Author: Ethan Jordan

Tomorrow is the final day to drop off gifts for the Toccoa Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. However, Salvation Army Social Worker Brenda Gragg is concerned that not every Angel will have their request fulfilled. She says there are over 700 angels that have signed up to be recipients of the program in Stephens County alone, and of those, around […]

Stephens County Development Authority has initiated its executive search for a new leader. Following Stephens County Economic Development Executive Director Tim Martin’s retirement announcement last month, authority members have approved several supporting documents relating to the position including changing the title to president and chief executive officer. The authority also agreed upon a position description, weighting scale and position announcement. […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement between the County and City of Toccoa to hire an Animal Control Officer. During its meeting on Tuesday, County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained to the commission that if it approved the intergovernmental agreement then both the County and City would split the cost to hire an Animal Control Officer. The […]

The Stephens County Registrar’s Office has pushed its Logic and Accuracy Testing to 10:30 a.m. this morning. Originally, the Logic and Accuracy Testing was scheduled to begin this morning at 9 a.m.; however, Stephens County Deputy Registrar April Roberts says the office has decided to push the start time up to 10:30 a.m. The Logic and Accuracy testing is used […]

Charges are pending for a Toccoa woman after a car accident fatally injured a Martin woman Monday in Stephens County. According to Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol, 48-year-old Lisa Wertz, was fatally injured when the car she was a passenger in was struck multiple times. The accident occurred Monday, December 7, on GA-17 at Whispering Pines Road around 6:24 […]

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that John David Yates, 58, passed away in a deadly fire in Hart County on Sunday, December 6. The fire occurred around 6:00 p.m. at 64 Marshal Dove Road in Hartwell. Upon arriving to the 40-year-old, 900-square-foot mobile home, local firefighters found the home in flames and Mr. Yates’ body […]

An official date has been set for Stephens County 911 to implement its Emergency Dispatch Program. According to Stephens County 911/EMA Director Danielle Rhodes, the program will go into effect on January 2, 2021. She says the Emergency Dispatch Program will allow dispatchers to give out medical directions over the phone; something that dispatchers in Stephens County are unable to […]

The Friends of the Ritz is the recipient of a $4,500 grant. According to Friends of the Ritz President Keith Kozicki, the grant is being administered through the Hart EMC Foundation funded by its Operation Round Up program. He says this grant, along with additional financial support from the City of Toccoa, will allow the nonprofit organization to purchase needed […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will be spreading Christmas Cheer this week as they take the county-sponsored Polar Express through several neighborhoods. Stephens County Commissioner Michelle Ivester explained during a recent County Commission meeting that the county decided to take the Polar Express on the road in hopes of bringing out the Christmas Spirit. Ivester says on Wednesday, December […]