Author: MJ Kneiser

A Toccoa retailer is joining with members of the community to gather supplies to send to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Steve Paysen is an Evangelist and founder of the P230 Foundation in Toccoa. He says they are working with Quality Foods in Toccoa to send buckets of cleaning supplies to people in Houston. “We are taking a load […]

Stephens County Hospital moves to eliminate dozens of positions. Wednesday morning, the Hospital Authority Board announced the elimination of 61 positions. The move comes with an additional hiring freeze. Hospital Administrator Lynn Anderson says the cut-backs were a difficult decision. “We have made the difficult decision to a staffing right-sizing,” she said Wednesday morning. “I call it that because we […]

There was a large turnout for the Georgia Department of Tourism’s Product Development Resource Team Report last night at the Ritz Theatre. The state team presented those on hand with many ideas to enhance tourism in Toccoa-Stephens County, and build on the many tourism opportunities that the county has to offer. Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and […]

Three people from Northeast Georgia have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their part in operating a heroin distribution ring. After a two-year joint federal-state investigation by law enforcement, the heroin network was broken up with the arrests of 45-year old Michelle Dawn Dorsey, of Demorest, 28-year old Nigel Alan Waddell, of Cornelia, and 26-year old Tyler Josiah […]

As rescue efforts continue in Houston, many who have loved ones there are trying to find out if they are safe. If you have a relative or loved ones stranded in Houston, the American Red Cross has a resource for them and you to use online. Georgia Red Cross Communications Manager Davina Mims-Puckett said they have a Web page designed […]

Toccoa City Commissioners wasting no time in taking votes on two key line items in their end-of-the-month agenda. At Monday’s regular meeting, the Board selected two new members to sit on the Housing Authority Board. City Manager Billy Morse the move had to be made because of a procedure error earlier in the year. “So we had to come back […]

The City of Royston is the recipient of a Georgia Environmental Finance Authority or GEFA loan. The announcement was made Tuesday by State Senators John Wilkinson, Frank Ginn and Lee Anderson. Royston will receive two million dollars from the State’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan worth $2 million. Royston City Manager Ed Andrews says the money will be used […]

The effects of Hurricane Harvey in Houston will be felt in that region for weeks and months to come and the Red Cross has been there with the boots on the ground since before the storm made landfall over the weekend. Houston officials estimate as many as 50,000 residents will be in need of emergency shelter before the storm moves […]

Qualifying is officially over for the City of Toccoa and City of Martin municipal elections, but if you missed your chance to run, you still have time. According to Stephens County Registrar Bill Cochran, those who missed regular qualifying last week can run as a write-in candidate. Cochran says however, you only have this week to get your name on […]

More information on a report last week of a man who died while walking up Currahee Mountain. Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley identified them an as Bobby Ray Smith of Toccoa. Shirley said Smith’s body was found near the mountain trail last week by passersby. “The Stephens County Sheriff’s office received a call from 911 about an individual lying on […]