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Chamber announces two STAR students

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that two students have been named this year as its PAGE STAR students.

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BOE picks chair, vice chair

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD The Stephens County Board of Education on Tuesday appointed its chair and vice chair and decided for the time being to put aside a proposed attendance policy.. The board appointed Tripp Arrowood as chair and Wendy Dawkins as vice chair.

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Grand jury hands down flurry of indictments

News Staff

Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Indictments recently released by a Stephens County Grand Jury include cases of burglary, an escape, a DUI with injuries and other incidents.These are in addition to indictments that included drugs and counts of violence.A suspect whose indictment contained the...

Trinity CME Church Elder Charles Thompson leads the congregation at a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, in song and worship.

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Community honors MLK Day

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD Individuals need to look internally at problems or habits that hold Stephens County back from reaching its full potential, Martin Luther King Day speaker A.J. Howard said Monday.He was the primary speaker at the MLK Day Inter-Faith Service held at Trinity CME Church on...

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Grant named Library Employee of the Year

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORD A Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library employee has earned a state award this month.Shantelle Grant, regional children and youth services director with the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System, has been named Library Employee of the Year by the Georgia...

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E-SPLOST vote coming in May

News Staff

Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY J. TODD TRUELOVETHE TOCCOA RECORD Stephens County School System has had its Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in place since 1998 and this May will be asking for voters’ approval to renew it.On Tuesday, the board of education approved a SPLOST referendum, asking voters if they will allow...

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Stepping down

News Staff

Thursday, January 22, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORDToccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen is resigning, effective at the end of June.On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Chamber board chair Cassandra Wilkins made the announcement that Paysen is stepping down as of June 30.“After much prayer and...

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Traffic stop turns into three drug arrests

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Thursday, January 15, 2026

BY MICHAEL O’HEARNTHE TOCCOA RECORDA damaged equipment traffic stop near Broken Bridges last week turned into finding illegal narcotics and three individuals being arrested.The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office made the traffic stop in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 4, on Hwy. 123.Elizabeth...

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Toccoa’s budget showing positive mid-year totals

News Staff

Thursday, January 15, 2026

BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD Halfway through the current fiscal year, all five City of Toccoa’s financial funds show positive totals, city financial director Becky Bohannon told commissioners Monday afternoon.

Toccoa city manager Fredda Wheeler was reappointed to the role during the Toccoa City Commission's meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

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Wheeler reappointed as city manager

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Thursday, January 15, 2026

BY TOM LAWTHE TOCCOA RECORD City commissioners on Monday approved appointments to three positions for 2026. Fredda Wheeler as city manager, Beth Rider as city clerk and Paul Garrison as city chaplain were each unanimously approved to their respective positions.