Two properties near the Super Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Stephens County High School want to become part of the city of Toccoa.

Last night, the Toccoa Planning Commission discussed an annexation request by Ronnie Means for a property on Big A Road, near Memorial Drive. He wants the city to bring the vacant property within its boundaries.

The Planning Commission approved a recommendation that the city commission approve the annexation request.

Meanwhile, a developer has filed an annexation request with the city to bring a contiguous property to Means’ lot within Toccoa’s limits.

The property is located between Sorrells Drive, Big A Road, and Memorial Drive, with some road frontage on Memorial Drive. The developer is proposing 375 residential units ranging from one to four bedrooms.

Because of the project’s size, the planning commission had to review a Development of Regional Impact submittal from the city to the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center.

The DRI, as it is called, looks at the potential impact of the project on the area it is proposed for. A question was raised during the meeting about the impact of such a large development on Memorial Drive traffic.

The RDC will look over the DRI and make a recommendation back to the planning commission on the annexation request.

Stephens County will unveil its newly restored courthouse this weekend.

Sunday at 2 p.m., the official unveiling of the restored Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa will take place.

While crews will continue to work on the courthouse after the unveiling, the Courthouse Restoration Authority said it is ready to show off to the public.

Authority Member Henry Fields said they are a little apprehensive because they want to everything to go well, but they are excited for everyone to see the product of years of hard work.

“We really want everybody to see it,” said Fields. “We have worked hard over there. We have had some excellent craftsmen and leadership as far as architecture, the vendors, and all who have really done a great job and I think the county and community is just going to be amazed at what they see.”

Retired U.S. Senator and former governor of Georgia Zell Miller will deliver the keynote address. State Representative Jeannette Jamieson will introduce Miller.

Sunday’s ceremony will include an invocation from L.J. Harrison, music from the Pinnacle Brass of the Toccoa Symphony Orchestra, comments from all three county commissioners, the presentation of the new Stephens County seal, and comments from Fields and Dale Moseley on behalf of the Courthouse Restoration Authority.

The re-dedication ceremony is open to the public. For those who cannot make it, AM 630 WNEG will broadcast the ceremony live beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday.

A Bowman man becomes the third man arrested in an undercover drug operation that netted scores of illegal pills, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, and an orange pickup truck.

Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 36-year-old Shawn Waytaszik Thursday morning and charged him with possession of narcotics and possession of marijuana.

Captain Jimmy Mize said the arrest came after officers returned to a home that authorities suspected of housing an illegal drug operation.

“During our investigation there at the residence, we were able to get some other leads on some other subjects in our area that have been dealing or having possession of prescription drugs and illegal narcotics and arrested was Shawn Waytaszik, of Bowman, Georgia,” said Mize.

Mize said Waytaszik was carrying 25 to 30 Lortabs and was allegedly coming to the house to sell the pills. Instead, sheriff’s deputies were waiting for him.

This arrest follows the arrest of two other men at the same two-bedroom home on Brookhaven Circle on Monday.

The pair was arrested after a month-long joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Department and the Piedmont Northern MANS Unit.

On Monday, authorities seized hundreds of oxycodone pills, six bags of crystal meth, several bills of counterfeit money, $300 cash, and an orange 1990’s model Nissan pickup truck.

Mize said the sheriff’s department continues to follow additional leads in the case.

An Oak Valley Road building is burglarized and thousands of dollars in items are taken.

According to the report with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office filed on Wednesday, a man filed a report with deputies that he noticed his “j-lasher” missing in the morning when the door to the building accidentally came open. A “j-lasher” is a piece of equipment that lashes cables together.

The man also noticed that a cable chute was missing. Deputies noted there was no sign of forced entry.

The “j-lasher” is valued at $2500 and the cable chute was valued at $150.

Meanwhile, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is looking to get the root of a reported shoplifting case.

Deputies responded to Fred’s Department Store on November 13 in response to a report that someone had left the store without paying for a bottle of Clairol “Nice ‘n Easy” hair color worth $8.50.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

High standards and hard work have garnered a local elementary school a statewide award.

Big A Elementary has been awarded a Silver Award for Academic Achievement for the 2007-2008 school year. The award focuses on students’ performance on the CRCT exam and the school’s status in the Adequate Yearly Progress measurement.

Principal Gail Frye said the success is a team effort.

“One of our beliefs is high expectations yields high performance,” said Frye. “Our students work hard, our teachers work hard, and our parents work hard.”

In all, 275 schools received awards from the Georgia Department of Education for this school year. Georgia has over 1100 public schools.

Frye said she believes the key to Big A’s success is creating an atmosphere that facilitates learning.

“Everyone here has a very positive attitude about learning,” she explained. “Our teachers are prepared. Our students are prepared and we just feel that we are a learning community where everyone reaches for success.”

The school will get their award in upcoming weeks. Frye said they will have an assembly to celebrate their achievement.

“We always try to reward our students,” she explained. “We have lots of incentives and we feel to celebrate the successes of our students is exciting to see. When they see we celebrate the successes, it makes them want to work harder.”

Big A Elementary School has 541 students.

A local restaurant owner who regularly feeds hungry people is planning a Thanksgiving Feast to feed their souls as well as their bellies.

Shirley Combs, the owner of Shirley’s Sole Food on Currahee Street, is holding her annual Thanksgiving Meal for hungry people Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The meal promises to be delicious.

“I will be serving ham that has been donated, turkey breast, gravy, dressing, English peas, rice, cranberry sauce, and cake,” said Combs.

Shirley’s Sole Food serves down-home southern cooking for lunch everyday. After the lunch-time crowd clears out, Shirley then feeds the leftovers to anyone who’s hungry.

Shirley said she literally sees the toll a tightening economy has on people and she just wants to help.

“This is for the ones that probably will not have a Thanksgiving meal or will not get anything,” she explained. “We are going to try to feed as many as we can. In the past, we have fed anywhere from 50 to 90 people. With the economy being like it is, everybody is not homeless, but they do not have money to buy food now after paying bills, with so many people being laid off and no jobs. We are just trying to reach out and help those that really need.”

In addition, to feeding hungry people, Shirley also runs two transitional shelters – one for men and one for women.

Those shelters operate solely on donations and Shirley said they always have needs.

“We still need support,” she said. “We still need donations given to us in order to be able to be able to take care of these houses. We are doing it from donations only.”

You can donate to Shirley’s Shelter at First Citizens Bank, or by stopping by her restaurant on Currahee Street.

Toccoa Falls College will celebrate the school’s founder with ceremonies next week.

The annual event this year will feature two alumni speakers. Rev. Frank Smith will speak on November 24 and Carolyn Eckman Ballard will speak on November 25.

Both speeches will take place at the Grace Chapel and Performing Arts Center.

Founder’s Week focuses on celebrating the founder and first president of Toccoa Falls College, Dr. Richard A. Forrest.

Forrest served Toccoa Falls College from 1907 to 1957. While Forrest lived in Toccoa, he also served as the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church.