Toccoa Record

08/08/2026

🏆 WE HAVE OUR ACOUSTIC NIGHT WINNER! 🏆

A huge congratulations to The Rice Mountain Milk Band for taking first place at our first-ever Battle of the Bands Acoustic Night! 🎸✨ You guys absolutely rocked it!

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to support all of our incredible acoustic performers—you made the night so special.

🔥 BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET... TONIGHT IS BAND NIGHT! 🔥

The energy is stepping up a notch (and getting a whole lot louder)! Join us in downtown Toccoa at the corner of Sage Street & Doyle Street as our full bands hit the stage to compete for the ultimate title.

⏰ When: Tonight starting at 6:00 PM

📍 Where: Sage St. & Doyle St. (Downtown Toccoa)

⚡ Vibe: Big, loud, and packed with incredible local talent!

Bring your lawn chairs, your friends, and—most importantly—your loudest cheering voices to support your favorite bands as they battle it out.

See you all downtown!

08/07/2026

🏆 Public Image Award🏆

The Rotary Club of Toccoa received the District 6910 Epic Public Image Award – Platinum Level for the 2025–2026 Rotary year!

This recognition reflects our Club’s commitment to sharing Rotary’s story and celebrating the impact of service.

A special congratulations and thank you to Public Image Chairs, April James and Phil Hobbs, and Past President Jason Tanner.

08/06/2026

The fall sports season is back in full swing this week.

On Monday, the Lady Indians softball team ventured over to Habersham County and defeated the Raiders, 3-2.

Subscribers can read more by clicking here: https://www.thetoccoarecord.com/sports/softball-kicks-season-win-against-habersham

08/05/2026

While sitting in line for a sweet treat at the Dairy Queen, editor Michael O’Hearn grabbed this photo of a rainbow tonight.

08/05/2026

We want to see your photos of beautiful fall color!
The Mountain Traveler magazine is looking for photos of fall color for our 2026 fall edition. The winning entry will receive $100 and will be featured on the cover of the magazine.

Details:

• Photograph must be taken in Dawson, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union or White counties.
• Photographer may submit up to five images.
• Photographs should be vertical.
• Photographs should be high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos must not be downsized, and should be no smaller than 1.5MB. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photographs should have room at the top of the image 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 Mountain Traveler magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer’s name and county of residence, 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, Sept. 4.
For more information or to submit qualifying images, email Kimberly Brown at [email protected].

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

We just received word that Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates [CASA] has a new executive director, Linda Shadburn. She will succeed Melissa Mitchell effective Sept. 1.

08/04/2026

08/03/2026

BREAKING NEWS:

The GBI is investigating the death of Candice Lynn Smith, age 44, of Toccoa, GA. The Toccoa Police Department (TPD) requested the GBI to assist in the investigation.
At about 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, TPD officers were dispatched to a home on Cumberlin Drive in Toccoa, GA, in response to a woman found deceased at her home. The woman, identified as Smith, was found by a family member.
Smith’s body will be taken to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland at (706) 348-4866. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be given to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

If you have information on any of the cases or fugitives presented on this web site, you wish to report Suspicious Activity, or you would like to report a threat to school safety or homeland security, you may contact the GBI by submitting the form below.All submissions will be kept confidential. We....

08/03/2026

Sheriff Rusty Fulbright Shares School Safety Message

Welcome back, Stephens County students, teachers, and faculty! ✏️🎒

The new school year begins Wednesday, August 5th, and we are excited to see our schools filled with energy, learning, and community pride once again! To our students: I hope you aim high, support one another, make this your best year yet. To our teachers and school staff: I thank you for your dedication to guiding and protecting our youth.

Important Traffic Safety Reminder for Motorists

With school back in session, morning and afternoon traffic patterns will shift significantly across the county. Please keep these safety guidelines in mind:
• Watch for Children: Expect increased foot traffic near bus stops, crosswalks, and neighborhood intersections.
• Obey School Bus Stop Laws (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-163): When a school bus displays its amber lights, prepare to stop. When the red lights flash and the stop arm extends, drivers in BOTH directions must stop unless separated by a grass median or a physical concrete barrier.
• Slow Down in School Zones: Adhere strictly to posted speed limits in active school zones and stay alert for traffic control officers.
• Put Away Distractions (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241): Georgia is a hands-free state. Put down mobile devices and focus entirely on the road – especially in school zones and drop-off lines.

Special Traffic & Location Updates

• Eastanollee Elementary Re-Opening: Drivers in the Eastanollee area should prepare for revived traffic flow and active school zone speed limits near the school property. Please stay alert for buses and vehicles that may be stopped along surrounding routes if there is a traffic delay.
• New Traffic Pattern at Liberty Elementary School (LES):
– Rerouted Drop-Off/Pick-Up: All car rider traffic is now rerouted to the upper parking lot along Old Liberty Road near Peach State Federal Credit Union (no longer using the rear entrance along Jordan Road).
– Right Turn Only: All drop-off and pick-up traffic must enter from the Mize Road area as right turns only into the school.
– Keep Roads Clear: Parking along Old Liberty Road or Jordan Road to wait for students is strictly prohibited. Please avoid blocking intersecting roadways and driveways to allow emergency responders clear access. Deputies will be on-site assisting with traffic direction.

Let’s work together, exercise patience, and ensure a safe, successful school year for all of Stephens County!