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McKenzie Coan shows off the gold medal she won Sunday in the 400 meter freestyle event of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

McKenzie Coan shows off the gold medal she won Sunday in the 400 meter freestyle event of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Coan gets the gold

News Staff
Thursday, September 2, 2021
By Tom Law The Toccoa Record McKenzie Coan, the Paralympics swimmer from Clarkesville with the big fan following in Toccoa, won another swimming gold medal on Sunday in Tokyo. McKenzie, the daughter of Dr.
The 2021 Senior 4-H Project Achievement winners representing Stephens County 4-H at the state competition and 4-H State Congress, were (from left) Susan Yearwood, Stephens County 4-H Youth Development Agent; Chaley Hayes, food for fitness project third place; Hanna Bell, food safety and preservation third place; Sarah Isaac, public speaking project, second place; Janet Dye, Stephens County 4-H Volunteer Leader. At rear are Jackson Moore, housing project first place and a new Master 4-H’er; & Carter Hewitt.

The 2021 Senior 4-H Project Achievement winners representing Stephens County 4-H at the state competition and 4-H State Congress, were (from left) Susan Yearwood, Stephens County 4-H Youth Development Agent; Chaley Hayes, food for fitness project third place; Hanna Bell, food safety and preservation third place; Sarah Isaac, public speaking project, second place; Janet Dye, Stephens County 4-H Volunteer Leader. At rear are Jackson Moore, housing project first place and a new Master 4-H’er; & Carter Hewitt.

4-H holds weeklong competition

News Staff
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Georgia 4-H hosted the 78th annual State 4-H Congress, a weeklong competition and celebration in Atlanta on July 20-23. During the congress, some 250 youths competed at the state level of Georgia 4-H’s Project Achievement contest.
This is an example of one of the properties the Stephens County Marshal's Office is working to clean up.

This is an example of one of the properties the Stephens County Marshal's Office is working to clean up.

Marshals shore up Shorewood

J. Todd Truelove
Thursday, August 19, 2021
    The Shorewood neighborhood on Lake Hartwell is looking much better than it did when Marilyn Bathen and her husband moved there 15 years ago.
8,184 Stephens Countians have received both doses of the vaccine and are fully protected against the virus.

8,184 Stephens Countians have received both doses of the vaccine and are fully protected against the virus.

Vaccinations climb upward

News Staff
Monday, August 9, 2021
By Tom Law The Toccoa Record     The number of Stephens County residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine ticked above the 17,000 mark this week.
Pictured are Stephens County agriculture teacher Brad Dalton (left) and new cannery supervisor Richard Johnson.

Pictured are Stephens County agriculture teacher Brad Dalton (left) and new cannery supervisor Richard Johnson.

Cannery open on weekdays

J. Todd Truelove
Thursday, August 5, 2021
    There's a new face at the Stephens County cannery in Eastanollee.     Richard Johnson, who said he has worked as the meat manager and store manager for 20 years at Publix, is the new cannery supervisor.
Help wanted advertisements have been featured prominently in newspapers.

Help wanted advertisements have been featured prominently in newspapers.

Unemployment on the rise

News Staff
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
By Tom Law     Even with job openings in abundance, Stephens County’s unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent in June, up from 4.6 percent in May.
McKenzie Coan.

McKenzie Coan.

Coan memoir to be published

News Staff
Monday, August 2, 2021
    Breaking Free – Shattering Expectations and Thriving with Ambition in Pursuit of Gold, a memoir by three-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist and world record holder McKenzie Coan, will be published by CG Sports Publishing on Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Brian Pulliam and Wyatt Turner show off one of the school systems new buses that will be put to use when school opens next week.

Brian Pulliam and Wyatt Turner show off one of the school systems new buses that will be put to use when school opens next week.

School fleet adds seven new buses

J. Todd Truelove
Friday, July 30, 2021
    School bus operations will remain the same as last year the start of the 2021-2022 school year next week, said school transportation director Dale Meeks.     "Everything is basically the same as it was last year," said Meeks.
Dr. Jim Wade.

Dr. Jim Wade.

Local doctor encourages vaccination

News Staff
Thursday, July 29, 2021
I have been distressed to see the plethora of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and myths on the internet and now in letters to the editor, which have contributed to an unacceptably low vaccination rate locally and across the country.     As of July 26, only 34.
Students and parents are invited to come to the school they will be attending this year to gain familiarity.

Students and parents are invited to come to the school they will be attending this year to gain familiarity.

Schools schedule open house

J. Todd Truelove
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
    The Stephens County School System is gearing up for the 2021-2022 school year.     Students return to classes on Tuesday, Aug. 3 with new teacher orientation scheduled next week on Monday, July 26, and pre-planing July 27 through Aug. 2.     Pre-kindergarten classes will begin on Monday, Aug.