By: Jessica Water, The Toccoa Record
More than 150 Stephens County representatives – from government and school officials to senior citizens and high school students – braved the snowy drive to Atlanta for the Toccoa-Stephens County Day at the Georgia State Capitol on Feb. 10.
The yearly meet-and-greet at the Gold Dome offers a dual benefit, according to event organizers from the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce and the Stephens County Development Authority.
Keeping Stephens County residents, concerns, priorities and agendas in the forefront of legislative minds is only one side of the story.
The trip – which includes a chance to observe both the house and the senate at work – gives residents a chance to see the behind-the-scenes workings of the Georgia Legislature and to get an idea of legislation that makes its way through the house and senate each day of the session.
This year’s visit to the capitol also served to highlight a novel that has brought attention to Toccoa and has been touted by county leaders as an important promotional tool to bring recognition and attention to Toccoa-Stephens County.
During the day-long event at the state Capitol, the Georgia Legislature passed resolutions in both chambers declaring Feb. 10 as Toccoa-Stephens County Fireworks over Toccoa Day, in recognition of Jeffrey Stepakoff’s novel, “Fireworks Over Toccoa.”
Coordinated by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, the day’s events featured a legislative orientation and briefing, proclamations, lunch and photo sessions with state officials.
Signed copies of Stepakoff’s “Fireworks over Toccoa” were placed on legislators’ chamber desks in both the House and Senate, compliments of publisher St. Martin’s Press.
Local residents and leaders also had the opportunity to meet with legislative officials to discuss topics critical to the city and county as well as statewide issues such as education funding and transportation.
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