Christa Blackman/Contributing Photographer Before the waters sped up, the Toccoa River was just about perfect to play in on July 13.

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Wally Avett/Cherokee Scout Hillbilly Ranger columns were sometimes travel pieces, Wally and Deanie Avett of Martins Creek have visited 44 of the 50 states. Tourists photograph each other in May 2008 outside the store at Monarch Pass, Colo., which is 11,300 feet in elevation and has winter snow still covering the building.

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Abigail Hickman smiles with Harold Helton inside his bustling shop H&H Sports in downtown Murphy.

Nancy Helms did her best to secure it after an oncoming truck hit her vehicle’s side mirror at full speed on Joe Brown Highway.