Author: Donna Wilcox

Jeff Davis Primary School has plenty to celebrate after students posted significant literacy gains across Kindergarten, first grade and second grade, helping the school rank No. 2 in the entire First District RESA region for English Language Arts growth. Results from the First District RESA Literacy Screener show improvement at every grade level reported, with especially strong gains from the beginning measurement to the latest results. Kindergarten students increased from 22% to 71%, representing a 49-point gain. First-grade students moved from 8% to 62%, a 54-point increase, while second-grade students improved from 16% to 55%, gaining 39 points. Taken together,…

Jeff Davis Middle School Softball battled through a back-and-forth contest Tuesday, scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to defeat J.R. Trippe Middle School of Vidalia, 12-11. The Yellow Jackets put together a strong offensive performance, collecting 16 hits and building an early advantage before J.R. Trippe battled back to tie the game late. Jeff Davis broke through in the second inning when Zoe Mercer delivered a three-run triple. Sadie Williams followed with an RBI single, and another run scored on an error as JDMS put five runs on the board. The Yellow Jackets kept the offense rolling in…

As discussion continues about the possibility of data center development in Jeff Davis County, residents are hearing arguments on both sides. Supporters point to the potential for significant tax revenue, economic investment and improvements to electrical infrastructure. Others have raised concerns about water consumption, electricity demand, noise, environmental impacts and whether the long-term benefits would outweigh the costs. For many citizens, however, the issue may not be as simple as being for or against data centers. The more important question right now may be: Do we have enough information to make an informed decision? Georgia Power has released information addressing…

With temperatures still making it feel very much like summer in South Georgia, fall gardening may be the last thing on your mind. But according to Jennifer Miller with the UGA Cooperative Extension Jeff Davis County office, now is the time for local gardeners to begin preparing and planting for the cooler growing season ahead. The transition from a summer garden to a fall garden begins with preparing the soil. Miller recommends chopping up leftover summer plants and crop residue and incorporating that material into the soil. Gardeners may also want to add compost or fertilizer, depending on the needs…

Jeff Davis Elementary School has more Georgia Milestones results to celebrate, with both third- and fourth-grade students posting strong statewide performances in mathematics during the 2025-26 school year. Fourth-grade students performed in the Top 30% statewide in Math, while third-grade students ranked in the Top 34% statewide. The results are another reason to celebrate the work taking place inside Jeff Davis County classrooms and reflect the combined efforts of students, teachers, administrators and families. Jeff Davis Elementary’s fourth-grade students turned in the school’s strongest showing, finishing among the Top 30% in Georgia on the Math portion of the Georgia Milestones.…

DUBLIN, GA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended all seven members of the Dublin City Board of Education following state scrutiny of a financial crisis that has left the school district facing an estimated $20 million deficit and forced significant cuts to jobs and programs. The action follows a lengthy hearing before the Georgia Board of Education, which voted 10-0 to recommend that Kemp suspend the board over its oversight of the district’s finances. The suspended board members are Amanda Smith, John Bell, Jeff Davis, Joanna Glover, Peggy Johnson, James Lanier and Kenny Walters. The members were suspended with…

As Jeff Davis County continues discussing the possibility of data center development, questions have centered on potential economic benefits, water consumption and electricity demand. Another issue communities across the country have encountered is one that may not be as obvious until a facility is operating: noise. A March 2026 report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines noise associated with data centers, experiences of communities where facilities have been built near homes, and measures that can be considered during planning and development. The amount and type of noise can vary considerably depending on the facility, its equipment and…

Student achievement took center stage during the Jeff Davis County Board of Education’s regular meeting on Monday, August 10, as board members heard updates on Advanced Placement exam success, Georgia Milestones performance and the newly opened Jeff Davis Primary School. Students Recognized for AP Achievement Jeff Davis High School Principal Dr. Greer Smith recognized two students for outstanding performances on their Advanced Placement exams. Kenneth Grate earned a 4 on the AP Precalculus exam, while Vincent Ly earned the highest possible score — a 5 on the AP Calculus exam. The students were recognized during the meeting as part of…

The Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets had a busy Saturday on the softball field, picking up a 9-7 victory over GHSA Class 6A Greenbrier before battling back from a four-run deficit against GHSA Class 4A West Laurens in a game that was ultimately suspended because of lightning. The Yellow Jackets finished the day with one win and one game still to be decided, as Jeff Davis and West Laurens were tied 6-6 when play was stopped in the seventh inning. The game will be completed at a later date. Jeff Davis Tops Greenbrier, 9-7 Jeff Davis put together an impressive offensive…

It is hard to believe that this September will mark 25 years since a day that forever changed our country. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Americans watched in disbelief as our nation came under attack. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost, families were forever changed, and first responders ran toward unimaginable danger while others were desperately trying to escape it. For those of us old enough to remember that day, 25 years somehow feels both like a lifetime ago and like yesterday. We remember where we were when we first heard the news. We remember watching television, trying to…