Appalachia Daily Update (ADU) - Friday, December 19, 2025

Union County: Mobile Home Fire in Blairsville

A recent report described a fatal mobile home fire at Warren Trailer Park in Blairsville, with an investigation ongoing.

• Avoid speculation and focus on prevention.

• Test smoke alarms and replace weak batteries today.

• Keep space heaters clear and avoid overloading older extension cords.

Sources:

• https://people.com/two-children-killed-mobile-home-fire-georgia-8766190

News Date: 2025-12-17

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Holiday Closures Roundup: County Offices and School Breaks

A quick planning note to help you avoid the wasted trip to a locked door next week.

• Cherokee County, North Carolina lists county office closures for December 24 through 26.

• Union County, Georgia lists county government office closures for December 24 and December 25.

• North Carolina’s state holiday schedule lists Christmas observance days on December 24 through 26, and many local offices align with that.

• Graham County, North Carolina posts a holiday schedule that includes Christmas week closures.

• Fannin County Schools and Towns County Schools have holiday break schedules posted, so expect school offices to be closed during that break window.

Sources:

• https://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov/Calendar.aspx

• https://www.unioncountyga.gov/calendar.aspx

• https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits/leave/holidays

• https://www.grahamcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/holiday-schedule-2025.pdf

• https://www.fannin.k12.ga.us/calendar/

• https://www.towns.k12.ga.us/calendar/

News Date: 2025-12-19

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Christmas Weekend Planner: What’s Happening December 20-21

A few easy, family-friendly options still running this weekend across the ADU coverage area.

• Holiday lights are running in Hiawassee.

• The Blue Ridge holiday train is running this weekend.

• Murphy’s downtown holiday season runs through Saturday.

• There’s also an indoor music option if the weather flips.

Sources:

• https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents

• https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/blue-ridge-scenic-railway-holiday-express/

• https://www.townofmurphync.com/main-street-murphy/page/murphy-mountain-christmas

• https://www.blueridgemusiccenter.org/event/christmas-in-appalachia/

News Date: 2025-12-19

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Trail Spotlight Friday: Toccoa River Swinging Bridge Area

A winter-friendly Trail Spotlight with a quick access note so you can plan smart.

• Start earlier than you think, because it gets dark quickly.

• Bring a headlamp and a spare layer.

• Don’t trust wet rocks or slick wood decking.

• Check access status before you drive, because the Swinging Bridge is listed as temporarily closed.

Sources:

• https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/conf/alerts-notices/?aid=92331

News Date: 2025-08-21

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Where to listen and follow

Podcast: https://go.riverrun.digital/adu
Producer link:

https://go.riverrun.digital

Notes, methods, and rights

We build each episode from public sources and community calendars, focusing on items that affect daily life across Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Towns, Union, and Fannin Counties. If you spot an error or want us to include a community note, email adu@riverrun.digital.

This post was assembled with the help of AI tools using publicly available sources. While we work to verify details, information can change quickly. Copyright 2025 River Run Digital. Learn more at

https://go.riverrun.digital

.