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Photo by Joshua Hoehne

Photo by Joshua Hoehne

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High school makes historic gains in graduation rates

News Staff
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
On Tuesday, the Hart County Charter System announced the district achieved a record-high graduation rate for the most recent Class of 2024. At 98.1 percent, last year’s graduating class received Hart County’s highest recorded score since the state began tracking this data in 2005.
Hartwell City Council unanimously voted to adopt the 2025 general fund budget on Oct. 7, to include a millage rate rollback and 4-5 percent decrease in property taxes for Hartwell citizens.

Hartwell City Council unanimously voted to adopt the 2025 general fund budget on Oct. 7, to include a millage rate rollback and 4-5 percent decrease in property taxes for Hartwell citizens.

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City of Hartwell cuts property taxes 4 to 5 percent

Rachel Black - Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
At the Oct. 7 Hartwell City Council meeting, Mayor Brandon Johnson made a significant announcement: property taxes will be cut by between 4-5 percent  for 2025. This announcement was made before the council unanimously adopted the 2025 general fund budget.
Photo by Scott Rodgerson

Photo by Scott Rodgerson

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The Blotter

News Staff
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
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 Sept. 24-30, 2024. Names, ages and towns are listed as they appear in the computer. Offenses listed are charges; guilt has not been proven.
Georgia aviator Cliff Brown has been flying in supplies to Western North Carolina which saw some of the most catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene last week.

Georgia aviator Cliff Brown has been flying in supplies to Western North Carolina which saw some of the most catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene last week.

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Aviators helping Western North Carolina seek donations

Rachel Black - Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on Western North Carolina last week, Georgia aviator Cliff Brown has been one of many local aviators who have independently flown to the region to help people. Now, their GoFundMe offers the public a chance to contribute more to their relief efforts.
Elberton’s Jaukeem Fortson

Elberton’s Jaukeem Fortson

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Elberton’s Fortson to appear on NBC’s The Voice

News Staff
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
By Mark Wells The Elberton Star Local singing sensation Jaukeem Fortson will appear in the upcoming season of NBC’s “The Voice.” Fortson recently won the grand prize of $20,000 after finishing first out of 10 finalists in the fourth annual Hallelujah Auditions held in Burlington, Iowa May 18.
Traffic was backed up for miles on I-85 in Hart County Sept. 26 following two separate wrecks minutes apart that involved two semi trucks.

Traffic was backed up for miles on I-85 in Hart County Sept. 26 following two separate wrecks minutes apart that involved two semi trucks.

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Storm conditions lead to crashes, overturned semi

Rachel Black - Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Around 3:45 p.m. last Thursday, Sept. 26, two crashes involving semi trucks led to traffic buildup on I-85 and sent three to the hospital as Hurricane Helene geared up.
While crops in Hart County saw minimal damage from Helene, cotton crops in Bulloch County were completely destroyed.

While crops in Hart County saw minimal damage from Helene, cotton crops in Bulloch County were completely destroyed.

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Hart County agriculture ‘dodged huge bullet’ from Helene

Rachel Black - Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Hurricane Helene, which left a barrage of destruction in its wake after making landfall in Florida last week, has left minimal damage on Hart County’s agriculture despite disastrous impacts on farms elsewhere in Georgia. “Our biggest row crops are corn and soybeans and...
Hart County’s first responders and residents come together to clean up storm debris and downed power lines along Lightwood Rd. Friday following Hurricane Helene. Photo by Bill Powell/The Hartwell Sun

Hart County’s first responders and residents come together to clean up storm debris and downed power lines along Lightwood Rd. Friday following Hurricane Helene. Photo by Bill Powell/The Hartwell Sun

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Helene greets Hart County with down trees and power lines

Patrick Fargason - Editor and Publisher
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Hurricane Helene, the deadly Category 4 storm which made landfall in Steinhatchee, FL Sept. 26, worked it’s way through Hart County last Friday. Around 7 a.m. that morning, Helene’s eye passed right over Hartwell’s downtown square.