Daily Update Closings-Cancellations-Postponements

Out of caution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, several local agencies have announced cancellations of group activities, in Toccoa-Stephens County and surrounding area.

Schools

-ALL K-12 Public schools in Georgia are closed by Executive Order of the Governor through the remainder of the school year.
– North Georgia Technical College announces that exclusive online instruction will be extended until April 13 and that the college’s originally scheduled graduation will be postponed to a later date to be determined. All face-to-face classes continue to be suspended and activities for students and guests are postponed. Spring break, scheduled for the week of April 6, will now be an online instruction week for the college. Also, the end of the term, originally scheduled for April 30 has been extended one week to May 7 for programs needing additional time to complete requirements. Students with questions regarding their particular class timeline and situation are encouraged to email and discuss with their individual instructors. Students are asked to check their student email daily.
-Toccoa Falls College has an online format for all students until further notice.

Government

-Effective Monday, April 6th the Stephens County Government Building will be closed to walk-in traffic. You can enter by appointment only.

-Stephens County Convenience Centers will no longer accept recyclables.

-Until further notice, the Bulky Item Disposal for Stephens County residents has been suspended.  This service is located on Scenic Dr. at the Public Works office.  It does not include the five Convenience Sites.

-Toccoa City Hall and the Toccoa Police Department Offices will be closed to walk-in traffic until further notice. Appointments can be arranged by calling 706-886-8451. City of Toccoa Utility customers are asked to make payments in ways other than entering City Hall.
-The Historic Stephens County Courthouse has limited access to the public until further notice.
-All Main Street Toccoa and Ritz Theatre events have been canceled for April.

-Toccoa Main Street’s “Toast of Toccoa” scheduled for May 2nd is canceled.

-The Town of Martin ask water customers to make payments in ways other than entering the City office until further notice.

-Stephens County Recreation Department Sporting Events and Senior Center Group Activities have been canceled for two weeks.
-The Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library is closed until further notice.

-Downtown Development Authority meeting scheduled for April 3rd has been canceled.

-Dump Your Junk for Free Day scheduled for April 4th is canceled.

Organizations

-Democrats of Stephens County Community Picnic scheduled for Saturday, April 18th has been canceled.

-The Stephens County Historical Society and Currahee Military Museum has canceled the monthly Veteran’s Coffee for the months of April & May. The museums will be closed until further notice.

-Zebulon Baptist Church Food Pantry for April 13th is canceled.

-The April meeting of the Toccoa Amateur Radio Society is canceled.

-Toccoa-Stephens County Animal Shelter is closed to the public until further notice. If you want to adopt an animal or register for the low cost spay/neuter program call 706-282-3275 and they have special procedures to minimize social contact. They are also closed to shelter intakes at this time.

-The Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Stephens County Recreation Department is canceled.

-The Toccoa VFW is closed until further notice.

-The Toccoa Welcome Center is closed to the public until further notice.

-The Toccoa Little League all play and practices have been suspended until further notice.

-The Toccoa Rotary Club has canceled meetings through April 14th.

– The Toccoa Lions Club will be doing video conference calls for the near future due to general health concerns.
-Neighbors to Neighbors closed until further notice.

-Savannah River Production of “Heidi” canceled. Tickets can be traded in for a future show.

-Toccoa Lodge #309’s Annual Pork BBQ has been moved from March 28th to May 30th. All tickets currently held will be honored then. If you need more information or ticket refund call Chris Looney at 706-491-8558.

-The Annual Georgia Baptist Secretaries Banquet that was planned for April 16th has been cancelled.

-Oconee County (SC) Libraries are closed and no book sales in April.

Business

-Picture of Life Personal Care Home-no visitors until further notice. Residents can be reached by phone.

-Addison Agency is closed to walk in traffic, but there to take calls and post payments over the phone. Call 706 886-1247 with questions.

-X-Factor Grill is carry-out or curbside only.

-Shirley’s Sole Food is carry-out only.

-1st Franklin Financial Investment Center lobby closed to all walk-in traffic. They encourage investors to use the drive-thru window and call with questions.

-Oconee Federal Savings and Loan is temporarily closing the Doyle Street branch and limiting the Big A Road branch lobby to “appointment only service”. Drive-through lanes will be open during normal business hours.

-Stephens Co. Eye Clinic will be closed until April 6th. They will be available for emergency eye care. Call 706-886-0111 and leave message. Stephens Co. Eye Clinic, Franklin County Eye Care, and Family Eye Care offer Telehealth options using your smartphone.

-North Georgia Credit Union will be open for drive-thru only at all locations until further notice. Hours of service have been extended and NGCU will be open from 8:00am – 6:00pm on Monday – Friday, and will continue to be open from 9:00am – 12:00pm on Saturdays. In-person visits will be made by appointments only.
-Hart EMC drive-thru windows ARE OPEN, and the call center is staffed. Any questions you have can be answered by calling 1-800-241-4109. Beginning Monday, March 30, we are extending our hours of operation at our drive-thru windows. They will be open Monday – Friday from 7 am until 7 pm for your convenience.
-The Wright Credit Union is “ drive-thru” only until further notice

-Northeast Georgia Housing Authority offices closed to the public. Please call 706-886-9455 if you need information.

-Salvation Army Family Store has stopped taking donations until further notice.

-Ping’s Grill will be closed until further notice.

 

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 canceled through April 13 and cases will be rescheduled.
WNEG News will continue to update this page as more announcements become available.