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Author, author!
Board members recognize Young Authors winners
0330 Young Authors girl
Riley Wohler, a Guyton Elementary first grader, was one of the Young Authors winners. - photo by Photo by Calli Arnold
Calli Arnold
Updated: Mar 30, 2010, 7:15 PM
Published: Mar 30, 2010, 7:19 PM

Winners for the Young Authors Writing Competition in Effingham County were recognized at the last board of education meeting.

Students throughout the system entered stories, poems and essays for the contest, with winners chosen from each grade. Their stories will go on to be judged against winners in other school systems in the district and the state.

After Superintendent Randy Shearouse handed out certificates, students posed for their families’ cameras. Five of the winners read their stories aloud: Randy Stapleton,12th grade, South Effingham High School; Gracin Loper, second, grade Guyton Elementary, Brandon Story, third grade, GES; Riley Wohler, first grade, GES; and Haley Osborne, sixth grade, SEMS.

Other winners were:
Tyler Garmen, kindergarten, Ebenezer Elementary
Madison Cocke, fourth grade, Ebenezer Elementary
Natalie Schaut, fifth grade, GES
D.J. Medders, seventh grade, SEMS
Ashley Smith, eighth grade, Ebenezer Middle
Savannah Wagner, ninth grade, SEHS
Rachel Williams, 10th grade, SEHS
Lea Morgan, 11th grade, ECHS
Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
Updated: Jun 20, 2025, 1:18 PM
Published: Jun 20, 2025, 12:51 PM
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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