Jeff Hart

After three days of combing 24,000 miles of ocean, the Coast Guard on Tuesday stopped searching for two NFL players and a third man lost in rough, chilly Gulf of Mexico waters off the Florida coast.

The Atlanta Falcons re-signed linebacker Coy Wire, tight end Justin Peele, safety Jamal Fudge and three other players Tuesday. Defensive end Chauncey Davis also reached terms on a new deal, according to his agent.

Tom Oliver said he has a new goal for his current term as Hall County Commission Chairman. "I am hoping that I can get a permit for the new reservoir (in northern Hall County) during the next four years," Oliver said Sunday.

Georgia makes its biennial trip to play at Arkansas Sunday as the two teams battle to stay out of the SEC cellar with just three games left in the regular season.

Georgia scored eight runs in the first four innings, Joey Lewis went 5-for-6, and former Chestatee High standout Alex McRee pitched five scoreless innings as the Bulldogs cruised to a 12-5 win over Arizona Saturday at Jerry Kindall Field.

Typically known for its offense, the West Hall boys basketball team is showing opponents it also can play some defense. The Spartans held Hart County to no field goals and just one fourth quarter free throw over the final nine minutes to rally from a 10-point deficit to beat the Bulldogs 43-37 Saturday night in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs.

Shelby Bright scored all five of her points in the final 20 seconds, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to lift Chestatee to a shocking 37-36 win over Class AAA No. 3-ranked Franklin County Friday night in the opening round of the girls state basketball playoffs.

East Hall’s Jasmine Jenkins may be a freshman, but she sure didn’t play like it Friday night in her first-ever Class AAA state playoff game. Jenkins set the tone for the Lady Vikings in the first quarter with 12 points and unshakeable demeanor in leading them to a 64-45 first round win over Elbert County at the East Hall gym.

If the entire Region 7-AAA baseball season turns out like Thursday’s opener between the last two region champions – Gainesville and Flowery Branch – it figures to be a wild two months. The Falcons ran out to a quick 7-0 lead after two innings but had to hold on over the final three innings in taking a 10-7 win over the Elephants at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex.

As baseball openers go, it’s hard find one more impressive than Flowery Branch’s 12-0 rout of Buford Wednesday. The Falcons pounded three Buford pitchers for 13 hits in just five innings as the game was called because of the 10-run Mercy rule. James Mills allowed just three hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort to get the win.