Author: Charlie Bauder

An administrative law judge upholds the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s administrative order revoking permits issued to the Wilbros facility. Administrative Law Judge Ronit Walker issued that ruling Wednesday. The EPD originally issued an administrative order last January calling on Wilbros to stop receiving waste and begin closure proceedings. In the order, the EPD accused the Rose Lane facility of violating […]

Taxpayers in Stephens County who have not yet paid their 2014 property taxes are getting a letter in the mail reminding them of the bill they have due. Stephens County Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks said her office sent out about 2,000 letters to property owners who have still not paid their 2014 property taxes, which were due in November. “They […]

Investigators said a fire near the Stephens County-Habersham County line that started late Wednesday night is suspected to be arson. The Hollywood and Camp Creek stations of the Habersham County Fire Department responded to a fire on the 500 block of Black Mountain Road just after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Habersham fire officials said they arrived on scene and then called […]

The Stephens County Board of Education sets its Chair and Vice-Chair for the year ahead. Tuesday, the Board of Education selected Tony Crunkleton as the chairman of the school board for 2015. Four board members voted for Crunkleton. They were Jim Bellamy, Jeff Webb, Rodney Moore, Jr., and Jim Ledford. Board member Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton, the former chair, voted for […]

The ongoing financial crisis within the Stephens County School System is costing the school system the Crossroads program and costing all staff more calendar and work reduction days. Tuesday, the Stephens County Board of Education voted to both abolish the Crossroads program and eliminate all certified and classified staff positions associated with the program, as well as reducing the school […]

Stephens County Hospital receives good financial news in its Fiscal Year 2014 audit. The audit results were presented at Monday’s regular Hospital Authority meeting. Administrator Ed Gambrell said that Stephens County Hospital received a clean audit opinion, which is the opinion one wants to receive. Furthermore, the audit shows that the hospital had a positive bottom line for its Fiscal […]

Main Street Toccoa dedicates another historic building plaque downtown. Earlier this month, city officials and others gathered at 12 Doyle Street to dedicate the fourth of ten historic plaques for the 2014-2015 series. The building has been home to a variety of drug stores, as well as several clothing stores and service businesses, along with a hair salon and jewelry […]

One person appears to escape serious injury after a weekend accident in Stephens County. The one-vehicle accident happened Saturday afternoon just after 1:30 p.m. on the 2700 block of Georgia Highway 328, or Gumlog Road. According to the Toccoa post of the Georgia State Patrol, a 1989 Ford Taurus driven by 20-year-old Brandon Gage of Martin was traveling westbound on […]