Toccoa Record

01/09/2026

Franklin County resident Andrea Walters, who trains at Owens Gym in Toccoa with Schaefer Almoyan, knew she needed to get in better shape to play with her grandchildren after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and a double mastectomy.

Flash forward to now, and she just set a world record in deadlifting at a four-day competition in Las Vegas.

Read more about this inspiring individual, her journey, and more by clicking the link and subscribing today: https://www.thetoccoarecord.com/local-news/franklin-county-resident-sets-weightlifting-world-record

01/09/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of retired Paramedic James “Lumpy” Norris.

Lumpy faithfully served the citizens of Stephens County for many years and he was a friend to many of us in the fire service. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

01/08/2026

Sage Street Aleworks recently opened in downtown Toccoa and has so far been a success, the owners said. The brewery is the first of its kind in town, and it could be the only one the city has ever had.

Read more by clicking this link, subscribing today, or picking up a copy of The Record: https://www.thetoccoarecord.com/local-news/brewing-community

01/08/2026

We have more information related to this afternoon's situation on Hwy. 123 from Toccoa Police Chief Bruce Carlisle:

"A call came in to 911 dispatch with the male caller stating that he had hostages and sniper rifles and that we need to send in S.W.A.T. The caller then hung up. Attempts to make contact with the caller proved futile. The Stephens County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Bureau of Investigations was contacted for assistance. All agencies present responded to the location which is a residence within the city limits of Toccoa. Contact was made with the occupant and a subsequent search, determined that there were no hostages and no sniper rifle. One male was the only one in the residence. Investigators are actively working to determine all relevant information pertaining to the call."

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01/08/2026

Getting reports of a police presence at a house on Hwy. 123 near the Currahee intersection. Police Chief Bruce Carlisle told us it was likely a prank call and there was nothing after police made entry.

01/08/2026

Stephens County Hospital has tapped Kim Randall as its new operating room manager, the healthcare provider announced this week.

To learn more, visit this link and subscribe today: https://www.thetoccoarecord.com/local-news/randall-lead-hospitals-operating-room

01/05/2026

Stephens County Jail Transitions to New Commissary Provider

On Monday, January 5, 2026, the Stephens County Jail will begin utilizing a new commissary for inmates and their families.

The new commissary company, The Store Call by Hard Time Products, will be available online and through the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office app, making it easier for inmates and their families to request commissary items like hygiene products, snacks, and other basic necessities.

Hard Time Products provides supplies and services for correctional and detention facilities throughout the United States, primarily servicing facilities in the state of Georgia alone. They are also affiliated with 18 law enforcement industries and 13 non-profit organizations to support local and state initiatives and re-entry and rehabilitative efforts.

The decision to transition to The Store Call’s commissary is largely based on the ease of accounting it will provide to inmates, their families, and jail staff. Until this transition, the Stephens County Jail has used a local vendor who has been instrumental in providing inmates with commissary items. However, jail staff have only been able to accept valid money orders on certain dates and times to place in inmate accounts. With the new commissary vendor, inmates will be able to receive commissary funds directly into their accounts through debit or credit card transactions. Families can put money on inmate accounts at any time to be used weekly, as well as make purchases via card transaction on behalf of inmates.

“By transitioning to The Store Call, we will be able to streamline the process for inmates, their families, and jail staff. This change also removes our jail staff from the process and creates a more transparent and accountable system,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright.

Beginning Monday, January 5, 2026, money orders will no longer be accepted at the Stephens County Jail. To deposit money on inmate accounts, simply visit https://deposits.jailatm.com/webdeposits/. You can also visit the link in our mobile app under “Donate Commissary Funds.”

12/31/2025

Update: Hwy 123 is back open.

Update: Fire is under control, no injuries reported. Firefighters are working to remove water supply lines from roadway so 123 can be opened. Crews will be on scene for an extended period of time. Thank you for your patience.

⚠️Please use caution in the area of Hwy 123 and Tugalo Street. Hwy 123 is shut down in both directions due to a Structure Fire.⚠️

12/30/2025

The Toccoa Record mourns the loss of the city's attorney, John Dickerson.

12/19/2025

📣Calling all wedding photographers!

Community Newspapers, Inc. is looking for photos of timeless and romantic weddings, with the selected photo being featured on the cover of the North Georgia Wedding Guide magazine’s inaugural edition. Other photos may also be used throughout the magazine.

The North Georgia Wedding Guide is a full-color regional guide to North Georgia's wedding venues, vendors and more and local photographers are invited to submit their classic wedding photos.

Photos may include the wedding couple, bridal parties, bridal portraits and more.

The magazine publishes the week of Jan. 22, 2026 and will be distributed at venues, visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region.

The winner of the cover contest will receive a half-page ad in the wedding guide, valued at $225.

Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken at a wedding in Elbert, Franklin, Hart or Stephens counties.
• Image should be of people at a wedding – no detail shots of cakes, rings, etc., please.
• Photographer can submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit a vertical image.
• Photographer should send high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos should be no smaller than 1.5MB and close to resolution of 300 DPI. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photos should have room at the top for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.•
Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers, Inc. the right to publish the photo in the wedding guide magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer’s name, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.

The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

For more information or to submit photos, contact Rose Scoggins via email at [email protected].

Please include the photographer’s email address and phone number, and where and when the photo was taken in your email.

12/16/2025

BREAKING: Authorities have identified a body found in a wooded area off Oak Valley Road this morning at approximately 9:38 a.m. as 74-year-old Bobby Joe Ivester, who had been missing since Dec. 5, Deputy Coroner Lee Woody said.

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