Eight educators retire
The Jeff Davis County Board of Education accepted the retirements of eight employees at their Monday night meeting. Retiring will be Doug Alexander, Richard Ryles, Sheila Edwards, Cherie Harper, Kim Taylor, Dennis Kirby, Bonnie Edwards and Paul Glass — although Glass will continue to lead the Jeff Davis High baseball program. Athletic Director Roger Metts…
Read MoreSometimes you need a scorecard
By MARY ANN ANDERSON Anyone who attended last week’s workshop of the Hazlehurst City Council needed a scorecard to keep up with the slew of motions, withdrawals and amendments that were lobbed around during the lively, sometimes heated discussion of issues with the city-owned Twisted Pine Golf Course and Hazlehurst Civic Center. Last July, the…
Read MoreMr. Richard Deas, 76
Mr. Richard Deas of Hazlehurst passed away peacefully surrounded by family June 8, 2023. He was born in Jeff Davis County on July 12, 1946. Richard was the son of the late Mr. Wesley Deas and Mrs. Harriet King Deas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley Deas and Harriet King Deas, brother…
Read MoreMr. Melvin Anthony (Tony) Hughes, 75
Mr. Melvin Anthony (Tony) Hughes, 75, of Lumber City, died June 9 at his residence. Mr. Hughes was born June 18, 1947, in Jeff Davis County. He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Mathew Hughes and Ella Faye Wheeler Hughes, son, Paul Varnadoe, grandson, Ethan Fordham, sisters, Pearl Newham, Mary Medders, Anita Silas,…
Read MoreMr. Frank Elisha Ryals, 64
Mr. Frank Elisha Ryals, 64, of Hazlehurst passed away June 6 at his residence. Mr. Ryals was born Dec. 30, 1958, to Peter Ryals and Ann Register Ryals. He was a member of Lumber City Free Will Baptist Church and was a logger. Mr. Ryals was preceded in death by his significant other, Anita Sammons,…
Read MoreRichard Deas passes
When it comes to law enforcement, Richard Deas ran the gamut. He served as a Military Policeman in the U.S. Army, in the Georgia State Patrol, as Hazlehurst Police Chief, as Jeff Davis County Sheriff, and years with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And during his path in law enforcement, he gained what he would…
Read MoreJuanita Thompson dies
Former Hazlehurst business owner, Ms. Juanita Findley Thompson, 95, of Hazlehurst, died June 9 at Community Hospice in Vidalia. Mrs. Thompson was the owner and operator of The Theatre and Thompsons Jewelry and a member of Hazlehurst First Methodist Church. Born Feb. 20, 1928, in Burke County, she is preceded in death by her parents,…
Read MoreMs. Juanita Findley Thompson, 95
Ms. Juanita Findley Thompson, 95, of Hazlehurst, died June 9 at Community Hospice in Vidalia. Ms. Thompson was born Feb. 20, 1928, in Burke County. She is preceded in death by her parents, Victor Owens Findley and Hazel Norma Moseley Rogers, husband, Walter Wilson Thompson Sr., brother, Bobby O. Robinson, and step-sister, Gloria Rose Findley.…
Read MoreDevastating social media — By Tommy Purser
I recently stumbled on yet another example of how social media is devastating our country. This time it was a YouTube video of a woman from Massachusetts who travelled all the way to Arizona to talk to legislators about how she had been abused for simply asking for information about what her upcoming kindergarten student…
Read MoreSplit Party — By John Reed
Split Party? This weekend, the State Republican Party will hold their annual convention in Columbus. It promises to be a contentious affair. The Trump faction will be out in force as he will be one of the keynote speakers. There is another side of the party, though, that is tired of the constant drama and…
Read More