The Baxley News-Banner

In 1969, Geech joined the Jaycees. He had never had a chance to mingle with city folk that much, but these were a great bunch of people and they got along like peas and rice. At each regular meeting, they had a meal and a business meeting, along with story telling, laughter and lightheartedness. [Full Story »] 

Several years ago, B. J. and I were searching for an ancient colonial ancestral cemetery in the swampy South Carolina Low Country. We had discovered some information in a Beaufort, S. C., library that had led us deep into the remote areas in search of the old burial site. [Full Story »] 

Barbara Howell Edwards, 63, died Thursday morning (June 9, 2011) at Kansas City Hospice House of Kansas City, MO following an extended illness. [Full Story »] 

Carolyn Rose King Owens died May 14, 2011. Carolyn was born on July 27, 1954 to Willie and Marion King of Alamo. [Full Story »] 

Bonnie Herndon Pickren, 93, died Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at her residence in Perry. She was born Dec. 29, 1917 in Appling County to the late Carl Herndon and the late Edna Smith Herndon. As a young lady she was employed as a clerk at Finkelstein Department Store and Tootle’s Bakery in Baxley. Ms. Pickren also worked at the Shipyard in Brunswick. She moved to Warner Robins in 1952 and was employed and retired with Civil Service. Ms. Pickren was a member of First Baptist Church of Warner Robins and a member of the Eastern Star of Warner Robins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lambert Pickren, a son, Glenn Edward Pickren, four sisters, Gladis Knight, Sarah White, Monteen Morris and Marilyn Vance and a brother, H. C. Herndon. [Full Story »] 

Eugene Stone, Sr., 64, of Hazlehurst, died suddenly Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at Jeff Davis Hospital. Mr. Stone was born Dec. 29, 1946 in Appling County to the late Vernon Stone and the late Jessie Brown Stone. He was employed with Hazlehurst Mills and was a veteran of the United States Army having served in the Vietnam War. [Full Story »] 

The Associated Press reported last week that up to five Georgia school districts could be subject to a new law allowing the governor to remove board members if the district is in danger of losing accreditation.
State education department attorney Brad Bryant told the Georgia School Board last Wednesday that the Atlanta, Appling County, Coffee County, Randolph County and Warren County districts are on probation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. [Full Story »] 

A representative from Congressman Jack Kingston’s office will be in Appling County to meet with anyone who needs assistance with a federal agency during an upcoming Congressional “Day Office.”
“We hold these ‘Day offices’ throughout the district to make it more convenient for citizens who may find it difficult to get to one of my offices,” said Kingston. [Full Story »] 

Chief of Police James Godfrey reports that on June 2 officers from the Baxley Police Department, and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, assisted agents of the Altamaha Drug Task Force, and the G.B.I., in executing a search warrant at 746 Fair Street. This search is the culmination of several months of under cover investigations, which were conducted by agents of the Altamaha Drug Task Force and the G.B.I. [Full Story »] 

Roger and Shonda Evans and Tammy Evans are proud to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Angelica Shay Evans, to Daniel Derek Johnson. [Full Story »] 

Kimmie Franklin and Marcus Oneal of Alma proudly announce the birth of their son Robert Lee Oneal. [Full Story »] 

The Long Riders Motorcycle Club will be having their third annual event Saturday, June 25, at the Progressive Resource Center (Old Junior High School) on Junior High Drive in Baxley. Please come and support the Long Riders Motorcycle Club for a full day of fun, food and activities. [Full Story »] 

The Baxley-Appling County Board of Tourism hosted their annual Altamaha River Rat Run Canoe Excursion on Saturday, June 4. It was a beautiful sunny morning with a slight breeze just right for canoeing. Despite the temperature (upper 90’s) 68 participants from all over Georgia (Alpharetta, Baxley, Blackshear, Brooklet, Brunswick, Byron, Cobbtown, Glennville, Hazlehurst, Jesup, Lizella, Lumber City, Macon, Mansfield, McRae, Mt. Vernon, Statesboro, Uvalda, Vidalia, Warner Robins, and Waycross) launched their canoes, kayaks, boats, and jet skis around 9:30 a.m. from the starting point of Deen’s Landing to make the 10-mile excursion to conclude at Davis Landing. This group consisted of both experienced and beginner paddlers. Many owned their own canoes and with the help of Altamaha Expeditions (owner Larry Brantley-Jesup) many were able to rent their canoes/kayaks. [Full Story »] 

Sheriff Benny DeLoach would like to report the following activity of the Appling County Sheriff’s Office.

On June 1, answered a call to Earl Cauley Road in reference to a domestic dispute. A complainant stated that a known offender came to her residence and threatened to burn her house down and kill everyone inside. The complainant was advised to see the magistrate judge. [Full Story »]