WNEG Radio

11/23/2024

The Stephens County Indians have advanced to the “Elite Eight” in the GHSA AA State Playoffs with a 35-33 win over #3 seed Callaway on Friday night in Lagrange.

The Indians jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead. Tripp Underwood threw two first half 5-yard touchdown passes to Jonah Swinton and Brock Tankersley and Javin Gordon had a 3-yard touchdown run, and on 4th down and two threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Brock Tankersley.

Callaway quarterback Blake Harrington led a Cavalier comeback with two touchdown runs in the 3rd quarter to cut the lead to 28-21, but Stephens County was able to extend the lead early in the 4th quarter on an outstanding 18-yard touchdown run by Gordon.

Later in the 4th quarter, Callaway received some help from the Indians on two punt play mistakes that set up two Cavalier touchdowns but were denied the 2-point conversions each time.

The Indians had 423 yards of total offense with great balance of run and pass throughout the game.

Gordon not only rushed for two touchdowns and threw another, but also had an interception and rushed for 106 yards to go over 1000 yard on the season.

Stephens County advances to the 3rd round of the state playoffs for the first time since 2005 and will now make the 4-and-a-half-hour trip to Appling County, a 28-14 winner over Carver of Atlanta.

Elsewhere, Elbert County advanced in Class A-Division 1 with a 26-24 win over Heard County while Commerce fell Toombs County 49-21, and in AAA, Jefferson rolled Oconee County 42-6, Cherokee Bluff defeated Luella 21-14, and North Hall defeated Upson-Lee 27-20.

Stephens Co. Farm Bureau Player of the game…Brock Tankersley

Hart EMC Lineman of the Game…Garrett Addison

Chick-Fil-A- Sub of the Game…Joc Brown

First Baptist Church Spirit award…Ally Vandiver

11/23/2024

Stephens County Indians win!! 35-33...moving on to round 3 in Appling County next week.

11/23/2024

Indians up 28-7 at halftime in football action tonight

11/23/2024

WNEG news is on scene at E. Franklin St. near Hill Street in Toccoa where acting Toccoa police chief Littleton has confirmed that there has been a suspected homicide, but assured citizens that there is no danger to the public. GBI assistance has been requested and is on scene, as is the Stephens County corners office. WNEG News will provide more details as soon as a report is provided from law enforcement officials.

11/22/2024

🎅✨ Santa's Coming to Town! ✨🎅

Get ready for a festive season filled with magical pictures with Santa opportunities and holiday fun! Mark your calendars and don't miss out on these local events:

📸 November 23, 24, & 27
Pictures with Santa at Troup's Studio & Gifts. Packages available—call 706-886-2369 to schedule your session!

🎄 December 5th
Christmas in Paul Anderson Park
Enjoy lunch from 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM or dinner from 4:30 PM - 7 PM. Tickets are $15/meal, available the day of the event.

🎅 December 6th
Christmas Fest in Downtown Toccoa!
Join the fun from 5 PM - 9 PM for a festive evening in the heart of Toccoa.

🥞 December 7th
Pancakes & Pajamas with Santa
Stephens County High School, $10 entry. Tickets available from any band/auxiliary student.

🍳 December 7th
Breakfast with Santa at the Currahee Club.
Tickets: $20 for adults, $12 for kids ages 5-12, and kids under 5 are free. RSVP by December 2nd at 706-827-1000.

🎅 December 9th
Visit Santa at North Georgia Credit Union in Toccoa from 5:30 PM - 7 PM.

🍴 December 12th
Dinner with Santa at R&R Terminal from 4:45 PM - 6:30 PM.

🛩️ December 14th
3rd Annual Santa Fly-In at the Toccoa Airport!
Tickets are $10/child. Check out the Visit Toccoa Community Calendar or Toccoa Airport's page for the link to purchase.

✨ Don’t miss the chance to make magical memories this holiday season! Which event are you most excited about? Let us know below! 👇

11/22/2024

Deadline to Enter Toccoa Christmas Parade is December 1st

For the 2nd straight year the Toccoa Christmas Parade will be held on Thursday night. This year’s parade will be Thursday, December 12 at 7 P.M.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce organizes the parade and chamber president Julie Payson says that it will be a wonderful evening celebrating the community.

Payson says the deadline for entry is coming fast.

Payson says there is one change in this year’s parade with no candy to be tossed from the vehicles, but main street businesses and others are stepping up for the children.

To sign up to be in the parade go to visittoccoa.com, email [email protected], or call the chamber at 706-886-2132

11/22/2024

The Toccoa Stephens County Community Theatre will be hosting the organization’s first annual Talent Contest tomorrow, Nov 23, at 6:30 p.m. at The Venue at the Star Theater, 55 W. Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa.

Tickets for the limited seating are $10 each and available online through eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-talent-contest-for-tsct-tickets-1067346083869?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawGthSBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRIoSftnAoIcry_67eHVBS1M9T9fbOdKCMcCjeU1Vebm-oxzNvNACP2Fgw_aem_4120GH6ZbGSKoQXAiKdP5Q

Tickets will also be available for $10 at the door the night of the show while seats are available. Admission includes free hot chocolate and cookies.

Prizes will be awarded in both adult and under-18 categories, including a recording session at local Diamond Studios.

Under 18 Performers include:

Emily and Jessica Long performing Sister from White Christmas
Jaxon Gantt – King Creole, by Elvis Pressley
Clare Rutter – Live Out Loud from The Little Princess
Alex Wall – Bach Prelude for Unaccompanied Cello from Suite Number One
Georgia Nalley – Easy on Me, by Adele
Audrey Johnson – Falling by Harry Styles

Adult Performers include
TobyAnn Rivenbank – Landslide by, Stevie Nicks
Barbara Hughes – Mercy Seat, by Vicki Yohe
Jenny Morden & Leah Smith – Simple Gifts arr., by Larry Sue
Alyssa Stanley – Heart of a Ghost Town, by Alyssa Stanley
Zikerion Reese – I Will Run to You, by Whitney Houston

Judges for the show will be Nathan Collins with Diamond Studios, Shantelle Grant and Susan Akridge ,with MC Mark Burke

Come out and support local talent and your local theatre guild

We will have 10 acts that have a chance to win prizes. There will be free Hot Chocolate and Cookies. This is the start of the Holiday Season

11/22/2024

Indians on the Road for Round 2 of State AA Football Playoffs

The Stephens County Indians will be on the road tonight for the second round of the State AA Football Playoffs as they travel to LaGrange to play the Callaway Cavaliers.

Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m..

Callaway is the number 3 seeded team in the playoffs and the Region 2-AA champs with a record of 9 & 2. They defeated Miller Grove in the first round, 38 to 0.

Stephens County is the number 14 seeded team and comes into the game with an overall record of 7 & 4.

Last Friday night, the Indians defeated North Murray in a home game in the first round, 31 to 14.

This is the first meeting between the Indians and the Cavaliers.

Last night on the Crunch Time radio show, Stephens County’s Wing Backs Coach, Gordon Thigpen, said the Indians need a good start to the game and not get behind early:

Audio: Visit wnegradio.com

Coverage on 93.1 FM and AM 630 WNEG starts at 6:30 tonight with the Indian Road Show. Coach’s Corner starts at 7 p.m. with pre-game at 7:15.

Other area teams playing tonight in the second round of the state playoffs: In Class AAA, Jefferson will host Oconee County, North Hall will host Upson-Lee, and Cherokee Bluff will host Luella. In Class A Division 1, Commerce will travel to Toombs County, and Elbert County will play at Heard County.

11/22/2024

City Announces Thanksgiving Schedule

Toccoa City Hall will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Routes for garbage and recycling scheduled to be picked up on Thursday, November 28, will be picked up on Monday, December 2 and routes for garbage and recycling scheduled to be picked up on Friday, November 29 will be picked up on Tuesday, December 3.

Commercial garbage will be picked up as usual, but yard waste and other items will not be picked up.

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 emergency situations.

The Links at Lake Toccoa will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28 and will reopen and operate on a normal schedule on Friday, November 29.

Call Toccoa City Hall at (706) 886-8451 for more information.

11/21/2024

WNEG News recently had a chance to sit down with Lee Woody with Stephens County Fire Service, Station 2, the Carnes Creek Fire Department, to talk about this year’s Halloween for Heroes. He said it was an effort started last year to bridge the gap between the public and emergency services, as well as between the fire department and other emergency service agencies in the county.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/halloween-with-heroes-bridges-gap-volunteer-firefighters-still-sought-in-stephens-county/

Along with the great turnout from local kids this year, he said this year’s sponsors and participating agencies played a big role in the success of the event.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/halloween-with-heroes-bridges-gap-volunteer-firefighters-still-sought-in-stephens-county/

He said they are already planning for next year’s event.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/halloween-with-heroes-bridges-gap-volunteer-firefighters-still-sought-in-stephens-county/

Woody said that there is still a large need in the community to not only help children become comfortable around first responders such as firefighters and police, but to inform citizens about the county’s volunteer fire services.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/halloween-with-heroes-bridges-gap-volunteer-firefighters-still-sought-in-stephens-county/

He added that there is still a shortage of volunteer firefighters to fully staff the seven volunteer fire stations that provide services to county residents.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/halloween-with-heroes-bridges-gap-volunteer-firefighters-still-sought-in-stephens-county/

Stephens County Fire Services covers an area of 176 square miles. In addition, the county has Mutual Aid agreements to assist fire departments in bordering counties in Georgia and South Carolina including Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Oconee, and the City of Toccoa.

Stephens County Fire Services consist of seven volunteer fire departments that proudly provide fire suppression, hazardous materials response, fire prevention training, and community education programs to residents and visitors of Stephens County. In addition, the Stephens County First Responder program is run through the Fire Service assisting Stephens County Emergency Medical Service.

Stephens County Fire Services is looking for quality volunteers 18 years old and older. Each station has its own application process to become a volunteer. Please contact the fire department you want to volunteer with for its particular application.

After being accepted by a local fire department you will be a Probationary Firefighter. At the discretion of the chief and completion of the Volunteer Firefighter with Live Fire course, you will be recognized as a Firefighter. The course targets those individuals who have the desire to become recognized and registered as volunteer firefighters in Georgia. The purpose is to meet the minimum training requirements as required by Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. Title 25) and Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.

Station 1

Eastanollee Fire Department

Chief Jamey Gettys

Eastanollee By-Pass, Eastanollee, GA 30538

706-491-0880

Station 2

Carnes Creek Fire Department

Chief Bryon Bennett

Mize Rd., Toccoa, GA 30577

706-282-4086

Station 3

New Hope Fire Department

Chief Stacy Pulliam

Highway 106, Toccoa, GA 30577

706-244-2211

Station 4

Big Smith Fire Department

Chief Jonathan Jordan

Toccoa, GA 30577

706-244-6076

Station 5

Martin Fire Department

Chief Len Stovall

Martin, GA 30557

706-491-2340

Station 6

Shiloh Fire Department

Chief Frankie Dietz

Natt Maddox Rd. off Prather Bridge Rd.

Toccoa, GA 30577

706-244-5459

Station 7

Tate Creek Fire Department

Chief John Baird

Off Hwy 184 near

Banks County line

Toccoa, GA 30577

11/21/2024

Toccoa City Commission Passes Considerations from Tuesday's Meeting

At Tuesday’s Toccoa City Commission meeting, city manager Fredda Wheeler presented the consideration of 2025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/toccoa-city-commission-passes-considerations-from-tuesdays-meeting/

City Commissioner Tug Carter added that the partnership with Stephens County has been effective.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/toccoa-city-commission-passes-considerations-from-tuesdays-meeting/

The consideration passed unanimously.

City Commissioners also voted unanimously for the Resolution for the Georgia Municipal Association’s Certified City of Ethics Program. Wheeler listed the ethics to follow.

Audio: https://wnegradio.com/toccoa-city-commission-passes-considerations-from-tuesdays-meeting/

The Commission also passed the Ordinance enacting the false alarm policy for the fire department including the associated fines listed in previous news reports, and the contract award for the Water Treatment Plant Dechlorination System Project to Heavy Constructers for a total of $1,457,941 with one million and 90 thousand paid through a GEFA Drinking Water Loan and the balance of $367,941 funded from SPLOST 7.

11/21/2024

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon tying with a new business on Tuesday.

Quilting Dreams is now open at 466 Rose Lane in Toccoa. Owner/operator Jen Walsh tells us about the idea for the business.

Walsh says that you can also learn how to make things and not only quilts.

Quilting Dreams is open Wednesday-Friday from 10 A.M.-4 P.M. and Saturday’s 10 A.M.-2 P.M. but available other times as well.

You can see more on the website quiltingdreamstoccoa.com or see them on Facebook at quiltingdreams.

Visit the story on wnegradio.com to hear the audio files attached to the story. https://wnegradio.com/t-sc-chamber-welcomes-quilting-dreams/

11/20/2024

Three Stephens County High School female athletes recently held signing ceremonies
announcing their plans to continue their academic and athletic career in college.

Lainey Addison, daughter of Cory and April Addison, announced her decision to go to Brenau University in Gainesville to play on their golf team. Lainey was a member of the Lady Indians golf team for 4 years. She was also a member of the Indianettes Competition Dance team and the Auxiliary Corp of the Stephens County Marching Band.

Lainey says her coaches, Kirk Rogers for golf and Kenzie and Tamera Cash for competition dance and auxiliary corp., have been a positive influence on her.

Lainey plans to study physical therapy at Brenau.

Carson Stowe, daughter of Jeremy and Brooke Stowe, announced that she would be going to Emmanuel University to play softball. Carson was a 3-year starter playing 1st base and outfield. She hit over .400
Carson plans to major in physical education at Emmanuel and become a teacher and coach.

Also participating in the signing ceremony was Riley Walker, daughter of Leon and JoAnne
Walker. Riley will be attending Brenau University to play softball. She has started on the
varsity Lady Indians for 4 years and was a pitcher and played outfield.

Riley says she decided at an early age that Brenau would be her choice of college after high school.

Riley plans to study early childhood education at Brenau and become a teacher.

For comments from each player listen to WNEG News today at 12:05 and 5:05 P.M. or visit wnegradio.com.

11/20/2024

Stephens County Middle School and Stephens County High School have been named Math Leaders by the Georgia Department of Education.

Stephens County Schools Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin explains “Math Leader schools are recognized for achievement or growth in the percentage of students scoring at the Proficient Learner level or above in mathematics. Stephens County High School had a 29 percent increase from the 2022-23 school year to the 2023-24 school year in students scoring proficient or above in algebra concepts, and Stephens County Middle School had a 15 percent increase in eighth grade math students scoring proficient or above.”

According to the Georgia Department of Education, the criteria for the 2023-2024 Math Leader awards recognize the crucial importance of numeracy skills in fifth and eighth grades and require higher growth from schools with lower achievement levels. Awards were given at the elementary and middle-school levels, and at the high-school level based on the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End of Course (EOC), which is the state test for mathematics in high school.

Franklin said that the school system is proud of these accomplishments and the school system will be awarded a special visit. “Our teachers and students have worked extremely hard to earn this remarkable student achievement in math. We are honored State School Superintendent Richard Woods will be scheduling a visit to Stephens County to present the Math Leader award recognition.”

For more information visit

Home - Stephens County School District

11/20/2024

The City of Toccoa has named Bruce Carlisle as the new police chief.

Toccoa City Manager Fredda Wheeler made the announcement at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. Carlisle told WNEG News that is an honor to accept the position.

Carlisle served for 22 years as an officer and then Chief of the Lavonia Police Department.

Carlisle will take the position as Toccoa Police Chief leaving the position of Stephens County Elections Supervisor.

For the complete story and comments from Carlisle and Wheeler, listen today at 12:05 and 5:05 P.M. or visit wnegradio.com.

11/20/2024

11/19/2024

The Stephens County Indians boys’ basketball team will open their season tonight at home vs. Commerce.

This will be the Indians first game under new head coach Greg Wilson.

Wilson was named head coach back in April and comes from Chapman High School in Inman, South Carolina, where he has served as Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball Coach for the past 12 years. He also has coaching experience for 12 seasons in the college ranks. His teams at Chapman had a winning record and/or qualified for the state playoffs 10 out of 12 seasons, and he was named the South Carolina Region Coach of the year.

Both Stephens County and Commerce will be without any football players that plan to play basketball due to both schools still playing in the state playoffs.

The Stephens County Lady Indians enter tonight at 0-1 falling at Madison County 62-51 on Saturday. The Lady Indians were down 19 points at the half but outscored Madison County by eight in the 2nd half.

The Lady Indians, under head coach Jerry Brown, and the Commerce Lady Tigers will tip off our coverage tonight on WNEG with airtime at 5:45 P.M. and tipoff scheduled for 6 P.M. on WNEG.