News

Dr. Wesley Dr. Wesley Cooper was recently named the next principal of Morgan County Elementary School. CONTRIBUTED

MCCS names Cooper as next MCES principal

Skyla Morris

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Morgan County Charter Schools recently announced the appointment of Dr. Wesley Cooper as the next principal of Morgan County Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Cooper currently serves as the assistant principal at MCES and the school district’s K-12 math specialist.

Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain stands beside the podium after he delivered the news that up to 40 citizens attending a Planning & Zoning meeting had to wait outside the large room at the county’s administration building. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Tense P&Z meeting postpones Putnam quarry decision

Ian Tocher

Thursday, March 12, 2026

A controversial proposal to build a rock quarry in Putnam County will not move forward — at least for now.

Jose A. Burgos

New Yorkers nabbed with 70 credit cards

T. Michael Stone

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Two men from New York City were charged with multiple crimes on March 4 following a traffic stop in Greene County, during which more than 70 credit cards, an HP laptop computer with a charger, a Canon portable printer, and two bundles of blank printable check paper were discovered.

MCHS students Airyanna Klinger, Jatavious Ward, Lachlen Behrndt, Ja’mari Mundy, and Kaleo Willcoxson were acknowledged at the Monday meeting for ending the wrestling season as GHSA 2A State Medalists. CONTRIBUTED

BOE recognizes achievements in academics, athletics

Skyla Morris

Thursday, March 12, 2026

The Morgan County Board of Education met on March 9 for its third monthly meeting of 2026. The board shared multiple updates within the school system over the previous weeks and acknowledged students for recent academic and athletic achievements.

Image provided by Google

Ballots set for May 19 primary

T. Michael Stone

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Let the campaigns begin.Candidates for federal, state, and local offices made it official last week by paying qualifying fees and signing on the dotted line.Voters will have plenty of candidates to choose from in the May 19 primary election.

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Enraged student in custody after hurting MCES teachers

T. Michael Stone

Thursday, March 12, 2026

A Morgan County elementary school student erupted into a violent rampage at the school on the morning of March 4, kicking one teacher in the throat and causing another to fall and dislocate his toe, according to materials obtained from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.

Xavier R. Boyd

Deputy intercepts another contraband delivery

T. Michael Stone

Friday, March 6, 2026

Greene County deputies continue to be on the front lines of the battle to keep illegal contraband out of Georgia prisons.Deputy Josh Corwin arrested an Atlanta man who admitted he was involved in delivering materials to a Georgia prison after he was pulled over on Feb. 28.

Steve Kilgore

Kilgore announces re-election campaign

Maureen Stratton

Friday, March 6, 2026

Steve Kilgore, a two-term member of the Greene County Board of Education, has announced his candidacy for re-election. Primaries will be held in May with the general election slated for November.

Schmuhl listens to a student’s Black History Month presentation. CONTRIBUTED

Schmuhl instills vision for rigor, unity, and joyful learning

Maureen Stratton

Friday, March 6, 2026

A new superintendent of the Greene County School System was appointed last year to lead the county with renewed focus. Dr. Aaryn Schmuhl came to the system in July of 2025, having been vetted when the former superintendent, Dr. Chris Houston, retired.

L-R: LOA Students Jillian Gruszynski, Lillian Garcia-Carreras, and Jameson Lackey are three of 1,500 statewide scholars to qualify as semifinalists for this year’s Governor’s Honors Program. CONTRIBUTED

LOA students qualify as semifinalists for state academic program

Skyla Morris

Friday, March 6, 2026

Lake Oconee Academy recently announced that three of its upper-school students have been selected as semifinalists for the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP).

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