News

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 …

Three sentenced in Superior Court

The following occurred during the Emanuel County Superior Court July 2024 term: Bob Harrison, repeat offender, negotiated a guilty-alford plea on one count possession of firearm by convicted …

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 …

Emergency Conservation Program sign-up

Tropical Storm Debby caused significant damage throughout Emanuel County. If you’ve suffered severe damage, you may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) …

East Georgia State College launches Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Program

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 …

DEA Homecoming this Friday

It’s Homecoming Week at DEA, and that means we will crown a new Homecoming Queen and King on Friday. The following students are this year’s HOCO representatives: Senior Representatives: …

Board of Education holds monthly meeting

The Emanuel County Board of Education met on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at Swainsboro Primary School with the following members in attendance: Brandon Jones, Cherie Hooks, Del Brown, …

ECI to celebrate Homecoming 2024

Emanuel County Institute will celebrate homecoming from September 30 to October 4 with a series of fun activities centered around the theme "The Greatest Show." Throughout the week, there will be …

Video - Emanuel Medical Center breaks ground on Emergency Department renovations

Emanuel Medical Center has broken ground on some exciting and expansive renovations for its Emergency Department. During this construction, there are new locations for the ER and ICU. Brooke …

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 …

Hummingbirds getting ready to depart

Remember how excited we were in March to see the return of our hummingbirds? We have enjoyed them for the past six months, but now they have less than a month to stay with us. For Emanuel County, …

EMC breaks ground on Emergency Department Expansion

Emanuel Medical Center held a groundbreaking ceremony last Friday to mark the beginning of construction for its much-anticipated Emergency Department expansion. The event brought together a large …
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
Thomas Robert Simmons, 56
Thomas Robert Simmons, age 56, of Twin City, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro following an extended illness. A Celebration of Life was held Tuesday, …
Alvin B. Lloyd, 69
Alvin B. Lloyd, affectionally known as Al, age 69, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at his residence following an extended illness. Al was born July 9, 1955, in …
Johnny Parker, 75
Mr. Johnny Lee Parker, 75, of Swainsboro, passed away Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Memorial Health in Savannah following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 21, at …
Crime
    • 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 …

    • SPD: 9.18.24

      Officers with the Swainsboro Police Department (SPD) reported… September 5 Officer ran the license plate of a vehicle to find it had no …

    • JAIL: 9.18.24

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

    • ECSO: 9.18.24

      According to the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office… September 8 Victim went to ECSO and stated she received a phone call from someone …

Education
Family Connection holds monthly meeting
Family Connection had their monthly Collaborative meeting on September 19, at the Sudie Fulford Center. Several community organizations and service providers attended the meeting to share ideas and …
Dr. Warnock speaks to Emanuel Retired Educators
The Emanuel Retired Educators Association held its first meeting for 2024-25 in the Swainsboro High School Media Center on Wednesday September 19, at noon, with twenty-six members present. President …
Brier Creek Artillery fires at EGSC 9/11 Commemoration
The Brier Creek Artillery, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, traveled to East Georgia State College on Wednesday, September 11, to participate in the college's annual 9/11 …
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SOCIAL
Social

Voices United to hold annual Youth Explosion

Voices United annual Youth Explosion will be held September 29, at 3 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church. Featuring Voices United, special guests will be Gordon Grove Youth Adult Choir, The Merrell …

District Governor Griggers speaks to Twin City Lions Club

At the most recent Lions Club business meeting, held at the Lions Clubhouse, the club was honored to have District Governor, Larry Griggers, and his wife, Debbie, District Secretary visit and speak …

Ray speaks to Veterans

The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting at the First Baptist Church Social Hall Monday morning, September 23, at 8:45 a.m. With Chair Johnny Tapley presiding, there were 58 in …

DAR welcomes new members

The Governor David Emanuel-Adam Brinson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed three new members at their September19 meeting. After receiving the oath of …
Features

A lasting impression: Meet inspiring teacher, Jordanna Williams

Mrs. Jordanna Williams was chosen as the 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year and Emanuel County Teacher of the Year. Beginning her teaching career in Toombs County teaching Pre-K at Lyons Primary School, …

Kirkland pleads guilty to murder

On Wednesday, September 4, Kelvin Kirkland negotiated a guilty plea on one count felony murder before Superior Court Judge Tommy Smith. He received life with parole; nol pros on one count malice …

Vyve Broadband announces Football Fridays Giveaway for September: Invites communities to catch the Vyve

Vyve Broadband, a dedicated supporter of local schools and communities, announces the launch of its Football Fridays for September. This exciting initiative celebrates the start of the school year …

Memories are made of this

Jimmy E. Lawson, son of two sharecroppers, Annie Lois Edenfield and Alonza Lee (Lonzy) Lawson, born in 1935 on family land south of Swainsboro, west side of what was Hwy 1. The two room house with a …
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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