Local

prayer

prayer

National Day of Prayer set for May 7, with changes

The National Day of Prayer is an annual event in which Hartwell traditionally comes together on the courthouse square to pray.  Things will be a bit different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing standards in place statewide.
police

police

The Blotter

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests: April 7 • Darryl Brian Stowe, 55, 644 Bermuda Street, Royston, was arrested and charged with first-degree cruelty to children and battery (family violence). He was released on $12,500 bond.
The Hartwell Sun

The Hartwell Sun

County extends local emergency declaration

Hart County’s local emergency declaration is extended until May 13, or as otherwise specified by the governor, and local work crews are aiding Stephens County after a Sunday night storm brought heavy damage to the nearby county.
Photo submitted — Gretchen Torrence and her husband Larry Torrence pose next to a Kelsey’s Glow variety, one of the 30 native azaleas in The Spirit Garden.

Photo submitted — Gretchen Torrence and her husband Larry Torrence pose next to a Kelsey’s Glow variety, one of the 30 native azaleas in The Spirit Garden.

Botanical Garden plants 'spirit' lifting azaleas

When a pandemic gives you lemons, make lemonade.  That is the idea behind a new native azalea garden planted at the Hart County Botanical Garden in honor of the local people putting their own health and safety on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve the local community.
Speth is at left. Coile is at right.

Speth is at left. Coile is at right.

Arrest made in drive-by shooting

A local man accused of shooting at and attempting to murder three people in Hart County is now in jail along with a woman who authorities say was with him at the time.
Photo submitted — Raleigh Whitworth poses for a photo with an SUV full of lunches prepared by Southern Hart Brewing Co. ready to deliver to the Nestle-Purina factory in Hartwell.

Photo submitted — Raleigh Whitworth poses for a photo with an SUV full of lunches prepared by Southern Hart Brewing Co. ready to deliver to the Nestle-Purina factory in Hartwell.

Restaurants coping with limitations to business

Despite a lack of customers patronizing the bar area or the dining room due to social distancing requirements, Southern Hart Brewing Co. owner Susanne Barfield is still hard at work in her downtown Hartwell restaurant.
The Hartwell Sun

The Hartwell Sun

Shelter order extended

The statewide shelter-in-place order, originally set to expire on April 13, is extended to April 30 as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to five in Hart County this week and the death toll statewide surpassed more than 500. Gov.
John Gordy, left, Sam Garringer, center, Kaimon Rucker, right.

John Gordy, left, Sam Garringer, center, Kaimon Rucker, right.

Class of 2020 making best of closure

Senior class president John Gordy remembers exactly where he was when he heard school would be suspended due to the spreading novel coronavirus outbreak.