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This Week: Calendar

Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation Members’ Exhibition: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, 34 School Street, Watkinsville. Free. (706) 769-4565, www.ocaf. com

Windows Basics: 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oconee County Library. This Class is all about Windows. Registration is required. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee.

Issue 27

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Volume 11

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Study takes close look at Epps Bridge corridor

Pitcher perfect

Crafternoon: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oconee County Library. Drop in for a fun, self-directed “Make it and Take it” craft. All ages. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee., www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

By Mike Sprayberry TheOconeeLeader.com

TOPS weight loss: 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Government Annex Building, Highway 15, Watkinsville. 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.

Ghostbusters Movie Marathon: 2 p.m. Friday, Oconee County Library. Celebrate the release of the new Ghostbusters film by watching the classics and enjoying Ghostbusters-themed snacks. Free. (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.

Kitty Cat Café: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, 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. Free. Call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary. org/oconee.

Men and Women Day Service: 11 a.m. Sunday, Shady Grove Baptist Church, 1080 Mars Hill Rd, Watkinsville. Sister Tiffany Sorrells is the guest speaker. The theme is “Men and Women Growing Stronger in Grace: 2 Timothy 2:1. Free. (706) 2018095

Artist Reception: Women of Watercolor: 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oconee County Library. Meet and greet with the Library’s auditorium artists for the month Please see CALENDAR

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Email editor@theoconeeleader. com

Twitter @TheOconeeLeader

Associated Press Coastal Carolina pitcher Bobby Holmes, an Athens native and former pitcher at Oconee County High School, celebrates after getting the final out against Arizona in the ninth inning in Game 2 of the NCAA Men’s College World Series finals baseball game in Omaha, Neb., last week. Holmes pitched in the final game as well, which saw Coastal Carolina beat Arizona 4-3 to claim the national title. See story, page 4.

Promoting Oconee through pictures on social media lens By Rob Peecher

Please see STUDY

Page 3

Wanna pet?

Winning submissions to the #myoconee photo contest are printed and displayed at the Oconee County Welcome Center in Watkinsville. Photo courtesy Oconee Tourism Department

TheOconeeLeader.com

The Oconee County Tourism Department is encouraging folks to promote the county on social media by posting pictures from around Oconee County and using the hashtag “myoconee.” Tourism director Alex Perschka said submissions to the “photo of the month” campaign can come in through social media using “#myoconee” or by email, and each month the tourism staff will pick a photo of the month to display in the tourism office and use on social media. “It’s a new campaign and our hope is to grow awareness of our office and encourage engagement from the community in submitting content we can share,” Perschka explained. So far most of the submissions feature shots of nature – a tree growing out of rocks, a fish pulled from a river, trees

Intersections along the Epps Bridge Parkway/GA-316 corridor could look very different in the near future depending on the findings of a study the county is expected to commission in the coming weeks. Public Works Director Emil Beshara presented information on a number of transportation projects at the June 28 meeting of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. One of the items was an update on a request for proposal for an “Epps Bridge/316 Corridor Study” that would investigate how best to address future development and traffic in the area. Recommendations could include changes to intersections, frontage roads and possibly further consideration of the shelved Daniells Bridge Road flyover. “What we’re looking at is the corridor from Clarke County to Barrow County, current traffic patterns, future traffic patterns and where road improvements need to be made,” said Melvin Davis, Chairman of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. “We’re taking a look at where frontage roads need to be located. We’re also looking at current roads like Virgil Langford Road, Dials Mill Road, etc. and what needs to be done at each of those. A flyover, bridge, or an intersection? Should it be widened in order to accommodate future growth and development?” According to Davis, the study could revisit the possibility of the Daniells Bridge Road flyover. “We’re also going back and looking at the Jimmy Daniel Road area, the Epps Bridge area near Home Depot and the development on that side of Epps Bridge Parkway. We had plans for a flyover at Home Depot to Epps Bridge Parkway. Is that something to reconsider since the new Zaxby’s campus that is scheduled for Daniells Bridge Road is coming?” While the road infrastructure in the area is sufficient for the moment,

and clouds reflected in water. Blackberries ripening on a vine captured by Amy Bishop made the June photo of the month. Perschka said the submissions are coming largely from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but some have been emailed to welcomecenter@ oconee.ga.us. Submissions are open to anyone – they don’t have to come from residents of Oconee County. Perschka said he would love to get more submissions from tour-

ists who are visiting Oconee, but he also wants to receive submissions from locals who want to show off the things they love about their county. The contest is also featured in the Tourism’s email newsletter. The newsletter is distributed on the last Friday of the month, and submissions should be received by the 25th of the month. Those who are interested in signing up for the tourism department’s newsletter can do so at the website visitoconee. com.

Photos by Christina Kohler The Oconee County Animal Shelter houses stray cats, kittens, dogs and puppies who have been given up by their owner and in need of a home. For photo gallery of shelter animals, go to TheOconeeLeader.com.

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The pain of a sudden and untimely death

Oconee at 4-H state council

Oconee County 4-H members recently joined over 700 4-H members from across the state for the Georgia 4-H State Council held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. At the council, Dean Awards winners were announced and Oconee’s Jared Daniel was awarded second place in the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Division and Kiana Washington won second place in Communication and the Arts. Lora Nedza was trained to be a Financial Freedom Ambassador. The Honorable Judge Billy Ray led the official citizenship ceremony on the closing day of the council. Pictured: Front: Kiana Washington, Lora Nedza, Clay Baer, Hayden Guthrie. Back: Brantley Saye, Jared Daniel, Hunter Jordan and Reed Smith

School honors Valdosta State

Valdosta State University is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the more than 1,100 students who completed the requirements of their academic programs during the spring semester. This list of graduates includes: Callen Moore, of Bogart, who earned a Master of Public Administration.

Mercer University

Mercer University conferred bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to nearly 2,000 students representing all 12 schools and colleges at five

ceremonies in May in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah. The following Oconee County residents were among the graduates: From Bishop: Nicole Bui, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing From Watkinsville: Jordan Kay Ashford, College of Health Professions, Master of Medical Science; Lamar Callaway, School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine; Joseph William Hunt, Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, Master of Business Administration; John Mills Miller, Eugene W. Stetson School of

Calendar of July, the Women of Watercolor. Their exhibit, “Brush Strokes Too” will be on display the entire month of July. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee. Read to Rover with Star and Comet: 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oconee County Library. Drop-in program, no registration required. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee. Volunteer Oconee! Camp: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, Oconee Veterans Park, 3500 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville. Days are spent volunteering with local nonprofits and exploring community partnerships. Limited to 20 participants per session. Oconee residents only. Ages 13-15. $110, 706-540-4152. (706) 206-5094 Cookbook Club: “Everyday Italian” by Giada de Laurentiis: 7 p.m. Monday, Oconee County Library. Free. (706) 769-3950 www.athenslibrary.org/oconee. Storytime: 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Library. Storytime is for preschool aged children and their caregivers. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Business and Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration; Alexander Simpson, School of Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Engineering; and Tori Catherine Tanner, College of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Arts

Presbyterian College provost’s list

Kelly Chuboff and Adam Tolbert, both of Watkinsville, were named to the spring 2016 provost’s list at Presbyterian College. The provost’s list seeks to honor those students who achieved at least a 3.30 GPA.

Continued from page 1 PRISM presents: Steven Universe: 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Library. “A young boy takes his mother’s place in a group of gemstonebased beings, and must learn to control his powers.” Rated TV-PG. Popcorn and drinks served. Grades 6-12. (706) 769-3950 or www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee. Yoga at the Library: Meditative Yoga with Stacie Burmeister: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Library. Please bring your own mat or towel and register in advance. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee. Astounding Animals with Ranger Nick: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. Ranger Nick will bring in some amazing local wildlife. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee. Harry Potter Escape the Room: 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library. Race against the clock to breakout of riddles, challenges and mysteries and escape the room. Grades 6-12. Free. (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee.

The trouble with writing a weekly column that seeks to find the funny stuff about parenting and life is that sometimes there’s no good joke. This week there were a dozen boys on my back porch, and mostly they were back there crying. There are no words when you’ve got a dozen boys – boys you’ve watched grow up – sitting on your back porch trying to process grown up pain. I call them boys because I’ve known most of them since before they were teenagers and it makes me feel old to call them anything else, but at 20-years-old or so, I suppose they’re all young men now. They’re young men, but when they learned last week that one of their group – one who should have been on that back porch with the others – had died a sudden and untimely death, those young men had to grieve the way only old men should. These are boys who have amused me, and readers of this column, for a long time. They’ve been typical teenagers and typical young men, doing dumb stuff and funny stuff. They’ve made me laugh and they’ve made me angry, they’ve disappointed me and they’ve made me exceedingly proud. They’re just regular kids – young men – and it hurts to see them hurt. And right now when I look at how much my oldest son is hurting, all I want to do is hug him and cry with him. There’s a proper order to things, and it doesn’t involve the death of a 20-year-old. So it makes it all the more difficult to grasp and process because it’s not the way things are supposed to happen. And when you’re 20-years-old, it makes it even more difficult to grasp and process. I would love to be able to protect these boys from the kind of hurt they’re going through now. And I’d love to be able to find some philosophical wisdom that could make it easier for them. But the world we live in is broken, and sorrow and troubles are frequent visitors. I left the house the other afternoon because I had a meeting I needed to go to, and when I got back home the boys were all gone. Because they’re young men and not boys, they went to visit their friend’s family, to try to offer them some solace. So I didn’t say to any of them the things I wanted to say. If I had them all in front of me now, I think what I

would say to them is that they should cling to each other. Getting through this, and the rest of the things they will face in their lives, will be so much better if they have each other to lean on. But they’ve done that instinctually – in the days since they lost their friend, they’ve stayed together. The other thing I would tell them is that they should cling to Jesus. That’s not always the thing that a dozen 20-year-olds want to hear, but there is comfort and hope in Christ, and the firmer foundation they build there now the stronger they’ll be able to stand later when sorrows and troubles are compounded. And likewise, making wise choices now, while they are 20-years-old, will help to minimize the sorrows and troubles that come later. The people who knew me when I was 20 know that I was very good at making choices that weren’t particularly wise, and so I suppose another thing that I’d like to say to these boys is that even the bad choices can be overcome. It’s just as well that the young men had left the house by the time I got home, because what they don’t want is to listen to the philosophical ramblings of someone trying to talk them through their pain. As much as I hate it, they just have to walk through this and find their own way. Sometimes the jokes are hard to find, and sometimes the jokes just aren’t there, even in a column that seeks to find the humor in raising children. Sometimes, when your children hurt, raising children hurts. So instead of a punchline I’ll leave this week’s column with a bit of advice. I happened to notice last week that “Global Hug Your Kids Day” is July 18. My advice is to not wait. Go ahead and give your kid a hug. Make it a daily practice. The world is broken, but sometimes a hug can hold some of the pieces together. Rob Peecher is author of “Four Things My Wife Hates About Mornings,” available at Amazon. com.

Beasley honored by lawyers college The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers announces the election of John F. Beasley Jr., of JF Beasley LLC in Watkinsville, as a new Fellow. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition of outstanding performance in the profession. The installation of Fellows will be held Nov. 12 in Chicago, coinciding with the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section’s Continuing Legal Education Conference. The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers was established in 1995.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

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Page 3

Corn boil draws hundreds to UGA farm in Oconee By Lee Shearer

TheOconeeLeader.com

The University of Georgia showed off agricultural research at its J. Phil Campbell Sr. Research and Education Center for more than 200 people Thursday at the farm’s annual corn boil and open house. Political leaders including Oconee County commissioners Melvin Davis and Bubber Wilkes came for the three-hour event, along with area farmers, teachers and others who were just interested in farming — a woman who’d grown up growing cotton in Mississippi, a man who’d grown up working in the peach packing business in middle Georgia. Most of the farm’s research is focused on sustainable agriculture, particularly in the production of beef cattle and corn, and the grounds of the farm near Watkinsville were dotted with displays such as the two solar panels which kept a small water pump continuously running. On a larger scale, a simi-

lar system can use the sun’s energy to pump water uphill to storage, where it can later be gravity-fed downhill as needed to irrigate crops, explained Gary Hawkins, a professor in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Crop and Soil Sciences Department. UGA has had the farm for a little less than three years. For decades, the 1,055-acre spread was a federal research farm, until the U.S. Department of Agriculture transferred it to UGA. “We’re still at the crawling stage,” said Nick Hill, a researcher in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Crop and Soil Sciences Department, after the day’s second tour was over and the crowd gathered for a lunch. “A couple of years down the road, this place will just be a national model for doing sustainable agricultural research.” About 30 research projects are underway now, according to farm manager Eric Elsner. “My staff and I want this to be the facility where sci-

Visitors have lunch during a corn boil at UGA’s J. Phil Campbell Farm.

entists want to come to conduct their research and know it will be done right,” he said. Hill earlier showed people on the two tours some of his own research using clover as a winter cover crop for corn. He and his students were trying out different methods of integrating the clover into the corn production cycle, using the clover as a source of nitrogen and other benefits for the soil and the corn. The clover allowed them to reduce the need for pes-

ticides by about 80 percent on the genetically modified corn, he said. It also shows promise as a source of cattle forage during a time of the year when good forage is scarce, he said. That corn was the kind you grow for livestock feed, but after the tours, a crowd of around 230 chomped on another kind — sweet corn grown by an Oconee County 4-H group called the Corn Club. The Corn Club last year

harvested about 7,500 ears of corn, and sold a lot of it in Bell’s Food Stores in Athens and Watkinsville. This year, club members totted up their expenses and negotiated a slightly higher price for their corn, said Oconee County Extension agent Monte Stephens. “We’re growing sweet corn to teach kids how to run a business, using corn as a model.” Stephens said. “It’s been very interesting to watch the kids. They

John Roark

have to understand how to conduct business as well as grown corn.” Club members Clay Baer, a 10th-grader, David Han, ninth grade, Grace Miller, 11th, and Daniel Han, seventh, thought they’d learned a lot about both. They’ve learned corn isn’t as easy to grow as it might seem, and when is the right time to pick it, and how much it costs to produce it. “It will be good experience if I want to be an entrepreneur,” David said.

Oconee Rotary

Athens Academy

Contributed photo Rising ninth- and 10th-graders from Athens Academy participated in a Glacial Geology trip out west recently. The students traveled to Wyoming with science teacher Skip Trimpe to learn about glacial geology. They went to Teton National Park in Wyoming (pictured above) to learn about cirques, horns, aretes, and hanging valleys, then went to Massacre Rock State Park in Idaho on the banks of the Snake River. The students are Catie Elder, Brent Chandler, JD Devaney, Kate Branch, Hilary Adams, Vivian Hilyard, Weston Rupert, Christopher Thurmond, Noah Allen, Eleanor Connolly, Samuel Pittard, Caroline Edwards, and Tommy Warner. Joining Trimpe were and sixth grade teacher Margaret Wellborn and staff member Jeff Raymond.

Study Davis emphasized a need to prepare for further development and the traffic that could come with it. “We’ve got pretty good road infrastructure now, but we don’t want anything along there to turn into a bottleneck as far as traffic is concerned in the future. (The study) will make some recommendations to the Board eventually as far as what we need to do and we will develop a plan for road infrastructure along the corridor.” The Epps Bridge/316 corridor study would likely be done by the end of the year. “(A timeline) will be included in the request for proposal so that the firm that gets it knows what they are doing periodically. It is normally advertised for two weeks to 30 days and then the Board would make a decision. I’d expect a decision in the latter part of July or early August and hopefully (the study) will be done by late fall.” The Public Works presentation also touched on the county’s Parkway Boulevard project connecting the road from Kohl’s on Epps Bridge Parkway to Oconee Connector behind Lowe’s. “We are getting very close to issuing the notice to proceed,” said Davis. “I can’t tell you exactly when it will happen. We’ve got another right of way to be finalized.” Beshara also presented plans for the

Continued from page 1 use of a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Mars Hill Road, Rocky Branch Road and Virgil Langford Road. The grant would fund up to $250,000 for the improvement as long as the county contributes at least 30 percent of the necessary funding. Other updates in the presentation included plans to restripe more than 66 miles of roads in the county, criteria for the county to follow if the county accepts a gravel road as a public gravel road and an update on the Mars Hill Road widening projects (both Phase 1 and Phase 2). Phase 1 of the Mars Hill Road widening project (from Oconee Connector to Butler’s Crossing) was reported to be 42 percent complete with a projected completion date of May 26, 2018 and a $29 million construction cost. Phase 2 (from Butler’s Crossing to Main Street in Watkinsville) is currently in the right of way acquisition phase with 55 percent of the right of way closed or pending closing. The revised GDOT right of way deadline is September 1 with an expected construction let date of December 16, 2022 and an estimated $9 million in construction cost.

Photos by Blane Marable The Oconee County Rotary recently held an Hawaiian Social at the Thomas Cotton Gin building on Hwy. 15 in Oconee County. Joe Crosland was recognized as the outgoing president and Marion Butler was recognized as the new incoming president. Entertainment was provided by Josh Darnell, an Oconee Rotarian.

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

This Week: PACS

WARRIORS l TITANS l SPARTANS l WOLVERINES l LIONS

July 7, 2016

Championship Warrior Football

Signees Page 5

Upcoming

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Coastal Carolina pitcher Bobby Holmes throws against the Arizona in the sixth inning in Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, June 30, 2016. Holmes struck out the batter to get out of a jam and help preserve the lead for Coastal Carolina. For the full story, see theoconeeleader.com.

College athletic signing stories will continue in upcoming editions of The Oconee Leader.

Online

Photo gallery

Basketball camp at ACAD theoconeeleader.com

Online

Oconee grad Bobby Holmes helps deliver College World Series national championship to Coastal Carolina By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

On Bobby Holmes’s signing day at Oconee County High School in 2013, he said he wanted to go to a college where baseball was a big deal. He chose Coastal Carolina. Last week in Omaha, Holmes helped Coastal Carolina win the biggest trophy in school history – the national championship. Holmes got one strikeout in the bottom of the sixth inning to end a threat by Arizona, the only batter he faced in the championship game, and the Chanticleers held on to beat the Wildcats 4-3 to win the College World Series. “Fun is the best way to describe it. There really wasn’t much pressure on us after the conference tournament,” Holmes told The Oconee Leader. “That’s the

More online For the full story on Bobby Holmes and his trip to the College World Series, see theoconeeleader.com one thing we were expected to win. After that, we were the underdog in every situation we went into. The biggest thing we tried to do is keep it light in the dugout and have some fun on the field. That is what carried us through the high pressure situations in the high pressure games.” In the dogpile at the pitcher’s mound for the celebration, Holmes was one of the players on top. On his way to pile, he collided with one of his teammates by accident. “I have been on the bottom of dogpiles a lot this year. It really hurts. I want-

ed to be on top of this one so I was going to do a loop around and then jump on,” Holmes said. “I was trying to cut and I saw (Michael) Paez and it was lie slow motion. I couldn’t avoid it. We obliterated each other. We hit each other and we were like, ‘Who cares!’ It was a total accident. I told the football coach at Coastal he needed to put me on scholarship. “It was crazy. After we dogpiled, everybody was crying. Our parents could come on the field, which was nice. We all got hugs and pictures on the field. They gave us mini trophies

Ted Kirk/Associated press

Coastal Carolina pitcher Bobby Holmes celebrates after getting the final out against Arizona in the ninth inning in Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series finals baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

and we went back to the locker room and we pretty much tore the locker room

Oconee’s Della Torre competes in first U.S. Olympic Trials By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

Danielle Della Torre, a rising senior at Oconee County High School, was in Omaha last week for the United States Olympic Trials where she competed in the 200-IM. Even though she didn’t qualify for the Olympics, the 16-year-old swam her personal best time with a 2:17.96 and finished 44 out of 110 swimmers. “It was incredible. I have never seen such a venue, pool-wise. When I first walked in, it was kind of overwhelming and kind of intimidating because it was so big. I have never seen a facility that was that big. It was so much fun though,” Della Torre said. “I was incredibly happy with it because only 14 percent of the people swim their best times at the trials, and I was a part of that 14 percent. There are 1800 swimmers there and 14 percent swim best times. My coach was happy with it. I was happy with it. Everyone was happy with it. “(Competing) was very stressful. It was fun. Before, I was so nervous. I don’t even remember because I was that nervous. There is a place where you go before. It’s called the ready room. They line you up th

Photo gallery

Basketball camp at PACS theoconeeleader.com

up with spraying Powerades and all kind of stuff all over the bathroom.”

Contributed photo

Oconee County High School student Danielle Della Torre is pictured with Athens Bulldog Swim Club head coach Harvey Humphries at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha last week for the USA Olympic Trials.

and parade you out. They line you up behind your block. It was so nerve-wracking in that room because you know you are about to swim. It was very nerve-wracking but after I was done, I was happy. I had my best time, so that added more happiness. Everyone was so proud of me. My parents gave me a big hug.” Della Torre said competing in the Olympic Trials this year has motivated her to keep improving and try for the 2020 Olympic Trials. “It definitely motivates me a lot because in 2020, I would love to make semifinals or even finals,” Della Torre said. “I got 44 and the top 16 come back. I was seeded 109 and to end up being 44 is an incredible drop. I am only 16 so it was very encouraging to me that in four years I should be better, stronger and faster by then. I’ll have three years of college under my belt. College training is a lot more intense than my club team training is. I feel like in four years, I will be even faster and able to swim more events than just the 200-IM.” Next up for Della Torre is a trip to Puerto Rico for the next couple of weeks to train, and then she will compete in the Junior Nationals in Minneapolis. th

Thursday, July 7, 2016

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Jared Bloodworth with family

Page 5

Andrew Hayes with family

Trio of Prince Avenue graduates sign to continue football career By Matthew Caldwell TheOconeeLeader.com

Just days before graduating from high school in May, Prince Avenue Christian School held a signing ceremony for a trio of football players who committed to play football at the collegiate level. Jared Bloodworth signed with Birmingham Southern, Zach Ragle signed with Reinhardt and Andrew Hayes signed with Carson-Newman. They were all named to the all-Region 8-A team following last season. Hayes is the third Wolverine from the last two PACS senior classes to sign with Carson-Newman. Kevon Hudson (class of 2016) and Tyson Herron (class of 2015) also signed there. “I am excited to be playing football at the next

level. It is a great opportunity,” Hayes said. “Having Kevon go there makes it a lot easier because I will have somebody there I know. … I talked to Kevon some. He influenced me a little bit and told me it was a great place and there were good things going on there. It was something I wanted to be a part of.” Former PACS head coach Jeff Herron told Hayes there was a chance for him to go there. “I had to go up there and visit and check out the school and I loved it from the first day,” said Hayes, who was recruited as a running back. “I like getting the ball and trying to make something happen. They have a bunch of good players there. I hope I can go up there and contribute as soon as I can.” Bloodworth said it wasn’t

always a goal of his to play football in college until he got older. “When I was a freshman, I didn’t think about it. Moving up to my junior and senior year, I started to think about it. When I got the opportunity, it was something I wanted to do,” said Bloodworth, who was recruited to play on the offensive line. “I am happy to do it. I am glad I got the opportunity. I really like football. They were the only school that gave me the opportunity to come and play. After looking at some other schools, I thought Birmingham would be best.” Bloodworth started talking to Birmingham Southern during the season. “One of their people came up to the school and Coach Herron called me up to talk to them,” he said. “They sent me a message to

Zach Ragle with family come up and visit a game. I stayed in contact and decided to go play there.” Ragle looked at a few different schools before he ultimately decided on Reinhardt. “I am pretty excited. It should be pretty fun going to play college football somewhere. I am ready to go see what happens, work out this summer and have a good time in col-

lege,” Ragle said. “It was the coaches and the players there. It seemed like a good environment to go excel and do your best. I really like the head coach. He is personable and easy to talk to, especially the first time I ever met him. I felt like I could talk to him and it was like I already knew him.” Ragle went into his senior year not sure if he was going to play college foot-

ball or college baseball. “I am glad to say I am going to go play football. After senior year of football, I realized I enjoyed football a little more than I do baseball. The opportunities for football were greater than in baseball,” Ragle said. “I might be doing both. The baseball coaches told me to see how it goes and we can go from there.”

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Page 6

Thursday, July 7, 2016

To Advertise: Phone 706.208.2290 Other

Other

1400

Installation / Maintenance / Repair

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Major Manufacturing Facility in Athens, Georgia has an Immediate opening for: Industrial Maintenance Person 3 to 5 years’ experience in the field Machinist skills preferred Must have: High School Diploma/GED Georgia Work Ready Certificate Physical Exam/Drug Screen Rotating Shifts (3 shifts) Excellent Benefit Package Please send resumes to: 7000010962@ad2job.com EOE/M/F/V/D

Harrison Poultry, Inc.

Has opening for

Installation / Maintenance / Repair

Poultry Processing Workers. Job entails cutting, trimming, & packing poultry. Multiple openings and various shifts.

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Experienced Maintenance Personal needed for large apartment community. Experience in electrical, plumbing, and CPO certified. Valid drivers license, background check, and drug test. Email resumes to carouselvillage@att.net

Find your new career today!

To apply, stop by to fill out an application or send resumes to HR Manager P.O. Box 550 Bethlehem, Georgia 30620.

Let us help you find your new career today!

PR OFESSIONAL

A Guide to Professional Services in the Oconee County Area To Advertise: Phone 706.549.0123 Professional Services

Professional Services

3715

Home Services

3520

CHUCK HARDY & SONS LLC BRUSH, MULCHING & STUMP

BRIAN’S TREE & HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

WE DO IT ALL!

GRINDING

3520

TREE SERVICES • TREE & HEDGE TRIMMING • UNDERBRUSH CLEARING • FULL TREE REMOVAL

Insured Free Estimates! 706-201-4380

Home Services

3520

EDT CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING

* Rotten Wood Repair *Carports & Garage *Additions *Renovations *Roofing Repairs *New Home Construction *Sun Rooms *Decks & Patios *Ceramic Tile *Home Maintenance *Painting (Int/Ext) *Kitchen & Bath Renovation *Window & Door Replacement

State Licensed & Insured

For ALL Your HOME IMPROVEMENTS, Large Or Small, Call Today For A FREE ESTIMATE

706-202-6066 Call Anytime & Ask for ET Visit our website at www.edtconstruction.com edtconstruction@yahoo.com Serving Athens since 1989

Classic Home Repairs “I do the work myself and I guarantee the work I do” • Carpentry Work • Decks & Ramps • Int/Ext Painting • Drywall Repair • Windows & Doors • ROOFING AVAILABLE Kenneth Hightower

Licensed & Insured

Home Services

7 Days A Week Senior Citizen Discount Call Today: 706-338-0566 3520

Real Estate

3780

OTHER HOME SERVICES • PAINTING • WOOD REPAIR • LANDSCAPING • PRESSURE WASHING • MULCH, GRAVEL, & PINE NEEDLE SPREADING & HAULING • YARD & LEAF CLEANING

CALL BRIAN 706-247-5430 23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE 7 DAYS A WEEK LICENSED & INSURED SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT UlmBrothers Tree Service

Local and experienced! We are fully insured and offer Tree removal,Trimming Pruning, Debris Removal, Insurance work, Right of way work, Lot clearing, and Stump Grinding. We pride our self on customer service and satisfaction. Call for a free estimate today. Office: 706-369-5300 Cell: 706-255-4941

770.601.1479

homerepairs02@gmail.com

3520

MARSHALL’S ROOFING

FLOOD PROBLEMS? • STORM DRAINS • FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION • RETAINER WALLS ROOFING • PATCHWORK • METAL • SHINGLES • ANY KIND OF ROOF REPAIR

Home Services

Shingles, metal, patchwork, any kind of wood repairs or home maintenance. Tree Services Spreading, Hauling, and Delivering of mulch and pinestraw. Underbrush Clearing. Tree Trimming. Landscaping & Yard Work

Home Services

3520

www.gbedellconstruction.com

DON’T MISS OUT ONE BEDROOMS IN 5PTS.

www.gbedellconstruction.com Landscaping

KLEEN KUT LAWN SERVICE All your lawns care needs, tree, bush trimming removal, gutters cleaned, natural areas cleared, seeding, core aeration. Free affordable estimates 706-521-1590

Oconee County’s best source for finding painters, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, and other skilled local service providers

LOOKING FOR A

PA I N T E R ? The Professional Services Directory is Oconee County’s best source for ﬁnding painters, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, and other skilled local service providers.

Advertise in the Professional Services Directory! Call 706.549.0123 for more info.

3615

Minutes to Campus, UGA & City Bus, Swimming Pool, No Pets. Furnished and Unfurnished. Come check us out. You will be amazed at how nice our units are. (706)548-1132 www.carouselvillage.net Carousel Village Apartments 1907 S. Milledge Ave. A-9.