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C&M Thrift Store posted signs on their doors to let customers know they would be closed until March 28. (Photo by Scoggins)

C&M Thrift Store posted signs on their doors to let customers know they would be closed until March 28. (Photo by Scoggins)

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Downtown businesses stay safe while adapting to new reality in age of coronavirus

Rose Scoggins
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Although the coronavirus (COVID-19) has no confirmed cases in Elbert County as of March 23, local businesses are being affected by recommendations from various organizations for social distancing and limiting gatherings of less than 10 people.
Dr. Sonya Barnett said the late Lisa Seawright was ‘the glue that held us together’ and that Seawright always told her to ‘keep in touch with my inner child.’

Dr. Sonya Barnett said the late Lisa Seawright was ‘the glue that held us together’ and that Seawright always told her to ‘keep in touch with my inner child.’

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Education never part of her plan

Cary Best
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Giving back to her community, Dr. Sonya Barnett has helped educate students with unique challenges. In return, these students ignited her desire to further her education and become a better teacher. Barnett, who is now the principal/pre-K director at the Paul J.
Elbert County Comprehensive High School AD Brian Turner says there is a fine line to walk when it comes to Georgia High School Association compliance. (Photo by Cary Best)

Elbert County Comprehensive High School AD Brian Turner says there is a fine line to walk when it comes to Georgia High School Association compliance. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Sports at ECCHS – student participation rate 43%

Cary Best
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Strolling down the school hallway one recent morning, twirling a lanyard around his right index finger and lightly gripping a walkie-talkie in his left hand, Dr. Brian Turner stopped to joke with a group of boys about the previous night’s win.
Mountain Education Center offers ‘a lot more support here;’ Shown are (L-R) Mountain Ed Administrator Laura Lynch, Emmanuel Kim, Faith Carey, Miles Plummer, Emma Smith, Brandon Heard, Mountain Ed Administrator Renee Padgett and Seth Adams. (Photo by Scoggins)

Mountain Education Center offers ‘a lot more support here;’ Shown are (L-R) Mountain Ed Administrator Laura Lynch, Emmanuel Kim, Faith Carey, Miles Plummer, Emma Smith, Brandon Heard, Mountain Ed Administrator Renee Padgett and Seth Adams. (Photo by Scoggins)

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Unique path to earning diploma

Rose Scoggins
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Mountain Education Charter High School has sat in the former halls of Bowman Elementary School for the past eight years.
Elbert County Elementary School Principal Stephanie Wiles checks out the work of students Ethan Watkins (left) and Levi Wiles (right) on computers at the school recently. (Photo by Scoggins)

Elbert County Elementary School Principal Stephanie Wiles checks out the work of students Ethan Watkins (left) and Levi Wiles (right) on computers at the school recently. (Photo by Scoggins)

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Teacher, mama, nurse, counselor

Rose Scoggins
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
As Stephanie Wiles walked the halls of Elbert County Elementary School (ECES), she smiled and hugged students as she called them by name. Wiles has been principal at ECES for the past three years, but her journey in education reached its 30th year this year, all in Elbert County.
ECCHS Principal Jason Kouns chats with ECCHS teacher Nat McCarty. (Photo by Best)

ECCHS Principal Jason Kouns chats with ECCHS teacher Nat McCarty. (Photo by Best)

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‘Computers outpaced humans’

Cary Best
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Over the last 25 years, Jason Kouns has witnessed a profound transformation in education. This transformation is a paradigm shift where teachers are no longer the disseminators of facts; they’re the facilitators of information, according to the Elbert County High School principal. Dr.
Daily traffic cops ... Elbert County Primary School Assistant Principal Laura Albertson and Principal Rosa Harris. (Photo by Jones)

Daily traffic cops ... Elbert County Primary School Assistant Principal Laura Albertson and Principal Rosa Harris. (Photo by Jones)

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Education is all in the family

Gary Jones
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
It’s in her genetic makeup, maybe, knowing her mother was a teacher and her sister was a principal and an assistant principal in Hart County and her brother-in-law is a principal in Hart County. But at one time Elbert County Primary School Principal Rosa Harris considered going into nursing.
Back in the day, new Elbert County teacher Sandee Webb Drake poses for a photograph with one of her students, Kelli Suttles. Drake says she loved having 25 students in her classroom, since now that she’s a principal, she feels like she has a “class of 1,000.”

Back in the day, new Elbert County teacher Sandee Webb Drake poses for a photograph with one of her students, Kelli Suttles. Drake says she loved having 25 students in her classroom, since now that she’s a principal, she feels like she has a “class of 1,000.”

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Drake made right the decision 29 years ago

Gary Jones
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
There was a time, just about 30 years ago, when Sandee Webb Drake actually considered another career path.
The Elberton Star logo

The Elberton Star logo

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COVID-19 mitigation actions

News Staff
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
State presidential primary postponed The Georgia Presidential Preference Primary scheduled for March 24 has been postponed, and state officials said the presidential primary voting will be held in conjunction with the state primary coming up May 19.
A 13-minute video conversation with Elbert County Emergency Management Director Chuck Almond and Deputy Director Beth Seymour has been posted on The Elberton Star’s Facebook page.

A 13-minute video conversation with Elbert County Emergency Management Director Chuck Almond and Deputy Director Beth Seymour has been posted on The Elberton Star’s Facebook page.

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Local emergency declared

Rose Scoggins
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Elbert County Commission Chairman Lee Vaughn signed a Declaration of Local Emergency at 8 a.m. Monday morning that orders the Elbert County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to activate an Emergency Operations Plan along with other implementations.