Telling the Stories That Celebrate Our Community

Home, Style & Savoring Summer

From inspired homes and fresh décor to summer flavors and foodie finds, this issue serves up stories to savor. Plus, cast your vote for the area’s 100 Best!

1-HOME-slider

2-FOOD-slider

3-PERSONAL-slider

4-BEAUTY-slider

5-GETAWAYS-slider

6-2026-BALLOT

Features

Pet Care

Martinez Animal Hospital

Martinez Animal Hospital was founded in 1970 by Dr. Grayson

Pet Care

Paws In Paradise

Where Pampered Pets Relax We Offer Canine Boarding, Feline Boarding,

Pet Care

Care More Animal Hospital

Care More Animal Hospital is a full-service, AAHA accredited veterinary

Ashton Thompson - Paradise Kennels

Pet Care

Paradise Kennels

Paradise Kennels Bathing, grooming, or keeping your babies while you’re

LIFE + STYLE

fifth annual Betty’s Bash Paddle Race & Music Festival at Riverside Park

Buzz

Paddle, Play, Party

Paddle in the morning, play at the park in the

The Landsharks perform live at Columbia County’s annual Summer Beach Blast

Buzz

Simply Fin-tastic

Live music, dancing and dining will be on deck for

Bestselling author Fredrik Backman

Literary Loop

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with a funny, deeply moving

Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE

Listen To This

SABLE, fABLE by Bon Iver

While some songs hit like sunscreen in the eyes, others

Martinez Animal Hospital

October 14, 2026 No Comments

Paws In Paradise

October 14, 2026 No Comments

Care More Animal Hospital

October 14, 2026 No Comments

Ashton Thompson - Paradise Kennels

Paradise Kennels

October 14, 2026 No Comments

Create a new perspective on life

Transform your outlook with these insightful tips and ideas, creating a fresh perspective on life's possibilities.

What is new

Stroke of Luck

Being in the right place at the right time (along

Tennis Pickle Ball Augusta

Racquet Center Open

The Columbia County Racquet Center, formerly Petersburg Racquet Club, has

Art & Soulmates

A husband and wife, who teach art at local schools,

Well-Oiled Machine

Restoring vintage Farmall tractors keeps a Lincolnton man 92 years

April and Randy Sasser

Len and Charlynn Collins; Joan and Steve Steinberg; Jan and Stan Godwin

Lucinda and Robert Clark

Lynne and Joe Entrekin

Pam and Nick Uros

Rose Bennett and Cheryl Adams

Tammy Williamson and Hazina Bellamy

Taylor and Jared Best

Terri and Harvey Key

Andy and Amy Colbert

Annie Huang, Jeffrey Marsal and Nicole Brown

Brandon McReynolds, Andy Colbert and Evan Cadle

Camille and Renee Beck

Chris Symons and Kelly Klasnick

Nina Hon, Diane Pepple and Janice and Ed Carroll

Patty Caudell and David Booker

Philip and Erin McHugh

Caroline Plowman and Ethan Schomacker

Cecilie Walburn and Sarah Walburn

Cody and Stephanie Mitchell

Devin and Emily Morris

Fallan Flatow and Mitch Redd

Kalie Whitfield and Reese Freeman

Mckenzie, Lynn and Mallorie Vivirito

Ninah Tulangow and Annalee McDaniel

Bryce Wagner, Christina Rivera, Daniel Rhodes, Angela Hymel and Mitchell O’Neal

Caroline Guinn, Taylor and Dustin Davis with Deanie, Kayla and Will Barksdale

Catherine Hawley, Amber Connor and Karlee Redmon

Jamie Aycox, Dan Rogers, Cynthia Stein and Rebeca Stiles

Jenny Wilson and Paul Carmichael

Maury and Helaine Locke

Nicole and Monte Holt

Tara and Steve Turrell

Bryce-Wagner-Christina-Rivera-Daniel-Rhodes-Angela-Hymel-and-Mitchell-O’Neal

Caroline-Guinn-Taylor-and-Dustin-Davis-with-Deanie-Kayla-and-Will-Barksdale

Catherine-Hawley-Amber-Connor-and-Karlee-Redmon

Jamie-Aycox-Dan-Rogers-Cynthia-Stein-and-Rebeca-Stiles

Jenny-Wilson-and-Paul-Carmichael

Maury-and-Helaine-Locke

Nicole-and-Monte-Holt

Tara-and-Steve-Turrell

Alan, Rachel and Debbie Muehlfeld

Celia Dunn and Lesley Frazier

Diana Elliott and Deloris Norris

Elizabeth and Debi DeGennaro with Barbara Slack

Jackie and Matthew Herzberg

Sarah Luckey, Stacy Elzey, Kala Windham and Mehul Patel

Shauna and Rob Summers

Tara and Ron Johnson

Wanda Nieves and Melanie Louks

Aisha and Jeno Mozes

Glennis Carter Martin

Kristen and Stuart Matthews

Mark and Dixie Thigpen

Patti Meredith and Johnny Hensley

Roberto and Cathy Ibarra

Russell and Mary Shearer

Susan Conger and Jeannie Johnson

Val Gamiev, Emilie Tobias and Carlos Ortiz

Dan Lee and Nancy Crawford

Dana and Morgan Aune, Michelle Devoti, Donna Wiley

Jan and Ric Ruffner

Kris Cornwell and Steve Melians

Laurie and Jon Pysczynski

Peggy Lovelace and Scotty Langham

Rick and Renae Logsdail

Shannon Powers and Lee Udell

Jim and Kathy Lightner

Connie Morris with Regina and James Mabry

Felonie Wellons and Gale Brown

Fredrick Cowan and Annette Midcalf

Jennifer Bridges and Andrea Bryant

Kay and Enon Hopkins with Carol Dichiara

Kyle and Debbie Matthews, Terri and Darrel Freeman, Jeana and Jeff Rice

Tim and Jan Wilson with Robert and Teresa Riddle

Dave and Wendy Thoman

Harriet Gulledge and Valerie Kimmel

Kim and John Stanley

Larry and Linda Johnson

Marcia Ducharme and Connie Plummer

Mary Murphy and Shelley Coit

Pam Bosman and Michelle Wheller

Ric and Janice Ruffner

Sandy Owen and Suzi Hyder

Bleu Harper and Julie Blankenship

Christie and Ryan Moody

David and Ashley Ellenburg

Jason and Samantha Blue

Karen Lowry and Valerie Hunt

Kayley Lott and Sandra Lott

Megan Weaver and Cotton Lowe

Rikki Frerichs and Chaya McClure

Rob and Lisa Neff

Charlene and John T.Y. Smith

Crystal, Mel and Vin Dickerson

Elaine and C.J. Wilder

Gary and Bonnie Judy

Gary and Kathy Duckworth with Daniel and Marla Friedmann

Jean Hall and Deborah Alvarez

Jeanette Delossantos and Amber Hitchcock

KJ and Julie Kenny

Welton and Mary Chase

Adam Jansen and Jillian Brassel

Aida Lucas and Eva Lucas

Amy and John Hughes

Clint and Daisy Bowersock

Debbie Wolfinger and Nathan Wolfinger

Larissa and Luke Santmyer

Lyndsy and Bobby Morgan

Sheila and Willie Smith

Zach and Ashley Schofield

Christy Agner and Laura Jeffcot

Gabrielle Tibbetts and Adam Marino

Glenn and Janine Leyrer

Lynn and Perry Huffman

Michelle, Lee and Taylor Briggs with Riley Armstrong, Gibby and Kathy Schultz

Riley Barbour and Jake Telkamp

Sheena and Jimmy Jacobs

Tami Arenas and Dede Kirk

Connie Portwood and Christopher Lee

Craig and Carla Foster

Erica Browne and Caleb Wright

Jeremy, Natalie and Caleb Simmons

Melissa and Harold Henderson

Rodrigo Avila and Patricia Guarro

Sharon and Russell Wilder

Wendy Clanton and Jeremiah Abercrombie

Willard Cumbee Jr. and Annie Acree Cumbee

Jane and Larry Wylds

Katie Bennett and Luke Yelton

Mary K. Diveley and Dan Reider

Pamela Wood, Faye McNair, Virgil Poole, Anna Helriegel and Bob Helriegel

Sam Frankel and Ramona Carter

Sean and Meaghan Hayes

Susan Henson and June Henson

Tammy Frank and Gary Claxton

Addie Carter and Katie Beth Milford

Adrienne Harless and Tracie McCollum

Caroline Jernigan and Louie with Elisa and Jonathan Holley

Dara and Adam Campbell

David and Renee Walters

Elaine Walters and Annice Meeler

Matt Fulmer and Haley Harris

Ryan Bratton and Keelin Walsh

Sharmela Johnson and Emma Haffey

Dani and Jon Segura

Emily Evenson and Anna Evenson

Eric and Beth Norton

Heather and Andy Eberheart

Julie Nguyen and Melinda Drylie

Leanne Barkley and Tori Slate

Lisa and Bret Evans

Lois Schondelmayer, Coolidge Hooks and Harriet Scarborough

Mike Noeth and Tara Heaton

Autumn Gantt, Haley Gantt and Nicole Walls

Ben Sosebee with Graham, Teddy and Angela Collingsworth

Brent and Emma Pruitt

Brian Hildebrandt, Hudson Reed, Lily Schueler, Brooklin Reed and Valery Reed

Chris and Rebecca Focht

Erin Gaine, Liz Patterson, Stone Patterson, Scott Patterson and Jim Gaine

Josh, Paul, Spencer and Keelie Kitchens

Juan Carlos and Amanda Covard

Alana Moore and Hope Peel

Ashley Sweet and Bethany Mobley

Bailey and Matt Klein

Elizabeth Baird and Julianne Ingram

Jason and Ashley Vega

Jessica Edmonds and George Downey

Jonathan and Jessica Wingard with Toni and Casey Cliatt

Mike and Kathy Ritz with Tiffany and Jeff Bachelder

Ron and Chasity Sowell

Ryan and Jennifer Burditt

Stacy Butler and Amy Hodge

Amy Lewis, Thomas Poteet, Claire Boulus

Clair Armstrong, Trish Nichols, Jerry and Tonya Armstrong, Richard Howard

John Ryan Mooney, Amy Mooney, Philomena Mooney, Sarah Mooney

Joseph Douglas, Heather Chancey, Maggie and Pat Douglas

Leonard and Cathy Hart with Niya and Gino Brantley

Meredith O’Neal, Nicole White, Madison O’Neal

Ray and Caroline Brady

Ron and Patricia Rhodes, Caroline and Robert Johnston

Steve Sheetz, Camilia Hutto, Ashland Sheetz, Ann Terracino

Tony and Danita Ducey, Dana and Rick Ducey

Brook and Shannon Belcher

David and Christine Mills

Isabella Verbeck with Matthew, Kathy and Will Schafer

Joanne Widener and Lori Springer

Katie and Michael Johnson

Liza Drummings, Michelle Harper-Meriwether, Lauren Moody and Linda Washington

Nick Proto and Ashlyn Bedgood

Richard and Grace Lee

Rick and Renae Logsdail

Steve and Jenifer Baggett with Janine and Troy Mason

Adrine Goldman, Jeanne McGhee, Michael Siewert

Charles and Paula May, Heather Dye, Genny Rushing

Greg and Marty Ellison, Brigid and George Pursley

Johnny Neal and Andrea Carey with Tandy and Paul Menk

Judy Smith, Kellie Aponas, Jean Duncan

Roberta Snelling, Becky Dearden, George Snelling

Tory Horn, Joan Vanover, Karen Brittingham, Susan Gillespie

April Williamson with Cindy and Rob Foster

David and Sherry Gaissert, Valerie Mitchell, Ryan Lewis, Aaron Mitchell, Robyn Tamas

Kay and Barry Bennett

Ken Slayton, Sherri Doxey, Ginny Slayton, Craig Doxey

Nathan Brown, Susan Brown, Alec Hatch

Richard and Carol Rhodes with Sherry Rhodes

Steve and Dorinda Spaidl with Laurie and Mike Gordon

Barbara Temin, Barbara Ann Halliday, Holly Baxter

Dana Wilson, Danielle Short

Indi Hemena, Bonnie Hemena

Julie Mann, Kevin Kaiser

Kristy Laterza, Dena Brett

Nancy and Bill Karp

Nancy Gibson, Julie Johnson, Marie Miles

Sharon Sigafoes, Kim Pope

Suzi Hyder, Sandy Owen, Johnna Francis, Susan Skadam

Ellie and Emily Gladden

Amanda and Kyle Altman

Amanda, Oakley and Emma Lively with Hannah and Mackenzie Galeas

Ellie McCarthy, Savannah Taylor

Angie Griffin with Robert and Teresa Riddle

Elizabeth Canas, Luke Cornelson

Ashley Wahl and Cindy Rogers

Maria Johnson, Susanna Barnhart

Becky Hunt and Adrienne Hutchinson

Marie Melcher, Debbie Rosenthal

Gary and Christy Beddingfield, Leslie and Emmett Perdue

Megan Bush, Amber Bowman

Peter and Peggy Rowe, Moshe Lindsay and Hannah Rowe

Taylor Thompson, Alex Sellers

Summer and Bobby Keenum

Tim and Nicole Presby, Pam and Charles Schrader

Featured Categories

Discover the Heartbeat of Columbia County

Get inspired with every story you read — from the people shaping our community to the places that make it shine. Explore stories of creativity, resilience, and connection that celebrate life in one of Georgia’s most dynamic counties. Every article is crafted to inform, entertain, and inspire.

Life + Style

Fresh perspectives on local living, design, and trends that define Columbia County life.

People

Meet the remarkable individuals who make a difference in our community.

Sports

Follow local athletes, youth leagues, and inspiring sports stories that unite us.

Food

Savor the flavor of our county’s best restaurants, recipes, and culinary voices.