Author: Jessica Waters

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has made an initial hire under the $1.2 million dollar Community Public Safety Grant awarded earlier this year by the state. The grant, which requires no matching funds from the county, is meant to “ address law enforcement staffing challenges,” according to a press release issued by Governor Brian Kemp.  Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley […]

In a brief Stephens County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, commissioners held the first reading and public hearing on two proposed ordinance amendments.  The first amendment is to the county’s animal control ordinance.  Currently, the ordinance states that “If a dog or animal is tied or tethered it must have adequate shelter and bedding.”   The proposed amendment […]

Main Street Toccoa is celebrating World Photography Day this year with a Downtown Photography Contest, Main Street Manager Kristen Deal told WNEG News.  World Photography Day is an annual, globally recognized celebration of the art, craft, science and history of the photograph, she said.  Taking place on Saturday, August 19, the date is recognized as the 184th anniversary of the […]

Georgia Department of Transportation work to replace the bridge on State Route 17 Alternate over Toccoa Creek is getting closer to completion.  Built in 1935, and widened in 1978, the 88-year-old bridge over Toccoa Creek was marked for replacement by GDOT in 2017, with plans specifying replacing the bridge with a “new 125-foot long bridge with a bike lane and […]

The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Clayton, Rabun County, Georgia. The Clayton Police Department requested the GBI conduct an independent investigation. No one was injured in this incident.  The preliminary information indicates that on August 5, 2023, at around 11:15 p.m., Clayton Police Department officers and Rabun County Sheriff’s Office deputies were conducting a traffic safety checkpoint […]

The Stephens County Board of Education will meet for a scheduled work session this Thursday, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the school district main office, 191 Big A School Road in Toccoa.  As is standard practice with the current school board, the work session will review each item on the agenda for that month’s […]

Toccoa/Stephens County Cub Scout packs will be holding their annual round-up events in the coming weeks. Roundups are a main sign-up opportunity for new scouts, but new scouts can join at any time of the year, Jessica Handwork told WNEG News.  Handwork, who is the Committee Chair and point of contact for troop and pack 77, explained that Cub Scout […]

Weapons detection systems at the Franklin County Middle and High School are up and working as classes get underway. Assistant School Superintendent Carl Dekker told the Board of Education at their meeting last week, that students at the two schools will have time to get used to the new devices this week before they go into service next week. Dekker […]

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and area citizens welcomed one of the community’s newest businesses on Thursday at a celebration for the opening of the Schoolhouse Vendor Market.  Schoolhouse Vendor Market is located at  2332 Mize Road in Toccoa, in the building that originally housed Carnes Creek Elementary School, and later served as the home of the Stephens County School […]

On Tuesday, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners will meet for the first of two scheduled August meetings.  On the agenda is the first reading and public hearing for a proposed amendment to the county’s animal control ordinance. Currently, the ordinance states that “If a dog or animal is tied or tethered it must have adequate shelter and bedding.”  The […]