News

Royston Police Officer Rodney Pilgrim (right) suffered a stroke on May 27.

Royston Police Officer Rodney Pilgrim (right) suffered a stroke on May 27.

GoFundMe created for Royton police officer

On May 27, Royston Police Officer, Rodney Pilgrim, suffered a stroke as a result of high blood pressure. “He is needing time to heal,” Kayla Williams, organizer of a fundraiser for Pilgrim said. “He is slowly waking up and following some commands and trying to talk.
Photo credit: Insung Yoon

Photo credit: Insung Yoon

#Throwback Thursday

1912: Again the “auto fever” had its grip on some of Hartwell’s citizens. “It looked like no one was going to invest in one of the ‘honk wagons’ any time soon,” The Hartwell Sun reported. “An agent from Anderson, S.C. brought a machine over here and started things going again.
Photo credit: David von Diemar

Photo credit: David von Diemar

The Blotter

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests:   June 28 •Tiffaney Shanta Allen, 34, of Hartwell, was arrested and charged with felony theft by shoplifting. •A man was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing and three counts of reckless conduct.
From left to right, Mary Lynn Johnson, DDA director Jason Ford, Daniel Craft, , Jackson Ford, Earl Johnson, Rob, and Dixie Northrup.  Dixie was in charge of the project.

From left to right, Mary Lynn Johnson, DDA director Jason Ford, Daniel Craft, , Jackson Ford, Earl Johnson, Rob, and Dixie Northrup.  Dixie was in charge of the project.

Hartwell Main Street unveils public piano

On Saturday, Hartwell Main Street cut the ribbon for the town’s new public piano. “Hartwell Main street thought it would be a great idea to have a piano on the sidewalk for folks to play and enjoy,” Main Street chair Peggy Vickery said.
Photo credit: krakenimages

Photo credit: krakenimages

Development authority vying for childcare center at industrial park

Workers in the Gateway Industrial Park near Lavonia may soon have a new childcare facility close to where they work. The Joint Development Authority of Northeast Georgia is looking for a way to build a new facility in the industrial park in Hart County to provide childcare for workers in the park.
Photo credit: Antenna

Photo credit: Antenna

Officials seeking public input for Hart County comprehensive plan

In the coming weeks, Hart County will begin to update the Hart County Comprehensive Plan with the assistance of the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC). This is a state required document that helps shape and coordinate local work programs for the community.
Photo credit: Joshua Eckstein

Photo credit: Joshua Eckstein

Pastors respond to poll indicating low rates of religiosity

Pastors in Hart County shared their thoughts this week about a new Gallup poll that finds belief in God down to 81 percent amongst Americans. According to Gallup, belief in God has dropped six percentage points since 2017 to 81 percent – the largest drop recorded since the poll began in 1945.
Members of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation bomb disposal unit scan the scene at the Georgia Guide Stones, one of which apparently exploded Wednesday morning.

Members of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation bomb disposal unit scan the scene at the Georgia Guide Stones, one of which apparently exploded Wednesday morning.

Guidestones Crumble

An apparent explosion at the Georgia Guidestones left one of the wings of the stone monument in a pile of rubble Wednesday morning. According to the Elbert County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the explosion was seen on video camera footage a little after 4 a.m.
Georgia State Patrol troopers — Cory Andrews, Brad Cuevas, Dustin Welborn, Kiefer Smith, Bryan Randall, Jesse Lamb and Matthew Bradley — from Post 52 show the trophies they received from MADD Georgia for their efforts combating drunk driving in 2021.

Georgia State Patrol troopers — Cory Andrews, Brad Cuevas, Dustin Welborn, Kiefer Smith, Bryan Randall, Jesse Lamb and Matthew Bradley — from Post 52 show the trophies they received from MADD Georgia for their efforts combating drunk driving in 2021.

Local GSP post honored for DUI enforcement

Local Georgia State Patrol Post 52 was named the Post of the Year at the 18th Annual MADD Georgia Golden Shield Honors held June 15. The awards celebrate and recognize law enforcement officers and agencies, DUI prosecutors and community advocates who help keep roads safe.