Author: Charlie Bauder

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia Banks County officials have released the identity of a murder victim found in home in Homer last week. According to Banks County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Carrissa McFaddin, the victim is identified as Sonya Gale Phelps, 48, of Homer. McFaddin said Phelps died from ligature strangulation and blunt force head injury. Last week, Banks County […]

A number of area students at North Georgia Technical College are back after competing in a national competition. Nine North Georgia Tech students recently traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, for the 51st annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skill Conference. NGTC’s Brad Budd of Hephzibah garnered a Silver medal in Photography and Michelle Brewer of Clayton achieved Bronze in the Medical Assisting […]

More than a dozen cyclists will leave Toccoa today and head to Vidalia. It is the first “Ride-Strong” event. The riders are going to Vidalia from Toccoa to raise funds and awareness for the Paul Anderson Park and the Paul Anderson Youth Home. Organizers said the ride honors the legacy of Paul Anderson, who rode a bicycle long distances for […]

Stephens County officials are announcing a change in operations regarding the county’s Magistrate Court. According to County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, the county has chosen to assign the clerks’ work for the Magistrate Court to the Stephens County Clerk of Court’s Office, rather than have separate Magistrate Court clerks. Ayers said that move affects two positions specifically. “The cuts that have […]

Authorities have released the identity of a woman charged with animal cruelty after authorities searched her Stephens County home Tuesday. According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, 53-year-old Zina Cobb of Toccoa was arrested on Tuesday. Shirley said it all started with an anonymous tip to authorities. “An anonymous tip came into 911 that dogs were roaming around, a lot […]

A months-long, multi-agency investigation results in two arrests. According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, the investigation began back in April with a report from someone that their identity had been stolen. Shirley said the victim discovered his identity was stolen when he went to purchase a new vehicle. “As a result of what the victim was able to tell […]

Authorities have one person in custody and are looking for a second in connection to a series of thefts and burglaries from a Stephens County residence. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that deputies from his office began investigating a series of thefts and burglaries from a vacant residence on U.S. Highway 123 back on June 8. “These occurred over […]

A man convicted of child molestation charges in northeast Georgia is back in custody in Virginia after being on the run with a teenage girl over the past week. WCYB-TV in Bristol, VA reports that 41-year-old Benjamin Shook was found with 14-year-old Hayleigh Wilson in Smyth County, Virginia on Tuesday. An amber alert had been issued for Wilson, who allegedly […]