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Georgia Farm Bureau president Gerald Long (right) congratulates Stephens County Farm Bureau president Mark Wilkinson on the county Farm Bureau’s being named a finalist for the McKemie Award.

Georgia Farm Bureau president Gerald Long (right) congratulates Stephens County Farm Bureau president Mark Wilkinson on the county Farm Bureau’s being named a finalist for the McKemie Award.

Stephens County Farm Bureau finalist for award

News Staff
Friday, January 3, 2020
    Stephens County Farm Bureau (SCFB) was recognized as one of the top county Farm Bureau programs in the state during the organization’s 82nd annual convention held on Jekyll Island Dec. 8-10.
Pictured are (kneeling) Diana Prather and Jody Prather. Standing at rear are Anne Shurley, Jeremy Spradlin, Angie Ramage, Michelle Ivester (Stephens County Commissioner), Lloyd Fox, Jeannie Fox and Lindy Harrell. Not pictured are Kelly Vickers, Dave Jalovick, and Patricia McGarvey.

Pictured are (kneeling) Diana Prather and Jody Prather. Standing at rear are Anne Shurley, Jeremy Spradlin, Angie Ramage, Michelle Ivester (Stephens County Commissioner), Lloyd Fox, Jeannie Fox and Lindy Harrell. Not pictured are Kelly Vickers, Dave Jalovick, and Patricia McGarvey.

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Georgia Power donation improves water trail

News Staff
Friday, December 27, 2019
    Christmas came early for the Tugaloo River Water Trail, which is a part of the Stephens County Foundation.      The Georgia Power Company made a $1,000 donation that will be used for water trail maps and signage placed in kiosks at all three of the current river access points.
Benn Keith and Dustin Keeling of Savage Innovations.

Benn Keith and Dustin Keeling of Savage Innovations.

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A season of giving

Toccoa Editor
Thursday, December 26, 2019
The crisp new $100 bill arrived in the mail a few days ago with the only instruction being that I “bless someone in the community” with the money.     And, I knew the young men at Savage Innovations, Ben Keith and Dustin Keeling, were at work once again.
Stephens County government is applying for funds from the state for roads.

Stephens County government is applying for funds from the state for roads.

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County applying for road grant

J. Todd Truelove
Monday, December 23, 2019
    Meadowbrook Drive and Davis Road may be getting some road work next year.     The Stephens County government is requesting $660,000 in funds through the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG).
NGTC president Dr. Mark Ivester (left) and employee of the year Michael Boyd (right).

NGTC president Dr. Mark Ivester (left) and employee of the year Michael Boyd (right).

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Boyd NGTC Employee of the Year

News Staff
Friday, December 20, 2019
    Michael Boyd of Toccoa, facilities director at North Georgia Technical College, was named the 2019 NGTC Employee of the Year recently.     NGTC president Dr. Mark Ivester presented the 2019 Employee of the Year award during the school’s annual dinner and awards ceremony.
Pictured are (from left) Jon Heffer, PTL president and CEO; Jamie Whitfield, sheet metal technician and 2019 Employee of the Year; and John Buchanan, PTL production manager and the 2018 PTL Employee of the Year.

Pictured are (from left) Jon Heffer, PTL president and CEO; Jamie Whitfield, sheet metal technician and 2019 Employee of the Year; and John Buchanan, PTL production manager and the 2018 PTL Employee of the Year.

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Whitfield is PTL's Employee of the Year

News Staff
Thursday, December 19, 2019
    Jamie Whitfield of Toccoa was named the 2019 PTL Equipment Employee of the Year at the Company’s Christmas party on Friday, Dec. 13.      PTL president Jon Heffer and the 2018 Employee of the Year award recipient John Buchanan, presented the award to Whitfield.
This marijuana and a handgun were seized by Toccoa police after a routine traffic stop last weekend.

This marijuana and a handgun were seized by Toccoa police after a routine traffic stop last weekend.

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Police arrest six on drug charges

J. Todd Truelove
Friday, December 13, 2019
    The Toccoa Police Department reported numerous drug arrests were made last weekend in a series of unrelated cases.     One of the arrests was made when officers pulled over a Jeep Cherokee due to some of the lights on the vehicle being out.
The Carnes Creek VFD tree in the foreground was the top vote-getter in this year’s Festival of Trees. Note the fire extinguisher used as a tree ornament.

The Carnes Creek VFD tree in the foreground was the top vote-getter in this year’s Festival of Trees. Note the fire extinguisher used as a tree ornament.

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City names winner of Festival of Trees

News Staff
Friday, December 13, 2019
    The 12th annual Festival of Trees was held Dec. 6-7 in the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.     Ten trees were on display receiving a total of more than 900 total votes.     For $1, visitors were able to vote for their favorite tree.
These are some of the more than 1,000 shoeboxes packed by Grace Fellowship church as part of Operation Christmas Child.

These are some of the more than 1,000 shoeboxes packed by Grace Fellowship church as part of Operation Christmas Child.

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Grace Fellowship leads 2019 Operation Christmas Child

News Staff
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
    Grace Fellowship, located on Alewine Drive in Toccoa, led the local church response to the 2019 Operation Christmas Child campaign.     Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse which sends shoeboxes stuffed with gift items to children in more than 130 countries worldwide.