Closures and Cancelations for COVID-19 prevention
Out of caution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, several local agencies have announced cancelations of group activities, in Toccoa-Stephens County.
As WNEG News reported on Friday, all Stephens County Recreation Department Sporting Events and Senior Center Group Activities have been canceled for two weeks.
All Stephens County Schools has been canceled until further notice beginning Monday, March 16.
The Toccoa Little League announced on Friday, that all play and practices have been suspended until further notice.
The Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library is closed until further notice.
The Historic Stephens County Courthouse is closed to the public until further notice.
All Main Street Toccoa events have been cancelled for March and April.
Additionally, the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College, and all other campuses, have canceled all classes and activities for students for the next two weeks.
In Habersham County, the Board of Education announced that all Habersham County schools will be closed to students, beginning today, March 16, for the next two weeks.
The Toccoa Rotary Club Board meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16, has been canceled, along with the Toccoa Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, March 17, has been canceled.
Toccoa Falls College has been moved to an online format for all students until further notice.
All Franklin County Schools are closed until further notice.
All Hart County Schools are closed until Friday, March 27.
The Woodmen Life meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16, at Toccoa Creek Church at 7:00 p.m. has been canceled.
The Toccoa Rotary Club Board meeting for Monday, March 16th and meeting for Tuesday, March 17th canceled.
The Toccoa Lines Club has canceled both of their regular monthly meetings this week on Tuesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 19.
Neighbors to Neighbors closed until further notice.
Patterson Pump Federal Credit Union annual meeting for Saturday, March 21st has been postponed. A new date will be announced later.
Ping’s Grill will be closed for two weeks, effective immediately.
The Stephens County Historical Society/ Currahee Military Museum will be cancelling its monthly Veteran’s Coffee for the months of April & May 2020.
Georgia Courts:
In Stephens County State Court, Judge James Irvin announced on Thursday that anyone summoned to appear for State Court will be excused, with no penalty, if they are currently experiencing flu or flu-like symptoms; has experience flu or flu-like symptoms within the last 30 days; has traveled to any country or other area of the United States with confirmed cases of COVID-19; has had any contact with any person quarantined due to COVID-19 concerns; or suspects having been exposed to COVID-19 in any way.
Irvin says bench warrants for a party’s failure to appear and driver’s license suspensions will not be issued during the months of March and April.
Chief Justice Harold Melton of the Georgia Supreme Court has issued a Declaration of Judicial Emergency effective until April 13. The Declaration effectively halts the hearing of all civil and criminal matters except specified essential functions, in Toccoa-Stephens County, Habersham County, and Rabun County.
Any jury trials have been continued indefinitely, and no jurors or grand jurors shall report, and no jury trials shall be held until the Declaration has been lifted.
The only exception to the Judicial Emergency include: where an immediate liberty or safety concern is present requiring the attention of the court as soon as the court is available; criminal court search warrants, arrest warrants, initial appearances, and bond reviews; domestic abuse temporary protective orders and restraining orders; juvenile court delinquency detention hearings and emergency removal matters; and mental health commitment hearings.
Municipal Court has been cancelled through April 13 and cases will be rescheduled.
WNEG News will continue to follow school and business closures and cancelations as they become available.