Local

The former Smith TV Repair and Sales building on Depot Street was built in the early twentieth-century, and will soon be Hartwell’s most recently refurbished building.

The former Smith TV Repair and Sales building on Depot Street was built in the early twentieth-century, and will soon be Hartwell’s most recently refurbished building.

Depot Street building upgrades to feature storefronts, apartments

Depot Street has been a focal point of Hartwell’s downtown development and revitalization for many years, and those revitalization efforts look to continue throughout 2023.
Photo by Lindsey Lamont

Photo by Lindsey Lamont

Sheriff’s Office warns public of phone scams

Phone scams have been on the rise for several years, and the scammers themselves have evolved and created more convincing situations that trick Americans into doling out their hard earned money. Hart County is not immune to this ongoing issue.
Photo by Mark Duffel

Photo by Mark Duffel

Lady Bulldog Softball Camp June 5-6

The Lady Dogs softball team will be hosting a softball camp on June 5-6 from 8 a.m. till noon at the Hart County High School softball field. For ages four and up, the Lady Dogs softball team will host their annual youth camp.
Photo by Benjamin London

Photo by Benjamin London

HCHS Basketball camp May 30 - June 1

The Hart County High School boys and girls basketball team will host a basketball camp on May 30 through June 1 from 9 a.m. until noon. The camp is for rising Pre-K students to rising eighth graders.
The Clemson mens outdoor track and field team captured the 2023 ACC Championship for the first time since 2004 on May 13 in Raleigh, N.C.

The Clemson mens outdoor track and field team captured the 2023 ACC Championship for the first time since 2004 on May 13 in Raleigh, N.C.

Garringer helps Clemson track team capture ACC Championship

Just two and a half years removed from Clemson shutting down the program, the men’s outdoor track and field team captured the 2023 ACC Championship with the help from former Dogs runner Samuel Garringer.
Pictured from left to right is Lexie Wheless (Host), Matt Gibbs (Coach of the Year), Kiasia Montgomery (Team of the Year - Girls Basketball), Coleman Moore (Newcomer of the Year), Tahj Johnson (Freak of the Year), Paul Davis (Iron Athlete), Ty Bates Jr. (Moment of the Year - dunk at Elbert County), Dakota Phillips (Female Athlete of the Year), Laurel Griggs (Host), and Kylie Seawright (Host). Not pictured is Nori Moore (Male Athlete of the Year).

Pictured from left to right is Lexie Wheless (Host), Matt Gibbs (Coach of the Year), Kiasia Montgomery (Team of the Year - Girls Basketball), Coleman Moore (Newcomer of the Year), Tahj Johnson (Freak of the Year), Paul Davis (Iron Athlete), Ty Bates Jr. (Moment of the Year - dunk at Elbert County), Dakota Phillips (Female Athlete of the Year), Laurel Griggs (Host), and Kylie Seawright (Host). Not pictured is Nori Moore (Male Athlete of the Year).

Bulldog Sports Insider awards student athletes

The Bulldog Sports Insider, BSI, hosted their second annual BSI Awards in the Hart County High School Fine Arts Center on May 17. So what is BSI exactly? “BSI is a student-led, sports-based production,” said BSI host Laurel Griggs.
Junior pole vaulter Amelia Johnson celebrates after winning back-to-back state championships at the GHSA 3A State meet on May 11-13 in Albany.

Junior pole vaulter Amelia Johnson celebrates after winning back-to-back state championships at the GHSA 3A State meet on May 11-13 in Albany.

Johnson hungry for more after winning back-to-back state titles

Junior pole vaulter Amelia Johnson breaks the state record not once, but twice enroute to a back-to-back state title in pole vault. Rewind to May of 2022, Johnson captured her first state championship in pole vault by setting the state record with a 12-5’.
Pictured is rising senior quarterback Kip Phillips as he sets to deliver a 70-yard touchdown pass to Trey Martin.

Pictured is rising senior quarterback Kip Phillips as he sets to deliver a 70-yard touchdown pass to Trey Martin.

Dogs fall in spring game; show signs of promise

Friday night lights returned on May 19 as the Dogs hosted Habersham Central for a spring scrimmage game. Hart fell just short to the Raiders by a score of 28-21.
Photo by Scott Rodgerson

Photo by Scott Rodgerson

The Blotter

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests:   May 16   Casey Mason, 44, of Hartwell was arrested and charged with probation violation - theft by taking, expired registration revalidation decal, failure to drive within a single lane, improper tag display, and no insurance.