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Video could play a big role in Kent’s trial for shooting a police officerWhen and if the case against Anthony DeJarion Kent for the April 16, 2024 shooting of a Statesboro police officer goes before the jury, a central part of the evidence will likely be video from officers’ body-worn cameras. Judge Ronald K. “Ronnie” Thompson, during a pretrial motions hearing Monday, said videos from the shooting encounter itself and the police capture of Kent a short time later would be allowed. The judge temporarily left it an open question whether a half-hour audio recording from a Georgia Bureau of Investigation jailhouse interview of Kent in the wee hours of the next morning would be admissible, after a GBI agent testified that Kent appeared to have been under the influence of “the remnants of something” at the time. But while the defense attorneys – Ogeechee Circuit Chief Public Defender Reneta Newbill-Jallow and Public Defender Kirk Cheney – challenged the admissibility of some recorded materials, nobody questioned that Kent shot Advanced Patrol Officer Joey Deloach that evening in the parking lot at Copper Beech Townhomes.July 8, 2025 -
City renews retail recruiter agreement with GS for shorter term, accepts 2 free Hyundai EVsStatesboro City Council entered its new fiscal year Tuesday with a shorter-term renewal of the city's small business recruiter agreement with Georgia Southern University, a new agreement with Hyundai for two years free use of two Ioniq 5 electric vehicles, and negotiations for EMC Engineering to take over design work for the Creek on the Blue Mile. July 1 is always the first day of a new fiscal, or budget, year for the city, but the mayor and council don't always meet on that day. However, their first regular meeting of each month is held at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday, so it worked out that way for July 1, 2025, officially the start of fiscal 2026. City Manager Charles Penny even said, "Happy new year," to the elected officials and public.July 2, 2025 -
First school board, then commissioners object to Statesboro annexation on Old Register RoadFollowing from objections expressed earlier by the Board of Education, the Bulloch County commissioners voted last week to object to the city of Statesboro’s proposed annexation of 102 acres between U.S. Highway 301 South and Old Register Road that would be part of a developer’s plan for more than 1,100 housing units in a larger mixed-use development. The moves by the county boards won’t necessarily prevent the annexation from occurring, but the commissioners’ filing could trigger a state-mandated arbitration process between the city and county governments.June 24, 2025 -
It’s hurricane season 2025 after Debby and Helene’s ‘wakeup call’ to BullochSo far, so calm: the National Hurricane Center's maps showed no tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane symbols as of Monday, June 16, just over two weeks into hurricane season. In fact, the map of the North Atlantic carried the message, "Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 7 days."June 17, 2025 -
D.A. Busbee offers explanation of his role in requesting GBI probe of county contractsIn a recent interview, District Attorney Robert Busbee of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit offered an explanation of his role in requesting a GBI investigation into the handling of public works contracts by the Bulloch County government. Previously a defense attorney in private practice, Busbee was first elected in a May 2024 Republican primary victory over previous Ogeechee Circuit D.A. Daphne Totten and took office at the beginning of January. His request for a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe involving the government of the largest of the four counties in the Ogeechee Circuit – the others are Effingham, Screven and Jenkins – came just two months into his term.June 10, 2025 -
Rain damage closes part of Country Club Road; repairs may take a yearBecause of cumulative storm damage, part of Country Club Road has become Bulloch County's latest paved road segment to be closed awaiting repairs. For some drivers approaching Statesboro from the southwest, this requires a new detour from their detour from Cypress Lake Road. After several inches of rain fell in one night and day two weeks ago, the county closed Country Club Road beginning May 12 in the section that passes Hood Pond.May 21, 2025 -
Bulloch County Fire 2/3 done with 37 firefighter hire; works to add stationsChief Ben Tapley reports that the Bulloch County Fire Department is roughly two-thirds complete in its drive to hire 37 added firefighters in the current fiscal year — which ends June 30 — more than doubling the number of career firefighters in the county fire service, which previously employed 30. The department has been hosting some training for new-recruit firefighters, and also holding two-week "lateral classes" for already certified firefighters hired laterally from other departments. The pay raises county commissioners approved for the fire service have helped, Tapley said last week.May 20, 2025 -
City budget plan shows pain of lost fire district revenueStatesboro City Manager Charles Penny’s recommended Fiscal Year 2026 budget won’t require an increase in the actual millage rate, but it also doesn’t allow for any September rollback to offset rising property values. Meanwhile, he is recommending 10% increases in water and sewer, storm water, natural gas and solid waste service fees.May 14, 2025 -
Bulloch Schools have served 380 'homeless' kids this school yearThe Bulloch County Schools, through May 1 in the current school year, served 380 "homeless" students.May 13, 2025 -
Mayor clarifies: Panel on homelessness not meant to plan downtown shelterThe Ad Hoc Committee for Housing Instability and Homelessness recently appointed by Mayor Jonathan McCollar is not aimed at creating a homeless shelter in downtown Statesboro, he clarified during the Tuesday morning, May 6, City Council meeting. Instead, the 10-member panel will consider such questions as the availability of temporary "transitional housing" for families who lose their homes and how services for addressing mental health issues and addiction can help prevent homelessness, McCollar said. When he named the committee back at the April 1 council meeting, he gave it an initial 120-day timeline to study the issue and make policy recommendations.May 6, 2025
