The Sweet 16 games are in the books. Here’s what happened…
Girls
CLASS 3A
#1 Monroe 61, #17 White County 38
After a tight first quarter, Monroe pulled away in a 61-38 win over White County. The Lady Warriors got 14 from Ansleigh Vandiver and 12 from Ella Kate Shedd.
#3 Jenkins 58, #19 Lumpkin County 41
The Lady Indians dropped their Sweet 16 game, 58-41 at 3-seeded Jenkins. That ends Lumpkin County’s season.
CLASS 2A
#20 Coahulla Creek 59, #29 Franklin County 55
Hats off to Franklin County, again nearly playing the role of spoiler. The Lady Lions lost 59-55 in a very tight game, ending their season.
#7 Thomson 46, #10 Union County 33
Union County dropped a road game to 7-seed Thomson in the Sweet 16 by a 46-33 final. This marks the end of the season for the Lady Panthers.
CLASS 1A DI
#7 Rabun County 56, #10 Model 43
The Lady Wildcats cruised through most of the contest, leading by as many as 20 points in a 56-43 final. Addy Beth Owens scored 14, while Conley Spivey added 12 and Adelyn Thompson 10. Millie Southards chipped in with eight, and Rabun County moves on to its third straight Elite 8.
#4 Vidalia 54, #20 Commerce 33
The amazing season comes to a close for Commerce, as the Lady Tigers fell 54-33 on the road against a great Vidalia team.
#6 Bacon County 45, #22 Banks County 43
After holding a 23-19 halftime lead, the Lady Leopards fell in a heartbreaker 45-43 at Bacon County, ending Banks County’s season.
GIAA CLASS 4A
#9 Tallulah Falls 53, @ #8 King’s Academy 43
BOYS
CLASS 5A
#1 Woodward Academy 70, #2 Habersham Central 52
The Raiders fought hard in a 70-52 loss in the Sweet 16 at Woodward Academy. This marks the end of the season for Habersham Central.
CLASS 3A
#6 East Hall 73, #11 Jefferson 49
Playing each other for the fourth time this year, the Vikings have now won the last two and most meaningful ones. East Hall won the region title game over Jefferson, and now takes a 73-49 win in the Sweet 16. This is the end of the season for the Dragons.
#3 Calhoun 61, #14 Dawson County 52
The Tigers lost a close battle, 61-52 at 3-seed Calhoun, ending Dawson’s season in the Sweet 16.
CLASS 2A
#6 KIPP 93, #11 Franklin County 59
KIPP defeated Franklin County 93-59 in the Sweet 16, ending the Lions’ season.
CLASS 1A DI
#2 Rabun County 84, #15 Heard County 52
The Wildcats didn’t let Heard County stay in the game long. By the second quarter, it was pretty well out of reach. Hayes Free had 29 points, with three deep shots and four dunks. Trace Adcock had 18 points, all coming from his six 3-pointers.
#9 Commerce 53, #8 Swainsboro 39
The Tigers won 53-39 to advance with a great win at Swainsboro. Maki Mitchell had 19 points and six boards, while Essien Lockleer had nine points, eight steals, seven assists, and five rebounds. Bryson Parks added eight points and Ty Sorrells seven.
President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his arrival to the White House, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings Sunday that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S., three people familiar with the briefings said.
The administration officials instead acknowledged there was a more general threat in the region from Iran’s missiles and proxy forces, two of the people said. The third person, however, said the administration emphasized that Iran’s missiles and proxy forces posed an imminent threat to U.S. personnel and allies in the region.
The officials did not provide any clarity about what would happen next in Iran after the joint U.S.-Israeli operation, the two people said. All three people insisted on anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.
The information conveyed to the congressional staff contrasts with the message from President Donald Trump. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” he said in a video message after launching strikes on Iran.
Senior Trump administration officials, who like others were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, had told reporters Saturday that there were indicators that the Iranians could launch a preemptive attack.
The White House and Pentagon did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Sunday night. Details of the briefing were first reported by Politico.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will brief the full membership of Congress on the U.S. military operation against Iran, the White House said Sunday. Rubio also was slated to brief Hill leadership Monday, the same day Hegseth and Caine are planning a press conference about the operation.
Three strikes, three locations, within a single minute
People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)
The military operation came after authorities from Israel and the U.S. spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and shared information that allowed the strikes to be carried out in a surprise daylight attack, according to an Israeli military official and another person familiar with the operation.
The eventual barrage of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran came so quickly that they were nearly simultaneous — with three strikes in three locations hitting within a single minute — killing Khamenei and some 40 senior figures, including the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defense minister, the Israeli military official said Sunday.
The official said a variety of factors created a golden opportunity to take out much of Iran’s leadership, like weeks of training and monitoring the movements of senior figures as well as intelligence in real-time before the attack began that key targets were gathered together.
Striking by day also gave an additional element of surprise, said the official, who said so many major, rapid-fire strikes were critical to keep key officials from fleeing after the first strike. The official said Israel closely cooperated with its U.S. counterparts and had used a similar tactic at the beginning of last June’s war — which resulted in the killing of several senior Iranian figures.
The official also noted Khamenei having posted defiant tweets taunting President Donald Trump in the days before the attack.
The details about the strikes came as the conflict entered its second day, with Trump saying in a video message Sunday that he expected it would continue until “all of our objectives are achieved.” He did not spell out what those objectives were.
The Republican president also said the U.S. military and its partners hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems and nine warships, “all in a matter of literally minutes.”
CIA had long tracked top Iranian leaders
FILE – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a ceremony to mark the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
Before the attacks, the CIA had for months tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Khamenei.
The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of the strikes was adjusted in part because of that information about the Iranian leaders’ location, according to the person familiar with the planning.
The intelligence-sharing between U.S. and Israel reflects the preparation that went into the strikes, which threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of escalating regional conflict.
The U.S. regularly shares intelligence with allies including Israel. Those partnerships, and the accuracy of the intelligence they yield, is often critical not only to the success of a military operation but also to the public’s support for it.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the committee, told The Associated Press that, historically, “our working relationship with the Mossad and Israel is really strong.” Mossad is the Israeli spy agency.
Warner said he has serious concerns about the justification for the strikes, Trump’s long-term plans for the conflict and the risks that U.S. service members will face. The military announced Sunday that three American troops had been killed in the Iran operation.
“No tears will be shed over their leadership being eliminated, but always the question is: OK, what next?” Warner said.
Iran has signaled it’s open to talks with the US
Government supporters gather in mourning after state TV officially announced the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A senior White House official said Iran’s “new potential leadership” has suggested it is open to talks with the United States. That official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said Trump has indicated he’s “eventually” willing to talk but that for now the military operation “continues unabated.”
The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known. Separately, Trump told The Atlantic that he planned to speak with Iran’s new leadership.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said Sunday, declining comment on the timing.
By Michelle L. Price, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ben Finley, Josef Federman and David Klepper contributed to this report
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers guard Vit Krejci (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
ATLANTA (AP) — Onyeka Okongwu scored 25 points, CJ McCollum added 19 and the Atlanta Hawks rode a huge first quarter to an easy 135-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
Jonathan Kuminga had 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Hawks (31-31), who reached .500 for the first time since Dec. 23. They have won four straight games by an average of 26.5 points and moved into ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Kuminga played his third game for the Hawks since being traded by Golden State. He is averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds with Atlanta after barely playing for the Warriors. He soared for a windmill dunk on a breakaway late in the fourth quarter that ignited the home crowd.
Atlanta shot 55% from the field, outrebounded Portland 54-38 and had 36 assists to 23 for the Blazers.
Jrue Holiday scored 23 points for Portland, which has lost its last two games. Donovan Clingan had 15 points, 15 rebounds and a team-high five assists.
The Hawks set their season high for points in a first quarter with 44. They shot 65% from the field and hit 13 of 15 free throws. Atlanta was ahead 44-25 after one and never let the lead fall below 15 the rest of the night.
The Blazers were without leading scorer and first-time All-Star Deni Avdija, who missed his fourth straight game to manage a lower back injury.
The Austin Police Department and the FBI investigate a shooting at Buford's on 6th Street on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A gunman wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah” killed two people and wounded 14 early Sunday at a Texas bar, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The FBI is investigating the shooting, which erupted a day after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran, as a potential act of terrorism.
Police in Austin shot and killed the gunman, who used both a pistol and a rifle to carry out the attack, police said.
The shooting happened outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden just before 2 a.m. along Sixth Street, a nightlife destination filled with bars and music clubs and only a few miles (kilometers) from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior, had spent the evening there with friends and said the bar was “full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights.”
The suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and shooting from the window of his SUV at people on a patio and in front of the bar, according to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.
He then parked, got out with a rifle and began shooting at people walking along the street before officers rushed to the intersection and shot him, Davis said. Three of the injured were in critical condition Sunday morning, she said.
The gunman was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
A student witnesses the gunfire
Comeaux had left the bar to grab pizza at a food truck across the street about 10 minutes before the first gunshots were fired. No one around the pizza truck understood what was happening, he said, with some thinking the noise was fireworks or a loud motorcycle.
Comeaux said he hid behind a bench for about a minute before getting out, and he saw police officers running toward the scene. He pulled out his phone to begin recording. That’s when more shots rang out. Comeaux said he saw the suspect turn his gun on police before officers shot him.
He said he knows someone who was shot and guessed that many other UT students do as well.
“The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this,” he said.
FBI says attack may be terrorism
Authorities haven’t provided a clear motive for the attacks but found “indicators” on the gunman and in his vehicle leading them to look into the possibility of terrorism, said Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office.
“It’s still too early to make a determination on that,” Doran said Sunday morning.
Diagne first entered the U.S in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa and became a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying a U.S. citizen, according to DHS. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013, the department said. Diagne was originally from Senegal, according to multiple people briefed on the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.
The White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.
Texas officials weigh in
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned that the state would respond aggressively to anyone trying to “use the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas.”
University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis said on social media that some of those affected included “members of our Longhorn family.”
“Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted,” said university President Jim Davis.
The entertainment district has a heavy police presence on weekends, and officers were able to confront the gunman within a minute of the first call for help, Davis said.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the fast response by police and rescuers.
“They definitely saved lives,” he said.
The scene the following evening was quiet in the typically bustling entertainment district amid downtown Austin’s hills and vintage homes, including that of the governor, whose residence is just blocks away.
Police had taped off several square blocks around Sixth Street, while local police and federal agents, including ATF agents were at the site, according to Austin police serving as sentries.
Unmarked law enforcement vehicles were coming and going, as were firetrucks. Bystanders and news reporters and camera crews stood at the corners outside the yellow tape, trying to catch a glimpse of the activity.
There have been at least two other high-profile shootings in Austin’s Sixth Street entertainment district within the past five years, including one in the summer of 2021 that left 14 people wounded. Although this weekend’s shooting doesn’t meet the definition of a mass killing, there have been five of those so far this year.
By Jack Myer, Alanna Durkin Richer, John Seewer and Kathleen Ronayne
Students Angel Tavera, Suzet Martinez, Patrick Richmond, and Isabella Chapman participate in last year's mock crime scenes. (photo submitted)
DEMOREST, Ga. — Piedmont University will host a Forensics and Criminal Justice College Experience on March 17 for high school juniors and seniors interested in criminal justice and forensic science.
The all-day event will give students a chance to experience college-level coursework and hands-on activities in the university’s Department of Social Sciences.
Participants will sit in on classes in criminal justice and forensic science, take part in mock crime scene investigations and explore the university’s criminalistics labs and technology. Students will also meet with the admissions team to learn more about the enrollment process and connect with the president of the Criminalistics Club to hear about opportunities outside the classroom.
Parents are invited to attend a special question-and-answer session and may join the afternoon campus tour.
The cost is $25 and includes registration, lunch and a T-shirt. Space is limited to 30 participants.
23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick, center, celebrates his win during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tyler Reddick’s latest win drove him straight into the NASCAR record books.
Reddick held off hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen over the final 20 laps at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday to become the first Cup Series driver to win the first three races of the season.
Driving a Toyota co-owned by Michael Jordan, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500and a week later at Atlanta, then won from the pole in the first road course race of the year.
Jordan, the basketball Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion, was with Reddick’s 23XI pit crew exchanging high fives as Reddick crossed the finish line.
“It’s one race, but it was so important,” Reddick said. “It’s so fitting to get three in a row and make history.”
History made for a team and ownership group that has been making a lot of it. They took on NASCAR with a federal antitrust lawsuit. The settlement in December and was considered a major legal victory that secured a permanent franchise-style model and ensured the team would remain in business for the long-term.
They’ve been unbeatable on the race track ever since.
“I’m proud of the team we put together,” Jordan said. He credited co-owner Denny Hamlin, who also is a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, with being the “mastermind” behind it’s racing success.
“I just put up the money,” Jordan said. “Denny’s done an incredible job building this team.”
Jordan also said he’ll be at the next race in Phoenix to see if Reddick can extend the winning streak that has built a commanding 70-point lead in the drivers’ championship.
Van Gisbergen, who won five of six road course races in 2025, lost his bid for a record-tying sixth consecutive road win. The only road course race the Trackhouse driver didn’t win last season was in Austin.
“Tyler was just amazing,” van Gisbergen said. “You’re always disappointed with second when the expectations are so high.”
Reddick was just too good all weekend in pursuit of history. His 11th career victory was also his second at COTA, a track built for Formula 1, and the first time he’s had multiple victories at a track. He won at COTA in 2023.
It was far from easy, even if Reddick looked like he was in complete control. Van Gisbergen was on his bumper for several laps in the final stage, but never found the pace to pass before falling farther and farther behind over the final six laps.
“I was just trying to minimize mistakes, Shane is so good,” Reddick said.
Jordan, so clutch in his playing days, noted Reddick was cool in the driver’s seat while under immense pressure.
“You see SVG coming back, you get a little nervous, but I think he had him covered the whole day,” Jordan said.
Rough day for rookie Zilisch
Trackhouse Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch came into the weekend with the expectation that he might be the one to end van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses.
But Zilisch’s weekend began with a surprisingly poor qualifying position of 25th and got worse Sunday when he got spun on the restart for stage two. Zilisch fought back into contention for the win in the final stage, but his race effectively ended when he was spun again in a restart out of a caution with 16 laps to go. He finished 14th.
Bowman had to bail out
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman had to get out of his car with about 20 laps to go after complaining about being sick.
He was replaced by Myatt Snider who had been working as a pit spotter for the Fox broadcast. Snider had to scramble to put on his race suit and get in the car.
Keselowski finishes race while still recovering from broken leg
Brad Keselowski had a reserve driver Joey Hand on hand to take over in case his recently broken leg hurt too much. He didn’t need him and was able to finish the race in 20th place.
The RFK Racing driver has been able to race in all three events this season despite breaking his right leg in December. The road course in Austin was a particular concern but of the physical strain through the left and right turns.
Up next
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to oval racing Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8. Christopher Bell outdueled Denny Hamlin in Arizona last year to become the first driver to win three races in a row in the NextGen car.
A Total Lunar Eclipse will occur on Tuesday morning. This eclipse will be visible across the entire US, but unfortunately for us here in Georgia we will be dealing with both clouds and a very low viewing angle.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. The dull red coppery color you see is the light coming through Earth’s atmosphere being refracted onto the moons surface. In essence, you are seeing all the sunrises and sunsets around the world all being reflected off the moon- pretty cool!
When to look
The eclipse begins at 3:44AM as the moon will move into the penumbra. This part of the eclipse is barely, if at all, noticeable to the naked eye until the entire moon is inside it. The easily visible partial phase will begin at 4:50AM. Over the next hour the moon will gradually be covered up by the Earth’s shadow and slowly turn a coppery red.
The total phase will begin at 6:04AM local, with maximum eclipse occurring just a half hour later at 6:33. The moon will set at 7:02 in Cornelia with some variance of 1-2 minutes as you move west. Interestingly, the total eclipse phase also ends at 7:02AM.
If you have a near perfect 360º horizon you may be able to witness something incredibly rare. Sunrise occurs at 7:00AM, meaning that for just a couple brief minutes the sun will be above the horizon in the east with the moon still visible in the west. This is extraordinarily rare for any one location, but we are in prime position to see it locally. Again, though, you will need a nearly perfect full horizon- something nearly impossible to find outside of Brasstown Bald.
Where to look
While the partial phases will be easily visible in the west at 4:50AM, the moon will be sinking towards the horizon for the duration of the eclipse. By the time the total phase begins, the moon will be just 11º or so above the horizon. This will easily be obscured by even fairly distant tree lines. Your best bet is to find a large field and get on the eastern side of it to put as much distance between yourself and any trees as possible. This will give the best chance to see the total phase.
In other unfortunate news, the eclipse may not be visible at all due to cloud cover. Current modeling predicts 100% cloud cover across most of the entire southeastern US. Here in Georgia, the best spot may be in the southern half of the state further away from the wedge of cooler/damp air causing the clouds.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the cloud cover forecast and keep you up to date on the latest!
It’s confession time: I believe I can do anything. Sometimes this mindset benefits me, but at other times, it does not.
Years ago, when I owned an older house situated on a hill, I decided it was time to remove the small pine trees that crowded my front yard. While the privacy the trees provided was nice, looking out my front window at a growing forest was not appealing. Additionally, I was concerned that some unwanted critters might be hiding among the pines.
It was a cloudy Saturday morning when I rented a chainsaw from the local Rent-A-Tool down the road. I could tell the young man at the counter thought I was picking it up for my husband to use to chop down the trees. However, since I didn’t have a husband or any male relatives nearby, I put on my boots and overalls, armed with the chainsaw, and was ready to tackle the forest myself.
Now, you may ask, “Had you ever used a chainsaw before?” No, I had not. However, believing I could do anything, surely, I could operate a silly little chainsaw.
Since I was on a steep hill and the rain began to pour, I decided it would be safer to sit on the ground while cutting the pines. Eventually, I managed to clear the forest and cut the limbs without lopping off one of my own.
I returned to Rent-A-Tool by the end of the day, drenched, muddy, and with aching muscles in places I didn’t know existed. I handed the evil tool back to the same young man, and his eyes widened as he looked into mine. “Ma’am, did you use this chainsaw yourself?” he asked. A crowd of other renters began to stare at my horrific, dirty appearance.
I replied with a chuckle, “Yes, sir, I did! It was just another one of those dumb decisions I frequently make!”
The crowd laughed at the same moment my guardian angel submitted her retirement notice. I’ve had a number of these angels come and go, and I think God must assign a newcomer to my case each time. I can just imagine Him saying, “Angel #1,005, you are assigned your first test case. Her name is Lynn. Go down there but be careful—she has a penchant for chainsaws, rickety ladders, and climbing on roofs to clean gutters. You never know what she will try next, because that child never asks for help!”
Less than a year ago, my church invited me to serve as the Church Council secretary. Although I was a new member of the congregation, I felt honored to accept the role. After all, if I can write stories, columns, and books, how difficult could it be to take the minutes?
It was another chainsaw moment. As hard as I tried, I realized I was not the secretary my fine church needed. Now, if they needed a tree chopped down, I do have experience.
Sometimes we must admit we’re not cut out for every job. It may sting a little, but that’s often where growth begins.
I attribute some of my stubbornness and unyielding pride to my Appalachian roots.
Most of the women were strong and independent. Many were widows who plowed the fields and raised children on their own. I don’t know a single woman on my mother’s side of the family who wasn’t as stubborn as the mules they owned.
If you offered to help any of them, they most likely would shoo you away with the flyswatter.
For some of us, ‘I need help’ may be the hardest sentence in the English language.
My analysis now is that a “chainsaw moment” is the belief that I can succeed without proper training or support. Imagine if I had injured myself while cutting down trees with a tool I didn’t fully understand. How would I work, provide for my children, or handle basic chores? My refusal to seek help could have caused significant pain and hardship for both my family and me for months.
God created us to support one another as brothers and sisters. Our loving heavenly Father understood that we would often require assistance. Sometimes, our angels come in the form of friends and family who are eager to help.
God has given us individual talents and abilities to enhance our lives and those around us. That is how we serve Him.
Sometimes, our pride can cut the best of us. There’s no shame in putting the chainsaw down.
Edna Louise Armour, age 84, of Homer, Georgia passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Mrs. Armour was born on July 2, 1941 in Greensboro, Georgia to the late Willie and Elsie Bryan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Allen Bryan and Terry Bryan.
A devoted member of Charity Baptist Church, Edna faithfully served the Lord and her church family for many years. She lovingly ministered to others by preparing meals and caring for those around her. A talented seamstress and gifted painter, Edna shared her creativity through both her stitching and her artwork. She was a loving wife, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and had a special place in her heart for her beloved dogs. Edna will be remembered for her servant’s heart, her kindness, and the many lives she touched through her faith and love.
Survivors include her loving husband of 68 years, Cecil Armour, of Homer, Georgia; sister-in-law, Linda Bryan, of Greensboro, Georgia, sister-in-law, Ruby Simmons, of Baldwin, Georgia , sister-in-law, Janice Armour, of Cornelia, Georgia, brother-in-law, Jimmy Armour, of Alto, Georgia, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 3rd at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel with Rev. Scott Smith and Rev. Danny Hix officiating. Interment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 3rd, from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charity Baptist Church in Homer, Georgia.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Guynethel “Guy” (Murphy) Snyder Dekle, age 91, of Mount Airy, Georgia, peacefully went to her Heavenly Home on the morning of Thursday, February 27, 2026, at her residence. Her life was a beautiful reflection of faith, service, and deep love for her family and community
Born in Habersham County on October 19, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Lance McKenley Murphy and Beulah (Darnell) Murphy. She was preceded in death by husbands, John B. (J.B.) Snyder and William (Bill) Dekle; sisters, Marie Stover and Irene Rogers; brothers-in-law, Andy Stover, Dennis Rogers, M.J. Crocker, L.C. Dekle, John Dekle and Ray Ussery; sisters-in-law, Beatrice Crocker, Leida Nicholson, Grace Ussery and Carol Dekle.
Guy devoted 35 years of dedicated service to First Financial Services, retiring as Vice President. Her strong work ethic, leadership, and integrity left a lasting impression on all who worked alongside her. Never one to remain idle, she went on to enjoy second careers in home mortgages and later as a representative for Woodmen of the World, continuing to serve others with the same commitment and enthusiasm.
A lifetime member of B.C. Grant Baptist Church, Guy loved her church family dearly. Her faith guided every aspect of her life. She faithfully served in the choir, Sunday school, and WMU, and for more than 31 years, she served as church treasurer with diligence and trustworthiness. Her steady presence and servant’s heart were a blessing to many.
Her commitment to service extended into the community she loved. She was active in numerous civic and community organizations, including Kiwanis, the Habersham Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, the Habersham Christian Learning Center, the Habersham Community Theater, and Credit Professionals International.
As a breast cancer survivor, Guy’s strength and gratitude for life inspired her to give back. She and Bill faithfully volunteered at Relay for Life each year until health challenges limited their participation
The family are forever grateful to mom’s “angels on earth” for their care and companionship: Shari Culver, Susan Sutton, Teraisa Cruz and Renea Kinsey. Your kindness and devotion brought comfort and peace in her final days.
Guy’s greatest joy was her family. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Sharon (Tim) Drain and Shelia (Richard) Greene; friend and honorary daughter, Shari Culver; stepsons, Don Dekle and Tommy (Lisa) Dekle; grandsons, Brian (Lindsey) Dekle, Justin (Rachel) Herron, Jack Greene, and Trey Greene; brother-in-law, Lloyd Nicholson; and numerous extended family members and dear friends. Her legacy of faith, perseverance, and unconditional love will continue through each of them.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Rev. Daniel Parker officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested be made to B.C. Grant Baptist Church, 1405 B.C. Grant Road, Alto, GA 30510.
Though her family grieves her absence, they rejoice in the promise that she is now at peace in her eternal home. Her gentle spirit, steadfast faith, and generous heart will be remembered always.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Former Cornelia Community Development Manager Jessie Owensby begins her new job as White County's Community and Economic Development Director the first week of March 2026. She is taking over the role from John Sell who is retiring. (photo submitted)
CORNELIA, Ga. — After a decade of redevelopment, business recruitment, and public projects, Community Development Director Jessie Owensby says leaving Cornelia is not about walking away; it’s about stepping into a new challenge while carrying forward lessons learned.
Owensby is headed to White County to serve in a similar yet more streamlined role with greater emphasis on leadership and department management. She’ll lead an eight-person department dedicated to planning, zoning, and economic development. It’s a move she said aligns with her long-term goals in public service.
Owensby begins her new job in early March, overlapping briefly with her predecessor, John Sell, during the first week to ensure a smooth transition.
A decade of transformation
Owensby (second from right) joined City Manager Dee Anderson and Cornelia Mayor John Borrow for an awards presentation from the Georgia Downtown Association in August 2021. With them are Emily Herrin and Heath Barrett. (Lindsey Fitzgerald/Cornelia DDA)
Reflecting on her ten years in Cornelia, Owensby said it’s impossible to point to just one accomplishment as her proudest. Working with a small staff, dedicated volunteers, and business leaders, she helped earn numerous statewide awards and guided major redevelopment efforts.
When pressed, she points to two key turning points in downtown Cornelia, beginning with the opening of Bigg Daddy’s Restaurant & Tavern in 2017.
“That was the catalyst to get John Herrin in with Jack Bradley and Common Ground and then, in 2020, Jay Reeder bought the bank building,” she said. “The things that have happened since Jay came onto this scene have been incredible.”
That same year, Cornelia established its downtown entertainment district, later expanding it.
The Kmart at Habersham Village Shopping Center closed in 2017, leading to a major infill development that brought Total Fitness, TJ Maxx, and Michaels to Cornelia several years later. (NowHabersham.com)
Infill development was also a priority. Along the U.S. Business 441 corridor, the long-struggling Habersham Village Shopping Center was revitalized after sitting largely vacant following Kmart’s closure. Today, it serves as a commercial hub surrounded by new retailers and restaurants.
Other projects during her tenure include city park improvements, the approval and design of a new amphitheater, and the ongoing Sweet Acres Farm Winery multi-use development project.
Before she left, Owensby approved roughly half a dozen commercial projects, including a Seven Brew coffee shop, package store, and a new Level Grove student ministry building featuring a 9,600-square-foot assembly space. She also reviewed 23 site plans for the final phase of Magnolia Villas.
“I am very proud to have been part of every single one of those projects from the get-go,” she told Now Georgia.
No disappointments, only lessons
A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the final public hearing on Cook Construction’s proposed Hwy. 365 corridor development. After 3.5 hours of public comments, commissioners effectively killed the measure by denying a second to the motions to vote on it. (livestream image)
In her ten years of service to the City of Cornelia, Owensby said challenges were inevitable. Most recently, vocal opposition to Cook Construction’s proposed Apple Corridor development stood out. While she emphasized that controversy did not influence her decision to leave, she hopes residents take one lesson from it: get involved early.
“Government works for you. We’re paid with your tax dollars. If you are not involved on the front end of the planning … when they ask for you to attend a town hall meeting, a public meeting, or an informational meeting that’s going to help them and help you make decisions about your life, take them up on it because they don’t know what you want if you don’t tell them.”
Waiting until decisions are nearly finalized can limit influence.
“In the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, the only feedback we got was to diversify our tax base to lower our millage rate. Every survey and every public engagement [said that]. And when you have town hall meetings and ten people show up, guess what, those ten people get to decide your life.”
Moving on
Even with the occasional challenges and losses, Owensby leaves Cornelia with no regrets.
“Nothing’s been a disappointment, only lessons learned,” she said. “There are times things have not gone my way, but those have made me a better community developer, economic developer, and public servant.”
She said remaining in government was intentional.
Fenders Alley is one of several restaurants and entertainment venues owned and operated by Jay Reeder’s Heard Management Company. It helped revitalize the downtown district. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
“My whole heart has been community-driven and public service all the way,” she said. “I actually had a second job offer in the private sector, but turned it down to stay in the public sector because that’s where my heart is.”
Owensby described the White County position as more focused and leadership-driven.
“At the city I’m an umbrella of things,” she said. “At White County, it will be more focused on planning, zoning, and economic development. It’s a bigger team, more leadership, and less technical work — just a new challenge.”
Owensby said White County’s strong tourism base and measured approach to economic development will add a new dimension to her work. It will also require listening.
“We’ve already discussed some of the things that we plan to do in White County, including a quarterly town hall meeting, if for nothing else, just to hear from [the residents] and to understand what is going on in their world and what it is that they want to see.”
Grateful Dee Anderson ‘rolled the dice’
Then- Cornelia Community and Economic Development Director Jessie Owensby opens a town hall meeting over housing on Monday, March 31, 2025. (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham)
A Piedmont University graduate with a degree in Mass Communications, Owensby credits Cornelia City Manager Dee Anderson for launching her career.
“Working for Cornelia has literally changed my life. It has changed the trajectory of my life,” she said. “Dee saw something in me and gave me that opportunity… I wouldn’t be able to do any of the things I’m going to do in White County if it weren’t for him rolling the dice on me,” she said.
She added, “Everything I know I’ve learned in Cornelia.”
Owensby praised Cornelia’s Main Street Director, Noah Hamil, who will step into her former role.
“He is going to do great,” she said.
All in the family
Owensby with her husband, son, and colleague at a recent Chamber event. From left, Jake Owensby, Mike Owensby, Jessie, and Rick Phillips. The Owensby’s daughter, Savana, is not pictured. (Facebook)
Although she’ll be working ‘next door,’ Owensby and her husband will still live in Cornelia. White County already is like a second home to her. Her family hails from both counties, and half still live in White. Her cousin, Jonathan Stribling, has just been named White County school superintendent and her parents attend church in Helen. She’ll also be reunited with a former colleague from Habersham County. Derick Canupp used to run Habersham’s public works department. He is now White County’s manager.
“I’ve been around that community my entire life. I know a lot about it,” she said. “I feel very comfortable going there.”
As she looks ahead, Owensby is quick to point out, “I was not looking for this.” She has been approached several times about positions in different communities in recent years, but turned them all down, she said. “This one just aligned with my goals and what I believe is God’s calling for me in the public sector and where I needed to be right now.”
ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County Police Department has arrested a 19-year-old Athens man in connection with a reported rape early Saturday morning in downtown Athens.
Officers responded around 1:38 a.m. on February 28 to the area of 400 North Thomas Street after receiving a report of a sexual assault.
According to police, the investigation determined that Tydarius Wingfield approached a female victim, identified as a University of Georgia student, and offered to walk her home. Authorities said the victim did not know Wingfield.
During the encounter, police allege Wingfield forced the woman behind a building, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Investigators used the department’s Real Time Crime Center downtown camera system to review footage from the area. Officials said the technology allowed officers to track both the victim’s and Wingfield’s movements after the incident and positively identify the suspect.
Wingfield was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. He has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery, battery, and rape.
According to ACCPD Lt. Katie Jenkins, the case remains under active investigation. She encourages anyone with information about this crime to contact Detective Charles Burgamy at Charles.Burgamy@accgov.com or 762-400-7173.
