Author: Donna Wilcox

As students across Jeff Davis and Appling counties prepare to begin another school year, 159 of them will receive a financial boost thanks to the generosity and lasting vision of Joe and Margaret Frazier. Hazlehurst First Methodist Church will distribute $195,000 in scholarship funds this month to help area students pay for college and technical school expenses through the Jonah R. and Margaret J. Frazier Scholarship Program. The scholarship program, administered by Hazlehurst First Methodist Church, was established through a generous endowment left by longtime church members Joe and Margaret Frazier, whose desire was to help local residents pursue educational…

Families in the Jeff Davis County School System can once again take one item off their back-to-school checklist this year: every enrolled student will receive free breakfast and free lunch, regardless of household income. The district is able to provide meals at no cost through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program that allows eligible school districts to serve free meals to all enrolled students without requiring families to complete free or reduced-price meal applications. For parents, the program means one less form to complete and one less expense to worry about as students return to the classroom. Unlike…

Fifteen years ago, a tragic automobile accident changed the course of Maria Rea’s life forever. In an instant, the crash left Maria with a spinal cord injury and paralysis, replacing the life she once knew with months of surgeries, intensive rehabilitation, and the challenge of learning to navigate the world from a wheelchair. While the road ahead was filled with obstacles, Maria chose not to let her circumstances define her. Instead, she leaned on her faith, discovering strength in the midst of hardship and finding purpose through perseverance. Along the way, her family became her greatest source of encouragement, standing…

Before welcoming students back to the classroom, reading teachers from Jeff Davis Primary School, along with educators from other schools, spent the day investing in professional learning designed to strengthen reading instruction and improve student success. The training focused on UFLI Foundations, an evidence-based literacy program developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). The program provides teachers with research-backed strategies to help students develop the foundational reading skills needed to become confident, successful readers. UFLI Foundations emphasizes phonics, decoding, and other essential literacy concepts while providing students with repeated opportunities to practice until skills become automatic. The program…

Residents planning to travel south toward Jacksonville, Florida, or the Georgia coast should be aware that a portion of Interstate 95 in Camden County has been closed due to wildfires and heavy smoke, creating hazardous driving conditions. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is working to establish a fully signed detour for drivers traveling through the area. Motorists are encouraged to check road conditions before traveling. Real-time traffic updates are available by calling 511, visiting 511ga.org, or using the Georgia 511 mobile app. Drivers planning to travel along I-95 through southeast Georgia should expect delays and consider alternate routes until…

Several members of the Hazlehurst Fire Department recently participated in the Georgia Fire Safety Symposium, joining fire service professionals from across the state for training, education, and collaboration focused on improving fire safety and emergency response. Representing Hazlehurst at the symposium were Shawn Killi, Dustin Hyers, Tyler Brewer, and Caprice Hall. The Georgia Fire Safety Symposium brings together fire chiefs, inspectors, firefighters, educators, and public safety professionals to exchange ideas, learn about the latest fire prevention strategies, and strengthen their knowledge through educational sessions and hands-on training. The event provides an opportunity for departments to stay informed on evolving safety…

Hazlehurst has another reason to celebrate as hometown barrel racer Brooklyn Parlor continues to make her mark on the national stage. The 19-year-old daughter of Jenny and Chris Parlor recently competed at the 2026 National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Youth World Championships, the largest Youth World event in NBHA history, with more than 2,300 horses competing from across the country. Competing against some of the nation’s best young barrel racers, Brooklyn earned an impressive 7th-place overall finish—the second consecutive year she has finished seventh at one of the sport’s most prestigious championships. Her back-to-back Top 10 performances highlight the consistency,…

One of South Georgia’s greatest natural treasures has received one of the highest honors in the world. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has officially been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its global ecological significance and placing it alongside world-renowned destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks. The designation marks the culmination of a more than 40-year effort to gain international recognition for the Okefenokee’s extraordinary natural beauty and ecological importance. The successful nomination was made possible through a partnership formed in 2022 among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Okefenokee Swamp Park, and a…

At just 11 years old, Lily Ann Crosby of Jeff Davis County has earned her fifth National Showmanship Championship, adding another remarkable accomplishment to an already impressive livestock showing career.  Lily Ann Crosby, daughter of Richard and Jayme Crosby, was named Junior Showmanship Champion at the 2026 National Junior Summer Spectacular, held June 30 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The national championship marks Lily Ann’s fifth National Showmanship title, an accomplishment that reflects years of dedication, hard work, and countless hours spent preparing and exhibiting livestock.  A Passion That Started Early Lily Ann’s love for showing pigs began at an incredibly young…

Pablo Zuriel Miranda, the accused killer who walked out of the Atkinson County Jail Sunday morning, has been apprehended after two days on the run. Sunday, Pearson residents woke to an alarming law enforcement presence in the city. Miranda, who had been in the Atkinson County Jail since May of 2024, was helping load food trays at the jail on Sunday morning when he ran away. “I’m sorry. I failed you. We made bad decisions and now the community has to suffer for it. And I’m sorry for that,” said Atkinson County Sheriff David Moore Monday in an interview with…