In attendance at last week’s post-legislative session event were, from left to right, Chamber board member and WNEG manager Phil Hobbs, Stephens County Hospital CEO Van Loskoski, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber president Julie Paysen, Rep. Chris Erwin, Sen. Bo Hatchett, Chamber of Commerce board chair Cassandra Wilkins, Chamber board member and Toccoa Chick-Fil-A owner Tyler Pischke, and Stephens County Planning Commission member Cody Cobb.
Local
News Staff
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD Affordability, childhood literacy, and elections were the top three issues discussed by state lawmakers at a post-legislative session event in Stephens County last week.The 2026 Georgia General Assembly legislative session ended on April 2, and state Sen.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Two running for BOE District 2, Post 2 seat
News Staff
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Two positions on the school board are contested in the May 19 primaries. This week is the race for District 2, Post 2 seat held by Rod Moore. Moore is running for reelection and faces challenger Cyndie Hunt on the the Republican primary ballot.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Stephens County High School hosted its annual Special Olympics on Friday, April 10. The event welcomed students with special needs from the area to compete in games at The Reservation.
High school hosts Special Olympics
News Staff
Friday, April 17, 2026
Chamber hosting candidates forum Monday night
News Staff
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidates forum on Monday night, April 20, a week before early voting begins on April 27.The forum will be held at the Tugaloo Center of Stephens County High School at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2026
County residents may have fewer accessory structure road blocks
News Staff
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Stephens County residents may soon find fewer road blocks if they want to place an accessory structure in their front yard. That’s due to proposed changes in the county’s land use plan.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Olivia Adams, owner of Magic Oven in downtown Toccoa, presents a petition to the City of Toccoa asking them to reinstate the Ida Cox summer concert series in full.
Toccoa backpedals on reducing Ida Cox concerts
News Staff
BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD City commissioners at their meeting Monday ordered staff to find entertainment acts for two Saturdays in June and three in July in order to offer a full schedule of Ida Cox Series summer concerts downtown.
Friday, April 17, 2026
County commission OKs moratorium on data centers
News Staff
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is getting a new Criminal Investigations Division building this year. On Tuesday night, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the lowest of three bids they received for the project.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Sheriff’s office to get new building
News Staff
BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is getting a new Criminal Investigations Division building this year. On Tuesday night, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the lowest of three bids they received for the project.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Toccoa proposing water, solid waste rate increases
News Staff
BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD The City of Toccoa’s proposed budget for fiscal 2026-2027 doesn’t include a tax increase, but does contain rate hikes in water, wastewater and solid waste.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Two running for BOC Post 5 seat
News Staff
BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Two post seats are being challenged on the Stephens County Board of Commissioners during next month’s May 19 primary elections.
Friday, April 17, 2026
