Twitter @DonnieFetter

Mihir Patel’s strong scientific mind notched him a perfect score last year in the math section of the SAT. Combined with high scores in the reading and essay sections, he tied fellow Lakeside High senior Katie Bollag for the STAR Student title with an overall SAT score of 2350.

The STAR Student honor is annually given to the student scoring the highest on the college assessment.

For STAR Teacher, Patel picked a former rocket scientist.

Twitter @DonnieFetter

A group of Chinese exchange students said goodbye Friday to their temporary classmates at Augusta Preparatory Day School.

A short farewell reception at the Martinez private school produced laughter and tears from the five Chinese students and their American counterparts who served as their hosts.

Augusta Prep students recalled how their Chinese guests learned to love peanut butter, sweet tea, mall shopping and Hooters.

Twitter @DonnieFetter

Two Lakeside High High School seniors tied on Thursday to become Columbia County’s STAR Students.

Katie Bollag and Mihir Patel scored 2350 on the SAT to win the recognition.

The STAR Student award is given annually to the student with the highest SAT score.

Those students then pick an influential educator in their lives as STAR Teachers. Bollag chose Lilly Good, and Patel picked Jerry Meitin.

It was in Good’s class that Bollag said she opened the results of her SAT exam to learn her score.

Twitter @DonnieFetter

Columbia County officials have been told to “get in line” to get money from First Sealord Surety, the bonding company for Jeffery Harriss Trucking Co.

Despite warnings from officials, county commissioners awarded Harriss an $814,000 bid in May to replace culverts on Sandalwood Drive in the Springlakes neighborhood.

With only about half the work done as a November deadline approached, Water Utility Director Bill Clayton sent Harriss a notice of termination to halt work on the project.