Author: Phil Hobbs

  Local auto parts supplier, Auto Zone is ramping up efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Irma. AutoZone HR adviser Erika Abraham, says the AutoZone Distribution Center in Lavonia is partnering with several locations in Toccoa and Lavonia to collect bottled water. Donations of bottled water may be dropped off at the Auto Zone stores in Toccoa and Lavonia, […]

Power is slowly being restored in Northeast Georgia. As of late Wednesday evening, Hart EMC is reporting just under 1700 customers still in the dark in their five-county coverage area, which includes Stephens, Franklin and Hart counties. Spokesman Keith Brown says the work is moving faster now thanks to some outside help from North Carolina and Tennessee. Hart EMC has […]

There are still numerous power outages in this area of Northeast Georgia and one of those is of the utmost importance to the City of Toccoa. “There are some power outages in some of our water and wastewater facilities that is not a problem short term, but could be a problem long term” says Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse; “We […]

A local judge will hear a state Supreme Court case today. If no change in court schedule due to Hurricane Irma, Chief Judge Chan Caudell of the Mountain Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Michael P. Boggs in the appeal of Taylor v. The State. The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the […]

  The March of Dimes SuperHero 5K Run/Walk will be held later this month. The event will be held on Saturday, September 30th at Boyd Field in Toccoa and is sponsored by Eaton Corporation, 1st Franklin Financial, and Crown Resources. Michelle Lanier and Leon Womack are leading the event in Toccoa. They say the March of Dimes event is a […]

In an effort to help ease the burden of purchasing food for low-income families affected by Hurricane Irma, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) has released September’s allotment of food stamp benefits to all Georgia residents. Georgia recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, traditionally known as food stamps) can now access their September benefits via their […]

Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District said today that the Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond Reservoirs are equipped and able to safely capture rainfall from Tropical Storm Irma. Currently Hartwell and Thurmond Reservoirs are in a drought status and have more than 12 feet of storage capacity available for rising water levels. Based on the rainfall forecast […]

Due to Tropical Storm Irma, The Stephens County Commission has canceled it’s regularly scheduled meeting and work session that was scheduled for this morning. The next meeting is scheduled for September 26th at 5:30 P.M. Scheduled to be included on the agenda for the September 26th meeting will be the 2nd public hearing for the sign ordinance, and the board […]

Many in Toccoa-Stephens County and surrounding areas are waking up this morning to trees down, debris in yards and roads, and in general a mess. Though wind speeds from what is now Tropical Depression Irma didn’t quite reach the potential 50 mph gusts it did enough to cause some damage around the area that included numerous power outages. Hart EMC […]