Thirteen counties gather in Stephens County.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center Board of Directors met Thursday at the Currahee Club. The RDC as it is known covers thirteen counties in northeast Georgia from Blairsville to Toccoa and Lavonia.

At the dinner meeting, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Mike Beatty spoke to the audience.

He said the DCA wants to work with regions and communities to develop local economies throughout Georgia.

Beatty said leadership and infrastructure remain important. However, he emphasized the need to have a fully trained workforce ready, willing, and able.

“We have to be sure that our young folks and folks like me have the right work skills to take advantage of that,” said Beatty. “We are really working with the Technical Colleges and local school boards to make sure that happens.”

As part of his visit, Beatty visited downtown Toccoa Thursday afternoon with city officials, including Mayor Andy Pavliscsak.

“We strolled all over Doyle Street and showed him the project and the work that has been completed,” said the mayor. “He was just super impressed with everything and DCA has been so important in helping us renovate that downtown and making sure everything we needed was there.”

Beatty confirmed what Mayor Pavliscsak says, calling the progress in downtown Toccoa “astounding.”

“I am in Atlanta in my office of course, but I get to travel,” he said. “It is so important to me to come out and look at the great progress different communities are making, so I was very impressed with it.”

The City of Toccoa and Stephens County co-hosted the RDC meeting. Stephens County Commissioners’ Chairman Kenneth Peeples welcomed the attendees, along with Mayor Pavliscsak and Vice-Mayor Ron Seib.

Stephens County Administrator John Rutan said the county enjoyed co-hosting the event.

“It was great,” said Rutan. “It was very informative. It is great to work the RDC’s and we look forward to a long, productive relationship with them that has many benefits for the county and the region.”

Other than Beatty’s appearance, the board received its monthly reports and heard a preservation from the RDC’s Historic Preservation Planner, Chip Wright. Wright spoke of the importance of historic preservation to planning and downtown development. He used Toccoa as an example of successful historic preservation.

The RDC will meet in Habersham County next month.

Stephens County voters wanting to cast ballots before Tuesday must go to the Registrar’s Office.

Early voting concludes today at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office. The office will conduct voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, according to Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley.

Kelley went on to say that her office is the only location in Stephens County for early voting.

“The only place that we have for early voting is at the government building or the courthouse, some people call it the courthouse,” said Kelley. “We are in the basement, across the hall from car tags. That is the only place that you can do early voting at this point in time.”

Many have already cast their ballots early. Kelley said over 5000 people have voted early or turned in a paper absentee ballot. That makes the current turnout 37.5 percent.

Kelley said despite the heavy turnout, things have gone well.

“People are not waiting in line long,” said Kelley. “You might have to wait maybe five or ten minutes. However, when you come in, you are going to check in, show your photo ID, and you are going to fill out your certificates so that you can vote. We are going to mark you in the books. You are going to get your voter access card to the machines and you might have to wait just a couple of minutes to get a machine. We have got eight machines going and they are staying full all day long.”

Kelley reminded people coming to vote that a valid photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport, is required.

If a voter forgets their ID and cannot return, or another problem comes up during the process, Kelley said measures are in place to ensure voters get a chance to cast their ballots.

“At that point in time, we will let them do what is called a provisional ballot, which is a paper ballot and I will do the investigating and get back to them and let them know,” explained Kelley. “I do not want anybody to not think they voted. We will investigate everything and make sure they at least get that right to vote.”

Today is also the last day to request absentee paper ballots. That request must be in by 5 p.m. today and the ballot must go out today in the mail. Paper absentee ballots must be returned to the Registrar’s Office by the close of business on Election Day.

For more information on voting, call the Stephens County Registrar’s Office at 706-886-8954.

One of the new races people are voting for is Post Five on the Stephens County Board of Commissioners.

Post Five is one of the two new posts. Running for the seat are two candidates, Dean Scarborough and Kathleen Jordan.

At WNEG’s recent candidate forum, both Scarborough and Jordan talked about a number of issues.

One of the foremost was, as it was with all of the previous candidates, economic development.

Jordan said she believes the high millage rate causes businesses to look elsewhere.

“This is an impact to any business, whether it is small or large,” said Jordan. “Any business that has to get tags for their vehicles, every business that has to pay personal property tax at the end of the year is affected. When we have a very high millage rate, we have watched, year after year, new growth going to the next county. We have to get a handle on this.”

She also called for a need for strong leadership and communication, and a solution to the blight issue.

Meanwhile, Scarborough said economic development takes both a plan and heavy promotion.

Furthermore, Scarborough said existing business hold a key to continued growth.

“We need to do everything we possibly can to support our existing businesses and industries,” said Scarborough. “If it is retail, we can have a ‘shop at home’ program. If it is our local industry, we should do anything we can, whatever they might need that the county could possibly do, a curb cut, something we could help with regarding Georgia Power or Hart EMC. We should do any of these issues that we could help local business with.”

Regarding the recent tax increase by Stephens County Commissioners, Scarborough called it a “tough decision,” while Jordan said it would have been an easy one for her as she said she did not agree with it at all.

Do not forget. Tune in Tuesday night beginning at 7 p.m. for live election coverage right here on AM 630 WNEG and online at wnegradio.com.

This weekend the streets of Downtown Toccoa will come alive with the sounds of kids’ laughter, the sites of handcrafted art, and the irresistible smell of funnel cakes.

The annual Toccoa Harvest Festival is Saturday and Sunday in Downtown Toccoa.

Toccoa Main Street Coordinator Sharon Crosby said the variety of crafts give visitors much to admire.

“Vendors who have been there for many years will be back again as well with some crocheted things and some quilts,” said Crosby. “I believe we have one or two that are doing wood turning, which is beautiful. Their products are just amazing, like the bowls they make. There is just a lot to see.”

The event offers fun for the whole family and includes activities for kids both big and small. There will be a climbing wall and “choo-choo” train, as well as bounce houses.

Several different kinds of entertainment will take place on the stage at Sage Street and Crosby said there is even a free activity.

“We also have free buggy rides with a mule and a wagon,” she said. “Jimmy Mathis has been here for many years and everyone just enjoys him. He is quite a storyteller.”

And of course, no festival would be complete without food. Crosby said the dining options will be wide and plentiful.

“A lot of good food will be there,” exclaimed Crosby. “I think that is one of the favorites of everyone. Of course, for any festival you have to have funnel cake. We will have some funnel cake vendors. We will also have corn dogs and some of your traditional festival foods. However, we will also have some Thai food and some Greek food. There is just going to be a wide variety.”

The Harvest Festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

AM 630 WNEG will broadcast live from the Harvest Festival on Saturday.

Tonight is the night the little ghosts and goblins will hit the streets asking for treats and dreaming up tricks.

And tonight is the night the adults have to be extra careful to keep these little ones safe.

Toccoa Police Chief Jackie Whitmire said having Halloween fall on a Friday makes it a little more dangerous.

“I urge all the citizens in Toccoa to please drive carefully and be aware, watch for children and parents crossing the streets and out trick-or-treating,” said the chief. “Parents, guard your children and make sure they have on some reflective clothing. Stay in well-lit areas and as usual, check the candy and that sort of thing. We are really concerned about the amount of traffic on a Friday night, combined with trick-or-treating.”

Whitmire said he will have extra policemen out watching the roads and neighborhoods.

Toccoa police are still investigating a multi-car accident at the intersection of Collier Road and Highway 145.

It happened around 11 a.m. Thursday morning.

Reports said 3 or 4 cars were involved and several people were taken to the hospital.

We will bring you more information as it becomes available.

It is time to change your clocks.

Early Sunday morning marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. As a result, everyone gets the chance for an extra hour sleep as clocks go back one hour.

State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine advised everyone to turn back the clocks one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

Oxendine said though, people should not stop there. He says this marks a great time to change your smoke detector battery.

“The working smoke detector is your number one defense against a home fire,” he said. “However, it may not be there when you need it if you do not change the batteries twice a year, so please put a fresh battery in that smoke detector.”

Oxendine said though, just doing those two things are not enough.

“Especially if you have kids or grandkids around the house, please do a family fire drill,” he urged. “We would never send our children to a school that did not do fire drills, but children do not die in school fires. They die in home fires.”

Again, remember; turn the clocks back Saturday before going to bed.

A Martin man remains in the Franklin County Detention Center after his arrest during a joint operation in Franklin County.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas, early Wednesday on Watson Road in Franklin County, authorities from both Franklin and Hall counties went searching for a suspected kidnapper, 49-year-old Dwayne Ray Grizzle of Gainesville.

While serving the search warrant, they arrested multiple other people, including 37-year-old Jeff Robert Mosley, whom Thomas said has a Martin address on Watson Road. Watson Road sits near the county line between Stephens and Franklin counties.

He is charged with possession of meth with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to Thomas, Mosley has a criminal history in both Stephens and Franklin counties.

Downtown Toccoa will become the local haunt for area children tomorrow morning.

The Toccoa Main Street Program will once again host the eighteenth annual Main Street Costume Parade tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The parade route lines up at the intersection of Doyle and Alexander streets in Toccoa. It begins at Whiten’s Footwear and continues down Doyle Street to Family Eye Care. The kids will then cross the street and continue to Sage Street.

Toccoa Main Street Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby said there will be a lot going on as part of the parade.

“Many of the merchants and downtown businesses will be dressed up in costume as well and giving treats to the children as they go past,” said Crosby. “Each one of the children will receive a Halloween bag. At the end of it, there will be judging. We have three judges who will judge the costumes, according to creativity and being homemade as much as possible. Then, at the end of it, we will have an awards program and give out prizes to each of the winners.”

Crosby said the event is a highlight for not just parents and children, but downtown businesses as well.

“We look forward to a beautiful day,” said Crosby. “According to the weather, it looks like it will be a pretty day. We are anxious for all of the moms and their kids to come out.”

About 400 children, age 5 and under, are expected to participate in the parade.

Meanwhile, in a related note, the Stephens County High School Varsity Football Team will hold a “trunk-or-treat” in the high school parking lot today from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

A new citizens’ committee will look to keep the fight against litter and blight in Stephens County at the front of people’s minds.

The Citizens’ Advisory Panel was introduced to both Stephens County Commissioners and Toccoa City Commissioners at their joint dinner meeting Monday night.

The committee’s Tim Hale spoke to the boards about the progress made in finding ways to clean up the county.

Hale said litter does more than just serve as an eyesore.

“Clean and beautiful often translates into tourist dollars and small companies saying they want to bring their family here and their employees here and settle down,” said Hale. “So, we are looking and believe strongly that this is the right thing to do for all sorts of reasons and part of it is economic.”

A survey released by Hale showed that over three-quarters of respondents think there is a litter problem and more than half feel more needs to be done.

With many saying a problem exists, the question now becomes how to fix it.

Everyone, including Hale, said people must take the initiative to clean up the county.

“The county and the city cannot do it for us,” said Hale. “It is going to take people saying that they will clean up their front yard.”

City and county commissioners called on Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful to organize the panel. The panel’s job is to raise awareness about litter and blight and recommend actions.

According to Hale, the panel plans to find ways to measure the amount of litter out there, review regulations, track government efforts, and report its findings.

Stephens County Administrator John Rutan said the panel will make recommendations to the city and county for measures to help combat litter and blight.

The panel grew out of a litter initiative group established in September 2007 to provide recommendations on how to defeat litter and blight.

Voters in Stephens County will elect two additional commissioners to the county board this year.

Stephens County’s Board of Commissioners will transition from a three-person board to a five-person board. The two new posts have been labeled Posts Four and Five.

In Post Four, Stanley London and Henry Fields are running to fill the seat.

The two spoke at WNEG’s recent candidate forum. One of the main topics of conversation was economic development.

London said the economy makes it hard right now for an area to attract jobs.

“There are not that many jobs available,” said London. “With a county that has a high millage rate, those are usually the lowest ones on the totem pole to get looked at, so we might need to look at making the situation more attractive to them in order to recruit them.”

Meanwhile, Fields said the county should work with schools and other agencies to help make the county more appealing to employers.

“Work with these people and do what we can to create an atmosphere that will not only bring a business in, but provide workers who can step into the position they need to step into in order to run that business,” said Fields.

The two men also spoke on the budget, with both saying the county must live within its means. Also, both said it is important to continue building more relationships between the county government and the city of Toccoa government, with both men pointing out that city residents are also county residents and the two sides mutually benefit from a number of projects.

The work of local artists will be on display this weekend as the Currahee Arts Festival runs in conjunction with the Toccoa Harvest Festival.

This annual art competition features work from local artists in a wide variety of mediums.

Organizer Debra Hartley said there are nine categories.

“Categories include oil and acrylic, drawing category, mixed media, photography, fine crafts, watercolor, pastels, pottery, and computer-enhanced photography,” said Hartley. “Oil and acrylic is a rather large category. Fine crafts is kind of an umbrella for people who do stained glass, baskets, quilts, and jewelry. Since we do not have many artists who do this sort of craft, we put it together and the judge can pick from that.”

The judge will be John Roberts from Bob Jones University.

The show will run Saturday and Sunday, with the judged art show taking place in the Studio and Frame Shop on Doyle Street and other artwork being displayed on the street.

Hartley said this show is good for local artists because it is for all artists.

“We make it a point to say artists are everybody who wants to participate, so we do not jury ahead of time. If you want to be a part of it, you can be a part of it. We are very encouraging. We really try to help the artists improve and get better.”

Hartley said about 50 artists will be taking part.

Toccoa Police are still investigating two thefts, and charging two people in a third incident.

According the Toccoa Police Department, on October 17, the owner of an exterminating company reported that a black, 12 x 5 utility trailer was taken from behind his business.

Police valued the trailer at $1,000.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate a theft at Prather Park Apartments in Toccoa. Authorities said someone took two air conditioning units and two stoves from two separate apartments.

The items are worth $6,800.

And finally, a Toccoa woman reported a couple had taken a go-cart worth $700 from her yard.

According to police reports, when police responded to the scene, a witness told officers he had seen a man and a woman dragging the go-cart down the side of the road and stashing it behind some duplex apartments.

Police searched the area and found the go-cart.

Authorities said later that evening, the couple the witness had identified, Michael Justin Comeau and Gina May Wells, both of Toccoa, were arrested and charged with theft by taking.

The go-cart was returned to its owner.

One person is taken to Stephens County Hospital after a morning accident on Brookhaven Circle near White Valley Road.

Around 7:30 a.m., Stephens County Sheriff's deputies responded to an accident in which the car was on its side with the driver inside. It appears the car went off the road, hit a ditch and slid on its side until it came to rest against a cedar tree.

Deputies said the woman inside was injured and taken to the hospital.

One Stephens County Commissioner wants the board of commissioners to give up its health insurance to cut the county budget.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Harold Andrews proposed that county commissioners no longer be eligible for health benefits under the category of county employees.

Commissioner Rex Anderson opposed making this move right now.

“I think you need to wait and give the new commission an opportunity to look at this and make a decision on how they want to do this,” said Anderson. “I have no objection to some of these things except that it is all new. You just have presented it this morning as something none of us had been made aware of.”

Andrews said the county must move as fast as it can.

“I do not believe that we have the choice of waiting to curtail and reduce expenses,” said Andrews. “We are in the middle of the toughest times we have run into. I do not think we have the luxury of waiting for the new commission. If the new commission comes in and they so desire to lay expenditures out on the table, then it is the individual vote of the commission to reinstate it.”

Under the Stephens County personnel policy, county commissioners are considered employees and receive access to the same benefits as paid, hired county staff.

Andrews’ proposal would not affect benefits for full-time county staff and employees. He said many commissioners have health insurance access through other means, so it would not be “a big deal.”

Andrews said he feels this would be one of many ways to cut the budget. He also called for a close look at travel expenses for the county and a cut of all non-essential travel.

Commissioners’ Chairman Kenneth Peeples said he would support cutting out the county’s contribution into a retirement fund for commissioners.

Andrews agreed to put the issue aside until the next commissioners’ meeting. Commissioners did instruct county staff to bring information back to the next meeting on how much each of these steps could save in the county budget.

The budget and cutting costs also remains a hot topic on the campaign trail.

It came up at the recent candidate forum between the two candidates for Post Three on the Stephens County Commission.

Democrat Steve Tilley and Republican Jonesy Haygood are squaring off to replace current Commissioner Kenneth Peeples.

Tilley said Stephens County needs to look seriously at the budget and examine every expense closely.

“It is almost like we need to go to a zero-based budgeting, where we start over every year and say what do we need next year,” said Tilley. “It is not that you are going to get $20,000 for this next year. You do not have it next year. You have to prove to me that you need it. So, we go to what is called zero-based budgeting, and build our budget every year.”

Tilley said it may not be possible to do exact zero-based budgeting. However, it is important, he said, to make department heads account for their yearly requests.

Meanwhile, Haygood pointed to past projects like the jail and E-911, where he said proper planning was not done, causing additional expense later.

He said that proper planning would go a long way.

“If we start and plan today for tomorrow, we can make ends meet, but if we wait until tomorrow to plan, then we are in the same situation we are in today,” said Haygood. “So, working with all departments, we must make sure that we understand what is coming.”

As for where certain issues, like blight and animal control, would fall, both candidates pointed to the public. Haygood focused on animal control, while Tilley talked about blight. Both said people need to step up and take responsibility to help solve problems in these areas.

Both candidates also discussed economic development. Haygood said the county commission, Chamber of Commerce, and Development Authority must work together to save existing jobs. Tilley said that is important. He added people must be positive and sell what he calls the county’s biggest asset, people.

The general election is now less than a week away. WNEG will be live Election Night next Tuesday to bring you all the results.

The city of Toccoa is planning for a rainy day, and is concerned the storm clouds are gathering.

In an effort to be prepared for effects of the nation-wide economic crisis, a Toccoa city commissioner has called on city management to create a financial contingency plan.

At the City Commission Meeting Monday, Commissioner Janice English read a prepared statement calling on City Manager Billy Morse to ask the city’s department heads to prepare plans for each department should the city’s revenue fall to unplanned levels.

She pointed to recent news reports about a dip in sales tax at the county level.

“Our revenues are dropping,” said English. “Our expenses are escalating, just like the homefolks. So, we have got to be able to manage and get things on an even balance without having to go borrow money, which I am against, or worse than that, raise the utility and service costs to our citizens.”

English said the world is living in a “history making time” and the city needs to be proactive in planning, rather than be forced to react to shortfalls.

“We would rather have a plan in place, never to have to use it, then to let the tsunami-like economic crisis hit us, and we do not have a plan,” she added.

City Finance Director Emory Stephens argued that across the board cuts are not always possible and that reductions should be prioritized.

“I am not saying that expenses cannot be cut,” said Stephens. “I am not saying the budget cannot be amended. What I do believe is they cannot cut across the board. I do not think it can be cut everywhere. I think there are places where it cannot be cut. If an edict comes down to every department that says you have to cut expenses 10 percent, I do not think that is possible. It may be possible to cut some departments 10 percent and others 20 percent. However, some might not be able to be cut at all. I think we have to prioritize.”

Commissioners agreed to have department heads begin making contingency plans and decided to revisit the topic at their next work session.

Old Man Winter pulls up a chair and sits down in Stephens County.

Stephens County was under a freeze warning from the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg this morning. The freeze warning went into effect at midnight and is scheduled to go through 9 a.m. today.

A freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

According to the report from the National Weather Service, cold air associated with a high pressure system coming in from the west could cause temperatures this morning to drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Franklin, Hart, and Elbert counties in Georgia are also under the freeze warning. Oconee County, South Carolina is as well.

Some areas have already gone below 32 degrees overnight. Therefore, officials with the National Weather Service said a widespread freeze will eliminate the need for future freeze warnings.

Temperatures should warm up nicely later today, getting as high as around 60 degrees.

Toccoa City Commissioners decide to use Hartford Insurance for long-term disability insurance for city employees.

City Manager Billy Morse said the city recently changed the benefit package increasing the amount an employee pays for health insurance, while at the same time, giving employees an additional benefit of long-term disability insurance.

“With the budget preparation for this year, one of the things the city commission wanted staff to look at was benefits,” said Morse. “We looked at all of the benefits and one of the recommendations was that city employees participate in paying more for their health coverage. However, one of the things we felt was necessary that we did not have as a benefit was long-term disability insurance.”

At the meeting, Monday, Commissioners heard from Matt Bidwell of MSI Benefits Company, who suggested the city used Hartford to administer the long-term insurance.

The cost came to less then $10 per employee for a total annual cost of $17,800.

Commissioners approved the recommendation unanimously

Out on Yonah Dam Road Saturday, the Tour de Tugalo will be a tour de force.

For the 6^th year, almost 150 bicyclists will come together to raise money for the Tugalo Corridor. Local cyclist Herbert Cooper will be the Grand Marshal for the event and will start the ride.

Organizer Duane Mahon said riders will ride in both Georgia and South Carolina.

“The ride starts at Yonah Dam Park and it rides along Yonah Dam Road and it rides up into some back roads, crosses over into the Currahee Club, and then up from there, it rides over into South Carolina,” said Mahon.

Riders will have three different course lengths to choose from with the longest being 62 miles.

In addition to the regular ride, Mahon said, there will be a Family Fun ride that is only 5 miles and good for younger riders.

Whichever length participants decide to pedal along, the course promises to be quite scenic.

“The roads all along Yonah Dam Road and River Road in South Carolina are all very flat and very scenic,” he added. “They do go along the river, which used to be a lake, but now it is just the Tugalo River, but it is very beautiful.”

The money raised goes to the Tugalo Corridor Project, which focuses on the preservation of the river corridor from Yonah Dam to the Currahee Club.

Mahon said the ride has gained in popularity over the years so much that a year-round cycling club has been formed.

If you are interested in the Tour de Tugalo or the bicycling club you can call Duane Mahon at 886-8614.

If you would like to participate in the Tour de Tugalo or just cheer on the cyclist, you should be at Yonah Dam Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

For one thief, Sunday is not a day of rest.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Department reported that six residents of Nub Garland Road said that someone broke into their cars early Sunday morning.

Stolen was $550 worth of items including a bottle of prescription medicine, ½ a tank of gas, a 20-gauge shotgun, and two handguns.

The investigation continues.

Meanwhile, a West Currahee Street man reported someone took two guns out of his truck while it was parked in his garage Friday morning.

They were valued at $4500.

Additionally, the thief ransacked the glove box of both his truck and his wife’s car.

That investigation also continues.

Fifth-Grader Jake Murray has the anti-drug message of “Red Ribbon Week” down cold.

“If you take drugs, it can make you sick and you might not be able to get as many jobs as normal people can,” said Murray.

A student at Eastanollee Elementary School, Jake was on hand Monday to hear the Stephens County Indian Marching Band, cheerleaders, and football players deliver the message that staying away from drugs is the best choice.

The high school students led the kids in a special “let’s be, drug free” cheer as well as played the Indian football song “Indian Reservation.”

Principal Susan Crawford said the event was the kick-off of a week of fun activities.

“The rest of the week, we are going to have a ‘Socks Day,’ where we are wearing crazy socks,” said Crawford. “We are going to have a ‘Red Day,’ where everybody wears as much red as they can. We have something special planned each day, like ‘Hat Day’ and things like that. However, this is our kick-off.”

“Red Ribbon Week” first began in 1988 as a way to bring a nationwide effort to teaching children to avoid drugs.

Stephens County Middle School celebrated “Red Ribbon Week” last week.

The City of Toccoa finances are looking good, but commissioners should carefully monitor expenses in tight economic times.

That statement came from Kent Murray of Amos and Company, who presented the yearly audit to Toccoa City Commissioners Monday.

He told commissioners the audit of Fiscal Year 2008 showed the city was handling its money well by paying cash for capital expenses such as police cars or road resurfacing, as well as meeting all of its debt reduction requirements.

In addition, Murray said, the city ended its fiscal year with cash in the bank.

However, that information came with a warning.

Murray pointed out that as of June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, the city had less then two weeks worth of expenses in cash.

He warned that only a small dip in revenues could hurt the city’s coffers.

Organizers plan to re-dedicate the newly restored historic Stephens County Courthouse next month.

According to Dale Moseley with the Courthouse Restoration Authority, they decided at a meeting last week to hold the official ceremony on Sunday, November 23. Moseley said they will release more information in the coming weeks about the ceremony.

With that date approaching, crews are putting the final touches on the historic courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

Moseley said the interior is almost finished and continues to come together nicely.

“This past two weeks, we have been laying ceramic tile downstairs, which included the big county seal in the floor downstairs in the center of the entrance,” said Moseley. “Everything looks good as far as the ceramic tile is going. Everything looks great.”

On the outside, Moseley said they have almost completed all of the landscaping work.

“The Confederate monument has been cleaned and we have the sidewalks going up to the Confederate monument,” she added. “We are also having a planter built in front of the Confederate monument on the sidewalk up to the Courthouse. That is being done at the present time.”

According to Moseley, workers must also finish some of the concrete work around the structure. Areas remaining include the sidewalk on Tugalo and the courthouse entrance.

Moseley said the Authority plans to meet again in the next couple of weeks to finalize everything for the re-dedication ceremony on November 23.

Meetings will continue this week between the architect for the new Stephens County High School and the Stephens County Board of Education.

Last Thursday, the school board met with architect Greg Smith and went over revised plans for the new Stephens County High School, hoping to find cost-saving avenues while maintaining the unique design plan.

Then, on Friday, Smith met with all the department heads at the school so the teachers could understand and comment on revisions made to the plans.

Smith is the Executive Vice President of James W. Buckley and Associates, the firm hired to plan the school.

One of the issues discussed and debated involved hallway and common area widths.

Smith explained to board members that the cost of leaving the wide areas was minimal in the overall budget and said, “circulation cannot be redone.”

Board member George Payne, a former teacher, agreed, saying the area needed to allow for good movement of large crowds.

“It cannot be big enough,” said Payne.

After Friday’s meeting with the department heads, Systems Director Brenda Kelley said minor adjustments were made to the large commons areas, the gymnasium, administrative offices, and media center.

The board plans to meet again on Thursday to discuss the drawings some more.

Four Stephens County Commissioner posts are up for grabs in this November’s election.

All of the candidates spoke at a candidate forum sponsored by AM 630 WNEG, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, and the Toccoa Record held last week at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa.

Today, we look at the race for Post Two on the Stephens County Commission. In this race, Democratic incumbent Rex Anderson is running against Republican challenger J.B. Hudgins.

Anderson is the only current commissioner up for re-election next month.

In the candidate forum, the two candidates spoke about the budget, economic development, and property taxes.

The two candidates were asked about how to avoid future property tax increases, such as the one enacted for this past budget year.

Anderson, who voted against the tax increase, said good management will help keep that from happening in the future.

“When you surround yourself with good management and surround yourself with good commissioners that can sit down together, communicate, talk things out, and come to reasonable decisions, it makes all the difference in the world in how the results are,” said Anderson.

Meanwhile, Hudgins said a tax increase like the one enacted was too much, and should have been enacted more gradually.

“It ought to be in proportion to the income of the individual,” he explained. “We should be doing well as far as revenues before we have any tax increase. However, the big thing I would look at is the possibility of a three or four percent cap on property taxes to avoid that.”

On economic development, Hudgins said the key is to keep graduates in Stephens County, instead of watching them leave to work elsewhere. Anderson said that it is hard to attract industry right now, but he is working hard to try and create jobs in the area.

Tomorrow, WNEG will look at Post Three. On Thursday, we will look at Post Four. Finally, on Friday, WNEG will look at Post Five.

The general election is next Tuesday.

The move into fall results in a relatively stable month for Stephens County on the unemployment front.

The overall preliminary rate for Stephens County in September was 6.7 percent. That comes from statistics released by the Georgia Department of Labor. The September rate marks an increase of just one-tenth of a percent from the final numbers for August. It does reflect an increase of 2.1 percent from September 2007.

The rate increase in Stephens County mirrors the Georgia Mountains region as a whole. The unemployment rate for the Georgia Mountains region came in at 5.9 percent for September, also a hike of one-tenth of a percent.

Stephens County’s unemployment rate also falls close to the state rate of 6.5 percent for September.

Around the region, Habersham, Banks, Franklin, Hart, and Rabun counties all saw unemployment rate increases in September.

Stephens County residents wanting to cast their votes early have one more week to do so.

Advance voting continues in-person through 5 p.m. Friday at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office in Toccoa.

The registrar’s office is open today through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Stephens County Government Building.

Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley said voters wanting to cast ballots this week will join a large group of early voters.

“We have been busy,” said Kelley. “We have voted close to 3,000 people. Starting Monday, I expect us to do another 3,000 to 4,000 people that week. We have been busy.”

Officials in Georgia said hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots through early and absentee voting.

Kelley said anyone voting this week should remain patient because she expects lines all week long to vote early on the machines.

So, with so many voting early, will it ease the stress on Election Day?

“I am hoping it will,” she explained. “However, I am still expecting long lines on Election Day for the ones that do not get in here and get voted. You will just have to be patient with us and wait in line.”

Friday is also the last day the registrar’s office can mail out paper absentee ballots. Those ballots must be back in the registrar’s office by the close of business on Election Day.

Election Day is November 4.

Kelley reminded those voting early or on Election Day to remember a valid form of photo identification. Driver’s licenses and passports would qualify as a valid photo ID.

For more information on voting, call the Stephens County Registrar’s Office at 706-886-8954.

Tim Martin likes goals.

The Executive Director of the Stephens County Development Authority sets multiple goals for himself, and Saturday, he hit a big one.

On the Stephens County track, with family and friends in attendance, Martin ran the last 4 miles of a 25,000-mile stretch.

25,000 miles is just over the number of miles that circumnavigate the earth. In essence, Martin has run around the world.

Martin said since 1983, he has run everyday and marked the miles in a simple calendar. Those calendars now sit six inches tall when piled up.

In addition, Martin has run in all 50 states, run on every date, such as October 24, and on every hour of the day.

He said goals give order.

“I think the world lines up with a settled mind,” said Martin. “By having goals, you just work on it a little bit today and a little bit tomorrow, a little bit the next day, and then you look back over time and you have something that you have achieved.”

As for the act of running, Martin said it lets him order his mind as well as take care of his body.

“Number one, there are the physical benefits of it,” said Martin. “Number two is the mental benefit. It is a marvelous way to get up, get out of the house, get your day going, check the neighborhood, enjoy the early morning by doing something, and it helps you order your mind for the day or if you run in the evening, order your mind from the day to go on.”

Over the years, Martin’s running has been a family affair. He told of running while his children rode bicycles along side him, and running while visiting far away places like Africa or Mexico. In addition, he said his wife, Ester, has been an invaluable support system for his unusual hobby.

He remembered one run in Meridian, Mississippi where he was trying to work his daily run in during a driving trip and asked Ester for some help.

“I told Ester, ‘If we could stop right here, let me out, and if you drive, you can go get gasoline and you can go get lunch and I am just going to run straight down this road, and whenever you finish, you can pick me up and we can go on,’” he said. “Well, in riding along in a car in air conditioning, you do not know how hot it is outside. As it turned out, it was over 100 degrees and I was in some trouble. So, I got off the road and got up into some shade and was trying to cool off, and Ester drove by.”

Fortunately, Ester turned around and eventually found her husband.

Now, with 25,000 miles and over 100 pairs of running shoes behind him, Martin said he is looking for his next goal.

Two men are vying for an open seat on the Stephens County Board of Education.

In the only contested school board race on the ballot, Ed Mills is taking on Scott Morgan.

Morgan is a local business owner who says he would take a business approach to education. Meanwhile, Mills once served as superintendent when it was an elected position.

Both men commented on the future of the superintendent’s position. Current Superintendent Gary Steppe is retiring at the end of the school year.

Mills said he would prefer a local candidate if possible to fill the post.

“I believe a person should know the community or be familiar with the type of community that Toccoa-Stephens County really is,” said Mills. “I would like to see people in that position that are very visible. I would personally like to see the superintendent when I go shopping at Ingles’ or go to the drug store or Wal-Mart. I like to see them walking around in there. I like to see people that are comfortable with the community. I think we should look very carefully at the local pool that we have because we have some excellent people that could serve as superintendent.”

Mills did say the county should hire the best person it can.

Morgan agreed that a local candidate would be great, but it is more important to get the best man for the job.

“As a business practice, I have always tried to promote from within,” said Morgan. “It is good for morale and good for the employees, I believe we have good teachers and administrators here in the county. However, the most important thing for this next superintendent because he has to be the CEO of our school system is to get the right person, the most qualified person for this job. Hopefully, that will be a local person, but if it ends up not being the case, then you have to hire the best person for that job.”

Both men also said that the budget needs to be looked at and spending prioritized. Both said the administrative budget and the transportation budget are two areas that could be looked at.

Mills pointed to his past experience. Meanwhile, Morgan said his knowledge of construction could help with the new high school and his business experience could help with the budget.

Tomorrow, WNEG will begin looking at the races for Stephens County Commissioner.

Toccoa City Commissioners will consider several issues and review the city’s annual audit tonight before moving into a joint meeting with the Stephens County Commission.

On the agenda for the city’s regular meeting this evening is a presentation of the annual financial report for fiscal year 2008 by Amos and Company.

City Manager Billy Morse said the company has conducted the city’s audit for years and this year’s appears to be clean and in good order.

Meanwhile, commissioners will also consider hiring a collection agency to handle delinquent utility accounts.

Morse said the accounts in question are those that are beyond 90 days late. He added that hiring such a company is normal business and not a sign of the struggling economy.

Finally, commissioners are expected to discuss an agreement between the city and the Stephens County Commission in which the city accepts the waste from the Hayestone-Brady Industrial Park into the city sewer system.

The city commission meets at 5 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

After their regular meeting, city commissioners will hold a joint meeting with the Stephens County Commission on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.

Boat-owners wishing to use a Corps-managed boat ramp will now be met with a “closed” sign.

Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it was closing all its boat ramps on Lake Hartwell due to low water levels.

However, Park Operations Manager Kenneth Bedenbaugh said five ramps have been given temporary measures to keep them somewhat operational.

Big Oaks and Crawford Ferry in Hart County, Green Pond and Hattons Ford in Anderson, S.C., and Martin Creek in Oconee County, South Carolina have had gravel added to the end of them.

Bedenbaugh said Corps officials will continue monitoring lake levels to see if those sites should be fully closed as well.

There are no suspects in an alleged attempted robbery in Toccoa last week.

According to the report with Toccoa Police, A Lavonia man told police someone tried to rob him by force on South Sage Street in Toccoa on October 22. The robbery was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, a Davis Avenue man did fall victim to thieves last week. On October 19, the man told Toccoa Police that someone broke into his shed and stole some of his tools. The total value of the tools is at $800.

In addition, Toccoa Police are investigating a shoplifting incident last Thursday at the Rite-Aid Pharmacy.

According to the report, someone ran out the door with a yellow bag full of items in it. Upon further investigation, it was found that seven prepaid cell phones had gone missing.

The value of the phones is listed as $370.

All of these cases remain under investigation.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a burglary in Martin. A woman told deputies on October 22 that while she had been away from her property and out of the country, the garage door had been opened to her house and the dead bolt lock was damaged. A tool box and tools were missing, valued at thousands of dollars.

Building a $45 million school is not an easy task, as the Stephens County Board of Education noted at a called meeting on Thursday.

The school board met with architect Greg Smith and went over revised plans for the new Stephens County High School, hoping to find cost-saving avenues while maintaining the unique design plan.

Smith is the Executive Vice President of James W. Buckley and Associates, the firm hired to plan the school.

Among other issues, the group discussed hallway widths and the details of the planned new gymnasium.

Will Rite Aid come right back?

Just after land clearing began, construction activities were stopped at the site slated to be a new Rite Aid Pharmacy at the corner of Big A Road and Skyline Drive.

Toccoa City Planner Kay Morgan said her office received notice of the change this week.

“We have recently learned that the project has been put on hold,” said Morgan. “However, the landowner has assured the city that any provisions the city may have for the land disturbance will be satisfied.”

Morgan said the site is permitted to be a Rite Aid, but U.S. General is the company doing the construction.

She said she has not been informed when or if construction will begin again.

The two candidates for the 10^th Congressional District will meet less then 10 days before the election.

Republican Paul Broun and Democrat Bobby Saxon are scheduled to debate this Sunday, October 26, 2008, at Georgia Public Broadcasting in front of a live audience.

The debate is sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club, which has sponsored several debates through the primary and general election.

Executive Director Laurie Strauss said journalists will be asking the questions.

“We have a moderator and three panelists,” said Strauss. “All are journalists and we have invited the two candidates together, just so they can debate the issues important to the voters in their area.”

Listed as moderators are: Brandon Larrabee of Morris News, Blake Aeud of the Athens-Banner Herald, and Bridget Williams of WAGT-TV in Augusta.

Strauss said the specific questions are left up to the journalists.

“We leave the questioning up to the panelists,” said Strauss. “The Atlanta Press Club has no control over what questions will be asked. We invite panelists that are knowledgeable on the issues that are important in the district and leave the questioning up to them.”

That debate can be seen on Georgia Public Television at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

AM 630 WNEG sponsored a forum recently in which both candidates were invited, but only Saxon was able to come.

Strauss said both candidates have confirmed they will be attending.

Toccoa Police want to arm women in order to defend themselves. The ammunition they plan to provide is knowledge.

The Police Department will host a Female Self Defense Awareness Class on November 8 at the Police Department’s training facility behind the Alewine Soccer Complex in Toccoa.

Toccoa Police Assistant Chief Tim Jarrell said it will consist of a classroom presentation of female safety and awareness.

“What we are going to be doing is we are going to be teaching the ladies in the community how to be aware of their surroundings and how to better defend themselves against possible identity theft, purse snatchings, and how to approach and be aware of their surroundings while going to and from their vehicle while shopping and some other things,” said Jarrell.

Police Chief Jackie Whitmire said the class is in response to inquiries from the community to provide this information.

“Assistant Chief Jarrell is heading this up and we have got some other instructors that are going to help,” the chief explained. “I think this is going to benefit a lot of people as far as safety issues and protecting their valuables and so forth. If this class fills up and we anticipate it being full rather quick, then we will schedule another class. We are looking forward to it. It is a lot of fun and very informative.”

The class will also include an introduction on handgun safety and its use.

All participants need to be a minimum of 21 years of age. Ladies wishing to participate in the class are required to bring their own unloaded handgun with 50 rounds of ammunition. The class size is limited to the first 20 ladies. There is no charge to attend the class.

Jarrell said it will begin at 9 a.m. and expected to conclude at 4 p.m.

Anyone wishing to attend or find out more information should contact Jarrell at 706-282-3287.

Two men are vying this November to become the next Stephens County Coroner.

Chris Stephens and Charlie Harris are vying to replace long-time coroner Buck Addington.

Stephens, a Democrat, works for Stephens County EMS, while Harris, the Republican candidate, works for Stephens County Hospital.

The two men both spoke at a forum sponsored by AM 630 WNEG, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, and the Toccoa Record held Tuesday night at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa.

Both said they have the necessary training and experience to perform the job of coroner.

Stephens said it is crucial that a coroner maintain positive communications with all area law enforcement agencies.

“It is up to the coroner to establish the manner and cause of death,” said Stephens. “We do leave the investigation part up to the local law enforcement. It is very imperative that the coroner work very closely with all of these agencies because we must work together to determine that cause and that need. To do so, we must have that working relationship, be on a first-name basis. Again, we are all in here for the same cause and that is for the people of this county and being dedicated to the residents of this county.”

Harris agreed on that point. He also said the coroner must partner with the Sheriff’s Office and police to get out in the community.

“When I was coming along in high school, the police department, sheriff’s office, and coroner’s office got together before Prom Night and staged a car accident,” he said. “There needs to be more programs like this in Stephens County. It would be more beneficial, not only to the students, but the parents as well, who feel like there is nobody to back them up while they are preaching this stuff at home. So, I would get together with some of the law enforcement and see if they would be willing to go with me to get some more of these programs out into the community.”

Both said they would make use of deputy coroners and both added they have worked out arrangements with their employers to perform the necessary duties of coroners. Coroner is a part-time position and both men are employed full-time.

Next week, WNEG News will look at the races for the contested school board post and the four contested county commissioner posts.

The general election is November 4.

Lake Hartwell is lower than ever before.

That is according to measurements posted on the Army Corps’ of Engineers’ website.

According to those statistics, as of Wednesday, Lake Hartwell was at 642.185 feet above sea level. That is now listed as the minimum pool elevation recorded at Hartwell.

Officials with the Army Corps of Engineers go on to predict further drops in lake levels in the coming days and weeks.

In fact, long range projections issued by the Corps of Engineers indicate the lake levels may drop below 640 feet by the end of this year.

However, some help could be on the way. Forecasts are calling for a very good chance of rain on both Friday and Saturday.

“Well, we should get a pretty good amount of widespread rain over northeast Georgia and the western Carolinas,” said National Weather Service forecaster Jeffrey Taylor. “The best chances for rain right now are going to be late Friday into early Saturday. The total rain amounts forecast right now are around two inches for the northeast Georgia area. That could be a little bit higher or lower as we get closer to the onset. We think the onset of rain is most likely to start early Friday afternoon into early evening with the heaviest rain being late Friday into early Saturday morning.”

Taylor added the rain should taper off as Saturday progresses and move completely out of the area by late Saturday into Sunday.

BY MJ KNEISER, WLHR NEWS, LAVONIA

Three days after he is first sighted in Franklin County, the search continues for Johnny Mack Brown.

The 52-year old Brown has been on the run for over a week.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas, the search began Monday night after a woman called to say she had been kidnapped and dropped off in Franklin County.

Brown and fellow inmate 48-year old Michael Tweedel escaped from Hays State Prison in Chattooga County on October 15.

However, the victim told authorities, Brown was alone when he kidnapped her.

Sheriff Thomas confirmed Johnny Mack Brown has visited the home of his brother in Franklin County

After denying it when first questioned, Tony Brown admitted to authorities he had given Johnny Mack a bag of food, according to Thomas.

Tony Brown was arrested and charged with obstruction.

Johnny Mack is serving a life sentence for armed robbery, hijacking, theft, and aggravated battery and assault.

He is described as a white male, 5/8", 160lbs, 52-year old, salt and pepper short hair, wearing glasses with gray sweat pants, red shirt, and gray overcoat.

Brown is armed and considered dangerous.

Anyone with information on Brown's whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1.

The Board of Education holds an old-fashion mortgage burning, sort of.

At its meeting Tuesday, Stephens County School Superintendent Gary Steppe told Board of Education members the system had paid off the bond for the construction cost of Stephens County Middle School.

“We had issued bonds for building the middle school, which was $10 million we borrowed to do that and we did that in 2004 and we were able to pay that off within five years,” said Steppe. “We feel really good about being able to take care of that indebtedness.”

Steppe said the payoff came earlier than expected with a change in the formula used to calculate how much money the state gives the system for facilities.

“By changing the formula for the new high school, that determined how much money the state would give us on a yearly basis for facilities,” he added. “We did that several years ago. It has made a real difference.”

The bond paid off was $10 million.

Stephens County Middle School celebrates Red Ribbon Week.

The school is holding an entire week of activities at the school to mark the nationwide event, which sets out to encourage kids to say “no” to drugs.

Shay Locke is a counselor at Stephens County Middle School and is a co-coordinator of Red Ribbon Week. She said activities began Monday and will continue all week long.

“We had big banners, one for each grade, in the lunchroom that all of the students signed saying that they are going to be drug-free,” said Locke. “We also had red pieces of paper that we made into chains and we have the students sign them and they say why they want to be drug-free and we have those that we are going to be hanging in the lunchroom.”

Other activities have included a talk from Stephens County high school graduation coach Kentrell Curry and a visit from the Toccoa Police Department.

The main symbol of “red ribbon week” is, of course, the red ribbons the kids wear.

Locke said the kids have enjoyed that, along with all of the other things going on.

“Throughout the week, if they are caught wearing their red ribbons, they get put in a drawing for a prize and we give out prizes every day as well,” she added. “We are also reaching out to others. We are collecting canned goods all week to try and donate to a local food pantry. The first period who gets the most can get a pizza party.”

Red Ribbon Week continues through Friday. It takes place nationwide over the course of two weeks, with each school picking which week it will celebrate the occasion.

This year’s theme is “Step Up! A Call To Action.”

Red Ribbon Week started in the 1980s. According to the Red Ribbon Coalition, it brings millions of people together around the country to call for drug intervention, treatment, and prevention services.

Democratic U.S. House of Representatives candidate Bobby Saxon said Washington needs to work together, and not separately, in order to get things done.

Saxon appeared at a candidate forum sponsored by WNEG, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, and the Toccoa Record this week at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa.

The Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Paul Broun, who did not appear at the forum, talked about the economy, energy, and a host of other issues.

On the economy, Saxon said he supported the second bailout package proposal, which Broun opposed, because it tightened restrictions on CEO pay and alleviated other concerns the Democrat had.

Saxon went further. He said Congress needs to work for small business and he proposed creating “small business development centers.”

“With my small business development centers, we are going to go out there and we are going to help small business owners by helping them find good accountants, helping them find good salespeople, good marketing people, help them find ways to get small business loans, to get inexpensive financing, and also to go find a new market,” said Saxon.

On the topic of energy, Saxon said fossil fuels may serve our short-term purpose, but sustainable energy is the long-term goal.

“Whether it is wind, whether it is solar, whether it is nuclear, tidal, or biofuels, we as a country have got to come together in a bipartisan way and come up with a solution and move forward,” he added. “In the short term, if that means we have to drill off the coast or in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge), I am not opposed to it.”

Saxon also called out Broun for not attending. Representative Broun sent a statement that was read during the forum. In that statement, Broun said he was meeting with small business owners and wanted the opportunity to continue to work for the district as its representative in Washington, D.C.

A Toccoa man is facing charges and a woman is recovering from injuries after a case of what Toccoa police called “car surfing.”

According to a police report, on Saturday October 18, a Toccoa Police officer spotted a car on Collier Road with some unusual passengers.

The report reads “standing out of the car’s sunroof was a male. Perched upon and clinging to the top of the car were two females.”

When the car turned right on to Hilltop Lane, one of the women was thrown from the roof and landed in the roadway. She was taken to Stephens County Hospital.

The driver, Matthew Ryan Morgan of Yow Mill Road, was charged with reckless driving.

Thieves target residents and a local business.

Authorities said a Demorest man told police that while his truck was parked at the Black Mountain Express Sunday night someone broke into it and stole a chain saw valued at $300.

In addition, the lock box it was in was damaged in the incident.

Meanwhile, a Toccoa woman reported that she is missing $225 worth of cash and jewelry. Authorities said they have no suspects.

And finally, authorities are on the lookout for a thief looking to stay warm.

The loss prevention officer at Wal-Mart told police that a woman walked out of the Big A Road with 3 comforters without paying for them. The officer was able to give police the tag number of the car the suspect drove away in.

The investigation into all three cases continues.

Georgia State Troopers are still investigating a one-car accident Wednesday morning that tied up traffic on Hwy. 17 for over an hour.

Authorities say it appears the driver lost control while headed south on Highway 17, went off the road and overturned.

The car came to rest on its side in the southbound lane just in front of Stephens County EMS station.

The driver was injured and taken to Stephens County Hospital.

Mark While, Assistant Chief of the Eastanollee Volunteer Fire Department, say firefighters stood watch as a precaution because the car was leaking gasoline and the electrical system was still live.

Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies routed traffic around the site for about an hour until the wreck could be cleared.

The two men running to become the next Stephens County Sheriff face off in a forum on AM 630 WNEG.

Democrat Randy Shirley and Republican Jimmy Mize spoke at the Schaefer Center last night as part of forums put on by AM 630 WNEG, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, and the Toccoa Record.

Both cited drugs as one of the major problems in Toccoa and Stephens County. Both candidates said they would hire someone to work specifically on that issue, along with maintaining and increasing presence and drug education in the school system.

On the issue of a backlog of warrants, Mize said there is a problem.

“One problem that we have had is that we have had nowhere to put them,” said Mize. “It is not that they are not getting served, just right now, we have nowhere to put them. There is also a chance where we would have a warrants and civil team that would be beneficial in helping to serve those.”

According to Mize, the new jail will help alleviate that problem somewhat.

Shirley also said something needs to be done.

“The judicial system cannot work or do anything about those warrants until they are arrested,” said Shirley. “Whether there is room or not (in the new jail), I do not know. But, I can tell you this, they can be arrested and they can bond out.”

Also, both candidates said they would work on communication with county commissioners. Shirley said he would submit a list of goals and objectives upon taking over to the commissioners’ office. Mize said he would work with staff and the new five-person county commission, adding that would help.

At last night’s forum at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa, voters also heard from the candidates for coroner, school board, and Democratic U.S. House candidate Bobby Saxon.

We will have more on those forums, as well as the county commission forums, coming up throughout the rest of this week and next.

The general election is November 4.

While drugs continue to plague the community, the Toccoa Police Chief said ongoing investigations are chipping away at the problem.

Chief Jackie Whitmire announced this week that nine people had been arrested for various drug charges during the last two months.

“There are still a lot of drugs in this community and we are continuing here at the Police Department to target the illegal drugs in this community,” said Whitmire. “We need the citizens’ help on this. Anyone that has seen anything should call, 911, dispatch, or the Police Department, and we will start to work on it.”

According to Toccoa Police, a traffic stop led to the September 17 arrest of 30-year-old Joslin A. Martin of Toccoa.

Two other people were arrested after traffic stops revealed alleged drug activity. Police said on September 25, 19-year-old Andrew Brent Fuller of Lula was stopped and a search revealed a number of “unlawful pills.”

On September 30, 18-year-old Chanin E. Mayfield, of Toccoa, was pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence. Authorities said he was charged with possession of crack cocaine and driving under the influence.

Two other people were arrested after officers were called to South Tallulah Street to investigate a call of gunfire in the area.

Officials said 20-year-old Richard Agustus Jones, of Toccoa, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm from a public roadway and giving a false name. In addition, 19-year-old Stephanie Gail Crowe from South Carolina was charged with possession of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon.

And finally, four people were charged with selling drugs: 21-year-old Darious Tukes, 39-year-old Charles William Dooley, 22-year-old Hafeezah Dunbar, all of Toccoa, were charged with selling cocaine, while 47-year-old Lamar Cordell, also of Toccoa, was charged with selling methamphetamine.

This report comes from the police department three days after hundreds of people gathered for an anti-drug march through the streets of Toccoa.

Hospital authority members get a shot of illness prevention at their monthly meeting.

At the Stephens County Hospital Authority meeting Monday, authority members literally rolled up their sleeves and got their annual flu shots.

“Mainly, the reason our board gets flu shots is because they want to,” said Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell. “They know the importance of flu shots and we really have a push here at the hospital to get as many employees a flu shot as will take them.”

Gambrell said for the hospital it is just good business to get everyone inoculated.

“It is just smart,” he added. “It helps us as an employer to not have employees out who are sick. Then, of course, they come into contact with sick patients and so it protects them and of course, it protects our patients, too.”

With flu season just beginning, Gambrell added that for anyone, the flu shot is a good idea.

“The statistics are so much slanted towards people that get flu shots,” he explained. “They either do not get the flu that year, or if they do get it, they have a much milder case.”

Flu shots are available at the Stephens County Health Department.

The drought continues to cause problems for boaters on Lake Hartwell. Not only are low lake levels making it harder to boat, but now the Army Corps of Engineers will only mark hazards within some navigational channels.

Hartwell Lake Park Ranger Tanya Grant said that as the lake drops, more hazards appear, making it hard to keep up.

“In general, the Corps will mark hazards that are located within the marked navigational channels only,” said Grant. “However, at this point, because the lake is getting so low, we need to really concentrate our efforts on the three major channels, basically due to the immense number of potential hazards out there. It is really impossible to continue to keep marking all of them, so we are going to concentrate our efforts on the three main channels.”

Those three main channels are the Savannah River, the Seneca River up to buoy S90, and the Tugaloo River up to buoy T74.

The Corps will discontinue marking hazards within the navigational channels on the upper ends of the Seneca and Tugaloo Rivers and all other navigational channels on Hartwell Lake.

Grant warned people using Lake Hartwell should exercise extreme caution when boating, especially outside marked navigational channels.

Officials said if lake levels continue to decline further, unknown hazards may appear within and outside of marked navigational channels.

For more information on this or issues at Lake Hartwell, call 706-856-0300 or toll-free at 1-888-893-0678.

Next month, some Stephens County residents will have the chance to sign up for heating assistance from the state and federal governments this winter.

Ninth District Opportunity will begin taking applications on November 3 in Stephens County for the 2008 Heating Program.

The program is funded through federal monies given to the state, who then distributes it to the counties throughout Georgia.

People, based on income guidelines of the household, then receive a one-time payment to help pay the household heating bill, whether it is gas, electric, or propane.

Stephens County Ninth District Opportunity Community Resource Coordinator Diane Hiller said the November 3 application date is only for certain groups.

“The month of November is for 65 years and older households, either everyone in the household needs to be 65 years or older in order to get this, of if they are 65 and older and they have a minor child in the home under 17 years of age, then they also qualify,” said Hiller. “If someone in that household is homebound and there is a caretaker younger than 65, they also qualify. We have some specific guidelines to follow as far as homebound is concerned.”

On December 1, the program will open to the general public, again based on income guidelines, depending on the availability of funds.

When applying for assistance, people will need to present verification of age for everyone in the home, verification of household income received in the last 30 days, and verification of Social Security information, along with the most recent home heating bill.

Hiller said this program is one of Ninth District Opportunity’s favorite to administer.

“We cannot wait for November to start,” she added. “The most exciting this year is that people will have a larger credit for their bills, $350 if they are income level one and $310 for level two. Last year, it was $250 and $200, respectively, so we are very excited about that.”

For more information on the 2008 Heating Program and the accompanying income guidelines or other qualifications, call 706-886-0211 or visit online at www.ndo.org.

As the leaves begin to fall, Martin gears up for its annual Fall Festival.

The Martin Fall Festival is this coming Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. and going all day until 6 p.m.

Martin Councilwoman Sandy Stovall said there will be booths featuring crafts, music and food – lots of food.

“We have funnel cakes and hot dogs,” said Stovall. “We have a lady who came to our council meeting last night that is going to bring a food booth that will have hamburgers and hot dogs. In the morning, somebody usually has sausage biscuits early. There is cotton candy. I think we have popcorn. There is just a lot of food. We usually do real well with that.”

In addition, the Relations Gospel Singers will perform, there will be bounce houses for the kids, and a Chicken-que from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. benefiting the Lions Club.

Proceeds raised at the festival go to the Martin Woman’s Club that supports local organizations.

The two candidates for State House of Representatives square off in a forum in Toccoa just weeks before Election Day.

Incumbent Democratic Representative Jeannette Jamieson and Republican challenger Michael Harden both appeared at a forum last night heard right here on AM 630 WNEG.

The two candidates both spoke about jobs, the gas crisis, health care, and the budget situation in Atlanta.

Regarding the budget crunch in Atlanta, Jamieson said some of the governor’s proposed funding cuts are not acceptable.

“We cannot pass onto the local taxpayers cuts in public education,” said Jamieson. “We cannot not restore the $467 million dollars in homeowners’ tax credits.”

Jamieson went on to say that the state could take one action to help.

“There are millions and millions of dollars in the state budget for new buildings, extreme renovations, and DOT projects that could be bonded rather than us having to pay cash,” she added.

On the other hand, Harden said everyone has to cut back in lean budget times and he agreed with the decision to have state department heads look for budget cuts now.

“What needs to be done is the state departments are being asked to cut back proportionally,” said Harden. “Stephens County is going to be affected. What I will do, as your state representative, is look at alternative means to fund this state. For too long, we have carried our local governments on the backs of taxpayers and we have put all of our eggs in one basket when it comes to addressing our financial situation at the state level.”

On jobs, Harden called for help for small businesses and farmers, while Jamieson called for continued efforts regarding job training. On healthcare, Harden said small businesses should have a chance to buy into a state insurance plan, while Jamieson said the state should look to the medical community for guidance and look to open more facilities like the Open Arms Clinic.

Both Jamieson and Harden said the state did not handle the recent gasoline shortage effectively.

Last night’s forum also included all of the candidates for Stephens County Commissioner. Next week, we will have their responses to questions from last night’s forum.

The forums continue tonight, beginning again at 6 p.m. from the Schaefer Center in Toccoa. Tonight, candidates for sheriff, coroner, school board, and U.S. House have been invited. If you cannot make it to the Schaefer Center, listen here on AM 630 WNEG.

Technical reasons are delaying the case against a Martin couple accused of possessing over 500 images of child pornography.

District Attorney Brian Rickman said the charges of sexual exploitation of a child against 45-year-old William Lowell Atkins and 38-year-old Anita Dale Atkins stem from images found on a computer in their home.

Their trial was scheduled to begin this week, but Rickman said it has been continued because of the complications of working with a computer as a piece of evidence.

“It is a little bit of a complicated process when you are dealing with hard drives, computers, and such,” said Rickman. “For those technical reasons, it has been continued. I expect it will be on the trial calendar in January.”

The case is in the discovery phase, where the defense gets to review all the evidence the prosecution intends to submit.

Rickman said in the Atkins case, discovery is taking a bit longer than normal.

“It is a little more complicated in this kind of case because there are computers and electronic equipment involved,” he added. “We are in the process now of the defendants, through their attorneys, are allowed to have their own experts to examine the computers at issue that allegedly from the basis for the crimes.”

They were indicted in June after an investigation by the District Attorney’s office.

The Atkins are being tried together. They are out of jail on bond.

The Stephens County Hospital Authority prepares to pay its insurance bill.

At Monday’s Authority meeting, board members voted to authorize hospital administrator Ed Gambrell to take out a loan to pay the insurance costs up front, then repay the bank in payments.

“We could, I guess, pay it straight from cash,” said Gambrell. “However, we get favorable rates from the banks here in town. So, we generally get a line of credit. The way it works is we pay so much each month over the next 12 months on that.”

Gambrell said the $372,000 loan from Habersham Bank covers all the various kinds of insurance that a hospital uses, except workers’ compensation. He said this is how the hospital has operated in past years.

“The purpose of it is to pay for our insurance for the year that started October 1 and that is the start of our insurance year also,” he added. “It finances our malpractice coverage, our automobile coverage, crime coverage, and property coverage.”

In addition to the loan issue, the authority heard reports from staff on the personal care homes and the safety report.

Finally, the authority re-approved the hospital’s compliance plan, which was written in 2004.

As prices go up, consumer spending seems to be headed in the opposite direction.

Stephens County Finance Director Phyllis Ayers reported that sales tax revenues for July came in lower than they had originally hoped for.

“When I look at July 2008, the one month collection over July 2007, we are seeing a 13 percent decrease in that one month alone,” said Ayers.

Ayers said a trend of decreasing sales tax revenues had occurred for the last six months or so. The good news was that the final sales tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2008, which ended June 30, increased nine percent from Fiscal Year 2007.

Sales tax revenues contribute to two income streams, the Special Projects Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, which funds capital projects, and the Local Option Sales Tax, which goes into the county’s general operating fund.

The numbers do, Ayers said, raise some concern on her part, especially when considering what she called “the current state of the economy.”

“SPLOST would concern me more than the Local Option Sales Tax because there are quite a few capital improvements and projects in SPLOST that would have to be significantly pared back if this trend continues,” she added. “Local Option Sales Tax would affect the general fund only and that is definitely a concern also because you have to make up the revenue that is lost. However, looking as the finance director, I think the SPLOST would be more impaired.”

Ayers did indicate though, it is too soon to tell, what all of this may mean, if anything, for the long-term health of SPLOST V revenues.

“In our last SPLOST, SPLOST IV, we were going in a negative direction and then you could really see the impact of the new Wal-Mart opening and that really pulled us out there for a couple of years,” explained Ayers. “So, with a six-year SPLOST V, anything could happen.”

She added she would like to see three to four more months of collections before making any projections to that nature.

SPLOST V is expected to generate just over $26-million dollars over the next six years.

Most of that money will go towards developing infrastructure in the county and improving water and road service.

Stephens County continues to trend upward on the number of initial unemployment claims filed with the Georgia Department of Labor.

According to the September figures released by the Labor Department, 261 initial unemployment claims were filed last month. That represents an increase of nearly 15 percent from August and a 243 percent increase from September 2007.

The numbers were a little better in Habersham County. Habersham saw a decrease of 7 percent in the number of initial claims filed last month from August. However, the increase from September 2007 comes in at 243 percent, the same as Stephens County.

Franklin and Banks counties saw an increase in initial unemployment claims filed. However, Hart and Rabun counties saw decreases. Statewide, the total number of initial claims filed decreased slightly.

Officials with the Department of Labor said they remain committed to getting Georgians back to work that have lost their jobs. They added it is critical job seekers take advantage of services provided by the Department of Labor.

Recently, the Toccoa Career Center of the Labor Department held a job fair in Stephens County and extended its hours to 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week.

A Toccoa woman said a rental property she has operated was burglarized.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office reported to a private drive in Toccoa on October 16.

According to the report, sometime between October 10 and October 16, someone gained entry to the home in question through a window and allegedly took a white chest-type freezer valued at $150.

The incident remains under investigation.

Georgia State Troopers have charged a 22-year-old Macon man with following too closely after he caused a 3-car accident on Highway 17 Monday morning.

Trooper Thomas Waldrop says around 8 a.m., 22-year-old Stephen Hardy was driving his pickup South on Hwy. 17 near Currahee Lane. At the same time, Waldrop says a Chevy Silverado driven by 56-year-old Kenneth Long of Toccoa was waiting on a car ahead of him to turn left, when Hardy failed to stop in time and ran into the back of it.

“The pickup then crossed into the northbound lane, hitting a Jeep head-on, causing the Jeep to rotate and flip,” he explains.

Long and the 58-year-old Rebecca Scott also of Toccoa, who was driving the Jeep Wrangler, were each taken to Stephens County Hospital. Hardy was limping at the scene, but otherwise appeared uninjured.

Hardy was charged with following too close.

Traffic is flowing freely again on the Highway 17Bypass near Currahee Lane after it was slowed this morning following a three-car accident that injured two people.

Georgia State Trooper Thomas Waldtrop says one pickup truck was waiting on a car ahead of it to turn left when it was struck from behind by another pickup.

"That pickup then cross over into the northbound lane, hitting a Jeep head-on, causing the Jeep to rotate and flip," he explains.

The driver of the rear-ended pickup and the driver of the Jeep were each taken to Stephens County Hospital.

The driver of the second truck was limping at the scene, but otherwise appeared uninjured.

The investigation is continuing, therefore any charges are pending.

We will bring you more on this as it becomes available.

Voters in Stephens County will have a chance this week to hear from candidates in local and regional races.

Two candidate forums will take place, hosted by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and AM 630 WNEG, at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa. One is tonight and the other is tomorrow.

The forums will begin at 6 p.m. each night. Tonight, candidates for all four county commissioner posts have been invited, as have the candidates for the State House of Representatives.

Tomorrow, candidates for coroner, school board, sheriff, and U.S. House have been invited.

If you cannot make it to the forums tonight and tomorrow at the Schaefer Center, you can listen to them live right here on AM 630 WNEG.

Habersham Medical Center puts its new expansion into operation today.

The hospital held an opening celebration Sunday, providing tours and cutting the ribbon on its new West Wing expansion.

Habersham Medical Center President Dick Dwozan called the opening of the expansion a historic moment for the hospital.

“This is the largest addition that Habersham Medical Center has seen in its’ 56-year history,” said Dwozan. “This is a 40,000 square foot expansion to the facility and the emergency room, which opened on September 9, was a 17,000 square foot expansion.”

The expansion includes a 24-bed Outpatient Surgery Center, along with new lobby, main entrance, meeting space, and waiting areas.

Dwozan said they consider the expansion not just a building, but a well thought-out art form.

“There is still an art in the practice of medicine,” he added. “The science of medicine is what we all depend on. It is what we all need. However, it is the art that adds the human touch. It is the part that makes you feel comfortable. It is the part that we put much effort into making sure this building would give you a big old hug when you came in it.”

Despite the two recent major expansions at Habersham Medical Center, Dwozan said they can grow more. The new West Wing addition was built with the ability to build additional levels.

Even though gas and fuel prices are declining, the Stephens County Board of Education continues to wrestle with issues around efficient bus transportation.

At Thursday’s work session, School System Transportation Director Beth McDonald presented her ideas for a more efficient use of staff and equipment.

She told board members some measures, such as reducing idle time and changing tire tread design, have already been implemented.

In addition, McDonald said the bus shop has been researching the use of fuel additives to try to increase miles per gallon.

Board members discussed changing school start times, reconfiguring bus routes to be compressed or tiered, and examining how long students spend on the bus.

No decisions were finalized. The board agreed to look over McDonald’s report and continue the discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Board of Education will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the administrative offices on Mize Road.

The Toccoa Police Department is investigating several thefts and burglaries on Currahee Street that happened during the same time period.

According to police reports, sometime between last Monday night and Wednesday morning, Stan’s Service Station, Acree Oil, Vic’s Car Wash, and Toccoa Tire were all broken into.

Only two of the businesses reported items missing for a total value of $50.

Officials with Stan’s Service Station told officers that there was about $20 worth of quarters taken from the candy dispensers after a burglar came in the building through a window.

At Acree Oil, officials said someone took three 4-foot sections of copper wire from the oil containers.

It is not clear if the burglaries are connected.

Meanwhile, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is stalking a thief with an appetite.

An Eastanollee man told deputies that someone took approximately 50 stalks of corn from his cornfield off of Cawthon Road.

The investigation into this incident continues.

With an election just weeks away, some local politicians are spending time in Toccoa.

State Representative Jeannette Jamieson, Congressman Paul Broun, and presumptive State Senator-Elect Jim Butterworth spoke in Toccoa Saturday night as part of a veterans’ dinner at the Toccoa National Guard Armory.

Jamieson, who is running against Michael Harden, thanked the veterans for ensuring opportunities for Americans and women, including the right to run for elected office.

Butterworth took time to introduce himself and tell veterans he is excited to serve and plans to learn quickly and listen a lot in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, Broun told the crowd more needed to be done for veterans and troops, adding Washington needs to “fulfill its promises.”

Broun is running against Bobby Saxon in November.

Stephens County took this weekend to say “no” to drugs in the community.

The Stephens County Anti-Drug March took place Saturday in downtown Toccoa.

Hundreds of walkers and motorcycle riders traveled from the Sav-A-Lot in Toccoa to the old Stephens County Courthouse in downtown.

There, speakers told the crowd that the community needed to come together and fight the drug problem in Toccoa and Stephens County.

Their message was “get saved or get busted.”

One person who has been on both ends of that phrase is ex-drug dealer David Sherman. He said drugs are not worth it.

“There is one thing I want to say to the drug dealers in Stephens County, it is not fun,” said Sherman. “It is not good at all. It only lasts for a little time. I did it for six years and I wished I had never done it, but I cannot take it back. It is a done deal.”

Law enforcement was also represented at the march, saying the community has to help them in the fight.

Toccoa Police Chief Jackie Whitmire said seeing such a large crowd at the march was inspirational.

“My heart is about to bust,” said the chief with pride. “I got up about 6 a.m. and it was sprinkling rain at my house and I said, ‘nobody was going to show up.’ But, when I pulled into the Sav-A-Lot parking lot, I almost died. We appreciate each and every one of you for coming out here to support this cause. There is no better cause in this community.”

March Organizer Danny Yearwood called the event “awesome.”

“I believe that God showed up today and I believe that he showed the town here that there is change coming,” he said. “We have to do our part. Everybody had a good time. A lot of information was given out about drugs. I think we pleased God today.”

There was no estimate on exactly how many people were in attendance.

Students at the Learning Tree Academy raise hundreds of dollars for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

They raised $600 as of Friday morning for the children’s hospital with a Trike-A-Thon at the Academy on Fernside Drive.

The top fundraiser was three-year-old Brooklynn Taylor.

Everyone at the Academy from age one to four participated.

Stephens County will gather tomorrow in the streets to send the message that drugs will no longer be tolerated here.

The Stephens County Anti-Drug March begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Sav-A-Lot in Toccoa. Line-up is at 9:30 a.m.

Organizers said over 50 churches, 200 motorcycles, schools, civic organizations, businesses, and many community leaders will participate.

Committee member Gary Williams said the community needs to deal with the drug problem and this march will start the process.

“I think we can take our county back, but we need cooperation with everybody,” said Williams. “All of the churches are behind us and we look to have a pretty good march. We are hoping to have 3500 to 5000 people here Saturday.”

Zebulon Baptist Church Senior Pastor Tony Byrd said his church got involved after viewing a video of a similar march in Kentucky. According to organizer Danny Yearwood, that march served as the inspiration for the march in Stephens County tomorrow.

Yearwood said that march made a difference in that community’s fight against drug abuse and he hopes to see similar results here.

As for Byrd, he said this march is about more than getting rid of drugs.

“We are praying that God will work in the lives of these people,” said Byrd. “The bottom line is that if they are really going to get help, they need to get their life together and they need to get their heart right. It is about loving people.”

First Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jim Nelson agreed and said this march should serve as a first step.

“Certainly, as a pastor and from a spiritual point of view, I would like to think that after the march, we could get more organized and provide some counseling opportunities,” said Nelson.

The march and motorcycle ride will conclude at the Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa later in the morning.

For those who cannot march, transportation along the march route to the courthouse will be available, according to organizers.

For more information on the Stephens County Anti-Drug March, call Yearwood at 706-491-9027.

Meanwhile, traffic will be affected in downtown Toccoa due to the march.

According to a press release from the City of Toccoa, Sage Street from Tugalo Street to the alley next to the Whistlestop Antique Market will close from 5:30 p.m. today to 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Doyle Street from Alexander to Pond will close from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, as will Sage Street from Foreacre Street to Doyle.

In addition, one bay of the Tugalo Street parking lot in which the Whistlestop caboose is located will close from midnight Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Anyone with questions on the downtown road closures can contact the Planning and Downtown Development office at 706-282-3269.

350 Stephens County third graders are learning what the longest word is – and it is too difficult to say on the radio.

That is one of the bits of information found in student dictionaries handed out by the Stephens Education Literacy Foundation this week.

Director Lisa Prickett said the dictionaries are a tool students can use for their entire academic career.

“We have found that in third grade, they really begin to need resource materials and they start writing reports and it is important that they have a tool they can use either in their classroom or at home that will help them with this,” said Prickett.

Thursday, the students in Sheila Kesler’s class at Toccoa Elementary received their books.

To emphasize the importance of literacy and graduation, Jana Guadalope got to put on a red cap and gown, while Prickett reminded the children that they graduate in the year 2018.

Stormy Maxwell and William Shanks both see the usefulness of the new books.

“Looking at words and finding the definition of stuff and help writing reports,” the students said when asked about what they would use the dictionaries for. “To find things out, see how other people use languages, and to look up words and how to say them.”

This is the fourth year SELF has handed out dictionaries.

Savannah District officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers want to know the public’s thoughts on reducing flows out of Lake Thurmond in regards to downstream impacts.

A draft environmental assessment released this week asks that very question.

Georgia and South Carolina officials have requested a downstream reduction of 500 cubic feet per second through February 2009. The reduction, officials said, would help conserve more water in Lakes Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond, while hopefully still meeting downstream needs.

The public may obtain a copy of the environmental assessment produced by the Corps of Engineers by contacting William Bailey at 912-652-5781 or going here.

The public comment period runs through October 27.

A new 40,000 square foot West Wing addition will open next week at Habersham Medical Center.

On Monday, the new facility will come into use at Habersham Medical Center. It includes a 24-bed Outpatient Surgery Center, new main entrance, lobby, waiting area, meeting room, and gift shop.

Hospital officials said the new Outpatient Surgery Center is two times larger than the old one and will feature private patient rooms.

As part of the opening of the new facility, Habersham Medical Center will hold an open house on the new facility on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.

Habersham Medical Center is located in Demorest. For more information, call 706-754-2161.

With dark coming earlier these days, it just might be the time to learn more about the creatures of the night.

And tonight is your chance.

Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful and the Blue Ridge Outdoor Education Center is hosting a free educational program tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Henderson Falls Park in Toccoa.

Josh Rood, Director of the Blue Ridge Center, will be offering a program teaching all about those creatures that go hoot, whoosh, and squeak in the dark.

In addition, participants can get a free hotdog and coke and kids can roast marshmallows and get their face painted.

A crowd gathers to celebrate with Toccoa Mayor Andy Pavliscsak.

Pavliscsak’s business, AJ’s Self Storage, just completed a 4,000 square foot expansion and held a Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon cutting Thursday.

He said the business now offers a wide-range of storage options.

“We have added 44 new storage units and we have upgraded the facility,” said Pavliscsak. “We have added a new, closed-circuit security camera system, a full line of packing and moving supplies, and we look forward to serving the community.”

In addition, Mariesa Pavliscsak’s business, Advertising Unlimited shares space with the storage facility.

Looking around at the neat entrance, Pavliscsak said while upgrading the business, it was important to him to remember the greater needs of the community.

“Our goal, as we developed this piece of property, was to make it look as aesthetically pleasing as we possibly could since Highway 106 is a major entrance into our city,” he added.

AJ’s Self Storage is at the corner of Highway 106 and the Toccoa By-pass

A Toccoa woman remains in a South Carolina hospital after being injured in an two-car collision yesterday morning.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, around 8 a.m. Wednesday, 29-year-old Amanda Thompson of Toccoa was headed south on Prather Bridge Road, near Highview Road, when she crossed the centerline.

Her 2000 Chevy Prism ran almost head-on into a 1999 Ford Expedition driven by 29-year-old Kendria Oglesby, also of Toccoa.

Thompson was lifeflighted to Greenville Memorial Hospital where, officials said at last report, she was in the intensive care unit.

Her 5-year-old passenger and the other driver were taken to Stephens County Hospital.

No information on their conditions was available.

Troopers said charges against Thompson are pending.

Toccoa and Stephens County shine for visitors from the Gold Dome.

Members of the Georgia General Assembly’s Economic Development Committee gathered in Toccoa for a field trip of sorts Wednesday.

They heard an update on the progress of the downtown development, toured several downtown businesses, and even enjoyed a scoop of Olie’s Ice Cream.

Georgia State Senator Chip Pearson is the chairman for the committee.

He said the work in the area is an example to other communities.

“I believe that the cooperation and the can-do attitude and effort of the city, county, and the citizens together is what is making this happen and I wish that everybody in Georgia and the other 158 counties could see what is going on here,” said Pearson.

One of the businesses still under construction that the committee visited is Toccoa Commons, a combination banquet hall, restaurant, and small retail area.

Carla Werner, the facility’s owner, gave the committee a guided tour of the building.

“I think it went very well,” said Werner. “They were very attentive and interested. I think they posed interesting questions.”

Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor told committee members this is one of 16 new businesses and 27 façade renderings downtown has seen since the canopies came down.

After touring downtown, the committee also visited the speculative building at Hayestone-Brady Industrial Park, as well as the Currahee Club.

Turning from revitalization in Toccoa to revitalizing the economic situation in North Georgia, Sen. Pearson spoke to the need for a team effort to solve the areas economic woes.

“It is going to take a lot of folks pulling on one big rope in the same direction to make it happen,” said the senator. “We cannot have different agendas or different directions. We have to identify what has to be done, which direction we need to go, and all pull that way.”

Pearson made his comments standing on Doyle Street amidst a cacophony of construction sounds that represent almost $31 million in revitalization.

Pointing out that even small projects like façade restorations on individual businesses provide jobs; Pearson said economic development on the state level should be focused on small business.

“First of all, look into the private sector and say what can we do to stimulate or give incentives out there for the private sector to get these things turned around,” he added. “Ultimately, that is where the jobs come from. From a small business standpoint, we know that 90 percent of the jobs are coming from businesses of 50 or less employees and right here, you have a great example of these construction jobs in this redevelopment.”

Pearson represents State Senate District 51, which includes Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Union, and parts of Forsyth Counties.

Businesses interested in relocating to Stephens County now have a new avenue for information.

The Stephens County Development Authority has acquired a toll-free number.

Development Authority Chair Bob Defenbaugh called it an “additional tool in marketing,” while Executive Director Tim Martin said the number will make the authority “more accessible to prospective business.”

The toll free number is 1-866-952-SCDA.

Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor has been designated as a Master Georgia Downtown Development Professional.

Tabor recently passed her Level Three review to receive the designation.

Level Three Status requires 10 years worth of work in downtown development, 240 hours of classroom training, service as a trainer of other downtown developers, seven letters of recommendation, a collection of his or her work, and an oral presentation.

Tabor said she is honored by her designation.

“I feel really honored and proud,” said Tabor. “At the same time, I feel humbled as well.”

City officials praised Tabor for her efforts.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said they are proud of what Tabor has accomplished.

“We are real proud of Connie,” said Morse. “We knew we hired the right person 18 years ago. She has just done an outstanding job. Our downtown seems to be getting better every year and this certification is a true testament to her abilities and what the Main Street Program is all about.”

Morse added that it shows what the city staff throughout Toccoa goes through, as far as continuing education and training.

Georgia Municipal Association Community Development Associate Alan Dickerson said it is quite a challenge and shows Tabor has put in a lot of hard work.

“That means Ms. Tabor has reached a mastery in the professional practice of downtown development in Georgia and she had shown that she has made significant contributions to the profession,” said Dickerson.

According to Dickerson, to achieve this status, the association wants to see a downtown developer contribute to the field not just in his or her town, but across the state through outreach and training.

Tabor is only the third person in Georgia to reach this designation, joining her peers in Rome and Gainesville, Georgia.

Stephens County officials want to cut costs at the pump, even as gas prices come down.

County Administrator John Rutan said he is beginning to work on ideas that might help the county save in fuel costs in its budget.

Rutan said any plans he may have in mind are in the very early stages of development.

“The items we are looking at initially are alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, and the city currently has a supply line for compressed natural gas, so it is available,” said Rutan. “As we build a new fuel depot, we are looking at putting that in place. The other things we are looking at is different types of vehicles, smaller vehicles, so on and so forth.”

Stephens County is building its new fuel depot with SPLOST money.

During budget discussions, Finance Director Phyllis Ayers had told commissioners she was planning to budget a 35.5 percent increase in gas costs for the county in the fiscal year that has just started. That was based in part at the time on a thought gas may go as high as $5 a gallon.

Right now, AAA said the average price of a gallon of gas in Georgia is $3.10 a gallon. Driving around Toccoa, consumers can see prices under $3 a gallon at some stations.

Georgia hunters, get ready. Firearms deer season opens this Saturday.

Corporal Craig Fulghum with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said they are expecting a busy weekend for the opening of the season.

Fulghum also reminded hunters to have all of the necessary paperwork.

“Well, if you are born on or after January 1, 1961, you have to have a hunter education course you must complete in order to get a hunting license,” said Fulghum. “When you purchase your hunting license, you need to have a hunting license in addition to a big game license. You need to have permission to be on the property that you are hunting on. If it is not your property, you need to have it in writing. It needs to be updated annually.”

Of course, as hunters head into the woods, Fulghum reminded them of the most important piece of safety advice.

“We have a lot of instances that occur each year of people shooting at movement,” he added. “We just cannot accept that. You need to make sure you have a 100 percent ID on that particular animal when you pull the trigger and make sure you can see beyond that animal and it is not in conflict with a house or another person hunting. If it is, you do not take that shot.”

Fulghum also said hunters need to remember to wear plenty of orange to identify themselves as hunters and remain visible to other hunters.

Finally, Fulghum said the public can help make sure everyone follows the rules this deer season.

“We have a system now,” explained the corporal. “It is at 1-800-241-4113. It is a toll-free tip hotline. You can call in and give fish and game violations that you see. You can remain completely anonymous. It helps us. It is hard for us to be everywhere at one time, so if the public can play a hand and give us the information about those that are violating fish and game law, it really helps us out and helps protect the resource.”

Last year, more than 276,000 licensed hunters harvested over 300,000 deer.

Three people, including a 5-year-old girl, are recovering after an accident in Stephens County this morning.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, at 8 in the morning, 29-year-old Amanda Thompson of Toccoa was headed south on Prather Bridge Road near Highview Road when she crossed the centerline. Her 2000 Chevy Prism ran almost head-on into a 1999 Ford Expedition driven by 29-year-old Kendria Oglesby, also of Toccoa.

Thompson was lifeflighted to Greenville Memorial Hospital where, officials say, she is in the intensive care unit. Her 5-year-old passenger, and the other driver were taken to Stephens County Hospital.

No information on their conditions was available. Troopers say charges against Thompson are pending.

There is no word on the extent of any injuries in a reported two-car accident this morning in Stephens County.

Authorities and first responders have received a call in reference to a two-car accident with possible injuries on Prather Bridge Road, in the vicinity of the Stephens County Jail.

The call went out at 7:53 a.m. and authorities are on the scene now.

Stephens County will host some special visitors this morning that could be helpful in area economic development.

The Economic Development Committee of the Georgia House and Senate is going to be in town.

Tim Martin, Executive Director for the Stephens County Development Authority, said the group will see the sites of Toccoa and Stephens County.

“We have got them for about four hours,” said Martin. “We are going to be introducing them to the museum. We are going to be talking about the downtown growth and development. We will be peeking into the new courthouse. Then, we will go and look at the Hayestone-Brady Industrial Park and the speculative building there, followed by lunch at the Currahee Club.”

This committee influences marketing for communities across the state, so, Martin said, having them come to town is a positive thing.

“These members of the Economic Development Committee are in a position to shape and inform the marketing messages for the state of Georgia and we want them to include our Toccoa assets,” he added.

The Development Authority and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the day.

The city of Toccoa will continue to have Carter’s Royal Disposal take out the trash.

Monday afternoon, the City Commission voted unanimously to approve an addendum to the solid waste disposal agreement between the city and Carter’s.

Under the add-on to the agreement, the city will pay $40.13 per ton of solid waste, up three dollars from the current rate, through the end of calendar year 2009. After that, the fee per ton will increase three percent per year for the next four years.

This replaces the current agreement, which was set to expire in three months, according to the city.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said the cost will not trickle down to taxpayers at this time, even though the city did not budget enough previously for this increase.

“We increased the rate this year by 3.2 percent, so we will not be looking at any additional increase until we talk about the budget come next July and we will just have to wait and see how that all shakes out,” explained Morse.

Overall, Morse said the city will have to make up about $9,000 in this year’s budget, which he says can happen through some belt tightening in the general fund and the solid waste fund.

Morse said the city had other options, but they were not very appealing.

“The city has a transfer station out by the county landfill that is actually on county property,” added Morse. “We could re-activate that, but there is a lot of work involved in that. We would either have to contract with a hauler and maintain that transfer station every day or we would have to buy our own tractor trailer and haul our own waste, which is not a very good option either with the cost of fuel. We think we are getting a very good deal with Carter’s and want to stay with them.”

According to Morse, the city transports about 7,800 tons of solid waste per year.

Work should start soon on the third and final phase of the downtown Toccoa “streetscape” project.

Officials with the city of Toccoa indicated that Martin Grading could begin work any day now on Sage Street, between Currahee Street and the railroad tracks, for that final phase of the “streetscape.”

Work will include replacing the current sidewalk with brick pavers, putting up streetlights, and other improvements. The money for the project comes from funds through the Department of Transportation.

Martin Grading also did the work on the large phase of the “streetscape” work downtown, so city officials said they are familiar with the company’s work and feel confident things will go smoothly.

The company has 80 days to complete the project. City officials said Martin Grading should complete the work around the end of this year or in the early part of 2009.

WNEG has new information on an incident report filed by the Stephens County’s Sheriff Office.

This morning, WNEG reported arrests were made at a traffic stop in martin late Sunday into early Monday morning, based on an incident report provided by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say the stop involved 31-year-old William Mcelveen, Mammie Mcelveen, and 46-year-old Brenda Carter, all of Martin, and 23-year-old Curtis Watts, Jr. of Toccoa.

The information provided in the incident report filed by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office indicated four people were arrested in the incident.

A citation was issued to one of these individuals. However, the information provided by the Sheriff’s Office report in regards to arrests was incorrect.

The Sheriff’s Office corrected the report this morning, and says nobody was arrested at this time.

The investigation into the incident does continue.

A Toccoa man has reported that his bulldozer has fallen victim to thieves.

According to the report filed with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a location on Lake Louise Road, where the man told authorities someone had the cut the lock to the fuel tank on his Caterpillar bulldozer. In the report, the victim stated the thief or thieves took the fuel and fuel cap, and put dirt down the fuel tank.

In all, $500 worth of damage was done.

Meanwhile, A Toccoa man is missing $800 in jewelry in an alleged theft.

The man told Toccoa Police that he took two rings off and laid them on the table at the Literacy Center on South Broad Street. He then set the alarm, locked up, and left the premises at about 8 a.m. last Saturday. When he returned an hour later, the rings were gone.

Finally, A Valley Drive woman told Toccoa Police that she heard someone trying to get into her house this past Monday.

According to the report, police found evidence someone had tried to get in the back her house by pulling a screen out of the window. The residence was put on extra watch.

The investigation into all three incidents continues.

A local fire department wants to equip its ladder truck and will look to a state grant to help.

Tuesday night, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners authorized County Administrator John Rutan to sign a grant request from the Shiloh Fire Department to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Rutan said the department already has the truck. He explained the grant will go to help with acquiring foam and scene lighting.

“They have applied for this grant,” said Rutan. “They are asking for $8,000 and the Shiloh Fire Department is intending to provide the matching $8,000 for a total of $16,000. There is no money that the board has to appropriate on this.”

The money for the match from the Shiloh Fire Department will come from money in the department’s personal account, not from the allotment provided yearly by Stephens County Commissioners.

Commissioners authorized the request unanimously.

In other decisions from Tuesday night’s commissioners’ meeting, the board authorized a one-year extension of the food and beverage contract for the Rose Lane Recreation Complex to run through 2009 and it tabled a nomination to the EMS Council for this region representing Stephens County until January.

Stephens County Commissioners are also taking time to recognize some people who have helped them along the way.

Tuesday night, commissioners presented a plaque of appreciation to Rev. Philip Teasley, who has helped the commission for a number of years.

Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Kenneth Peeples said the county appreciates Teasley’s dedicated service and assistance.

“We are presenting this plaque to Philip Teasley in recognition of your dedicated service to the Stephens County Board of Commissioners,” proclaimed Peeples.

The commission also read a letter of appreciation to Amy Hix, who served as interim county clerk.

In addition, they signed two proclamations, one marking the upcoming Retiring Educators’ Day in Stephens County, and the other supporting Toccoa as a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award.

As of 5:30 a.m., WNEG TV 32 remained on Channel 7 for Northland Cable viewers.

Today, the switchover from Media General to the University of Georgia officially takes place, meaning Toccoa’s television station will have a different look.

First, the station will lose its CBS affiliation upon falling under the umbrella of UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications. For that reason, WNEG will no longer be seen on Northland Cable’s Channel 7 at some point. WNEG will move to Channel 18 for Northland Cable viewers once the switch happens. Meanwhile, the new CBS affiliate will then come out of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The University of Georgia agreed to buy WNEG TV from Media General earlier this year, and the sale was quickly approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

WNEG TV was started in Toccoa by Roy Gaines, who also founded WNEG Radio.

The city of Toccoa will partner with a local developer to construct a waterline to property he owns.

During a meeting Monday afternoon, the Toccoa City Commission unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and Donald Woody. The memorandum deals with Woody’s desire for a waterline to his property on Hickory Circle Court, where he has built duplexes and would like water service.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said the six-inch waterline will cost $13,500 overall. However, Morse said Woody bears most of the financial burden.

“The contractor and the city will both pay $3,000 and the contractor has already put $7,500 into the project,” said Morse. “So, for the city’s $3,000, the contractor is putting in $10,500.”

Originally, Woody requested annexation into the city of Toccoa. However, the city commission did not approve that request.

Morse said that raised a number of questions that by just building a waterline and taking annexation off of the table, still accomplishes Woody’s goals while easing the city’s concerns.

“He had some issues with soil erosion,” added Morse. “The state of Georgia is working on those. There were some issues the city commission had with whether we had adequate turnaround space for our garbage trucks and fire trucks. Because of that, we just decided it would be better off if the property was not annexed into the city limits. Mr. Woody certainly agreed with that sentiment.”

In addition, Morse said customers in that area should see improved fire protection and water pressure. It also does bring the possibility, officials added, of attracting new customers with that line.

The memorandum of understanding is based on Woody obtaining all of the necessary easements to move forward. Morse said no specific timeline for construction of the waterline exists, but he adds it should begin soon.

Another day means another honor for downtown Toccoa.

Toccoa was awarded the Excellence in Downtown Development award, the highest award offered by the Georgia Downtown Association.

The Georgia Downtown Association partners with the state’s Department of Community Affairs to present the award to one city each year.

Toccoa received the award at the annual Georgia Downtown Conference earlier this month in Douglasville.

Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor said they are excited to receive the award.

Tabor added the selection panel noted the façade renovations, re-opening of Doyle Street, and removal of the canopies as major points in Toccoa’s favor.

“Altogether, this project means tremendous economic impact for Toccoa,” said Tabor. “We have had 26 building facades renovated and we have had about 16 new businesses that have opened. This is all since the canopies have been removed.”

According to Tabor, the city’s selection came after a multi-faceted application process.

“We submitted a written application for the award nomination back earlier in the summer and then they go through a selection panel and site visits as well to review the applications that have been submitted, then make their judgment and award,” added Tabor.

According to the selection panel, Toccoa rated best in Georgia in the number of active committees, successful promotions for downtown, decreasing economic gaps, along with an increased number of design and rehabilitation projects implemented.

This award comes on the heels of the announcement that Toccoa is one of 10 semifinalists for next year’s Great American Main Street Award. The winner of that award will be announced next March at a conference in Chicago.

Stephens County Commissioners will consider a number of items during tonight’s regular meeting and work session.

Items on the agenda include consideration of authorizing the county administrator to sign a grant request from Shiloh Fire Department to assist in equipping their ladder truck, consideration of an extension of the current food and beverage agreement at the Rose Lane Recreation Complex for another year, and consideration of names to serve on the Stephens County EMS Council.

The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Prior to that, the commissioners will discuss the items in a work session that will begin at 5:30 p.m. Both the business meeting and the work session will take place in the commissioners’ meeting room of the Stephens County Courthouse Annex in Toccoa and both are open to the public.

Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley says her office has not had problems to this point regarding voters having photo identification when coming for early voting.

That said, she reminded voters, the rule is something voters should still keep in mind when voting for November.

“During early voting or in-office voting right now until October 31, you need a picture ID, driver’s license, passport, things like that,” said Kelley. “When you go to the polls on Election Day, you will also need your Photo ID because we have to have that because the law requires it.”

The law also allows voters to use a valid employee photo ID from the government, a military or tribal photo ID, or any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID.

According to Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, Georgia’s photo ID law has been in place for 14 elections without incident. Handel says the law works well and has not caused anyone to be unable to cast a ballot.

However, a lawsuit was filed to try and prevent enforcement of the law. However, the law was upheld in Fulton County Superior Court. Handel praised the court’s decision in a press release issued Monday.

Meanwhile, AM 630 WNEG and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring two candidate forums this month. Those forums are next Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, at the Schaefer center in Toccoa. Forums both nights start at 6 p.m.

Hundreds of dollars of clothing and valuables are missing from a Stephens County residence after an alleged theft.

According to the report on file with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, a woman on Riverdale Road reported to authorities that last Thursday, she and her family left their home around 4 p.m. According to the woman, when they returned home at 7 p.m., they found a number of items missing from the home.

Those items included multiple items of ladies’ clothing valued at $150, a gold ring with diamonds, valued at $250, and a collectible porcelain doll valued at $100.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.

If you have an extra hour and a big heart, the Boys and Girls Club needs you.

Chevalier Ruff, administrative assistant for the Toccoa-Stephens County Boys and Girls Club, said the club is always looking for people to act as mentors to the kids who use the Whitman Street facility.

“We always need volunteers and the biggest thing right now is that we need mentors,” said Ruff. “We need big brothers and big sisters. We have a lot of these young men and young ladies who just need somebody else in their lives that is going to be really positive for them.”

Ruff said spending an hour a week can make a difference to that child.

“To come in here once a week and sit down and talk with the kids, they just do not know how much that will change them,” she added. “We do have individuals that come in and do different programs with them and they are so excited to see them and they do listen to what they have to say, so an hour a week would be perfect.”

To volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, you can talk with Ruff or Director, Oliver Dorsey, and fill out a few forms.

Background checks are done on all volunteers.

For more information, call the Boys and Girls Club at 706- 886-3771.

Speaking of Ruff, the Toccoa City Commission took time Monday afternoon during its meeting to honor her for winning a statewide award recently.

The commission expressed their appreciation for Ruff’s efforts at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club in Toccoa.

Last month, we reported that Ruff was given an award for excellence by the professional organization that supports Boys and Girls’ Clubs across Georgia.

Chevalier, who has been the administrative assistant at the Toccoa-Stephens County Boys and Girls’ Club for almost a year, says she was surprised and honored.

Director Oliver Dorsey said her award was much deserved.

Gas prices are on the decline nationwide, and after gas concerns last month, northeast Georgia is seeing a return to more normal supply and demand.

Gas prices in Toccoa have dipped below $3.30 a gallon, with many places in the region going just as low, if not lower.

Gregg Lasokski with AAA said the price of oil has dropped significantly, going from $90 a barrel just a couple of weeks ago, to $70 to $80 a barrel now.

“Speculators have completely left that market,” said Lasokski. “Because the dollar has strengthened against several other currencies and mostly the Euro, there is no longer a reason for people to look to crude oil or any other commodity as a hedge against the weak dollar because the dollar is not as weak as many other currencies.”

At one point this summer, oil was at $140 a barrel. Then, gas was $4 a gallon. So, with the price of oil cut in half, will the price of gas do the same?

Lasokski said not so fast.

“We are confident that we will see many markets in our area at about $3 a gallon, if not by Halloween, within just a few weeks thereafter,” he added. “Just a year ago, the average price for the entire state of Georgia was $2.70 a gallon. I am not going to say that such a price is out of the question. Maybe that is approachable.”

The average price of a gallon of gas in Georgia currently sits at $3.33 a gallon.

The deadline is approaching for local vendors to apply for the annual Toccoa Harvest Festival.

Main Street Director Connie Tabor said the deadline to apply for booth space at the Harvest Festival is this Friday, October 17.

Tabor said so far, preparations are going well.

“Preparations are going really well,” said Tabor. “We have 75 vendors that have currently signed up and it is not too late to sign up if you are a handmade, homemade, or homegrown vendor. We would love to have you and you can come to either the City Hall Building or call 282-3309 and request an application. We will be glad to get it in the mail to you.”

The Harvest Festival provides a weekend of arts, crafts, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Toccoa for two days. Downtown streets are blocked off for the many vendors that come to the event every year.

Last year, there were over 100 craft and food vendors there for the event’s two days.

This year, the Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2. To get a booth application, stop by Toccoa City Hall on Alexander Street.

Toccoa City Commissioners will be talking water and solid waste disposal at tonight’s meeting.

On the agenda for the meeting is consideration of a memorandum of understanding between a local developer and the city to share the costs of installing a six-inch water line on Hickory Circle Court.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said this partnership will help the city offer more services to the area, as well as help the developer who is interested in having water at some duplexes on that street.

Meanwhile, commissioners will review the agreement the city currently has with Carter’s Royal Disposal to take the solid waste the city collects from citizens. Carter’s has handled the city’s waste previously, Morse said, and it is time to renew the agreement between the two entities.

And finally, Finance Director Emory Stephens will present the monthly finance report for the city.

The City Commission meeting is held in Toccoa City Hall at 4 p.m. It is open to the public.

In another meeting note … the Stephens County Board of Commissioners has changed its meeting schedule for this week.

The Board of Commissioners will not hold a work session tonight as normal. Instead, the board will hold a work session tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., followed by a meeting at 6 p.m.

Both tomorrow’s work session and meeting will take place in the commissioners’ meeting room of the Stephens County Courthouse Annex in Toccoa.

Metal and equipment theft continue to confound local law enforcement.

Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for a group of men in a blue vehicle who allegedly stole several steel railroad tie plates from the Norfolk Southern railroad line near Riverdale Road.

According to authorities, an employee of Norfolk-Southern told deputies that while he was working on the railroad last Wednesday, he noticed three or four men picking up objects near the railroad and putting them in a car with Missouri tags.

The employee said they were taking the steel plates, but he did not know how many.

Sheriff’s officials are still investigating.

Meanwhile, deputies are also searching for several pieces of motorized equipment.

On Thursday, an Eastanollee man told the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office that someone stole four large items from his home while he was out of town.

Missing are a one-seater go cart, 2 Lawn-boy push mowers, and a 3-wheeler with a cracked fender well.

The victim told deputies the equipment had gone missing from behind his barn.

In all, the equipment is valued at $650.

Also on Thursday, a Toccoa man reported that an air compressor, miter saw, and motorcycle helmet was stolen from his Leatherwood Road home.

Sheriff’s deputies place the total value of those items at $950.

And finally, Toccoa Police are investigating yet another copper theft.

Police reports said about $500 worth of copper wire was taken from an air conditioning unit at American Heritage on West Currahee Street.

The investigation continues.

With the November general election now just weeks away, two candidate forums will help voters hear directly from the candidates.

The forums are co-sponsored by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and AM 630 WNEG.

On Monday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 21, the two forums will take place. Both forums will take place at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa.

On Monday, October 20, the candidates for all four county commissioner posts and sheriff will gather. The other races will appear on October 21.

Both nights, the forum will begin at 6:00, again at the Schaefer Center in Toccoa. You can hear the forums right here on AM 630 WNEG and online at wnegradio.com.

A few Toccoa streets could be out of the resurfacing loop, if LARP gets lopped.

LARP is the Local Assistance Road Program through the Georgia Department of Transportation and Tuesday, the DOT voted to reduce funding in the program for the 2009 budget.

The City of Toccoa just applied for LARP funding to resurface Doyle Street from Big A Road to Pond Street.

City Manager Billy Morse said losing those funds could hurt.

“We do not actually get a lot of LARP money here,” said Morse. “It is enough to pave about one mile of city streets. However, it is a good supplement to our city budget, so it is going to hurt.”

According to reports, the LARP program could be slashed by $28 million, though the Georgia General Assembly and Governor Sonny Perdue must approve the cuts.

Morse said the city has other funding options to get streets repaved.

“The good news is we have SPLOST V funds earmarked for road resurfacings, so over the next five years, we hope we will be in good shape,” explained Morse.

Morse said no official notification of any funding cuts has come from DOT.

With the stock market facing a level of volatility not often seen, some have concerns about the future of their investments on Wall Street.

Local investment advisor David Plaisted said the volatility Wall Street is dealing with right now comes mostly from short-term concerns over the nation’s economy and what will happen as a result of the bailout package approved in Washington, D.C.

Plaisted said every investor must look at his or her own situation. However, in general, Plaisted said investors should examine their ultimate long-term goals, not worry only about the short-term events.

“It is just difficult to predict cycles and that is what I think most of the time we have to be prepared for, but I think those that hold on through this downturn, I think they will be rewarded significantly in the future,” explained Plaisted.

Plaisted added people also must take into account their tolerance for risk when deciding what to do with investments.

As for the stock market’s immediate future, Plaisted cautioned it is difficult to determine what will happen on Wall Street and when.

Yesterday, the stock market had another rough day. The Dow Jones Industrial Index dipped almost 700 points to finish at its lowest point since 2003. The NASDAQ and S&P 500 indexes also fell significantly.

A Toccoa man is missing almost $200 worth of equipment from his home. A Howard Road man told Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies that someone took at 10-foot rowboat and a 16-foot extension ladder from his home sometime after October 4. The items are valued at $255.

Meanwhile, Toccoa police are looking into an alleged theft at a local business. A Mount Airy woman told police that someone took her wallet from her purse while she was at work at the Georgia Department of Labor. In the wallet was cash, her driver’s license, social security car, and other personal items. Police reported there are no suspects at this time.

The investigation into all the incidents continue.

With drought affecting the agriculture industry throughout not just Georgia, but other states, the federal government is stepping to help those in the industry affected.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that federal economic injury disaster loans are now available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private, non-profit organizations in the declared areas due to the drought.

Such loans are available in Stephens County, as well as Habersham, Franklin, Hart, and Rabun counties.

The Director of the Small Business Administration’s East Field Operations Center said these counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in the State of South Carolina.

Under the declaration, farmers and ranchers cannot apply, but nurseries can.

The declaration comes following a disaster declaration for South Carolina by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information, call 1-800-659-2955 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Completed loan applications must be submitted by March 15, 2009.

Stephens County High School is not the only school holding its Homecoming festivities this weekend.

Homecoming at Toccoa Falls College begins today and runs through Sunday.

Alumni and College Relations Director Sharon Sanderson said this is the 101^st year for Toccoa Falls College and they are excited about seeing the alumni return. The theme for this year’s event is “Homecoming 101.”

Sanderson said they have many events planned for the weekend.

“We have a golf tournament that we host every year,” said Sanderson. “We have been doing this a number of years, so that is still ongoing. Then, we have been growing our numbers for an outdoor barbecue that has become a favorite that we instituted three years ago that is becoming a favorite with our alumni.”

Sanderson went on to say a new event taking place during Toccoa Falls College’s Homecoming will hopefully allow for more interaction between past and current generations of students.

“One of the things that I have been working hard to do since I have been in this position, now just about three years, is to try to increase our student involvement at Homecoming,” she explained. “So, we have invited them to the Homecoming Ice Cream Social.”

Other events include the Homecoming parade, church services, and alumni awards ceremony on Saturday night.

According to Sanderson, they are expecting about 300 people back in town for the festivities, which falls in line with previous Homecoming celebrations.

For more information on Toccoa Falls Homecoming, call the Toccoa Falls College Alumni Office at 706-886-6831, extension 5222.

A local music group will get their chance at 25 minutes of fame if they shine in an upcoming audition.

Organizers for a November concert featuring country music artist Brantley Gilbert are holding auditions for an opening act tomorrow at Café Java on Big A Road beginning at 7 p.m. One of those organizers, Melissa Smith, said they are looking for a local group who is waiting for their big break.

“The person or group that we are looking for is going to be someone that can hold the attention of the audience and get them ready for the next act,” said Smith. “So, it really does not matter what genre it is. We just wanted to push someone locally.”

Brantley Gilbert is a musician from Jefferson, Georgia who plays tunes that are described as “country with a rock spin.” Smith went on to say that even though Brantley Gilbert is a country artist, the opening act they seek could be almost anything.

“It is for any act,” she added. “It is for solo artists. It is for a group of any genre. It can be Christian music. It can be folk music. It can be rock music.”

The auditions go from 7 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. The winner will be announced at 10 p.m.

Smith said the concert will be held November 1 at the Bar B Ranch on Rock Road and proceeds will go to Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity in Stephens County.

A decade of work only marks the beginning of what the “Partners For Success” organization intends to do.

Wednesday, the organization held its annual meeting to celebrate their successes and look ahead to what is next.

Board Chair Cynthia Brown said “Partners for Success” brings together community organizations that offer various kinds of resources to work together for children.

“It is bringing resources and folks to the table who want to work with issues that have to do with families and children and our two focuses have been getting children ready for school and then making children successful in school,” said Brown.

Wednesday, the keynote speaker was Doug Hitchons, Vice President at Gem Industries in Eastanollee.

Using personal stories of an important mentor in his life along with his experience in business specifically in Stephens County, Hitchons told the group that the responsibility for improving education for students in Stephens County, both academically and morally, lies with the whole community.

“We all need to take ownership of what is going on here in Stephens County,” said Hitchons. “We need to be responsible and we have to step out. We need to do it ourselves. We need to quit making excuses and just get the results.”

One of those stepping up to help is Matthew Mott, a young man volunteering as a mentor at a county elementary school.

He said he wants to give back after he received help as a student.

“I graduated high school here and I felt that I was encouraged to come back and be a tutor in the community,” said Mott.

About 50 people attended the luncheon.

Bob and Kathy Pauly talk about their upcoming travel plans as though they a taking simple drive from Stephens County to Rabun County.

“We will go up to the Red Sea, then the Suez Canal then, then to the Mediterranean Sea.

We will spend the next two years in the Mediterranean,” said Bob.

That is right. They are talking about sailing from Thailand, to the Indian Ocean, and then to the Red Sea.

Bob, who was a surgeon at the Toccoa Clinic for 20 years, took up sailing after he retired in 1991. He met Kathy and the two began a life of sailing around the world.

While they own a house in Stephens County, for the last seven years, they have lived most of the time on their 37-foot sailboat called “Briana” and traveled along the trade winds in the tropics. They began in the Bahamas, traveled through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean, stopping at various islands along the way.

“We spent two years in French Polynesia, then went Cook Islands, American Samoa, then Fiji, which was really nice,” he added.

“We took a lot of time so we really got to know the people,” added Kathy.

On their journey west on the seas, the Paulys met Hindus and Muslims, blue-footed boobys, and ocean squalls. They visited orangutans in Borneo, learned to repair their boat single-handedly, and made friends with adventurers on a similar journey.

“You find out that people are wonderful everywhere,” Kathy said. “We have had wonderful experiences getting to know the people around the world.”

She went on with a message from friends they met in Indonesia.

“I would like people to know that the people in Indonesia love Americans and want us to visit,” she explained. “A lot of people consider it is a Muslim country, but they are very, very moderate Muslims there, not the fundamentalist type. They really want that word to get out; that they want Americans to visit. They treated us like royalty.”

Now, the “Briana” waits in Thailand for the next leg of the journey. In a few weeks, the Paulys will catch the winds and  head across the Indian Ocean towards the coast of Africa. Before they leave, they will present a slide show about their life and travels at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library.

That show will be October 30 at 7 p.m. The public is invited.

As Georgia moves into a dangerous time of the year for wildfires, state officials are taking National Fire Prevention Week to urge caution when burning.

National Fire Prevention Week began Sunday and runs through Saturday.

Officials with the Georgia Forestry Commission have urged outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life to be aware of the dangerous wildfire potential at this time of the year.

Clearing wide areas around campfires, ensuring that campfires are never left unattended, and thoroughly extinguishing all campfires are important measures.

Meanwhile, statistics show debris burning continues to be the number one cause of wildfires.

Stephens County Chief Ranger Gary Roberts said a burn permit is always required in order to burn.

“There are three ways to do that,” said Roberts. “You can go online at www.gatrees.org, or you can go to our automated system at 1-877-652-2876. Those two sites are available for small yard debris, small piles of six feet by six feet or less. If you are burning a large pile, you need to call your local county unit.”

Fire prevention practices for homeowners should include raking leaves and removing flammable vegetation for at least thirty feet from any structure. In addition, firewood should be secured and leaves should be removed from gutters.

With unemployment concerns rising nationwide, the Georgia Department of Labor will host an event tomorrow to provide an opportunity for job seekers to find what they are looking for.

The Toccoa Career Center, in conjunction with North Georgia Technical College and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, will sponsor a job fair and career expo tomorrow afternoon at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Tech.

The event will feature about 40 employers hiring to fill current job openings.

Toccoa Career Center Manager Greg Pitts said this is a great opportunity to get out into the job market.

“One of the important things that we advise people who will be in attendance is to come dressed for success, as we call it,” said Pitts. “We would like for them to dress professionally and come prepared to be interviewed as some employers will actually be conducting interviews that day. Another helpful item would be is if the person has a resume, we suggest that they bring numerous copies of that resume.”

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said while the market is tough, employment opportunities still exist.

Pitts added his office does all they can to help.

“There are a lot of people who have been displaced from their jobs over the past couple of years and it seems like as the economy has worsened over the last six months or so, that those numbers have escalated,” he went on to say. “We are very hopeful that some of these people who have been out of a job for quite some time will find success in matching their skills up with an employer on Friday.”

The job fair is free and open to the public. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m. tomorrow. The Currahee campus of North Georgia Technical College is located on Highway 17 South in Toccoa.

For more information on tomorrow’s job fair, call the Toccoa Center Center at 706-282-4514.

Following the lead of other private and public agencies, the Georgia Department of Labor is implementing a 4-day work week.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond announced Tuesday that the Department of Labor has implemented an Alternative Work Schedule that shifts department staff to 10-hour work days.

In addition, the change will expand customer service hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This particular 4-day work week does come with a twist.

Instead of being closed one day a week, the staff will rotate so that the Department of Labor offices can be open five days a week with those expanded hours.

Commissioner of Labor Michael Thurmond said in a press release that the change provides for a “much needed, cost neutral expansion of services.”

A break-in at the Am Vets Club in Toccoa leads to a reported theft.

According to a report filed with the Toccoa Police Department, authorities responded to the club on Broad Street on Monday. The report states that a forced entry appeared to have taken place through a front window. Inside, the report says $25 in coins from the cash register had been taken.

The investigation continues.

Authorities have canceled the Amber Alert issued earlier for 3-year-old Isaiah Tan. The alert was canceled around 8 p.m. No other information was released.

Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a 3-year-old Midville boy who has been abducted and could be in a car headed in the Stephens County direction.

Isaiah Ezekiel Tan has been allegedly abducted by Deloris Marie Miller, a 46-year-old white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 150 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Isaiah is a 3-year-old white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He stands 36 inches tall and weighs 36 pounds. He was last seen wearing a navy blue t-shirt and cartoon underwear.

The suspect, Deloris Miller, was last seen wearing a light brown button-up shirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes. Authorities say the two could be headed to Tennessee in a black Cadillac with a Tennessee license plate with the number 616hws.

Midville is in Burke County is in East Central Georgia along the Georgia-South Carolina border.

If you have information on this boy, the suspect or the vehicle contact the Burke County Sheriff’s office at 706-544-2133.

Toccoa Police have a South Carolina woman in custody in connection with a shoplifting case earlier this month at the Toccoa Wal-Mart.

In a press released issued Wednesday by the Toccoa Police Department, authorities said they arrested 40-year-old Sherry Diane Blakely of Union, South Carolina for the recent incident.

According to police, they responded to Wal-Mart late last week. Once they arrived, police spoke with the loss prevention officer, who said a computer tower, Dell monitor, and Polaroid flat screen TV were all taken. The items allegedly taken totaled just over $1000.

Police were able to obtain a video of the alleged theft. Blakely is accused of leaving the scene, before being tracked down later, according to Chief Jackie Whitmire.

“A couple of days later, once we identified her, the detectives got the suspect identified and through their investigation made contact with her,” said Whitmire. “They found her and got her back here to the police department, where she admitted to what she had done and then called a family member to bring the items back. The items were returned to Wal-Mart, but she was still charged with the felony theft.”

Police have charged Blakely with felony theft by shoplifting.  She was released from the Stephens County Jail on a secured bond of $5100.

The local community gathers in a show of support for victims of domestic violence.

Tuesday night, a candlelight vigil was held to mark October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Paul Anderson Park in Toccoa.

Clayton City Manager Cissy Henry read a proclamation marking the month. Meanwhile, District Attorney Brian Rickman spoke to those in attendance.

Rickman said these events must serve as a way for the community to remember the past, so we do not repeat the mistakes in the future.

Rickman added it is that future, the children, who suffer when they look to their parents for compassion and see domestic violence take place.

“All those eyes want is a gentle hug and to feel loved and time and time again, they hear screaming voices, they get hand across the face, and they are disappointed,” said Rickman. “Every time that happens to those children, their hearts grow just a little bit darker. Every time that happens to those children, their smiles diminish a little bit more.”

Rickman said the community must make an effort to do something to protect these victims.

Fellow speaker Jennifer Thomas, representing the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, echoed Rickman.

Thomas said domestic violence happens because the community tolerates it and will only end when the community puts a stop to it.

“How many more of these events do we have to have?” asked Thomas. “How many more times do we need to gather like this before we, as a community, say ‘no more’? How many more times do we have to read the names of murdered victims of domestic violence before we say ‘no more’?”

Thomas called on law enforcement, the faith community, the media, and other support groups to get the message out that domestic violence will not be tolerated and to help victims of such violence.

Also on display at Paul Anderson Park were flags with each one marking a victim of domestic violence in the Mountain Judicial Circuit, covering Rabun, Habersham, and Stephens counties. Those flags will now go on display in their respective counties. In Toccoa, the Stephens County flags will be on display at the First Baptist Church.

Vigil organizers said anyone who needs help regarding a domestic violence situation can call 1-800-33-HAVEN.

Residents in Martin and surrounding areas will no longer be able to make a midnight run to the post office.

Postmaster Cheryl Fitzsimmons is closing the lobby after dark because, she said, after three vandalism instances, she is concerned for her customers safety.

“In order to protect my customers’ mail and my customers themselves, in case somebody would be in here trying to do their dastardly deeds, I spoke with district and they allowed me to send one of my employees in to close up just before dark and then re-open in the morning,” said Fitzsimmons.

She said someone comes in around 6:15 a.m. and then the lobby is unlocked.

Last month, someone burglarized all three post offices in Stephens County, including Martin, in one evening.

Postal inspectors, the Toccoa Police Department, and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incidents.

The director of Toccoa’s Main Street Program called a nomination for the city as a semifinalist for a national award a “great honor.”

Last week, WNEG reported the city of Toccoa is one of 10 semifinalists for the Great American Main Street Award. Toccoa is joined in the semifinals by cities ranging from Oberlin, Ohio to Baltimore and Green Bay.

The award recognizes communities who achieved exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing America’s historic main street commercial districts.

Main Street Toccoa Director Connie Tabor said it shows the hard work that has gone on in downtown Toccoa.

“We would have never received this designation if it had not been for the hard work and the excitement of the local businesses and property owners that are renovating their storefronts when the canopies were removed,” said Tabor. “I think this is a testament for our local leadership and the private investments that have been made downtown.”

According to Tabor, the city filled out an extensive application to become eligible for the award.

The next step is for the city to provide supporting documentation for its nomination as the National Main Street Center chooses its finalists for the award.

Tabor said this is where Toccoa citizens can help the city’s chances.

“Anyone that would like to provide supporting documentation or letters, we would love to have you write a letter of support for the Toccoa Main Street,” she added. “Just get it to us by Friday, October 17 to include in our second stage of the application process.”

The winner will be announced at a conference in Chicago, Illinois coming up in March 2009.

It is that time again, -- time to put on your gloves, grab your trash bag, and help clean up our area’s waterways.

Saturday will be the Rivers’ Alive 10^th Annual River Cleanup.

Linda Wilson, Director of Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful, said people interested in helping should gather at the Lake Yonah Recreation Area.

“This year, Toccoa and Stephens County is going to be doing Panther Creek and also the Stephens County Recreation Area over at the “Broken Bridges,” said Wilson. “These are the same areas we did last year. We will gather at the Lake Yonah Recreation Area. That is over close to the dam.”

Wilson said Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful will provide gloves and trash bags.

In addition, T-shirts will be given out as long as they last.

Wilson said cleaning up these sites is important for the whole community.

“It is so important to keep our waterways and our rivers and streams clear,” she added. “The obvious reason is because we need clean water.”

Again, the Rivers Alive Cleanup will be Saturday beginning at the Lake Yonah Recreation Area from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Toccoa Police are investigating three criminal incidents in local stores.

Two of the incidents happened at Wal-Mart on the same day. On Friday, police first responded to a shoplifter in custody. The loss prevention officer at the store told police officers she caught a man taking almost $25 worth of items. According to police reports, video evidence was collected, and the man was arrested and taken to the Stephens County jail.

The same day, officers were called in to investigate a forgery case. Officials said a woman tried to cash a money order for $850. That money order appeared to be one that had already been cashed for a smaller amount. Police collected evidence and continue to investigate the incident.

Finally, on Saturday, officers were called to Sav-A-Lot grocery store to investigate a theft. Authorities said someone was arrested for shoplifting $2 worth of items from the Collins Road store. No other information was available.

If you are one of millions nationwide who have not yet filed for those economic stimulus payments handed out earlier this year, time is finally running out.

October 15 is the deadline for people to file a 2007 income tax return and receive the economic stimulus payments handed out earlier this year.

Most people who have not filed are those who normally do not file a tax return, but must do so in order to receive the stimulus payments, including retirees, disabled veterans, and others.

Internal Revenue Service Spokesperson Mark Green said the agency estimates that around 134,000 Georgians still have not filed for a variety of reasons.

“I think one gentleman told me in particular that he was not going to file a return because he felt like it would affect his benefits,” said Green. “It will not affect your Social Security benefits. It will not affect your retirement pay, nor are there any strings attached to this. This is your money, but you must file a return in order to receive it.”

To be eligible for the payment, a person must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income from earned income, combat pay, or certain benefits such as social security, veterans’ affairs, and railroad retirement benefits.

Green said October 15 is also the deadline for taxpayers who applied for a filing extension to submit their tax returns. This applies to about 10 million taxpayers.

For more information, people can visit the IRS’s website at www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040.

A major shopping center for northeast Georgia consumers is growing.

The Tanger Outlet Center, located on Interstate 85 in Banks Crossing, has announced an expansion that will add nearly 37,000 square feet to the current shopping center. According to a press release, the center’s new, free-standing expansion will accommodate several new outlets, such as Gymboree and Skechers.

The company said additional stores will be announced in the near future. Company CEO Stanley Tanger called the expansion a $3 million investment in both the Tanger center and the Commerce community.

Tanger went on to say the company is excited to give customers in Commerce an ever greater selection of stores to choose from.

The expansion will take a couple of years to complete.

With chants of “move that dirt,” the ground was broken Monday for the new Stephens County High School.

The Stephens County School Board, local leaders, and all the students of the current high school gathered in the back of the school to break ground for the new building. Fifth graders from nearby Big A Elementary School were also on hand to watch the beginning of the school they will one day attend.

“It is a momentous occasion,” said Stephens County School Superintendent Gary Steppe. “Today we turned over a new chapter. When you think of the history and the tradition of this high school, and the excellence that happens here, it is exciting to think of building a new high school that is modern and sound and equipped for the 21^st century.”

High School Principal David Friend also called the day “exciting” and urged the students present to make the most of their educational opportunities.

“When it gets down to it, education really is defined by the students themselves. A school is not defined by a building, but by the students,” he said.

Not long after the school board ceremonially tossed shovelfuls of dirt, a backhoe moved into place and dug into the grassy hill, moving the first of 400,000 yards of dirt that will be moved in the construction process. Students chanted, “Move that dirt.”

The new school will be built directly behind the current building and is expected to take almost two years to complete. Then, after students move into it, the old school will be gutted, rebuilt and connected to the new building. In all, the cost is estimated at $45 million.

The seasons may change, but the drought seems to remain the same.

As northeast Georgia transitions into the fall season, the drought conditions remain.

According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, northeast Georgia and Stephens County remain in “extreme” drought, the second-worst category.

Assistant State Climatologist Pam Knox said a drought like this only happens once every 50 to 100 years.

“What that means for northeast Georgia is that over the course of the summer, we have continued to see very dry conditions,” said Knox. “This is really our third year of drought across much of Georgia and as a result of that, groundwater levels across the state are very low. Even when we get rain, which unfortunately has not been all that often, the rain comes through the streams pretty quickly, runs off down towards the ocean, and the stream flows go way back down quickly.”

While northeast Georgia remains in the grip of a fairly severe drought, conditions could be worse. Just to the east, in the upstate of South Carolina, counties there sit in the midst of “exceptional” drought, the worst category.

Knox said forecasts cannot tell if those more severe conditions will make their way back across what remains of Lake Hartwell.

“Over the course of time, the drought has migrated,” she added. “Last year, the worst part of the drought was actually in northeast Georgia and it has migrated over to the northeast as they have gotten more rain coming out of the west. Right now, the western part of North Carolina and South Carolina has really been in bad drought. Of course, that is next to northeast Georgia, so they have all been in the same boat.”

While the drought may or may not get worse, Knox said at least for now, it probably will not improve much.

“We do not expect to see a lot of relief,” predicted the assistant state climatologist. “If we get any relief this time of year, it would most likely be coming from tropical systems. We are past the main part of the tropical season, so I just do not see a lot of that coming.”

Winter may bring relief. However, Knox said normal rainfall will not provide enough precipitation and signs do not point towards a wetter than normal winter.

Community members want everyone to come together in the fight against domestic violence tonight.

To mark October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a candlelight vigil is taking place tonight at 7 p.m. at Paul Anderson Memorial Park in Toccoa.

Vicki Reeves de Martinez serves as the public relations coordinator for Circle of Hope, a group that helps victims of domestic violence. She said a number of events will precede the lighting of the candles and prayer at about 8 p.m.

“Speakers will be Brian Rickman, who is our District Attorney for the Mountain Judicial District and State Task Force Coordinator for the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Jennifer Thomas,” said Reeves de Martinez. “We will also be having poetry readings, as well as a moment of silence for victims, survivors, and community unity.”

In addition, Reeves de Martinez said, the voices of domestic violence victims will also be heard. She said they will have a display of flags, with each one marking someone helped by area domestic violence agencies like Circle of Hope.

“We will have a banner that has been designed by the child victims at the shelter commemorating Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” she added. “In the arbor, we plan to have a clothesline project display. That is artwork on T-shirts that local victims in the shelter have designed and painted to reflect their personal experiences with domestic violence.”

People attending tonight’s vigil should park in the Toccoa Clinic overflow lot next to the Social Security Administration building, or in the parking lot at First Baptist Church.

Again, it starts at 7 p.m. at the Paul Anderson Park in Toccoa.

Economic development in Stephens County is still moving forward despite an obvious slowdown in area industrial activity and uncertainty in the nation’s financial situation.

Tim Martin, Executive Director of the Stephens County Development Authority, said he is confident the issues that lead to a $700 billion bailout package will be weathered.

“The percentage of this problem versus the enormity of our national economy really is a small issue,” said Martin. “I think we will weather the storm in very strong fashion. When we get past the election in November, Congress is going to resolve some of the question marks that they have in their minds and this economy, this state, and this community is going to go forward in a very strong fashion.”

The Development Authority is depending on getting loans to be able to begin developing the Hayestone-Brady Industrial Park on Highway 17. Plans include installing sewer, utilities, and a railway spur.

Authorities hope that developing the site to this extent will encourage industries to move to Stephens County and thus provide much needed jobs.

Martin said the financial tools the Authority plans to use to fund the Hayestone-Brady project are sound.

“In terms of the resources, the assets, in terms of our ability to move forward with our program of work and to develop Hayestone-Brady Industrial Park and the forward funding that is going to be necessary to pay those bills, we are relying on the strength of the local banking community,” he added. “We are in fine shape. We are moving forward full speed ahead with no hesitations or concerns whatsoever.”

Martin made his comments at the Development Authority’s regular monthly meeting Thursday.

A Martin man goes away for a time and comes back home to find his air conditioner unit missing.

The man filed a report with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend. According to the report, the victim was away from the property on Seven Forks Road for about three weeks. When he returned over the weekend, he found his air conditioner unit and heat pump, valued at $3000, were missing. He also told authorities 1000 pounds of steel had also gone missing previously.

The investigation continues.

Meanwhile, the investigation also continues into a vehicle break-in late last week.

The victim told the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office that someone broke into his car between 6 p.m. on October 2 and 3 p.m. on October 3 and stole the stereo from inside, as well as the gas cap.

The report stated no damage was done to the vehicle.

The stereo was valued at $250.

Traffic on Big A Road is back to normal after being slowed and briefly blocked by a 2-car accident this afternoon.

A small pickup and a Toyota Camry collided around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Big A Road and Skyline Drive, according to Officer Bruce Cleveland of the Toccoa Police Department.

One driver was trapped in his car for a short amount of time and taken to Stephens County Hospital for observation.  Cleveland says the other driver was not injured.

Their names were not available.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Work on the new Stephens County High School is officially beginning today.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new high school was held this afternoon and now the real work begins.

The groundbreaking was in the back of the current building, which will become the front of the high school when the new building is complete.

Before the ceremony, Systems Director Brenda Kelley reflected on this history of the event.

"This will actually be a very historical moment," said Kelley.  "We are going to dedicate this building to the students of Stephens County, future, present, and past, and it will certainly be a wonderful building for our students."

The school is scheduled to be completed in December 2010.

Stephens County Historical Society Director Brenda Carlan said this year’s Currahee Military Weekend went smoothly.

Carlan said it is a little scary that the festivities this past weekend in Stephens County went so smoothly.

"Overall, from what I have heard and from most of the people I spoke to, everybody was really pleased with the weekend," said Carlan.  "We could not have had more beautiful weather and the only shortage we saw was people not available here or they could not come because they could not find gas available.  We had several cancellations because of that, especially on Friday.  It picked up a little bit more on Saturday.  However, I think everybody that attended each of the events, the museum, the downtown, and the airport, I think they were pleased."

Carlan said the railroad car museum and other events were all a big hit. She said it is hard to estimate how many people were in town, but adds things remained busy all weekend long.

And now that another year is in the books, Carlan said their attention turns to next year.

"We are already thinking for next year," she added.  "We can add some events.  I think all of our volunteers have worked with us for so long that everybody knows what they need to do it.  It just gets easier and we are able to enjoy it a little more each year."

Carlan said she appreciates the city of Toccoa, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, and everyone else who helps to put on Currahee Military Weekend each year.

Three people are recovering today after a weekend accident sends them to Stephens County Hospital.

According to Toccoa Police authorities, 54-year-old Juenita Fitzgerald of Toccoa was headed east on Tugalo Street near the intersection with Boulevard Saturday morning when 73-year-old William Doyle Simpson of Toccoa ran the stop sign.

He hit Fitzgerald’s minivan in the left side, making it swing into a utility pole.

Three people in the van – including an 8 year old child -- were taken to Stephens County Hospital.

Simpson was charged with failure to stop at a stop sign.

Another Currahee Military weekend is complete.

The sixth annual event in Stephens County wrapped up Sunday.

The festivities drew large crowds to Toccoa to talk with veterans, see demonstrations, and tour the many historical exhibits that came to town.

A number of special events highlighted the weekend.

As part of festivities on Friday, a bust was unveiled depicting Jake McNeice, a World War II veteran and member of the “Filthy Thirteen,” the group off of which the “Dirty Dozen” movie was based.

The sculpture was unveiled in the Currahee Military Museum by Bob Hamby, who helps to bring these men to life in the sculptures.

He said honoring McNeice this way was a real thrill.

“It was a pleasure dealing with them,” said Hamby. “They sent pictures and stuff of how to do it, putting him like he was and reliving history.”

The sculptor is Bruce Everly. He said it was an honor to present the work to its subject.

“It was thrilling,” said Eberly. “He was so appreciative and grateful for what we did. It meant a great deal to me emotionally.”

Other sculptures included Major Dick Winters and Colonel Robert Sink.

Meanwhile, downtown Toccoa was also on display for the event. This was the first military weekend since Doyle Street was re-opened.

Two of the men responsible for the stable from England in the Currahee Military Museum saw the changes and said it looked great.

Tim Green said they enjoyed getting back to Toccoa and are impressed with that and the planned military museum expansion.

“The modifications and the renovations to the Main Street area and all the work that has gone on here has been really impressive to see,” said Green. “It is a good thing to have been involved in. We love Toccoa.”

Other events throughout the course of Currahee Military Weekend included “the Star-Spangled Review,” the “Currahee Challenge” road race, a banquet, and a service of remembrance.

Authorities responded to a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries this morning on Highway 123 in Stephens County, near the intersection with Red Rock Road.

Meanwhile, Saturday, authorities responded to another motor vehicle accident with reported injuries at around 9:45 a.m. at the intersection of Tugalo Street and Boulevard in Toccoa.

There is no other information on either accident at this time.

Anyone planning to vote in the November general election who has not yet registered to vote must do so today.

Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley said today at 5 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in the general election.

“If you are not registered by then, then you cannot vote on Election Day,” said Kelley. “People need to remember that. If they are not registered, then they need to get in here and get registered.”

Kelley said they have registered a number of new voters in recent weeks for November’s election. That follows a statewide trend. According to Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, over 400,000 Georgians registered to vote between January 1 and the end of last month. That is compared to just over 370,000 Georgians during the same time period in 2004.

Anyone who needs to file a change of address form must also do so by today’s 5 p.m. deadline.

Anyone with questions about voting or voter registration should contact the Stephens County Registrar’s Office at 886-8954 or visit in person. The registrar’s office is located in Stephens County Government Building in Toccoa. It is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, people can already cast ballots for the November election. Absentee voting is taking place on machines at the Registrar’s Office now. Also, voters can request paper absentee ballots to fill out and send back.

No reason is needed to vote absentee, either with a paper ballot or on the machines.

Kelley said as of last Thursday, about 600 people have voted absentee on the machines and about 600 paper absentee ballots have gone out.

The first shovelfuls of 400,000 yards of dirt to be moved at the new Stephens County High School will be dug today.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new high school will be at 1 p.m. today and the public is invited.

School Systems Director Brenda Kelley said the school board wants to include everyone who is looking forward to the new building.

“The Board of Education would like to invite the community to the groundbreaking that we will be holding at 1 p.m.,” said Kelley. “We want to involve all of our students and our faculty, staff, and the community in the groundbreaking because it is going to be such a beautiful building.”

The groundbreaking will be in the back of the current building, which will become the front of the high school when the new building is complete.

Kelley said there will be a special event to commemorate the day.

“We are actually going to make a photograph of all of our students, faculty, and staff at Stephens County High School, kind of as a history-making photograph since it has been almost 35 years since a new high school has been built,” she added.

Kelley went on to say as soon as the ceremony is completed, the real work will begin with the grading and massive dirt moving. The school is scheduled to be completed in December 2010.

Stephens County citizens call for a school superintendent with character, intellect, and a vested interest in the community.

At a public forum last week designed to allow the voice of the people to be heard, six people rose to express their views to the Stephens County Board of Education and the organization helping to conduct its search for a new school superintendent.

Current School Superintendent Gary Steppe is retiring in June 2009.

Felton Stevens, who is an assistant principal at the high school, told the board he wants to focus on the community.

“What I hope we give some consideration to in the process is that I hope we think about this community and this school and the kids in the community,” said Stevens. “I hope we take into consideration someone who has a vested interest in this community and this school system.”

Another speaker, Jonesy Haygood, said he is focused on construction of the new high school.

“My biggest interest is the new high school and we need someone who understands the building process, what it is going through, has had experience with the building process of schools, and knows how to look, study, and save the school some money,” said Haygood.

A second assistant principal for the high school, Sandy Steele, spoke to the need for character.

“I would like to just add that character and intellect will more than compensate for any lack of having built a school,” said Steele. “Just like with any other process, the right person with the right heart and the right attitude that is willing to find the answers will take care of that,” said Steele.

The Georgia School Board Association has been contracted to handle the initial search process.

Don Rooks told the audience of 20 people that the association will handle the initial stages of the search and bring a slate of candidates to the board. At that point, the public will have the opportunity to review the applicants’ packets and the Board of Education will conduct interviews and choose the person to offer the job to.

Rooks said he expects to have the criteria finalized by December and will accept applications until January 23.

The Board of Education has posted a survey on its website in which anyone can express their opinions about the best qualifications of a school superintendent.

That website is www.stephenscountyschools.com.

The old “Coats and Clark” building falls victim to a copper theft.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office responded to the vacant building on Rose Lane recently. Once there, they were told someone had apparently forced entry and stolen 90 feet of copper wire valued at $2000, along with a $1300 lawn tractor, $600 backpack blower, and five $600 power boxes.

The incident is believed to have occurred between September 28 and 29.

Meanwhile, a Toccoa woman said hundreds of dollars of electronics and clothing have gone missing from her possession.

The woman told the Sheriff’s Office she has had baby clothing, three cell phones, and a Kodak easy shot camera go missing.

The value of the items totals $650.

Finally, a Toccoa man told police he has had thousands of dollars worth of money and goods stolen from his apartment.

The Highland Avenue man told the Toccoa Police Department that he had $2000 in cash, along with a Playstation 3 system and game, stolen.

The investigation into all three thefts continues.

Currahee Military Weekend is underway.

Festivities for the sixth annual event began Friday throughout Toccoa.

As part of the opening festivities, a bust was unveiled depicting Jake McNeice, a World War II veteran and member of the “Filthy Thirteen,” the group off of which the “Dirty Dozen” movie was based.

The sculpture was unveiled in the Currahee Military Museum by Bob Hamby, who helps to bring these men to life in the sculptures.

He said honoring McNeice this way was a real thrill.

"It was a pleasure dealing with them," said Hamby.  "They sent pictures and stuff of how to do it, putting him like he was, and relive history."

The sculptor is Bruce Everly. He said it was an honor to present the work to its subject.

"It was thrilling," said Everly.  "He was so appreciative and grateful for what we did.  It meant a great deal to me emotionally."

Other sculptures include Major Dick Winters and Colonel Robert Sink.

The weekend continues Sunday.

This morning, runners will gather for the famous Currahee Challenge Run/Walk up Currahee Mountain and out at the airport, World War II fighter planes will be on display. 

A banquet honoring the veterans will be tonight at the Georgia Baptist Center.

On Sunday, at 8:30 a.m., a Remembrance Service will be held at the Parachute Infantry Regimental Memorial on Currahee Mountain.

For more information on any of the events, call the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce at 706-886-2132.

Toccoa Police are still trying to sort out all the details on an accident in Stephens County that killed a Stephens County man and seriously injured the woman who was with him

Around 9 a.m. Thursday, a flatbed tractor-trailer was headed north on Broad Street when it tried to turn around by backing into a nearby parking area near the intersection with Hughes Street when a Ford Ranger going south on Broad Street ran into the trailer section of the rig, according to Toccoa Police Assistant Chief Tim Jarrell.

“The male passenger of the Ranger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female driver was taken to Stephens County Hospital and then airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital,” said Jarrell.

The woman’s condition was unavailable.

Toccoa Police, the Georgia State Patrol, the Stephens County Emergency Response Unit, and Stephens County EMS responded to the scene, which shut down Broad Street for about three hours.

Jarrell said police are not releasing the names of the victims or the driver of the tractor-trailer until the next of kin can be notified. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. Charges are pending until the investigation is complete, Jarrell said.

UPDATE: 

67-year-old Linda Doak, of Toccoa, was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital after the Ford Ranger she was driving ran into a flatbed tractor-trailer that was turning around on Broad Street.

67-year-old Thomas Doak was killed in the accident.

Congressman Paul Broun votes against the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan.

The plan, supported by the President, Treasury Secretary, and congressional leaders passed the House today 263-171 after the Senate approved it earlier this week.  The President has also signed it into law.

Broun, along with other Georgia Republicans, said that while the bill passed marks an improvement from the previous legislation, a joint statement issued by the group said they remain deeply concerned that today’s action could drastically and permanently enlarge the federal government’s role in the economy.

Broun’s opponent, Bobby Saxon, released a letter to Broun he wrote this morning. In it, he said Broun should vote in favor of the package because of the credit crunch and the effect many say it is having on the economy.

Saxon had joined Broun in his opposition to the bill voted down by the House of Representatives at the beginning of the week.

For the sixth year, Toccoa will honor the men known as the “Band of Brothers” with an entire weekend.

The Currahee Military Weekend begins today and activities go through Sunday. Stephens County Historical Society Director Brenda Carlan said it is a weekend visitors return for year after year.

“We are so excited about the people that will be coming back this year,” said Carlan. “A lot of these people, I would like to remind you, they are repeat visitors. They keep coming back year after year. In addition to that, we have grown with new people each year.”

The weekend honors the men who trained in Toccoa to be part of the Parachute Infantry Regiments who went on to parachute into Europe as part of the Allied invasion during World War II. The movie “Band of Brothers” documents their intense training and heroic efforts in the battlefield.

Carlan said it is an important weekend to be able to remember the role these men played in world history.

“I think it is important that we keep their memory alive as to what they did here in Toccoa,” she added. “I guess you could say now they have put Toccoa on the map, in the sense of the military museum. A lot of people still have a hard time understanding why we have a military museum here in Toccoa, Georgia. However, if you look back on our military history as far as World War II is concerned, you will see that the role our men that trained here was very influential in how the war went.”

The weekend features events today, Saturday, and Sunday.

This afternoon will see a barbeque at the Toccoa First Baptist Church and then a book signing by World War II veteran authors Jake McNeice and Everett Bullard. That will be at Ash-ling Books downtown. This evening, a musical called “The Star-Spangled Review” will be held at the Georgia Baptist Assembly.

Tomorrow morning, runners will gather for the famous Currahee Challenge Run/Walk up Currahee Mountain and out at the airport, World War II fighter planes will be on display.

A banquet honoring the veterans will be Saturday night at the Georgia Baptist Center.

On Sunday at 8:30 a.m., a Remembrance Service will be held at the Parachute Infantry Regimental Memorial on Currahee Mountain. For more information on any of the events, call the Stephens County Historical Society at 706-282-5055 or the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce at 706-886-2132.

This also marks the first Currahee Military Weekend since the city of Toccoa opened Doyle Street, back up to traffic.

That project took the road back to the way it was during the 1940s and 1950s.

Main Street Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby called it an exciting time for the city to show off what they have accomplished downtown, along with the local business owners.

“I think that our guests are going to be very pleasantly surprised when they come back and see all of the changes and how it has taken on that look that it had before when they were here, updated of course, but still much the same as it was when they were soldiers here,” said Crosby.

Crosby said she hopes visitors will take time to look around the downtown area and see the changes that have taken place.

The Stephens County Historical Society wants people to cross to the other side of the tracks and hop on board the railroad car museum sitting at the train depot.

Norfolk Southern has sent a railroad car museum to Toccoa for this weekend.

Stephens County Historical Society Director Brenda Carlan said they were pleasantly surprised to see it roll up and set up shop earlier this week.

It opened to the public Thursday and Carlan said it provides an interactive experience.

“When they come in, there is an entrance and an exit,” said Carlan. “They will go in the front and they have monitors, photographs, and audio. The one really neat thing is that there is actually a simulator in there that you can set in the engineer’s seat and drive it just like you are on the railroad, driving into town. It even has the whistle to go with it.”

Carlan said people can come through Sunday to see the museum. However, it is across from the Historical Society and train depot on the other side of the railroad tracks.

For that reason, Carlan said people need to be careful crossing the tracks, since real trains still use it.

“We had to issue a slow order for trains coming through Toccoa, so we hope people will be patient if they are sitting at a roadblock waiting for a slow train to go through town,” she explained. “That is because we might have a lot of pedestrians. We are recommending people in cars, if they come, if they would come from Currahee Street, turn up by Watson Tire. There is a lot of parking in that area and you will not have to cross over the railroad tracks to get to the museum.”

Admission is free to the railroad car museum. It is open today through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Carlan added volunteers to supervise the museum are needed. For more information on that, call the Historical Society at 282-5055.

With fall in the air, you may look at burning yard debris.

The Georgia Forestry Commission said go ahead, but follow the rules and stay vigilant.

Stephens County Chief Ranger Gary Roberts said that even though we have moved past summer, fall and winter pose a serious risk for brush fires.

“Our fire season in Georgia usually goes from mid-October to May 1,” said Roberts. “Those are critical times of the year because of leaf fall and frost. Anytime you do any outdoor burning, of course you need to get a permit. You need to make sure your piles are safe. Find a good, open area. Look at your wind direction, make sure there is not a heavy fuel load in the area where you are doing your burning, always stay with the burn, and always have some hand tools or preferably a water hose standing by in case you do have problems.”

To get a burn permit, which is mandatory, you can call 1-877-OK-2-BURN. The call automatically advises if local conditions are appropriate for burning. Permits are also available online at www.gatrees.org, where you can also find weather information pertinent to burning and other tips.

For fires larger than 6 feet by 6 feet, people must call the local county office of the Georgia Forestry Commission for a burn permit.

The number for that office in Stephens County is 706-356-8770.

With energy costs rising and water a hot topic, the state of Georgia wants to help residents and shoppers save some cool, hard cash.

The fourth annual ENERGY STAR sales tax holiday began Thursday morning and continues through midnight Sunday.

Under the rules of the sales tax holiday, Georgians will not pay state or local sales taxes on the purchase of energy efficient for water efficient products that cost $1,500 or less per item.

ENERGY STAR designated products meet strict guidelines set by the federal government. Such appliances include dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, fluorescent light bulbs, ceiling fans, doors, and windows.

Also this year, the sales tax holiday will include WaterSense labeled products. Such products are 20 percent more water-efficient than conventional models of the same products.

Governor Sonny Perdue called the tax holiday a perfect opportunity to save money immediately at the cash register and long-term through savings on their water and energy bills.

This is a march with a mission.

Tomorrow, the March of Dimes will be holding its annual March for Babies at Tugalo State Park at 10 a.m. Sarah Gantt, Community Director for the North Georgia Division, said the mission is healthier babies.

“The mission of the March of Dimes is to make sure that every baby is born healthy,” said Gantt. “The March of Dimes is not just for the babies that are born too early or born with a birth defect, even though we do advocate for them as well. The birth of a baby is a miracle in itself and we want to make sure everyone gets that miracle.”

The money raised is used for education, research, and advocacy, all aimed at reducing the numbers of unhealthy babies. Gantt said the event Saturday is fun for everyone.

“The walk is for Franklin and Stephens counties,” she added. “The walk itself is a lot of fun. We have it down by the beach area underneath the pavilion. We will have a costume contest and all sorts of games and prizes. It is really just a day of fun.”

Again, the March for Babies will be at Tugalo State Park. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 11 a.m.

A misunderstanding leads to a lockdown at a local school Wednesday.

Toccoa Elementary School officials locked down the school after a man facing molestation charges on one of their students failed to return from a medical furlough.

Stephens County School Superintendent Gary Steppe said the school just wanted to take all precautions even though officials felt there was no imminent threat.

He said a lock down involves extra security, including locking the doors and restricting movements.

According to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman, a 57-year-old Dahlonega man had been released on a medical furlough and transferred to the Ronnie Green Heart Center at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for a medical procedure.

After his procedure, the man left the center and did not return to Stephens County custody.

Officials said he did not understand the terms of the furlough and simply went to a relative’s house instead. Sheriff’s deputies contacted the man, picked him up, and took him back to the Stephens County Jail.

They emphasized there was “never any threat to anyone in Stephens County.”

The lockdown lasted about three hours.

A county-wide emergency exercise is called a success by the officials who put it on.

In a full-scale emergency exercise, and again, it was just a drill, over 15 local agencies, along with the Department of Public Health, held a Pandemic Flu scenario Wednesday.

The frightening scenario is designed to test all the functions of each organization, said Public Health Spokesman Dave Palmer, including communications, resource management, and coordination.

Becky Wall, the Director of the Stephens County Emergency Management Agency, praised the joint efforts of all the various agencies.

“I think at this point it is going real well,” said Wall. “I am really impressed with the way the local responders have been able to come together in one smooth response. This is the culmination of two years of training and planning and it is really hard to see this effort come together and see that we can handle the initial response.”

Along with the fake emergency, the Stephens County Health Department gave real flu shots in a manner that mimics an emergency situation. Authorities set up the Stephens County Recreation Center to give shots as though they were offering them to a large amount of people.

Jennifer Mangiapane with the American Red Cross said they would be on hand to give out meals and keep workers supplied.

“It is going very well from a Red Cross standpoint,” said Mangiapane. “We have volunteers here passing out water with our emergency response vehicle.”

In addition to Wednesday’s exercise, the school system and Stephens County Hospital started their portion of the exercise last week to simulate a growing flu crisis.

At the hospital, they became aware of the crisis first when 15 simulated patients showed up with flu-like symptoms. Very quickly, the emergency room gets overwhelmed. At the school system, the emergency progressed through the week until they had 15 percent of their students and 30 percent of their teachers absent. They had to order food from Florida to be able to continue to feed students. Again, it was all a part of the drill.

All the agencies involved will come together in a few weeks to debrief the day and list what went well and what could be improved on.

Local Congressman Paul Broun said he hopes a bill to help the nation’s financial situation would come to a vote soon.

Broun voted against the original bailout package earlier this week, saying it would not help the situation and calling for alternative solutions.

The congressman said that is why representatives from both sides of the aisle voted against the President’s plan.

He said that same coalition now needs to get a bill done that would help the American taxpayer.

“We can come together in a bi-partisan way to solve the problem if the President would just listen to us, if Secretary Paulson would listen to us, and if the Senate would listen to us,” said Broun. “We have to have a solution. We must do it quickly. We can. That is what I am working for.”

Supporters of the original bailout proposal said it is necessary to shore up the credit markets and get more money moving in the banking system to keep it from stalling.

However, Broun said instead, Congress should look at changing some rules, suspending part of the capital gains tax, and re-privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The United States Senate passed a slightly modified version of the bailout package defeated by the House Wednesday.

That approved package from the Senate will now head back to the House for a vote, possibly as soon as this week.

A group of concerned citizens wants to improve conditions for homeless pets, and those with homes, in Toccoa and Stephens County.

Those citizens have formed an official group called Toccoa-Stephens County Hearts for Homeless Pets.

The group’s secretary and treasurer is Patti Fisher. She said it started as a grassroots effort born out of concern of not having a public humane shelter in Stephens County.

“Our main mission is to just assist Stephens County with providing a facility to help shelter animals and to help educate the community on ways they can just be better pet owners,” said Fisher.

Just recently, the group began to move ahead.

Fisher said they have begun working on committees and making efforts to involve leaders in both the city of Toccoa and with Stephens County government.

For that reason, Fisher said they are very early in the process of achieving their goals.

“We put most of our effort into how do we get officially formalized and how do we get the commissioners involved,” said Fisher. “We want the county involved. We have done a lot of that kind of talking and even though the facility is our big push, we have not really had an opportunity until now.”

People are encouraged to get involved in the group, either through donating time or funding. To get involved or find out more information, you can call Patti Fisher at 706-886-7299, extension 5300.

The “Ride for Life for those who can’t” will take place this Saturday in northeast Georgia. It benefits both Relay for Life and the Shriners.

The ride will leave from Wal-Mart in Oakwood and travel through Hall and Habersham counties, before arriving in Stephens County.

Ride Organizer Eddie Hallford said during the last ride in May, the bikes traveled past Currahee Mountain.

This time, he said they will follow Falls Road into town past Toccoa Falls College and Stephens County Hospital.

“Our plan is to come into Toccoa, turn left by the Fire Department, come right by WNEG, the Toccoa Record, and downtown and merge back onto Highway 17 and Big A Road,” said Hallford.

The ride will end at the Toccoa Wal-Mart, where Hallford said they will have a number of attractions for the public to come out and see.

“Once we have arrived in Toccoa, then our DJ will be Flash and we will have various door prizes donated by various vendors in Toccoa, Habersham, and Hall counties,” added Hallford.

According to Hallford, classic car and truck owners can bring their vehicles out to show for a small donation on the honor system.

Registration continues for this ride on Saturday. Cost is $20 per driver and $10 per passenger, along with the donation of a stuffed animal, which the Shriners will collect.

Forms can be picked up at Mega Motorsports or the Towne Doctor Chiropractic, both in Toccoa. Registration on the day of the event at the Oakwood Wal-Mart begins at 8 a.m. Bikes will line up at 9:45 a.m. and leave at 10 a.m., with arrival scheduled in Toccoa at about 11 a.m.

For more information on Saturday’s ride, call 770-967-5300.

Pandemic flu is in Stephens County and emergency agencies are working together to handle this widespread crisis.

In a full-scale emergency exercise, and again, it is just a drill -- over 15 local agencies along with the Department of Public Health is hold a Pandemic Flu scenario.

Along with it, the Stephens County Health Department is giving real flu shots in a manner that mimics an emergency situation.

The Director of Stephens County Emergency Management Agency, Becky Wall, says the day is going smoothly.

In addition to today’s exercise, the school system and Stephens County Hospital started their portion of the exercise last week to simulate a growing flu crisis.

You can be a part of this exercise. Officials would like you to come out to the Stephens County Recreation Center and get your flu shot.

The process is smooth and easy, with hardly any traffic and no lines so far.

The cost is $25.

Main Street Toccoa is up for a national award.

The city’s Main Street program is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Great American Main Street program. Toccoa is joined by a number of other cities, including Green Bay and Baltimore.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation hands out the award at its annual Main Street conference.

The winner will be announced early next year at the conference in Chicago.

As Washington continues to debate the bailout package for a number of the nation’s financial institutions, local Congressman Paul Broun said he supports a number of alternative measures on the table.

Broun spoke to WNEG about where Congress will go from here.  He opposed the plan supported by the White House and many Congressional leaders.

He did say a number of alternative measures could help alleviate the problem in his opinion.

He called for a change in the “mark to market” accounting rule, which forces banks to use market value when reporting the value of mortgage securities. Broun wants it suspended.

Broun also said he wants to provide certificates of net worth to financial institutions to get money moving again and suspend at least part of the capital gains tax.

"I would like capital gains taxes totally suspended on any of these mortgage-based securities that are what is causing this problem and then somebody would be willing to buy them because there is a value there and it would create a market for these mortgage-based securities where there is no market today," said Broun.

Broun said an increase in the amount of insured funds by the FDIC should be allowed, but optional for banks to provide.

All of that, Broun explained, will help things get going. He added that Congress must address other issues, however, to provide long-term relief.

"We need to get rid of the Community Reinvestment Act and ACORN," added the Republican congressman.  "Those things, plus privatizing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, will stop the systemic problem that created this mess to begin with."

The Senate is expected to vote on the proposed bailout today, even as the House voted it down Monday.

Meanwhile, Broun's Democratic opponent, Bobby Saxon, spoke to WNEG Tuesday, saying he was also pleased with the outcome of the vote.

“I do believe that yesterday’s package was a bad package,” said Saxon. “However, I am displeased with the partisan bickering that led to the failure of the vote and the bad package that was presented as the only option.”

Saxon said he had numerous issues with the proposal. He said he feels proper safeguards were not included to prevent golden parachutes for CEO’s, nor did he feel enough protection existed to prevent foreign investors from profiting off of the bailout. In addition, he called for the FDIC insured funds limit to go up from $100,000 to $250,000.

Saxon said Congress needs to come together and make the country understand something must happen to address the problem, but that immediate help only marks the first step.

“Step Two to this has to be when Congress comes back into session in January, that we honestly address the problems with the markets out there, with the regulations, with the rules, with how they are doing business,” added the Jackson County Democrat.

Saxon did not provide specifics.

Time is running out for citizens to register to vote in the November general election.

Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley said less than a week remains before the voter registration deadline.

“We have got a registration form that they need to fill out,” said Kelley. “It will not take them but just a couple of minutes to get it filled out. People have until Monday at 5 p.m. to be registered to vote in order to vote in the November 4 general election.”

People needing to change the address on their voter registration must also complete that by Monday’s deadline.

Kelley said if people are not sure about their voter registration status, to call the Registrar’s Office at 886-8954 and they will help people find out.

Meanwhile, some have already cast their votes for November. A new law in Georgia allows voters to cast absentee ballots on the machines at the Registrar’s Office up to 45 days before an election without any reason.

Kelley said they have stayed busy with early voters.

“We have voted over 400 and some people at this point in time,” explained the registrar. “That is good for this county. Other counties are voting 1000 people a day in the bigger counties. This is something new for everybody and once everybody gets aware of it, it is going to make it a whole lot easier for everybody.”

She added hundreds of paper absentee ballots have also gone out. Anyone needing to request an absentee ballot must do so this month. The last day paper absentee ballots can go out is October 31.

To vote absentee on the machines or to find out more information regarding voting or voter registration, you can stop by the Stephens County Registrar’s Office in the Stephens County Government Building in Toccoa. The hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In light of a continuing fuel shortage, a few school field trips for Stephens County are being cancelled, but so far athletic events are still on.

Stephens County School System Transportation Director Beth McDonald said as of Tuesday, no athletic events are being cancelled or scaled back, but the decision to do so will continue to be assessed week to week.

“At this point in time, no athletic events for Stephens County are being scaled back because of diesel,” said McDonald. “However, the supply of the diesel is being watched and looked at on a weekly basis.”

On Tuesday, the football game between Stephens County Middle School and Franklin County Middle School was cancelled after Franklin County officials decided that in light of a fuel shortage in that county, they would skip an exhibition game that does not count in the region standings.

McDonald said a few field trips have been cancelled, including a regularly scheduled field trip for special education students and another fall trip for pre-K kids.

As of Wednesday, McDonald indicated the system has 3000 gallons of diesel fuel left.

“Right now, we have about 3000 gallons in the ground, of which I can only use about 2500,” added McDonald. “The local driver has guaranteed me he has fuel waiting if I need it.”

This weekend, the middle school football team is scheduled to travel to Danielsville to play Madison County, while the Indians are slated to go to Covington to take on the East Side Eagles.

The high school football team travels by charter bus, but the band, auxiliary, and cheerleaders travel by school bus.

Good news could be coming down the pipe for Georgia.

A press release issued Monday by the company that operates the Colonial Pipeline stated the line has returned to the same flow-rates for gasoline delivered as it achieved before Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit the Gulf Coast refining region earlier this month.

The Colonial Pipeline provides the gas for much of north Georgia and the reduced flow and output have caused widespread gas shortages that have left lines at gas stations and bags over empty pumps.

The press release did not indicate how quickly drivers could expect market stability to return.

A local company’s efforts to help keep New Orleans dry during Hurricane Gustav get the sign of approval.

In a press release issued Monday, Patterson Pump said they have confirmed that a pump installed on London Avenue in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina performed as planned to prevent flooding during Gustav, which struck the Gulf Coast last month.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials indicated two different kinds of temporary pumps, including Patterson’s, installed at the London Avenue and 17^th Street canals ran without failing during the crucial 24-hour period.

Those pumps allowed the New Orleans City pumps to crank back up and remove water even faster from city streets.

This marked the first-ever attempt under actual storm conditions to synchronize the massive floodgate structures and new pumps installed at the mouths of three New Orleans outfall canals following Katrina.

Metal theft continues to be a vexing issue for Stephens County law enforcement.

Last Thursday, the owner of the Crossing Restaurant reported that someone stole a commercial dishwasher from behind the restaurant.

She told Stephens County deputies the stainless steel dishwasher had been in the back of the restaurant waiting to be installed.

Its value is listed as $3000 and the case remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, a Toccoa man reported that someone came into his mother-in-law’s house and took the kitchen sink fixtures and copper wiring out of the house.

He told deputies he estimated the wire to be worth at least $1000.

According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, they do have a suspect in this case.

Texas is still getting back on its feet after Hurricane Ike and the recovery is aided by a local relief organization.

The Northeast Georgia Disaster Relief Team traveled to Hampshire, Texas, just outside Beaumont, Texas, and helped begin clearing mud from homes and trees from roofs.

The unit’s director, Tim Beck, said there are many people who need help.

“There is a lot of work to be done there,” said Beck. “As of last night, there were 95 jobs to be worked. We had already done 14 of them, but there were 95 to be done on the books and we are suspecting as many as 300 before it is all said and done with.”

Beck said the community they were in had a storm surge come inland 20 miles and the damage is almost unimaginable.

“There were some homes that were actually picked up off of their piers and actually moved as much as ½ mile from where they were originally located, out into these pastures,” added Beck.

Beck went on to say one of the images that most impressed him is the optimism from the people affected by the storm.

“The people believe it or not, even though some are hurting and discouraged, they have a lot of optimism,” he commented. “These folks have already started on their own, taking furniture out of the homes and are trying to do what they can to try and get started back into a normal process of getting their homes restored.”

He said along with removing trees and mud, the Disaster Relief Team is also teaching people to properly do their own cleanup and recovery.

The team, centered in North Georgia, is associated with the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Tugalo Baptist Association. They are funded by donations.