Local Lens
By T.S. Carter / * Inglés y español | LANIER COUNTY, Ga. – Lanier County voters won’t be deciding whether to adopt a special penny sales tax in exchange for giving a tax break to property owners who have a Homestead Exemption. The General Assembly declined this week to move forward with the Local Homestead…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A proposed retaining wall project on St. Simons Island is drawing attention after the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) announced it has received an application for a variance allowing construction activity within a protected coastal marsh buffer in Glynn County. …
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — Lanier County’s decision to use its emergency notification system to send text messages and automated phone calls announcing a jury duty cancellation on Friday, June 12 is prompting questions about whether a communication platform intended for public safety emergencies should also…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | STOCKTON, Ga. — For generations, Stockton Baptist Church has stood as a place where families have worshiped, celebrated life’s blessings and leaned on one another through difficult seasons. On a joyful Sunday in June, the congregation added another memorable chapter to that history as…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | GEORGIA – When most people think about protecting Georgia’s natural resources, they may picture state parks or wildlife refuges. Yet one of the state’s oldest and most effective conservation networks operates quietly behind the scenes in every county, helping farmers, landowners, local governments, and…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — As the nation marks a historic milestone—the 250th anniversary of American independence—Lakeland is preparing to celebrate freedom in true South Georgia style with a full day of patriotic fun, community spirit, and hometown pride on Friday, July 4. From runners carrying…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | VALDOSTA—Music filled the air, families gathered under the summer sun, and history took center stage as South Georgians celebrated the 34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Valdosta this month. Although Lakeland and Lanier County did not host an official Juneteenth event this year, many…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | SAVANNAH – A major federal drug-trafficking prosecution that stretched across South Georgia is entering its final phase as additional defendants receive prison sentences for their roles in a conspiracy that authorities say operated from both local communities and inside Georgia prisons. Federal prosecutors…
Area News
The Georgia Preparatory Academy (GPA) held a graduation ceremony for Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) youth on Thursday, May 21, in Macon, Ga. Students were awarded 31 high school diplomas and 26 GED diplomas. Class leaders included the valedictorian from the Muscogee County Education Transition Center (ETC), the salutatorian from the Chatham County ETC, and…
Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Ga., will host its Celebrate America Festival powered by Georgia Power from June 20 through July 12, a patriotic three-week event honoring 250 years of America, military service and bringing families together through fireworks, concerts, summertime thrills and gallons of waterpark fun. The festival includes free admission for military…
SGMC Health welcomes Sarah Durden as Director of Nursing for Acute Care. In this role, she will oversee nursing operations across 3 West, 4 South, and the Virtual Nursing Program. Drawing on her experience in inpatient settings, Durden is committed to advancing team collaboration and supporting nursing staff. Her leadership across these units will help…
Area Sports
Get ready for another exciting season with VLPRA Youth Football & Cheerleading! Registration is now open for boys and girls across Lowndes County and Valdosta… but don’t wait, the registration deadline is June 23. VLPRA’s Football & Cheerleading Program is school-based, meaning participants are assigned to teams based on the middle school they will attend. Children…
Whether you are spending the day on the trail or camping overnight, remember to pick up all trash and be BearWise, encourages the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). “Taking a few simple steps to be BearWise can help make outdoor adventures safer and more enjoyable for everyone, while also helping keep…
Put a stop to goose conflicts before they become issues. Canada geese are well-suited to a wide range of habitats, from agricultural fields and rural waterways to neighborhood ponds, business parks, and urban green spaces. As they continue to thrive in developed areas, encounters between geese and people have become more common, according to the…
First Responses
By T.S. Carter / * Inglés y español | TIFTON, Ga. – A months long investigation into a string of golf cart thefts has led to the arrests of a half dozen suspects, say the Tifton Police Department and Tift County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the thefts jointly. By June 10, the two law enforcement agencies…
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles The following individuals were arrested and appear on this week’s Lanier County Sheriff’s Jail Media Report: June 14, 1118 hours. Jelani Yohance Wells Jr. (23) charged with Failure to appear for finger printable charge – misdemeanor. Arresting Agency: Arresting Officer: April Taylor. Property/Cash…
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles The following individuals were arrested and appear on this week’s Lanier County Sheriff’s Jail Media Report: June 08, 1125 hours. Jeremiah David Schaber (27) charged with Probation violation (when probation terms are altered) for finger printable charge, Willful obstruction of law enforcement…
Entertainment, Inspiration & Solutions
By T.S. Carter / * Inglés y español | LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. – So, what’s in the 50-year-old vault? You’re invited to find out at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 when the Lowndes CountyBoard of Commissioners unveils a 50-year-old Time Capsule buried on July 8, on the Patterson Street side of the Historic Lowndes…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | Inglés y Español BERRIEN COUNTY, Ga. — The stars are aligning, the grills are heating up, and fireworks are ready to light up the South Georgia sky as Ray City and Nashville prepare to kick off the Independence Day season with two exciting community celebrations packed with food,…
By Vic Dove / * Inglés y español | “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7 I read this quote the other day, “Nobody can go back and start a New Beginning, but anyone can start today and make a…
By Gary Toole / * Inglés y español | When I came up in the Church of God, we called everyone brother and sister from 12 to 90. When I went to this church of a different persuasion to visit with a friend, a ten year old, he would call an old man by his…
By Jack Bagley / * Inglés y español | Sunday was Father’s Day, and it got me to thinking about my dad, who left us in 2007. Dad was a pretty good fellow, all things considered. Like all fathers, he made a few mistakes while we kids grew up, but he made sure of one…
Opinions & Viewpoints
By Christopher Stanley / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. – PRIDE is a celebration of Equal Rights for LGBTQIA+ people. L. Craig Schoonmaker, an activist and organizer for early gay pride movement, stated “not everyone has power but everyone can have PRIDE”. If you did not know PRIDE is an acronym, Personal Right…
By James Finck, Ph.D. / *Inglés y español | June 10, 2026 | 4 Minutes From the Lawton Constitution We are just two weeks away from celebrating the 250th anniversary of our founding document and the creation of the United States. While the U.S. Constitution is our law, the Declaration of Independence is our purpose and,…
By Ty B. Kerley,DMin / * Inglés y español | Last week, we introduced and then began to unpack the biblical story of Cain killing his brother Abel (Gen 4:1-17), all the while maintaining a keen focus upon God’s character and His justice in an attempt to gain a better understanding of why God…
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Government for its Citizens
By Rep. Austin Scott / * Inglés y español | June 22, 2026 Dear Georgian, This week, I was grateful to be back home in the district and spending time meeting with constituents. I even got to go fishing with my son. I’m always impressed by the great people and great businesses that call our…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — A series of federal immigration convictions in neighboring North Florida is drawing attention across South Georgia, where local law enforcement agencies regularly work alongside federal authorities on immigration enforcement and cross-border criminal investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | JACKSONVILLE, Fl. – A North Florida man accused of planning a mass shooting targeting Jewish victims has been indicted by a federal grand jury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, faces multiple federal charges stemming from…