Author: MJ Kneiser

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley recently returned from the Georgia Sheriff’s Association’s annual Summer Training Conference held at Lake Lanier Islands. Just over a 100 sheriffs from around the state participated in the three-day event. The sheriffs heard from a number of state level speakers including, Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, […]

A Franklin County man, convicted of murdering his girlfriend, loses his appeal to the State Supreme Court. Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White announced late Tuesday that the Supreme Court of Georgia has affirmed the murder conviction of Brent Shubert, and his sentence of Life without the Possibility of Parole. In December 2015, Shubert was found guilty of malice […]

Local News 08/08/19 Last week we told you about how to file a claim if you believe you were a victim of the 2017 Equifax data breach. Now the Federal Trade Commission says scammers are putting up fake websites meant to look like the official Equifax settlement claims website. The scammers’ only goal is to steal your personal information. Michael […]

Children in Toccoa-Stephens County are back in school and local law enforcement is again reminding motorists to slow down in school zones and to remember the rules of the road when you see a school bus. Tuesday morning, Toccoa Police, along with Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies and the Georgia Stte Patrol were again out in force in the area of […]

A Website designed to promote small businesses has given small businesses in Georgia an A+ for overall friendliness to customers. Governor Brian Kemp said Tuesday that out of the 49 states surveyed, Georgia ranked fourth in friendliness in Thumbtack’s 2019 Small Business Friendliness Survey, In making the announcement, Governor Kemp said small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy, comprising […]

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley says his Department will be ready if an active shooter event occurs here. With the two mass shootings over the weekend in Texas and Ohio, the reality is, such incidents can occur in our own backyard. Sheriff Shirley said his deputies receive ongoing training on how to respond should such an event happen. “A couple […]

Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office have arrested two Banks County men and charged them with trafficking methamphetamine On Thursday August 1, 2019, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office and the Appalachian Drug Enforcement Office executed a search warrant at 271 Sims Harris Road in Gillsville, Georgia. That search resulted in the recovery of approximately 68.1 grams of Methamphetamine […]

The 2020 Census begins April 1, 2020 and the U.S. Census Bureau is looking for men and women to work either full or part-time. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen. This Friday, you will have an opportunity to apply for one of those jobs […]

  Crews with the Georgia Department of Transportation will be makinng some safety improvements at an intersection near the Gateway Industrial Park off Exit 177 in Hart County. Next Monday August 12, G-DOT crews will be updating the current two-way stop at the intersection of State Route 59 and State Route 77 to a four-way stop. Additionally, rumble strips will […]

The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about yet another new gift card scam. This time it’s targeting worshipers. Scammers are pretending to be a pastor, rabbi, priest, imam, or bishop, and they’re asking worshipers for gift card contributions for a worthy cause. Appeals are often made by email, but the FTC said people are also getting texts and phone […]