Author: Connie Gaines

At last night’s Stephens County Commission meeting commissioners unanimously approved the authorization for Chairman Dennis Bell to sign the bond resolution to regulate and provide issuance of   initial $4.5 million dollars in general obligation bonds to forward fund road work in Stephens County. Those bonds would then be paid back with SPLOST VI revenues designated for roads as the county […]

A South Carolina man was arrested by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department earlier this month in relation to burglary and theft by taking on three different occasions in Stephens County. On March 27th, Deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Jordan Road in, reference to a Burglary that had already occurred. The victim stated the […]

Sheriff Randy Shirley reports that his office has recovered a John Deere Gator utility vehicle worth approximate $15,000. The vehicle was reported stolen from the Fieldale Corporation in Eastanollee In February. Shirley stated during the investigation, Investigators developed tips from informants that eventually led to the location and recovery of the stolen Gator. Sheriff Shirley stated that the investigation into […]

Monday’s work session of the Toccoa City Commission included a proposal from TBG Residential of Atlanta for a proposed Allen Park development. TBG Residential is an Atlanta based real estate firm specializing in the development, construction, and management of affordable apartment communities for families and seniors. Allen Park is a proposed 64 unit apartment community comprised of 12 one bedroom […]

By M.J. Kneiser/WLHR The USDA says poultry farmers need to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of the H5N2 virus or avian influenza. The USDA confirmed the H5N2 avian influenza virus had spread from Minnesota turkey farms where it was first discovered in December to commercial chicken farms in Wisconsin and Iowa. Last week, they announced over eight-million chickens […]

Contributed by WGOG A former bank officer at Oconee-based Community First Bank was in federal court yesterday in Anderson for an initial appearance, according to sources in the US District Court. The proceeding for Benjamin Lee Hiott is an arraignment. According to sources with the federal court system, Hiott faces three counts of bank fraud. He is also a co-defendant […]

An emphasis of this year’s Toccoa City Commission is community beautification and code enforcement. Part of that process includes the elimination of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Of specific concern are motels that have been converted to Extended Stay Facilities. The Stephens County Health Department has also established this as one of their goals and has asked for the city to […]

The City of Toccoa had it’s first reading and public hearing for the fiscal year 2016  budget Monday night during the Toccoa City Commission meeting. Toccoa Mayor Terry Carter was pleased with the work by City staff. “I’d like to think City Manager (Billy Morse) and the department heads for their hard work on preparing this years budget. The budget […]

Stephens County Commissioners are expected to vote on whether to approve the issuance of $4.5 million in bonds in order to forward fund road work in the county at their meeting Tuesday evening at 5:30 P.M. in the second floor courtroom of the historic Stephens County Courthouse in Downtown Toccoa. County Commissioners are considering issuing up to an initial $4.5 […]

April 28, 2015 Two North Carolina men, charged with an armed robbery Sunday in Commerce, are now behind bars. The pair allegedly robbed the Valero Convenience store off Exit 147 about 1p Sunday afternoon. Their arrests came a short time later when Georgia State Patrol Troopers pulled over a yellow Ford Mustang on I-85, according GSP Post 52 Assistant Commander […]