Category: News

Time is running out for eligible vehicle owners to “opt in” to the state’s Title Ad Valorem Tax, or TAVT. Stephens County Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks said those who bought vehicles in 2012 or between January 1 and February 28, 2013 are eligible to opt that vehicle in to the TAVT system and no longer pay the so-called “birthday tax” […]

Two candidates will run in the special election this March to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term of the late Harold Andrews on the Stephens County Commission. Qualifying wrapped up Monday at noon. Michelle Grafton and Ralph Stowe were the only two candidates to qualify for the seat. Grafton, 31, is a real estate agent.  Stowe, 59, is […]

The trial over a civil suit filed in the death of Lavonia pastor the Rev. Jonathan Ayers is underway in Gainesville. Opening statements took place Monday in U.S. District Court in Gainesville before Judge Richard W. Story. The Rev. Ayers was shot at a Toccoa gas station in September 2009 by NCIS Drug Team Officer Billy Shane Harrison and later died […]

Officials from the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter continue to work with city and county officials on the shelter’s budget for both the rest of this fiscal year and the next. The shelter board met on Monday at ToccoaCity Hall. Last month, the shelter board requested that Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts put together a revised six-month budget for […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia Pets are an important part of many families and a new American Red Cross Pet First Aid App puts lifesaving information right in the hands of dog and cat owners so they can provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available. Red Cross Northeast Georgia Chapter Executive Director Joni Smith said the 99-cent Pet […]

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter is the first in the state of Georgia to join a national transport program through PetSmart Charities. The Shelter has obtained specialized training to participate in the “Rescue Waggin” program. Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said this is a national transport program that moves adoptable dogs and puppies from shelters that have high pet populations to […]

The Stephens County School System expands its Pre-K program at Eastanollee Elementary School. Last month, Stephens County School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten announced that the school system had obtained funding to add a second Pre-K class at Eastanollee Elementary. Whiten said that the school system has plenty of demand to fill the class immediately. “We have quite a large waiting list […]

Qualifying wraps up today for the special election to fill the seat of the late Harold Andrews on the Stephens County Commission. Interested candidates have from 9 a.m. to 12 noon today to qualify for the special election at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office is located downstairs in the Stephens County Government Building in downtown Toccoa. As […]

Stephens County ends 2013 on a mixed note on the unemployment front. According to figures released last week by the Georgia Department of Labor, Stephens County had a preliminary unemployment rate in December of 7.1 percent. That is slightly higher than the revised November unemployment rate of 6.9 percent. The labor force in Stephens County increased only slightly in December, […]

Toccoa Falls College will host its annual World Outreach Conference this week. The conference starts today and runs through Wednesday. The conference includes speakers at the Grace Chapel and Performing Arts Center today and Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 6:30  p.m., as well as Wednesday at 10 a.m. This year, three different speakers will appear at the conference. Youth pastor […]