The Blotter

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests:   The following is a list of names entered into the booking computer at Hart County Jail for Jan. 22-27, 2025. Names, ages and towns are listed as they appear in the computer. Offenses listed are charges; guilt has not been proven.

Polar Bear Plunge coming March 1

The Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence’s 29th annual Polar Bear Plunge and Winter Festival will take place Saturday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gum Branch Mega Ramp.

2025 Legislative Newsletter – Week 3

The Georgia General Assembly was set to return to the Gold Dome on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, to commence “budget week.”  Passing a balanced budget is our one constitutional obligation. Governor Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Monday anticipating winter storms across the state.

Don’t put on airs…and other lessons from book interviews

You can learn something from just about everybody, I believe. Jessica Phillips Henricks, a former Foxfire student, and I confirmed that belief when we interviewed scores of folks for a book titled “Travels with Foxfire: Stories of People, Passions, and Practices from Southern Appalachia.

BOE misses the point of HB 581

No. 1 –  Georgia House Bill (HB) 581 is not a tax exemption. The point of the bill is to limit the increase in your property value for tax purposes to no more than the rate of inflation. This bill in and of itself will not reduce your taxes. No. 2 – HB 581 is to increase transparency.

Snowed in at The Sun

Have you ever seen those longform articles, photo essays or videos of people who spend 24 hours at the Waffle House or another 24-hour diner?

Three of President Donald Trump’s promises

Somewhere among my shelves of books is a New York Times best-seller, circa 1987. I helped to make it popular by being one in the masses who purchased the 372 pages about a Big Apple real-estate phenom, Donald J. Trump.

Chamber banquet will be a highlight for everyone

In less than a month from now, the Hart County Chamber of Commerce will gather for its annual award banquet. The banquet, which was recently moved up one day to Feb. 21 in order to not conflict with a benefit concert for the local YMCA, is set to honor the best of the best in Hart County.

Local students named to collegiate honor rolls

Kipling Phillips, of Hartwell, was named to the University of Mississippi’s Fall 2024 Honor Roll lists. Phillips, in the B.B.A. in Finance program, was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.74.

Hart County Humane Society to hold Second Saturday adoption event Feb. 8

The Hart County Humane Society will hold its monthly “Second Saturday” event Saturday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the J. Robert Mauldin Animal Sanctuary located at 1364 Reed Creek Highway. Stop by to discuss adoptions, fostering and volunteering with the shelter.