The Baxley News-Banner

Jacksonville Florida is approximately an hour from our house. St. Augustine is another thirty to forty-five minutes and Daytona Beach around three hours. The driving time to these locations is dependent on traffic and Big Red’s or Little Blue’s temperament. B. J. and I frequently skedaddle down to the Sunshine State for an outing. [Full Story »] 

Mother Eddie Mae Gibbs died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at Twin Oaks Convalescent Center in Alma. Mother Gibbs was born in Surrency on Sept. 18, 1929 to the late Ed and Dora Smith Golden. She was educated in the Appling County School System. Eddie Mae was united in marriage to Dewitt Gibbs and to this union two children were born. She served in the medical field for over thirty years both in Florida and Georgia. Ms. Gibbs retired from the Appling Healthcare System in Baxley. She was truly a blessing to all she came in contact with during her journey, whether as an ordained evangelist, Mother of the church or Sunday-School teacher at the Refuge Church of Our Lord in Carol City, FL or while attending Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in Baxley where Elder Norris Williams served as her spiritual leader. Mother Gibbs was loved and respected as a servant of God. [Full Story »] 

Dennie Kersey, 75, died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Appling Healthcare System. Dennie was born May 12, 1936 in Appling County to the late Elbert Shipes and the late Elvie Thomas Shipes. She was a member of Carter’s Chapel. Mrs. Kersey was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kersey. [Full Story »] 

David Murray, 73, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 in Appling Healthcare System. David was born March 10, 1938 in Appling County to the late Otis Eston Murray and the late Adell Eliza Campbell Murray. He was a retired carpenter. [Full Story »] 

Conual Wright died Jan. 25, 2012. He was born Jan. 7, 1942 to the late Rubenia Alderman and the late Cornell Wright of Baxley. Conual was preceded in death by his step-father, Ellis James Alderman, a sister, Myrtice Crosby and two daughters, Queenie Wright and Letisha Walton. He attended Appling County Consolidated School and graduated in 1962. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

The 64th Baxley/Appling County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, January 31 at the Baxley Church of God Social Hall. The event featured a number of honors and awards.

The 2012 Citizen of the Year Award went to Merry Burkett. Burkett was nominated by Cristen Floyd (see nomination letter below). [Full Story »] 

Could result in lower insurance rates for homeowners

By Jamie Gardner

The Appling County Board of Commissioners have been notified by ISO that Appling’s rural fire departments have met and completed the requirements of a Public Protection Class (PPC) survey. ISO’s analysis of the structural fire suppression delivery system, provided in the unincorporated portions of the county, has resulted in a better classification moving from an ISO rating of 9/10 to a rating of 8B/10. The new ratings will begin April 1. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

The community was shocked and saddened to here of the abrupt passing of Jasper Tomberlin on Saturday, February 4. Tomberlin was a devoted husband (wife, Jane) and father (daughters, Jenny, Jessica and Jill). He was also a farmer, contractor and was elected in 2010 to serve as Appling County Commissioner for District 3 (Surrency area). [Full Story »] 

(Editor’s note: The following information was presented by Appling County High School Principal Dr. Gene Starr at the Baxley/Appling County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 31.)

The Professional Association of Educators (PAGE) is the state coordinator and primary sponsor for the STAR program. The Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce cosponsor the state program, as well as the Baxley – Appling County Chamber of Commerce. [Full Story »] 

(Editor’s note: The following information was read by Appling Christian Academy’s Principal Jerome Grenade about the school’s 2012 STAR Student Kayla Bohannon at the Baxley/Appling County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Bohannon selected Melanie Claxton as her STAR Teacher.)

On behalf of our staff and school board, I wish to thank the chamber for the opportunity to honor and recognize Appling Christian Academy’s STAR Student and STAR Teacher for the 2011-2012 school year.

If I were to write a character sketch of our STAR Student it would comprise of several pages. For the sake of time, I would like to mention a few words that describe her character. Some of those would be winsome, intelligent, compassionate, integrity, delightful, impeccable, attentive, and most of all Christian. [Full Story »] 

The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development today announced two new Certified Work Ready Communities; a designation communicating a county has the skilled workforce needed to meet business demands and drive economic growth, as well as the educational foundation to build a pipeline of workers to create ongoing success. [Full Story »] 

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

Jan. 25, a routine traffic stop on Brobston/Penniman Street resulted in the arrest of Rodney Dewayne Hall, 26, of Hazlehurst. Hall was charged with two counts obstruction of an officer and a seatbelt violation.

Jan. 27, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office and the Fourth District Fire Department responded to a vacant mobile home on John Herndon Road, Surrency. The mobile home was completely destroyed. [Full Story »] 

Descendants of John Tyre, his first wife, Mary Jane Lightsey Tyre and his second wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Eason Tyre, will hold their annual reunion Saturday, February 25. The reunion will take place at Long Branch Community Center in Appling County. The center will open at noon with a short business meeting and lunch to follow. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Pirates were able to pick up two wins over the past week improving their record to 12-9 overall and 7-8 in Region 2AA play. [Full Story »]