Oconee County
Reporting about Oconee County, Georgia. Some stories will be republished in The Oconee Enterprise as part of a news-academic partnership with Grady Newsource.
-
Oconee County Schools is 70 Followers Away From Meeting Social Media Goal
The Oconee County Board of Education highlights gaining social media followers in its 2024-2025 plans to reach the community. With less than 70 followers until completing the 20,300 goal, the county is close to accomplishing one of its community engagement plans. According to a November 2024 Pew Research report, “about…
-
Oconee Board of Elections Faces More Than 300 Voter Challenges Ahead of Nov. 5
What are these Challenges? The challenges stem from a new Georgia law, Senate Bill 189, which went into effect July 1. Part of the law allows Georgia voters to challenge other voters’ registrations. Most of Cruz and Aleshire’s challenges are against people who have moved to another county or state…
-
Seniors Lead Oconee County Girls Tennis to State Finals
Brinley Bartlett and Isabel Miller led a first-round sweep of Cedar Grove in the state tournament; it pushed the Oconee County girls’ tennis team closer to a title. But, that wasn’t the only important thing about it. The win was not important just because Miller remained undefeated in No.1 doubles. The…
-
Meeting Families Where They Are: Athens Area Diaper Bank Gets Distribution Van
Erin Campbell remembers feeling angry, sad and frustrated a decade ago after reading a statistic in a magazine: one in three families struggled with diaper need. Campbell, just a few weeks postpartum herself, was in a financially stable situation, but the thought of other new mothers having to clean and…
-
Librarians, Experts: Book Challenges Across Northeast Georgia Can Disrupt Understanding of LGBTQIA+ Community
A trip to the library, for many children, can mean an introduction to a new place, time or group of people. It can also be a place where children see themselves in the books that they pick up off the shelves. However, in some counties in Georgia, books connected to…
-
ESP to Host Big Hearts Talent Show at Athens Church
Extra Special People, a nonprofit organization serving over 900 individuals with disabilities and their families, will hold its annual talent show Friday at Athens Church. The talent show will feature acts from 48 participants as part of ESP’s efforts to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities such as autism,…
-
Northeast Georgia County Representatives Discuss Population Growth
Grady Newsource brought in representatives from the surrounding counties to address the issue of population growth — during a special solutions journalism broadcast on Nov. 15. Recently, Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Oconee and Madison counties have all seen an influx in population. The Solutions Journalism Network defines solutions journalism as rigorous reporting…
-
Oconee County Library Supports Students Throughout Online Learning and Its Consequences
The COVID-19 pandemic’s online learning format brought with it school-based consequences for students according to recent research. Additionally, one study from the academic journal Perspectives on Politics cites that impacts of politicalization influenced schools when determining whether or not to open their classrooms. Despite all of this, the Oconee…
-
Oconee County High School Football Works to Combat Nationwide Concussion Trend
As both a father and the head football coach at Oconee County High School, Travis Noland understands the risk of concussion that comes with the game that has shaped him and his sons. Noland’s son Zeb, the graduate assistant turned starting quarterback at the University of South Carolina, was in…
-
More Than Books: Libraries Are Community Centers
The automatic sliding doors open with a whoosh. Books are neatly stacked on the hold shelves, waiting for readers to come and retrieve them. The stairs take you up to rows upon rows of books of all different sizes, some skinny, some wide, some heavy tomes. Bright lights illuminate…