Category: News

The annual fireworks display this year has been cancelled. Each year the Stephens County Recreation Department hosts a Fourth of July Fireworks show behind the Rose Lane Ball Fields; however, this year, the fireworks show has been cancelled out of caution for the spread of COVID-19. According to Stephens County Recreation Director Matt Ward cancelling the annual fireworks show was […]

The Georgia Department of Public Health reports 163 cases of COVID-19 in Toccoa-Stephens County. The latest report from DPH was Friday afternoon. Stephens County has had five deaths due to complications from COVID-19. Habersham County has had 630 positive cases of the virus and 34 fatalities now due to complications from the virus. Locally, at Stephens County Hospital, staff have […]

Stephens County Hospital has announced that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, June 16, Stephens County Hospital announced that they have received confirmation that an employee at the Clary Care Center has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Stephens County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mike Hester, that employee is on quarantine at home and will […]

The Stephens County Market will open this weekend in Toccoa-Stephens County. The Stephens County Market is a local farmer’s market made up of products of local farmers or gardeners, processors of agriculture commodities, artists, or handcrafters who have produced the items for sale. According to County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, the farmers market, located at 325 North Broad Street, in Toccoa, […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR A recount of the Franklin County Sheriff’s race is over and the votes came back almost the same as last Tuesday’s election results. Wednesday morning’s recount began at 9a at the Franklin County Board of Elections and Registrations office in Carnesville. The recount was overseen by Election Supervisor Gina Kesler, and the Franklin County Board of […]

Georgia Power is offering a special payment plan to help customers with past-due account balances accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers who enroll will be able to pay past-due balances over a six-month timeframe between October 2020 and March 2021 with no late fees. The suspension of disconnections has also been extended until July 15 to continue assisting customers through […]

Following Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s report Tuesday of extensive testing in Nursing and Personal Care Homes, Stephens County Hospital is reporting that an employee at  Clary Care Center has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). The hospital reports that the employee has worn a mask and any other needed personal protective equipment required when in contact with residents. The employee is […]

Following the recent reopening of City Hall on Monday, city staff have announced they will resume disconnections and penalties for utility accounts that are delinquent beginning on July 15. According to a press release issued on Monday, city staff will begin to disconnect services based on the most overdue accounts and accounts with the largest outstanding balances. If you currently […]

The Summer Movies series will return to the Historic Ritz Theatre. According to Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh, this is the first time since early March, that the Historic Ritz Theatre will be opening its doors to the public. She says the Summer Movie Series is slated to begin on Thursday, July 2, at 10 a.m. with additional showings […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Hart County Commissioners say the City of Hartwell’s vote to annex property on Ridge Road in the County is illegal. At their meeting last week, Commission Chair Joey Dorsey claimed the City did not follow the law when they voted to annex the property on the corner of Ridge Road and Nancy Drive. At their June […]