Director Leah Tolbert and Kingston, Tolbert’s toy poodle, stand in front of Hart Hope and FREEdom located at 185 Chandler Street. Kingston attends most meetings and appointments with Tolbert, offering a supportive furry friend to attendees. (Photo/Adriana Cascio)

“Matilda The Musical” debuts on the Hart County Community Theatre stage Friday. Tickets are available at hhcct.org. (Photo submitted by Elizabeth Murphy)

The Hartwell Sun

Diane Merritt, owner of surrounding land and congregant of Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church, looks over the historic Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The land has been passed down through generations since Ervin Merritt, Merritt’s great-grandfather and former slave, inherited over 600 acres from the Bowers family. (Photo/Adriana Cascio)

According to an Algal Bloom Monitoring map (left) from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, the entirety of Lake Hartwell is under an “HAB Watch” after a harmful algal bloom was confirmed in several locations on the South Carolina side of the lake. The square shapes on the map represent areas with “HAB reported sightings.” Right, HAB can appear like bright green spilled paint or blue-green discoloration of the water. (Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Department of Environment)

The Hartwell Sun

Kotal

Monique Teasley Mitchell has been chosen as Hart County’s 2025 Mother of the Year. (Photo by Shalisha Lewis, Lewis Media Studio)