Author: Charlie Bauder

A Toccoa man faces a host of firearm and drug charges after deputies responded to a Stephens County residence last week. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that deputies with his office responded to a residence off Pinetree Road on August 27 in reference to a reported physical domestic dispute. “Once deputies arrived on scene, they observed a male later […]

State officials are preparing for a busy weekend on the roadways this weekend. It is the Labor Day weekend and AAA says that 35.5 million Americans will hit the roads and travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend. That is the highest number since 2008 and up 1 percent from last year. With that in mind, the Georgia […]

Day two of municipal qualifying in Toccoa and Martin brings no new candidates. Neither Toccoa City Clerk Fredda Wheeler nor the Stephens County Probate and Registrar’s Office reported anyone heading into their offices on Tuesday to sign up to run in municipal elections set for this November. So far, only incumbent commissioners have qualified in both municipalities. In Toccoa, Terry […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia Qualifying is also underway in Franklin County for municipal races. Qualifying for city council seats in Carnesville, Lavonia, Canon, Royston, and Franklin Springs got underway Monday. In Carnesville, two city council seats and the mayor seat are up for grabs. The two seats open are currently held by Gene Eavenson and Sid Ginn respectively. Carnesville […]

Nomination forms for the twelfth annual ‘Margaret Ayers Award for Civic Health’ are available at Lavonia Clinic, the Northeast Georgia Bank and the Lavonia Chamber of Commerce. The award is named for Margaret Ayers, longtime civic activist and career banker. Criteria include being a resident of Lavonia, civic leadership, exceptional character, an appreciation of history and one who brings credit […]

A number of incumbents have filed for re-election for municipal elections in Toccoa and Martin. First in Toccoa, City Clerk Fredda Wheeler says that Terry Carter qualified to run for re-election to Post 1 of the City Commission and Gail Fry qualified to run for re-election to Post 4. No other candidates had qualified as of 3:30 p.m. on Monday. […]

Comer Police Chief and Stephens County Commission Chair Dennis Bell will lead a statewide law enforcement organization for the next year. Bell was named President of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia last week at the organization’s 115th conference in Savannah. He said it is a privilege and an honor to receive the confidence of the membership to serve as […]

The city of Toccoa is looking to expand its capacity to increase its industrial wastewater pre-treatment program. Last week, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously approved spending $14,000 to $17,000 in engineering fees to double the amount of industrial pre-treatment that the city is allowed. Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said that currently, the city’s Industrial Pretreatment Program at the Eastanollee Wastewater […]