The Baxley News-Banner

Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Pye of Lyons announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Tiffany Michelle Pye of Lyons, to Norman Keith McKinney of Baxley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman McKinney of Baxley.
The bride-elect is the maternal granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lilliott. Her paternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Willard Pye. [Full Story »] 

See the numbers above? The first is the total number of registered lobbyists in the state of Georgia during 2011. The second is the total dollar amount of gifts that the 1,493 registered lobbyists gave to your state legislators in 2011 (at least that was reported). [Full Story »] 

Uncle Three Sheets, the greatest fisherman that ever lived, used to tell this story. He said he was fishing and came across a large moccasin with a huge bullfrog in its jaws. Knowing the frog was good bass bait; he reached down, grabbed the snake, pried the frog loose and threw it in the live well. Now he had to figure out how to dislodge the snake that had coiled around his arm. He pulled his bottle of Early Times from a back pocket and poured a big swig into the snake’s mouth. The snake swallowed and immediately uncoiled from around Uncle Three Sheets arm and hung loosely down. Uncle Three Sheets threw the snake up on the bank and continued fishing. He said that about thirty minutes later he felt a tug at his ankle and looked down and there was that snake again. This time the snake had two frogs in his mouth. [Full Story »] 

I struggled my way through childhood in Hazlehurst over on Gill Street in what is now a parking lot. As a matter of fact, my sister Sarah Nell likes to tell people that we grew up in a parking lot—not entirely true, but close to one even then. After hours and on weekends, we rode our bikes in the parking lots of what everyone in town called the slip factory. I’m sure it had an official name, but I can’t remember now what it was. I even worked in that factory for a while when I was older, cashed checks from there, but the factory’s real name escapes me. [Full Story »] 

It seems like only yesterday that one of the most important events in my and B. J.’s life occurred. I was the pastor of the Graham United Methodist Church. It was Memorial Day 1993. I was walking for my health. I often walked from the Graham parsonage to Mt. Zion Baptist Church--a good walk. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

After fifty years of teaching, Mr. Herman Ray Long calls it quits. He was born in Pineville, Kentucky, in a family of four sisters and two brothers. He was born in his home. His teaching career began a long time ago when he graduated from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY, where he received a B.S. Degree in Education. After graduating from Cumberland College he began teaching in Ohio where he taught four years in two different school systems. It seems his teaching career was interrupted for a couple of years in 1970-71 while he managed a Burger Chef Restaurant. His restaurant work did not last long, because he wanted to go back to teaching. He had a friend in Richmond Hill and decided to apply in school systems in surrounding areas. He put in an application in Appling County and was hired to teach at Appling County Comprehensive High School. He taught Social Science and English for one year and taught Social Science for eighteen years. During this time, Mr. Long taught some courses at Brewton Parker College and also taught many classes in prisons in Georgia. He continued his education during the summer by attending Georgia Southern College where he received a Master’s Degree, a six-year degree, and certification in media library science. He retired from Appling County Comprehensive High School in 1990. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor and fellow citizens,

Attention fellow citizens of Appling County; my name is Sarah Leggett Tanaka, an insulin dependent diabetic. In April I had a toe to get infected and I went to see my doctor as usual. They said I would have to see another. I never get to see my doctor. The doctor continuously changed my antibiotics. I told him time after time I needed an x-ray and probably antibiotics through an I.V. He never did either; another toe became infected and moved into the foot and up my leg. I still never got to see my doctor. He never one time saw my foot in the month this went on. On Friday, 5-25-12, I went to the ER. The doctor there never examined my foot just said he was going to change my antibiotic and give me a pain shot. I said, “No, if you can’t help me I am out of here.” It’s a shame when you get sick and can’t even see your doctor and none of the others care. [Full Story »] 

Sarah Belle McGowin, 84, of Xenia, Ohio, passed away Monday, June 4, 2012 at Hospice of Dayton, Ohio. She was born in August 1927 in Xenia, the daughter of Clyde and Mildred (Willett) LaFollette.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John McGowin; brother, Vernon Gail LaFollette; and sister, Juanita Bowermeister. [Full Story »] 

Thomas Nelson Williams, 51, of Hazlehurst, died Friday, June 1, 2012. Williams was born in Alma but had lived most of his life in Hazlehurst. He was the son of the late Wynell Quinn Williams. He was employed with Beasley Forest Products and was a member of the Baxley Holiness Church. [Full Story »] 

The Baxley News-Banner confirmed on Monday that Graham Mayor Lonnie Crosby has withdrawn an appeal he made in Superior Court in Appling County regarding a vote taken by the city council to remove him from office. In February, city council members John Fogerty, Lee Bass and Jesse Conaway voted to remove Crosby from office following an internal investigation into Crosby’s conduct as mayor that was performed/investigated by Graham City Attorney Nathan Deaton. Council member Susie Meeks abstained from the vote. [Full Story »] 

A major overhaul this summer of Georgia’s jury system will expand the local jury pool to include every citizen who legally is eligible. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

Following recommendations from the City of Baxley Council and Appling County Commissioners, the Baxley – Appling County Hospital Authority voted in a new set of members at its May 30 meeting. An election was held to fill one unexpired term (seat held by Roger Branch who resigned) and three positions that the current terms expire on June 30. For Branch’s seat, Virginia Herrington was elected, and for the three remaining seats Peggy Miles, Mark Barnes and John Glenn were elected. [Full Story »] 

By Matt Gardner

The Appling County Board of Commissioners held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 5 in the Appling County Courthouse Annex. During the meeting the commissioners opened sealed bids on the 28 miles to be resurfaced throughout Appling County. Bids were received from J. Heirs and Company, Ricketson Construction Inc., Everett Dykes Grassing Co. and Littlefield Construction Co. The bids will be reviewed by County Manager Lee Lewis and County Road Department Manager Tommy Davis with the Commissioners to make a decision at a called meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 12 at 8:00 a.m. [Full Story »]