Entries by Staff Writer

Trent Michael Ware is Salutatorian of the Appling County High School Class of 2013. He is the son of Kevin and Teresa Ware. Trent has received awards for academic achievement throughout high school. One that he is extremely proud of is the Academic Achievement Award in recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Placement United States History for having the highest average in his class. He received the same award for American Literature. Trent received the GREA academic award which was presented by the Appling County Retired Educators Association and Georgia Retired Educators Association. This award is part of the statewide program to recognize students who are to be commended for their high standards of academic achievements, their participation in school activities and their leadership qualities. Another honor he received was the Academic Achievement Award in recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Washington Youth Tour. He is a recipient of the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit Award. Trent has worked diligently to maintain a high average in his class throughout high school. He has been a goal card recipient all four years of high school. He was on the high honor roll from ninth through the twelfth grade. [Full Story »] 

John Ross Yeomans is the 2013 Appling Christian Academy Valedictorian. John Ross is the son of DeWayne and Linda Yeomans. He has been an ACA student for fourteen years starting in the four-year-old preschool program. He was a member and served as president of the ACA Christian Honor Society. He was also co-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. John Ross extracurricular activities include playing guitar for the Gathering Band and leading worship for the youth at church. [Full Story »] 

Joseph Benjamin Hiers and Luke Dylan White are Appling Christian Academy’s 2013 Salutatorians. Ben is the son of Joey and Teresa Hiers and has been an ACA student for thirteen years. He has been a member of the ACA Christian Honor Society for three years and senior class president for one year. Ben was a member of the Appling Christian Academy football team for four years, and was a member of the 2009 and the 2011 GCAA state football championship team, and the 2009 and 2010 NACA tournament championship team. He received several awards while playing football including: all-state second team and best offensive/defensive lineman. [Full Story »] 

Judge Roger B. Lane releases the list of names for the Traverse Civil Jury for May 29 at 9:30 a.m. The following people are on the list. [Full Story »] 

The Baxley-Appling County Board of Tourism had a successful Summer-Fall Season at the Appling County Farmers Market. The local farmers market is scheduled to re-open for the Spring-Summer Season on Saturday, May 18 at Caroline Miller Park, next to City Hall in front of the Appling County Public Library. The local market will be open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon through most of the Fall Season. There will be no entrance fee for farmers or for patrons. NO YARD SALE OR FLEA MARKET ITEMS WILL BE ALLOWED! [Full Story »] 

Stanley and Cassandra Baxley are proud to announce the birth of their little miracle, Anna Grace Baxley. [Full Story »] 

Shawn and Kelly Shipes are blessed to announce the birth of their daughter, Brigdon Shawn Shipes. [Full Story »] 

Mr. Eddie Hodges of Newington, and Mrs. Tracy Hodges Smith of Statesboro, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sandy Ellyn Hodges, to Christopher Matthew Hunt, son of Matt and Tamra Hunt of Odum. [Full Story »] 

The Appling County Pirate’s (20-7 overall) first round of the GHSA AAA State Playoffs series against Central-Carroll (12-14) was postponed until Monday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m. due to heavy rain. [Full Story »] 

By Meredith Belcher

The following Lady Pirates track team finished fourth or better at the region track meet that was held at South East Bulloch High School, in Brooklet on April 15 and 16.  As a result of their accomplishments they qualified to go on to state sectionals that were also held at South East Bulloch on Saturday, April 27.  At sectionals the top eight finishers go on to compete at state. [Full Story »] 

As I listened to retired U.S. Army Staff Sargent and member of the singing group 4Troops Ron Henry share his testimony at Mayor Steve Rigdon’s annual Prayer Breakfast, held last Thursday on the National Day of Prayer, it was evident how God has worked through this soldier’s life. Henry shared an emotional experience of how he and other soldiers came under fire from insurgents with AK-47s at close range while traveling in a vehicle. As the shots rang out Henry stated he immediately began to ask for God’s protection and added that not one soldier in the military vehicle was harmed. To me, that’s evidence enough that God hears the prayers of the righteous. [Full Story »] 

I was in the grocery store the other day when I felt the presence of a Spirit from my youth. I turned around and caught Jerry Lee Braswell sneaking up on me. He started laughing and grabbed my hand and we embraced like the friends we are. Jerry Lee is only one of the many black men this white man respects and knows well. [Full Story »] 

Expectantly, he sat on the examining table gazing at the door with steady, unblinking eyes. The smell of antiseptic hung in the air, and a male assistant stood beside him to make sure the elderly patient didn’t fall. A scale waited directly in front of him to report on his eating habits. A variety of pill bottles, some horse-sized and some much smaller, sat on a shelf beside the roll of gauze. He could hear the receptionist who’d greeted him as he came in talking on the phone down the hall. [Full Story »]