Author: MJ Kneiser

Hollywood came to Toccoa-Stephens County in a big way in 2018. Three movies were shot here this past year, featuring major stars.  In all, Toccoa-Stephens County has had six movies filmed here in the past two years. The fourth, an unnamed, western-themed film wrapped production here in March. At the time, Chamber Executive Director Julie Paysen said production companies like to […]

2018 was the year Stephens and surrounding counties petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to allow satellite TV customers to access Atlanta TV stations. Stephens, Franklin, Hart and Elbert counties have long been considered “orphan counties” because residents with satellite dishes were forced to have Greenville, SC TV stations. This year, all four counties submitted their applications to the FCC to […]

One of the biggest stories of 2018 will likely continue to make headlines as we move into the new year and that is the heated race for the State House District 28 seat. It began with the May Republican Primary where Republican Incumbent Dan Gasaway went up against challenger, Republican businessman Chris Erwin. In that initial race, Erwin won over […]

2018 saw the resignation of long-time Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman. Bridgeman retired at the end of the year, but left his office the end of September. In August, Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian told WNEG News the greatest challenge to filling Bridgeman’s slot was the pay scale. “A lot of the circuits pay good supplements in addition […]

With the federal government shut-down, farmers have lost access to some programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but not all. Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue detailed which functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would remain available in the event of a lapse in government funding. Some USDA activities have been shut down or significantly […]

Georgia set a new record in November for total jobs as the state’s unemployment rate continued to fall. The unemployment rate in Novemer was 3.5%, down .1 percent from October. That’s the lowest rate since January 2001 and below the national unemployment rate of 3.7%. “As we approach the end of 2018, it’s great to see so much progress,” noted […]

It’s been a rainy fall and early winter and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District is hoping to avoid another winter rain event like the one we saw in 2015 prompted the Corps to open the spillways at Hartwell and Thurmond Dams. Jerry Buddemeier with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah district said while the Savannah River Basin […]

The therapeutic pool at the Stephens County Senior Center could be opened by the end of the year. It’s been over a year since the pool was closed for major repairs after rust and other issues were discovered inside the ventilation system. On Monday, County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said a meeting is planned this week to discuss the opening . […]

It may be too soon think about filing your tax returns for 2018 , but the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers of some changes for the better this next tax season. First, if you deduct mileage on your income tax, the Internal Revenue Service has increased the amount you can deduct in 2019. On Monday the IRS issued the […]

State Representative Dan Gasaway has filed another lawsuit in Banks County, this time contesting the results of the December 4th Special Primary. On Monday, Gasaway asked for a recount of the December 4th redo of the May 22 Primary after Interim Secretary of State Robyn Crittendon certified Republican businessman Chris Erwin the winner by two votes. The results of the […]