Family Connections Coordinator Addresses Towns Democrats

 Karen Nicholson of Towns County Family Connection was guest speaker at the Nov. 13, 2025, meeting of the Towns County Democrats along with Angela Hunnicut. 

As youth coordinator, Nicholson facilitates the Family Connection mentor program.  The program connects members of the Towns County community with local students who could benefit from a caring advisory relationship.

The commitment of being a mentor requires one hour each week from late August until early May.  The ages of students - who participate with their parents' permission - range from kindergarten to high school.

All volunteers must pass a background check, including fingerprinting for which Family Connection pays.

Towns Countians interested in serving as mentors should contact Nicholson at (706) 896-4131, extension 1235, or knicholson@townscountyschools.org.

Towns Democrats Cleanup the Shoreline

 

Towns County Democrats were among 61 volunteers who participated in the 15th annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup Nov. 1, 2025.  The volunteers collected 1,580 pounds of trash.  From left are David Best, Jennie Grosslight, Ginger England, Charlotte Sleczkowski, Suzanne Carter, Bob Sleczkowski, Dick Aunspaugh, Tammy Bates, and Laura Anderson.

Democrats Call for Election Board Chair's Resignation Over Vile Facebook Post

 Dear Editor,

Following the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah social media exploded with false speculation, sometimes accompanied with explicit or implied threats, that the shooter had to be politically aligned with Democrats.  These untrue posts made many in our community fearful for their safety.

That is why it is so reprehensible to see a county official post a screed on Facebook charging Democrats with responsibility for Mr. Kirk’s murder.  In fact, details following Tyler Robinson’s arrest suggest he was influenced mainly by personal grudges and had no affiliation with any political party.

We have seen in other countries how these kinds of false and malicious accusations when spread over social media accomplish one thing: further violence.

That the county official in this case is Steven Harper, chair of the Towns County Board of Elections and Registration, makes the post even more troubling.  He is under oath to administer his office “at all times” with impartiality and judgement, neither of which are evidenced in his post.

It is unacceptable for the election board’s chair to make this kind of rash, unfounded, and inflammatory accusation that may serve to incite violence and be used to intimidate voters from going to the polls.  More to the point, a person who publishes false accusations and veiled threats against the community has no business being in public office serving that community.

Mr. Harper must resign.

David W. Plunkett, Chair
Towns County Democrats

Democrats Talk to Young Harris Students at Resource Fair

Talking to Young Harris Students About the Towns County Democratic Party

Towns County Democrats tell visitors and students to the Young Harris College's Community Resource Fair about the Democratic Party and its activities in Towns County on Aug. 21.  Students were encouraged to register and vote in the Nov. 4 Public Service Commission election.  Many students expressed interest in the upcoming protest in Young Harris on Sept. 13 at noon, according to Tammy Bates, TCD vice chair, who is pictured talking to a couple who stopped at the booth.  "We hope to have younger faces present at our monthly protests, she said.  This is the third year Towns County Democrats have participated in the Resource Fair. 

Towns Democrats and Nick Alex Deliver Constituent Letters to Rep. Clyde

 

Giving Clyde an Earful and Letters at Aug. 20 Protest

Towns County Democrats Bob and Charlotte Sleczkowski delivered constituent letters to Rep. Andrew Clyde's office Aug. 20 in Gainesville.  Clyde has refused to hold town halls, so local Democrats are taking voters' messages to him by dropping letters at his district office in person and protesting outside.  "We were delivering our letters to Andrews Clyde's office and look who we ran into," Charlotte said.  Joining the two in this photo is Democratic Candidate for the 9th District Congressional seat Nick Alex, right, who was there to join in the protest and call for Rep. Clyde to meet with his constituents.

Towns Democrats donate school supplies

Towns County Democrats Vice Chair Tammy Bates, left, and immediate past chair Charlotte Sleczkowski get ready to transport the 12 bins of donated school supplies collected during July and early August.  

Following a very successful community drive to collect school supplies for local students, Towns County Democrats offered their thanks to local residents for their generous donations and to Hiawassee and Young Harris businesses for hosting drop-off points.

In all, some 1,221 items or packages of items were donated, ranging from backpacks and three-ring notebooks to pencils, notebook paper, crayons — the most frequently donated item — composition books, colored pencils, glue sticks, and scissors, to name a few.  

All of the supplies, filling 12 large plastic bins, were delivered Monday, Aug. 4, to Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee.  Along with supplies donated to the church, church members organized all the items for distribution on Tuesday, Aug. 5, to students from across Towns County in partnership with the school system's Family Connection office.

"The community response was tremendous and we appreciate the generosity shown to students and teachers, " said David Plunkett, chair of the Towns County Democrats.  "School system personnel commented that with our donated items and the items collected by Macedonia, they likely wouldn't have to go shopping to fill any gaps in supplies."

Plunkett also thanked local merchants for allowing drop boxes to placed at the following places of business: Bacchus on the Lake, Hiawassee Brew, Trailful, and Going Postal in Hiawasee, and Cable's Gallery, The Fix, and the Towns County Recreation Center in Young Harris.  "We couldn't have done this without their participation," Plunkett said.

Towns Democrats culminated the effort with a Back to School Supplies Bash on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Hiawassee Town Square with free food supplied by VFW Post 7807 and live music by Nelson Thomas.  Event organizers Tammy Bates and Charlotte Sleczkowski, both of Hiawassee, added their thanks to the VFW and to Thomas for helping with the celebration.

District ranger to address Towns County Democrats

Dr. Steverson Moffat will be the guest speaker when Towns County Democrats hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14.

Dr. Steverson Moffat

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Towns County Civic Center, 67 Lakeview Circle, Hiawassee.  

Moffat will present an overview of the role of the Forest Service and will discuss the impact review of President Trump's executive order regarding additional timbering in the national forests as it relates to the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. 

Moffat holds a bachelor of science degree in natural resources and forestry from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn., and a master of science degree in forest landscape ecosystems from Clemson University.  He received his doctorate in U.S. forest policy from North Carolina State University in 1999.

After a short stint with The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina in the late 1980s, Moffat served from 1999 to 2010 as a policy analyst for the U.S. Forest Service's Southern Research Station in New Orleans.  From 2010 to 2022 he led the Environmental Law Compliance Team for Nantahala National Forest.  He was named district ranger for the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in May 2022.