The MOU will now refer the proposal to the Pierce County Board of Assessors for tax abatement considerations.

There were some concerns voiced about the project however.

Prior to the question being called, Anne Williams of Patterson interrupted the meeting from the gallery and said she had questions about the proposal.

County Chairman Neal Bennett asked commissioners for guidance and the commission agreed to allow public input.

In addition to Williams, several others spoke, including Linda Herrin, Victor Balaguer and Dawn Thompson.

Ian Evans of Stratum Land and Energy Partners, representing Grenergy, and Industrial Development Authority director Blake James gave information and answered questions about the proposed development.

Williams asked for more details about the development itself with follow-up questions about fire danger and water usage. Herrin also asked for details about the tax abatement and who the BESS would be storing power for.

The first details of the proposed BESS facility were presented last month.

Grenergy USA is an Alabama based company and is the U.S. branch of an energy solutions company from Spain. Grenergy has identified Pierce County as the potential site for what would be the second of only two privately-owned BESS facilities in Georgia.

The BESS operation would be a 20 acre facility on Tyre Bridge and Sinclair Roads in the Offerman and Patterson areas. The project represents an approximately $177.9 million investment with tax revenue on personal property associated with the project beginning to flow into Pierce County coffers by 2030.

Officials have stressed the BESS project is not a data center, bitcoin mine or solar farm.

Evans explained BESS facilities purchase electricity during low demand time periods and then bank that energy, selling it back to the local utility during high volume, high demand periods. He indicated Georgia Power would be the utility purchasing the power. In this way they generate a profit while also reinforcing and boosting the local power grid, ensuring there is plentiful energy during peak seasons when usage levels are at their highest.

Such reinforcement of the power grid could be useful not just during peak seasons like summer, when everyone wants to keep cool and air conditioners run almost constantly, but also during severe weather events. If downed lines disconnect a utility provider’s substation from the main power plant, BESS units can step in to temporarily supply energy to communities still connected to the substation.

In response to the question about tax abatement, Evans said abatements will assist the project in being competitive.

In earlier discussions, it was reported that over the projected 15 year lifespan of the BESS site, an estimated $9,914,970 of tax revenue would be paid to Pierce County. However, Grenergy would receive tax abatements over a 15 year period. The company would receive tax breaks early in the abatement period, but would gradually pay increasing amounts each year over the 15 year period.

Evans and James pointed out there is little demand on the county or any local government entity because the BESS does not use water or additional utilities, does not require additional infrastructure and will not cause an influx of workers and families that will require more roads, schools and other services.

Evans explained the battery storage units would be similar to truck containers and would be monitored 24/7.

He explained the fire danger is minimal, but also said the systems are designed for safety to contain the damage in case of a fire.

In addition to the tax revenue, Grenergy is promising to deliver $20,000 in available scholarship funds for graduating Pierce County High School seniors each year and $15,000 in donations to the Pierce County Fire Department for the purchase of new equipment for 15 years.

The Board of Assessors will now handle the next step. An agreement on the tax abatements must be reached before the project can move forward.

The next board of assessors meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. today, Wednesday, August 12, at the Board of Assessors office at the Courthouse Annex at 312 Nichols Street in Blackshear.

During an initial meeting last month, the board of assessors was cautious on the abatement issue, but agreed to work toward an agreement.

Citing a letter from interim County Manager Thomas Sauls to The Blackshear Times, published in the August 5 edition, members of the Blackshear City Council present at the August 4 work session discussed the precise meaning of a paragraph toward the end of Sauls’s letter. [Editors note: The print date of The Times is the Wednesday of each week, but copies are typically available on local newsstands by Tuesday afternoon.]

The specific passage in question reads as follows: “If you live anywhere in Pierce County and you would like to continue receiving permits and inspections from the Pierce County Planning and Codes Department, know this, we are here to serve you. We do not have any intergovernmental agreements with any city within Pierce County that will prevent us from serving you when it comes to building permits and inspections. However, we do have a zoning/land use ordinance for Pierce County and the cites of Blackshear, Offerman and Patterson that was approved November 10, 2020 with the assistance by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission.”

Meanwhile, city officials point to the Georgia state constitution, a portion of which was printed and distributed along with the agenda for the August 4 meeting.

Article IX, Section II, titled “Home rule for counties and municipalities”, Paragraph III outlines supplementary powers, the twelfth of which is “Codes, including building housing, plumbing, and electrical codes”. Further on, it reads “Unless otherwise provided by law... no county may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or provide any service listed therein inside the boundaries of any municipality or any other county except by contract with the municipality or county affected.”

The generally understood purpose of such a provision is to prevent cities and the counties they reside in from competing for the same service.

The Blackshear City Council contends this is exactly what the paragraph in Sauls’s letter proposes—the county can and will duplicate services the city offers to its residents. They also say there is no agreement in place allowing the county to offer the services in question to city residents.

Mayor Keith Brooks (Pierce County) don’t have an inter-governmental agreement saying they would do it, so we don't need to have an inter-governmental agreement saying they won't” Sauls doesn't see it that way. He feels the city not only needs to present signed documents saying they no longer require the county to handle permits and code enforcement for them, but also that it would be irresponsible and a disservice to Pierce County citizens to cease doing so before it has been legally established Blackshear has everything in place to do the job. “We don’t know the names of the people doing the inspections and enforcement. We don’t know what the fees are,” said Sauls.

In the words of one city council member, “They probably aren’t talking to an attorney over there.” But Sauls says making sure everything is legal is his priority, “We’re going to be meeting with the county attorney and were going to make sure we’re legal, but I’m not pulling the plug out of the bathtub until I know they (Blackshear) are 100 percent.”

At the heart of the issue is the proposed start date for Blackshear to begin their own permitting and code enforcement. Sauls says he wrote his Aug. 5 letter to The Times to clarify where and how he arrived at the July 1 start date. He points to official documents provided to the county with Mayor Brooks’s signature giving a July 1 date, and reiterates the point from his most recent letter, “neither the Chief of Police nor the Mayor of Blackshear never informed the Pierce County Board Commissioners of said information in a newly revised formal written notice with an effective starting date of August 3.”

“If you say somebody over here isn’t doing their job you come to me and I will make it right, and I did,” says Sauls. “I tried to get them (Blackshear) to rescind what they had done and redo this whole thing.”

So far, he city seems content to continue quietly moving forward. Beyond the discussion at their work session, they have issued no further public statements on the matter and stand by their previous public notice informing both the county and the public of their intention to assume direct control of zoning, permits and code enforcement. Until the city’s own zoning board is in place, the city is content for the county to legally continue handling zoning requests. As it takes two readings of an ordinance prior to an actual vote to establish a city zoning board, it will not be until at least September such a body can be established.

As for building permits, city officials say things are ready to go. As previously reported, any parties wishing to build within the city limits should now inquire about permits at the Blackshear Police Station, 219 Nichols Street in Blackshear.

The board approved submitting an application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the construction of a new food pantry.

The commission approved McCall and Associates of Valdosta as the architect for the project. During a recent assessment, McCall and Associates scored highest. The other bidder was Roberts Civil Engineering of Blackshear.

The commission also approved a resolution declaring there are no conflicts of interest with the project, which is standard when applying for a CDBG grant.

www.theblacksheartimes.com Plans call for the facility to be constructed on property the county already owns on Grady Street at the site of the old Grady Street School.

“This is something we’ve needed for a long time. There is a desperate need for cooler space and space for staple goods,” said County Chairman Neal Bennett.

The Food Pantry is currently housed in the Pierce County Senior Center on Carter Avenue in Blackshear. However, the food pantry frequently lacks adequate space for food storage and food distribution.

CDBG grants are generally awarded in the fall by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

1 st

Day of

School

It’s that time again. First day of school for the 2026-2027 school year arrived last Wednesday, August 5.

There were the usual traffic back ups, but no major ‘first day’ problems were reported.

A total of 3,472 students showed up at the county’s five campuses, an increase of 47 over last year’s first day. Patterson Elementary pre-kindergarten student James Callahan waves to his parents as he begins his first day of school.

Daylen Salts, a Patterson Elementary School second grader, is ready to begin school.

More back to school pictures on page 10.

Readers’ Back-to-School Pictures

The county approved transferring a 4.401 acre lot of land to the City of Patterson for the purpose of building an airport.

Interim County Manager Thomas Sauls said Patterson Mayor Dedi Thomas had contacted him about the possibility of the city getting the tract.

The county was deeded the land as a gift in 2006 from David Herrin.

Sauls said his conversation with Thomas led to Tuesday night’s agenda item.

“This is about economic development. Every county and city that is growing has access to an airport and we don’t have one,” Thomas said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but it is a start.”

Thomas said the 4.4 acre tract will be one of two options under consideration. He did not elaborate on the second option.

The 4.4 acre tract is located right behind the old Georgia Forestry Commission site the city gained ownership of about two years ago. The city obtained the location on Georgia Highway 32 East from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The tract transferred to Patterson adjoins the forestry commission site and already contains an airstrip and a hangar, though both are in disrepair.

The property is valued at about $25,000.

The vote to approve the transfer of the land was unanimous.

The August 4 work session of Blackshear’s City Council included some civil but spirited debate about proposed solutions to trash cans crowding the rights-of-way along city streets.

When most of us learned to drive, we were told to always check your mirrors. Ordinarily, this was to make sure you didn’t run over anyone or anything while driving in reverse. In some parts of Blackshear, the phrase is more of a warning to watch out for trash cans along the side of the road.

Mayor Keith Brooks says a frequent complaint brought to him while campaigning for re-election last year was the presence of the familiar red Republic trash cans crowding one or both sides of the road, which forces traffic closer together, causing one party to slow or stop so the other can pass or resulted in a vehicle’s side mirror smashing into the trash can. Seeking to fulfill a campaign promise, Brooks made his proposal, then opened the floor for discussion by the city council and department heads present at the meeting.

Brooks’s proposed solution was a resolution requiring residents to pull their trash cans back from the right of way beside the road and onto their own property within a 24 hour window following the emptying of the can. What followed was a lively discussion of a variety of opinions, something not often seen among the typically united and unanimous city council. Some agreed, some disagreed and others had questions.

“I’m against it,” said council member Jerry Boatright (District 2). “I’m not in a HOA (home owners association). In my opinion this is a government overreach.” Council member Charles Broady (District 4) says, “I have never heard of this being a problem in my district. The only ones I see on the road are after the trash man dumps it.”

Bethany Strickland of Better Hometown Blackshear and the Downtown Development Authority asked, “What would be the repercussions? If I go out of town on a Thursday and don’t come back until Sunday I don't want to be in trouble.”

As the discussion developed, it became clear, while other streets and areas were mentioned, much of the issue centers around Church Street, especially the stretch approaching the Blackshear city limits, where recent construction has created a high density of residences, most with a trashcan not far from the road.

Council member Mitch Hall (District 3) was quite familiar with the area in question. “My wife hit one (trash can) right where you are talking about,” said Hall.

A flurry of ideas, complications, questions and alternate proposals swirled about the council chamber. Some felt the entire city shouldn’t be penalized when the problem was only specific to certain streets or neighborhoods. Some proposed figuring out a way to make the new policy area specific. Others wanted to know what the consequences would be if there was an ordinance put in place. Still others thought a public notice advising citizens to move their cans back from the edge of the road once empty was more appropriate than a resolution compelling them to do so.

“The problem is if we do a public notice and there is no teeth to it,” Brooks said and shrugged, letting the statement speak for itself.

Council member Corey Lesseig (District 5), who resides near Church Street and has seen the area in question, said, “I think what we’re getting into is it a nuisance or a safety factor?” Lesseig also noted that trash cans have been seen close to or even in the road along College Avenue when windy conditions push the empty canisters into the right of way.

Brooks finished with “We can revisit this and see if something can be done in certain areas.”

The Times reached out to Ryland Environmental about the issue and spoke with Richard Lee, the local Division Manager, seeking clarification on if there existed any guidance from Ryland to consumers about the placement of the trash cans.

“You just have to use common sense in some cases,” said Lee. “Not every home is the same. In cases of properties with a steep ditch or embankment the can might not be able to be kept further back from the road. We do give our drivers guidance about when they set the can back down to ensure it is not in the road.”

Lee said he was aware of the area under discussion by the council. He also said there have not been any recent reports of anyone striking a can with their vehicle nor losing a side mirror, but acknowledged such things can happen. Lee indicated that if there is an issue with trash cans within the city he would be glad to make himself available to the city to discuss it, but said the council had not reached out to him in this instance.

Given the amount of discussion surrounding the issue and without a plan in place, the matter will not be voted upon at the city council’s next regular session, scheduled for Tuesday, August 11. The current edition of The Times went to press prior to the regular meeting. Any changes or updates will be reported upon in future editions of The Times.

Tiger Field project: There was no report on the Tiger Field project, but commissioners awarded the bid for the project at their meeting later that same day. (See related story.)

New recreation complex: There was no update on the new recreation complex.

Director’s report: Recreation Director Maureen Brown updated members on the upcoming fall sports season. Recreation Assistant Derrail Moore gave an update on registration numbers so far. A total of 85 have registered for football, 78 for soccer, 46 for volleyball, 10 each for future bears and girls flag football and three for cheerleading. The deadline was this past Friday. Brown also noted evaluations, sizing and drafts are planned for the various sports. She gave dates and times for those. The season is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8. The director also reported on various summer camps including football and basketball. She announced bingo for senior citizens was planned for this past Monday. Brown recognized district and state golf winners including Lucille Schmitz, Audrey Craft, Miller Schmitz and Jud Foreman. Luke Russell also qualified, but was unable to attend state competition.

Next meeting: The next monthly meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center (SEGARAC) on College Avenue.

Yes, I know, such an event is a daily occurrence in these here parts.

Southerners start out with putting sweet tea in sippy cups for their toddlers and we drink it until our toes turn up.

Nothing new here. In fact, there is something comfortable about it.

But, the whole thing about it is I actually bought a gallon of tea.

I’m not sure, but I think this means I have now officially forfeited my membership in the prestigious and highly favored “Southern Society of Steeped Sweet Tea Drinkers.”

I didn’t mean to, honest.

It just sort of happened.

I come from a long line of sweet tea drinkers. As far as I can tell, my Jones grandparents steeped loose tea leaves in a white enamel tea pot since they got married and started keeping house in the Herbert Hoover administration.

You didn’t boil it. Grandma could tell if it was boiled and it affected the taste in a bad way. You just did bring it to a boil and then you poured the liquid through a strainer into a wide and weathered, galvanized aluminum pot The used leaves were collected in a cloth and later a Bounty paper towel.

The used tea leaves were poured out in her flower garden at the end of the walk.

I thought it was just throwing out the tea leaves, but I later learned there was a science to it. Tea leaves enrich the soil with organic nutrients, help the plants and deter pests.

I am not sure what grew there, but it was a pungent, fern-like ground cover. Day lilies, phlox, petunias and two old timey roses grew there. Not, the roses like today, but the old kind— the ones that are bright red, smell like the perfume of angels and have thorns that reach out and stab you for daring to come too close during a game of freeze tag.

Once steeped, strained and the leaves throwed out, the dark reddish brown liquid was poured into a glass pitcher. It was sweetened with sugar to taste and then more was added. Grandma Jones believed in Lipton and Dixie Crystals. There were no other kinds.

My Deal grandparents were also sweet tea devotees, but they found an easier way. They used tea bags in the coffee percolator. Granddaddy would add a small spoonful of “sody” (baking soda) to “take off the bite”.

Nevertheless, we were all lovers of sweet tea.

It was a comfort beverage, a constant, in a world that isn’t.

My Uncle Richard loved sweet tea so much, my Aunt Louise used to take him a gallon for his own personal use for special occasions. He drank the whole gallon by himself.

The changes in my tea drinking came subtly.

First, pre-diabetes required me to shift to unsweetened. I could barely stand that, so I had to use artificial sweeteners.

In the weeks before his ”graduation to glory” Daddy had to go to unsweet tea.

He told me on the way home from the hospital, that he hoped the Lord never punished him again by making him drink unsweet tea.

I felt this pain. But, at least I had artificial sweeteners in mine.

And, that’s when I saw it: the gallon of zero sugar sweet tea sitting on the shelf.

I wasn’t strong. I didn’t resist. I gave in to the temptation and bought a gallon.

I confess. It tasted good. I enjoyed it and I will probably buy another gallon.

But, my heart and soul still remembers the precious memories of sweet tea steeping.

I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I can still be at least an honorary member of the “Southern Society of Steeped Sweet Tea Drinkers.”

If so, please sign me up. Right now. Today.

• Jason Deal is News Editor for The Blackshear Times. Reach him at jdeal@blacksheartimes. news.

Time is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, yet it is also one of the easiest gifts to take for granted.

We speak of “our time” as though it belongs completely to us. We talk about saving time, spending time, wasting time and finding time. But the truth is that our time belongs to God. Every day we live, every breath we take, and every opportunity placed before us is a gift from His hand.

The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15–16, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

To walk “circumspectly” means to walk carefully and thoughtfully. God does not want us drifting through life without direction or purpose. He wants us to pay attention to how we are living and to understand the value of the days He has given us.

The phrase “redeeming the time” means making the most of every opportunity. Time itself cannot be recovered. Once an hour is gone, it is gone forever. We may have another Monday, another birthday or another Christmas, but we will never have this exact day again.

Life passes quickly. James 4:14 asks, “For what is your life?” and answers, “It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

When we are young, a year seems like a long time. As we grow older, the years seem to pass more quickly. Children grow up. Families change. Health declines. Loved ones pass away. Before we realize it, seasons of life that once seemed permanent have come and gone.

That is why Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Numbering our days does not mean living in fear. It means recognizing that our days are valuable and should be used wisely.

Perhaps you look back and feel that you have wasted too much time. Maybe there were years when you were away from God, opportunities you ignored, or things you wish you could change.

None of us can return to yesterday. We cannot rewrite the past, but by the grace of God, we can give Him what remains.

The Apostle Paul had much in his past that he regretted. Before his conversion, he persecuted Christians and opposed the work of Christ. Yet he did not spend the rest of his life trapped by his failures. He wrote in Philippians 3:13–14 that he was “forgetting those things which are behind” and “reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

You may not be able to give God the years that are gone, but you can give Him today.

Redeeming the time means making time for what matters most. It means making time to pray, read God’s Word, worship, serve, encourage others and share the gospel. It also means making time for the people God has placed in our lives.

Make the phone call. Have the conversation. Say, “I love you.” Say, “I am sorry.” Offer forgiveness. Encourage someone who is struggling. Do not assume there will always be another opportunity.

The devil does not always have to make us wicked to make us ineffective. Sometimes he simply keeps us distracted. We can become so busy with temporary things that we neglect eternal things.

Life is too short to spend it holding grudges, worrying constantly, fighting unnecessary battles or delaying obedience to God.

Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day.”

This is our day. This is our generation. This is our opportunity to serve God and influence others for Christ.

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is in God’s hands. Today is the time God has placed before us.

Let us redeem it. Let us use it wisely. Let us make our time count for the glory of God.

• Jimmy Barrett is a resident of Blackshear and pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Waycross.

Battery storage facility memorandum: Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for the proposed battery storage facility near Patterson. (See related story.)

Airport: Commissioners approved the transfer of a 4.401 acre tract of land in Patterson to the City of Patterson for the possible development of an airport. (See related story.)

New food pantry grant: Commissioners voted on several items related to the construction of a new Pierce County Food Pantry. The county is applying for a community development block grant (CDBG) for the food pantry. (See related story.)

Tiger Field: Commissioners approved R.H. Tyson Construction, Inc. as the low bidder for the Tiger Field project. (See related story.)

Pierce County Fire Volunteer Fire Department presentations: County Fire Chief Chris Todd introduced new assistant fire chief Kelly Ruble. Chief Todd also recognized recent graduates of the firefighter one training program. (See related photos.)

Audit: Commissioners approved the 2025 audit from Maulden and Jenkins of Savannah. The audit cited two areas of concern regarding the county’s financial reporting and yearend closeouts and recommended the commission adopt a budget for the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act and for grant funding. The county agreed to take corrective measures to address both issues.

Industrial Development Authority appointments: Commissioners accepted the resignation of James Weathersby from the Industrial Development Authority Board. The commission then voted to appoint Sarah Gove to fill the vacancy.

Recreation recognition: Constance Drew, program coordinator with the Pierce County Recreation Department, recognized recent district and state winners in golf.

Bathroom updates to emergency operations center: Commissioners approved the low bid from Eric Johnson of Blackshear for updates to the bathrooms at the emergency operations center on Carter Avenue.

Johnson bid $12,400 on the work. The only other bidder was Dixon Repairs of Blackshear in the amount of $14,800.

County manager report: Interim County Manager Thomas Sauls gave a lengthy and detailed six-page report from various county offices and departments. He also invited county fire chief Chris Todd and Pierce County EMS director Daniel Royal to give the commission updates about call numbers and activities in their respective departments. Sauls also gave reports from individual departments including the sheriff’s office 911, magistrate court, clerk of superior court, probate judge, tax appraiser, planning and codes, maintenance and facilities and road department.

Invocation leader: The Rev. James Lightsey of Offerman Baptist Church led the invocation at the meeting. (See related photo.)

Pledge leader: Retired Navy Petty Officer Dwain Pippin led the pledge of allegiance. He was accompanied by his grandson, Walker Moody.

Next meeting: The next regular commission meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center in Blackshear.

Brandy Marie Gill, 43, of Patterson, was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Gill was ordered to pay $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance fund and will also be required to register as a sex offender.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Court documents and testimony show that in August 2025, Gill persuaded a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing material to be distributed electronically.

“Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said Heap. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who possess, distribute or produce CSAM.”

If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip. org or 1-800-THELOST (1-800-843-5678).

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Brad Thompson.

Coordinator Sylvia Parker was able to recruit classmates from near and far. “Although the turnout was small in number, the love and fellowship was unmeasurable,” said one attendee.

The class was hosted Friday evening, July 24, with a meet-and-greet, at the home of Anne Jenkins, one of the organizers. An array of food was served.

Classmates enjoyed a delicious dinner at King Claw Bar and Grill in Waycross Saturday, July 25. and door prizes were awarded.

Members of the class reminisced about high school and the impact it had on everyone.

The classmates worshiped together Sunday, July 26, at Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Blackshear. The group was blessed by Minister Alex Jordan, grandson of another organizer, Jerry West.

The gr0up was also blessed to have Reginald Taylor, one of their past teachers, to fellowship with them. Classmates commended him as a great man and educator.

The classmates decided to meet again in 2029.

“We thank God for blessing us,” said a spokesman for the classmates.

Fourth Mount Olive Church will hold its annual church anniversary honoring the congregations’s more than 100 years of dedicated service to the community. The celebration will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 16, at the church, 900 Yeomans Street, Blackshear.

Bishop Carlos White will bring an amazing word for this momentous occasion.

“Pastor Morris Pate and the church family would be honored by your presence as we come together in worship and fellowship,” said a spokesperson.

Dinner will be served following the service.

Back to school event to be Aug. 22 The Bridge: Repairer of the Breach Mental Health Outreach Inc. is hosting a back-to-school community mental health and wellness event 1-4 p.m. Saturday August 22 at the NFC Gym.

Described as an afternoon of encouragement, education, resources and support to help students and families prepare for a successful school year.

The event is free and everyone is welcome. School support items will be available while supplies last and light refreshments will be served. The NFC Gym is located at 705 College Avenue in Blackshear.

Vietnam Veterans meet monthly Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1070, meets the second Thursday of each month at Captain Joe’s Restaurant on Plant Avenue in Waycross.. For more information, call (803) 591-8544.

This two-man scramble tournament will include lunch, range balls and cart fees with cash prizes awarded to the top gross and net teams. Registration begins 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon and the shotgun start begins 1 p.m. A silent auction will also be held during the event.

Businesses looking to increase their community visibility while supporting an important cause can choose from several sponsorship levels ranging from Par Sponsor ($1,000) to Champion Sponsor ($7,500), with benefits including sponsor recognition, social media promotion, hole signage, team entries and more.

All proceeds benefit Magnolia House and the services they provide to our community. The sponsorship deadline is July 10.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register a team, contact Magnolia House at 912-584-8296 or please email mhcc@magnoliahouseshelter. com.

The Bears smothered Class 7A Richmond Hill and Class 6A Glynn Academy by a combined 49-0 score in a three-team jamboree at Glynn County Stadium.

PCHS’s offense bedazzled the opposing defenses racking up 387 yards and seven touchdowns — three rushing and four passing. The Pierce County defense allowed just 85 yards — three rushing and 82 through the air.

“We still have a lot of things we have to correct,” said Herring with the Bears heading into Friday night’s 7 p.m., scrimmage in Jesup against Class 5A Wayne County. The Yellow Jackets of new head coach Scott Roberts, who previously coached Swainsboro, did not have a scrimmage last week.

“We’re not worrying about Wayne County,” he said. “We’re (coaches) going to be working on us Monday through Thursday this week. We played with great effort during the jamboree ... we ran to the ball and hit people.”

“But, we’ve got to improve our linebacker play and our IQ and just get better. We’ve also got to build some depth in the secondary.”

Pierce County will not have junior defensive back Kendric Benton for the final scrimmage. Benton, who also plays receiver, was injured during the scrimmage. Herring did not know how much time he will miss.

On the other side of the ball, Herring said there are little things everywhere needing to be corrected.

“We’ve (coaches) got a lot to cleanup on offense,” Herring said. “We’ve got to do a better job in a route running. We’ve got to do a better job in our blocking assignments in the run game.

“We don’t need a 1,000 plays and only run them three times each. We need three plays and run them 1,000 times each to we get better.”

The Bears, in search of replacements at 14 positions heading into the 2026 season, belted Class 7A Richmond Hill and Class 6A Glynn Academy, who hosted the scrimmage, by a combined score of 49-0 over three quarters.

“I wanted us to be able to line up right on both sides of the ball,” said Herring, who is entering his eighth season, of what he was looking for in the scrimmage. “Last year, defensively, we had a big problem in getting lined up. Offensively, I wanted to halfway be able to execute. I also wanted to make sure we ran and hit people. I think we did all three a decent amount.”

“Now, of course we make mistakes. There’s things we’ve got to fix and clean up, but I think we lined up right a lot. I think we executed a lot. I think we hit people a lot. So I’m very, very happy and glad we came over here and saw two different teams. That was pretty neat and I think it was a real positive night for us.”

Another area of defensive concern for Herring was replacing all four linebackers in the Bears’ 3-4 alignment.

“What we (coaches) saw wasn’t too bad,” he said. “There’s a lot of things we messed up on, but it’s things I know we can fix. I thought the inside backers, at times, did really good. At times, the outside linebackers made some great plays. At times, they didn’t. So, you know, we’ve got to get that 50-50 more to 80-20 this week.”

The defensive unit smothered Richmond Hill’s and Glynn Academy’s rushing attacks allowing just three yards on 24 attempts (nine negative plays) and a combined 85 total yards of offense. The two teams managed eight first downs.

Herring also wanted to see how PCHS’s retooled offensive line would work together with three returning players — one moving from tight end over to tackle.

The Bears piled up 192 yards on the ground (22 attempts) and 195 through the air for 387 yards of total offense.

“Tonight wasn’t bad,” the veteran coach said. “We saw different fronts from both teams. I saw some mistakes that are easily correctable. The more reps we get, you know, another scrimmage next week (at Wayne County) is going to help us seeing different stuff.

“The key is just knowing our jobs. Just like the Marines say, do your job. We’ve got to know our job ... we’ve got to do our job.”

PCHS received several standout performances on both sides of the ball. Offensively, senior pre-season Class AAA all-state running back Jae’Veon Williams looked in midseason form rushing for 117 yards on 12 carries scoring once. He turned a short pass in the flats into a 50-yard score on his lone reception.

Junior running back Dylan Johnson showed off his speed on his three carries with two resulting in touchdowns on runs of 15 and 50 yards while finishing with 68 yards on three attempts.

Junior quarterback Jack McClellan completed passes to six different receivers finishing 8-of-12 for 195 yards and touchdowns to four different receivers covering 17 (D.J. Moody), 50 (Williams), 36 (Demontrey Clark) and 42 (Will Higginson) yards.

On the defensive side, senior nose guard Ja’Lynn Everette announced his presence to future opponents with several stops behind the line of scrimmage and two fumble recoveries. Everett, a third-place finisher at the Class AA state wrestling tournament in February, was playing in his firstever football game.

Junior inside linebacker Noah Delaney, a backup last season, and Moody, a sophomore outside linebacker, harassed the quarterbacks for both teams recording a sack apiece.

Pierce County’s most experienced group is at the defensive back positions. The Bears’ defenders did a good job in man-to-man coverage on Richmond Hill’s and Glynn Academy’s wide receivers with quarterbacks completing just 9-of-23 passes for 82 yards.

Junior place-kicker Fleming Cochran looked comfortable in his first action handling PATs with the graduation of Garrett Stevenson finishing 7-for-7 in conversion attempts.

PCHS scored on its final play in the first quarter (six minutes or 15 plays) against Richmond Hill. Williams capped the 10play, 50-yard possession with a two-yard run.

The Bears punched in three scores in the second period while scrimmaging Glynn Academy. Johnson went 15 yards for a score on the second snap and followed one play later with a 50-yard burst. McClellan connected with Moody six plays later for a 17-yard score.

Pierce County finished the jamboree with a threetouchdown outburst in the final stanza against the Wildcats. Williams turned a short pass from McClellan, the first of nine straight passes, into a 50yard score two plays into the Bears’ final possession.

Clark, a senior, pulled in a tipped McClellan pass for a 36-yard score on a quick slant. Two plays later, sophomore Will Higginson raced 42 yards on McClellan’s last pass of the night for the final score.

The Lady Bears fell 2624 and 25-18 to the Class 7A Lady Wildkittens in the best-of-three August 6 opener. The Class 6A Lady Red Terrors needed a victory in the third set to escape with 25-15, 24-26 and winning the third set in a race to 15.

“We learned a lot about what we can do when we are playing much larger competition and more experienced competition,” said Head Coach Robbie Spires. “Our defense was definitely a strong point of the night. You are always disappointed any time you lose, especially at home. But we took away a lot that we can improve on over the next couple of weeks before we open region play.”

PCHS traveled Tuesday (August 11) to Tifton to face host Tift County and Valdosta. The Lady Bears travel Thursday, August 13 to Brooklet to face host Southeast Bulloch and Faith Christian with jayvee action at 4:30 p.m. and varsity play starting at 5:30 p.m.

Pierce County makes its third consecutive road trip Tuesday, August 18 to Brunswick to match up against in jayvee/varsity action against host Glynn Academy (both at 4 p.m.) and Savannah Christian (both at 5 p.m.).

Camden Co.......26-24 Lady Bears........24-18 Visiting Camden County scored the final two points to take the opening set and held off a late rally for the sweep.

Prior to the match, the Lady Bears recognized “The Teacher of the Game” Chemistry teacher Ms. Jamie Akin. Ms. Akin served the inaugural first serve of the night successfully.

The opening set was a 30-minute, hard-fought matchup with both teams having big hits, well placed tips and serves.

The Lady Wildkittens had a string of successful serves that gave them a five-point edge at 12-7. Following a time-out, the Lady Bears fought back and evened the score.

A defensive battle kept the game close and several major digs and successful hitting attempts by Azalea Mobley and Isabella Marx allowed PCHS to tie the game at 24-24.

A serve receive error and a kill just out of the reach of the block gave Camden County the first set win.

Tied at 15-apiece in the second set. The teams sided out back-and-forth keeping the score close until the Lady Wildkittens ran off five straight points to open up a 20-15 advantage. The Lady Bears played scrappy defense, but were unable to get the kill needed to finish the rally in falling.

Outstanding players of the match for Pierce: Isabella Marx recorded five kills and had 19 digs, both team highs, while Azalea Mobley recorded four kills. Ansley Hutcheson was credited with eight assists with Daisy Thigpen finishing with seven assists. Heidi Hodges finished with 15 digs.

Glynn Acad...25-24-15 Lady Bears ...15-26-xx A seven-point burst in the first set set up Glynn Academy’s opening victory.

PCHS fought and scrambled defensively, but was unable to change the momentum enough to overcome the big run.

Marx, Hutcheson, Hodges, Abigail Parks and Zayleigh Raithel contributed defensively for the Lady Bears to swing momentum PCHS’s way en route to taking the second set.

Pierce County struggled to finish plays in the deciding third set.

Marx had 19 digs to lead the Lady Bears with Hodges finishing with 15 digs. Hutcheson recorded 10 digs and added eight assists. Thigpen was credited with four assists.

R.H. Tyson Construction of Blackshear was approved as the low bidder for the Tiger Field project at last Tuesday night’s county commission meeting.

Tyson bid $1,377,819.30, but there will be an $18,700 deduction to the amount as the county will haul off excess fill from the site. The total final bid amount will be $1,359,119.30.

Tyson was the low bidder on the work. Other bidders included Lavender of Statesboro at $1,444,444.1, Pope of Blackshear at $1,499,777.39, SEC of Blackshear at $1,666,279.60 and Popco of Sylvester at $1,969,230.40.

Two other previous bid openings failed to produce a winning bid. The most recent delay in May was due to “unbalanced bids”. Engineers determined the prices submitted were unable to be awarded.

In the first bidding process in March no companies gave a price on the project.

Sources told The Times in March prospective contractors were concerned about the deadline for the work. The county had previously set a September 1 deadline for completion to be ready in time for the recreation department’s fall sports.

Under the latest re-bid, the project will be divided into two phases, a southern part and a northern part.

The southern portion will include the walking track and parking lot with work slated to begin in September.

The northern portion includes the ball field, drainage, fencing and parking lot construction with work slated to begin December 1, after football season ends.

The project will include upgrades to the football and soccer fields, resurfacing the walking track, improving and adding parking and sidewalks that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The monies for the improvements will come from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and from the county’s general fund.

Plans for improvements at Tiger Field have been in the works for the last three years.

Tiger Field has been in use in the county since 1958, when it was built as part of the facilities for Blackshear High School. Blackshear High School merged with Patterson High School to form Pierce County High School in 1982.

The county has used the field for recreation facilities since that time.

He is very proud but humbled to have two state championships under his belt while coaching at Pierce County. He lives and coaches his team by the mission statement: Give God Glory. Herring said his philosophy is to treat his coaches and players with respect, while at the same time teaching them discipline.

His goal is not only to create a good player, but to play a part in the way they turn out as future citizens, spouses and parents.

“If you care about your team, treat them with respect, and grow in your relationships with them, it’s easier to coach them harder,” said Herring He wants them all to be smart, tough and have faith in the Lord to help guide their futures.

The Bears first game is August 21 against Coosa Christian School. They have a lot of tough games this year against, Swainsboro, Toombs and Appling to name a few.

He looks forward to the season and believes his coaches and players are up for the challenges.

Tax digest and five year history: The board approved the tax digest and five year history of levy. The vote is a standard part of the budget process and must be held before the millage rate can be set.

ESS Substitute Pay Rates: The board approved increasing pay rates for substitutes.

Closed session: The board adjourned into a six minute closed session to discuss personnel at Thursday’s meeting. Following the closed session, the board voted to hire Shelby McBee and Kara Tindall as paraprofessionals at Blackshear Elementary; Brent Brown as custodian at the middle school, Kimberly Lyons and Pamela Stewart as bus drivers and Jammie Boatright as central office secretary. Avis Harris, secretary to the superintendent, was changed from 75 percent time to 100 percent time. Caleb Turner was approved as a community wrestling coach at the middle school. In a separate 4-1 vote, Barrett Boatright was approved as a community football coach at the middle school. Boatright is the son of Chairman Duward Boatright, who abstained. Abstentions count as “no” votes for recording purposes.

The board also voted to accept the resignations of Logan Crews and Amelia Roberts, both as paraprofessionals at Blackshear Elementary, Helen Washington, as central office secretary, Cintia Childs as school nutrition food assistant and Christopher Cordes as a bus driver.

Special education contracts: The board approved special education contracted services for behavior analytic services, mental health and behavior and speech language and pathology. Behavior Management Consultants, Inc. (BMC) will provide behavior analytic services, Savannah Varnadore will provide mental health and behavior services at the middle and high schools and Marlee Bedford will provide speech pathology services in the school system.

PES multi purpose room ceiling bids: The board voted to award the bid for replacement of the ceiling in the multipurpose room at Patterson Elementary to Ware Paint and Drywall of Waycross. Ware Paint and Drywall was the lone bidder on the project at $23,970 for labor and installation. The school system will purchase the material in the amount of $7,900.

The work will include replacing damaged ceiling tiles in the multipurpose room at Patterson Elementary and is slated to be done during fall break or Christmas break.

Policy updates: The board held first readings on policy updates for employee leaves and absences and paid parental leave.

Special recognition: The board recognized the PCHS boys state champion golf team.

Field trip: The board approved a field trip request for the high school Future Farmers of America chapter to take a trip to Melrose, FL Aug. 14-15.

Consent agenda: Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:

• approval to advertise for bids for repaving of the parking lot at Patterson Elementary School. The parking lot is deteriorating and needs to be resurfaced. Some cosmetic repairs have been done, but the resurfacing project will begin after the current building project at the school is completed.

Non-resident tuition applications: Four non-resident student applications were approved Thursday and Monday including two second graders at Patterson Elementary, an eighth grader at the middle school and a junior at the high school. Non-resident students have to have administrator approval, no discipline referrals and have to pay non-resident tuition.

• approval of a memorandum of understanding with the Pierce County Board of Health for school based influenza vaccine clinic. The agreement allows for the flu vaccine to be administered on a voluntary basis on school campuses.

• approval of the Georgia Department of Education's Local School Board Governance Training Plan for the coming school year.

Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. Total year-todate revenue was at $53.51 million for June, while expenses were $53.34 million. The school system has a reserve of about $18.67 million. Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $282,607 $291,760?? in June, down about $9,000 from May. The board approved the financial report.

Facilities Director Harbin Farr announced construction work on the building project at both the middle school and Patterson Elementary are now underway. The middle school concrete slabs have been poured, but footer work has not been completed at Patterson. He said Patterson’s project was delayed by some additional soil preparation that needed to be done, but he anticipates the project will still be on schedule. He also announced the new air conditioning unit will be installed at Patterson Elementary in coming weeks. Portable units are currently being used to cool the area. Farr also reported that repairs to the epoxy flooring in the kitchen at Midway Elementary have been completed. He noted three attempts were made at the repairs. He said the blemish is still there, but it is a cosmetic issue and does not affect operations. He also reported a concrete ramp has been installed at the new storage buildings at Blackshear Elementary.

Superintendent Dara Bennett reported the school day got off to a good start. Enrollment was 3,474, an increase of 49 over last school year.

Information: Superintendent Bennett announced Labor Day will be observed Monday, Sept. 7. Labor Day is a holiday for both students and staff.

Minutes for July were also approved.

Public participation: There was no public participation.

Next meetings: The next work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. The regular meeting will be delayed one day due to the Labor Day holiday. Both meetings will be at the central office.

The ceremony was officiated byRodneyHandandtook place outdoors. The setting was shaded by a huge oak tree looking out over the beautiful marsh.

Bridesmaids were the groom’s sisters, including Coast Guard Lieutenant Loran Jordan and Addison Jordan. Groomsmen were the bride’s brothers Colby Clemens and Brodie Clemens. The couples’ dog “Mako” was a part of the ceremony.

A reception was held immediately following the ceremony in the Walkers Landing Reception Hall with a buffet style meal and DJ.

The couple will reside in Fernandina Beach. Mrs. Jordan is a hair stylist at Madi's Retreat in Fernandina Beach.

Mr. Jordan is a Project Manager covering the Orlando/ Jacksonville areas for Fiber Technologies Solutions.

Editor, The Times, I am writing in response to the City of Blackshear being responsible for permits and enforcement within the city limits. First, let me say that the Pierce County Planning and Codes Department is following the directives and mandates of the State Georgia. There appeared to be some concern from (Blackshear Mayor Keith Brooks) that we (the county) were not providing a good “product”; however, I feel that we are providing a better service to the taxpayers of Pierce County since my taking the position of Interim County Manager. The City of Blackshear had some issues with the services for which they were receiving, and I have addressed them and we have made some very productive changes. In fact, the Mayor and Chief of Police of Blackshear met with myself, the Chairman and District 4 Commissioner and I informed them to give me some time to make some corrections, and I did what I said.

In response to the

remark of 'what, if anything, occurred to cause the seeming disconnect between Sauls’ projected July 1 start date and the city's more recent announcement of August 3 is unknown, but as far back as March, Blackshear Police Department (BDPD) Chief Chris Wright had advised the officers doing enforcement for Blackshear would not be ready until the end of July.' An important note to be made, no one from The Blackshear Times called and questioned me as to where I obtained the date of July 1, 2026.

Just for simple clarification please read the attached Resolution 20261 0 signed by the city Mayor of Blackshear on March 10th, 2026. Note in section one that the “Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to provide written notice to the Pierce County Board of Commissioners, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Amending Resolution and any associated intergovernmental agreements, stating the city's intent to assume responsibility for building permitting and inspection duties within the municipal boundaries of the City of Blackshear.”

In the second section of the resolution, one will read “The City’s assumption of permitting and inspection duties shall become effective in July 2026, on a specific date to be coordinated with Pierce County to ensure an orderly and cooperative transition.”

With that noted, Chairman Neal Bennett and Members of the Pierce County Board of Commissioners, did receive a notice of assumption of building permitting and inspection duties dated March 10, 2026. In the first paragraph of said notice of assumption one will see the wording as “this letter shall serve as formal written notice of the City of Blackshear’s intent to assume responsibility for building permitting and inspections within the corporate limits of the City of Blackshear.”

Also, please note in the letter Dated March 10, 2026, one will see that the intent was removed as to when the city would assume said responsibilities by the information that was provided to the Pierce County Board of Commissioners in the second paragraph that reads “on March 10, 2026, the Mayor and Council of the city of Blackshear adopted Resolution No. 2026-10 authorizing the Mayor to provide this notice to coordinate the transition of these duties with Pierce County. Effective July 1, 2026, the city of Blackshear will assume the following responsibility for: Issuance of building permits within the municipal limits; conducting inspections required under the State Minimum Standard Construction Codes; and Issuance of certificates of Occupancy and Completion for construction occurring within the city.”

This is the only written notification for which the Pierce County Board of Commissioners has received and it is clear that the Mayor signed a letter of intent to begin July 1, 2026; therefore, I did inform the Pierce County residents of said action that was being implemented by the City of Blackshear and to inform them as to what they would need to do.

I found out on today’s date, July 28, 2026, that the City of Blackshear would be assuming said responsibilities effective on August 3, 2026. Thankfully, I was informed by several people as to what was going into effect because neither the Chief of Police nor the Mayor of Blackshear never informed the Pierce County Board Commissioners of said information in a newly revised formal written notice with an effective starting date of August 3rd.

In closing, I would like to let the citizens of Pierce County know that I work for the people of Pierce County and I have been a public servant for years and I will continue to do so. Some of my decisions may not always be liked by some, but I will do what is in the best interest of Pierce County.

If you live anywhere in Pierce County and you would like to continue receiving permits and inspections from the Pierce County Planning and Codes Department, know this, we are here to serve you. We do not have any intergovernmental agreements with any city within Pierce County that will prevent us from serving you when it comes to building permits and inspections. However, we do have a zoning/land use ordinance for Pierce County and the cites of Blackshear, Offerman and Patterson that was approved November 10, 2020 with the assistance by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission.

Please see attached RESOLUTION 2026-10 please see attached letter of formal written notice I respectfully request that the attached Resolution 2026-10 and Letter of Formal Written Notice be included as exhibits in The Blackshear Times to clarify and document the basis for the July 1, 2026, date referenced in this matter.

(Editor’s Note: Due to space constraints a full reproduction of the documents referenced in the county manager’s letter have been uploaded to The Times’ Facebook page.)

No one seemed to notice or care. No emails. No letters. No questions on the street. No “Hey, Greg, what happened to your column?”

I am obviously a very little fish in a little pond. Nor is my column the only time my creative output has fallen off the map and no one sent out a search party.

Late last year, I set a creative challenge for myself. Every day I would create and draw a new comic book character, be they hero, villain, monster or whatever. The goal was to see how long I could maintain the streak. For 125 consecutive days I posted all manner of weird heroes and alien menaces in an online group for mostly just my friends and fellow geeks to enjoy.

A few months ago, when life got in the way and I suddenly stopped uploading new entries, not one single person said a thing. They didn’t ask if I had decided to stop. They didn’t encourage me to keep going.

Crickets. I remember being disappointed, yet unsurprised. I also remember asking myself, well, what were you really doing it for? Likes and praise—or to challenge yourself?

All of which is to say, if you are going to do something, make sure you are doing it for yourself.

Mind you, I don’t mean this in the larger, more ridiculous “greed is good” extreme some people will take that statement. Obviously, if you are going to fight for justice, you seek justice for all. If you want to make a better world, you make it better for everyone, not just a select few.

Basically, if you have the urge to create, an idea to share, a vision to illustrate, an opinion to espouse, first and foremost, do it for yourself. It has to be fulfilling to you in and of itself.

I realize that runs counter to prevailing wisdom in the age of social media. It’s all about the clicks, the likes and shares and follower counts. These days, it isn’t so much about having something to say as having anything one says validated. Even someone “hate-sharing” your meme or video is seen as better than being ignored. None of which means you are doing something worthwhile, but does that even matter in the era of mercenary monetization?

Everything is click bait. It’s the reason why “articles” on social media deliberately don’t name the movie or song or historical figure in the main post. You have to click to read the rest, discovering the answer to the most obvious question in the comments or on another website entirely. Traffic matters, the measurable click through rate, not the actual content itself.

It’s been quite surreal to see click-chasing culture develop online, mutating—or perhaps metastasizing—in real time. It even makes me glad I’m still stuck between two worlds, torn between an analog past and a virtual future, trying to crank out prose in a print medium. At least the response or lack thereof is based around the writing itself, not how temptingly it has been marketed online.

None of which lets the audience off the hook. If you enjoy something, let people know. You might be surprised how a few measly words of encouragement can make a creator’s day.

A nice couple recently came in to renew their subscription to The Blackshear Times. As I processed their payment, they asked about my columns, said they had noticed I wasn’t writing many recently.

Imagine how my face lit up when they said my columns were one of the reasons they subscribed to the paper.

Sometimes a few words of encouragement is all it takes. I’m back to writing my column again. I’m doing it for myself, but also for that nice couple.

If you’re not a fan, blame them.

Approximately 3,440 students are expected to begin classes when the first school bell rings.

Since it is back to school time, motorists are asked to be extra vigilant while driving. Increased traffic congestion, school buses loading and unloading, kids walking to bus stops, and parent pickups or drop offs, increase the need for extra safety precautions.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) has provided precautions that drivers should take to promote safety:

• Pay attention to school zone flashing beacons and obey school zone speed limits.

• Stop behind/do not pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. Drivers are required to stop when approaching or meeting a stopped school bus that has its lights flashing and is loading or unloading passengers.

The exception to this rule is when highways are separated in the center by median strips. In this situation, only vehicles following or traveling alongside a school bus in the same direction must stop.

A warning will be given in advance by the flashing red or amber lights on the front and rear of the bus. After stopping, drivers must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or deactivates its warning signals and all loading or unloading passengers have cleared the roadway.

• Be cautious when traveling behind or alongside school buses in residential areas or school districts where school buses are likely to be loading or unloading.

• Watch for students gathering near bus stops, and for children arriving late, walking along the road, crossing the road, or waiting on the side of the road for the bus who may dart into the street.

Children often are unpredictable and may ignore hazards and take risks. Safety of the children in the area takes priority over the signals on the bus.

GREENVILLE, Pa. — The oldest living person in America once walked the same sandy roads, attended the same country church and watched the same South Georgia sunsets that generations of Pierce County residents know by heart.

Naomi Washington Whitehead was born September 26, 1910, in rural Pierce County when William Howard Taft was president, automobiles were still a novelty and much of South Georgia moved at the pace of a mule and wagon.

Today, at 115 years old, Ms. Whitehead is believed to be the oldest living person in the United States and the second- oldest person in the world.

For the Whitehead and Washington families, however, she is not a record holder. She is simply “Big Aunt Naomi.”

Ms. Whitehead is the woman who remembers relatives nobody else remembers. She is the keeper of family stories passed down through six generations. Ms. Whitehead is the voice that was once called on Sunday afternoons to sing old church hymns. She is living proof that faith, family and hard work never go out of style.

In a world that seems to move faster every year, Ms. Whitehead remains a direct connection to a Pierce County that exists now only in memory.

Born to Douglas and Pauline Washington, Ms. Whitehead grew up on the family’s farm during an era when cotton fields stretched across the countryside and children learned the value of work at an early age. She helped raise cotton and tobacco alongside her brothers and sisters while growing up in a community where neighbors depended on one another and church served as the center of daily life.

Her education began at Gethsemane Church near Patterson. The small wooden church doubled as a schoolhouse for local children long before modern school buildings appeared throughout the county.

Ms. Whitehead’s lifetime spans nearly every major chapter of modern American history. She was born before women gained the right to vote nationwide. She lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, the moon landing and the arrival of the internet.

Yet family members say the most remarkable thing about Ms. Whitehead is not the history she witnessed. It is the history she still remembers.

Whitehead married Sylvester Whitehead in 1930 as America entered the Great Depression. Together they built a life centered on faith, family and perseverance. They raised three sons, Parrish, Elbert and Sylvester Jr., while navigating the hardships and triumphs that defined much of the 20th century.

Tammie Cummings, Ms. Whitehead’s great-grandniece, said family members often admired the devotion she showed her husband throughout their marriage.

“She loved her husband faithfully all of her life,” Cummings said. “She was very proud of the life and family they built together.”

Sylvester Whitehead died in 1979. During the decades that followed, Whitehead endured the loss of her three sons and the siblings who shared her childhood. After the death of her last surviving son in 2011, Ms. Whitehead moved to Pennsylvania, where she now resides at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community near Greenville.

Even there, a piece of Pierce County remains with her.

A photograph of her parents hangs on the wall of her room, a reminder of the Georgia farm where her story began more than a century ago.

Today, Ms. Whitehead’s legacy stretches across six generations. By her 110th birthday, her family included 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 49 great-great-grandchildren and three great-greatgreat- grandchildren.

More than 80 relatives traveled to Pennsylvania to celebrate her 115th birthday last year. Family members came from Georgia, Florida, Texas, New York and beyond to honor the woman at the center of their family tree. Plans are already underway for another gathering when she turns 116.

Ware County native Clarence Washington, Ms. Whitehead’s great-grandnephew, said her significance reaches far beyond her age.

“I am very proud to have a living legacy in my family,” Washington said. “I feel truly blessed. She is a living part of United States history.”

Washington said Ms. Whitehead’s strength and faith have influenced generations of relatives.

“She has always influenced our family through her strength and her faith. She guided our family to faith through her example,” he said.

Faith remains one of the defining themes of Ms. Whitehead’s story.

Isabelle Hunter, a Patterson native and Ms. Whitehead’s niece, still remembers the Sunday phone calls.

“She would call me and sing hymns,” Hunter said. Her favorite was “Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There,” a gospel classic written by Charles Albert Tindley.

“She has always loved the Lord and lived for the Lord,” Hunter said. “She influenced our family to follow God and rely on Him.”

Family members often credit that faith, along with a lifetime of discipline and healthy living, for helping her reach 115 years of age. They say she never smoked, rarely sat idle and always placed God at the center of her life.

Yet perhaps her greatest gift is the one that cannot be measured.

When Ms. Whitehead talks about her brother, Clarence, or her sister, Ellen, as children working in the fields of Pierce County, she shares stories that exist nowhere else. Through her memories, younger generations meet relatives they never had the opportunity to know.

Every family eventually loses pieces of its past. Stories fade. Names disappear. Memories become photographs tucked inside old albums.

The Whitehead family has been blessed with something rare.

Their history still has a voice. For Pierce County, Naomi Washington Whitehead is more than the oldest living person in America. She is a living bridge between past and present. She is a reminder that history is not always found in textbooks or museums.

Sometimes history grows up in a little South Georgia community, attends church down the road, raises a family and lives long enough to tell the story herself.

For Blackshear resident Alyssa Lauland, that hardship came through years spent supporting her daughter during numerous brain surgeries. Those experiences taught her the fear families carry through every procedure and every uncertain outcome.

They also shaped a promise she made more than a decade ago which would eventually offer hope to someone she has never met.

Mrs. Lauland and her family moved to Blackshear about a year ago, after her husband retired from the Air Force, drawn by the peacefulness of the community and good local schools for their children.

The Laulands are active at First Baptist Church and they enjoy being on the ballfields or volleyball courts with their kids.

“We just felt like God kept calling us here,” she said. “We have loved being a part of a place where no one knows a stranger. After living in places around military bases, it's amazing to be surrounded by people that truly love thy neighbor.”

Mrs. Lauland shows she is a good neighbor, too.

She first joined the DKMS donor registry in 2013 during a charity event in Arkansas for a local boy battling cancer.

DKMS stands for Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei, which translates to the German Bone Marrow Donor Center.

In Arkansas that day as she stood among others who wanted to help, Mrs. Lauland felt called to register as a potential stem cell donor. At the time, she was a new mother who could not imagine facing a life-threatening illness without every possible source of hope.

Mrs. Lauland believed if her own child ever needed a stranger to step forward someone would answer that call.

More than a decade passed before that opportunity arrived.

Earlier this year, representatives from DKMS contacted Mrs. Lauland with remarkable news. Genetic testing had identified her as a potential stem cell match for a patient fighting for their life. There was no hesitation.

“Yes” came immediately. The decision reflected years of watching her own daughter endure multiple complex brain surgeries. Those difficult experiences gave Mrs. Lauland a firsthand understanding of the emotional burden carried by patients plus caregivers.

She knew another family was waiting for hope much like her own family had done so many times before.

“I just thought about what I would want someone to do if it were my child,” Lauland said.

She completed the donation earlier this year through DKMS giving a stranger a chance at renewed health while offering comfort to loved ones whose future depended on the generosity of someone they would likely never meet.

“As humans and Christians we need to help each other plus fulfill the opportunities God presents to us in our lives” Lauland said.

Founded in Germany in 1991, DKMS, a non-profit organization, has grown into one of the world’s largest stem cell donor organizations. Its mission is to recruit volunteer donors for patients diagnosed with blood cancers or other lifethreatening blood disorders that can only be treated through a stem cell transplant.

The need remains significant.

Only about 30 percent of patients requiring a stem cell transplant find a compatible donor within their own family. The remaining 70% must depend upon an unrelated volunteer donor found through national or international registries.

Because tissue types are inherited, finding a compatible match can be extremely difficult. Some patients search for months while others never locate a suitable donor.

Many people mistakenly believe every stem cell donation involves surgery. Modern donations usually occur through a process called peripheral blood stem cell donation.

Donors receive medication for several days encouraging stem cells to move into the bloodstream. Blood is then collected through a machine which separates the stem cells before returning the remaining blood to the donor.

The procedure resembles a lengthy plasma donation. Only a small percentage of donations require bone marrow collection in a hospital setting.

For privacy reasons, DKMS keeps donor plus recipient identities confidential during the initial period following a transplant. Donors often know very little about the person receiving their cells beyond limited medical information.

Even without knowing who received her donation, Mrs. Lauland understands the impact it could have for an entire family.

“Even being one person in a remote location, you can do your part to care for others plus help save lives,” Lauland said.

Her story reflects more than a single act of generosity. It demonstrates how one decision made at a community charity event years earlier ultimately became a lifeline for someone facing their greatest challenge.

For Mrs. Lauland, the experience came full circle.

After years spent hoping others would help her daughter through each difficult chapter, she became the stranger another family had been praying would answer the call.

Pictures of deceased classmates were displayed along with our class picture and a photo from the class trip.

A great time was had by all renewing old friendships and remembering many years of being together. Special thanks to all who helped in getting everything organized.

The class extended special thanks to Mike Williamson, who did an excellent job of keeping everything in order and running smoothly.

In addition to the Saturday reunion, many classmates also got together to enjoy a barbeque lunch on Friday at Smokehouse 84 Restaurant.

“We are looking forward to next year,” said a class spokesman.

Memorial Satilla Health will partner with The Blood Connection to host three more blood drives in 2026. Blood drives are held on Fridays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the old registration lobby on the main campus, 1900 Tebeau Street, Waycross. Upcoming drives are set for October 2 and December 4. To schedule an appointment, please visit thebloodconnection. org.

Vietnam Veterans Chapter meets monthly Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1070, meets the second Thursday of each month at Captain Joe’s Restaurant on Plant Avenue in Waycross. The meal begins at 3:30 p.m. and the meeting follows at 4 p.m. meetings. All Vietnam veterans their wives and the public are invited to attend. For more information, call Clifton Baker at (803) 591-8544.

TOPS group meets weekly in Waycross

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Group, a non-profit weight loss support group, meets weekly Thursday evenings at the First Presbyterian Church, 601 Hill Street, Waycross. Weigh in is 6-6:25 p.m, followed by the meeting at 6:30-7 p.m. One visit can be made without joining. Annual dues include a TOPS magazine every other month. For more information, call (912) 281-7008 or (912) 2815388.

Bacon County Senior Center events to be held

Bacon County Senior Center, 504 N Pierce St., Alma, is planning a Christmas trip this year.

Kelly Tours will be escorting the Bacon County Senior Center to The Alhambra Theatre to see the 2026 Christmas Carol Show December 3. For more information please call 912-632-8954.

Adult education classes offered in Patterson

Adult education classes are back in session in Pierce County. Classes are held at Eagle Station, 3507 Williams Street, Patterson.

Brenée Wright is the adjunct instructor of Adult Education in Pierce County.

Classes are offered through Coastal Pines Technical College.

Class schedules are from 3:30-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

For more information, call (912) 2624359 or email bmwright@coastalpines.edu.

Blackshear AMVETS open to new members

The local Blackshear post of AMVETS (American Veterans) invites all who honorably served in the United States military, including the Reserve and Guard, to join.

Founded in 1944 and chartered by an act of Congress, AMVETS exists to enhance the quality of life for all veterans, their families and survivors. With more than 250,000 members nationwide, we are veterans serving veterans.

Membership in AMVETS is open to anyone who honorably served or is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves.

For more information, please contact Commander Guylee Washington at guyleewashington@ gmail.com or call 912514-1093.

AMVETS meets 6 p.m. every first Monday at 200 SW Central Ave in Blackshear.

Satilla Democrats to meet every second Saturday Satilla Democrats meet the second Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. at the Waycross Public Library, 401 Lee Ave, Heritage Room. For information contact Gale Burris at 912-282-1180