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Juanita Wilder Adams Scruton (right) smiles for a picture with her oldest sister, Betty Wilder Looney (left) during her surprise 90th Birthday party. Looney will celebrate her 94th birthday Aug. 19.

Juanita Wilder Adams Scruton (right) smiles for a picture with her oldest sister, Betty Wilder Looney (left) during her surprise 90th Birthday party. Looney will celebrate her 94th birthday Aug. 19.

Keeping her eyes on the goal: Mrs. Juanita celebrates 90

Family and friends of Mrs. Juanita Wilder Adams Scruton gathered in the ROC Gym at First Baptist Church to surprise the affectionately known “Mrs. Juanita” with a 90th birthday party July 13. Mrs.
Former St. Paul Braves teammates (L-R) Murray Morrison, Eddie Sanders, Epp Thompson and Terry Burton reunited at the Blackwell Memorial Cultural Center Saturday, July 9. (Photo by Scoggins)

Former St. Paul Braves teammates (L-R) Murray Morrison, Eddie Sanders, Epp Thompson and Terry Burton reunited at the Blackwell Memorial Cultural Center Saturday, July 9. (Photo by Scoggins)

‘I’d rather play baseball than eat’

By Mark Wells mwells@elberton.com   In the hot summer months of the early 1960s, in a field near St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church on Mobley Hill Road, the St. Paul Braves, an all-African American baseball team was formed.

BOE appoints Nestor to fill term

By Mark Wells mwells@elberton.com   Heather Nestor was appointed to fill the vacant District 3 seat for the Elbert County Board of Education (BOE) during their July 25 regular meeting after former District 3 board member, Samantha Rucker, passed away July 2 following a long battle with cancer.
The Elberton Star Logo

The Elberton Star Logo

Bowman tables rezone request

A rezone request by Bowman property owner Aubery Lunsford, of Carnesville, to place single-family housing, multi-family housing and a commercial storage facility on 299 acres in the Bowman city limits was tabled after the owner did not attend Monday night’s meeting.
Firefighter Calvin Tate will retire after 36 years with the Elberton Fire Department at the end of the month as the city’s current longest-tenured employee. (Photo by Wells)

Firefighter Calvin Tate will retire after 36 years with the Elberton Fire Department at the end of the month as the city’s current longest-tenured employee. (Photo by Wells)

Tate retires with longest tenure

By Mark Wells mwells@elberton.com   As summer slowly transitioned to fall in August of 1986, Calvin Tate walked into the Elberton Fire Department (EFD) looking for a job. Although he didn’t know it at the time, the job turned into a career that lasted almost four decades.
Elbert County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Explorer Cole Nix (right) received the Lt. Rodney Pilgrim Leadership Award during the Explorers graduation held by the Royston Police Department Friday, July 22.

Elbert County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Explorer Cole Nix (right) received the Lt. Rodney Pilgrim Leadership Award during the Explorers graduation held by the Royston Police Department Friday, July 22.

Explorers graduate Royston Academy

By Shane Scoggins Publisher, Franklin County Citizen Leader and Rose Scoggins rscoggins@elberton.com   The Royston Explorers Post Academy taught and tested the next generation of area law officers last week in a 40-hour course.
Main Street Elberton and the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Cruise-In and Classic Car Show was followed by a grand finale of fireworks over the Elbert County Courthouse Saturday, July 16. The downtown square was packed with cars and people during the event. Main Street Director Crystal Beebe said this year’s car show was the largest show to-date. For more photos of the event, see page 7. (Photo by Scoggins)

Main Street Elberton and the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Cruise-In and Classic Car Show was followed by a grand finale of fireworks over the Elbert County Courthouse Saturday, July 16. The downtown square was packed with cars and people during the event. Main Street Director Crystal Beebe said this year’s car show was the largest show to-date. For more photos of the event, see page 7. (Photo by Scoggins)

The Elberton Star Logo

The Elberton Star Logo

Topping the national charts

Gov. Brian Kemp’s rural economic development strategy is yielding major results for hardworking Georgians in communities all across the peach state.
The Elberton Star Logo

The Elberton Star Logo

Calling for a SPLOST referendum

By Rose Scoggins rscoggins@elberton.com and Mark Wells mwells@elberton.com   A call to place a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum on the Nov.