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The community grieves the death of North Oconee High School senior Matt Coscia.  School officials said they have youth pastors and other resources available for students to cope with Matt's passing. A Facebook memorial page has been created.

The office building was described by Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton as a "total loss" after it was ravaged by fire Saturday evening.  No one was inside at the time. Both Ameriprise Financial and Home Instead Senior Care employees said business would continue with minimal interruptions because they had prepared in case of a disaster.

Authorities reported that a man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after first being shot by a deputy on Feb. 17.  One of two women held hostage during the ordeal was treated for a non-lethal injury.

Patch uncovered that once again the J. Phil Campbell Sr. Natural Resource Conservation Center faces the possibility of closure. It is part of $42 million in proposed cuts from the U.S. Agricultural Research Service in President Obama's 2012 budget.

"While the budget proposes reductions in high-performing programs and termination of good projects, it’s not because they weren’t valuable programs; it’s simply because these tough budget times call for difficult choices to be made," a spokesperson for the U.S. Agricultural Research Service said.

Oconee County Sheriff's Office held a joint news conference with Barrow County Sheriff's Office where officials identified the shooting suspect from Thursday's incident as Andrew Mayerbach, 42, from New York.  Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said he was conducting an external investigation.  Late Friday, Oconee County Sheriff's Office reported Barrow County Sheriff's Office discovered two improvised explosive devices at the crime scene, which were safely detonated by University of Georgia Police Department's Explosive Ordinance Disposal team.