Official faces animal cruelty charges

Investigators have found the bones of scores of horses on land in Sumter County, South Carolina once owned by the family of a South Carolina official. Now James Trexler is charged with mistreating horses in that state as well as Georgia. Trexler is South Carolina's Assistant Agriculture Commissioner. Trexler's mother and brother have also been arrested after 30 horses were found starving at the family's land in Jefferson County, about 40 miles from Augusta.

Georgia principal takes national honor

The National High School Principal of the Year comes from Georgia. Molly Howard of Jefferson County High School was announced as the winner Tuesday by state schools Superintendent Kathy Cox and officials from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Howard beat-out finalists from Delaware and Alaska.

Howard's east Georgia school improved its graduation rate to 75-percent, which stands ahead of state and national rates.

The National Middle Level Principal of the Year has yet to be announced. The principal of Georgia's Upson-Lee Middle School is a finalist for that honor.

Georgian named Principal of the Year

A Georgia principal has been named National High School Principal of the Year. The award goes to Molly P. Howard of Jefferson County High School. Howard’s school is in east Georgia has improved its graduation rate to 75 percent, outpacing state and national rates. Another Georgia principal, Patsy H. Dean of Upson-Lee Middle School, is one of three finalists for the National Middle Level Principal of the Year.