Author: Charlie Bauder

Authorities in Stephens County are investigating a death to ensure that no foul play was involved. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that he was contacted earlier this week about a person who had not been seen. “I was called by two different individuals about Winfred Kallenback,” said Shirley. “Most folks around Toccoa would know this man by the ‘can […]

50th District State Senator John Wilkinson is one of the sponsors of a bill in the state Senate that would give counties in Georgia an option on how superintendents and school boards are chosen. Senate Bill 81 would allow counties to have voters elect their local school superintendents and have grand juries select people to fill local boards of education, […]

North Georgia Technical College has a new Chief of Campus Police. The school has announced that Stan Lovell has taken that position. Lovell has served as Chief Investigator for the Habersham County District Attorney since 1998, preparing cases for trials by state prosecutors. As he moves into the role of Police Chief in the college environment, Lovell says he is […]

A man charged with malice murder in Stephens County has entered a guilty plea, avoiding a possible death penalty trial. 24-year-old Shannon Iceal Maxwell of Toccoa pleaded guilty Wednesday in Stephens County Superior Court to a host of charges. Those charges include felony murder, burglary, criminal attempt to commit a felony, two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a […]

Stephens County’s construction and demolition landfill is one step closer to complete closure. Tuesday, county commissioners unanimously voted to sign the certificate of substantial completion for the landfill to send it off to the state’s Environmental Protection Division. County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said this is a major step forward in the process of closing that landfill once and for all. […]

The city of Toccoa takes another step towards starting work on improvements at Emory Johnson Park. Monday, city commissioners unanimously approved a resolution for the project. Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said that the city has a number of improvements planned for the park. “We want to demolish the existing picnic shelter and construct two new shelters,” said Morse. “Also, […]

The city of Toccoa continues improvements at the Schaefer Center downtown. Monday, city commissioners voted unanimously to purchase a screen and projector for the facility. Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said this will replace the previous policy of leasing the equipment when doing things like showing movies at the Schaefer Center. “We have been renting a smaller inflatable screen, but […]

Four teenagers face charges after authorities say they allegedly entered vehicles in the student parking lot at Stephens County High School. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley says that his office arrested 17-year-old Heidi A. Bolding and 18-year-old Michael Marquez Peoples, both of Gainesville, earlier this month, and charged both with theft by taking. Shirley says that two 16-year-old juveniles were […]

Authorities around Lake Hartwell are reportedly searching for an overdue boater. Oconee County, South Carolina Emergency Management Director Scott Krein said the boater was reported over due Wednesday night at the Hartwell State Park on Lake Hartwell in Oconee County Krein said Oconee County Emergency Services assisted in a large area water and shore search along with the Oconee County […]