Author: Donna Wilcox

Jeff Davis continued its strong play on the road Friday night, using a dominant rushing attack and another impressive defensive performance to defeat McIntosh County Academy, 36-7. The Jackets piled up 339 yards of total offense, including 295 yards on the ground, while holding McIntosh County Academy to just 117 total yards. Jeff Davis also controlled the chains, finishing with 24 first downs compared to nine for the Buccaneers. Jeff Davis struck first when Kobe Hill capped the opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. MCA answered later in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown…

BLECKLEY COUNTY UPDATE (Saturday 9/20/26): Sheriff Daniel Cape confirmed that the suspect is a male Bleckley County Middle School student under age 16 and that the alleged school-shooting threat was discovered through the juvenile’s online activity. The student was taken into custody on school grounds at approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, but Cape said no guns or other weapons were found. WGXA also reports that the juvenile is being held at a Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice facility on a charge of terroristic threats and acts, with additional charges pending. The investigation remains active. Sheriff’s office says no specific church, date…

McRAE-HELENA, Ga. UPDATE — Friday Evening, Sept. 18: The statewide lockdown has been lifted at most Georgia Department of Corrections facilities following Thursday’s gang-related fight at Telfair State Prison. However, Telfair State Prison remains on lockdown, along with Calhoun State Prison and specific dorms at Hancock and Wilcox state prisons. GDC has not announced when those remaining restrictions will be lifted. Three inmates were injured Thursday during a gang-related fight at Telfair State Prison, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. GDC told WGXA that numerous offenders were involved in the altercation, but the incident was contained to one…

JDMS Softball out hit Toombs County Middle School Thursday, but a five-run second inning proved costly as the Jackets fell 10-6. Toombs struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but Jeff Davis answered quickly. Paislee Davis delivered a two-run double in the top of the second to help the Jackets take a 3-1 lead. The momentum shifted in the bottom half of the inning when Toombs scored five runs on just one hit. A Jeff Davis error that allowed three runs to score was the biggest blow of the inning, putting Toombs ahead 6-3. Toombs added…

The Hazlehurst City Council handled a lengthy agenda Thursday evening, Sept. 17, with action ranging from the city’s 2026 property tax millage rate and a developing data center study to cemetery improvements, infrastructure projects and changes to city purchasing procedures. The work session and regular meeting also brought several residents before the council with concerns involving the temporarily closed animal shelter, sewage backups, property maintenance and other city issues. Council Votes to Set Millage Rate at 7 Mills One of the most significant actions of the evening came when council members voted 3-0 to set the city’s 2026 property tax…

A six-year-old Georgia cold case has taken a major turn following advances in DNA testing. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that Rashad Jackson, 27, of DeKalb County, has been arrested and charged with murder and other offenses in connection with the 2020 shooting death of 21-year-old Tyler Hall in Norcross. Investigators say advanced DNA testing helped identify Jackson as a suspect after the GBI Cold Case Unit took another look at the evidence. The following is the full press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation: September 17, 2026 GBI Announces Arrest in 2020 Cold Case Death of…

First public hearing outlines proposed safeguards as residents suggest additional changes McRAE-HELENA, Ga. — As communities across Georgia consider how to address the rapid growth of data centers, neighboring Telfair County is moving toward putting regulations in place before a large-scale data center development arrives. Telfair County recently held the first public hearing on a proposed data center ordinance for the unincorporated areas of the county, giving residents an opportunity to hear an overview of the proposal and offer comments and suggested changes. No vote was scheduled during the public hearing. County officials explained that additional readings would be required…

There’s something different about tennis season at Jeff Davis Middle School this year — it’s happening in the fall. JDMS tennis has traditionally been a spring sport, but a change in conferences moved the middle school season to the fall. Under the direction of Coaches Katie Kersey and Cam Lewis, the Jackets opened their new-look season with an impressive performance against Wayne County, with both the girls and boys picking up team victories. The JDMS girls swept Wayne County 5-0, while the boys battled their way to a 3-2 victory. Girls Results No. 1 Singles: Jolie Kersey won, 8-3 No.…

Jackson shares personal story and outlines priorities on taxes, education, healthcare, agriculture and rural Georgia BAXLEY, Ga. — Around 100 people from Jeff Davis, Appling, Bacon and surrounding areas gathered in Baxley Thursday morning to hear from Republican nominee for Georgia governor Rick Jackson, who used the appearance to share his personal story and outline several of the priorities he says he would pursue if elected in November. Hazlehurst Now attended the Tri-County Breakfast held at Sarah’s in the City. According to the event announcement, the gathering brought together supporters from Appling, Bacon and Jeff Davis counties and was hosted…

Gabby Taylor delivered another strong performance in the circle Wednesday, tossing a complete-game shutout as Jeff Davis defeated Berrien County, 5-0. The Jackets wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Anna Grace Alligood singled home a run in the bottom of the first to give Jeff Davis an early 1-0 lead. Jeff Davis broke the game open in the second. Ava Bohannon doubled to center field to bring home two runs, and a Berrien error allowed two more to score, extending the Jackets’ advantage to 5-0. That was more than enough support for Taylor, who kept Berrien off the scoreboard…