Category: News

The Stephens County Board of Education will meet today for its work session. During today’s meeting, the board will review the consent agenda prior to voting on Tuesday, October 15. Some items to be discussed include a reminder that the November work session will be held on November 7 and the regular meeting will be held November 13. Additionally, the […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will meet this morning for its regular scheduled meeting and work session. On the agenda, there are several items to note, including a public hearing for the first reading of two proposed alcohol amendments to Chapter 6 Section 6-69 (f) and (n). The amendment to Section 6-69 (f) changes the first sentence of the […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is working with the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division to investigate reports of a major fish kill in Indian Creek. According to complaint run off coming from the GRP Franklin Renewable Energy Facility on at 3465 Highway 198 in Carnesville has been leeching into the creek. John Maddox, State […]

It’s hard to believe but it is once again time to start thinking about Christmas and Christmas giving. And this year’s Toys for Tots campaign is already underway in Stephens County. Local Toys for Tots Coordinator Don Alexander says same as last year, parents can request toys for their children through the Toys for Tots’ online system. Parents or guardians […]

The Salvation Army in Toccoa has a new Service Center Director. Recently, Rebecca Dixon took on that role. Dixon, who is from Lavonia, has a long background in social ministry and she says making the transition from her previous work was no problem. “Previously, I worked for Volunteers of America, an organization created by one of the sons of General […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR The National Weather Service in conjunction with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association has issued a Flash Drought notice for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. According to NOAA, a flash drought is defned as an event with greater than or equal to two categories of degradation in a four-week period based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Record-breaking […]

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR The hot weather may finally be giving way to much-anticipated fall temperatures, but it lingered long enough to cause our reservoir lakes to go into drought status. On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers Savannah office announced that both Hartwell and Thurmond Lakes have now gone into Drought Trigger Level 1 status. As of Monday, Hartwell Lake’s […]

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the new location of one of its members, NGPG Pediatrics, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. A large crowd gathered around as Dr. Michael Maley spoke about the new location. “By moving down here we’re able to keep, on one floor, well-visits and sick-visits, and that’s really nice. That’s one of the constraints […]

Stephens County low-income seniors age 65 and older can begin applying for help paying their heating bills on November 1. The Georgia Department of Human Services, through 9th District Opportunity in Gainesville, is helping to pay heating costs for low-income homes with either gas, propane, or electric heating. According to Ninth District Opportunity Program Director Brenda Dalin, one-time payments will […]

The 19th annual Currahee Military Weekend officially starts today in Toccoa-Stephens County. According to Currahee Military Museum Director Brenda Carlin, this weekend will be filled with lots of events for history buffs and veterans to enjoy. The festivities are in full swing, following last night’s special pre-weekend show at the Historic Ritz Theatre with a performance by Joe Gransden. Gransden […]