2 Tourney Tales: Great Expectations; the Lions in Winter

McEachern's girls enter the state playoffs as the favorite, while Lithia Springs' boys are a surprise just to be there.

Fans of all three public high schools in Powder Springs and Lithia Springs have something to root for during the Georgia High School Association state basketball playoffs. The McEachern girls could be the story of the year, carrying an undefeated record, the Region 4-AAAAA title, the state’s No. 1 ranking and USA Today’s national No. 3 ranking into the AAAAA tournament. The Lady Indians, last year's AAAAA runner-up, open play at home Friday against Camden County, the fourth seed from Region 3-AAAAA. If they win, they’ll host Westlake or Colquitt County next Tuesday. The quarterfinals are at Fort Valley State on March 3, and the Final Four is at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 8 and 9. Crosstown rival Hillgrove also hopes to make it …

• Videos (1)

Help Send Monique to Super Bowl

The 26-year-old Powder Springs woman is one of 14 finalists in the Ultimate Sunday Night Football Fan Contest.

Powder Springs resident Monique McGee and her mom, Tracy, have the chance to go to the Super Bowl free, but they need your help. Monique is one of 14 national finalists in the Ultimate Sunday Night Football Fan Contest. Contestants entered by writing 100 words or fewer about why they’re the ultimate Sunday night football fan, and the field has been narrowed since early September, Monique said. “I pretty much wrote about me and my mom because that’s our time together every week,” she said. “We sit down in front of the TV every Sunday night and watch football together.”  Monique, 26, is a Lithia Springs High alum and graduate student majoring in education at Georgia State. This season she took her mom to her first football game, the Sunday …

• Photos (1)

Renovations Planned for Lithia Springs High

The projects, including remodeling the computer lab and kitchen, will cost between $4 and $5 million.

School officials hope that upcoming renovations at Lithia Springs High School will bring the 36-year-old building into the 21st century. They said the renovations will put the school in line with New Manchester High School, which, is in its first school year “New Manchester is like the Cadillac, and the other schools need to" be modernized, school board member D.T. Jackson said. The Lithia Springs projects are expected to cost between $4 and $5 million and will be carried out over the summer break. New lighting being installed in the hallways and classrooms will make the school more energy efficient while giving it a more modern look, said Dudley Spruill, chief operations officer. “I think it will certainly brighten the area and make it …

• Photos (2)

GHSA Costs Lithia Springs Local Rivals

Reclassification doesn't affect Hillgrove and McEachern, but only one Douglas County school will be grouped with the Lions next year.

Hillgrove and McEachern will likely remain region rivals and will continue to compete against the biggest high schools in the state under the Georgia High School Association’s proposed reclassification for next school year. Meanwhile, Lithia Springs will stay in the second-highest classification in the GHSA’s shift from five to six classes. The GHSA unveiled the proposed classifications for the next two years Monday based on this year’s enrollment of ninth- to 11th-graders for each of its member schools. While the structural changes statewide are significant, the public schools in the Springs won't be affected beyond adding an A to their affiliations and facing some new regional foes. Hillgrove and McEachern, now in AAAAA, are among the 65…

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Marching Lions March Closer to New Uniforms

The group's Spring Fair and Yard Sale was held on Saturday to raise money for the cause.

Members of Lithia Springs High School's marching band, the Marching Lions, held their Spring Fair and Yard Sale on Saturday at the school. The event included local vendors, items for sale brought in by the students and parents of the Marching Lions, and raffle prizes. All proceeds will go to new uniforms to replace the old ones, which have exceeded their expected lifespan by about five years. While they were previously very close to their goal, the Marching Lions have recently received new band members for the upcoming year, which has caused them to continue their fundraising. They are about $5,000 away from being able to purchase new uniforms. Students and parents alike are looking forward to the new attire. Many said they would have …

•  2 Comments
• Videos (1)

Stephanie Carson

12:55 pm on Monday, May 9, 2011

No, thank you, Ann and ALL the Marching Lions! It was absolutely my pleasure! You guys are really doing a great job.   more ›

Georgia Teens Need to Know the Law, Author Says

Former DeKalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan spoke at Lithia Springs High School Tuesday about alcohol, drugs sex and more.

One October, two strangers—one 14, one 15—were walking opposite directions at school between fourth and fifth periods, and they bumped into each other. “Instead of saying, ‘Excuse me, I’m sorry’ … or just keeping their mouths shut or going on about their business, words were exchanged, then heated words were exchanged, and insults were exchanged, and the two boys decided they would take their differences out on the school grounds,” J. Tom Morgan said. The two went outside and their classmates circled around them, eager to see a fight. The 15-year-old started to walk away, but his peers called him a “coward” and a “sissy,” Morgan said. “It’s better to be a coward for a minute then dead for a lifetime.” The 14-year-old pulled out a penknife …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Michael Stone

11:49 am on Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thank you for your comment, Eileen. That was one of the goals Mr. Morgan spoke of: educating children as early as possible.   more ›

Frugal Family

Huge Church Consignment Sale in Powder Springs Begins Thursday

Also, a free program next Tuesday in Lithia Springs is designed to equip students to better protect themselves from becoming crime victims.

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us make our dollars as valuable as possible. Here are some that will hopefully stretch your dollar to the max:   1. Children's Consignment Sale Deal: The McEachern Twice Blessed Children's Consignment Sale will begin Thursday and continue through part of Saturday. Many items sell for half price on Saturday. Continuing to expand, these sales are held each spring and fall. No strollers allowed due to fire safety codes. Hours: Thursday, 5 p.m. to 9 pm.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Location: Gym, McEachern United Methodist Church, 4075 …

•  2 Comments
• Videos (1)

Carolyn Cunningham

6:48 pm on Sunday, March 27, 2011

Thank you for your encouraging comments, Eric, and your suggestion.   more ›

Frugal Family

Book Sale, Free Plant Seminar and Other Cost-Savers

Also, Cobb is holding its first annual—and free—Summer Camp Expo to inform parents about upcoming camps.

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us make our dollars as valuable as possible. Here are some that will hopefully stretch your dollars to the max: 1. 'HONK!' AT LITHIA SPRINGS HIGH Deal: Tickets to the high school musical are $8 for adults and $5 for students and children. Group tickets also are available. Performances are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. "Honk!" is the story of Ugly the duck, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. Separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry cat, Ugly must find his way home. Along his …

Unbeaten Sequoyah Defeats Lithia Springs

The Lions never led in their first-round loss to the No. 1 team in the state.

Lithia Springs was shown Saturday why the Sequoyah Chiefs are unbeaten this season. The Lions were done in by a suffocating defense and superb point-guard play as they ended their season with a 71-51 loss in the first round of the state tournament. Lithia Springs head coach Jason Slate would not concede that Sequoyah was the more talented team, but he did see them doing things that his team just couldn’t match. “I thought they were not any better than us, but I thought they were more physical," he said. "They were a more veteran team. When they got contact, they finished." Slate continued: "We got layup after layup after layup, put-backs wide open under the goal. Didn’t make it. If you make some of those shots, all of a sudden it’s a whole…

• Photos (10)

Lithia Springs Still Perfect in Region

Lithia Springs boys strengthen their hold the region lead in a one-point victory over Douglas County.

Head coach Jason Slate is not sure how his team is sitting atop the region 5-AAAA standings. “We might try to find a way to lose, then we find a way to win,” he said. The Lithia Springs boys entered Thursday’s matchup with their county rivals from Douglas County first in the Region 5-AAAA standings, one and a half games up on the Tigers. Evans finish with 18 Brown finish with 19 Junior Jabari Evans had two big 3-pointers to help put the Lions ahead early. Evans and fellow junior Bobby Brown each had 12 points in the first half, giving Lithia Springs a slim, two-point lead at halftime, 40-38. Evans and Brown would finish with 18 and 19 points respectively. Douglas County changed its defensive scheme and built a 13-point lead on the Lions …

• Photos (5)