Hayesville, NC

The Clay County Progress newspaper presents the annual Hayesville Christmas Parade. The Parade will kick off the holiday season in grand style when it gets under way on the Hayesville Town Square at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Clay County’s Heritage,” in commemoration of the county’s 150th anniversary. Leading the parade this year as its grand marshals are members of VFW Post 6812 and the George Lee American Legion Post and Auxiliary.

Old Shooting Creek Baptist Church’s youth tell the crowd that Jesus is the main
reason we celebrate Christmas. They won second place in the nonprofit division in 2010.

If you’re planning to participate here’s what to do:

• Parade participants should meet at the Hayesville High School parking lot, entering from the Myer’s Chapel Road. Judging of the floats begins promptly at 4:30 p.m. All floats must be on site no later than 4 p.m., and must be in the designated line-up for judging (school road). Trophies will be awarded for a first, second and third places in the profit and nonprofit float categories, as well as a Mayor’s Choice award for profit and nonprofit.

• Cars entering the Best of Show competition will meet in front of Hayesville Middle School by 4:30 p.m., for judging and line-up.

• A Best Dressed Horse award will also be presented. Horses should gather in the gravel parking lot at the school’s Myer’s Chapel Road entrance.

• Entry fee is 10 cans of food for the food pantry. Entry forms may be picked up at the Clay County Progress office, 43 Main Street, Hayesville. Entry forms must be received in the newspaper office by 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. Call Becky Long at 828-389-8431 for more information or to request a form via fax. Fax completed form to 828-389-9997.

PUNKIN CHUNKIN FESTIVAL IN CLAY COUNTY NC

OCTOBER 21 - 23, 2011

If you’re looking for something fun and unusual to do one weekend in October, then perhaps you should head to the mountains and plan to attend the Annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival in Clay County, North Carolina.

Sponsored by the Clay County NC Chamber of Commerce, this three-day event will feature live music and entertainment, mountain craft vendors, food (of course), a Chili Cook-Off, an Anything Punkin’ Bake-off and, needless to say, lots of chunkin’ of the punkins!!!

So, exactly WHAT IS Punkin’ Chunkin’ you ask?? It started in 1986 when a group of men in a Delaware blacksmith shop began to argue about who could throw something the farthest. The challenge was on and the men began to create their machines. In November of that year the first Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest was held with three teams and limited spectators. The event grew and spread into other areas. The World Champion Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA) was formed and last year thousands of teams competed in sanctioned events across the continent. There’s even an authorized book that details the History of Punkin Chunkin’.

What do you use to chunk a punkin??

Whatever contraption, similar to a trebuchet, you can dream up and build to catapult your punkin the longest distance and take home the coveted trophy.

As you can just imagine

some of the contraptions are pretty outrageous.

Hayesville, the seat of Clay County, is just a short 15 mile drive from Murphy, NC and only about 9 miles from Hiawasssee, Georgia. So there's plenty to do and see while you're here. Give us a call or email us and we'll be happy to make recommendations for lodging or tell you about great places to eat.

Don’t miss out on the fun this year - go Punkin' Chunkin'!

Bill and Cyndi

If you’re looking for some fun out on Lake Chatuge this summer make sure to check out the Clay County Recreation Park just outside of downtown Hayesville, NC. Feel like camping out lake side or having a great picnic or get-together in the large pavilions? Clay County Recreation Park offers camping sites, walking trails, ball field, swimming beach area and a children's playground.

You might also want to drive out to the Chatuge Dam and watch the boaters go by or take a cool dip in the lake there too. Lake Chatuge (pronounced Sha Toog) encompasses 7200 acres, 3700 of which lie in Clay County, NC. This lake was formed in 1942 when the TVA constructed a 2950 foot earth filled type dam across the Hiawassee River.

There are six large lakes all within 30 minutes or so in the tri-sate areas for you to enjoy while visiting or living in the western NC, north GA or east TN Mountains.

Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team www.MountainLivingTeam.com

Machaceh Rescue Farm in Hayesville, NC is a nonprofit family based ministry that aids in the help and care of abused, neglected or unwanted animals. I found the Rescue Farm while previewing a home over in Clay County, NC and passed this great painted barn and just had to stop and take a photo of it. That’s when I met Michelle Updike and she invite me in for a tour and introduced me to some of the animals there. Michelle’s passion for these animals is contagious. As she says “we fight and speak on the behalf of the animal because they have no voice to do so.” Machaceh is a Hebrew word meaning refuge, shelter from danger so that seems to be the perfect name for this wonderful ministry.

The Machaceh Rescue Farm supplies emergency medical and surgical care to the many animals in need. They are able to run the farm through the help of volunteers, sponsors, donations and homemade products that they sell. They sell a variety of homemade jams, jellies and other canned items, baked goods, wooden roses, and hair bows and other wood crafts. The Machaceh Rescue Farm goes to different events setting up a petting zoo, horse rides and animal sponsorship programs making people aware of the mission of the Rescue Farm and the neglect to animals in their community. Many of the animals are rehabilitated back to good health and adopted back out to loving homes. The Machaceh Rescue Farm is also available for birthday parties, horse rides and horse riding lessons.

If you’re interested in buying products, giving a tax deductible donation or seeing what their show dates are, just contact Michelle Updike at 706-835-8167 for more information.

The Machaceh Rescue Farm - machacehfarm@yahoo.com

205 Laurel Branch Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904

Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team www.MurphyMountainLiving.com