The weather was beautiful over the weekend of the 4th, with temperatures barely above 70° and a very nice wind most afternoons. It’s really the first time it’s dried out all summer.
I was shocked this morning to see the two biggest bucks I’ve ever seen in this area, standing in my side yard. Their antlers were still in velvet, but they each had to be about eight points and sixteen inches long. In fact, they looked like twins. I had gone out on the deck with my dog first thing, and when she started to bark, I looked around to see what she was barking at. We often see does and yearlings in the yard, but it’s rare to see a buck – maybe one or two a year – so this was a thrill.
Save Georgia’s Hemlocks is having their annual event this weekend, July 13, at picnic shelter #8, Unicoi State Park. The keynote speaker is Craig Tilley, an expert on global warming. People are asked to bring a lawn chair and a covered dish. Space may be limited, so they ask that you RSVP to 706.429.8010.
The new newspaper, the Fannin Focus, has put out two issues so far, publishing on Thursday. It is available at the newspaper office in the shopping center across from the Trailer drive-in on the old highway. It is also available at most of the gas stations, and in blue boxes that are being placed around town. They are also working on their web site, which has already carried some of the government news. This makes three print newspapers in Fannin County, so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. They”ve closen a slogan that seems aimed at one (or both) of the incumbent newspapers, “Intent on Integrity,” so the gauntlet is definitely thrown down.