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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

Bypass residential development underway

  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.

    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.

Ritz Concert Postponed

   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.

Simmons approved as county chair for 2025

   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.

SCH students compete at FFA convetion

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.
Bruce Carlisle

Bruce Carlisle

Toccoa names Carlisle as police chief

   Stephens County’s elections director Bruce Carlisle is moving over to Toccoa City Hall and putting on a law enforcement uniform again.    Carlisle was chosen to be the city’s next chief of police two months after the resignation of former Toccoa police chief Jimmy Mize in September.
The City of Toccoa Fire Department is proposing fines for multiple false alarm responses within a year's time frame.

The City of Toccoa Fire Department is proposing fines for multiple false alarm responses within a year's time frame.

False alarm ordinance proposed by fire department

   The City of Toccoa’s Fire D epartment is having an issue with false alarms. And, in the case of the boy who cried wolf, that can lead to some dangerous situations, according to leaders at the fire department.
Andrew Clyde

Andrew Clyde

Clyde and Cash compete for House representation

   Tomorrow, Nov. 5, 2024, is election day.    CNI recently interviewed the two candidates competing for U.S. House of Representatives District 9; Republican incumbent Andrew Clyde, and Democratic challenger Tambrei Cash. By Lang Story and J.
The Toccoa Record

The Toccoa Record

A night of celebration

Julie Paysen – President Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce October 2024 As mentioned in our press release, The Chamber Awards 2024 was an evening spent celebrating our community. The night was full of smiles, laughter, sweet stories, memories and even a few tears were shed.
Senior Carson Stowe sliding into third during the first game in the Hart double header last week.

Senior Carson Stowe sliding into third during the first game in the Hart double header last week.

The Lady Indians Softball Team Competes in the Sweet 16 Games

The Lady Indians advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the state playoffs after winning their first round in a doubleheader with Hart County on Wednesday, Oct. 16.  The first game was a close 7-6 win, but the second game was a 16-0 shut out by the Lady Indians. On Tuesday, Oct.