Looking back on 2024…

January 3, 2024

Optim Health System is thrilled to announce the arrival of Dr. Michael Appeadu, MD, a highly skilled interventional pain management specialist, to the Swainsboro community. Dr. Appeadu will begin offering his expert services at the Optim Swainsboro clinic, located at 119-B Victory Dr., Swainsboro, GA, 30401, starting Thursday, January 4, 2024.

January 10, 2024

Sunrays Optical, located at 414 South Main Street, Swainsboro, held a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Friday, January 3 at 2 p.m. Chamber President Ken Warnock was on hand to welcome owner, Brock Hooks to our community.

January 17, 2024

At the first Council meeting of the year in Garfield on Tuesday, January 9, Mayor Tommie Paul and Council Members, Teah Gay and Latrail Sheffield were sworn in.

January 24, 2024

DA Tripp Fitzner swore Investigators Rocky Davis and Leah Moats into their new roles of the District Attorney’s Office. Davis was sworn in as the Chief Investigator and Leah Moats was promoted to Senior Investigator.

January 31, 2024

In conjunction with their one-year business anniversary, Our Town Healthcare, located at 355 S. Coleman Street, Swainsboro, held a ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 18, at 4 p.m. Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce members, members of the community, family, and friends were on hand to welcome owner Arlie Stevens to our community.

February 7, 2024

National K-9 certification is difficult to achieve and difficult to maintain, and for the past couple of years, Swainsboro Police Department’s K-9 unit has made the mark for National Certification. Swainsboro Police Department is proud of Detective James Young and K-9 Maya for achieving national standards.

February 14, 2024

Seniors Jerrod Steward and Schuyler Coney signed letters of intent to play college football on National Signing Day, February 7. Steward will make the move to Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, and Coney heads up to St. Andrews University in North Carolina.

February 21, 2024

Emanuel Medical Center CEO, Damien Scott, attended the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute February 12 – 15 in Washington D.C. In addition to learning about pending legislation affecting rural health, Scott joined a group of rural hospital CEOs to meet with multiple legislators to discuss the important issues facing rural hospitals.

February 28, 2024

Chief Randy Ellison announced his retirement this past Thursday night at the annual Police Department Awards Banquet. This December, Ellison will close out a 35-year career in law enforcement including the past 15 years as Chief of the Swainsboro Police Department.

March 6, 2024

Governor Brian Kemp officially announced February 22, 2024, the appointment of Ken Warnock to the State Workforce Development Board for the State of Georgia.

March 13, 2024

The Emanuel County Board of Education voted unanimously at a called meeting on Thursday, March 7, to approve the appointment of Dr. Denise Warnock as the next Emanuel County School Superintendent. Dr. Warnock is replacing retiring Superintendent Scotty W. Hattaway and will assume her duties on April 1, 2024.

March 20, 2024

The East Georgia State College (EGSC) Women’s Basketball Team made history this weekend after being crowned the 2024 Region 17 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Women’s Basketball Champions! This is the first women’s team in the College’s history to win the GCAA Championship.

March 27, 2024

The Swainsboro Police Department and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Department combined efforts to suppress the open-air illegal drug sales in Swainsboro. The Swainsboro Police Department’s Drug Suppression Unit was formed by the Chief to take a proactive response to reduce illegal drug sales and reduce the criminal activity that results in relationship to illegal drug usage. Thursday afternoon, March 2 officers detained several individuals in a raid of a known drug trade on Williams St. in Swainsboro.

April 3, 2024

Talmadge “Tee” Smith Jr., son of Bonnie Rose Smith and the late Talmadge Smith Sr., is the Choral Director and the Literary Team coach at Houston County High School. Last year, they won the 2023 6A Literary State Championship for the first time in school history and this year, they are back-to-back state champions, winning the 2024 state title.

April 10, 2024

On Thursday, April 4, David Emanuel Academy held a ribbon cutting in celebration of their new main building. The new addition completed the first stage of the school’s SOAR Capital Campaign campus expansion project which provided administrative offices, security vestibule, restrooms, meeting rooms, a commons area and two new classrooms for the school.

April 17, 2024

Things are taking shape with the new home for the Emanuel County tax and election offices. Construction of the new building next to the Post Office is rapidly progressing and is forecast for significant completion by the end of the year.

April 24, 2024

The Swainsboro Exchange Club annually honors Emanuel County’s First Responders with an appreciation lunch. This event was held at East Georgia State College on Tuesday, April 16, with the presentation of the Bobby Powell Award being presented to Chief Deputy Nick Robertson. Robertson started his law enforcement career in 2009 and has worked in the Uniform Patrol, Traffic and Investigation Divisions. He has been with the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and was appointed as Chief Deputy, second in command, on January 1, 2021.

May 1, 2024

Bela Family Dentistry of Augusta welcomes Dr. Kristen Green. A native of Adrian, and a graduate of the Dental College of Georgia, Green is excited to serve patients in Augusta.

May 8, 2024

Mr. Zach Proctor, Loan Officer at Durden Banking Company in Swainsboro, graduated from the Georgia Banking School program on May 3. Durden Banking Company was established in 1935 here in Emanuel County with offices now in Emanuel, Candler, and Jenkins County. To learn more, visit www.durdenbc.com.

May 15, 2024

Nurses Week is a great time to recognize Emanuel Medical Center DAISY award winner, Caleb Burton, RN. The DAISY Award® is a special honor given to extraordinary nurses for the compassionate contributions they make every day going above and beyond expectations in science and sensitivity.

May 22, 2024

Brandon Chapman committed to play baseball for Truett McConnell University (Cleveland, GA) in a signing ceremony held Monday, May 20 at SHS.

May 29, 2024

Last Tuesday, May 21, Swainsboro High School Golfer Jackson Gray signed his National Letter of Intent to play collegiate golf at Brewton-Parker College.

June 5, 2024

The River Rats have toured the Ogeechee once again and broken another record. In April of this year, 41 boats carrying 75 citizens who call themselves the River Rats, set off at the Bull Hole in Jenkins County to make their annual tour of the Ogeechee River. The duration of the tour lasted from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21, and ended at Kings Ferry in Chatham County, raising a substantial $56,000, which was donated to the Greenville Shriner’s Hospital on May 30.

June 12, 2024

Ivy N. Cadle of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, & Berkowitz, P.C. in Macon and Atlanta was installed June 8 as the 62nd president of the 55,000-member State Bar of Georgia during the organization’s Annual Meeting at Amelia Island.

June 19, 2024

David Emanuel Academy Elementary Beta Barbies competed at the National Beta Convention Saturday, June 15 and came home National Beta winners. They rocked the stage and brought home first place. Blakely Johnson, representing The Southern Dance Connection and David Emanuel Academy, won Junior Beta National Champion for her solo dance routine.

June 26, 2024

Governor Brian P. Kemp recently announced that Emanuel Medical Center is among 13 Georgia rural hospitals to receive grant awards totaling $6 million as part of the Dual Track Rural Hospital Support program.

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July 3, 2024

On April 27, 2024, Braylee Jade Williams, six-year-old daughter of Kylie and Jeremy Williams of Swainsboro, won the title of “Little Miss Pinetree Festival Queen”, which led her to a state level competition in the 85th Annual Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant in Tifton June 21-23.

July 10, 2024

All the Fixin’s was recently awarded Twin City’s first ever “Thriving Twin City” facade grant.

July 17, 2024

Monday, July 15, State Representative Butch Parrish, chairman of the House Rules Committee, (R-Swainsboro), announced that the Karrh Community Arts Center has been awarded a one-time grant of $250,000.

July 24, 2024

Cooper Riner, a dedicated young golfer from our area, recently showcased his remarkable skills at the 2024 Under Armour World Championship, held from July 17-21 at the impeccable Reunion Resort in Florida. Competing against a field of 86 top junior golfers from around the globe in the boys’ 15-18 age group, Cooper achieved an impressive sixth-place finish.

July 31, 2024

The Georgia Hospital Association Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Fund is privileged to present the Platinum Safety Award to Emanuel Medical Center in recognition of their superior accident experience in calendar year 2023. The loss ratio evaluated as of March 31, 2024, for 2023, was 2% of their premium.

August 7, 2024

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of East Georgia gratefully announces its recent achievements at the Company’s Reunion held from June 17-21 in Fort Worth, Texas. The franchise received the prestigious Dream Awards for Enhancing Lives, Carpenter of the Year, Salesperson of the Year and the esteemed Cornerstone recognition.

August 14, 2024

April Finch has been named the new Bank Compliance Officer for The Citizens Bank of Swainsboro.

August 21, 2024

Zelda Sumner, Swainsboro Police Department Administrative Assistant, has been named the 2024 District 7 Administrative Assistant of the Year.

August 28, 2024

The halls of the Emanuel Medical Center Nursing Home have a new ray of sunshine beaming through them with the addition of Missy Mills as the Activities Director for the

Facility.

September 4, 2024

Hereford Queen Belcher traveled all the way to Nebraska this summer to represent Georgia, showcasing her passion and getting to know different breeders and kids with the same passion as hers.

September 11, 2024

In celebration of Constitution Week, The United States Constitution, America’s most important document, stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights. Constitution Week is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23 to commemorate its history, importance, and bring attention to how it serves still today.

September 18, 2024

Emanuel Medical Center held a groundbreaking ceremony last Friday to mark the beginning of construction for its much-anticipated Emergency Department expansion.

September 25, 2024

East Georgia State College (EGSC) is launching its own Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree starting in the Spring of 2025. Building on the College’s most popular associate’s degree program, the expansion to the program as a bachelor’s degree will provide a pathway for students to complete their business education at EGSC rather than transferring to another institution.

October 2, 2024

Sometimes our greatest blessings are revealed in our darkest times. Our community, and so many more like ours throughout the Southeast, has certainly seen some dark times over this last week. Hurricane Helene brought devastation to Emanuel County. It is going to take many more weeks before things get back to “normal.” For some places and people, things will be forever changed.

October 9, 2024

David Emanuel Academy held its Miss DEA pageant Saturday, September 21, at 2 p.m. Kyli Bell was crowned 2024 – 2025 Miss DEA.

October 16, 2024

The ECI Lady Dawg softball team captured their fourth consecutive title last week. The word dynasty is thrown around a lot, but the Lady Dawgs have somewhat of a region dynasty. Like the first line states, it is the fourth consecutive for ECI. But the Lady Dawgs have won nine out of the last 10 region titles.

October 23, 2024

Alexa Jukes and Wanda Thompson Scarboro took top honors at the 35th Georgia National Fairground and Agricenter in Perry the week of October 3-13. Alexa, the 14-year-old daughter of Chris and Brandi Jukes, was the Grand Champion in the Junior Invitation Hereford Breed. Wanda won the Award of Excellence in Monochrome Photography with her entry entitled ‘My Baby Doll’. She was competing with 560 other entries.

October 30, 2024

The Emanuel County Recreation Department has scored big! The Georgia Recreation and Park Association’s 2024 Agency of the Year Award is now on display inside the Connie Kight Gymnasium, along with numerous other trophies and honors.

November 6, 2024

The ECI Lady Dawg softball team brought back more hardware than they left with Saturday. The resilient Dawgs won their second state championship in the last three years, defeating the GMC Bulldogs in a comeback 2-1 win.

November 13, 2024

Emanuel Medical Prompt Care celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, October 29, at 11:30 a.m.

November 20, 2024

On April 27, Braylee Jade Williams won the title of Little Miss Pinetree Festival Queen, which led her to a state level competition in the 85th Annual Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant in Tifton June 21-23, becoming the new 2024 Tiny Miss Georgia Forestry Queen. She advanced to the National level, Tiny Miss National Forestry Pageant, held November 1 – 3, at the Gressett Auditorium on Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, where she became the new 2024 Tiny Miss National Forestry Queen.

November 27, 2024

Congratulations to University of Georgia fourth year student and Georgette Captain Caroline Mason, on her nomination and receipt of the Phyllis Dancz Memorial Award.

December 4, 2024

Chief Alima Mims started his career with Swainsboro Fire Department on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. A pinning ceremony for Chief Mims was held Monday, December 2, at Swainsboro Fire Headquarters.

December 11, 2024

Main Street Market Antique Mall was recently voted ‘Best Antique Store’ in the State of Georgia by The Georgia Business Journal for the 4th year straight.

December 18, 2024

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, the Honorable Chief Superior Court Judge Robert S. ’Bobby’ Reeves performed the swearing in of officials for the term beginning January 1, 2025. Officials sworn in for the 2025-2028 term are: Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer, District Attorney Tripp Fitzner, Clerk of Superior Court Kristin Hall and Emanuel County State Court Solicitor-General Cindy Delgado (not pictured). Other officials will be sworn in on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

December 25, 2024

On Saturday, December 14, the ECI JROTC cadets took part in the national Wreaths Across America event at Swainsboro Cemetery, joining communities across the country in honoring the service and sacrifice of fallen military personnel.