Category: News

The application period for the 2023-2024 winter season of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin on Dec. 1. The program helps Georgians – including both homeowners and renters – with the costs associated with heating their homes through direct payments to home energy suppliers. Funds are administered through local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) on a first-come, first-served […]

2023 Daylight Savings Time comes to an end at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday – the first Sunday in November – triggering the annual clock “fall back,” and WNEG is reminding our listeners to set their clocks back 1 hour before going to bed Saturday night.  Setting your clocks back an hour is also a good time to do a […]

County officials are joining the Georgia Department of Transportation in reminding residents and businesses in Stephens County that road right-of-ways -whether on state-maintained roads, or county roads – are not the place for signs.  A press release issued yesterday by the county Public Works Department requests that any non-permitted signs within road right-of-ways be removed. The notice states, “in accordance […]

MJ Kneiser/WLHR The investigation into the arrest of a Banks County School teacher is continuing according to the Banks County Sheriff’s office. Last week, investigators arrested 54-year-old Jon Congdon who worked as a band director at Banks County High School. Congdon has been charged with a criminal attempt to entice a minor for indecent purposes and could face other charges. […]

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners and Elections Supervisor Bruce Carlisle recently announced that they would be testing out holding all county elections, including election day voting, at the historic courthouse.  Following that announcement, WNEG News has received numerous comments from residents expressing concern about election day parking. WNEG News sat down yesterday with County Administrator Christian Hamilton to discuss […]

 By MJ Kneiser/WLHR Franklin County Commissioner Josh Smith says he will not back down from comments he made to WLHR News and the local paper regarding the need for a more diverse group of citizens to attend Commission meetings and work sessions. Smith tells WLHR News that since his comments were published in the paper, he has received calls and […]

Yesterday morning, the Toccoa Fire Department, along with units from Carnes Creek Volunteer Fire Department, responded to a house fire in the 300 block of South Hill Street near downtown Toccoa. Callers reported the fire to dispatch, stating they could see flames and the “windows were popping,”and within minutes, TFD units were on scene.  The house contained three separate residences, […]

A 3-foot-long lizard living under a porch in Athens is just one example of why Georgia is requiring pet owners to tag and register six newly regulated reptile species. Dr. Brett Albanese of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said pet owners need to schedule with their vet as soon as possible, since the deadline to tag and register these […]

Following up on yesterday’s weather warnings, the National Weather Service, in a early-morning bulletin, said a cold, dry air mass will continue to move into the region today. Breezy northerly winds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph are expected to develop behind a secondary cold front early today, while critical relative humidity values of […]

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and area citizens recently celebrated the ongoing success of Linda’s At the Rebel, and  Linda’s at the Rebel Restaurant is located at 66 Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa. Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen expressed her appreciation for business owner Rodney Weaver’s choice to continue investing in downtown Toccoa by keeping Linda’s Place […]