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The Toccoa Record

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LHOST bill faces loss

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Thursday, June 25, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARN AND TY TAGAMITHE TOCCOA RECORD AND CAPITOL BEAT NEWS SERVICEProperty tax relief for Stephens County residents will have to wait a little longer.A vote on a bill to allow Stephens County residents to let their voices be heard on the new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax failed on...

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City seeks moratorium on data centers

News Staff

Thursday, June 25, 2026

BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD Toccoa will seek a six-month moratorium on any effort to locate a data center within the city limits. That decision was made during a commission work session held Monday at City Hall.

Stacey Simmons, left, and Roy English, right, participated in the Toccoa Elks Lodge's Flag Day ceremony on June 14.

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Woodmen Life holds flag ceremony

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD A new flag is flying at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library thanks to a local insurance company.The flag is significant because of America’s 250th birthday next month.A flag ceremony was held on Friday afternoon, June 12, with Toccoa residents, members of...

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Hospital earns cardiac care center designation

News Staff

Thursday, June 18, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Van Loskoski likes his coffee black. But the CEO of Stephens County Hospital has recently discovered a fondness for lattes thanks to a new coffee shop at the hospital.

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BOE approves school budget

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD The Stephens County School System approved the 2026-2027 budget at Tuesday’s June 16 meeting.

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Simmons secures seat

News Staff

Thursday, June 18, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORDCounty commissioner Tara Simmons will serve another term on the Stephens County Board of Commissioners.She defeated former county commissioner Dennis Bell in the Post 1 seat runoff race on Tuesday.This was the only local runoff in Stephens County amid a list of...

As temperatures climbed into the 90s late last week, city residents went to the pool on Doyle Street to cool down. Among them was Chris Lalumia, seen here tossing his son, Ryatt, into the pool.

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Beating the heat

News Staff

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Sherry Beavers, executive director of the Open Arms Clinic in Toccoa, was the winner of the Georgia Charitable Care Network's Champion Award.

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Beavers wins statewide award

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Thursday, June 11, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Open Arms Executive Director Sherry Beavers was recently recognized for her effort supporting the clinic that serves the underrepresented and uninsured in Stephens County.

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Early voting in runoff races concludes tomorrow

News Staff

Thursday, June 11, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD Early voting for the June 16 runoff races concludes tomorrow, with one local election on the ballot.Incumbent county commissioner Tara Simmons came short of getting enough votes to avoid a runoff race with former county commissioner Dennis Bell last month.

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City discusses LHOST sales tax

News Staff

Thursday, June 11, 2026

BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD The City of Toccoa will seek special legislation from the Georgia General Assembly to stage a November referendum for implementing an extra penny of sales tax that could be used to fund property tax relief for residents who qualify for homestead exemptions.The city...