Author: Chad Dorsett

By the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Put a stop to goose conflicts before they become issues. Canada geese are well-suited to a wide range of habitats, from agricultural fields and rural waterways to neighborhood ponds, business parks, and urban green spaces. As they continue to thrive in developed areas, encounters between geese and people have become more common, […]

By the Georgia Department of Labor On Thursday, April 16, 2026, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that in February Georgia’s labor force and employment rose to all-time highs of 5.45 million and 5.25 million, respectively. The February unemployment rate was 3.6%, which is 0.8 percentage point lower than the national unemployment rate and 0.2 percentage point higher than […]

By Bre Bardenwerper, School and Community Engagement Coordinator for Stephens County Schools  The Stephens County School System announces the Top 5 students from each grade level at Stephens County High School (SCHS).   2026 SCHS Valedictorian Zoe Weldon  2026 SCHS  Salutatorian Alli Kay Ivey Senior Class (L-R) Mackenzie Segars, Alline “Alli Kay” Ivey, Landon Powell, Sarah Childs, Zoe Weldon Junior Class […]

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Post-Legislative Coffee on April 16 at 9 a.m. at the Currahee Club. This is your chance to hear directly from our state legislators about the 2026 legislative session and ask questions, says Julie Paysen, President of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.  The Currahee Club and Phillips Group are the […]

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, has issued an increased fire danger for Northeast Georgia on Thursday (April 16) afternoon and evening. The area under advisement is Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Franklin, Hart, and Elbert counties. Relative humidity values will fall into the 25 to 30 percent range on Thursday afternoon, with winds increasing to 10 to 15 mph with […]

The Stephens County Development Authority (SCDA) Board of Directors heard about the upcoming Women in Economic Development Tour at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 15, from President and CEO Brittany Ivey.  The Women in Economic Development Regional Tour is scheduled for Thursday, April 23.

A three-month moratorium barring the acceptance of land use applications for data centers was unanimously approved by the Stephens County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, April 14. The county has not received any applications for data centers, but Stephens County Administrator Christian Hamilton explains why the moratorium was needed. Commissioners also approved a packet and documentation for […]

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President-Elect Tessa Reavis began training with current President Julie Paysen on April 6. Paysen says it is going well. After 11 years serving as president of the Chamber, Paysen tendered her resignation in January. Her last day will be June 30. Reavis is grateful to have time to learn from her. As President, Reavis will […]

As many people start planting this spring, Tim Hill, the Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Toccoa, says be mindful of the right-of-way. Hill offers this advice on where to plant to avoid impairing sight lines near the right-of-way. Please be mindful of what you are planting and where you are planting it. If you notice planting in the […]

As Georgia attracts more large energy users, including data centers, some customers are concerned that this will make their bills go up. Kevin McCraney, Area Manager for Georgia Power, says that rules approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) ensure that large energy users pay upfront for infrastructure, commit to long-term contracts, and provide financial guarantees.  This means Georgia […]