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The sidewalk along South Forest Street in Hartwell. The city is expected to begin phasing in sidewalk projects near the public schools initially.

The sidewalk along South Forest Street in Hartwell. The city is expected to begin phasing in sidewalk projects near the public schools initially.

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City receives federal grant for sidewalks

Josh Brannen
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The Hartwell city council received $400,000 in federal grant money to begin construction on building and improving sidewalks in Hartwell.
Pictured is a screencap of a video taken of Hartwell resident Brooks Mewborn, who went viral for the scene above, where he started a UGA chant on a plane hours after the school’s second consecutive national championship.

Pictured is a screencap of a video taken of Hartwell resident Brooks Mewborn, who went viral for the scene above, where he started a UGA chant on a plane hours after the school’s second consecutive national championship.

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Hartwell man goes viral for Dawgs chant aboard airplane

News Staff
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Hart County Assistant Superintendent Brooks Mewborn went viral for starting a UGA chant on the plane ride home from last week’s national championship. Mewborn was in attendance at the 2022 college football national championship game in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan.
Joyce Kilpatrick (right) presents Hartwell resident Sam Simpson (left) with a Navy officer ceremonial sword that originally belonged to his late grandfather. Kilpatrick bought the sword at an auction before doing some investigating and returning it to its family.

Joyce Kilpatrick (right) presents Hartwell resident Sam Simpson (left) with a Navy officer ceremonial sword that originally belonged to his late grandfather. Kilpatrick bought the sword at an auction before doing some investigating and returning it to its family.

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Woman buys Naval officer sword at auction, returns it to grandson of original owner

Dan Hunt
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
When Hartwell resident Joyce Kilpatrick bought a Navy officer ceremonial sword in June 2022 as a gift for her Navy-retired son, she knew it was a meaningful purchase but she could have had no idea how meaningful.
Photo credit: Alexander Grey

Photo credit: Alexander Grey

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County receives settlement from national opioid case

Josh Brannen
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The Hart County Board of Commissioners received $83,864.58 through the Janssen Settlement Agreement; a national litigation case accusing major pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors of prescribing opioids with and without the intent of addicting/poisoning its users.
Former HCHS tight end Cane Berrong shedding a tackle against North Hall in 2020.

Former HCHS tight end Cane Berrong shedding a tackle against North Hall in 2020.

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Former Hart County Bulldogs enter college transfer portal

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The transfer portal has become madness as close to 2,000 college football players have entered their name into the transfer portal since Dec. 5. Two of those 2,000 are former Bulldogs Cane Berrong and Jalen Brown. Former tight end at Notre Dame Cane Berrong entered his name in the portal on Dec.
Junior guard Alexis Walker looks to pass the ball to an open teammate in the Lady Dogs first region win over the Monroe Area Lady Purple Hurricanes, 69-38 on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Junior guard Alexis Walker looks to pass the ball to an open teammate in the Lady Dogs first region win over the Monroe Area Lady Purple Hurricanes, 69-38 on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

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Basketball teams split in region opener

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The Hart County Lady Dogs surge past the Lady Purple Hurricanes, 69-38 while the Boys Purple Hurricanes storm passed the Dogs, 69-44. The Lady Dogs took on the Lady Purple Hurricanes of Monroe Area first and battled back and forth in the first quarter of action.
HCHS theater teacher Seth Howard earns his black belt at CMA of Hartwell in Dec. of 2022.

HCHS theater teacher Seth Howard earns his black belt at CMA of Hartwell in Dec. of 2022.

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Howard earns black belt

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
A Hart County High School teacher’s weight loss journey earns him a blackbelt. It was 2013 when HCHS theater teacher Seth Howard was given a pacemaker [which is a small device that is meant to help control the heartbeat]. The doctors began to push Howard to lose weight or he would eventually die.
The Hart County High School Mat Dogs finished second at the region duals hosted at Oconee County High School on Saturday, Jan. 7 and will advance to sectionals at Long County on Saturday, Jan 14.

The Hart County High School Mat Dogs finished second at the region duals hosted at Oconee County High School on Saturday, Jan. 7 and will advance to sectionals at Long County on Saturday, Jan 14.

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Mat Dogs take second while advancing to sectionals

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The Hart County Mat Dogs took home second place in the region duals on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Oconee County and will advance to the sectionals on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Long County. The Mat Dogs went in as the number two seed team out of five teams competing.
Photo credit: Insung Yoon

Photo credit: Insung Yoon

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# Throwback Thursday

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
1940: Heaton’s Store in the Liberty Hill area, which was owned by Messer Toombs and Rufus Heaton, was totally destroyed by a fire. The building and all of its contents were lost in the blaze, which totaled $1,500. The total amount would be approximately $31,929 in 2023 currency.
Photo credit: Sasun Bughdaryan

Photo credit: Sasun Bughdaryan

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Report from the 2023 General Assembly

News Staff
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The second week of January, every year, is a big week for your Georgia General Assembly.  The first week of session is generally organizational, spent electing leadership, and taking care of general housekeeping.