Athens Tech

Donna Gonzalez Quintana, an Oglethorpe County resident, studies at the Lena Wise Community Center on Feb. 24. “I feel like I can still have, even at this age, an opportunity to keep growing,” Gonzalez Quintana said. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Donna Gonzalez Quintana, an Oglethorpe County resident, studies at the Lena Wise Community Center on Feb. 24. “I feel like I can still have, even at this age, an opportunity to keep growing,” Gonzalez Quintana said. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

HSE program is a chance for growth

Charlotte Cochran
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Eliane Aviles has advice for anyone who wants to pursue a high school diploma later in life. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t let age limit you,” said Aviles, a graduate of the High School Equivalency (HSE) program at the Lena Wise Community Center in Crawford.
Thomas Dickerson (left) and his dad, Joe Ed Dickerson, pose in front of the 1967 Chevrolet C-10 at the Thomas Performance Engineering shop in Lexington last week. Thomas plans to open the shop in early 2026. (Photo/Neva Drane)

Thomas Dickerson (left) and his dad, Joe Ed Dickerson, pose in front of the 1967 Chevrolet C-10 at the Thomas Performance Engineering shop in Lexington last week. Thomas plans to open the shop in early 2026. (Photo/Neva Drane)

Dickerson’s rebuilt truck shines at show

Neva Drane
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Thomas Dickerson wasn’t raised in the automotive industry, though he always had an interest in building, whether it was with Lego bricks or his grandfather’s Lionel trains. It wasn’t long before he discovered his passion for automobiles.