The Baxley News-Banner

The Appling County Lady Pirates (5-5 Overall, 1-3 Region 1-AAA) traveled to face Bacon County (0-6, 0-3 2B-AA) on December 17 with the Lady Pirates winning 53-46. The Lady Pirates next traveled to Jeff Davis (8-2, 2-0 2B-AA) on December 19 and came up short 44-46. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Recreation Department will be having a mandatory meeting for adult basketball on Thursday, January 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Recreation Department Office.
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[Full Story »] 

I have to admit, I have struggled to get in the secular Christmas spirit this year. With all the commercialization and political correctness plaguing the holiday, it is becoming hard to figure out what we are truly celebrating. [Full Story »] 

Every Christmas season is different, but remarkably the same. Enchantment fills the air and brings out the best in people. Wreaths of cedar and holly with bright red ribbons appear on windows and doors. Snowflakes materialize on the main streets in Baxley, adding a cheerful shine to the night sky. And the Christmas trees appear all over town. I do love a Christmas tree and I love the season. [Full Story »] 

Good grief. I just took a peek at next week’s calendar. It says 2014. That can’t be correct. I’m still waiting for Y2K and for all our computers to crash. I must have overslept. [Full Story »] 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act otherwise known as “Obamacare” begins to take full effect on January 1, 2014 when the individual mandate requiring every qualifying American to secure health insurance or pay a monetary penalty. Without debating the overall merits of Obamacare, I believe this individual mandate will affect Appling Countians in three basic ways: (1) Those who currently have no health insurance must purchase the same for themselves and their families or face a penalty ranging from $695 - $2,085 annually; (2) Those who are currently in the individual insurance market will see a significant rise in monthly premiums; and (3) Those who have major medical coverage through an employer may see a moderate rise in premiums and, in some limited circumstances, may lose their coverage altogether. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor or to whom it may concern,

When passing someone on the street why do we label them? Is it because some are less fortunate than we are? We don’t know what condition a person is in or why people do what they do. I’m sure at one point or another they asked themselves, where do I belong? Or do I fit into society? [Full Story »] 

Miles-Nobles Funeral Home announces the death of Claudine Aldridge Crosby, 91 years of age, who left this life to be with her Lord and loved ones on December 18, 2013, in Jacksonville, Florida, after a brief illness. [Full Story »] 

Dalton C. Fowler, 78, of Surrency, died Monday, December 16, 2013 in The Pavilion. [Full Story »] 

Miles Funeral Home in Hazlehurst announces the funeral service for Eula Mae Yarbrough, 84, of Hazlehurst, who passed away Friday, December 13, 2013. Mrs. Yarbrough was born in Jeff Davis County. She was the daughter of the late Ed Varnadore and Evelyn Cain. Eula Mae was a retired textile inspector and was a member of the Northgate Baptist Church in Hazlehurst. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County School System’s Choral Department has done an outstanding job this holiday season performing for audiences. [Full Story »] 

The son of News-Banner Editor and Publisher Jamie Gardner, Cole Gardner, 13, captured this unusual photo on the way to school last week of the Moon as it was setting. [Full Story »] 

According to the Georgia Department of Education the rate of students graduating within four years at Appling County High School in 2013 rose to 83.4 percent, up from 71.7 percent in 2012. The statewide average is also on the rise from 71.6 percent in 2012 to 72.5 in 2013. [Full Story »] 

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, an arraignment hearing was held in the case State of Georgia vs. Jonathan Kyle Courson. During the hearing Jonathan Kyle Courson pled not guilty to a host of charges stemming from an incident that took place at Courson’s and his wife’s (Mandy) home located on Corey Street in Oak Ridge Subdivision on January 4, which resulted in the murder of Mandy Courson. [Full Story »]