News

By Jamie Gardner
(Taken from video recording of meeting)

The first meeting in 2012 of the Mayor and Council of the City of Graham was held on Monday, Jan. 23 and was interesting to say the least. The meeting featured six votes by council members and six vetoes by Mayor Lonnie Crosby on three action items and one shoving match between attendees at the meeting. [Full Story »] 

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

On Jan. 25, answered a call to Glory Hole Road in reference to suspicious activity. A log truck was found to be stolen from the City of Baxley. Investigation led to the arrest of Kesha Lynn Meeks, 34, of Baxley, Michael Calvin Meeks, 54, of Baxley, Ronnie Smith, 57 of Hazlehurst, and Ricky Stewart Love, 40, of Hazlehurst. All four subjects have been charged with theft by taking. [Full Story »] 

On Thursday, January 26, Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, principals and employees of Appling County Primary School and Appling County Middle School met with various dignitaries to officially cut the ribbon on new facilities at both schools. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

The Appling County Board of Education (BOE) held a regular monthly meeting on Monday, January 23. During the meeting Superintendent Scarlett Copeland submitted a priority list for the proposed Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax IV (ESPLOST). The priorities include intermingling technology, textbooks, and transportation and establishes the following project priorities: 1. Technology (system-wide); 2. Altamaha Elementary projects; 3. Appling Primary/Elementary Complex projects; 4. Appling County High School projects; 5. Appling County Middle School projects; and 6. Bus Shop/ Bd. Office. [Full Story »] 

By Renee O’Quinn

The Baxley City Council held their regular meeting Jan. 24. The council discussed two bids on a farm lease of 25.6 acres, for property owned by the city, located on Highway U.S. 1 South. City Manager Jeff Baxley made a recommendation to go with the high bid given by BASH Farms (Micheal John Baxley and Shawn Shipes) for $2,432.00 annually ($95.00 per acre) and would be contingent upon meeting all contract requirements. Council member Mickey Bass made a motion to approve the manager’s recommendation. Council member Betty Livingston made a second and the item was unanimously approved. [Full Story »] 

Judge E. M. Wilkes, III releases the names for Grand Jury for February 13 at 9:00 a.m. The names are as follows:

Eleanor H. Lightsey, Melinda K. Harvey, Stephen Carter, Maria Armstrong, David Reynolds, Floyd O. Eason Jr., Lizzie M. Cromartie, Juan L. Cortes, Bruce Rentz, Bruce A. Carson, Robert G. Walker, Tabitha L. Holmes, Glynda B. Reeves, Forrest Wildes, Mitchell L. Russell, Cynthia Altman, Wardetha McCall, Vincent Chance, Alnorris Butler, Marianne M. Rigdon, Melanie R. Howard, Randy L. Sellers, Jeanette C. Hayes and J. E. Roberson. [Full Story »] 

Appling County Primary School will host a Scholastic Book Fair beginning Monday, January 30 through Friday, February 3. The Book Fair will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be located in the school’s media center. [Full Story »] 

The National Guard members of Detachment 1 Battery B 1st BN. 230th Artillery, formerly the Appling County unit, have a special invitation to attend the planning of a National Guard reunion at B.G.’s Family Steakhouse Feb. 7 at 6:00 p.m. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Miss Relay for Life Pageant will be held on Saturday, February 11 at the Appling County Elementary Complex.

The pageant will consist of different age divisions: Baby-0-12 Months; Teeny 13-23 Months; Tiny 2-3 Years; Little 4-6 Years; Petite-7-9 Years; Junior 10-12 Years; Teen 13-16 Years and Miss 17-21 Years. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Retired Educators met on Dec. 7 at the Baxley Church of God Fellowship Hall. David Williams played Christmas songs on the piano as members and guests signed in. The meeting was called to order by President Patsy Buchannan. Judy Johnson gave the inspiration. She read “The Purpose of Christmas” by Rick Warren. Roscoe Davis led the pledge to the flag. Linda Kay Eunice, Carol Surrency and Carolyn Wade led the group in singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, “Silent Night” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The group especially enjoyed singing The “Twelve Days of Christmas” as Linda Kay had each table perform one of the days of Christmas. [Full Story »] 

Sonny Simmons, Lamar Simmons, Rennae Griffin and families will be honoring their mother and grandmother for her 95th birthday on Sunday, February 5. [Full Story »] 

Cub Scouts of Den Four earned the rank of Bear at the Cub Scouts Pack 472 January meeting. [Full Story »]