Entries by Staff Writer

According to the calendar, summer started officially on June 21 at 1:16 p.m. Eastern Time. However, I didn’t notice at all because it’s been HOT here for months now. National Geographic tells me that June 21 was also the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the summer solstice, which is a result of the earth’s north-south axis being tilted 23.4 degrees relative to the sun. This tilt causes different amounts of sunlight to reach different regions of the planet. Now all that information is fascinating, but the crux of the matter is that it’s agonizingly hot and dry here where I live. We are a mere eighteen days into the summer season. Can I possibly survive all the pleasures of summer, which doesn’t end until Friday, September 23? That sounds like light years from now. Besides, we all know the heat doesn’t evaporate from Georgia air in September. It could be November. Maybe summer would slip by more quickly if I enjoyed its various pleasures more. [Full Story »] 

Charles Edward “Charlie” Beach, 62, died Friday, July 1, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Beach was born Nov. 2, 1948 in Jeff Davis County to the late Allen T. Beach and the late Mary Louise Andrews Beach. He was a member of Friendship Congregational Christian Church and was a veteran of the United States Army. He had over 30 years of law enforcement service in Appling County. Mr. Beach was preceded in death by a sister, Brenda Beach. [Full Story »] 

Dr. James Bedingfield, Sr., 90, died Monday, July 4, 2011 at his residence in Milton. Dr. Bedingfield was born March 8, 1921 in Cadwell to the late Reason Andrew Bedingfield and the late Flaurie Proctor Bedingfield. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Baxley. Dr. Bedingfield was a graduate of UGA and the Medical College of Georgia. He started his practicing of medicine from 1948 to 2007 and delivered over 1,000 babies. Dr. Bedingfield was a member of USGA, Medical College of Georgia Alumni AMA. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Aircorp having served as a rank of Captain. Dr. Bedingfield was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Bedingfield and a sister, Fannie Jo Bedingfield Holt. [Full Story »] 

Estefania Escamilla, age six, died Saturday, July 2, 2011 in the Appling Healthcare System. She was born August 17, 2004 in Evans County and had resided in Glennville. Estefania was in the first grade and attended Tattnall County Elementary School. [Full Story »] 

Nathaniel (Pete Jr.) Jones, the son of the late Nathaniel Sr. and Ella Jones was born in Jesup on Aug. 28, 1931 and died Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at Appling Nursing and Rehabilitation Pavilion in Baxley. He was a member of Surrency Grove Baptist Church. In addition to his parents his wife, Annie Ruth Jones, his daughter, Mary E. Jordan, brothers, Joe Louis and Robert Jones and a sister, Almeda Hayes, also preceded him in death. [Full Story »] 

Rebecca Sue Parker, 50, died Monday, July 4, 2011. Rebecca was a native of Detroit, Michigan. She was born March 16, 1961. [Full Story »] 

David Thomas, 66, died Tuesday, July 5, 2011. David was born March 7, 1945 in Chatham County to the late Charlie Thomas and the late Novedene Durrance Edenfield. He was a member of Lumber City Church of God. Mr. Thomas was employed with Boilermakers Union No. 26. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Melvin Thomas and Hughes “Butch” Thomas. [Full Story »] 

The following are highlights of incidents that were handled by officers of the Baxley Police Department over the past couple of weeks.

June 6 at approximately 7:00 a.m., answered a call to RB Pump in reference to a theft. On arrival the complainant told officers that person(s) unknown had removed a blue in color Miller 400P welding machine from his shop. The stolen welder has been entered in the GCIC computer network as being stolen. [Full Story »] 

The Baxley News-Banner was informed by Appling County Clerk of Court Floyd Hunter on Monday, July 11 that those called for Civil Petit Jury Duty for July 18 do not have to report to court for duty. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

A monitoring team for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) visited the Appling County School System on June 19 - 21. Since August 2010 the system has been on “Probation” with the SACS, which is one step from losing accreditation. Following the June 19 - 21 visit, the team issued a new report that states that the system has moved one step closer to totally regaining its coveted accreditation moving to a status of now “Warned”. [Full Story »] 

By Cameron Harrelson

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp visited Baxley and spoke at the South Georgia Republican Luncheon on July 6 as part of his campaign promise to attend at least one GOP event each month. Kemp spoke to the crowd of around thirty Republicans about how the Secretary of State’s office has made cuts, and how it has improved. [Full Story »] 

Sheriff Benny DeLoach would like to report the following activity of the Appling County Sheriff’s Office.

July 1, answered a call to Beatrice Lane in reference to damage to property. A complainant stated she and the known offender got into an argument and the offender damaged the complainant’s vehicle. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

When we recount our day is it not filled with minute and mostly unimportant details? Maybe a conversation with a crush, which led to absolutely nowhere, or a television show that likewise did little other than further distract you from the prison called life. [Full Story »] 

Pre-Kindergarten

Required: fitted crib sheet, towel or small blanket (please keep in mind the size of our cubbies when choosing covers; a beach towel will work well.), Book bag (large enough to keep a folder and covers in) and a change of clothes (please place in a Ziploc with name on the bag). Make sure your child’s name is on all items with a permanent marker.

Wish List: box of tissues, baby wipes, Clorox wipes, one-inch white, clear-view cover, three-ring binder (for memory books) and for the nurse: band aids (any size) and baby wipes. [Full Story »]