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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.
Shown here, Rhonda Vinson kisses Chastain on the forehead when visiting during the party hosted at Habersham EMC on Sunday. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Shown here, Rhonda Vinson kisses Chastain on the forehead when visiting during the party hosted at Habersham EMC on Sunday. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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MAMA’S 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

Zach Taylor
Monday, August 5, 2024
Not everyone gets to live for a century, but that is the case for now-100-year-old Rosa Lee Chastain. Rosa Lee has spent 876,582 hours on Earth, and she has lived to the fullest throughout each one. Chastain has 3 children, 9 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren.
X. BRELAND and CIERA. FILE photo illustration

X. BRELAND and CIERA. FILE photo illustration

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Breland gets 12 years on gun charge

Matthew Osborne
Monday, August 5, 2024
Xavier Breland, the only “person of interest” in the 2022 disappearance of his wife – Habersham County native Ciera Locklair Breland – was sentenced to 12 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Coach Matt Shirley fires a pass to wide receiver Drake Roland. LANG STOREY/Staff

Coach Matt Shirley fires a pass to wide receiver Drake Roland. LANG STOREY/Staff

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Raiders set to assess against Oconee

Lang Storey
Monday, August 5, 2024
With Habersham set to welcome Oconee County to Mt. Airy Friday, the Raiders are treating this week much like a typical, in-season week. That means hitting the weight room earlier in the afternoon prior to taking the field a little bit later in the day.