Appalachia Daily Update - February 20, 2026

Chris Wood Selected to Complete Cherokee County Sheriff TermThe Cherokee County Republican Party executive committee voted Thursday night to recommend Chris Wood to finish the unexpired term of former Sheriff Dustin Smith.This provides important continuity for public safety services across Cherokee County.News as of: February 20, 2026.Sources:* 2026-02-20 | https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/chris-wood-complete-former-sheriff-dustin-smiths-term-cherokee-county-sheriffFannin County High School Names 2026 STAR Student and TeacherMadeline Schueneman has been named the 2026 STAR Student and Miranda Roof the STAR Teacher at Fannin County High School.These annual awards recognize outstanding academic achievement and teaching excellence in our neighboring Georgia county.News as of: February 17, 2026.Sources:* 2026-02-17 | https://www.thenewsobserver.com/local-news-newsletter/schueneman-roof-named-fchs-starsScheduled Water Outage on Hiawassee Street in HayesvilleClay County officials have scheduled a water service interruption for addresses on Hiawassee Street in Hayesville. The outage begins Monday afternoon.Residents in the affected area should prepare accordingly.News as of: February 19, 2026.Sources:* 2026-02-19 | https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local/scheduled-water-outageSoundcheck Friday – Original Music, Line Dancing & Local Songwriter Spotlight This WeekendThis weekend brings live original music to the area. The Songwriters Showcase 58 takes place Saturday evening at the Peacock Performing Arts Center in Hayesville.We are also highlighting local songwriter Dee Wayne Anthony and his single Through the Fire, available now on Spotify. The track speaks directly to real mountain experiences, when the river runs dry, fields turn to dust, and hard times feel endless. Yet the song carries a clear message of faith, resilience, and rising stronger after every test.News as of: February 2026 event calendars.Sources:* Current | https://peacockperformingartscenter.thundertix.com/events/254223* Current | * Current | https://www.folkschool.org/calendar/Where to listenhttps://go.riverrun.digital/ADU-PodcastsNotes, methods, and rightsThis Appalachia Daily Update was created with the help of AI tools working alongside a human editor. All information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Rights for the Appalachia Daily Update are reserved by River Run Digital, which produces hyperlocal news for small towns across Appalachia and beyond. To learn more about River Run Digital and its local news projects, visit https://go.riverrun.digital This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adu.riverrun.digital