Category: News

Some property owners living near a planned two-story poultry house operation are speaking out about a decision by the Franklin County Planning Commission to approve the plan. At their regular meeting April 6, a number of residents living near the planned chicken houses on SR59 voiced their opposition to the Board of Commissioners. Most said the smell would be overwhelming. […]

The Currahee Artists Guild Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Festival is this Saturday from 10 A.M.-5 P.M. on Doyle Street in Downtown Toccoa. The Currahee Artists Guild’s Deborah Hartley tells us about the festival. “The Currahee Artists Guild is sponsoring an art show for adults and children. Everyone is invited including local artists. You are also invited to participate in […]

 When the Stephens Education Literacy Foundation was discontinued in 2013, an area event also ended. Tonight that event returns as the BEE SMART SPELLING and TRIVIA BEE will be held in Downtown Toccoa at the Schaefer Center. The event is now hosted by the Toccoa Rotary Club. A minimum of eight teams will compete for the title beginning at 7 […]

At last night’s Stephens County Commission meeting commissioners unanimously approved the authorization for Chairman Dennis Bell to sign the bond resolution to regulate and provide issuance of   initial $4.5 million dollars in general obligation bonds to forward fund road work in Stephens County. Those bonds would then be paid back with SPLOST VI revenues designated for roads as the county […]

A South Carolina man was arrested by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department earlier this month in relation to burglary and theft by taking on three different occasions in Stephens County. On March 27th, Deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Jordan Road in, reference to a Burglary that had already occurred. The victim stated the […]

Sheriff Randy Shirley reports that his office has recovered a John Deere Gator utility vehicle worth approximate $15,000. The vehicle was reported stolen from the Fieldale Corporation in Eastanollee In February. Shirley stated during the investigation, Investigators developed tips from informants that eventually led to the location and recovery of the stolen Gator. Sheriff Shirley stated that the investigation into […]

Monday’s work session of the Toccoa City Commission included a proposal from TBG Residential of Atlanta for a proposed Allen Park development. TBG Residential is an Atlanta based real estate firm specializing in the development, construction, and management of affordable apartment communities for families and seniors. Allen Park is a proposed 64 unit apartment community comprised of 12 one bedroom […]

By M.J. Kneiser/WLHR The USDA says poultry farmers need to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of the H5N2 virus or avian influenza. The USDA confirmed the H5N2 avian influenza virus had spread from Minnesota turkey farms where it was first discovered in December to commercial chicken farms in Wisconsin and Iowa. Last week, they announced over eight-million chickens […]

Contributed by WGOG A former bank officer at Oconee-based Community First Bank was in federal court yesterday in Anderson for an initial appearance, according to sources in the US District Court. The proceeding for Benjamin Lee Hiott is an arraignment. According to sources with the federal court system, Hiott faces three counts of bank fraud. He is also a co-defendant […]

An emphasis of this year’s Toccoa City Commission is community beautification and code enforcement. Part of that process includes the elimination of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Of specific concern are motels that have been converted to Extended Stay Facilities. The Stephens County Health Department has also established this as one of their goals and has asked for the city to […]