, and 12-month personnel should report as close to 8:00 a.m. as possible.

Teachers should have assignments posted for students in grades 3-12 no later than 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. Students in grades K-2 will work on their Virtual Learning Day Board (if you need a copy, a link is posted on our website). If students are unable to complete their work, they have three days to make up any assignments. Schools will follow up with more information as needed.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff.

‼️ Boil advisory for those on Blue Ridge water.
11/06/2025

‼️ Boil advisory for those on Blue Ridge water.

🐾 Adopt a pet at Fannin County Animal Control! This week's featured dogs are Charlie, Dudley, Goofy and Owen. Learn more...
11/06/2025

🐾 Adopt a pet at Fannin County Animal Control! This week's featured dogs are Charlie, Dudley, Goofy and Owen. Learn more about them in the newspaper. 🗞

Blue Ridge Election results are in!!Andy Rhodes will be the new mayor.Bubba Gibbs will take Post 2. Jacqueline Kiker Bro...
11/05/2025

Blue Ridge Election results are in!!

Andy Rhodes will be the new mayor.
Bubba Gibbs will take Post 2.
Jacqueline Kiker Brown will take Post 4.

Kangaroo or alcohol-infused jerky anyone? 👀😋
11/01/2025

Kangaroo or alcohol-infused jerky anyone? 👀😋

Sponsored Content Fannin Co. Development Authority

🐾 Adopt a pet at Fannin County Animal Control! This week's featured dogs are Abbey, Jake, Owen and Hutch. Learn more abo...
10/30/2025

🐾 Adopt a pet at Fannin County Animal Control! This week's featured dogs are Abbey, Jake, Owen and Hutch. Learn more about them in the newspaper. 🗞

Don't be surprised‼ Our Graphic Artist Taylor Coleman reminds that time falls back one hour this Sunday!
10/29/2025

Don't be surprised‼ Our Graphic Artist Taylor Coleman reminds that time falls back one hour this Sunday!

Address

5748 Appalachian Highway
Blue Ridge, GA
30513

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17066322019

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The News Observer posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The News Observer:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

About The News Observer

The News Observer's roots wind their way back through the many newspapers that have served Fannin County, Georgia over the years. Community Newspapers, Inc., parent company of The News Observer, entered the newspaper market in Blue Ridge, Georgia by purchasing The Blue Ridge Summit-Post in the early 1970s. Soon afterward, a free-circulation paper, The News Herald, went into competition against The Summit-Post. About 1981, The Observer, a free circulation, sister publication of the Summit Post began publishing. In 1989, the current owners of Community Newspapers, Inc., purchased the company. Then, in 1990, The News Herald was purchased by Community Newspapers, Inc., and was merged with The Observer to form The News Observer.

The first edition of The News Observer hit the streets May 3, 1990, as a free circulation, total market coverage newspaper serving all of Fannin County, Georgia, and the Copper Basin area of Tennessee. In September, 1990, the newspaper began being delivered door-to-door by a fleet of ten carriers every week, still free to every home in the area.

In March of 1994, the newspaper was converted to paid circulation, still delivered by carriers. As the newspaper continued to grow with the community, the next big step was a conversion to a twice a week publication. Beginning with the issue of April 25, 2000, readers began receiving both a Tuesday and Friday edition of The News Observer. The newspaper changed to delivery through the U.S. Postal service at the same time.

In March of 2013, The News Observer began publishing once a week, with our readers receiving editions every Wednesday. We continue to publish a Wednesday edition today.