Category: News

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR A bill that would ban in Georgia the burning of creosote-coated wood products to make electricity has cleared the State Senate’s Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee and could come up for a vote this week. SB385 and HB857 both target the Georgia Renewable Power plants in Comer and Carnesville, which are bringing in truckloads of old […]

The Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County youth and adult classes wrapped up their year, Thursday night, February 27, with a graduation ceremony at Reflections at Lake Toccoa. A total of 8 adults participated in the adult program, and a total of 25 seniors from Stephens County High School participated in the youth program. President and CEO of First Franklin Financial Corporation Ginger […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday to award two bids for four new vehicles for the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. The first bid was awarded to Mike Jones Ford in the amount of $36,109.14 for a Special Service Vehicle. The second bid was awarded to Jacky Jones Ford for three patrol vehicles in the amount of $31,000 […]

Life Recovery is starting in Toccoa. According to Ken Helmer, who is leading the group, the Life Recovery Group utilizes the Life Recovery Bible to help citizens struggling with addiction. Helmer says there is no cost for citizens to attend and participate in the program. The group will have its first meeting on Monday, March 16, at 11:00 a.m. at […]

A Toccoa business man was killed in a car accident near Stephens County on Monday. 65-year-old Toccoa resident, Hayward Cochran Jr. sustained fatal injuries in the crash on Talmadge Drive. At the Stephens County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Stephens County Commissioner Michelle Ivester spoke of Cochran saying he was an exceptional citizen. “I would like everyone to keep […]

Stephens County officials have closed the stairway that connects the County Annex parking lot to West Tugalo Street. County Administrator Phyllis Ayers says the county determined the stairs were no longer up to code; and presented a risk for citizens who would be using the parking lot to attend the voting machine demonstration at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office. If […]

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office have arrested three individuals following a two-week investigation. According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on February 19, investigators went to 424 Law House Road after receiving information about possible drug activity at the residence. Upon their arrival deputies met with several people in the front of the residence along with another group inside the […]

Toccoa Main Street will celebrate Arbor Day today in downtown Toccoa. Arbor Day was last Friday; however, due to inclement weather, the tree planting ceremony was moved to today. Main Street Toccoa’s Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby says the city will plant a white oak and two dogwood trees on the courthouse lawn this afternoon. Crosby says for 14 years, the […]

  (From L to R: Christian Hamilton, Taylor Duncan, Leon Womack)   Taylor Duncan, the founder and director of Alternative Baseball, offered an impassioned presentation to the Toccoa Rotary Club on Tuesday. Duncan answers the question what is Alternative Baseball? “Alternative baseball provides an authentic baseball experience to teens and adults 15 years old and over with autism and other […]

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley has announced he’ll run for a fourth term. Shirley announced Tuesday that he will qualify as a Republican to run for re-election to the Sheriff’s post. Shirley tells WNEG News about his law enforcement experience. “I have more than 40 years’ experience in law enforcement, eleven as Sheriff of Stephens County, so that record will […]