News

SPS PTO surprises staff with pizza

Swainsboro Primary School PTO recently surprised the school staff with a delicious pizza lunch to celebrate their hard work and dedication. It was a heartwarming gesture that brought smiles to many …

Don’t miss ‘Lick or Treat’

Franklin Memorial Library and Emanuel County Humane Society would like to invite everyone to join us on Saturday, October 26 at Tractor Supply for "Lick or Treat". You may ask, What is "Lick or …

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Georgia after Hurricane Helene

Georgia homeowners and renters in 41 counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA may be able to help with serious …

Bluegrass Festival Headin’ Home Fest coming to Swainsboro next week

It’s happening next week! Music lovers, join us for the 3rd annual Headin’ Home Fest bluegrass music festival at the Georgia Sports Arena in Swainsboro, GA! The bluegrass festival will kick …

23rd annual Judgement House to be held

Judgement House is a walk-through drama that presents the truth of people’s choices versus the consequences of those decisions both in this life and the next. Hawhammock Baptist Church has …

Boil water advisory lifted for the City of Nunez

Boil water advisory has been lifted. You may presume using water without boiling it.

Eleven sentenced in Superior Court

The following occurred during the Emanuel County Superior Court July 2024 term: Clifton Howard negotiated a guilty-alford plea on one count possession of cocaine. He was fined $500 with 3 years …

DEA Fall Festival canceled

Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene on our community, the David Emanuel Academy Fall Festival, scheduled for October 15, has been canceled.

Albritton draws crowd to art show

Over a hundred guests visited The Kalmanson Gallery of Emanuel Arts Council on Sept. 19th for the opening of the art exhibition featuring artwork by Amber Albritton. The reception was hosted by the …

Don't Be Afraid of the Storm

As you know, we just experienced the worst stomach in some of our lives. We all have been traumatized by the experience. Storms have always been prevalent since the flood of Noah. But I am here to …

STC delays resumption of classes

After reviewing the plans of various school systems, recognizing that many of our students are parents, and assessing ongoing recovery efforts, STC has made the decision to delay the resumption of …

SHS Class of 1974 50th Anniversary class reunion postponed

Swainsboro High School Class of 1974/50th Golden Anniversary for October 11-12, 2024, has been postponed.

Durden Banking Company, Inc. kicks off National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Durden Banking Company, Inc has joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the persistent threat of phishing …

East Georgia State College receives book donation from Crider Foods

East Georgia State College (EGSC) is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous donation of the acclaimed book "Vitamin B for Business" by Andy Bailey from Crider Foods in Stillmore, Georgia. This …

Chamber Golf Tournament canceled

As a result of the damage and aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the annual Chamber Industry Appreciation Golf Outing planned for this Friday has been postponed to a later date. If you contributed as …
Video - Durden Banking Company

Durden Bank - Spotlight on 4 Locations

Durden Banking Company has a decades long history, with their original office in Twin City, GA. But over time, they built the business with a branch in Swainsboro, Millen and the addition of Metter …

Sports
Sports Headlines
Obituaries
Teddy Woodrow McGee, 72
Mr. Teddy Woodrow McGee, 72, of Swainsboro, passed away Sunday, October 13, 2024. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 16, at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Church with Reverend Josh Black, …
Timothy Tapley, 65
Timothy “Tim” Alan Tapley, age 65, of Hendersonville, NC, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, after a brief accident and subsequent complications, at his home in …
Robert Leon Thompson, 74
Mr. Robert Leon Thompson, 74, of Swainsboro, passed away, Thursday, October 10, 2024. Funeral service was Monday, October 14, held at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Chapman Funeral Home with Reverend Jim …
Crime
    • SPD: 10.16.24

      Officers with the Swainsboro Police Department (SPD) reported… October 4 Officer responded to EMC ER in reference to a combative …

    • JAIL: 10.16.24

      The following persons have been booked into Emanuel County Jail, according to Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer, on warrants obtained by one …

    • ECSO: 10.16.24

      According to the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office… October 5 Complainant went to ECSO to report a theft by taking and damage to …

    • SPD: 10.9.24

      Officers with the Swainsboro Police Department (SPD) reported… September 16 Officer responded to Azalea Circle in reference to a report …

    • JAIL: 10.9.24

      The following persons have been booked into Emanuel County Jail, according to Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer, on warrants obtained by one …

    • ECSO: 10.9.24

      According to the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office… September 23 Complainant stated that the license plate for her vehicle is missing …

Education
Swainsboro Kiwanis Club makes donations to East Georgia State College and Southeastern Technical College
The Swainsboro Kiwanis Club recently made donations to Southeastern Technical College and East Georgia State College to spend as needed to support their programs in Swainsboro. A check was presented …
Bell crowned Miss DEA
David Emanuel Academy held its Miss DEA pageant Saturday, September 21, at 2 p.m. The winners were as follows: Miss DEA - Kyli Bell, Miss DEA, Interview and Congeniality; Lyla Martin, 1st runner …
Twin City Elementary holds Junior BETA Induction
The Junior BETA Club at Twin City Elementary held their 2024-2025 Junior BETA Induction on the morning of Friday, September 20. The new members were sworn in, and the new officers were inducted. The …
SOCIAL
Social

Thompsons donate portrait to Brier Creek Chapter

During the semi-annual Brier Creek Revolutionary War Battlefield Association, Inc. banquet held on September 6, 2024, at the Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Emory Fennell presented to Vice …

Parrish speaks to Veterans

The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting at the Franklin Memorial Library, Monday morning, October 14, 2024, at 9 a.m. With Chair Johnny Tapley presiding, they had 47 in attendance. …

Lisenby speaks to Exchange

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024 Nancy Lisenby spoke to the Swainsboro Exchange Club on the Red Cross Blood Drive. Nancy has served as the local coordinator for Emanuel County for several years now. She …

Daughtry speaks to the Wiregrass

The Wiregrass Chapter, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution held its monthly meeting October 10, at McKinney’s Pond Restaurant in Midville at 6:30 p.m. With President Steve Burke …
Features

Count your blessings!

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. …

The Forest-Blade travels to the Black Hills

Kathie Barton and Shirley Boulineau spent ten days exploring the Black Hills. They visited Cheyenne, Wyoming and Deadwood, South Dakota where Wild Bill Hickock was killed while playing poker. He and …

Rock the Vote to hold registration drive

Rock the Vote Fest will be holding a voter registration drive September 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at 436 N. Main St., Swainsboro (behind the Coca Cola Bottling building). …

Ferst Readers 3rd Annual Character Contest

Emanuel County Ferst Readers is sponsoring a virtual fundraiser to get books into the homes of children under five living in Emanuel County. Local “celebrities” are asking for you to donate to …
Faith

Living Way Ministries to hold annual women conference

Living Way Ministries will have their annual women conference Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 9, at 2:30 p.m. The theme for the conference will be ‘Surely God can do …

Oak Chapel renovation

About the time Covid reared its ugly head early in 2021 and churches were suspending in-house services for a while, another problem arose at Oak Chapel Baptist Church. While inspecting some low spots …

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church to hold VBS

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church near Garfield has planned Vacation Bible School for June 4-7 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each night. Classes will include ages 0 - 19. The theme ‘Breaker Rock Beach, God's …
Opinion

Storms of November

One hundred and sixty years ago, in the fall of 1864, Union General William T. Sherman left the charred devastation of the city of Atlanta and turned his combined army of 65,000 men south with the …

A reminder that kindness is needed daily

Can we do it? You and I? Can we be kind? More importantly, can we be kind at least once a day for a whole month? I didn’t think this idea up, but I wish I had because it is a great and much needed …

School days

The passing of Labor Day brings memories of school days. Today, schools start much earlier than in my school years. Since schools were not air conditioned, the beginning of school was hoped to be …
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