Author: Phil Hobbs

Time is running out for Georgia taxpayers to receive a 90 percent state tax credit for contributing to designated rural hospitals through the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program. Enrollment in the program for 2017 ends Nov. 1. Both Stephens County Hospital and St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia are hospitals on the list to receive contributions that are […]

SCHOOLS Stephens County Schools will hold classes on Monday, September 18, 2017. Anyone who remains with unsafe conditions should contact the student’s school after 9:00 am Monday, and alert them to the situation. Students that cannot safely return to school on Monday will receive an excused absence. Stephens County VS Habersham Central football game has been moved to Saturday night […]

    As of 9 p.m. Thursday evening, Georgia Power has restored power to 920,000 customers impacted by Hurricane Irma. More than 8,000 personnel are working around the clock as part of Georgia Power’s statewide restoration effort to restore power for the approximately 75,000 customers who remain. The company is on track to restore power to 95 percent of all […]

A scholarship in memory of former Stephens County High School Principal Sandy Steele is being started by friends and former co-workers. Steele, who served as Stephens County High School Principal from 2013-16, passed away on Monday at the age of 47. Steele’s obituary reads “Sandy was passionate about children, both professionally and personally. He spent countless hours working to improve […]

A local organization wants to let the public know the chicken is on the way…it will just be a week later! The Stephens County Special Olympics fundraiser that included chicken pick-up this week has had to be adjusted due to Hurricane Irma. With many communities still without power, phone service, food and water, trucks and drivers are being used to […]

  The investigation into a fatal wreck over the weekend that killed a Toccoa mother and her daughter is still continuing. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the entire incident report is not being released at this time. However, according to the GSP,  the accident happened about 4:30a Saturday morning on Highway 365 in Habersham County. Troopers say a 2010 […]

The Better Business Bureau is warning local residents affected by the recent storms to beware of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors soliciting business. According to the BBB it is not uncommon for out-of-town storm chasers to solicit business after storms like the ones we had Monday. Storm chasers may not have proper licensure for your area and may offer quick […]

Tropical Storm Irma has had an impact on the City of Toccoa’s billing system. The City is in the process of making a change to their billing system software and according to Toccoa Finance Director Becky Bohannan, the storm and the conversion to the new software have caused some delays in getting their bills out on time this month. Bohannon […]

  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 […]