Author: Donna Wilcox

From operating the county jail and 911 center to providing courthouse security, transporting inmates across state lines and responding to mental-health emergencies, Jeff Davis County Sheriff Preston Bohannon told Hazlehurst Rotarians Wednesday that much of the work performed by the Sheriff’s Office happens outside the public eye. Bohannon was the guest speaker at this week’s Hazlehurst Rotary Club meeting. He was introduced by Kurt Davis, who noted Bohannon has spent 25 years in law enforcement — one year with a police department, 10 years as a deputy and 14 years as sheriff. Bohannon used the meeting to give members a…

JDMS Softball battled back from an early deficit and took the lead midway through Tuesday’s game, but Tattnall County Middle School pulled away late to defeat the Jackets 11-7. Tattnall jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but Jeff Davis worked its way back into the game. The Jackets’ rally paid off in the bottom of the fourth when singles from Paxtan Felix, River Bruce and Jaiden Folsom helped JDMS surge ahead 6-4. Tattnall answered in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs to regain a 7-6 lead. Jeff Davis responded again in the bottom half…

Savanna Robinette delivered a huge night at the plate Tuesday, driving in five runs as Jeff Davis rolled to a 9-2 road victory over Thomasville. Robinette went 4-for-4, highlighted by a second-inning grand slam that broke open a tie game and put the Jackets in control. Jeff Davis wasted little time getting started. In the top of the first, Anna Grace Alligood brought home a run on a groundout before Robinette doubled down the left-field line to score another, giving the Jackets an early 2-0 lead. Thomasville answered with two runs in the bottom half to tie the game, but…

This week, we’re switching from last week’s family supper to something sweet — and September is already pointing us toward apples. Apple desserts are showing up prominently in current fall recipe coverage, including apple fritters, apple crisp, apple cakes and old-fashioned apple crumbles. Recent recipe roundups published this week are highlighting apples as one of the flavors home cooks are reaching for as we make the transition into fall. So for this week’s What’s Cookin’, Hazlehurst?, we’re making an easy Caramel Apple Crumble Bar — warm cinnamon apples tucked between a buttery oat crust and crunchy crumble topping, with a…

South Georgia’s familiar fall visitors are back — and they seem to be everywhere If you’ve stepped outside or driven anywhere around South Georgia lately, you probably don’t need anyone to tell you: the lovebugs are back. They’re on vehicles. They’re around yards and businesses. And on some South Georgia roads, drivers are encountering what seems like clouds of them. So, what exactly are these pesky little insects, and why are we seeing so many of them right now? First, they’re actually flies! Lovebugs, scientifically known as Plecia nearctica, are a species of fly. Adults are easily recognized by their…

Two new millage rates were approved yesterday in Jeff Davis County. The Jeff Davis County Board of Education has approved a millage rate of 12.5 mills. This is a reduction from 13.5 mills. The Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners has approved a millage rate of 11.5 mills. which is a reduction from 12.175 mills. But what exactly is a millage rate? A millage rate is the rate local governments and school systems use when calculating property taxes. One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. In Georgia, property is generally assessed for tax…

The Jeff Davis Cross Country program welcomed hundreds of runners to Hazlehurst Thursday, Sept. 10, for the 10th Annual Southern Georgia XC Championship, and the Jackets made the most of their home course. The event drew 909 registered runners representing 26 high school and 15 middle school teams, making for a big afternoon of racing. Across the four varsity and middle school divisions, Jeff Davis finished first, second, second and fourth. The JDMS boys captured the championship, while the middle school girls finished runner-up. At the high school level, the Jeff Davis girls placed second and the boys finished fourth.…

Education and healthcare took center stage Monday as community leaders gathered for the State of the Community Panel Discussion, presented by the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Chamber of Commerce. The first session of this year’s series featured Dr. Chris Roppe, Superintendent of Jeff Davis County Schools, and Barry Bloom, CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital, who provided updates on two of the community’s largest and most important institutions. Chamber President and CEO Oakley G. Perry welcomed those attending and noted the growth of the event since its launch last year. The Jeff Davis County Development Authority served as presenting sponsor of the…

Jeff Davis put together a strong offensive performance Monday, collecting 10 hits on the way to a 9-4 victory over Pierce County. Pierce County struck first in the top of the third inning when Figueroa delivered an RBI single, but the Jackets answered immediately. In the bottom half, Savanna Robinette singled home a run to tie the game before a Pierce County error allowed two more runs to score, putting Jeff Davis in front 3-1. The Jackets continued to build on the lead before putting together another three-run inning in the sixth. Ava Bohannon launched a solo home run to…

ALBANY, Ga. — A heartbreaking missing-person case in Southwest Georgia has become a murder investigation after human remains found in a wooded area were positively identified as 18-year-old Samuel Jackson. Samuel had been missing since June 26, when he was last seen around 8:30 p.m. in the west Albany area. His disappearance prompted an extensive search by law enforcement and members of the community. On July 6, investigators searching for Samuel discovered human remains in a wooded area connected to the investigation. At the time, authorities were unable to positively identify the remains, which were submitted for forensic examination. More…