Category: News

A local bank starts its week with a new name. Over the weekend, Stephens Federal Bank officially changed its name to Oconee Federal Savings and Loan and the system integration between the two banks took place over the weekend. This completes the merger of the two banks that was announced last year and finalized in early December. Last February, Oconee […]

50th District State Senator John Wilkinson will once again serve as chair of the State Senate’s Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee for the 2015-2016 legislative term. The State Senate’s Committee on Assignments recently announced that Wilkinson would continue in the role of chair for that committee. He has served as the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Chair since 2013. The […]

The Georgia Department of Transportation has work planned in a number of area counties this week. DOT crews will be working along some roadways this week in Banks, Franklin, and Habersham counties. In Franklin County, a crew will inspect the drainage system for Interstate 85, closing the shoulder as work occurs. Elsewhere in Franklin County, a section of damaged guardrail […]

Local leaders are reacting to Caterpillar’s announcement that it will be closing its Stephens County facility over the next two years, resulting in the loss of about 120 jobs at that plant. Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin said it is devastating news. “Did not see this coming,” said Martin. “It is just a sad day for the […]

The Georgia Department of Transportation is announcing an upcoming temporary road closure along the State Route 17 construction project in Stephens County. Davis Road will be closed at its intersection with State Highway 17 for about 60 days beginning next Monday, January 26, if weather permits. Georgia DOT Spokesperson Teri Pope said the closure will affect the approximately 500 feet […]

Activities for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day conclude today in Toccoa. At noon, Trinity C.M.E. Church will host the annual interfaith service honoring and remembering Dr. King. Following that service, at about 2 p.m., the annual march from the church to Toccoa City Hall will take place. Today’s activities wrap up a series of events over the last couple […]

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said on Saturday that a woman was killed after being struck by a train in Stephens County. Shirley said that at 6 p.m. Friday, 911 dispatch contacted the Sheriff’s Office and reported that a Norfolk Southern cargo train had struck a pedestrian near the Stonewall Court bridge located in the area of the airport. Shirley […]

Caterpillar said it is closing its Toccoa facility by the end of 2016. In a press release issued late Thursday afternoon, the company says it will close both its Toccoa, Georgia foundry and its Franklin, North Carolina facility and consolidate production to a facility in Mapleton, Illinois over and within the next two years. The Toccoa facility is located in […]

The Stephens County Development Authority starts off its calendar year. The Development Authority board held its first meeting of 2015 Thursday morning at the Authority’s offices in downtown Toccoa. During the meeting, the Authority welcomed two new members to the board, as Toccoa Mayor Terry Carter and Stephens County Commission Chair Dennis Bell took their seats on the Authority for […]

Toccoa and Stephens County will host a series of events this weekend to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Saturday at 3 p.m. at Greater Hope Baptist Church in Martin, they will hold the annual “Senior Citizens Reflections” event. Then on Sunday at 5 p.m., the annual musical extravaganza will take place at Friendship Baptist Church […]