Category: News

Stephens County United Way board members have set a goal of $100,000.00 for the 2024 United Way Campaign, which is now underway. Board chair Julie Paysen said, “Too many households in Stephens County do not earn enough to afford the basic necessities of life.” She added, “United, we can do so much more than we can do on our own to […]

This time of year, many people are decorating for Christmas inside and out, but Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John  King is urging Georgians to exercise caution with Christmas decorations. Data from the National Fire Prevention Association shows that between 2017-2021, US fire departments responded to an average of 150 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. […]

The Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural (DNR) Resources is asking for help from citizens in identifying the individuals in these photos for questioning about suspected criminal damage at the Burton Fish Hatchery in Clarkesville. The damage occurred on October 14 this year. Anyone with information regarding the identities of any of these  individuals, call DNR Law […]

UPDATE (12/16/23 – 10:25 a.m.). GSP Reports identify the driver of the 2012 Honda CRV CTS as Rory J. Winsor, 40, of Toccoa. Georgia State Patrol Post 7 Toccoa has released information about yesterday’s single-vehicle crash on Prather Bridge Road. According to the incident report, yesterday, Dec. 15, at approximately 2 p.m, a 2012 green Honda CRV CTS traveling south […]

During The Toccoa City Commission meeting earlier this week, departing commissioner and mayor David Austin delivered the city’s annual report, highlighting Toccoa’s accomplishments over the past 12 months.  Austin did not run for re-election to his commission seat in the recent elections, and Monday was his last meeting on the commission after more than 24 years of service. 

Earlier this week, Stephens County Hospital Foundation announced 4th grade Toccoa Elementary student Macey Frady, 10, as the winner of the annual Christmas Card contest.  At a presentation Monday morning at Toccoa Elementary, school and hospital officials joined Frady’s family in congratulating her on her winning drawing that will serve as the front of the Hospital’s 2023 Christmas Card. With […]

Stephens County Recreation Director Chris Rainey was named as Stephens County’s 2023 Employee of the Year. Stephens County Administrator Christian Hamilton announced the award.  The 2022 Employee of the Year was Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Mitty Higginbotham. Also at Tuesday’s Stephens County Board of Commissioners meeting, 2024 appointments of board members to local and regional boards and committees were approved  […]

Toccoa Falls College recently published its 2023 End-of-Year Reflections, looking back at the accomplishments and benchmarks of the past 12 months. Included in the year’s highlights were U.S. News & World Report ranking of Toccoa Falls College one of the Best Regional College in the South, ranked at #30, a Best Value School with a national ranking of 11, and […]

Due to heavy rains this past Saturday, The Toccoa Night of Lights Christmas Parade was rescheduled to tonight, Dec. 14.  According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for tonight calls for clear weather with 0% chance of rain and temperatures in the mid-40s at 5 p.m. dropping to 42 degrees at 8 p.m. Floats will begin lining up at […]

Yesterday afternoon, local law enforcement officials as well as Hart and Franklin County deputies and Georgia State Patrol Troopers spent several hours scouring the woods off of Highway 106 near Old Mize Road, looking for a suspect that Stephen County Sheriff Randy Shirley described in a post on Facebook as “armed and dangerous.” This morning, Shirley released information regarding the […]