Your local newspaper serving Fannin County, Georgia and Copper Basin, Tennessee for over 40 years.
03/05/2025
The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens of a new scam surfacing today, Wednesday, March 5. Someone is going through the obituary notices, calling the loved ones of the deceased claiming to be the funeral home, and demanding payment for the funeral. At least one family has reported making a one-half payment. Anyone who receives such a call should contact the sheriff’s office at 706-632-2044 and the funeral home where the service was organized. The sheriff’s office warns to pay the funeral home in person.
02/24/2025
UPDATE: Anthony Whitten has been found and is safe. Thanks for your help.
02/19/2025
The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office is asking your help in locating 15-year-old Anthony Whitten. He has been missing since Friday, February 7, 2025. He is approximately five feet, six inches tall with brown, shaggy hair. He was last seen wearing a white hoodie and gray gym pants with a stripe down the side. If you know his location, or have seen him, please contact the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office at 706-632-2044 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. At all other times, call non-emergency dispatch at 706-946-8747.
12/02/2024
News Release Date 12-02-2024 Back to News City of Blue Ridge News Release Water Main Break Repair Causing Water Outage !BOIL WATER ADVISORY - SEE DOCUMENT BELOW! December 2, 2024 - There is a water main break in area of Hwy 5/Blue Ridge Drive. The City is on site to evaluate and repair the br...
11/01/2024
Thank you, Fannin County Family Connection and all those who donated!
10/30/2024
E-Edition Issues:
The News Observer is working with Etype Services to fix the issue of E-Editions not being emailed this morning.
Subscribers will have to use direct login until the email is restored. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
10/28/2024
Call now to connect with business.
10/16/2024
🚨 Reminder! 🚨
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 17, is the LAST DAY to donate coats at The News Observer!
We’ll be here from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. accepting donations. Help us spread the warmth this season!
Thank you for your support!
10/16/2024
The News Observer is experiencing technical difficulties in regards to the e-edition this morning. We have contacted our Etype support, they are aware of the issue, and we are working diligently to fix it. Thank you for your understanding! The E-Edition should be emailed shortly.
10/15/2024
Updated Volunteer Coat Drive Availabilty:
If you are interested in being a volunteer, email @fcfc1.org or call 706-632-6063.
David Haight and City of Blue Ridge Mayor Rhonda Haight have dismissed their lawsuits against Blue Ridge City Council members Angie Arp, Bill Bivins and Jack Taylor in a motion filed Monday, October 14, in Fannin County Superior Court. For more on this story, see the October 23 issue of The News Observer.
10/08/2024
Every year for the last 20 the generosity of area residents who contribute to The News Observer’s Coats for Kids drive has been overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, there have been coats left over from the initial distribution to area children in need. These have been used throughout the schools and in other locations to meet needs throughout the winter. This year, we’re going to do something different. The need here is great, and we believe that need will be met. So the first 200 coats donated to Coats for Kids are being sent to a church and fire department in Western North Carolina to go to those in need now. Temperatures are expected to drop rapidly there soon. Thanks for your help. It will make a difference both here and with those suffering elsewhere. Coats can be dropped off at The News Observer's office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
09/30/2024
***EDIT***
We understand many people have already purchased items to donate. We are working hard to sort the existing donations and make room for more supplies. Donations will resume at 8am tomorrow.
***EDIT***
Due to an overwhelming response from the community we are currently at capacity. We are no longer able to take any more donations. We will provide an update as soon as we have more capacity.
Thank you!!
***EDIT***
Non-perishable goods(primarily canned food) are currently at the top of the priority list. Thank you!
We will be accepting donations today for those in need that were affected by Hurricane Helene. The target destination for supplies is Asheville, NC and surrounding areas.
Please bring all donations to:
FCFD Station 1
20 Station Ridge, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Fannin County Sheriffs Office
645 W First St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Currently accepting donations from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.
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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.
Since beginning publication as The New Observer, the newspaper and individual staff members have won awards in a variety of competitions on the local, state and regional levels. Two of the most prestigious of these have been the Georgia Freedom of Information Award presented by the Georgia Press Association. This award, presented to only one newspaper in the state each year, recognized The News Observer for ongoing efforts to defend the public's right to know. The News Observer also won Community Newspaper's President's Award, which recognized the newspaper for best reflecting the company's mission statement.
Our Mission
The News Observer is published with pride for the people of Fannin County, Georgia and East Polk County, Tennessee by Community Newspapers, Inc. in Athens, Georgia.
We believe that strong newspapers build strong communities – "Newspapers get things done!"
Our primary goal is to publish a distinguished and profitable community-orient newspaper. This mission will be accomplished through the teamwork of professionals dedicated to truth, integrity, loyalty, quality and hard work. We believe that a community first know about itself in order to act in its own best interest.
Recent Accomplishments
2019 Georgia Press Association Editorial Awards
• Emerging Journalist Award, Sydney Taylor
• 1st Place Local News Coverage, Staff
• 1st Place Photo Essay, Lauren Bearden
• 1st Place Feature Photo, Lauren Bearden
• 2nd Place General Excellence, Staff
• 2nd Place Community Service, Staff
• 2nd Place Layout and Design, Staff
• 2nd Place Photo Essay, Lauren Bearden
• 2nd Place Lifestyle Coverage, Staff
• 2nd Place News Photo, Sydney Taylor
• 2nd Place Editorial Page, Glenn Harbison
• 3rd Place Humorous Column, Glenn Harbison
• 3rd Place Magazine Photography, Lauren Bearden
• 3rd Place Page One, Glenn Harbison and Lauren Bearden
• 3rd Place News Photo, Sydney Taylor
• 3rd Place Feature Writing, Lauren Bearden
• 3rd Place Magazine Product, Staff
• 3rd Place Photo Portfolio, Glenn Harbison
2019 Georgia Press Association Advertising Awards
• 1st Place Classified Section/Page, Staff
• 1st Place Full Color Ad, Lori Waters and Cheryl Norton
• 1st Place Miscellaneous, Lori Waters
• 1st Place Signature Page, Lori Waters and Cheryl Norton
• 2nd Place Full Color Ad, Lori Waters
• 2nd Place Motor Vehicle, Lori Waters
2018 Georgia Press Association Editorial Awards
• 3rd Place Community Service, Staff
• 3rd Place Editorial Page, Glenn Harbison
• 3rd Place Humorous Column, Glenn Harbison
• 3rd Place Local News Coverage, Staff
• 3rd Place Serious Column, Glenn Harbison
2018 Georgia Press Association Advertising Awards
• 1st Place, Full Color Ad, Lori Waters
• 1st Place Classified Section/Page, Staff
• 2nd Place, Full Color Ad, Lori Waters
• 2nd Place, Small Page Ad, Lori Waters
2017 Georgia Press Association Editorial Awards
• 2nd Place Local News Coverage, Staff
• 2nd Place Sports Section or Pages, James Wolfe
• 2nd Place Community Service, Staff
• 2nd Place Education Writing, Brianne Collar
• 3rd Place Layout and Design, Staff
• 3rd Place Lifestyle Coverage, Staff
• 3rd Place Editorial Writing, Glenn Harbison
2017 Georgia Press Association Advertising Awards
• 1st Place Motor Vehicle, Lori Waters
• 2nd Place Classified Section/Page, Staff
Your local newspaper serving Fannin County, Georgia and Copper Basin, Tennessee for over 40 years.
