Local

Dr. Martha Cantrell (left) talks to the Board of Education about Habersham County students’ AP testing scores. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Dr. Martha Cantrell (left) talks to the Board of Education about Habersham County students’ AP testing scores. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Students’ AP scores hit 86 percent

Julianne Akers
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
   Local students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses at Habersham Central High School and Habersham Ninth Grade Academy are continuing to earn college credit and break school records.    Dr. Martha Cantrell, gifted program coordinator for Habersham County schools, said at the Aug.
Habersham Central’s Antonio Cantrell plows his way into the end zone for a touchdown on Friday night against Oconee County. LANG STOREY/Staff

Habersham Central’s Antonio Cantrell plows his way into the end zone for a touchdown on Friday night against Oconee County. LANG STOREY/Staff

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Tuneup bodes well for Raiders

Lang Storey
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
   In a preseason dress rehearsal Friday night at Raider Stadium, both Habersham Central and Oconee County flashed glimpses of what’s to come when they line up for real on Friday, Aug. 16, against their respective rivals.
Tedarrius Teasley and Tomorea McGlockling of the Habersham-Banks team celebrate an interception Saturday. LANG STOREY/Staff

Tedarrius Teasley and Tomorea McGlockling of the Habersham-Banks team celebrate an interception Saturday. LANG STOREY/Staff

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Heroes battle it out for great cause

Lang Storey
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
   The 11th annual Battle of the Heroes could not have taken place on a more pleasant evening in Mt. Airy. Sure it was a bit balmy at Habersham Central High School’s Raider Stadium before the sunset Saturday, but that didn’t deter a large crowd from joining in on the fun.
Tallulah Falls’ third baseman Abby McCoy throws a runner out at first Friday afternoon. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Tallulah Falls’ third baseman Abby McCoy throws a runner out at first Friday afternoon. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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County’s softball teams drop season openers

Lang Storey
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
   Habersham Central’s softball team opened its 2024 campaign at White County Friday, where the Lady Raiders were shutout 8-0.    The bats were cold to start the season, as HCHS couldn’t keep pace with the home squad.
Jessica Umberger talked Wednesday to the U.S. Senate about mistreatment after giving birth to a baby in prison. YOUTUBE

Jessica Umberger talked Wednesday to the U.S. Senate about mistreatment after giving birth to a baby in prison. YOUTUBE

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‘I didn’t think I would make it out of there alive’

Julianne Akers
Monday, August 5, 2024
   While sitting in a Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., Jessica Drew Umberger said the worst experience of her life was the nine months she spent incarcerated at Georgia Department of Corrections’ (GDC) Helms Facility in Atlanta while pregnant.
Ollie Osborne talks with media specialist Annabelle Wiley about Level Grove Elementary’s Bulldog Broadcast, which is run by fifth graders with staff supervision, at the school’s open house Wednesday. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Ollie Osborne talks with media specialist Annabelle Wiley about Level Grove Elementary’s Bulldog Broadcast, which is run by fifth graders with staff supervision, at the school’s open house Wednesday. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Students get early welcome back to school

Matthew Osborne
Monday, August 5, 2024
   Superintendent Matthew Cooper always makes the most of the first day of school.    As he has the last 12 years, Cooper plans to visit all 14 schools on the first day for students today, Aug. 2.
VFW Post 7720 Commander Barry Church sits at his desk to review VFW files. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

VFW Post 7720 Commander Barry Church sits at his desk to review VFW files. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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New VFW Commander looks to bolster support in community

Zach Taylor
Monday, August 5, 2024
   Barry Church’s life of service has led him to do all he can for his fellow veterans.    Church spent 38 years in the military, from being drafted in November of 1966 through August of 2005, serving throughout the Vietnam War and into the Gulf War.
Coach Tip Johnson and the Raider big men have been getting stronger all summer long. LANG STOREY/Staff

Coach Tip Johnson and the Raider big men have been getting stronger all summer long. LANG STOREY/Staff

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Raiders look to execute in Oconee scrimmage

Lang Storey
Monday, August 5, 2024
   UPDATE: The Raiders came out on top 31-28 in the varsity/JV mixed scrimmage. Read more about the scrimmage in the midweek edition Aug. 7. The first game is at Stephens County on Aug. 16.
Nic Fink holds up his 2023 World Championship gold medal at Quanta’s Atlanta office. He’ll return from France with an Olympic medal to add to his collection.

Nic Fink holds up his 2023 World Championship gold medal at Quanta’s Atlanta office. He’ll return from France with an Olympic medal to add to his collection.

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Olympian Fink nailing the whole work-life balance thing

Lang Storey
Monday, August 5, 2024
   Last weekend in Paris, former UGA and Georgia Tech swimmer Nic Fink took the Olympic 100m breaststroke silver medal. At 31, the Morristown, N.J. native became the oldest swimmer to medal in the event.
Members of the Habersham Central Competition Cheer team include Kara Alexander, Jenessa Chanseri, Cecilia Chitwood, Reese Frady, Anslee Hicks, Caroline Horton, Emma Jarrell, Chanley Joy, Grace Lawrence, Kelsie Littlejohn, Aubrey Maichryc, Meghan Odum, Kevin Olandez, Cendall Pitts, Addie Shubert, Ariel Sisavath, Briohny Somchith, Jillian Tedder and Molly Tipton. SUBMITTED

Members of the Habersham Central Competition Cheer team include Kara Alexander, Jenessa Chanseri, Cecilia Chitwood, Reese Frady, Anslee Hicks, Caroline Horton, Emma Jarrell, Chanley Joy, Grace Lawrence, Kelsie Littlejohn, Aubrey Maichryc, Meghan Odum, Kevin Olandez, Cendall Pitts, Addie Shubert, Ariel Sisavath, Briohny Somchith, Jillian Tedder and Molly Tipton. SUBMITTED

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Cheer teams getting fired up

Lang Storey
Monday, August 5, 2024
   The Habersham Central cheerleading program is one of the state’s finest. Search far and wide and you’d be hard pressed to find a harder working, or more exciting to watch, group.    They, too, have been grinding throughout the summer in preparation for the new season.