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New facility coming to Tugaloo Bend.

New facility coming to Tugaloo Bend.

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Discovery Center coming to Tugalo Bend.

News Staff
Thursday, March 13, 2025
By Michael O'HearnEditorA dream to provide a multi-purpose facility to the community 25 years in the making is on its way to becoming a reality at Tugaloo Bend.
City of Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish

City of Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish

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Homeless Huddle

J. Todd Truelove
Thursday, March 6, 2025
  A shelter for the homeless doesn’t appear to be in the cards for Stephens County.   That’s because the likelihood that having such a structure would exacerbate the situation, said one Toccoa resident at last week’s forum on the issue of homelessness.
Richard Johnson working on canning at the Eastanollee Cannery.

Richard Johnson working on canning at the Eastanollee Cannery.

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Cannery halts retail sales temporarily

News Staff
Thursday, February 20, 2025
The Eastanollee Cannery cannot sell its retail, at least temporarily.The Georgia Department of Agriculture sent an inspector to the cannery on Feb. 6. During the visit, the inspector asked cannery supervisor Richard Johnson if he possessed a retail license.
JROTC senior instructor LTC (Ret) David Priatko presented a $21,250 check to his West Point classmate and Gary Sinise Foundation board member Col. (Ret) Greg Gadson at the SCHS African American History Program.

JROTC senior instructor LTC (Ret) David Priatko presented a $21,250 check to his West Point classmate and Gary Sinise Foundation board member Col. (Ret) Greg Gadson at the SCHS African American History Program.

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JROTC presents check to Sinise Foundation

News Staff
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Stephens County High School Army JROTC senior instructor LTC (Ret) David Priatko presented a $21,250 check to his West Point classmate and Gary Sinise Foundation board member Col. (Ret) Greg Gadson at the SCHS African American History Program.
Jack WIlhoit (left) and Claudia Markham are Stephens County High School's STAR student and teacher.

Jack WIlhoit (left) and Claudia Markham are Stephens County High School's STAR student and teacher.

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Chamber names Wilhoit STAR student; Markham STAR teacher

J. Todd Truelove
Friday, January 24, 2025
   Jack Murray Wilhoit is the Stephens County High School 2025 STAR Student.   Wilhoit selected Claudia Markham, who taught him in 3rd and 4th grade at Toccoa Elementary School, as his STAR teacher.   The announcement was made Tuesday, Jan.
Plans for a new residential development on the Toccoa Bypass began Jan. 15 in a groundbreaking for Heritage Rise. Pictured, left to right, are Nila & Kailash Mittal; Rusty Haygood, DCA Deputy Commissioner; Megan Arrowood; Jeremy Arrowood; Ashely Hill, General Contractor Cloverleaf Construction; Christian Hamilton, County Administrator; Tara Simmon, Stephens County Commission Chair; Chuck Wright, Stephens County Commissioner; Bobby Shah, Karina Shah Dhwani Shah & Angel Shah, Ak New Ventures; Ketan & Komal Ga

Plans for a new residential development on the Toccoa Bypass began Jan. 15 in a groundbreaking for Heritage Rise. Pictured, left to right, are Nila & Kailash Mittal; Rusty Haygood, DCA Deputy Commissioner; Megan Arrowood; Jeremy Arrowood; Ashely Hill, General Contractor Cloverleaf Construction; Christian Hamilton, County Administrator; Tara Simmon, Stephens County Commission Chair; Chuck Wright, Stephens County Commissioner; Bobby Shah, Karina Shah Dhwani Shah & Angel Shah, Ak New Ventures; Ketan & Komal Ga

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Bypass residential development underway

J. Todd Truelove
Thursday, January 23, 2025
  A new residential development launched last week on the Toccoa Bypass.   The development, Heritage Rise, is planned for 90 housing units in three multifamily structures complemented by a clubhouse.
State legislators recently previewed the upcoming 2025 legislation session. Pictured are: Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Chair Lisa Lawson, Chamber vice-chair Cassandra Wilkins, Chamber executive board member Anne Shurley, Rep. Chris Erwin, Sen. Bo Hatchett, sponsors Letha and Rick Phillips, Chamber president Julie Paysen, and Chamber board of directors member Van Loskoski. Photo courtsey of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

State legislators recently previewed the upcoming 2025 legislation session. Pictured are: Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Chair Lisa Lawson, Chamber vice-chair Cassandra Wilkins, Chamber executive board member Anne Shurley, Rep. Chris Erwin, Sen. Bo Hatchett, sponsors Letha and Rick Phillips, Chamber president Julie Paysen, and Chamber board of directors member Van Loskoski. Photo courtsey of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

State legislators preview upcoming 2025 session.

News Staff
Friday, January 17, 2025
    School safety, literacy, and healthcare are among a variety of topics the state legislature will be looking at during the 2025 legislative session. Those topics were the focus of what Rep. Chris Erwin and Sen. Bo Hatchett said on Jan. 8 during a pre-legislation presentation at the Currahee Club.
Since 1939, The Ritz Theatre has stood at the corner of Doyle and Broad Streets.

Since 1939, The Ritz Theatre has stood at the corner of Doyle and Broad Streets.

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Ritz Concert Postponed

News Staff
Friday, December 27, 2024
   A free concert that was scheduled to be held at Toccoa's Ritz Theater has been delayed by several days.  The concert features the Sedici String Quartet and was being held in honor of the theater's 85th anniversary.   Originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec.
Tara Simmons was elected this month as the chair for the 2025 Stephens County Board of Commissioners.

Tara Simmons was elected this month as the chair for the 2025 Stephens County Board of Commissioners.

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Simmons approved as county chair for 2025

News Staff
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
   Stephens County commissioners chose Tuesday, Dec. 10, to continue with this year’s chair and vice chair for 2025.  That’s chairwoman Tara Simmons and vice chairman Chris Rickman.  Along with those the board selected members to serve on various boards.
The Stephens County Future Farmers of America compete in Indianpolis in October. Teeghan Jameson, center, was a National Proficiency Award finalist and won the nation title in Environmental Natural Resource Management. On the left is Gran Norfleet, National FFA Secretary.

The Stephens County Future Farmers of America compete in Indianpolis in October. Teeghan Jameson, center, was a National Proficiency Award finalist and won the nation title in Environmental Natural Resource Management. On the left is Gran Norfleet, National FFA Secretary.

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SCH students compete at FFA convetion

News Staff
Friday, December 6, 2024
By April JAmes Stephens County School System Student members of the Stephens County High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter recently competed in the 97th Annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Oct. 23-25.