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My wife works for a company that requires her to travel often and it turned out she had to make a trip to Thomasville on the next Saturday morning and be there early to train a new hire. She asked if I would like to accompany her and that if I did we would go on Friday afternoon, go out on a date at a fancy restaurant and spend the night, sort of a mini-honeymoon. I do not like her to travel so much but there is little I can do about it and I could tell she wanted me to go with her so I agreed, and besides, it’s not often we get to go anywhere together overnight without the kids. [Full Story »] 

Mamie Lou Ahl, 89, passed away Tuesday, November 27, at Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center in Pigeon Forge, TN. She was a native of Appling County and a member of Bethesda Baptist Church in Dublin. She was preceded in death by her husband, James F. Ahl; parents, William E. and Lela Carter; four sisters, Zeda Carter, Bea Carter McClain, Molly Carter Holton and Audrey Carter Calloway and three brothers, Staten Carter, Willis Carter and Wade Carter. [Full Story »] 

On Nov. 19, 2012 the Lord called The Rev. Burlester “Junior” Lamar Tillman, Jr. home. He was born Nov. 25, 1944 in Baxley. He attended the public schools of Appling County and later went on to The Fort Valley State College, in Fort Valley. Furthering his education, he also attended Nursing School and Emory-Candler School of Theology of Atlanta. Burlester was one of the first EMT’s and Bus Drivers of Appling County. [Full Story »] 

Luther Gordon “L.G.” Beecher, 80, passed away Sunday, November 18, at Candler Hospital in Savannah after an extended illness. He was a native and lifelong resident of Baxley. He was a Charter Member and Trustee of Faith Baptist Church where he taught the Senior Saints Sunday School Class since 1993. He was a former Deacon and Sunday School teacher for over 30 years at Friendship Congregational Christian Church. He loved his family, gardening, growing flowers with Mrs. Christine and riding his tractor. He enjoyed supplying friends and family with watermelon. He was an avid deer hunter and fisherman and he loved the Lord. [Full Story »] 

Ruth Campbell, 75, of Perry, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Ms. Campbell was born Oct. 30, 1937 in Lakewells, FL to the late Clarence Malone Dawson and the late Corine Bundy Dawson. She was a member of The Refuge Assembly of God. Ruth was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Campbell; two sons, Michael Lee Campbell and Anthony Wayne Campbell; one brother, William Earl Dawson and a former husband, Floyd Lee Campbell. [Full Story »] 

Michael Rodney Tillman, 53, of Surrency, died Nov. 24, 2012 in a car accident in Baxley. Tillman is the son of the late James and Della Mae Tillman. Michael Rodney was born Nov. 16, 1959. He was a life long resident of Appling County. Michael was a graduate of the Journeyman Ironworkers and was a Union member of the local 709. In addition to his parents, his brother, Jimmy Tillman, preceded him in death. [Full Story »] 

Freddie Lee Reynolds died Nov. 20, 2012 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup. Freddie was born Oct. 3, 1941 in Jeff Davis County to the late Odell Bryant and Maggie Thomas-Reynolds. [Full Story »] 

Judge E.M. Wilkes, III opened seventeen indictments in Appling County Superior Court on Nov. 20. The following subjects were indicted:

Chandler R. Byrd – 1. Aggravated assault. 2. Aggravated assault. 3. Possession of firearm during commission of a felony. 4. Discharge of gun near highway or street. 5. Reckless conduct. [Full Story »] 

On November 27, State USDA Rural Development Director Quinton Robinson announced the closure of the Baxley Rural Development Area Six Area Office which, has served the Southeast region of Georgia for over three decades. The closure is projected to be complete by Friday, December 7. Area Six operations will continue uninterrupted as the region’s sub-area offices in Statesboro, Blackshear and Douglas will remain open. The USDA Service Center located at 703 East Ward Street, Douglas, Georgia 30533 will be the new Area Office for Area Six. [Full Story »] 

Acclaimed film production company Cosgrove Meurer Productions, established by John Cosgrove and Terry Meurer in 1987 with the creation of Unsolved Mysteries, will unveil its new television show, The Family That Slays Together, on Thursday, December 6 at 10:00 p.m. on the Biography Channel. The premiere episode, Let’s Play Pirate, will focus on the murder of Nikki (Orvin) Bamberg, only 28 at the time of the murder, of Baxley. The murder transpired in Jeff Davis County in January 2008 near the Altamaha River on Georgia Highway 135. [Full Story »] 

Thousands flocked to downtown Baxley Saturday evening for the 19th annual Celebration of Light Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Baxley/Appling County Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber’s and the City of Baxley’s Winter Wonderland. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Lady Pirates (2-3 overall) basketball team started the season on November 17 against Vidalia losing 44-55. Leading scorers for the Lady Pirates were Briyanna Brantley 17 points, Alexus Boles six points, Lyeshia Russell five points and Karlee Carter five points. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Pirates (2-1 overall) basketball team started the season hosting Jeff Davis on November 27 with the Pirates getting the win over the Jackets 55-49. Leading the Pirates in scoring was Ronald Handsome 22 points, Jordan Vann 12 points, Anthony Rayner nine points and Kevin Johnson eight points. [Full Story »]