News

Appling County Primary School – Monday, August 8, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Appling County Elementary School – Monday, August 8, 2011 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. [Full Story »] 

Editor and Publisher Jamie Gardner is excited to announce that the The Baxley News-Banner has won first place in the National Newspaper Association’s (NNA) Better Newspaper Contest category for Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series. Gardner received notification from the national association on July 19. [Full Story »] 

By Matt Gardner

During the regularly scheduled meeting of the Appling County Board of Commissioners held on July 19 the commissioners discussed the issue of using Lake Mayers for irrigation. County manager Lee Lewis stated that according to the minutes from a meeting from 1981, a letter was sent to the commissioners addressing the issue and stated that Lake Mayers was to be used primarily for recreational use. Lewis also informed the commissioners that the letter also told that if Lake Mayers was not used primarily for public recreational use then the grants issued to Appling County to construct Lake Mayers would be subject to be repaid. The final information shared from the letter was that it would be considered safe to irrigate from Lake Mayers as long as the level remained at or above 208 ft. above sea level, which is when water is flowing over the lake spillway. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

On Friday, July 22 local citizens and leaders had an opportunity to meet with state officials to discuss statewide reapportionment/redistricting. At the invitation of Georgia Representative Tommy Smith (R-Nichols, represents Appling), the Chairman of the Georgia House/Senate Committee established for reapportionment Rep. Roger Lane (R - Darien) was in attendance to discuss the topic at hand. [Full Story »] 

Come see what the buzz is all about! Open enrollment at Altamaha Elementary School is currently being held for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. [Full Story »] 

The annual Jimmy Lee and Mattie Lee Johns Johnson family reunion will be held at Lake Mayers (formerly People State Bank Lodge) July 30. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County High School Class of 1971 will have a 40-year reunion on September 10, 2011 at Sarah’s In the City restaurant starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be a charge per person. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

After two votes and tremendous debate between board members, Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, system staff and members of the public, the Appling County Board of Education voted to keep Fourth District Elementary School’s cafeteria open. The board and the community have been in discussion for several months about changing the cafeteria from a full service kitchen (which it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year) to a warming/serving kitchen (for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year), with food being prepared at Appling County Middle School and then transferred to Fourth District as a cost-saving measure. Board member Randy Crawford made a motion to maintain the “status quo” for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year meaning that the cafeteria will remain in full operation like it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Board member Randy Sellers seconded the motion. Sellers and Crawford as well as Scottie Ammons voted in favor of the motion. Board members M.C. Barlow and Minnie Barnes voted against the measure. [Full Story »] 

By Renee O’Quinn

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Esco Hall, Jr. presided at the Baxley City Council meeting held July 12. Mayor Steve Rigdon and Tim Varnadore were absent from the meeting. Council member Eugene Walker has resigned. This left only four council members for the July 12 meeting. Hall asked the attorney if they had enough council members for a quorum and City Attorney Alex Johnson stated that they did have enough council members for a quorum. [Full Story »] 

Need help with school supplies? The Appling County Youth Workers will be hosting the annual Baxley Back-To-School Giveaway on Saturday, July 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Baxley City Gym. [Full Story »] 

The Pine Forest Garden Club Garden of the Month for July is the yard of Karen and John Glenn. Their home is located at 865 Corey Street in Oak Ridge. Please feel free to go by and look at this beautiful yard. [Full Story »] 

The Black Heritage All Class reunion will be held this weekend Friday-Sunday, July 22 through July 24 at the Parker-Harrell Resource Center located on Junior High Drive and Allen Street here in Baxley. [Full Story »] 

The All Heritage Class reunion is in its 20th year of convening in Appling County. The reunion operating from the Savannah and Baxley chapters of Appling alumni gathers every two years to bring together classmates from far and near. (You do not have to be a graduate to participate). The classmates will gather at the Parker-Harrell building on Friday, July 22 for greeting and socializing. A breakfast is planned for 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning at Parker-Harrell and a delicious catered banquet will follow at 6:00 p.m., which will include the honoring of a distinguished member of the heritage reunion. [Full Story »]