The Oconee Leader

For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week: Sports

Issue 16

Oconee, North Oconee boys and girls teams win tennis regions

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Volume 11

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Relay returns to Oconee

Story, page 6

North Oconee girls win Athens City Area track and field title

Story, page 4

Oconee Leader

Calling themselves the Hot Mommas, one of Oconee County’s most successful Relay teams is returning this year. Last year they embraced the Relay for Life theme of ‘Party Like It’s 1985’ with a Rocky motif.

Oconee Relay for Life is six hours instead of 12, but seeks to have lasting effects

By Rob Peecher

TheOconeeLeader.com

Oconee County girls win region golf championship

Oconee County’s Relay for Life this year will be a bit shorter than it has been in previous years, but organizers are hoping it will still have the same impact to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Natalie Peck, Oconee County’s community manager for Relay, said the event this year will return to Oconee County High School’s Warrior Stadium. It was held at North Oconee High School last year. Also, Relay in Oconee will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22, and

run until midnight. In past years, Relay has run into Saturday morning.

“Sometimes you have to look at the community as a whole and consider what the community will best react to,” Peck said. “For many years, from midnight to 1 a.m. it’s been like ants scattering as a lot of participants have gone home. And that’s understandable because we have a lot of families that come out and join us. So what we decided to do was in the fall we submitted a survey to all of our previous participants. We asked them for date suggestions and which school they wanted to hold Relay at, and we also gave them the option of voting for a six-hour event or a 12-hour event. The six-hour event was 98 percent.”

Oconee County’s Relay for Life has consistently been a strong fundraiser nationally.

Last year the event raised $142,000 and won a per capita award.

“This year our goal is $153,000,” Peck said.

“We were very excited to win the per capita award in October at the Volunteer Leadership Conference. This award was given to Oconee County based on the gross funds raised per person according to population for an event our size. We were honored with the recognition and hope to repeat this achievement this year.”

Survivor registration will begin at 5:30 p.m., Peck said. Survivors can get their Tshirts and enjoy a dinner sponsored by Athens Regional Medical Center.

Peck said the Survivor Lap is scheduled to Please see ‘Relay’

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Sports, page 4

Oconee County man’s missing motorized wheelchair found by Oglethorpe woman

News

By Wayne Ford

TheOconeeLeader.com

Deadline approaches to register to vote in May primary News, page 2

Contact us:

Email editor@theoconeeleader. com

Twitter @TheOconeeLeader

An Oconee County man who lost a motorized wheelchair a week ago on his way to a reunion in Jackson County said the woman who found the chair showed up at his home Friday afternoon.

The woman, who lives in Oglethorpe County with her husband, explained she found it at the Prince Avenue intersection in Athens, which lies along the route that David Shadley said he took to attend the Athens Speedway Reunion on April 9.

The chair was strapped to the rear of Shadley’s pickup but came unfastened and fell off apparently as he came off the Athens Perimeter to reach U.S. Highway 129.

The wheelchair was not marked with anything that would identify the owner.

“She was by herself and two men helped her load it on the back of her truck and she took it home,” said Shadley, who spoke to the woman and her husband.

“She doesn’t have internet, but she said her momma called and said she saw it on the internet (www.onlineathens.com) and

Prom season is here

“Her husband has just one leg so I’m going to let them keep the chair.”

— David Shadley they went from there to find out where I lived,” he said. “She was very apologetic and apprehensive and remorseful.”

The wheelchair was damaged when it fell off, but the woman told Shadley they were able to repair it.

The woman’s husband has a handicap, Shadley said.

“Her husband has just one leg so I’m going to let them keep the chair,” said the 72-year-old retired welding shop owner who has already replaced his wheelchair.

“It makes me feel better to know that somebody that needed it got it and not somebody trying to make a buck off something,” he said.

Photos by Donald Shelnutt

Oconee High School students (top) and North Oconee High students (below) held their proms this weekend at the Georgia Center. To see photo galleries from both proms, go to: TheOconeeLeader.com

2016

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2016 Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Oconee Leader • Go to theoconeeleader.com for picture galleries

Thursday, April 21, 2016

ELECTION 2016

Time running out to register for May 24 primary

By Mike Sprayberry TheOconeeLeader.com

Anyone not yet registered to vote who plans to vote in the May 24 primary election is running out of time to get registered.

Oconee County Board of Elections Chair Pat Hayes said Tuesday is the deadline to register and still be eligible to vote in the May 24 primary.

“There are four ways to register,” Hayes said. “You can register online at the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. You can call to have an application mailed to you. You can come into our office and register. Or you can go to the library and pick up an application. You only have to provide ID if registering by mail for the first time in Georgia. If you walk into our office you don’t have to show anything.”

Hayes said absentee ballots are already being mailed out and voters who want to vote by absentee ballot can request a ballot through May 20. To be counted, absentee ballots must be in the board of elections office by 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24.

Hayes explained that when

early voting begins there will be one major difference than in previous years.

“We had a board meeting last week, and at the board meeting we decided that for the last week of early voting we were only going to do that at the board of elections office, and we would not have early voting at the Oconee Civic Center.

It just wasn’t cost effective because voters were not utilizing the civic center location. Some were even driving past the civic center to come to our office and vote. We determined it was costing us $35 a vote to use the civic center.”

In past years, the elections office was open during the entire time of early voting, and in the last week of early voting, Hayes would open up the Civic Center as an early voting location. But lack of voter participation, she said led the elections board to decide to only hold early voting at the elections office in downtown Watkinsville beside the courthouse.

Hayes also cautioned voters that on election day, the elections office is not a polling place.

“Some people, if they usually

vote during early voting, will come to our office on election day expecting to vote here,” Hayes explained.

“But the election office is not a polling place on election day.

If people usually vote here during early voting but they’re voting on election day this year, they need to determine where their polling location is and vote there.”

Voters who are uncertain where their voting location is can go to sos.ga.gov and click on the elections tab. There, links can help voters determine their polling place and voters can also view sample ballots.

Hayes was reluctant to offer a prediction on voter turnout. She said it varies from election to election.

However, she did cite 2008 and 2012 turnout numbers – the two most recent presidential election years. In 2008, 36.4 percent of the county’s then 19,000 registered voters showed up to the polls for the primary.

In 2012, almost 46 percent of the county’s 21,000 voters cast a ballot.

For the 2016 election, Hayes said the county has just over 22,000 active registered voters.

Business After Hours

2nd candidate forum set for Monday The second public Oconee County candidate forum is scheduled for Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of North Oconee High School on Hog Mountain Road.

The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce is the sponsor of the April 25 forum at North Oconee High school.

The first forum was last Thursday at the Community Center at Veterans Park.

Posts on the Oconee school board, the board of commissioners and other offices are contested in the Republican primary.

No Democrats field to run for office, though one candidate may qualify to run as an independent.

However, anyone can vote in the May 24 election. Early voting begins May 2; the deadline for voter registration is April 26.

• Sheriff: Incumbent Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry has opposition from Kevin “Chappy” Hines, the former chaplain of the UGA football team.

• Georgia Senate, District 46:

Retired educator Pat Daugherty is trying to unseat incumbent Bill Cowsert for the seat that represents Clarke and Oconee counties.

• Georgia House, District 119: Pamela Lohr Hendrix seeks to run as an independent against incumbent Chuck Williams in the district, which includes Oconee County and a portion of Clarke County.

• Oconee County Board of Commissioners: Mark Thomas and Penny Mills seek one seat, left open when present commissioner Jim Luke decided not to run again, while Sarah Bell will try to unseat incumbent Mark Saxon for a second countywide commissioner seat. John Daniell is the only candidate for the commission chairman post being vacated by the retiring Melvin Davis.

• Oconee County Board of Education: Board of Education chairman Tom Odom has opposition from Britt James Beaver.

• Coroner: Incumbent Ed Carson has opposition from Dale Rogers.

— Staff Reports

Oconee calendar

Photos by donald shelnutt

The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce held its April Business After Hours at Chops & Hops last week. Many were in attendance for the event including (at top) Melvin Davis, Oconee County Commission Chairman and Care to Continue’s Tassie Ruark.

Oconee County Chamber of Commerce 2016 golf tournament: 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Lane Creek Golf Course, 1201 Club Drive, Bishop. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 11:30. Box lunches will be provided on carts. Four-person teams, scramble format. Cost is $500 per team or $125 per player. An awards dinner will follow. For more information, visit ww.oconeechamber.org.

Exhibit — Figures, Florals and Fabulous Celestials: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All Week, Oconee County Library. Exhibit features the work of three local watercolor artists — Judith DeJoy, Cindy Malota, and Radha Murthy. Free admission. Open through April 30. For more, call (706) 769-3950.

Infant Storytime: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oconee County Library. Babies love books, too! This is a special Storytime for our youngest readers-to-be, 0-24 months.

Come for stories, songs, nursery rhymes, bouncing, and cuddling, and then stay for some playtime with friends. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Planting a Garden for Kids: 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville.

How can you plant things and make them grow? Join our local cooperative extension office as kids learn the basics on planting and keeping a garden! Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee.

TOPS weight loss: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Government Annex Building, Highway 15, Watkinsville. Meetings are held each Thursday. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit support group for weight loss. Members can share challenges, successes, or goals, hear a brief program and discuss plans for the week. (800) 932-8677 or www.tops.org.

Shakespeare 400 Film Screening: Hamlet: 3 p.m. Friday, Oconee County Library. The Oconee County Library will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare death with Friday matinees!

This week we will be showing Laurence Olivier’s 1948 adaptation of “Hamlet.”

Run time is 2 hours and 35 minutes, the film is unrated. All programs and events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Oconee Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oconee County Courthouse, 23 N Main Street, Watkinsville.

The market is open rain-or-shine on Saturdays through the last Saturday in November. Located in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville.

Windows Basics: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Oconee County Library. This Class is all about Windows. Topics include: Navigating Windows, working with files, finding files on your computer, common computer tasks, adjusting your settings, understanding user accounts,

and keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

Registration is required. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Preservation Week Event: Preserving Your Family Papers & Photographs: 7 p.m. Monday, Oconee County Library.

All programs and events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Kitty Cat Café: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Library. The kittens are ready to snuggle and play with you as you enjoy a cup of coffee or juice at the Oconee County Library! Drop in to have a free snack and love on some adoptable kittens visiting us from the Athens Area Humane Society. All ages! Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Music Therapy Workshop for Kids: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library.

Come learn how you can express your feelings through music in this series of workshops for kids of all ages! All instruments and materials are provided. Free and open to the public. Music Therapy Workshop is funded by a grant from the Georgia Council of the Arts as part of our Oconee Inspirathon series of creative workshops for children. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

PRISM: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. PRISM is a positive, safe space without judgment for all teens who share a common vision of equality. All you have to do is be yourself! Grades 6-12. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Beginning Portuguese classes for Kids: 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. Learn to speak Portuguese at the Oconee County Library! Join us for a free 8-week course just for kids.

We meet every Wednesday from April 27 to June 15. Pre-registration required; class-size limited to 12 students ages 7 to 11. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Anti-Prom: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. Anti-Prom provides an alternative, safe space for all teens who may not feel welcome at other dances because of their sexual orientation, the way they dress, or any other reason. All events are free and open to the public. Grades 6-12. For more information, call 706-769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Preservation Week Event: Converting to Digital Media: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. All programs and events are free and open to the public.

For more information, please call 706769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Oconee Leader • Go to theoconeeleader.com for picture galleries

Sole breakdown in routine doesn’t derail 20 years of marriage

Firefighter training

Contributed Photo Oconee County Volunteer Fire Rescue personnel recently attended courses at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Those attending were, from left, Adam Smith, Kenney Wilson, Paul Thaxton, Dustin Gurley and Dusty Powell. “These volunteers took a week away from their families and jobs to attend the six-day courses, and this is an excellent example of the dedication that we have within our volunteer department,” Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton said. Travel and tuition costs were funded by the National Fire Academy. For information about becoming a member of Oconee County Fire Rescue, call (706) 769-3975.

Eagle Tavern Museum hosts annual Homeschool Day

Volunteer Jeff Clarke talks about life in the 1800s.

Officer Fortson talks about his role and responsibilities as a Watkinsville police officer.

Volunteer Maria Caudill explains the history of the Eagle Tavern Museum’s general store to students.

The Oconee County Fire Department shares the importance of their department and fire safety.

The Eagle Tavern Museum and the Oconee County Welcome Center recently hosted more than 20 homeschool students and family members at the annual Eagle Tavern Museum Homeschool Day. Along with a tour of the Eagle Tavern Museum, students had the opportunity to tour the courthouse and meet the important leaders and officials in the county’s local government.

“Each year, we welcome new faces from the local area and surrounding counties to our homeschool day.

This day serves as an opportunity to expose homeschool students and their families to an interactive his-

tory lesson of Oconee County,” said Tourism Director Alex Perschka.

Students were guided through the Oconee County Board of Election office, GIS Mapping office, Clerk of Courts office and Georgia Tax Commissioner office.

The Oconee County Sheriff Department also provided a tour through the old jail. The Watkinsville Police Department and the Oconee County Fire Department conducted presentations explaining the importance of their departments and procedures for protecting the city and county, respectively.

Sessions on preserving papers, converting items to digital media Do you have precious family papers, letters, Bibles, old photographs or other physical reminders of your family legacy? Unsure of how to store them safely? Or do you have old photos, VHS home movies, cassette tape family interviews, out of print albums or anything else you wish you could have in a digital format?

Come to the Oconee County Library on Monday for “Preserving Your Family Papers and Photographs” and Wednesday for “Converting to Digital Media” to

learn how.

On Monday, Athens-Clarke County Library Heritage Room librarian Angela Stanle visits the Oconee County Library to teach patrons the best practices for storing tangible family treasures. The class also serves as a basic introduction to preservation.

On Wednesday, Athens-Clarke County Library Digital Media Center librarian Natalie Wright visits the library to show how to convert and improve precious family mem-

‘Relay’ begin at 6:45 p.m. Of course the event will include a Luminary Service in remembrance of those who have passed from cancer, and Peck said that event is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

As in past years, Relay will also be a celebration of surviving and fighting cancer, and “a full schedule” of entertainment is planned throughout the evening.

“After last year, we found that we had lots of people who wanted to return to perform,” Peck said. “They started reaching out to us early on, in August and September, which is amazing.”

As of last week, 29 teams were scheduled to participate in Relay, but Peck said that number could increase by the day of the event.

“We had two more teams interested in participating

Page 3

ories using the tools available at the Athens-Clarke County Library’s Digital Media Center.

The two sessions are part of Preservation Week at ARLS, which aims to educate family historians and DIY archivists about best practices for keeping their personal treasures safe.

The programs begin at 7 p.m.

No registration is required. To find out more information about the program, please call the Heritage Room at (706) 613-3650, ext. 350.

Continued from page 1 that contacted me within the last day,” Peck said. “We never want someone to feel like it’s too late to register, so we always encourage people to do that even if they just set up a tent and have it as a gathering place. So by the day of the event, we may have 30 or 31 teams.”

Peck said participating teams are working around the theme of “Relay Rock Stars.”

“We kind of wanted people to take the theme and run with it,” Peck said. “Some teams are doing actual rock stars like celebrities, and some teams are doing local rock stars – people who have battled cancer that they’ve selected as their personal rock star.”

Peck noted that Relay for Life is always a family friendly event and said even those who aren’t on a team are welcome and should come out to Relay.

Jean and I have enjoyed a successful 20 years of marriage because we have policies and procedures in place, developed and tweaked over two decades, that allow for a smooth operation of our household.

There are few surprises because everyone has a role and knows what that role is.

I sleep on the left side of the bed, and Jean sleeps on the right. It has always been like this. It means that when we go to bed at night, we don’t stand around arguing with each other about which one of us sleeps on which side of the bed. If one of us goes to bed earlier than the other one, it means that when the second one finally goes to bed we don’t lay down on the first one and smush that person. “Oh, I’m sorry, I had no idea you’d be on the right side of the bed tonight.”

I empty the dishwasher and Jean does everything else in the kitchen. Rarely, I will venture into the kitchen to cook a dinner of some kind, but nobody wants this because things like taste and fully cooking raw meat are important.

Sometimes I will load the dishwasher, but Jean doesn’t like for me to do that because she thinks she’s better at loading the dishwasher than I am.

She’s wrong, but it goes against our manual of Standard Operating Procedures for me to load the dishwasher, and so I don’t.

On Fridays Jean does not cook. If we’re going to eat, someone else must figure out what we’re doing for dinner.

When it’s bedtime for us, I make sure the house is all locked up and shut down.

Jean makes sure her alarm clock is set and will wake us up in the morning.

Another of our SOPs, developed over years of trial and error, is that on weekday mornings, when the alarm goes off, Jean gets up with the alarm.

We are neither one of us what you would call “morning people” and never have been. In college, I only scheduled afternoon classes because I slept through all my morning classes. We both would prefer to stay up past midnight and sleep past 8 a.m.

The way we deal with the fact that neither of us wants to get up and out of bed at the early hour required to get everyone where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there is a fairly simple process: Jean sets the alarm clock so Jean gets up with the alarm clock.

But one morning last week, we had a complete breakdown of the routine that has kept this ship sailing smoothly for 20 years.

It started with this terrible ringing that would not stop. It wriggled its way into my unconscious and shook me awake.

I was not aware that Jean was still in bed, I was only aware of this terrible, vicious ringing, and I had to make it stop.

I rolled out of bed, stumbled across the floor seeking out the terrible noise maker and silenced it with much fumbling

around.

I stood there for a moment, uncertain of what to do. What made sense to me was that I should get back in bed and Jean should wake up and do whatever she does in the mornings.

But instead I decided to see if I could handle any of it.

I knew there were some important things that needed to happen. The most important thing was that I get the coffee started, because nothing happens in our house if Jean and I don’t get coffee. The other important thing that had to happen was the boys had to get up and get showered and fed and watered and dressed and out the door to school.

After all, the only reason we bother to set the alarm is because our sons have to be at school before 8:15 a.m. Neither Jean nor I would schedule anything in our lives for that early in the morning.

So because the kids sleep upstairs and the coffee pot is downstairs, I woke up the kids before I went downstairs to start the coffee pot.

I got one of the kids out of bed and moving toward the shower. I got the other kid out of bed and moving down stairs to get breakfast. I would have called them by name, but it was too early in the morning for me to remember their names.

I stood hunched over the coffee pot waiting for it to finish spitting out its wake up juice, and once I had a cup of coffee I was able to call the kids by name.

I got Nathan started on his breakfast while I made sure Robert actually woke up and got in the shower.

Then I stood around, not really sure what to do next.

I know that Jean makes the boys a lunch every morning.

To read the full column, go to TheOconeeLeader.com

For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week: Warriors

WARRIORS l TITANS l SPARTANS l WOLVERINES l LIONS

April 21, 2016

North Oconee girls win Athens City-Area Championship, Oconee boys and Athens Academy girls finish second Track

Major signs Page 7

Titans

Tennis

Region champs Page 6

Online

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Photo gallery

Oconee vs.

Jackson County soccer theoconeeleader.com

Online

The North Oconee girls track and field team finished with 128.50 points to finish first in last Wednesday’s Athens City-Area Championship, held at Oconee County High School. The Athens Academy Lady Spartans finished second with 124 points. Athens Christian was third (120), Cedar Shoals was fourth (106), Oconee County was fifth (76.50), Clarke Central was sixth (27) and Prince Avenue Christian was seventh (24). Cedar Shoals won the boys’ meet with 155 points. Oconee County was second with 102 points. North Oconee was third (94), Athens Christian was fourth (88), Clarke Central was fifth (82), Prince Avenue Christian was sixth (54) and Athens Academy was seventh (48). For photos of the meet, visit theoconeeleader.com.

Lady Warriors win second straight region championship, Warriors competed in their region earlier this week

Photo gallery

Athens Academy vs. PACS soccer theoconeeleader.com

The Oconee County Lady Warriors won the Region 8-AAA golf championship last week for the second straight year, and OCHS senior Jessica Ingram was the low medalist with a round of 81. Mady Wiley shot an 88 and Bess Linder shot a 94. The Lady Warriors qualified for the Class AAA state match with the region championship. The Warriors competed earlier this week in their region match. For results of it and the full story on the girls’ team, see theoconeeleader.com. Pictured are coach Randy Landry, Mady Wiley, Jessica Ingram, Elli Scarborough, Bess Linder and coach Philip Manning.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

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Page 5

Oconee County soccer

Lady Warriors win second straight, Warriors win third straight region title

By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

Both the Oconee County Lady Warriors and Warriors came away with the Region 8-AAA soccer championship last week, and they did so in two different ways – one won, one lost.

The Lady Warriors clinched the region crown in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Morgan County.

It was the second straight region championship for the Lady Warriors and 10 overall.

“That was real special. I know it’s not their first time but as a group, it was a big win to come through,” said head coach Chris Romano, who is in his first year as head coach of the girls’ team.

“We had a little rough patch early in the season but we have put it together and we have been on a nice run. We had a challenging game. It was a physical game.

They fought every step of the way. Morgan County tied the game on us and the girls didn’t quit. They kept going and scored with 10 minutes and it was the same thing. At the end of the game, they made it interesting on us.”

The Warriors went into last Friday’s game against Jackson County undefeated in the region.

The Panthers beat the Warriors 1-0 (6-5 PKs) but because of the tiebreaker, the Warriors won the region championship for the third straight season.

“We are disappointed about losing the game but we are excited about winning the region championship,” said head coach Colin Connors. “Us, East Jackson and Jackson all finished with one loss. We beat East Jackson 4-0 and East Jackson beat Jackson 4-2, so we had the tiebreaker.

The same thing happened to us two years ago. They beat us in PKs and we went on to the state championship game.” th

Oconee County Lady Warriors and Warriors soccer teams With a region championship already wrapped up for the Lady Warriors going into last Friday’s game against Jackson County, all that was left to play for was to finish the region portion of the schedule undefeated.

Jackson County scored first just four minutes into the game and added another goal with 7:22 left in the first half, leading Romano to tell his players to wake up and start playing better.

The message was received.

Averee Hurst got the Lady Warriors on the board with 3:10 left in the first half and a long shot

by Carmen Paveo tied the game with just eight seconds left in the half.

“We definitely received that message. I think we were tired from our game against Morgan and we finally realized we need-

ed to step up,” Paveo said. “I don’t think we realized how good of a team they were. Their coach is the dad of one of our players and I feel like he told them about our players and what we can do.

We came out slow but once they scored their two goals, we realized we needed to wake up and play this game.”

Regulation ended tied and the game went into overtime, two five-minute periods.

With the second overtime coming to a close and penalty kicks looming, Lornah Okoth drove to the net and was fouled in the box with 38.6 seconds left, giving the Lady Warriors a PK. Paveo took the shot and scored to give the Lady Warriors a 3-2 lead.

“I didn’t want to have to go to PKs for our team and we were

going to get the region trophy, and I knew it would be weird to lose a game and get a trophy so I had to make that shot to be able to win the game,” Paveo said. “It is always awesome to win the region championship because you are the first seed in the playoffs.

It is great to be undefeated in the region. That is why we really wanted to win this game.”

Jackson County still had one more chance but a shot was saved

by Christen Wilson, who had to dive to her right to make the save and seal the win for the Lady Warriors.

“Christen is outstanding. She has been outstanding all season.

She is a sophomore and started almost every game except when she has been hurt. She is solid,” Romano said.

In the boys’ game, the Warriors

had a ton of chances throughout the game but couldn’t get one past the Jackson County keeper.

“I am not disappointed at all in the guys’ effort and the chances we produced. I don’t know if we have ever had that many shots in a game,” Connors said. “We either hit the post of just missed the goal or their keeper made a great save. They kept numbers back.

They had 10 behind the ball at all times. That makes it hard to score, but we kept trying. We just couldn’t quite get it tonight.”

The game went into overtime after a scoreless regulation, and then went into PKs after a scoreless overtime.

After five shooters, the PKs were tied 4-4.

After six shooters, the PKs were tied 5-5.

The game ended when Jackson County’s seventh shooter got one past to end the game and start their celebration, but just like two years ago the Warriors won the region championship despite losing to Jackson County in PKs. “It is tough. When we play them, it is always a tooth-andnail battle to the death. It’s always been really close. They are a good team. It sucks to lose the game but we will move on from it. It feels good to win region,” said senior Nick Morin, who was one of the Warriors who scored on his PK attempt. “We have been working hard all year in practice and putting in a lot of hard work. It is paying off to get the region championship and go to the playoffs. Hopefully we will do well.

“We have a good team. A lot of the team is composed of juniors but they are good. They are all skilled. We don’t really have a superstar. We all have good skill and we work together as a team.

That is good.”

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Page 6

Thursday, April 21, 2016

High school tennis

North Oconee sweeps Region 8-AAAA tennis championship

By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

North Oconee tennis teams swept through the Region 8-AAAA regular season.

That success continued in this week’s region tournament at Madison County and it resulted in a region championship for both the Lady Titans and Titans.

“They played really well. We went into the tournament focused on staying 100 percent through every match and not letting the downtime between the two matches on the second day weigh us down. Both teams came out 100 percent and firing on all cylinders for all three matches in the three rounds we played. I was really impressed,” said head coach Michael Williams.

“Our depth in the girls’ team came as a weapon. Buford is traditionally a deep team as well.

We had a lot of new additions this year and the players remaining we had from last year contributed to a strong team. We are a threat at every position and that’s where we want to be.

“Our guys’ team had a similar situation last year. We were a one seed going in and we had North Hall in the finals and we let that get to our head a little bit. One of the things we stressed on both of our teams before the final matches was playing the

North Oconee Lady Titans and Titans tennis teams tennis they have played all year, and not looking at this as a last regular season match but another match we have to go. We emphasized for them to go into this match with a clear head and not remember the last time we played either team, and they did that.

They went out and played 100

percent. North Hall and Buford also played very well. They were good matches despite the score being a little lopsided. They put up good play and a lot of good sportsmanship.”

The Titans, who lost in the championship to North Hall last season, exacted some revenge

and pulled out a 3-0 win against North Hall in the finals on Thursday.

John Knight won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles for the Titans’ first point. The No. 2 doubles team of Quint Breedlove and Doster Chastain won 6-1, 6-4 for their second point, and the No. 1 dou-

bles team of Henri Johnson and Christopher Brandon ended the match with a 7-5, 6-3 win.

“It was great. It felt good that we were the two who pulled it out for the team,” Brandon said.

“We were serving pretty well. We had it together really well in the second set. We played a lot better than in the first. We were talking to each other. The other team was getting a little frustrated and we were able to use that to our advantage. Our three singles was off very quickly and that boosted our morale. Our two doubles finished right before we did. We knew if we could get the last couple of games that we could pull it out for the team.”

The Lady Titans matched up with Buford in the finals and got a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a 6-0, 6-0 win by Hannah Daniel at No. 2 singles.

Ansley Hardeman earned the Lady Titans’ second point with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles and Kate Dukes closed out the match at No. 3 singles with a 6-0, 6-3 win, giving the Lady Titans their first region championship in a few years.

“That is incredible. It is great to win that for somebody, especially the school. I am proud to be here and do that for my team,” Dukes said.

“It is the most exciting thing in the world as you can imagine.”

High school tennis

Region 8-AAA championship trophies heading back to Oconee County

By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

Thursday marked a familiar site for Oconee County tennis – both the Warriors and Lady Warriors won the Region 8-AAA championship.

The Warriors won 4-1 against Jefferson and the Lady Warriors won 3-0 against Morgan County.

“I love the fact that the guys and girls are both able to succeed. It is the expectation at Oconee to win the region championship every year,” said senior Landen Benson. “It is so special.

The tradition is more than just my four years. It’s been a while.

The legacy is building and building and I hope these guys moving up to 4A can do it next year. It has been so special to me every year.

The region championship is a big reason why we have had success in state getting the one seed. It looks like we will have a pretty good draw so we should make it pretty far.”

The Warriors had a 20-year winning streak snapped in 2011 but they have won the region championship every year since 2012.

“It is super rewarding and it holds our upcoming kids and our JV players and the varsity guys who are introduced every match to a higher level,” Benson said. “They are held to a higher

Oconee County tennis teams standard than everyone else in the region because most of the teams can’t say they have won that many region titles and how special it is because of how competitive it is. We saw a great team with Jefferson today. We saw a great team earlier this season and we were able to get it done.”

The Lady Warriors have won the region championship three straight years. Junior Julia Hardell was the clinching point in her freshman year. She did that again on Thursday when her 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles was the third point for the Lady Warriors to clinch the match.

“It is pretty cool to do it. You have to get a win no matter what so it doesn’t matter. I am glad to get the three wins quickly and get off,” Hardell said.

Hardell’s court at No. 3 singles is sandwiched between the singles and doubles matches. She said she looks to see how her teammates are doing.

“It has an impact. You want to do good for your team and get your team through,” Hardell said.

“When people are doing good, it’s great. If they aren’t, you want to try and do better and hopefully that will help them too.”

Sophomore Claire Lacksen

was the first Lady Warrior off the court with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles. Senior Hannah Boran won the second point for the Lady Warriors with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles.

Moments after Boran won, Hardell closed out her second set to clinch the match and championship.

“She seems to come up big for us. She rolled in the second set.

That shows a lot of mental toughness. She is a junior and has been there before and she has done that for us before. I appreciate that we have players that step up and play big in the biggest moments,” said

head coach Derek Hon. “Hannah played incredible tennis today.

She was really aggressive. She brought it today. I was proud of her. Claire struggled a little bit in the first set of both of her matches and she picked it up in both second sets. I am proud of her because she has fought through a shoulder injury and isn’t 100 percent, but we are trying to get her back to where she is playing at 100 percent.”

Connor McCarthy won the first point for the Warriors at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Benson and Andrew Davis won the second point with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles.

With No. 2 singles down a set and Clay Malcom at No. 3 singles in a third set, which he eventually won, the match was clinched with a pair of freshmen at No. 2 doubles. Malachy Mejias and Jake Boran won the first set 7-5 and closed the match with a 6-4 win in the second set.

“Those two freshmen were unbelievable,” Benson said. “They clicked. They turned it over and I hope it continues in the state because that is a big point we can count on.”

Hon said they play a lot of strong teams throughout the season, which benefits them when it’s time for the region and state tournaments.

Page 7

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Thursday, April 21, 2016

Lady Spartans top PACS, Spartans beat Hebron Christian

Contributed photo

Chase Major with family

Oconee County’s Major signs with Washington and Lee to run track Will compete in 200-, 400-meter dash

By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

Chase Major has known since December where he was going to run track.

Last month at his signing ceremony at Oconee Count High School, Major put his signature on the papers to make it official – the senior will run at Washington and Lee in Virginia.

“It feels great. It’s good to finally make it official. I have known since December I was going to go. I am ready to finish out senior year and my senior track season with a bang,” Major said. “I went on a visit and when I was up there, I went with my dad. We both went back and were in awe of the campus. We were impressed with everything there. They have great academics and I have the opportunity to run track. I feel like I will be able to reach my goals that I have in the next four years there.”

Major is the second athlete from OCHS to sign with Washington and Lee, and the fourth athlete from a school in the county to sign there. Two football players from Athens Academy also signed to attend

Washington and Lee. “It’s crazy that four kids from the Athens area are going to such a small school in Virginia,” Major said. “I am excited to meet new people and start over and new up in college. I am excited to run track up there too. It is going to be fun. It will be a good experience.”

Major got serious about the possibility of running in college during his junior year with the Warriors.

“I had a breakthrough season and I ran some pretty fast times, so I tried to pursue this and it worked out,” Major said. “I have run track since eighth grade but last year is when I started taking it seriously.”

Major played football with the Warriors but didn’t play during the fall to focus more on track.

“He is in better shape now 400-meter wise. That’s not to say football guys don’t come in great shape. It’s a different shape than we would look for in a 400 guy,” said head coach Josh Mize. “He is able to run longer workouts. It hasn’t paid off time-wise yet but he is running faster than he was at this point last year.

Athens Academy split with Hebron Christian last Tuesday and the Lady Spartans didn’t drop a line in last Thursday’s win against Prince Avenue Christian. Emmaline Smith won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles against PACS. Isabel Lane won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2. Caroline Kuhnert won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3. Grace Trimpe and Mary Lane won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles. Allison Doherty and Reed Barkley won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles. Last Tuesday, the Lady Spartans lost 3-2 to Hebron Christian but the Spartans came away with a 4-1 win. Trimpe won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 singles and the No. 1 doubles team of Emmaline Smith and Doherty won 6-0, 6-1 for the Lady Spartans. Magill Bauerle won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles for the Spartans. Aidan Brown won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Jordan Sennowitz and Rolf Reynolds won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles. Hatton Abernathy and Elijah Gabriel won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. Pictured are seniors Rob Clements, Bauerle, Trimpe and Sennowitz.

Athens Academy sweeps PACS

We are by no means at the peak of where will be later in the season. It will pay off in April and May.” Mize said Major picked Washington and Lee for the right reasons – to get a strong education.

“He really wanted to go to school there and now he has an opportunity to do something he loves while he is there,” Mize said. “He understands there is more than just the next four years of track. He chose a school that will help set him up for success down the road.”

Major said he will run the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash, and possibly the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay.

He said he wants to win an individual state championship in the 400 and place in the 200.

“As a team I think we have a great shot at contending for the team state championship,” Major said. “We are strong in distance. We are strong in sprints. We are strong in field events. That would be great to go out with a bang senior year and win the state championship as a team.”

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Athens Academy’s soccer teams both came away with wins against Prince Avenue Christian on Saturday afternoon at PACS. The Lady Spartans won 6-0 and the Spartans won 4-0. Both the Lady Spartans and Spartans have opportunities to win the region championship when they play at Aquinas on Friday. The Lady Spartans are 5-0 in the region and the Spartans are 6-1.

Pictured is Greer Moseley, who had four goals against PACS.

Lady Titans finish second in region

Contributed photo

The North Oconee girls’ golf team finished second in last week’s Region 8-AAAA golf tournament. Buford won with a round of 257 and the Lady Titans shot a 277.

Haley Grable shot an 88, Elena Denny shot a 93, Emma Meadows shot a 98 and Erin Foell shot a 108. The Lady Titans advance to the Class AAAA sectionals, which is May 2. Pictured are Grable, Meadows, Denny and Foell. The Titans competed earlier this week in their region match. For the results, see theoconeeleader.

To Advertise: Phone 706.208.2290 Biotech / R&D / Science

1060

Biotech / R&D / Science

1060

Tissue Culture Technician

Georgia Seed Development (GSD) is a quasi-State, non-profit organization that produces Foundation seed and plants of new varieties. We also work with the University of Georgia Research Foundation in the licensing of new varieties into the market place. Our mission is to serve as the bridge between plant breeders and commercial companies by providing genetically pure plant material of new varieties. We supply quality services and support for breeding and research.

Position Summary: The Tissue Culture Technician performs duties in all phases of producing tissue culture plant material of new horticultural plants developed by University of Georgia horticultural plant breeders.

Duties / Responsibilities: I. Performs duties to receive and maintain newly developed plant cultivars and experimental lines into the laboratory to develop protocols that result in efficient and rapid micro-propagation II. Performs duties to develop tissue culture protocols to efficiently regenerate new cultivars and experimental lines III. Maintains laboratory, laboratory supplies, and current inventory status of plant material IV. Performs general duties as assigned

Job Requirements: Education and/or Experience: B.S. degree in a plant science or related discipline (e.g., horticulture, plant science, botany, plant biology, crop science, or a related discipline) and experience in tissue culture or micro-propagation techniques.

Other Qualifications: To perform this job successfully an individual should have experience and knowledge in tissue culture or micro-propagation techniques; database software; inventory software; spreadsheet software, and word processing software.

Capable of lifting up to 30 lbs.

Compensation: $30,000 - $32,000/year depending on experience.

Benefits: Paid vacation and sick leave. Twelve paid holidays and benefits package.

Please submit resume to: Mrs. Erin Montgomery, Georgia Seed Development Commission, 2420 Milledge Ave., Athens, GA 30605 or email to employment@gsdc.com.

Call 706.208.2290 to advertise your job opening in the Oconee Leader.

Education/Training

1180

Education/Training

1180

Licensed Pediatric Therapists

The Babies Can’t Wait/Early Intervention Program of the Northeast Health District is seeking qualified licensed pediatric therapists (Physical, Occupational and Speech Language) to participate on teams serving areas of our 10 county district as independent contractors with Public Health. Therapists will participate in team meetings, provide evaluations, therapy, coaching and consultation in the natural environments of infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Applicants must hold a current Georgia license in their field, apply to be a Medicaid Provider and enroll in the Medicaid CMOs. Criminal background check arranged through Babies Can’t Wait and documentation of professional liability insurance required prior to contract signing.

Email resume with cover letter to Ruth.Newcomb@dph.ga.gov.

Babies Can’t Wait Special Instructors

The Babies Can’t Wait/Early Intervention Program of the Northeast Health District is seeking qualified educators to participate on teams serving areas of our 10 county district as independent contractors with Public Health. Educators will participate in team meetings and provide Special Instruction services in the home and other natural environments of infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Applicants must hold a 4 year college degree in early childhood education, special education or closely related degree with appropriate experience. Selected candidates must submit college transcripts for review. Criminal background check arranged through Babies Can’t Wait and documentation of professional liability insurance required prior to contract signing.

Email resume with cover letter to Ruth.Newcomb@dph.ga.gov.

Business/Strategic Management

1100

Business/Strategic Management

1100

Shipping Line Associate burton+BURTON™, the world’s largest balloon and coordinating gift distributor, located near Athens, GA, has an immediate opening for a Shipping Line Associate.

Requires frequent lifting up to 75 lbs, strong communication and customer service skills. A high school diploma and a solid work history is required for consideration.

Please send resumes to cblackwell@burtonandburton.com

Manufacturing / Production / Operations

1340

Manufacturing / Production / Operations

1340

TOOL AND DIE TECHNICIAN

Nakanishi Manufacturing Corporation (NMC) is a world-leading manufacturer in the bearing component industry. NMC currently has several openings for Tool and Die Technicians. Qualified candidates should be familiar with surface grinding operations, CNC equipment, manual lathe operation, and milling machine operation. In addition, candidates should be familiar with reading and comprehending blueprints, as well as knowing how to read and use calipers, micrometers, and dial gauges. . These are rotating shift openings working 8 hours a day rotating from 3rd to 2nd to 1st shift. Associates Degree in Machine Tool Technology is preferred.

NMC provides a full benefits package, including medical, dental, life, disability (short & long), 401k (100% match) and several voluntary insurance programs.

Please either apply online at resumes@nakanishimfg.com or fax resume to 706-353-0157, Attn: Human Resources Medical / Health

1380

Medical / Health

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Seeking RN’s & LPN’s We are a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital Meeting the needs of our patients through out Sub-Acute Rehab & Med-Surg Programs Serving Morgan County and Surrounding area since 1960

Flexible Work Schedule * Team Environment * Growth * Advancement * Educational Opportunists * Benefits

New & Soon to Be Grads are Encouraged to Apply!

Apply online at www.mmh.org Or send resume to Sarah S. Phillips, HR Fax: 706-342-2742 e-mail: sarahp@mmh.org Morgan Memorial Hospital is a Drug Free Workplace/EEOC *LPN Candidates must be actively enrolled in an RN program to apply

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Page 8

Thursday, April 21, 2016

PR OFESSIONAL

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homerepairs02@gmail.com

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u Underbrush Removal u Stump Grinding u Lots Cleared u We grind brush around lakes u Concrete Removal u Demolition of Houses & Mobile Homes

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