Category: News

Top state economic development officials take time to visit Stephens County. Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr and his staff spent Wednesday traveling through the county, meeting with local officials. Carr said the goal of the trip, which included other stops throughout Georgia, is for his team to build and establish relationships with local officials. “Economic development, like […]

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office names its Deputy and Jailer of the Year awards. The awards were presented at the Sheriff’s Office’s annual Christmas dinner last month. This year’s Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year is Deputy Paul Shiffer. Deputy Shiffer has been with the Sheriff’s Office sine 1997 and is currently responsible primarily for serving civil paperwork. […]

The trial of Samuel Crump and Ray Adams continues in federal court in Gainesville. Testimony moved into its second day Wednesday. During Wednesday’s testimony, the Associated Press reports that the government’s informant in the case, Joe Sims, took the stand and prosecutors played tapes of conversations Sims recorded that took place between him, Crump, and Adams, and others. Prosecutors said […]

Authorities have released some information on a structure fire in Stephens County last week. The fire took place on the evening of January 2 on Currahee Place. According to a report from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner told authorities that he and a couple of friends had built a fire in the fire place. The homeowner said in […]

Attorneys for the U.S. government say that two Toccoa men charged with plotting attacks against the U.S. government and its citizens were not just talking, but preparing to take action. Opening statements in the trial of Samuel J. Crump and Ray H. Adams took place Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Gainesville. Calling it a case of actions coupled […]

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter is seeking the public’s help after taking in 77 cats from one location earlier this week. Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said it started with the Georgia Department of Agriculture contacting Animal Control about the cats, which were at a location on DeFoor Road. Roberts said that Animal Control and the Animal Shelter then went out […]

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said that the county accomplished quite a bit in 2013. Ayers spoke about the year that just wrapped up earlier this week with AM 630 WNEG. She said that while 2013 was a challenging year, it was a good year for the county in the sense that it moved forward on a number of projects. […]

With the Georgia General Assembly gearing up to start next week, local legislators will take time tomorrow to preview the upcoming legislative session. The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual pre-legislative session “Politics & Pastries” event Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Mitchell Allen Meeting Room in downtown Toccoa.  The event is sponsored by […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia  It’s a girl as Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center in Lavonia is welcoming its first baby born in the new year. Baby Ma-Riyah LaShahy Hester was born Friday, January 3 at 12:52 p.m. MaRiyah weighed in at 6 pounds and was 18 inches long.   She is the daughter of Alyssia and Tony Hester […]

Things are starting to get back to normal as the cold weather slowly moves out. Stephens County Schools are back on a normal schedule this morning. We do have one cancellation to announce. Hart County Schools are closed today. Staff at South Hart Elementary School should not report to work, but all other staff members in Hart County Schools are […]