News

By Jamie Gardner

After two votes and tremendous debate between board members, Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, system staff and members of the public, the Appling County Board of Education voted to keep Fourth District Elementary School’s cafeteria open. The board and the community have been in discussion for several months about changing the cafeteria from a full service kitchen (which it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year) to a warming/serving kitchen (for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year), with food being prepared at Appling County Middle School and then transferred to Fourth District as a cost-saving measure. Board member Randy Crawford made a motion to maintain the “status quo” for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year meaning that the cafeteria will remain in full operation like it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Board member Randy Sellers seconded the motion. Sellers and Crawford as well as Scottie Ammons voted in favor of the motion. Board members M.C. Barlow and Minnie Barnes voted against the measure. [Full Story »] 

By Renee O’Quinn

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Esco Hall, Jr. presided at the Baxley City Council meeting held July 12. Mayor Steve Rigdon and Tim Varnadore were absent from the meeting. Council member Eugene Walker has resigned. This left only four council members for the July 12 meeting. Hall asked the attorney if they had enough council members for a quorum and City Attorney Alex Johnson stated that they did have enough council members for a quorum. [Full Story »] 

Need help with school supplies? The Appling County Youth Workers will be hosting the annual Baxley Back-To-School Giveaway on Saturday, July 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Baxley City Gym. [Full Story »] 

The Pine Forest Garden Club Garden of the Month for July is the yard of Karen and John Glenn. Their home is located at 865 Corey Street in Oak Ridge. Please feel free to go by and look at this beautiful yard. [Full Story »] 

The Black Heritage All Class reunion will be held this weekend Friday-Sunday, July 22 through July 24 at the Parker-Harrell Resource Center located on Junior High Drive and Allen Street here in Baxley. [Full Story »] 

The All Heritage Class reunion is in its 20th year of convening in Appling County. The reunion operating from the Savannah and Baxley chapters of Appling alumni gathers every two years to bring together classmates from far and near. (You do not have to be a graduate to participate). The classmates will gather at the Parker-Harrell building on Friday, July 22 for greeting and socializing. A breakfast is planned for 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning at Parker-Harrell and a delicious catered banquet will follow at 6:00 p.m., which will include the honoring of a distinguished member of the heritage reunion. [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 »] 

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 »]