Author: Jessica Waters

Continuing WNEG News’ look back at 2023, today we take a look at the top stories in July: In early July, The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the new sensory playground at the Stephens County Recreation Department with a ribbon tying ceremony. Former Stephens County Commissioner Michelle Ivester was instrumental in the playground being built. She says it required […]

Continuing WNEG News’ look back at 2023, today we take a look at the top stories in June: In early June, Florida-based CSC Properties retracted their purchase offer for approximately 14 acres of property on the Big A Road corridor. The Florida-based development company also withdrew the annexation and rezoning applications on the multiple parcels of land. The company had […]

In news reported by Ross Williams with Georgia Recorder, loan payments, paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, kicked back in this October, creating a new monthly expense for more than 15% of Georgians. Georgia ranks No. 3 in the nation for student loan debt after the District of Columbia and Maryland, with the average borrower more than $41,000 in the red […]

At last night’s Demorest City Council meeting, council members approved an 18% bump to their water rates for customers.  This tops a 10% increase in water rates instituted by the city last year, which brought water bills to $16.50 for the first 2,000 gallons for inside-city residents and $30.77 for the first 2,000 gallons for outside-city customers, with additional charges […]

Last night, at 11:17 p.m. the Toccoa Fire Department was dispatched to a fire on Elberton Street at Avon Street.  Toccoa Fire Chief Jeff Haslup and Assistant Fire chief Frankie Deitz updated WNEG news this morning on the blaze, saying that Toccoa, Carnes Creek and Shiloh Fire Department units were on scene, and had the fire under control by 2 […]

UPDATE: Shortly after the noon hour on Saturday, December 30, the body of a 47-year-old Fair Play man was located and recovered by SC DNR divers from Lake Hartwell near the Port Bass Development near Fair Play in Oconee County. A kayak reportedly overturned on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 4:45 pm. According to Oconee County Coroner Karl E. Addis, the […]

WNEG News spoke this morning with Toccoa Chief of Police Jimmy Mize, who advised us that the shooter in last night’s incident on Stephen Drive in Toccoa is in custody. According to Mize, at approximately 10 PM last night, officers responded to a report of two individuals with gunshot wounds. He said the scene was secured for investigators and EMS […]

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pre-Legislative Coffee event is next Thursday, January 4. State House Representative for District 32 Chris Erwin and 50th District State Senator Bo Hatchett will meet with local business leaders and community members to discuss the issues facing the Georgia General Assembly when the 2024 regular session opens on Monday, January 8, 2024.  The […]