Year in Review – August

Continuing WNEG News’ look back at 2023, today we take a look at the top stories in August:

In early August, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office made an initial hire under the $1.2 million dollar Community Public Safety Grant awarded earlier in the year by the state. The grant, which required no matching funds from the county, was meant to “ address law enforcement staffing challenges,” according to a press release issued by Governor Brian Kemp. 

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley told WNEG News that Deputy Edward Bush is the first deputy to be hired under the hiring and retention grant, adding that Bush has been assigned to the Office’s Inmate Litter Detail. 

The Inmate Litter Detail utilizes county jail inmates to pick up and discard trash from county roadways on a regular basis, with weekly reports released by the Sheriff’s Office.

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A number of local businesses gained state and national attention in August, with several businesses earning awards, announcing industry milestones, and being nominated for their top business status in several recognized ranking platforms.

Simmons-Bond Inn Bed and Breakfast waw been named the 2023 Best Victorian B&B in Northeast Georgia by LUXlife Magazine. 

Living Room Roasters were nominated in Georgia Business Journal’s Best of Georgia 2022 in the Best Coffeehouse category.  

PTL Equipment was nominated for “Best Family-Owned Business” in Elevator World’s 2023 Ellie Awards.

And Currahee Vineyard and Winery was nominated in the Best Winery category of the Georgia Business Journal’s Best of Georgia 2022.   

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The Reverend Dr. Paul Alford passed away Thursday, August 10 at the age of 93. 

Alford was the fourth President of Toccoa Falls College, serving in that role from 1979 to 2000.

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At the August 28 meeting of the Toccoa City Commission, commissioners approved moratoriums on the issuance of three different sectors of city licensing or permitting.

First, commissioners unanimously approved a moratorium on the issuance of any new retail alcohol beverage licenses for package sales of distilled spirits. The moratorium will not impact businesses seeking licensing for the sale of beer and wine. The moratorium will expire on March 31, 2024, 

The second moratorium approved by commissioners was a temporary halt to the issuance of permits for new homeless shelters or rehabilitation facilities.

The moratorium will expire on July 1, 2024

The final moratorium was on the issuance of permits or licenses for “vape shops.”