More study is needed before the City of Toccoa finalizes any plans to sell water to Habersham County. City commissioners discussed Habersham request to purchase a million gallons of water a day from Toccoa for at least the next several years. One of the main sticking points involves what to charge our next-door neighbors.

More work and equipment will be required to pump the water up the mountain to Habersham County’s storage tank and commissioner Andy Pavliscsak said a base rate should probably be set.

"The base rate would apply to anybody who wants to purchase water from Toccoa. Then, if there's anything we have to do extra to get that water to them, we should charge over and above that base rate," Pavliscsak said.

Currently water going to Franklin County travels down hill and no extra pumping is necessary.

However, pumps will have to run all day to fill the second storage tank Habersham plans to build.

Habersham is asking for the same price as Toccoa is currently charging Franklin County - $1.81 per 1,000 gallons. Commissioner Ferrell Morgan said that price should also apply to Habersham, but everyone else on the commission disagreed, especially after finding out how much Habersham County pays Demorest for water.

"Right now Habersham County is buying water from the City of Demorest. What are they paying the City of Demorest for Water?" Chism asked.

"$2.70," City manager Billy Morse replied.

"Two what?!" asked Pavliscsak.

"$2.70! And we want to charge $1.81? Oh my Lord have mercy!" David Austin exclaimed.

"So they're going to come down to the City of Toccoa and we're just going to give it away?" Chism retorted.

"No, we're not going to give it away," Mayor Bob Troup concluded.

Whatever the decision, Toccoa will likely only be selling water to Habersham County for a few years.

Last week, Habersham County approved a plan to dredge the lake at the old Habersham Mills property to build a new reservoir. That project is expected to take 3-5 years to complete.

City and county commissioners have given a $10 million sewer infrastructure project a thumbs up. Both governmental groups pledged funding during a joint meeting of the city and county officials this week. The plan to install sewer lines from Ebenezer Baptist Church to Wal-Mart on the By-Pass, then to the intersection of Highway 145, would be Phase 1. Phase 2 would take the line from Highway 17 to Eastanollee School Rd over to Highway 106 . The final portion of the plan would make sewer service available to the Haystone Industrial Park, Liberty Hill Road and Wolf Pit Rd.

Of the $10 million dollars, local government would be asked to pay two million dollars over a 20 year period, through growth of the tax digest and without a tax increase from either body. The digest is expected to grow at an annual rate of about 8 per cent.

Stephens County Development Authority Director Mitch Griggs said he was very pleased by the support. "We were very encouraged by what we have seen here tonight." Griggs told WNEG News. "Basically we have spent the better part of a year mapping gout a 20 year plan for our wastewater collection system. as well as our treatment needs. This is the second phase of the project which is putting a collection system in the areas of the county which we feel will be patterns of natural growth."

Congressman Charlie Norwood is helping to spearhead the program . The commissioners will now be gathering all of the specifications quickly so that the project may be presented to Congress and then to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Agency, through which the $10 million loan will come. Griggs indicated that the Norwood’s support is vital as well as support from other local legislators. "Congressman Norwood is indeed in full support of the program as well as other local legislators. Part of working through the federal program is presenting a package and a big part of that was accomplished tonight with the county and the city pledging it’s part and the federal government taking up the balance."

Both city and county commissioners were happy that the two million dollars in local funds would come through the growth in the tax digest on a sliding scale and not through any property tax increase. "It puts us in a really great position because just through the natural growth of the tax digest, through some of the growth we’ve already experienced and the industries that come off of tax abatement and are now located in the county, we can easily fund the debt service without asking either the city or the county to raise taxes."

The project will start with an engineering study conducted by Phillips Technical Services of Lavonia. The study will cost $6500 and will be split between the city and county.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced this week he is making $780 million in new, unused and accelerated funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) available to help farmers and ranchers impacted by drought.

The funding includes a new program for producers called the Livestock Assistance Grant program, which will provide $50 million in section 32 funds to states in block grant form. 

States will distribute to livestock producers in counties that were designated as D3 or D4 on the drought monitor anytime between March 7 and August 31, 2006. Also included will be nearly $30 million in unused conservation funds from the Emergency Conservation Program and grassland reserve program. 

In addition, Secretary Johanns has directed an accelerated payment of an estimated $700 million in 2005-crop year counter cyclical payments will be made to upland cotton and grain sorghum producers, and payments to peanut farmers will be expedited following the calculation of the final 2005 average price.

Additional information will be sent to the states at the end of the week after USDA reviews the drought monitor report of August 31 to determine the number of states and counties that qualify for the Livestock Assistance Grant program

Talks with the Department of Natural Resources continue on how money from the PCB contamination suit will be spent in Stephens County.

Stephens County Marshal Dan Merck attending the latest hearings and indicated to a joint group of city and county commissioners that four projects are on the drawing board. "One of them is a pier on the shoreline at the tail race at Lake Yonah." Merck indicated. "The other two were improvements to Bruce Creek County Park and Holcomb County Park., building pathways and fishing piers to those for general access to the general public. Those projects have met very favorably with the DNR and we in the process of talking with Georgia Power and we’re working on the plans for this. The other project that DNR came up with is an island at Walker Creek Park, between there and Yonah and they are looking at putting a parking lot and a foot bridge to the island for the general public to access the stripe fishing there."

It had been suggested to DNR officials that some of the money should be set aside for the Tugalo Corridor , but according to Merck, the money has a specific designation, mainly to improve fishing opportunities in the county. ‘The money has to be used for fishability of the area and the access for the fisherman. These funds have been set aside in a federal fund and are on hold for the three counties in Georgia. Franklin County, Hart County and Stephens county will be the counties that will have access to these funds."

Merck was recognized by the county this week for helping to make sure that Stephens County got a portion of the PCB suit money. Had it not been for his attentiveness and hard work in getting the attention of DNR officials, only Hart and Franklin Counties would have obtained the funds and Stephens County would have been left out.

It is not clear just how much money each county will receive in the settlement.

It’s being called the largest drug bust in Georgia history and it happened yesterday in Northeast Georgia. U.S. attorney David Nahmias told the Associated Press that last week, authorities seized 341 pounds of Meth on Aug. 21 and 22.

The investigation began when U.S. Forest Service officials spotted four people cultivating a marijuana field inside Chattahoochee National Forest in Union County. Authorities then searched a Gainesville house connected to the suspects where they found the meth. The investigation also turned up 300 marijuana plants. The total value of all the drugs is more than $50 million.

Three brothers, all illegal aliens, have been arrested. A fourth is also believed to be in the country illegally and is still at large. A federal criminal complaint has been filed against 23-year old Alejandro Martinez-Menera, 25-year old Socorro Martinez-Menera, and 21-year old Sacarias Martinez-Menera. All three are charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

A fourth suspect identified as 32-year old Arnulfo Pineda-Rivera, is also charged with growing a large number of marijuana plants and with being an illegal alien who re-entered the United States after being deported. Investigators said the meth had been imported from Mexico.

A Conyers man is facing child exploitation charges in White County. White County investigators arrested 42-year old Joey Jay Jenkins after he allegedly engaged in online chats with an undercover investigator Jenkins thought was a 14-year old girl.

White county authorities contacted Rockdale investigators who cooperated in the arrest. Jenkins was released from the White County Detention Center after posting bond.

Toccoa police are looking for a man in connection with an incident that occurred at an apartment on S. Pond Street last Sunday morning about 2AM. According to the police report, Simena Harris of the Pond Street address said that her boyfriend, 32 year old Kevin Gober, came to the apartment under the influence of drugs. He allegedly assaulted her, forced her into a car and took her money. Gober is facing charges of simple battery, cruelty to children and kidnapping.

Police have made two more arrests on prostitution charges in the Pond Street area. Twenty four year old Mandy Ramey of Martin was arrested on Pond Street and Sautee Street. Forty-one year old Kerri Runyon of Skyview Lane was arrested on Pond Street and Franklin Street. Both arrests were made Tuesday evening.

Local developer and real estate broker, Elliott Caudell claims Toccoa mayor Bob Troup used his position as mayor to influence the building contract for the new Social Security building on Big A Road. Caudell claims a worker at the federal Social Security office in North Carolina told him that a building permit was expedited through the Toccoa Planning Commission for Graham Construction made the allegations at the end of the City Commission meeting Monday night. "I’m talking right to you, Mr. Troup," Caudell said. "Your behavior was self-serving and smacks of malfeasance and influence peddling," he said.

The federal government is planning to build a new Social security office across from the Toccoa Clinic on Big A Road. Caudell claims he lost the construction bid for the project because Troup allegedly told the Toccoa Planning Commission to push through a building permit for another company. Troup denied the allegations and said he is looking forward to Caudell’s apology. He then called for an independent investigation to find out exactly what did happen.

Troup said Century 21 also had nothing to do with the deal, but later said he knew his client had tried to bid on it but could not make the specifications work. Caudell meantime, said he has written proof he was denied the contract because of Troup’s influence.

There will be a little less water in Hartwell Lake this holiday weekend. The lack of rainfall in the Upper Savannah River Watershed and continuing declines in lake levels has forced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restrict the water flow from Hartwell Dam and Thurmond Dam.

Restricted flows began yesterday when the Thurmond Lake reached the "Drought Contingency Plan Action Level 2." At Action Level 2, the discharge from Thurmond Dam is reduced to a weekly average of 4,500 cubic feet per second.

That means Lake Hartwell is slightly above 654 feet above mean sea level (MSL) or almost six feet below its normal summer full pool of 660 feet. Because of the lower levels, the corps has closed the following boat ramps on Lake Hartwell, Walker Creek, Durham, Apple Island, and Elrod Ferry.

Boaters should use extreme caution particularly outside the marked navigation channels and should be on the look out for obstructions such as shoals, stumps, or rocks that may now be exposed or just beneath the surface. Additionally, most swimming areas on Lake Hartwell are out of water. The last time the lakes reached Action Level 2 was August 2001.

That is the main recommendation to County Commissioners from a representative of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association regarding the new county jail. Commissioners heard from sheriff Bill LeMack yesterday – who retired as Sheriff of Clayton County in 1997.

Since then, LeMack has been working for the Georgia Sheriff’s Association advising counties on their jail projects. Among his recommendations, LeMack said proper planning is key.

The County had originally planned to build a 250-bed jail, but the rising cost of materials has reduced that to just under 200 beds. Leak said however, the County needs to also plan for future expansion.

Other recommendations include building an infirmary for sick inmates, keeping cells to no more than one to two-beds. Commissioners will now meet with the architects in the coming weeks to give them more precise specifications for the jail project.

City commissioners approved an amendment to the City Tree Ordinance that will allow anyone cited by the Tree Board to appeal their decision. However, the move came after a lengthy discussion about the ordinance itself and who will have the final decision-making power.

Commissioner Ferrell Morgan re-iterated his feelings that the ordinance is too restrictive and he pointed to the tree board’s decision to force Wal-mart to plant trees in their new parking lot. However, commissioner Billy Chism said he thinks more should be done to preserve the trees inside the city limits.

Many citizens were upset when the Tree Board ok’d the chopping down of one hundred year old oaks on the property across from the Toccoa Clinic where the Social Security offices are to be built. Commissioner Andy Pavliscsak said that decision proves there’s a problem with the ordinance.

After the discussion, Commissioners approved the appellate amendment and despite the rhetoric Monday night, the commission did not pursue the proposed moratorium on the current tree ordinance.

A warning from the District Two Health office in Gainesville. An official looking "advisory to all food licensees" regarding hand washing signs is currently being mailed to restaurants in North Health District, which includes Stephens County, according to District Two Health director Dave Palmer.

Palmer tells WNEG the advisory contains a warning that says, "Any food service establishment found to be in violation of state or federal law by willfully failing to post approved hand washings posters may be subject to fines up to $2500 and suspension or revocation of license, as well as possible civil liability actions."

Palmer says that claim is not true. According to Palmer, the letter and poster is filled with incorrect information and threats of harsh penalties. Recipients of this letter should contact the Stephens County Health Department’s Environmental Health office and get information about local enforcement issues. Free real hand washing posters are provided to regulated food service establishments by county health departments.

Governor Sonny Perdue and State School Superintendent Kathy Cox have announced that Georgia improved its national SAT ranking to 46, up from last place among all states in 2005. This year, Georgia bypassed Florida, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

Georgia’s Hispanic students also showed improved performance with an average score of 1,419, ranking 34 in the nation and averaging 48 points higher than the national average for Hispanic students. 

Georgia continues to have one of the smallest achievement gaps among student subgroups in the nation.

Democratic candidate for State senate, Carol Jackson began radiation treatments yesterday following the successful removal of a small breast tumor. Jackson, a three-term member of the Georgia State Senate, is running against incumbent Republican Nancy Schaefer for the 50th District seat, which encompasses most of Northeast Georgia.

In a recent routine self-examination, Jackson discovered a small lump and consulted with Dr. P. F. Brown, III of Gainesville. Doctors removed a 1.5-centimeter tumor and began her on a treatment of radiation therapy.

Jackson believes the treatment series will become an inspiration to other women and will fuel her return to the State senate where she served six years earlier, and she says the diagnosis put things in perspective.

Jackson will have her radiation treatments at the Cancer Center in Toccoa, but says she does not want the treatments to interrupt her campaign schedule.

City and County commissioners will hear tonight from members of the Stephens County Development Authority when they meet tonight for their quarterly joint session. The Development Authority’s Infrastructure Committee will outline for commissioners where they are as far as bringing a sewer system into the County, according to Development Authority director Mitch Griggs.

Griggs says they now have a financial plan in place and hope to get the support of the commissioners tonight. Meantime, plans to put in roads and sewer lines in the Hayestone Brady Industrial Park are also on track, according to Griggs.

Recently, the Georgia Department of Transportation gave the Development Authority the exact route for the new Highway 17, which Griggs said has allowed the County to plan for roads inside the park.

Griggs said getting Hayestone Brady into marketable shape is the Authority’s top priority this year.

Tonight’s joint session takes place at 6 p.m. at Quincy’s and is open to the public.

Lavonia police netted two known drug dealers over the weekend – both repeat offenders.

It happened Saturday night about 10:30 p.m. Officers were on routine patrol when they spotted a crowd gathered around a 2005 Chrysler 300 in the Best Western parking lot.

When officers investigated, they discovered two suspects allegedly selling cocaine and marijuana from their vehicle, according to Lavonia Police Chief Randy Shirley. "Arrested was 32-year old Benjamin Morris of Lavonia and Michael Elliot Smith of Canon, Georgia," Shirley said. "Both are charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. They’re also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia," he said.

Shirley says Morris and Smith have lengthy criminal records and are well known to law enforcement in Franklin County. "Benji was recently released from federal prison where he served five years on similar charges out of Lavonia. Both are currently in the Franklin County jail and we have turned the case over to the Piedmont Northern MANS Unit for further investigation," Shirley said.

Authorities suspected Morris was back in the drug business because he had been seen cruising up and down Highway 17 late at night, according to Shirley. Shirley says both are second and third time offenders and face possible 20 – to life sentences if convicted.

It only took a couple of hours for City of Toccoa water crews to fix a water main break near Toccoa Elementary School yesterday. Water began gushing up to the street at the intersection of Pond and Savannah Streets about 11 a.m. Monday morning.

For a time it looked as though water to the downtown business district might be cut off for hours.

However, Water/Wastewater director Don Dye said that was not the case. "Our crews had the problem fixed within a couple of hours. A line off the main line had simply given way and they were able to cap it off and stop the leak," Dye said.

Dye thanked motorists for keeping clear of the intersection yesterday, which he said, allowed crews to fix the water main break faster.

Commuters from Stephens County who use the 365/985 corridors need to allow extra time this week for possible construction slow downs. Work continues this week on i-985 that will require lane closures in Hall County, according to the Georgia department of transportation.

Crews will be working on the SR13 Bridge near Exit 16, according to GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope.

"The outside shoulder will be open while the left lane is closed for crews to do their work," Pope said.

The work will continue through the overnight hours, according to pope, and she says they hope to get the southbound work to be finished this week. However, Pope says roadwork on all Georgia roadways will stop for the Labor Day holiday weekend. "There will be no roadwork done on any Georgia roads from 5 a.m. Friday morning to 5 a.m. Tuesday morning," Pope said. Construction work will resume at 5 a.m. next Tuesday and will cut the capacity of I-985 in half.

The Georgia Department of Transportation wants to hear from the public regarding planned projects along highway 365/I-985 and they have scheduled another public meeting tonight in Lula. The meeting will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Lula Elementary School, 6130 Chattahoochee Street and will be a drop-in type session.

GDOT has been collecting public opinion for several months now and recently held a similar open house in Habersham County. GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope tells WNEG they are looking for the issues and problems motorists who use 365 regularly feel are the most important.

Tonight’s meeting will be an interactive, open house style meeting. Presentation boards showing graphic representations of the corridor will be displayed. Study staff will be on hand to hear from the public and answer questions.

Ole’ Mexican Foods, Inc. Of Norcross is recalling Ole’ brand and Verole’ brand – Fresco Authentic Mexican Crumbling Cheese because it tested positive for three bacteria, according Tommy Irvin, Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner. The bacteria found in the cheese sample were e. Coli, staphylococcus aureus, and coliforms. 

Among the digestive tract illnesses they can cause is food poisoning. Anyone who has eaten the cheese and has severe diarrhea and/or nausea and vomiting should seek medical care immediately. 

The recalled cheese is sold in 12-ounce round plastic vacuum packages, 24-ounce round plastic vacuum packages, and five-pound vacuum-packaged bags with a white label and "sell by" dates of 9/20/06 and 9/21/06. Ole’ Mexican foods began the recall after a Florida Department of Agriculture sample tested positive for the three bacteria. Irvin says the products may have been distributed in 21 states, including Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is in the process of revising its list of protected plants and animals for the first time since 1992. Changes proposed to the species list reflect extensive input received from wildlife resources staff, other biologists, and members of the public.

One of the changes proposed includes allowing a certain species of state-protected crayfish to be used fishing bait. State biologists are also proposing to add 121 species to the protected list, delete 18 species, and change the status of 43 other species that are currently listed.

The Labor Day crack down on drunk and impaired drivers is underway across Georgia and here in Stephens County.

For six days leading up to the Labor Day holiday travel weekend, the Georgia State Patrol and local police and sheriff’s deputies will participate in the 15^th annual Hands Across the Border highway safety awareness campaign and crackdown.

Beginning yesterday and running through Friday, September 1st, 2006, Georgia law enforcement will join their partners from bordering states Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee in a major Southeastern Operation Zero Tolerance impaired driving enforcement initiative.

Here in Stephens County, Sheriff’s deputies have been out in force since last Friday morning conducting safety checkpoints. Spokesman major Tim Jarrell says so far, they have taken a lot of impaired drivers off the streets. "On our first day we cited a lot of people for no seatbelt, driving with no insurance or suspended license, and we also arrested several people for probation violations from other counties," he said.

The Labor Day DUI campaign will conclude with an all-day Georgia State Patrol all interstate crackdown in the Atlanta metro area on Monday, September 4.

City commissioners will conduct four public hearings at their regular meeting tonight. In the first hearing, Commissioners will hear from the public regarding an amendment to the tree ordinance to provide an appeals process.

Commissioners had discussed imposing a 90-day moratorium on enforcing the current ordinance but a second reading as tabled last month until the City attorney John Dickerson could review it. Under a proposed appeal process put forth by the Toccoa Planning Commission and approved by Dickerson, any person who believes they are being adversely affected by Toccoa tree board ruling may appeal the determination within 15 days.

Appeals for properties inside the city limits would be determined by the Toccoa City Commission.

The commission would have the authority to modify, approve, or reject a determination made by the Tree Board. Members of the Toccoa Planning Commission approved the amendment at their last meeting. If no one objects to the amendment tonight, Commissioners will likely approve it as well.

Two outside developers doing business in Stephens County, Vanguard Development, and The Braden Group protested the current tree ordinance saying it was too strict. However, both developers have since reached agreements with the City.

Also being heard tonight, Commissioners will consider two re-zoning variances and an annexation request.

Commissioners will consider issuing an alcoholic beverage license to Laura Black, the owner of KB Fishbones. Black’s husband is currently in prison after being convicted of two counts of arson. Ken Black had paid an employee to burn down his other business, the ABC Package store on Currahee Street.

After his conviction, Black lost his business and liquor licenses. The package store was closed and ownership of KB Fishbones was transferred to his wife.

Tonight’s regular meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Toccoa City Hall.

State Senator Nancy Schaeffer will cut the ribbon to open a touring exhibit called, "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death," presented by the Atlanta chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a psychiatric watchdog group founded by the Church of Scientology. 

The exhibit opens today and will be open daily until Friday, September 1, at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta, from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Dr. Bob Schmidt, president of CCHR Atlanta, said that the exhibit is about educating people, arming them with the truth, and empowering them to prevent psychiatric abuse of a loved one, friend or associate and to do something effective to help clean up what he calls, quote, "this brutal field of mental health."

Last year, Schaefer spoke out against the use of what she called, "psychotropic drug" used to treat childhood behavior problems. She introduced a bill this past legislative session that will require parents give their permission before their children undergo any sort of mental health evaluation.

Schaefer also wrote an article last year about the overuse of certain medications in children and their effects. The article appeared in the Washington Times and on their Web site. Schaefer says she received hundreds of emails from parents outlining their experiences with what she calls, "psychotropic drug" use in their children.

The problem of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens is epidemic in Georgia. Now, a state-funded program to help people get their pets altered to prevent those litters is back up and running. The low-cost certificates will again be available beginning Friday.

The program was stopped last year because the demand for spay/neuter certificates outpaced the sale of the car tags that fund the program. A new tag design and help from taxpayers should pay for the program from now on, according to State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

"Increased sales of our new Buddy License Plate as well as the 2006 State Income Tax Check off on tax returns filed in 2007 will allow us to continue this important program and help curb pet overpopulation in our state," said Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

The low cost program is available through local veterinarians. Pet owners needing help getting their animal fixed, should contact their vet, and request a state-funded spay/neuter certificate.

If you commute to Atlanta or plan to drive down there today or Wednesday be aware of construction delays.

Georgia DOT crews have been working all weekend to ready the area along I-85 southbound just north of Old Norcross Road for blasting twice this week.

Blasting is expected to occur today and again on Wednesday between 12:30pm and 1:00pm. Teri Pope with the DOT tells WNEG the window for blasting has been widened from 12:30pm to 1:00pm to give crews time to work around the afternoon showers that have been cropping up.

Pope says motorists who plant to be traveling to the metro Atlanta area today and Wednesday just need to get through the area before 12:30pm or after 1:10pm and they wont have to worry about being inconvenienced by the blasting. 

Blasting will likely continue through fall, according to Pope. As blasting occurs traffic will be stopped on the interstate for about 10 minutes. I-85 northbound traffic will be stopped at Steve Reynolds Boulevard and I-85 southbound traffic will be stopped at SR 316.

Currently, there are no other lane closures planned this week in connection with the blasting that will affect traffic on this project. The overall projected completion date on this project is December 31, 2008 and its construction cost is over $147 million.

Habersham County is looking to the City of Toccoa for water. Stephens County’s next door neighbor has approached Toccoa about buying water and next week, City Commissioners will discuss the request in a special work session. City Manager Billy Morse says the proposal would be similar to an agreement already in place with Franklin County.

"Habersham County, as a lot of folks know, is not as blessed with water resources as we are. Habersham County wants to get into the water distribution business," Morse noted. "They are requesting the City of Toccoa consider selling them water at the rate of one million gallons a day. They would take the water from Highway 17a, install a line from our elevated storage tank, put in a booster tank, and run a line to the County line. From there, they would distribute it out to whatever customers they might have," he said.

Habersham gets most of its water now from the headwaters of the Soque in the Tray Mountain wilderness and Upper Chattahoochee, but hot weather and drought has put a strain on their supplies. Under the proposed deal, Habersham would purchase a million gallons a day from Toccoa at a rate of $1.81 per 1,000 gallons. Currently, Toccoa is permitted for 9-million gallons of water a day, but is only producing 4 – 5 million gallons daily.

Morse says the loss of Coats American as a major water customer freed up surplus water to sell. He said even if another major company chose to locate here, there would still be plenty of water to sell to Habersham as well as supply local industry.

A Maysville man is in the Stephens County jail facing a laundry list of charges after leading state troopers on a high-speed motorcycle chase. It happened Tuesday evening. The Toccoa post of the Georgia State Patrol says troopers spotted three motorcyclists spinning out on Highway 106. When he tried to pull them over, all three sped off.

The chase ended for one suspect when he lost control of his bike at the Carnes Creek Fire Station. In trying to stop his cruiser, the trooper skidded into the fire station’s metal building denting the door. Arrested at the scene was 21-year old Virgil Griffin of Maysville. A check of the Harley Davidson’s VIN number found it had been stolen from Jackson County. Griffin is charged with felony theft by receiving, felony fleeing, several counts of driving on the wrong side of road, running a red light, dui – drugs, driving on a suspended license, speeding, and probation violation.

Meantime, troopers pursued the other two suspects. Both managed to get away but not before one of the other motorcycles was ditched. It was also a Harley Davidson that had been stolen from Jackson County.

Jackson County investigators are now looking for the other two suspects. It is believed all three suspects are from Jackson County.

It looks like something out the movie, "The Birds," and it has wildlife officials baffled. Black vultures have been roosting by the dozens at locations all around Lake Hartwell. Here in Stephens County, they can be seen in the early morning hours on and under the bridge on Brookhaven Circle that crosses Eastanollee Creek – a popular fishing spot.

On Wednesday, several dozen of the vultures were seen at the Big Oaks Park boat ramp and along the rocks at the dam. According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger Tanya Grant, the vultures have damaged at least three vehicles at Big Oaks Park, eating rubber weather stripping and picking carpet from a boat trailer.

She says the best thing people can do to keep the buzzards off is keeping their cars and trucks clean.

"People might be smart to make sure that the back of their trucks are clean. A lot of people haul their trash to the transfer station. Perhaps if there's leakage and there's a bad smell that would be something that would attract them," Grant explained.

Park rangers say this is a new phenomenon they have not seen before. Grant says wildlife officials are working on a solution, because when one vulture finds something, more tend to show up.

"We're in the process of working with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to see what recommendations they might have and what we can actually do out here to alleviate the problem," Grant said.

Grant says buzzards are sight hunters so it is also a good idea to not leave pick baskets or fast food wrappers in plain sight where the birds can see them.

A major blood shortage is prompting two blood drives in the coming weeks. Life South, which supplies blood to a number of Northeast Georgia Hospitals, will be at Grace Baptist Church tomorrow between noon and 9 p.m.

"We serve probably 70% of hospitals in North Georgia, including Habersham County Medical Center, Lanier Medical Center and Northeast Georgia Medical Center," Donor recruiter for Life South, Billy Johnson said.

Life South will be back in the area on September 9 at Quality Foods for another blood drive. Johnson says they scheduled two drives so close together because of the huge shortage of blood this time of year.

"We've had several hospitals contact us that they have a critical shortage of blood right now. That's why we're working doubly hard to schedule as many drives as we possibly can," Johnson said

People with Type O-Negative blood are especially encouraged to donate. You must be at least 17 years old and in good health to donate. All donors will receive a free t-shirt or cap and a free cholesterol screening.

State Senator Nancy Schaefer has been named as a standing member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate Committee on Assignments made the announcement yesterday. Schaefer’s appointment is one of two to that committee. Senator Greg Goggans of Douglas County was named vice chair of Senate Appropriations.

Senate president pro tem Eric Johnson tells WNEG Schaefer was chosen to be on the committee because of programs she was able to bring to the 50^th District that will help grow jobs and tourism. Johnson said Schaefer will be immersed in the budget committee process and will be assigned to subcommittees that craft sections of the budget.

Stephens County’s unemployment rate remained unchanged for July at 5.7%. That is higher than the state rate of 5.1% last month but down almost a full percentage point from July 2005 when it was 6.4%.

Last month’s labor force in Stephens County was 13,300, of those 761 were without jobs, while 12,539 were employed. For the Mountains Region as a whole, the unemployment rate last month as 4.1 % down from 4.2% in June. While unemployment declined slightly in July, Georgia lost 16,700 non-farm jobs.

Another new professor at Toccoa Falls College, this time in their communications school. Curt Wanner has accepted a position as assistant professor for Mass Communication. Wanner earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Science from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.

He went on to earn a Master of Arts in Communications from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Before coming to Toccoa Falls College, Wanner worked as an assistant professor of Communication Arts for Gordon College.

In addition, he has served as a senior pastor, contributing writer for Archaeology Study Bible, adjunct professor, youth minister, and high school teacher. Wanner has also produced academic software used in 35 countries, and written, directed and edited a documentary.

Who would have thought that the small city of Clayton would have a connection to a case, which has grabbed the attention of the nation? Local Attorney Gary Harris, is representing members of the Karr family, as they speak out about what they say is proof of the innocence of John Mark Karr, who was recently extradited from Thailand in connection with the Jon Benet Ramsey case.

Harris’ connection to the Karr family spans about 20 years, when he first represented John Karr’s father in a civil matter which went to the court of appeals. Harris also represented Michael Karr in a civil filing.

Now Harris is acting as a spokesperson for Michael and Renea Karr as they come out to say that photographic evidence shows John Karr was with family the night Jon Benet Ramsey was murdered, during Christmas time, 1996.

Harris described John Mark Karr as an "obsessive personality," with an obsession with the Jon Benet Ramsey Case. Harris says the chances that Karr was in Colorado and not at a family Christmas gathering during the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey were so small as to be "Infinitesimal."

Carnes creek volunteer firefighters are upset with the Georgia State Patrol. They say a high-speed chase Tuesday wrecked their storage building and damaged a fire truck. It happened about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

The Toccoa Post of the GSP says troopers were chasing a suspect on a motorcycle when the bike went out from under him going around the curve. The suspect slammed his bike into the fire truck, while volunteer fire chief spokesman Vern Wilkinson, Jr. tells AM630 WNEG, the trooper ran over the storage shed.

Wilkinson says they hope to hear from the GSP as to how they intend to replace the shed and pay for the damage to the fire truck. Details on what lead to the high-speed chase, the name of the suspect, and any charges he faces, have not yet been released by the state patrol.

No new millage increases from the Stephens County School Board. Yesterday, the BOE voted to keep the millage at the current 16.9 mil level – the same as last year. The move comes despite an increase in expenses this year, according to School Superintendent Gary Steppe. "We were able to keep the millage at the same rate even though we had higher expenses," he said. "Our diesel fuel went up and we had to absorb that and even though we used less electricity our power bill also went up," Steppe said.

Other increased costs this year include a cut in travel reimbursements for teachers, 4% pay raises for teachers and all school staff, higher legal fees, and increased cost of materials. Also facing the school system this year are some unexpected financial challenges handed down from the state.

"Every seven years we have a textbook adoption and this year we have to purchase new math books. Also the State has mandated smaller class sizes at the high school level and that will mean we will have to hire more teachers," Steppe said.

The school millage will now be advertised for 14 days in the Toccoa Record. On September 8, school board members will meet for a called session to formally adopt the rate.

Stephens County Hospital authorities are working on a public bond issue in connection with their next project, the renovation of the older patient rooms.

Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said that the market is advantageous for a public bond for this project ,rather than a private bond. "The last couple of bond issues have been private offerings," Gambrell explained. " But right now, it seems it is advantageous to us to do a public offering. In fact the current average coupon rate, if we sold this very moment, would be around 4.26 per cent. But of course, we need this bond issue of four million dollars to help finance this project of renovating the older patient rooms. My controller, Jeff Laird and I have been working very hard on that right now. We expect to close out this bond issue by late September or early October."

One of the real tricky parts of this project is keeping the portion of the hospital open while the renovation takes place. It is hoped that construction can take place with just a minimum of inconvenience to the patients and staff.

Toccoa City Hall will be closed on Monday September 4^th in observance of Labor Day.

Routes for garbage and recyclables scheduled to be picked up on Monday September 4^th will be picked up on Tuesday September 5^th.

Commercial garbage will be picked up as usual, but yard waste and other items will not be picked up until the next regular scheduled pick up. Those with special needs should call City Hall for assistance.

The Toccoa Police and Fire Departments will be on duty. Utility department employees, as well as employees from the Public Works Department, will be on call for emergencies.

The Pines Municipal Golf Course will operate as usual. The normal operating hours are 7:30am until sunset.

For more information, please call Toccoa City Hall at 886-8451.

It was a case of mistaken identity, but for awhile there, Toccoa Police thought they were looking for a molester in a local nursing facility. Toccoa police received a call from the Department of Regulatory Services in Atlanta regarding a suspect they believed was hiding out at the Sunshine Personal Care Home.

According to the woman from regulatory services, the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted one of the residents at the home and was wanted in Atlanta for similar crimes. However, an investigation by detectives found that the man they were looking for was actually in Royston, but had the same name as an employee at the nursing home.

The supposed victim at the nursing home, meantime, was not able to furnish investigators with any information. Ultimately, the Department of Regulatory Services dropped the Toccoa investigation and no arrests were made.

A group of state senators, headed by Senator Nancy Schaefer, will be touring North Georgia’s Wine Trail today. Senate president pro tem Eric Johnson from Savannah, Senator Ronnie Chance of Tyrone, will join Rabun County commissioners, tourism officials, and vineyard owners to view the new highway signs promoting the state’s wine country.

The group will also be touring the Tiger Mountain vineyards and Persimmon Creek vineyard. During this past legislative session, Schaefer secured marketing funding for the North Georgia Wine Trail. The $100,000 paid for signage to promote the Georgia Wine Highway from Braselton to Clayton.

Toccoa police have reported another incident of a vicious dog attacking another dog. This incident occurred on Rumsey Avenue Tuesday morning. Robert Key told officers that a large brown and white dog which belonged to a neighbor had come into his backyard and killed his brother’s Labrador dog. He said he had tried to stop the attack by hitting the dog with a stick, but the attack continued. Key said he had noticed the dog in his yard several times before and had notified the owner. Officers went to the dog’s owner, who lives on Davis Avenue, but was told he was not at home at the time. Animal control officer John Shelton came and took the dog. No charges have been filed in the incident which is still under investigation.

A resident of Circleview Drive told police that a man had come to her house and a verbal argument followed .After the man left, the woman went to her car and discovered that her pocketbook had been moved from the front seat to the back seat and $80 was missing. A witness told the investigating officer that he saw the suspect kneeling down at the passenger side of the car and when confronted, had some cash in his hand which he put in his pocket and then fled. Police were not able to locate the suspect.

A Stephens County family is waking up with relatives this morning after fire destroyed their home.

It happened yesterday afternoon at a trailer park off Garland Road. Cody Pruitt, his wife and two small children lived in the mobile home that was totally destroyed by fire. Pruitt says he was cooking something to eat when the blaze broke out.

"I had put some grease on the stove to heat up to make chicken nuggets and went to watch TV and all of the sudden I heard a ‘boom’ and it exploded into flames. I tried to put it out with baking soda but it just got bigger. I tried and I tried," Pruitt said.

Volunteer firefighters from Tates Creek and New Hope Fire Departments responded to the blaze but the home was completely engulfed by the time they got there. "We lost everything," Pruitt said. "I went back in several times to get what I could but I had to crawl on my stomach. All I could get were some clothes and the firefighters hosed them down. That’s all I could get out of there," he said.

Pruitt’s children were at school and his wife still at work when the blaze broke out. They had no renter’s insurance.

The Martin Volunteer Fire Department has a new piece of equipment in which to battle grass and woods fires.

Martin Mayor Don Foster said that the men are very proud of this new fire- fighting tool. "We now have a new fire knocker for the Martin Volunteer Fire Department, " Mayor Foster announced. " I went down with Chief Harold Thomas last month to pick-it up and the men are very proud of this new truck. It’s a very fine piece of machinery."

The Martin Volunteer Fire Department had asked the city council several months ago for permission to look into the possibility of obtaining the fire knocker.

City officials briefly discussed the possibility of selling one of their older fire trucks that is a 1975 model that only has about 5000 miles on it with a pumper that doesn’t work.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has designated 155 Georgia counties, including Stephens County, as agricultural disaster areas because of this summer’s searing heat and lack of normal rainfall. Earlier this month, Governor Sonny Perdue submitted his request for the Secretarial Disaster designation, after the state emergency board reviewed and approved damage assessment reports for the counties.

To receive a disaster designation, a county must have incurred a loss of 30 percent or more in dollar value for all crops, or of a single crop or group of crops, such as all feed crops or all fruit crops. Once a county receives a disaster designation by the Secretary of Agriculture, all farmers in the county become eligible to apply to the USDA Farm Service Agency for low-interest emergency loans.  Although all farmers are eligible to apply, they do not automatically qualify for the loans.  Each farmer must meet individual eligibility requirements.

A Secretarial Disaster Designation only enables farmers in qualifying counties to apply for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency. Only Fannin, Gilmer, Towns and Union counties did not receive the disaster designation. Those counties chose to defer submitting damage assessment reports until harvest. 

According to the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, State Agricultural losses due to drought and excessive heat since March 2006 are estimated to total $819.4 million. 

Toccoa Falls College has hired Mr. Jim Mattison to coach the men’s soccer team for the 2006 season. Coach Mattison played soccer for Mercer University and Toccoa Falls College during his college career. He graduated with a degree in Christian Education from TFC in 1983. Most recently, coach Mattison has been coaching at Christian Heritage High School in Gainesville.

Both men and women’s soccer have numerous players from Stephen County competing in the 2006 season. Andrew Wiese, Matt Griffin, Chris Croyle, and Paul Mallalieu are members of the men’s soccer team. Michelle Mallalieu and Mel Miner are members of the women’s soccer team. Lance Martin, Athletic Director for Toccoa Falls College, tells WNEG he’s excited to have Mattison as the new coach.

Martin said Mattison is very knowledgeable about the game and is a very good communicator, and he expects Mattison will get the most out of his players and will have the team competing at the top of the region each session.

On Tuesday, WNEG News reported that Stephens County Hospital had adopted a new budget, where patient revenues were expected to be around 88 million dollars in the next year.

Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said that the hospital is seeing more surgeries than ever before and that has created some growing pains in that area. He indicated that some modifications are in the works to help the patient and the physicians. "We’re seeing more surgeries than ever before at the hospital," Gambrell admitted. "In fact we have more surgeons on staff than we’ve ever had before and that’s creating some problems in the operating room area. We’re looking at making some minor modifications in that area to make those rooms more efficient and more useable."

Improved lighting and electrical capacity are among the improvements that will be made to help keep surgery schedules from backing up.

County commissioners will meet this morning to begin two days of interviews for the Recreation Director job left vacant by Joe Gailey. Last week, Commissioners reviewed dozens of resumes in executive session and chose those they believed most qualified for the position. County administrator Darrell Hampton says Commissioners will talk to nine candidates they feel are most qualified.

Hampton says they received 32 resumes for the Recreation Director post – many from residents of Stephens County. After four years here, former Rec Director Joe Gailey resigned in June to take a job near Hilton Head, SC. No word on when the County plans to have a new Rec Director in place.

A kind of chicken-flavored bouillon may contain beef flavoring with a soy ingredient. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is alerting consumers that "IGA Chicken-flavored Bouillon," produced by Creative Contract Packaging Corp., Aurora, IL, may cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to soy.

A total of 121 cases of the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Chicken Bouillon -- with the code date best by Jan. 2008 – v06066 and with the UPC code on the label 0 41270 00958 4 -- have been distributed nationally.  The code date is found on the lid of the container. 

Consumers who have purchased chicken bouillon, in 3.33 ounce plastic bottle containers, are being asked to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. 

A resident of Child Street in Martin reported to the Stephens County Sheriff’s office that a number of appliances had been taken from his rental property.

Charles Morgan said that an older white male and three black males in a 1970s model pick-up were seen taking two refrigerators, two stoves and a hot water heater from a trailer that he was renting.

The theft is under investigation and no arrests have been made so far.

A Stephens County postal worker was apparently delivering more than the mail on his rural route. Last Friday, Stephens County Sheriff’s investigators arrested 30-year old Carlton Daniel Walters of Habersham County.

Sheriff Gene Sorrells says Walters was selling a kind of methamphetamine called, "ice" out of his 1991 Chevrolet, which was being used as a postal vehicle. After an ongoing investigation, detectives arrested Walters.

Inside his vehicle detectives found a quarter ounce of meth, scales, and meth residue. Walters is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He remains in the Stephens County jail.

The Stephens County Hospital Authority has approved its budget for the coming year.

Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said that the hospital is extremely busy and the new budget figures reflect the activity. "The new budget is for the period which starts October 1^st and we continue to be very busy." Gambrell explained. "Our gross patient revenue next year is predicted to be all the way up to 88 million dollars. It includes a budget bottom line of about one point six million dollars and of course, we use our gain to re-invest in the hospital. Part of it next year will be to renovate the old patient rooms. In addition, it calls for an overall price increase of about four per cent."

To keep pace with the newest in medical technology, the authority approved $83,500 in new equipment. The hospital will be receiving two new neo natal monitors and 25 vital signs monitors. The new equipment replaces current equipment that is between 8 and 11 years old.

The town of Martin is so small that many motorists forget that there is a speed limit. Now, there is an official speed limit set by the State and Mayor Don Foster said at some point, Martin will have to get speeding under control. "We do now have an opportunity to get those who speed through our town," Foster stated. "The State sent us an agreement on our 35 mile per hour speed limit. Part of it is 35 miles per hour and the other part is 45 miles per hour. We can now have a speed device down here which we can use if we need to. We do have a speeding problem and at some time, we’re going to have to slow these people down. It gets pretty dangerous."

Martin does not have a police force and is patrolled by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators looking for the man who assaulted a school employee in Ellijay now say there is likely no connection with a similar incident that occurred last week in Greer, South Carolina. The woman was attacked at knifepoint at Ellijay Elementary School early last Tuesday morning as she entered the building.

A similar assault occurred in Greer, SC last Sunday. In that case, the man abducted the woman at gunpoint from a parking lot. He forced the victim to drive down I-85 to the Clemson exit where he assaulted her. Afterwards, he forced her to drive him to the last South Carolina exit on I-85 where he got out and ran into the Lake Hartwell State Park on the Georgia side.

However, after talking to Greer investigators, Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan now believes the suspects in the attacks are not the same person.

"We talked to them and looked at what they have and we really don't see any reason to link them together right now. Of course, we won't rule out a possibility until we have somebody in custody. Based on what I've seen I really don't see any reason that the two would be linked together, and also based on some evidence that we have here locally, we feel like it's going to tie a suspect to this area," Callahan said.

Both suspects are described as white or light tan-skinned males about 5’7" to 5’8" tall, with brown hair, between 30-40 years old. However, Callahan says his suspect in Ellijay is likely sporting some facial scratches received by the victim who was able to fight her attacker off.

Officials in Washington, DC have rejected a new state law that would have raised the limit on the Medicaid Estate Recovery program. The program is designed to allow states to recoup losses from caring for Medicaid patients in nursing homes by seizing their estates after death.

Now the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it will not approve the state’s changes from a $25,000 estate exemption to $100,000 exemption. State Representative Jeanette Jamieson was instrumental in getting the bill passed and signed.

"I know that I sound unhappy, but the truth is I'm just mad. I think it's an unfair way to treat people who are ill and in nursing homes and in situations over which they have absolutely no control," Jamieson said. "You have to understand that they can seize any property valued at $25,000. Well in Northeast Georgia, two or three acres of property are worth $25,000 never mind a lot with a house on it.  So, it's an unfair treatment of the elderly and the sick. I didn't like it when I first heard about it and I certainly do not like it now," she said.

Jamieson blames Governor Sonny Perdue for the fed’s decision and says he planned to send the bill to Washington, DC for review all along – even though he signed it into law – knowing they would reject it.

"To my knowledge other than re-apportionment, we have never sent legislation to Washington to be reviewed, and I've been here 22 years. I think the Governor felt that this was an election year he had to sign the bill that we got passed, for political purposes. But I think he knew all the time that if it were forwarded to Washington, they would reverse it. Well if we sent every bill we passed to Washington, they might actually have something to do," Jamieson said.

Other Democrats who pushed for the extended bill are also up in arms, vowing to fight the decision, but Medicaid officials say an appeal would be futile. Jamieson disagrees.

This direction from the federal government came to us in 1993. Zell Miller was the governor then. He would not allow it. Roy Barnes followed him. He would not allow it. But Governor Perdue, because it sends $2 million to the State of Georgia put it in his budget. I think it speaks for itself.

The fed’s decision will likely affect about 29,000 Georgians now in nursing homes on Medicaid.

Drunk driving is one of our country’s deadliest crimes. That’s one reason Lavonia Police will be out in force again this labor holiday cracking down on impaired drivers. Operation, "Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest" kicked off yesterday in Lavonia.

According to Police Chief Randy Shirley, the program is part of a nationwide effort to keep drunk drivers off the roads. "Make no mistake, our message is simple. No matter what you drive, if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses," Shirley said.

Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Although drunk-driving fatalities across the national declined slightly in 2003 and 2004, alcohol – related fatalities rose in 2005. In 2005, nearly 13,000 people died in alcohol-related vehicle accidents nationwide.

Toccoa Police have arrested a man who was apparently looking for love in the all the wrong places. Police say Robert Hyatt Graves of East Savannah Street has been calling 9-1-1 and harassing dispatchers. Graves would allegedly call 9-1-1, and then once he got a dispatcher on the phone, would tell them he needed some love and would read them poetry.

Dispatchers told authorities Graves called them at least eight times in one day. Graves is charged with making harassing phone calls.

A Lavonia man, brought to Stephens County Hospital after a fight at Hibbett Sporting Goods, is now under arrest for disorderly conduct. Police say 20-year old Joel Keller became combative and used abusive language towards hospital staff while being treated last week. Officers responded to the hospital’s request for assistance and Keller was told to calm down. Officers were called back a second time after doctors asked Keller to leave the hospital for his continued abusive language towards staff. At the time, police warned him if he continued to cause problems, he would be arrested. A little while later, police were again notified that Keller was still causing problems. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

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Stephens, Hart, and Franklin counties will soon be the recipients of a multi-million dollar settlement from a PCB contamination suit. The PCB seeped into 12-Mile Creek from a factory in South Carolina for some 50 years. Under the terms of the settlement, $3.6 million must be spent on the Georgia side of Lake Hartwell for projects that create opportunities for the public to fish and that will enhance recreational activities around the lake.

Last week, a group from Stephens County met with Department of Natural Resources officials who are seeking input from all three counties about the kinds of projects they would like to see in their counties. One of the biggest uses for the money here would be for a boat ramp at the Lake Yonah tailrace.

"Right now there isn't any formal access in the tailrace," noted Mitch Griggs, Stephens County Development Authority director. "It doesn't deter people from fishing there, but right now they're sliding down the banks to get to the water to fish. It's not really a safe environment, so we'd like to build a pier that runs parallel to the shoreline," he said.

Another project the county is looking at is building a pedestrian bridge from the shore to the island in Panther Creek so people could fish for stripe. It is not clear how much of the settlement money Stephens County would get, but Griggs said Lake Yonah is not the only area under consideration.

"Some other initiatives that have been proposed are improvements to the existing areas at Bruce Creek and Holcomb Access and or Jenkins Ferry," Griggs said.

Right now, County commissioners are putting together a letter listing the projects. They hope to meet with DNR officials in person soon to present their ideas.

The City of Toccoa will not pursue development around its only watershed. After months of discussion and public input, it was money – or rather, the lack of it - that shelved any plans the City might have had, including expanding the Pines Golf Course.

Last week at a called meeting, Toccoa City Commissioners heard from City manager Billy Morse regarding estimates he received from engineers for a feasibility study around the lake. Those estimates came in at about $50,000 – far more than the City is willing to spend – and more than the City actually has in its budget, according to Finance director Emory Stephens.

After a brief discussion, Commissioners took the idea of development around the lake off the table.

"At this time we do not have anything in the budget to cover that study," mayor Bob Troup explained. "As short as we are on money, we don't want to borrow money to do that sort of thing. However, we have determined if somebody comes and wants to make a proposal we will sit down with them before that and explain to them that they will have to pay for that study in order for them to make a presentation to the commission," he concluded.

The whole idea of building around the lake started last year with a presentation from Atlanta developers Sean Harrington and Alan Nix, who proposed building almost 500 homes on the 500 acres. This summer, Commissioners reviewed an RFP prepared by Morse that would have gone out to developers had the environmental study been done. The RFP called for a development of less than 200 homes and an expansion of the golf course.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s office, the Piedmont Northern Mans Unit, K-9 units from the Georgia Department of Corrections, and administrators from the Stephens County School System conducted a contraband search of random classrooms and outbuildings at Stephens County High School on Friday morning.

No arrests were made as a result of the operation.

Crews continue to work on one of the units at Oconee’s nuclear power plant. The number three unit is working at half-capacity because of a sudden problem that developed last Wednesday.

"We had an inadvertent control rod drop in unit three, which has an automatic safety system so power was automatically reduced by 50%," noted Duke Power spokesman Jason Walls. "We currently have a team in place that's evaluating why that drop occurred and what steps we need to take in order to reestablish that unit to full power," he said.

Meantime, units one and two are operating at full capacity. Walls said taking a unit down to half-power is routine in such cases.

"The reason why it was dropped to 50% is because it's part of the technical requirements at the plant and it's part of the safety system that when a rod drops inadvertently, power is automatically reduced. Time frame to fix that at this time is unknown. We are still in the process of evaluating why that drop occurred," he said.

Ken Clark, spokesman for the Nuclear Regularity Commission in Atlanta tells AM630 WNEG there is no danger to public safety.

Local swimmers will have a chance to learn from Olympic medalists next weekend when the "Swim With a Champion" seminar comes to Habersham County’s swim complex. Olympic champions Josh Davis and Glenn Mills will be teaching kids the patented, "Ultimate Technique," – a series of tips and tricks to make them better swimmers, according to Terry Wertain, a volunteer with the camp.

Another goal of the two-day swim clinic is to share with swimmers here their stories in the hopes it will have a positive affect. Davis and Mills also hope to have every swimmer, coach and parent feel like they were able to intimidate interact and share their life experiences in and out of the pool.

There are just 250 spots open for the clinic and registration is required with a registration fee.  You can contact Teresa Coan at the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarksville at 706-491-9242.

Business is apparently booming at the Stephens County Development Authority. This week Toccoa Mayor Bob Troup told commissioners dozens of potential new industries are looking at our community as a possible place to relocate.

Troup told commissioners over 30 businesses have contacted the Development Authority recently to inquire about relocating here.

The Stephens County Development Authority office confirms the flurry of activity, but is not able to reveal the names of any of the prospects looking at Toccoa-Stephens County.

Police in Greer, SC are asking for the public’s help in capturing the man who kidnapped a woman and then sexually assaulted her at gunpoint. They believe he could be in the Northeast Georgia area. It happened last Sunday afternoon at the Bi-Lo on Wade Hampton Boulevard.

Authorities say the woman was forced into her car and driven south on I-85 to a spot near the Clemson exit where she was assaulted. The suspect then forced the victim to drive him to Exit 1 on Highway 11 in Oconee County, SC where he got out of the car and ran toward the entrance of Lake Hartwell State Park.

Authorities are looking for a white male, approximately 5’7", 160 –180lbs, with light brown hair. At the time of the assault, he was wearing a red ball cap, white shirt with the word, "Michelob" printed on the front pocket, and blue jeans. Anyone with information on this person is asked to contact Greer, SC police at 864-877-7906.

Build more refineries, start drilling in Alaska and offshore, and order car makers to raise gas mileage standards - that was the overwhelming consensus of North Georgians who responded to an online poll on U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood’s (R. GA) Web site.

Of the 2,867 Georgians who responded, over 74% said the federal government should increase mileage standards for new cars and trucks.  More than 70% of participants said this country needs to start drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for new domestic oil supplies. 

58% of Northeast Georgians think price-gouging by oil companies is a contributing factor to today's problem, while they remain split right down the middle - 49% vs. 50% - on whether tax windfall profits should be taxed in retaliation. 56% thought Congress is already doing enough to address this problem.

Congress hasn't increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) gas mileage requirements since the 1980's. Norwood says he’ll take the feedback and look at reasonably updating those standards.

Some Big A Elementary School personnel are the recipients of special recognition. At this week’s school board meeting, principal Gail Fry announced their custodial team was named the highest-rated team in the state by Athens Janitorial, Inc., the company contracted by the school system.

"They come every month and rate the schools. They have over 200 schools that they visit in Georgia and they’ve never had a school make the top of the list, but we did," said Fry.

Fry says part of the reason the school is so clean is because everyone pitches in to keep it that way, including students who are rewarded for picking up trash when they see it. According to Fry, that goes hand in hand with the custodian’s work. This is the first time any school in the Company’s client list as been recognized for its clean facility.

The 26^th Annual Lake Hartwell Clean Up Campaign kicks off today and runs through September 30.

Volunteers of all kinds are needed to help pick up debris and trash from on and around the lake.

This year, park ranger Tanya Grant says the Clean Up will also include an initiative called, "Operation Iceberg."

"That’s the name people have given those white flotation devices the Park used to use to mark off areas, but we don’t’ use them anymore," Fry said. "We need to get them off the lake along with other debris to make the lake look nicer," she said.

Operation Iceberg participants will need to have boat. Grant says they will be given instructions on where to look for the floating icebergs and where to take them for disposal. For other clean up activities, trash bags will be provided.

All volunteers will be rewarded with t-shirts and a volunteer appreciation picnic on September 30.

To sign up, you can contact Grant at 706-856-0323.

The traffic shift on the U.S. 441 widening project in Rabun County has been delayed. GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope tells WNEG there is still work that has to be finished before they can put traffic on those new lanes.

Crews have to finish installing guardrail. Weather permitting; that work could be finished as early as next Monday, but it will depend on the weather. Pope says there is still about 2-3 days worth of work to complete before they can shift traffic, so it could be later in the week if it rains.

The GDOT apologizes for the delay but said they cannot shift traffic onto the new lanes until they are finished and ready for traffic. The completion date for this project is May 31, 2007 at an estimated construction cost of $65 million

The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.1% in July, down one-tenth of one percent from 5.2% in June. However, for the third consecutive month, the Georgia jobless rate was higher than the U. S. Rate, which was an unadjusted 5.0 percent in July.

While unemployment declined slightly in the state in July, Georgia lost 16,700 non-farm jobs, with the bulk of those among seasonal workers in local education, when schools closed for the summer. In the Georgia Mountains region, which includes Stephens County, the unemployment rate for July was 4.2%.

The owner of Star Beauty Supply on Collins Road is facing felony charges for allegedly practicing two different kinds of medicine without a license.

"What they were doing is selling contact lenses, which is against the state law and regulations. They are not licensed to practice optometry and that is what that is," explained Toccoa Police Chief Jackie Whitmire. "They were also making impressions of people's teeth and making decorative teeth covers. And that's practicing dentistry without a license," he said.

Whitmire said the owner was warned once before by the Secretary of State’s office to stop selling the products in her store. Assistant district attorney Rick Bridgeman contacted Toccoa Police on behalf of the Secretary of State. They worked closely with law enforcement from the Secretary of State’s office last Friday in issuing a search warrant.

"Three arrests were made over there, they're felony charges. The owner, Mrs. Renee Young Bhang, who is from Bethlehem, GA, is charged with four felony counts through the Secretary of State's office. And two employees were also charged," Whitmire said.

The employees are identified as Young Lee of Toccoa and Placida Marmalehos –Martin of Eastanollee. Both employees are charged with two counts each of unlicensed practices constituting a nuisance and one count each of no certificate of registration. Bond for both was set at $15,000. Whitmire says it is not clear yet whether the city will revoke Bhan’s business license.

"We're not sure yet. That might become an issue once this goes through court and the City will look at it with the City attorney and will see what we need to do at that time," he said.

In addition to practicing optometry without a license and practicing dentistry without a license, Bhang also faces two counts of unlicensed practices and one count of no certificate of registration.

Authorities think they know who may have stolen two high-priced cell phones from a Verizon store in Toccoa. It happened July 28 at communications plus in the Wal-mart Super Center.

The store manager told police one phone was valued at $518, the other at $630. Both were Motorola’s – one a model V-3c, the other a model Q. A description and name of the possible suspect was given to officers, but no arrests have been made.

Two people are charged with theft by taking in connection with a home burglary. It happened Tuesday at a home on Pebble Creek Drive in Toccoa. Authorities arrested Tanya Murrey and Robert Hiott both of the same Pebble Creek address. The pair is accused of stealing a 30/30 long gun and an undetermined amount of cash.

Toccoa police are investigating an attempted burglary at a home on Mulkey Road. The homeowner told police she noticed a light in the living room had gone out last Saturday night. When she went to check on it, she discovered the front door open.

A lawn mower they kept in the house had been moved, but nothing appeared to be taken. Officers discovered the front door had been pried open.

Investigators are looking into the theft of a vehicle and a number of tags from Tabor Motors.

It happened sometime between July 31 and this past Tuesday. Missing is a 2006 Dodge Stratus.

It is a white four-door sedan and did not have a tag when it was stolen. Also missing are seven dealer tags. Authorities say the vehicle and the tags all went missing at the same time.

So far, investigators have no suspects, but the vehicle’s VIN number and the tag numbers were entered into a national database as stolen.

A group of concerned parents and citizens in Toccoa-Stephens County are on a mission to educate the public about the proposed education local option sales tax. A special referendum on the tax is coming up September 19.

If passed, the one-cent sales tax would help fund the building of a new high school for Stephens County. The steering committee is headed by local businessman Steve Alligood and former Chamber director Cynthia Brown at the request of school superintendent Gary Steppe. Alligood thinks the ELOST is a good idea.

"I'm all for it," Alligood said. "I think that it's important that we have a good flagship for our community. It's more than just a great place to educate our children, it represents our community. For a lot of reasons, the high school is what's looked at when somebody judges a community. Whether that's right or wrong, that's in fact the case," he said.

One of the reasons the steering committee was organized according to Alligood was to address a lot of the misinformation he says has been circulating in the community.

"There's some questions about the fact that it's a new tax or not. In fact, it's not legal to have two SPLOSTS at one time so you have to continue one that is currently in place. You can't piggyback them. So I think there's some questions in place about that. I know that there are questions because some people I talked to weren't clear on that," Alligood explained.

Another question is where the new school will be built. Alligood says that can’t be determined until after the ELOST referendum passes. If approved, the ELOST tax would start in January 2008.

The ELOST steering committee has prepared a PowerPoint presentation designed to explain the tax and answer questions. Anyone interested in having the presentation at their group or office should call Alligood at 706-886-3101.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating a fatal wreck in Demorest Tuesday. It happened about 2 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 365 and the Demorest/Mt. Airy Road. Troopers on the scene say a vehicle pulled out in front of an oncoming car. The driver of one of the vehicles was life flighted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta where they later died.

Another person was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Their condition is not known. So far, neither driver has been identified.

Nothing much will change for the City of Toccoa’s finances. That’s according to City finance director Emory Stephens in his first financial report for fiscal 2006. Stephens said Toccoa ended the month of July with just over $900,000 in the bank a slight gain over June, but overall he said Toccoa continues to hold steady.

"We were concerned at June 30 that we had dropped slightly at the beginning of the year, but the opposite has happened to us in July," Stephens said. "We showed a gain of $904,000 at July 31 compared with $676,000 at July 31 last year and $910,000 two years ago. I think over the past couple of years and right at this moment we're holding our own. I don't see that we're seeing any trend develop or that these numbers tell us that we are better off or worse off than we were months ago. We're where we were," he concluded.

In the General Fund, Toccoa had a balance of $8.1 million at the end of July and Stephens told commissioners he believes spending will be slightly less this fiscal year. In his cash fund prediction for June 30, 2007, Stephens believes the city will once again end the fiscal year in the black. However, the bottom line, according to Stephens is it’s going to be another year of belt tightening.

"I think I can be right in saying this analysis does tell us something that you already know - our budget is going to be tight. You have no discretionary spending power in the coming year and you haven't had any in the past year, so more of the same," he said.

Gas fund revenues dipped slightly last month due to the hot weather, but revenues increased slightly in the golf fund because of the new higher fees the city implemented several months ago.

Heading off a heart attack before it happens is the goal of a new program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The hospital has implemented medical emergency teams at all of its campuses who sole purpose is to recognize the first signs of cardiac distress.

It hoped that by understanding the early signs of distress will help doctors head off adverse outcomes and decrease the incidence of code blues in adults. Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of patients display symptoms of distress in the six hours before a cardiac arrest, or code blue, situation.

Many other hospitals have set up programs similar to NGMC’s met and have seen proven evidence of increased survival rates. NGMC’s team is made up of critical care nurses and a respiratory therapist, and they respond to the patient’s room when called. To date, the team has responded to 88 calls.

Some 494 people in Stephens County could be eligible for help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage, but have to apply for the program that provides it. That’s according to the Medicare Prescription Access Network of Georgia.

Those Stephens County residents are part of an estimated 87,467 Medicare beneficiaries in Georgia who also potentially qualify for the low-income subsidy, according to spokeswoman Carmen Vargas.

"For individuals who qualify for the low-income subsidy, they do not have to pay for the monthly premium on their Part D plan," Vargas noted. "They do not have the coverage of $250 that everybody else does, during the gap or the donut hole, their medications are covered, and their medications run $1 to $5 a month at the most for each prescription," she said.

Vargas says unlike the regular Medicare drug plan enrollment, those in Stephens county who would like to take advantage of the program don’t have to wait for the next open enrollment.

"These 494 individuals in your county who have yet to sign up can sign up today if they want to or if they have the information," Vargas said.

To qualify for the prescription drug benefit, a person must be on Medicare and have an annual income below $14,700 a year and assets limited to $11,500 or $19,800 in income and $23,000 in assets for a couple. Stephens county residents can apply at the social security office in person or by calling social security at 1-800-772-1213.

A new art museum is opening up in Northeast Georgia dedicated to displaying the work of local potters. The Folk Pottery Museum of North Georgia will open to the public Labor Day weekend. It’s located in Sautee Nacoochee in White County and is the gift of a couple known for their collection of rare and local pottery, according to spokeswoman Joan Zitzelman.

"They are involved with the Sautee Nacoochee Center, which has been there for about two decades as an arts and cultural organization. They have given an endowment to build the museum that will make the collection permanently available to the public," Zitzelman said.

A centerpiece of the pottery collection will be a piece on loan from the Smithsonian that was unearthed from the Indian mound outside of Helen. Zitzelman says all of the pottery that will be on display is from families of local artists, such as the Meaders, Dorsey’s, Hewells, and Ferguson’s.

"What is interesting is that this area of Northeast Georgia, especially Mossy Creek south of Cleveland and the Lula/Gillsville area in Hall County are areas where families began to settle in the early to mid-1800's and the families that developed making pottery still have descendants in those areas," Zitzelman said. "They passed those skills on to their descendants and they are still producing pottery today. Many pieces in the collection are from potters in those areas still producing pottery today," she said.

Northeast Georgia is well known among pottery collectors for its ongoing 19-century tradition of ash and lime-glazed stoneware. This is the nation’s first and only museum exclusively dedicated to showcasing the rich history of folk pottery.

Another routine traffic stop resulted in a drug arrest. Officers pulled a blue Oldsmobile over in the McDonald’s parking lot on big a road for a seatbelt violation. Police suspected the vehicle had also been involved in a drug deal in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The driver consented to a search and officers allegedly found a baggie containing marijuana in the driver’s front pants pocket. Arrested was 18-year old Andrew Jenkins of Skyview Lane. Later, at the police station the arresting officer reported that while he was being booked, Jenkins asked if he quote, "could get his weed back." The officer told him no.

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A Tignell, Georgia man found himself behind bars in Toccoa last week – charged with reckless driving. Police say a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass went speeding down Skyview Lane and turned down Morgan Place. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but it kept going. When police finally were able to pull it over, the driver said he didn’t stop because he believed he was being chased by his girlfriend’s husband. 25-year old Marios Devonte Spencer told police the woman’s husband was threatening her and he was trying to help her. Spencer was arrested and charged with reckless driving.

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Good work by the family dog kept one Martin home from being burglarized. Jonathon Langston of Banks Street told Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies he came home to find his back door had been pried open. However, Langston’s black lab had apparently scared the burglar off and nothing was reported missing.

Passenger trains have stopped at Toccoa’s train depot for decades. Now Amtrak is working on a promotional campaign to get more people to make use of the rail service from here. Toccoa mayor Bob Troup says he and City manager Billy Morse recently met with Amtrak officials who indicated the Toccoa Depot is one of the most used stations in the state.

"The thing that impressed me the most was how pleased they were with what's happening with out Amtrak station. We are one of five stops in the state of Georgia, it stops at Atlanta, Gainesville, Jessup, Savannah and Toccoa. here's what really amazed me. This little Toccoa station right here had 2,994 people board that train last year. Gainesville only had 4,700," he noted.

Amtrak said their campaign will focus on residents living in surrounding counties and will tout the benefits of riding the train from Toccoa to major cities, such as Washington, DC, New York and New Orleans.

A Toccoa man is paying a stiff price for throwing a puppy down a well. In April, 18-year old Jonathon Stacey Butler of Easy Street admitted to Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies that he was the one who duck-taped a puppy’s legs and threw it into an abandoned well.

It took EMA rescuers and animal control officers over three hours to rescue the puppy. On Friday, Butler pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The judge sentenced Butler to 12 months probation and ordered him to pay a $500 fine plus court costs. The puppy was turned over to the Stephens County Humane Society and was eventually adopted.

Members of the Stephens County Humane Society say they are not getting the recognition they deserve for their efforts. At last night’s City Commission meeting, president June Thompson told commissioners they routinely take animals from the County Animal Control shelter and put them up for adoption.

Thompson said a recent article that appeared in the Toccoa record giving the Stephens county friends of the shelter credit for their efforts in assisting shelter animals was wrong and information on their website misleading. She then threatened to stop taking dogs out of the shelter to find them homes unless her demands were met.

"I told them that perhaps we would continue our arrangement through the end of the year when we will do an evaluation of what has been happening," Thompson said. "However we will do it on the condition that a couple things change. First, the animals that come in there do not belong to any one group and nobody is going to reserve dogs or cats. If we go in there and see a dog or cat that is ready to go we want to take it right then and there. If someone calls from a rescue group in Kentucky and says they're going to come next week and I want that animal, I'm going to take it plain and simple," she said.

According to Thompson, the Humane Society has saved thousands of animals since they began 10 years ago, but have not been given proper credit for their hard work.

"I would like some recognition for the tremendous efforts of everyone in our organization, particularly Joan and Earl Allen who devote so much of their time and resources. Our vice president Angie DeLuca, Marie Harden who takes care of our cats, along with other volunteers who help with adoptions. And recognition to Bobby King and Joe Shelton who never fail to accommodate us," Thompson asserted.

Afterwards, City commissioners did thank Thompson and Joan Allen for their hard work. Commissioner Ferrell Morgan, however, said the two groups need to work together.

"Miss Thompson, Miss Allen, we certainly appreciate your efforts because the City and the County can't do it all and we need your help. We also need the help of other people who want to help. We don't want competition between those who want to help so I'm sure there's some middle ground here and I hope you can talk to the other group because it takes all of us. You all have done a remarkable job," Morgan concluded.

Morgan said anyone offering to volunteer at animal control in any capacity will be welcomed by the City.

Patrons of the Toccoa-Stephens County Library will have to stock up on their favorite books the end of the month. The library will be closed for two days while the computers undergo a software upgrade.

When the library reopens, users will experience a new view of the Pines catalog and collections on the computers.

A software project called "Evergreen" will debut on September 5. Evergreen was conceived to meet the unique functional needs of a large group of public libraries that are committed to sharing material.

This new software has been in development for more than two years.

Head librarian Michelle Austin tells WNEG the new software will not affect patrons’ library cards and users will not have to register for new cards in order to continue using the system. The new software