Clarkesville teen drowns in Banks County lake

HOMER – A Clarkesville teen drowned in a watershed lake south of Baldwin Thursday afternoon.

Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman identified the victim as 15-year-old Jobe Hart of Habersham County.

He said Hart was swimming with an adult and two juveniles at the watershed lake on Simmons Road off Purvis Road, in the area behind where The Beef Baron formerly was located off Old Highway 441.

The teen’s body was located at 7:45 p.m. in about seven feet of water, Chapman said, estimating Hart was only 12 to 15 feet from the bank of the lake when he went under.

Hart was a rising 10th grader who had been homeschooled.