Author: Ethan Jordan

January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross continues to have an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types. In the Southern Blood Services Region, which covers Georgia and parts of Florida and South Carolina, 12 blood drives were forced to cancel due to last week’s winter storm, causing nearly 250 donations to […]

Toccoa Fire Chief Tommy Ayers has announced his retirement from the City of Toccoa, Georgia. Ayers submitted his formal retirement letter on January 2, 2018. His last day with the Toccoa Fire Department will be January 11, 2018. Chief Ayers has been employed with the Toccoa Fire Department since 1978 when he was hired as a Firefighter. He has served […]

Georgia Power is inviting customers to join the company and The Salvation Army to help neighbors and local Georgia communities this winter through the Project SHARE initiative. Project SHARE, established in partnership with The Salvation Army in 1985, was one of the first fuel funds in America and provides assistance for expenses, such as utility bills, housing, food and medical […]

With the extremely cold temperatures people will be pulling out the extra space heaters and keeping the fireplaces going. Jay Florence is the Georgia Deputy Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. Florence said every year the number of house fire-related deaths goes up, mainly due to the improper use of space heaters and fireplaces. Florence offers some basic tips to make […]

How are you going to save the rural hospitals? During Wednesday’s Pre-Legislative Coffee, held at the 1st Franklin Financial Training Center, both Representative Dan Gasaway and Senator John Wilkinson attempted to answer that question. With rural hospitals across the state being bought out by larger name brand hospitals, or the ones that simply close their doors all together, its critical […]

A popular fundraiser showcasing Stephens County’s brightest 5th graders is back for a fourth year. Family Connection of Stephens County announced that it’s “Are you Smarter than a Stephens County 5th Grader?” game show fundraiser will be held on Feb. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Stephens County High School’s Tugaloo Center. Admission the night of the event will […]

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said earlier this week that the number of employed residents and the labor force in the Georgia Mountains region decreased in November. In the Georgia Mountains region, the labor force for November came in at 338,649 with 325,942 employed and 12,707 unemployed. Looking at the unemployment rate for the month of October the Georgia Mountains […]

Frigid temperatures are expected to stick with us through Friday and one local church plans to open its doors to anyone that needs a warm place to stay. St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Toccoa was open Tuesday night and plans to open again tonight. Temperatures tonight and tomorrow night are expected to dip down into the teens and church member […]