Justice: what it is and isn’t

Recent events in our country have put justice on my mind. I want to look at justice without judgment. According to Merriam-Webster, justice means—”the process or result of using laws to fairly judge cases, redress wrongs, and punish crimes.

Election season is a time to get facts

Time to get the facts.Well, 2026 has arrived. As we look at the things that are on the calendar this year, one of the most significant is the midterm election, scheduled in May.Today, our president is Donald John Trump.

Save Okefenokee and create a forever legacy

On Jan. 12, the 2026 Georgia General Assembly will be gaveled into session. The optimist in me wants to encourage the Gold Dome leadership to use those 40 days to solve—once and for all—the protected future of the Okefenokee Swamp.Now is the time to stop stalling and do something.

Chamber of Commerce has a prosperous 2025

Among the more than 7,000 chambers of commerce across the United States, the Toccoa–Stephens County Chamber of Commerce is one of only 100 to earn the prestigious 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—an achievement we are proud to hold on behalf of our community.

Remembering the Toccoa Falls dam break of 1977

“This is a story that will never have an ending.”Rosalynn Carter, on the Toccoa Falls tragedy   Forty-eight years ago today, the red clay Kelly Barnes Dam in Toccoa collapsed. It launched 176 million gallons of water over the 186-foot drop of Toccoa Falls.

A history of Chambers of Commerce

What is the history of the Chamber of Commerce? Chambers of Commerce have been a driving force in the business community for quite a long time. The first Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1599 in Marseille, France. The first U.S. Chamber of Commerce was founded in New York City in 1768. The U.S.

Property taxes going up in Stephens

Without question property taxes in Stephens County have risen. Annual increases in rates. Incorporated, unincorporated. City, county, school. Property value reassessments. State mandates. Georgia House Bill 581, Ga House Bill 92-revisions. County opts in. School board opts out.

Toccoa should be thankful to Sen. Ossoff

The citizens of Georgia, Stephens County, and Toccoa should be aware of and thankful to our senator, Jon Ossoff, for the hard work he has done to improve the lives of all Georgians. He definitely is aware of and cares about the needs of all his constituents who live in both cities and rural areas.

Kicking things off with great momentum

By Julie PaysenToccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce PresidentWe are kicking off a new fiscal year at your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce. We are proud to say we’re looking forward to the year ahead with a strong Board of Directors leading the way.

A night of celebration

Julie Paysen – President Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce October 2024 As mentioned in our press release, The Chamber Awards 2024 was an evening spent celebrating our community. The night was full of smiles, laughter, sweet stories, memories and even a few tears were shed.