Author: MJ Kneiser

Georgia high school students showed strong gains on the spring 2019 Georgia Milestones assessments. That’s according to the Georgia Department of Education, which announced that scores increased or held steady on 25 of 26 assessments. Specifically, the percentage of students achieving the Proficient Learner level and above increased or held steady on 25 of 26 End of Grade  and End […]

A fast-food worker from Franklin County is among those arrested by the GBI in a multi-agency child pornography sting. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation,  nine people were arrested over a three-day period beginning Thursday, July 25. They included 29-year old Fredrick Smith, of Royston, whose occupation is listed as fast-food worker/deliveryman. Smith and the other eight arrested were […]

Application forms for the free or reduced school breakfast/lunch programs are being sent to parents and guardians of students for the 2019-2020 academic year. This week, the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program released its policy for free and reduced price meals in schools. The School Nutrition Program is designed for families who are unable to pay the full […]

Ten construction projects were awarded to the Northeast Region in June that totaled just over $28 million, and Stephens County is on the list for some of those projects. CW Matthews Contracting in Gainesville was awarded the contract to resurface State Route 17 in Habersham and Stephens Counties between SR184 and SR365. The project has an estimated completion date of […]

Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize is calling this month’s Operation Southern Shield a success with 11 arrests inside the City limits. Operation Southern Shield was a five-state summer initiative that ran the week of July 15 and was primarily designed to catch speeders and reduce the number of traffic fatalities. But Mize says he used the opportunity to turn it […]

If you think you were one of the millions affected by the Equifax data breach two years ago, you can now file a claim and received between $125 and $20,000 in compensation. The Federal Trade Commission has announced Equifax has agreed to a global settlement with the FTC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories. The […]

The Stephens County Historical Society is looking for a few good artists – or more – to enter their Currahee Military Weekend t-shirt design contest. Military Museum Executive Director Brenda Carlin says they are looking for artwork for the special issue 2019 T-shirt design for Currahee Military Weekend. “Over the years, we’ve tried to have some kind of World War […]

Changes are coming regarding who is eligible to receive food stamps. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed closing a loophole that allows states to make participants receiving minimal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits automatically eligible to participate in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The proposed rule published today in the Federal Register would limit SNAP/TANF […]

Toccoa City Commissioners have agreed on the millage rate for 2019. At their meeting Monday, the Commission heard from City Manager Billy Morse who recommended no change to the current millage rate. “The City Clerk has published in the newspaper the 2019 Tax Digest and the five-year history,” Morse said. “The notice states that the City Commission will consider setting […]

A local church in Toccoa will purchase surplus property currently owned by the City. Last month, City Manager Billy Morse requested the Board of Commissioners allow him to put property at the corner of Whitman and South Tallulah Sts up for sale. Morse said the property had been purchased in the early ’80’s to build extra city parking, but no […]