Author: Chad Dorsett

By the Georgia Department of Agriculture On Thursday,  February 5, 2026, the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced that Georgia apple producers have voted to continue the Georgia Apple Commission Marketing Order for an additional three years. Under the renewed marketing order, the assessment rate may be adjusted from the current two cents per marketed bushel to a range of two […]

By the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)  To keep the spark alive safely this Valentine’s Day, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) encourages extra caution when cooking and using candles to celebrate the holiday. According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and injuries – nearly half (49 percent) of all reported U.S. home fires involve […]

The Toccoa Police Department encourages residents to remove valuables and lock their cars. Toccoa Police Chief Bruce Carlisle says that they are investigating several recent entering auto incidents and some stolen vehicles as well.  Once again, please remove all valuables from your vehicles, make sure the doors are locked, and do not leave the keys in them.

Get the February edition of The Dirt, says Sidney Trawick, Stephens County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. Trawick tells how to subscribe to get The Dirt each month. UGA Extension translates the science of everyday living for farmers, families, and communities to foster a healthy and prosperous Georgia. It is a collaboration between Georgia county governments, the USDA, and the […]

This is Counselor Appreciation Week, and Stephens County School Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin thanks counselors for all they do in our schools. Thank you, counselors, for all you do in the Stephens County School System.

Historic Ritz Theatre General Manager Tim Mullen announces a special event for Valentine’s Day. Mullen says order your tickets today. The Historic Ritz Theatre is located at 166 West Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa. Check out www.ritztheatretoccoa.com for a complete list of events.

By Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia  At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies were dispatched to a call for service regarding a stolen vehicle from a local automobile dealership. In less than 14 hours, one individual was arrested, and the stolen vehicle was recovered in another county. SCSO deputies responded to […]

By Samantha Turner, Certified County Clerk for Stephens County Stephens County has taken another step toward improving roadway safety as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce speed-related incidents. On February 4, 2026, new speed limit signs were installed along portions of Historic Hwy 17, officially reducing the posted speed from 55 mph to 50 mph. The speed reduction was […]

By the Toccoa Police Department On February 4, 2026, investigators with the Toccoa Police Department responded to a residence located at 49 Parkway Drive in Toccoa in an effort to locate two individuals wanted on felony probation warrants. As officers approached the residence, a male subject later identified as Richard Harmon opened the back door. Harmon was instructed to step […]