Category: News

An official date has been set for Stephens County 911 to implement its Emergency Dispatch Program. According to Stephens County 911/EMA Director Danielle Rhodes, the program will go into effect on January 2, 2021. She says the Emergency Dispatch Program will allow dispatchers to give out medical directions over the phone; something that dispatchers in Stephens County are unable to […]

The Georgia Department of Public Health is now reporting a total of 1,655 positive cases of Covid-19, and still 45 deaths in Stephens County since the beginning of the global pandemic. The latest report, released Monday afternoon, still has Habersham County with 82 deaths and now a total of 2,547 positive cases of the virus. In other neighboring counties, Rabun […]

  The Georgia Department of Public Health is now reporting a total of 1,641 positive cases of Covid-19, and still 45 deaths in Stephens County since the beginning of the global pandemic. The latest report, released Monday afternoon, still has Habersham County with 82 deaths and a total of 2,525 positive cases of the virus. In other neighboring counties, Rabun […]

The Friends of the Ritz is the recipient of a $4,500 grant. According to Friends of the Ritz President Keith Kozicki, the grant is being administered through the Hart EMC Foundation funded by its Operation Round Up program. He says this grant, along with additional financial support from the City of Toccoa, will allow the nonprofit organization to purchase needed […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will be spreading Christmas Cheer this week as they take the county-sponsored Polar Express through several neighborhoods. Stephens County Commissioner Michelle Ivester explained during a recent County Commission meeting that the county decided to take the Polar Express on the road in hopes of bringing out the Christmas Spirit. Ivester says on Wednesday, December […]

A Hart County man is facing charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday, 57-year old Loyd Lewis was charged with two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material) by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. Spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said while being investigated for narcotics by […]

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has recertified the results of the November 3, 2020, presidential election. The recertification came following an audit-triggered hand recount and a formal recount requested by the Trump campaign. Both recounts upheld the original outcome of the race. The certified results of state and federal races can be found on the Secretary of State’s website: sos.ga.gov. […]

The Covid-19 positive numbers keep rising in the state of Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health just over 10,000 more cases have been reported since Thursday bringing the total to 443,822. Of those with positive cases, just over 900 have been hospitalized in the last five days bringing that total to 36,039, and 173 more died from […]

Today is the final day to register to vote and be eligible to vote in the upcoming January 5th Runoff Election. According to Stephens County Registrar Eureka Gober, it’s fairly simple to register to vote through the Secretary of State’s Office website at registertovote.sos.ga.gov. To register online, you must have a valid Georgia Driver’s License of ID Card issued by […]

The Historic Ritz Theatre will continue its Christmas Movie Series this week in downtown Toccoa. According to Ritz Theatre General Manager Tami Mayhugh, this week the theatre will be screening The Man Who Invented Christmas on Thursday at 10 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. Then next week, on December 17, come see Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, which […]