Stephens Co. School System Receives Grants

The Stephens County School System will use grants to continue running two programs this school year.

Stephens County School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten said the school system has again received a Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education, or GACHE, grant, along with a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.

Whiten said that the GACHE grant is for $10,000 and will go to Stephens County High School to help the school focus on post-secondary education options with students.

“It will provide the opportunity for students in grades 9 through 12 to visit a college,” said Whiten. “Each grade level has a different college that they visit. They will also work on things like the reality store, which is an activity that students are given a job and know how much they make. It is a scenario where they play that out.”

As for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, Whiten said this is the third year that the school system has received this grant.

“That is the grant that allows us to have our after-school programs and provide transportation,” said Whiten. “It has been excellent. It allows us to partner with certain groups like the Boys and Girls Club for some different activities. It is a very successful grant and this will be the last year for that grant.”

Whiten said both grants were discussed and approved during a Stephens County Board of Education work session held last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Stephens County Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at the Stephens County School System Administrative Offices on Mize Road.

City of Toccoa Approves Joint Funding For Sewer Expansion Exploration

At their regular monthly meeting, Toccoa City Commissioners approved to use a portion of the one million dollars in reserved SPLOST V funding for sewer infrastructure for a 50/50 split with Stephens County to engage the services of an engineering company to design a sewer collection system for South Big A Road and the Veterans Parkway, also known as the Toccoa By-Pass, to be used to match any state or federal funds that may become available to build or install the collection system.
Stephens County Commissioners approved the 50/50 split at their meeting last Tuesday. Stephens County and The City Of Toccoa each set aside one million dollars out of SPLOST V receipts, for a total of two million dollars, with the money reserved to go towards an expansion of a sanitary sewer collection system down Big A Road and then South into industrial areas in the county.
The two million dollars was a local match designed to obtain eight million in additional federal funding to help build the project. The eight million dollars was approved, but never appropriated.
In early August, the city commission agreed by consensus to ask City Manager Mike Jackson to draft a letter to Toccoa’s representation in Washington D.C. to ask once again about the federal funding.

NORTH GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE RECEIVES DONATION OF THREE HOSPITAL BEDS

North Georgia Technical College receives three long-term hospital beds for the school’s healthcare program labs.  M.C. Healthcare recently donated the beds to the North Georgia Technical College Foundation for use at the school.   North Georgia Technical College Foundation Director Cynthia Brown called it a wonderful contribution to the college.   For the latest on this and other stories visit:  http://www.wnegradio.com/

U.S. CONGRESSMAN PAUL BROUN TO HOST SMALL BUSINESS EXPO

U. S. Congressman Paul Broun will host a Grants and Small Business Expo this week.  The fair will be at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15^th.  According to Broun, representatives from the Small Business Administration, UGA Small Business Development Center, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Foundation Center, and more will be there with information.  For more on this and other stories visit:  http://www.wnegradio.com/news.php

U.S. SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON TO HOST TOWN HALL MEETING

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson will host a town hall meeting later this month in Stephens County.   The town hall is set to take place on Wednesday, August 22 at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College on Highway 17.  The town hall is open to the public and is set to start at 3:30 p.m.  and run until 4:30 p.m.

CITY OF TOCCOA HOST BOOK SIGNING

The City of Toccoa celebrates the release of a book detailing the city’s history.  Angela Ramage and Kelly Vickers are the authors of Images of America:  Toccoa.  The book’s launch was celebrated with a ceremony Monday at Toccoa City Hall.  The authors were present to sign books and Stephens County Historical Society Executive Director Brenda Carian and City of Toccoa Mayor David Austin both made presentations.  
 

 

Angela Ramage speaking to the crowd about her work with the book and her love for Toccoa. (pictured left)

Kelly Vickers and Angela sitting at their book signing table before the reception (Pictured right)




For more on this and other stories visit:  http://www.wnegradio.com/    

Stephens County High School’s Ethan Martin Starts for Double-A Phillies!

Former Stephens county High School baseball standout Ethan Martin gets off to a good start with his new organization.  Martin won his first start for the Double-A Reading Phillies of the Eastern League Friday night, allowing just one run and four hits in six innings as Reading defeated the Binghamton Mets 4-1.   For more on this and other stories visit:  http://www.wnegradio.com/sports.php