Category: News

Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday he is extending Georgia’s public health emergency through April 30. Extending the emergency order allows the Governor to continue to use his authority as Governor to suspend laws and impose other COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. That authority includes direct control of civil workers, restricting travel, limiting public gathers and whatever else he believes is necessary to […]

Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Executive Director Jeff Roberts has announced that the shelter is suspending animal adoptions and scheduling for low-cost spay and neuter services, to comply with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s Shelter-in-Place order. Roberts says the shelter will remain closed to the public until further notice. He says quote “this step was taken to provide maximum protection for the […]

PruittHealth is now operating at Code Red status at seven centers as a positive Covid-19 case has been determined at the Toccoa center, and six other centers, and transferred to a local hospital. According to PruittHealth, they have been in communication with the affected individuals’ families, physicians, and local health departments in Toccoa, Salisbury, N.C., and Georgia centers in Ashburn, […]

Across state lines South Carolina has issued a “must go home and stay home” to all residents to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued the mandatory “Home or Work” Civil Emergency Executive Order at 5 P.M. on Tuesday. Exceptions to staying home in South Carolina include going to work, visiting family who may […]

The Department of Public Health continues to monitor COVID-19 across the state of Georgia and each county. In Stephens County, the Department of Public Health released on Tuesday afternoon that there are 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of those 15, eight are being treated at Stephens County Hospital. As of Wednesday morning, the hospital has tested 77 individuals for the […]

Stephens County Chief Superior Court Judge Russell W. Smith and Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell have issued a Declaration/Standing Order providing that during the period of emergency, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding judge, all court proceedings in the Mountain Judicial Circuit will be held online. Following Governor Brian Kemps Shelter-in-Place order that was issued on April 3, the announcement […]

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce has created a community resource page to serve as a single-point of contact for citizens. According to Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen, the website provides citizens with valuable information about businesses, community resources, health updates, and tools for remote working as Stephens County residents begin to navigate this unprecedented time. Paysen says […]

The Georgia Department of Public Health continues to monitor COVID-19 throughout the State of Georgia. As of Tuesday evening, the Department of Public Health reported 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Stephens County. The latest from the DPH confirmed 7 cases in Habersham County, 5 in Rabun County, and 3 each in Franklin and Hart. In total, Georgia has 9,156 […]

The Georgia Department of Public Health continues to monitor COVID-19 throughout the State of Georgia. As of Tuesday morning, the Department of Public Health reported eleven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Stephens County; of those confirmed cases, six are being treated at Stephens County Hospital. In total, Georgia has 8,818 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of those 1,774 are hospitalized, and […]

The Toccoa City Commission meeting next week will be closed to the public; however, anyone wishing to attend the meeting by teleconference can call 706-898-5160. After calling the number, you’ll be asked to input a code: that number is 790453. Toccoa Mayor Terry Carter says this provides a way for residents to stay informed without the risk of exposure to […]