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The Toccoa Record

The Toccoa Record

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BOE picks chair, vice chair

News Staff
Thursday, January 22, 2026
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD   The Stephens County Board of Education on Tuesday appointed its chair and vice chair and decided for the time being to put aside a proposed attendance policy..     The board appointed Tripp Arrowood as chair and Wendy Dawkins as vice chair.
The Toccoa Record

The Toccoa Record

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Grand jury hands down flurry of indictments

News Staff
Thursday, January 22, 2026
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Indictments recently released by a Stephens County Grand Jury include cases of burglary, an escape, a DUI with injuries and other incidents.These are in addition to indictments that included drugs and counts of violence.
Trinity CME Church Elder Charles Thompson leads the congregation at a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, in song and worship.

Trinity CME Church Elder Charles Thompson leads the congregation at a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, in song and worship.

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Community honors MLK Day

News Staff
Thursday, January 22, 2026
BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD Individuals need to look internally at problems or habits that hold Stephens County back from reaching its full potential, Martin Luther King Day speaker A.J. Howard said Monday.
The Toccoa Record

The Toccoa Record

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E-SPLOST vote coming in May

News Staff
Thursday, January 22, 2026
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Stephens County School System has had its Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in place since 1998 and this May will be asking for voters’ approval to renew it.
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The Toccoa Record

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Stepping down

News Staff
Thursday, January 22, 2026
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORDToccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen is resigning, effective at the end of June.On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Chamber board chair Cassandra Wilkins made the announcement that Paysen is stepping down as of June 30.
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Traffic stop turns into three drug arrests

News Staff
Thursday, January 15, 2026
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORDA damaged equipment traffic stop near Broken Bridges last week turned into finding illegal narcotics and three individuals being arrested.The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office made the traffic stop in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 4, on Hwy. 123.
The Toccoa Record

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Toccoa’s budget showing positive mid-year totals

News Staff
Thursday, January 15, 2026
BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD    Halfway through the current fiscal year, all five City of Toccoa’s financial funds show positive totals, city financial director Becky Bohannon told commissioners Monday afternoon.
Toccoa city manager Fredda Wheeler was reappointed to the role during the Toccoa City Commission's meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

Toccoa city manager Fredda Wheeler was reappointed to the role during the Toccoa City Commission's meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

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Wheeler reappointed as city manager

News Staff
Thursday, January 15, 2026
BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD   City commissioners on Monday approved appointments to three positions for 2026.    Fredda Wheeler as city manager, Beth Rider as city clerk and Paul Garrison as city chaplain were each unanimously approved to their respective positions.
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Toccoa police arrest gang member

News Staff
Thursday, January 15, 2026
FROM STAFF REPORTSThe Toccoa Police Department assisted the GBI ARDEO Drug Task Force in the arrest of Nicholas Alexander this week on a confirmed felony probation warrant issued out of Baldwin County.