‘Once a Hawk, Always a Hawk': Hardaway High School dedicates new offices to former principals
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — In a heartfelt ceremony, three former principals of Hardaway High School were given high honors — their names forever engraved on the school's newest offices.
In the ceremony that dedicated the school's renovated counselor's office, discipline office and new front offices, guests shared emotional and funny stories about former principals Roger Hatcher (1986-1999), Keith Seifert (1999-2005) and Matt Bell (2005-2020).
Hardaway High's improvements focused on enhancing learning facilities and making the school safer. The Muscogee County School District used E-SPLOST sales tax to complete the changes.
Hardaway High, standing for 60 years, was noted by the district as a school that needed a facelift. The current principal, Maurdrice McNeil, said the renovations began after spring break last school year and were finished about a month ago.
'I think the sense of pride that there haven't been any new renovations here in quite a while. So just the pride that we have, separates us from other schools.' said Principal McNeil.
Even though the renovated offices and polished new additions shine bright throughout the school, what stands out the most is the pride still held by Hardaway's previous leadership.
Nearly all their speeches included gratitude for the school, appreciation for the experiences and a booming 'Go Hawks!'
Bell, who was principal for 15 years and now serves as an MCSD regional chief officer, supervising 18 schools, noted why the stories and the ceremony meant so much to him personally.
'The guidance office is very significant,' Bell said. 'Building relationships is a very important part of my career and everything that we do. This is a people business, and a lot of great things happen in the guidance counselor's office, so I'm deeply honored to have the guidance counselor's suite named after me.'
The new additions to the school also have some current students excited.
'To me this ceremony just shows me how I am a part of a legacy,' said senior and Miss Hardaway Za'Nyla Douglas. 'Through all the principals that care for the students and how much dedication and time they put into us. For the school, it shows a reflection of the history that this school has endured and how much progress they've made.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
3 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Anupam Rasayan signs LOI with E-Lyte and FUCHS Lubricants Germany for long-term electrolyte salt supply
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 12, 2025, 11:51 IST Anupam Rasayan India Ltd. has entered a new strategic domain with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Germany-based E-Lyte Innovations GmbH and FUCHS Lubricants Germany GmbH. This collaboration marks the company's expansion into the lithium-ion battery chemicals market, where it plans to supply up to 1,500 TPA of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) over a five-year period starting as early as FY26-27. E-Lyte, known for its cutting-edge work in electrolyte solutions for energy storage, and FUCHS Lubricants, a global leader in lubricants and a shareholder in E-Lyte, have selected Anupam Rasayan for its process optimization capabilities and supply chain reliability. The deal leverages Anupam's backward integration in fluorine chemistry via Tanfac Industries and positions it among the first commercial manufacturers of this electrolyte salt in India. Managing Director Anand Desai stated that this partnership is a strategic milestone in Anupam's journey to serve the growing energy storage and battery sector. The company views this as a gateway to multiple new opportunities in the electric mobility and next-gen battery ecosystem. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
PA Turnpike removes tollbooths at interchanges to improve safety
Jun. 11—WILKES-BARRE — As part of its next step toward modernizing its operations and meeting customer experience for more seamless travel, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has started removing toll plazas along its system. Starting with the Pocono Interchange (Exit 95) on the Northeast Extension (Interstate 476), contractors have completely removed the tollbooths and canopy from the interchange. Toll plazas are being demolished where Open Road Tolling (ORT) has launched, east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension. Each interchange will be reconstructed to provide an unobstructed traffic flow. While each demolition will be unique to its physical location, timing and traffic, the entire process will prioritize customer safety. As contractors continue their demolition work, drivers should be prepared for new temporary traffic patterns and should pay attention to crews in work zones. "The PA Turnpike has been a leader in transportation from the day we opened in 1940 as 'America's First Superhighway' and while traditional tollbooths made practical sense then, we now have more advanced and efficient systems that better serve today's 21st century customers," said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. "The switch to ORT modernizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike for today. We look forward to providing customers with a safer and more convenient travel experience on the PA Turnpike and better serving the communities we touch along the way." In an ORT system, Compton said tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll By Plate transactions. Compton said ORT reduces confusion and lane switching associated with traditional, stop-and-go tolling. The switch to ORT in the east occurred in January. ORT will launch on the mainline PA Turnpike's western section in 2027 and tollbooths on the mainline will be fully removed across the system by the end of 2028. The PA Turnpike switched to All Electronic Tolling (AET) in March 2020, completing a process that began with the launch of E-ZPass in 2000. With electronic tolling equipment moving from the interchange to over the highway, traditional toll plazas will now be removed. Tollbooth removal eliminates obstacles, increases sight lines and reduces stress and distractions for customers entering and exiting the system. ORT will lead to $25 million yearly savings in interchange maintenance and operations costs and $50 million in yearly operational savings versus traditional collection methods. Beyond safety benefits, Compton said ORT also is better for the environment. Existing all-electronic systems have already led to reductions of up to 45% of CO2 emissions on the PA Turnpike, and an additional 7% of emissions reductions will be realized upon full ORT implementation. Toll plaza removal will also reduce the PA Turnpike's footprint by 150 acres. During demolitions, Pennsylvania State Police and PA Turnpike personnel will be positioned at impacted areas to assist drivers. Changeable message signs will also provide information on the traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to plan travel accordingly. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions. Removal of tollbooths and the reconstruction of interchanges will continue East of Reading and on the Northeast Extension through 2026. Featured Local Savings Featured Local Savings Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
9 hours ago
An Omaha food plant owner says he followed the rules for hiring immigrants
OMAHA, Neb. -- The owner of an Omaha food packaging company says his business has been unfairly hamstrung by federal immigration officials, who raided the plant and arrested more than half its workforce. The raid took place despite the company meticulously following the government's own system for verifying the workers were in the country legally, owner Gary Rohwer said Wednesday. Glenn Valley Foods now is operating at about 30% of capacity as the business scrambles to hire more workers, Rohwer said as he stood outside the plant. Asked how upsetting the raid was, Rohwer replied, 'I was very upset, ma'am, because we were told to e-verify, and we e-verified all these years, so I was shocked.' 'We did everything we could possibly do," he said. E-Verify is an online U.S. Department of Homeland Security system launched in the late 1990s that allows employers to quickly check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S., often by using Social Security numbers. Some of America's largest employers use it, including Starbucks and Walmart, but the vast majority of employers do not. Critics say the system is fairly easy to cheat, particularly with false documents. Rohwer noted that federal officials have said his company was a victim of those using stolen identities or fake IDs to get around the E-Verify system, which lead agents conducting the raid described as 'broken' and 'flawed' to Glenn Valley executives. But that does nothing to repair the company's bottom line, Rohwer said. 'I'd like to see the United States government ... come up with a program that they can communicate to the companies as to how to hire legitimate help. Period,' he said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that more than 70 people were arrested during the Glenn Valley Foods raid on Tuesday. It also said one of the workers, described as a Honduras national, assaulted federal agents as he was being detained. The Omaha raid comes amid an immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump. The administration has been intensifying its efforts in recent weeks, and Trump deployed more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines this week to respond to ongoing protests in Los Angeles over his immigration policies. The raid, in the southeastern section of Omaha where nearly a quarter of residents are foreign born according to the 2020 census, led to hundreds of people turning out to protest Tuesday evening. But it also had a chilling effect on the south Omaha community. The Metropolitan Community College's South Omaha campus and an Omaha library branch in the area closed Tuesday afternoon, and several businesses along south Omaha's normally bustling 24th Street closed as news of the raid spread. Several of them remained closed Wednesday, said Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Roger Garcia, whose district covers south Omaha. 'Everybody's still on alert, waiting to see what happens today and in the coming days,' Garcia said. 'So there's still a lot of anxiety and fear out there.' That fear will show up in the form of a weakened economy in Omaha, he added. 'You know, when products are not being sold, taxes are not being collected, and people are not able to get their goods as well. So it affects all of us,' he said. An aunt of Garcia's wife was among those taken away by ICE during the Omaha raid, he said. They have been unable to determine where she is being held. The raid came on the same day of the inauguration of newly elected Omaha Mayor John Ewing, a Democrat who unseated three-term Republican Jean Stothert last month. During a news conference Wednesday to address the raid, Ewing declined to speculate on whether the timing of it was intended to distract from his swearing-in. But he denounced the action by federal authorities, saying, 'My message to the public is that we are with them.' Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer also declared that his department will play no part in checking immigration or the legal status of residents in the community. 'That is not our mission. Our mission is public safety,' the chief said. 'I need victims to come forward. They will not come forward if they're fearful of Omaha Police Department being immigration officers.'
