GEM Southeast to add 35 new jobs to it Global Partitions operation in Toccoa, GA

GEM Southeast will add 35 jobs at its Global Partitions plant on Liberty Hill Road in Eastanollee.

Global Partitions Plant Manager Barry Roberts called it good news for the community.

“ASI Storage Solutions, currently located in Memphis, Tenn., will be relocating to Toccoa,” Roberts said. “That is going to be in the Global Partitions facility. They make lockers. We already make lockers at the other two GEM plants. Now, we will make metal lockers at the Global plant. This is for GEM schools’ lockers.”

People already are being hired for the 35 positions, he said.

Roberts made news of the expansion public Thursday at the annual Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce meeting.

GEM Southeast operates three facilities in Stephens County, all in Eastanollee.

Toccoa Receives DOT Grant

The City of Toccoa will receive $325,000 from the Georgia Department of Transportation for the streetscape work in the downtown area. The DOT announced Toccoa's grant as part of its 2011 Transportation Enhancement Awards Thursday. Toccoa Planning and Downtown Development Director Connie Tabor said this will continue the work already done in other areas of downtown. The city will have to provide a $65,000 local match for the grant.
WNEG

GDOT grants money for Downtown streetscape

The city of Toccoa will receive $325,000 from the Georgia Department of Transportation for streetscape work in the downtown area. The DOT announced Toccoa's grant as part of its 2011 Transportation Enhancement Awards Thursday. Toccoa Planning and Downtown Development Director Connie Tabor said this will continue the work already done in other areas of downtown. The city will have to provide a $65,000 local match for the grant.

"Why Toccoa?" Video Launch Party

Members of the Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County class and others from throughout the community attended the release of the "Why Toccoa?" promotional video. The video is the end result of the class project for this year's Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County class. Thursday's release party took place at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa.
A video produced by this year’s Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County class now helps to answer the question, “Why Toccoa?” The video is the Leadership class project for this year. Citizens were asked to submit 20-second videos explaining why someone should live and work in Toccoa. Clips from those videos were then turned into a 90-second video promoting Toccoa and Stephens County. The clips covered everything from the area’s history and scenery to its sense of community.

This year’s Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County Class President Greg Roach said the video turned out well. “I think the video did a great job of embodying the spirit of our town and community,” said Roach. “It shows the scenic beauty, historic character, and commitment to family and community that is so prevalent. We are excited as a class that entities in the community can use this to promote Toccoa whenever and however they need to.”

The class also handed out awards for the top video submissions. First place went to Jessica Waters, second place to Zach Smith, and third place to Mary Beth Martin.

Ten honorable mention awards were also handed out:
Wade Fields
Cole Heffer
Savana Gerrells, Hannah Hicks
Kylee Denton, Haley Moore
Darcy Van, Derek Katz
Tucker Ruhlen, Alex Fuller, Summer Chamlee
Cory Timberlake, Jonathan Gonzalez
Veronica Valenzuela, Robert Conley, Kylee Denton
Ashlee Crawford, Brea Harrison, Allie Trimier
Bailey Dickinson, Nick King

-WNEG Radio

Legislative Coffee Chat

50th District Senator Jim Butterworth and 28th District State Representative Michael Harden stopped in Toccoa Thursday to update officials on the recently completed legislative session in Atlanta. The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event. Butterworth and Harden spoke on many topics, including the HOPE scholarship, tax reform, and illegal immigration.

National Train Day May 7

Toccoa once again will mark National Train Day. National Train Day is set for Saturday. Main Street Toccoa Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby says people are invited to come out around 6 a.m. and wait for the arrival of the Crescent at 6:15 a.m. Also, a special train display will be set up in the Mitchell Allen Room Saturday from 9-3.

NGTC's Clinical Laboratory receives accreditation through 2018

North Georgia College's Clinical Laboratory program will receive a full seven-year accreditation. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences has announced that the program has received that honor for the third time in a row. North Georgia Tech's Clinical Laboratory Program has been continuously accredited since becoming accredited in 1964 and is not accredited through 2018!