News

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 …

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. …

Important Update: Students Returning to School Tomorrow!

From Emanuel County Schools: We are pleased to announce that students will be returning to school tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9.  Our dedicated teachers and staff were excited to return …

Return to School Update: Emanuel County Schools Reopening Plans

From Emanuel County Schools: We hope this message finds you safe and well.  As Emanuel County continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, Emanuel County Schools will adhere to our reopening …

Free E-edition available now

Due to limited accessibility and resources as a result of the storm, we have an abbreviated issue of the Forest-Blade this week. It is currently available as an e-edition on our site and is free to …
Water Distribution in Garfield

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. …
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
Sadie Mae Nobles, 84
Sadie Mae Nobles, age 84, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2024. A Celebration of Life was held Monday, September 30, at 12 p.m. at Mt. Zion Church in Garfield. Sadie Mae was born September 14, …
Yvonne Ferebee Mosley, 88
Mrs. Yvonne Ferebee Mosley, age 88, was called from labor to eternal rest on Friday, September 13, 2024. A Celebration of Life and Legacy was held Saturday, September 21, at 2 p.m. at Trinity …
Mildred Wilson, 86
Mrs. Mildred H. Wilson, 86, of Swainsboro, passed away Friday, September 27, 2024, at The Oaks – Bethany in Vidalia following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Sunday, October 6, at 3 …
Crime
    • 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 …

    • SPD: 9.25.24

      Officers with the Swainsboro Police Department (SPD) reported… September 13 Officer assisted with a traffic stop at Longview Road and …

    • JAIL: 9.25.24

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

    • ECSO: 9.25.24

      According to the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office… September 16 Victim stated he got an alert from his camera at his hunting camp and …

Education
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 …
McArthur named to SNHU Dean's List
Maura McArthur of Twin City has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's Summer 2024 Dean's List. The summer terms run from May to August. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned …
SOCIAL
Social

Senator Burns speaks to Exchange

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Senator Max Burns, who serves the 23rd Georgia Senate District, spoke to the Swainsboro Exchange Club about a number of topics. Senator Burns serves as Chairman of the …

Goodbye Hurricane Helene and good riddance

Hello, Hurricane Helene. Goodbye, Hurricane Helene. Please pardon us for showing a lack of Southern hospitality, but you were not welcome to come in the first place and we are glad to see you go. …

Joy of Fall

Fall is a season with much to enjoy. The month of October is filled with pleasures to see, feel, taste and smell. Watch the trees starting to turn into a cascade of color as leaves drop to the …

Stop and think

We took a journey last week to an unfamiliar land. It was not pleasant, but in a way, it was an instructive trip, and it showed us some valuable, albeit difficult truths about ourselves. Don’t …
Features

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 …

Headin’ Home Fest coming in October

The family bluegrass music festival, Headin’ Home Fest, is returning to Swainsboro this October! Dates are October 23-27, 2024, at the Georgia Sports Arena. What better way to enjoy the crisp fall …
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 …
Special Sections