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Flooding is possible through Thursday, May 21, 2020, according to the National Weather Service.

Flooding is possible through Thursday, May 21, 2020, according to the National Weather Service.

Thunderstorms forecasted through Thursday

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts thunderstorms in northeast Georgia through Thursday, May 21, with possibilities of flooding.
Voters can drop their absentee ballots into this receptacle located in front of the government building on Alexander Street.

Voters can drop their absentee ballots into this receptacle located in front of the government building on Alexander Street.

Early primary voting begins Monday

    The early voting period for the June 9 primary races will begin Monday, May 18.     Stephens County Chief Registrar Eureka Gober said voting machines are ready to go for in-person voting upstairs in the historic courthouse in downtown Toccoa.
Stephens County High School graduate Allyson Lawrence Carter works at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Stephens County High School graduate Allyson Lawrence Carter works at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Nurse speaks about experience in healthcare

    A former Toccoan and a graduate of Stephens County High School has been working on the  front lines of the war on the coronavirus.     Allyson Lawrence Carter lives in the Cornelia area and works in the  COVID-19 intensive care unit at Northeast Georgia Hospital in Gainesville.
Graci Parks.

Graci Parks.

Toccoa 15-year-old reported missing

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has reported that a 15-year-old Toccoa girl is missing. Graci Parks is 5 ft., 6 in. tall, weighs 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
A group of paddlers start a trip down the Tugaloo River Water Trail. This is near the river’s confluence with Panther Creek.

A group of paddlers start a trip down the Tugaloo River Water Trail. This is near the river’s confluence with Panther Creek.

COVID pandemic cancels Memorial Day river paddle.

     COVID-19 has slowed the Tugaloo River Water Trail down, but that’s all it’s done.     While the annual Memorial Day paddle has been canceled due to the large number of paddlers that usually come to the event, smaller paddles are being scheduled.
Keeping everything shuttered too long will mean people skip meals, lose homes, go without medications, sink into depression, and worse.

Keeping everything shuttered too long will mean people skip meals, lose homes, go without medications, sink into depression, and worse.

Public health or the economy? People or profits?

By Kyle Wingfield    You probably have seen them pitted against one another often during the past couple of months: public health vs. the economy.     There’s a great deal at stake.
Businesses across the Peach State must continue to operate with strict social distancing.

Businesses across the Peach State must continue to operate with strict social distancing.

Governor clarifies business reopening

Today Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Executive Order 4.30.20.01 and issued the following statement: "Tonight at 11:59 PM, the statewide shelter in place order for most Georgians will expire. However, moving forward, I am urging Georgians to continue to stay home whenever possible.
Stephens County had 73 positive COVID-19 cases for a rate of 280.9 cases per 100,000 residents.

Stephens County had 73 positive COVID-19 cases for a rate of 280.9 cases per 100,000 residents.

Stephens County has higher virus rate than larger counties

By Tom Law The Toccoa Record     Stephens County has a higher rate of positive COVID-19 cases than the mostly highly populated county in Georgia. According to the state Department of Health, as of Tuesday, Stephens County had 73 positive COVID-19 cases for a rate of 280.