News

White County BOE District 4 candidates.

White County BOE District 4 candidates.

BOE candidates answer key questions

by Denise Etheridge   The next election is fast approaching and there are several local contested races. The White County News asked these candidates why they chose to run and what makes them qualified to lead. Here are their answers.
Scores of kids hunted for Easter eggs at Skitts Mountain Farms in Cleveland on March 28. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Scores of kids hunted for Easter eggs at Skitts Mountain Farms in Cleveland on March 28. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Egg-streme springtime fun

by Denise Etheridge   Hundreds of children scrambled in the pasture at Skitts Mountain Farms to collect brightly colored plastic Easter eggs last Saturday. The family-friendly springtime event drew around 700 families to the farm near Cleveland.
The owner, managers and staff at Mountain Laurel Antique Mall and Furniture Consignment Showroom enjoy greeting customers. Sitting from left: Katie White, Barbara McClure and Dorothy Ralston. Standing from left: Carol Burgess, Bobby Dyer and Ariana McClure. Not pictured: Larry Hall, Lois Boggs and Ed Hawksford. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

The owner, managers and staff at Mountain Laurel Antique Mall and Furniture Consignment Showroom enjoy greeting customers. Sitting from left: Katie White, Barbara McClure and Dorothy Ralston. Standing from left: Carol Burgess, Bobby Dyer and Ariana McClure. Not pictured: Larry Hall, Lois Boggs and Ed Hawksford. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Family legacy drives Mountain Laurel Antique Mall forward

by Denise Etheridge   Mountain Laurel Antique Mall and Furniture Consignment Showroom is a family business spanning three generations of women. The antique mall was established in 2003 by Dorothy Ralston.
Nacoochee Village Antique Mall offers visitors multiple rooms filled top to bottom with antiques and collectibles to explore. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Nacoochee Village Antique Mall offers visitors multiple rooms filled top to bottom with antiques and collectibles to explore. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Step inside history

by Carly Henderson    The past comes to life inside the 150-year-old Martin House at the heart of Nacoochee Village, where Nacoochee Village Antique Mall offers visitors three floors and 7,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles to explore.
Probate Judge Don Ferguson stands by a display case filled with antiques and memorabilia, including a near complete set of original U.S. standard weights and measures given to White County by the state of Georgia in 1857. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSOCIATE JUDGE KERRI S. CRANE, PROBATE COURT

Probate Judge Don Ferguson stands by a display case filled with antiques and memorabilia, including a near complete set of original U.S. standard weights and measures given to White County by the state of Georgia in 1857. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSOCIATE JUDGE KERRI S. CRANE, PROBATE COURT

The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia marks its 20th Anniversary with an exhibition exploring the origins of the face jug. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia marks its 20th Anniversary with an exhibition exploring the origins of the face jug. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Folk Pottery Museum marks 20 years with face jugs exhibit

The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia marks its 20th Anniversary with a special exhibition exploring the origins of one of Southern pottery’s most iconic forms: the face jug. On display now through September 13, Face Jugs: Where Did They Come From? is curated by folklorist Dr.
Ariel, left, played by Sarah Wilkinson is delighted with the fork found by Scuttle the seagull, played by Edwin Polangco-Kenney. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ariel, left, played by Sarah Wilkinson is delighted with the fork found by Scuttle the seagull, played by Edwin Polangco-Kenney. SUBMITTED PHOTO

WCHS presents 'The Little Mermaid' this weekend

By Denise Etheridge The White County High School Theatre Department will enchant local audiences with the classic Disney musical “The Little Mermaid” this weekend.  Performances are at 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow – March 26 and 27, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, and at 2 p.m.
Chief Registrar April Kastner assisted with applications and getting poll workers enrolled in the poll worker management system at the poll worker drive last week. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Chief Registrar April Kastner assisted with applications and getting poll workers enrolled in the poll worker management system at the poll worker drive last week. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Poll workers prepare to serve voters

By Carly Henderson White County Elections & Registration hosted a poll worker drive Thursday, March 19. The event provided community members an opportunity to learn more about serving as poll workers for the upcoming May 2026 election.
Riley Gaines is a conservative political activist and former collegiate swimmer. Gaines was hosted by TMU’s Turning Point USA chapter for the “Pick Up the Mic: Ask Me Anything with Riley Gaines” event on March 24. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Riley Gaines is a conservative political activist and former collegiate swimmer. Gaines was hosted by TMU’s Turning Point USA chapter for the “Pick Up the Mic: Ask Me Anything with Riley Gaines” event on March 24. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Truett McConnell hosts 'Pick Up the Mic' event with Riley Gaines

By Carly Henderson Truett McConnell University hosted “Pick Up the Mic: Ask Me Anything with Riley Gaines” on March 24 at the university’s Student Wellness Center. Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Kentucky, is now a conservative political activist.
White County first responders train on a ropes course last year in preparation for mountain rescues. FILE PHOTO

White County first responders train on a ropes course last year in preparation for mountain rescues. FILE PHOTO

Hiker rescued, accident victim extricated

White County first responders responded to 59 calls for service between 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and 8 a.m. on Monday, March 23. The majority of the calls were medical emergencies, including a mountain rescue of an injured hiker and extricating a car accident victim.