The Baxley News-Banner

This past Wednesday members of the Appling Christian Eagle Football team of 2011 received their championship rings. The Eagle football team won the Georgia Christian Athletic Association eight-man football championship this past November defeating the King’s Way Challengers from Douglasville. [Full Story »] 

Katia Copeland and Kenneth Miles of Baxley proudly announce the birth of their son, Kenneth Wayne Miles-Copeland.  [Full Story »] 

Nick and Jennifer Overstreet of Alma are proud to announce the birth of their twin sons, Nicholas Knox Overstreet (left) and Robert Maddox Overstreet (right). [Full Story »] 

Jimmie Kaye Buffkin of Jesup announces the engagement of her daughter, Rachel Lauren Ogden of Jesup, to Grayson Stuart Griffis of Baxley, son of Greg and Amy Bedingfield Griffis of Baxley. [Full Story »] 

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Burkett are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Kenya Burkett, to Phillip Hamilton, son of Mrs. Gertrude Hamilton and the late Mr. Willie Hamilton.

The bride-elect is the maternal granddaughter of Nettie M. Smith and the late William H. Smith, Sr. Her paternal grandparents are Alfreida Burkett and the late Rudolph Burkett.  [Full Story »] 

I have heard a number of comments made about this newspaper and yours truly the past several weeks that are unwarranted or straight out inaccurate.

I have personally been accused of not doing enough with regard to reporting or for not offering an opinion of my own about the recent shooting that tragically took place in our county involving Marine James Dixon, the Appling County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia State Patrol SWAT Team. From my vantage point, this has been one of the most divisive issues I’ve ever witnessed in our community. [Full Story »] 

Rarely do I ever go see a movie after I’ve read the book it was based on, especially if I liked the book. I know the movie will leave half of the plot out, or change the plot so much I will hardly recognize it. The first time I saw Gone with the Wind, I was angry. I wanted every single tidbit of the book, every detail. Where were Scarlett’s other two children? And what about her first husband, Charles? Before I ever saw it, I’d read the book about ten times. I could practically recite it. How dare they change it so much? A couple of years ago a friend and I, both Jodi Picoult fans, went to see My Sister’s Keeper. If I had not read the book, I would have been impressed, but I was too busy remembering what actually happened in the book to enjoy what was happening in the movie. It was hardly the same story at all. [Full Story »] 

My Mother is the most determined and strong willed person I have ever known; not the smartest, but the most determined and strong willed. I mean that if she tells you to put a round peg into a square hole and you can’t make it fit, she’ll knock you out of the way, grab a hammer and say to the peg, “Bless Patty, peg you’re going in there and I mean now!! Hold that peg still, Boy, and stop whining about your hand or I’ll use this hammer on your hard head! You watch this and learn!!” [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

The article by Mrs. Mary Ann Ellis on April 18, entitled “Trial by Media”, was a great article that should be an eye opener for our community. It should teach us all a lesson about the consequences of jumping to conclusions and forming opinions without knowing all of the facts about a case. [Full Story »] 

Shykela Michelle Nails and Christopher M. Smith, of Baxley, proudly announce the birth of their daughter, J’myrica Amari Lynn Smith. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

On April 9, I traveled from Reidsville to Baxley to attend the Executive Board Meeting of Concerted Services. As I crossed Lanes Bridge I was aware that I had struck something on the road with my car and as I traveled a few miles farther into Appling County it became obvious that I had experienced a blown tire. [Full Story »] 

The 2012 production by the Lyons Better Hometown Association of the Tales from the Altamaha at the popular Blue Marquee Theater, in Lyons, was another rousing success. Sellout crowds gave remarkable applause to this year’s exciting performance Front Porches, Rocking Chairs and Sweet Tea. [Full Story »] 

Miriam Garcia and Gabriel Marin Lopez of Baxley proudly announce the birth of their son, Gabriel Alejandrino Marin.  [Full Story »]