Top Ten Stories of 2018
Last year will be remembered as the “year it snowed” for many local youngsters who had never seen the fluffy white stuff before. Bizarre weather last year included an early January snow, heavy summer rains and flooding that resulted in a partial collapse of the Lakeview Lake dam just last month.
The year was also marked by incredible performances by Pierce County athletes and multiple opportunities for locals to display their Bear pride, most notably the Bears’ first ever appearance in the Final Four state playoffs and a historic undefeated regular season.
Construction of the new Pierce County High School progressed rapidly despite heavy rains and industry expansions here made the year a good one for the local economy.
It was an election year, but there was only one change on the county commission and school board. The upheaval occurred in Blackshear politics with Mayor Dick Larson’s sudden resignation in August.
Here’s a look back at the Top Ten news items of 2018:
No. 1 — Bears have a record year: Academically and athletically, the Pierce County Bears had a record year.
The Pierce County Bears football team finished with a 13-1 overall record, an undefeated regular season record and made it all the way to the final four in the state play-offs in a historic and unprecedented post season run. The high school’s One Act team took first in state in November with their performance of “When She had Wings” by Susan Zeder. All performers also received individual awards at the region and state level. Claire Naylor received Best Actress at State. The competition cheer squad brought home their sixth AAA state championship in November too. The team took state in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Not to be outdone, PCHS’s Sound of Silver band brought home the first place trophy in AAA Division and 19 trophies for their halftime show, ‘Playlist.’ Schools also continued to perform well on the CCRPI and other academic tests. State School Superintendent Richard Woods visited during the year to observe in local classrooms.
No. 2 — Record snow and rainfall: Pierce County received a record snowfall on the third day of the new year, as up to three inches of the white stuff covered all areas of the county. Excessive rains in the summer and fall caused havoc on county roads. In the fall, schools were closed for two days due to the heavy rains. The rains also caused the Lakeview Lake dam to partially collapse in December. Locals living in the flood area of the dam were put on high alert for evacuation and Georgia Highway 15/121 was closed for a few hours while emergency officials monitored the breach. The dam never collapsed completely, but the failure did drain the lake nearly dry. Schools were also closed two days in October due to the threat from Hurricane Michael, but the storm passed by to the west, leaving little damage locally.
No. 3 — Crime in Pierce County: Robert James Evans was arrested in December for shooting Justin Lynch and Nathan Stanhope in Patterson. Lynch was killed and Stanhope seriously injured. All three teens were students at Pierce County High School. Rocquel McNair was arrested in June for shooting Wilbur Hightower behind a convenience store at Ware and Hendry Streets. Dana Larson Bowen was arrested in February for 28 counts of insurance fraud, theft and perjury related to her business, Management South. Former Pierce County Sheriff’s Investigator Tracy Crosby was sentenced to 10 years in prison for child molestation. Zeb Paul Murray pled guilty to murdering Adam Noel, former Pearson-Dial Funeral Home employee and pianist at First United Methodist Church. Murray was sentenced to life in prison. Benjamin Nicholas Crews was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of Joshua Steven Howell. Crews struck Howell in the head in a dispute over a rare coin. Two hearings were held during 2018 for Willie James Wilson, convicted in the 1981 murder of Alfred Boatright and Morris Highsmith during an armed robbery at Boatright’s store in Bristol. His attorneys argue Wilson’s death sentence should be overturned for life in prison because he is intellectually disabled. A Pierce County jury will decide the matter in March, 2019. The cases of Kenny Jernigan, accused of the December, 2017 murders of Dan and Flora Hollmon, and Corey Adams, accused in the February, 2017 murder and dismemberment of his mother, Cecelia Broida, were both continued during the year. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in both cases. Convicted killer Archie Bennett asked for a new trial. Bennett received life in prison for the murder of his former wife, Shirley, in 2009. Bennett asked for a new trial saying he killed his former wife in self-defense after she lunged at him during an argument.
No. 4 — Mayor Dick Larson resigns: Blackshear Mayor Dick Larson resigned in late August after a long-simmering dispute between Larson and Police Chief Chris Wright boiled over in a heated exchange at a council meeting. The two men initially worked well together, but their relationship suffered after a state insurance investigation of alleged insurance fraud against the mayor’s daughter, Dana Larson Bowen, resulted in her arrest. Mayor Larson’s resignation was effective immediately, and Mayor Pro Tem Keith Brooks took over as acting mayor for the remainder of the year. An election to fill the almost three year remaining in the term will take place in March, 2019.
No. 5 — Changes at the schools: Work on the new Pierce County High School continued throughout the year. Despite heavy rain, the school reportedly remains under budget and on schedule for an August 2019 opening date. Several decisions on the new school were made during the year including just what exactly constitutes the color “Pierce County Blue,” how big seats should be and whether they should have backs in the gym and whether the courtyard should have artificial turf. Pierce County also opened its first two traffic circles as work was completed on improvements to County Farm Road. In response to school security concerns including a spring incident at the high school and a school shooting in FL, the board of education elected to hire school resource officers for all campuses for the 2018-2019 school year. In personnel changes, Blackshear Elementary got a whole new leadership team this year. Dee Treadwell became principal at the school, succeeding Tonya Johnson, who left to return to her home in Bacon County. Rachel Tyre was hired as assistant principal, succeeding Greg Gay, who opted to return to the classroom. Michelle Strickland was hired as assistant principal succeeding Treadwell in the job after she became principal.
No. 6 — Industrial developments: Southern Eagle, a beer and beverage distributor in the Hwy. 84 Industrial Park, was destroyed by fire in January, but the company broke ground on a new 58,000 square foot facility near the old building in June. Southern Eagle will reportedly expand to employ approximately 40 workers and generate more than $5 million in taxes to state and local governments. Pierce County Board of Commissioners abated taxes for Southern Eagle (15-year abatement) and for Georgia Living Senior Care (10-year abatement) in response to the two company’s expansions in Pierce. Georgia Living broke ground on a new senior living center adjacent to the Bluffs of Satilla development at the Pierce-Ware County line in November. The center will feature 35 apartments and a memory care unit, and is expected to employ at least 70. Local mining company Southern Ionics Minerals announced in November it would create 100 new jobs with the expansion of mining efforts in Wayne County. Twenty of those jobs were to be created at the SIM separation plant in Offerman. Ellianos Coffee, a popular Waycross coffee shop, announced plans in March to open a location at Wall’s Plaza in Blackshear. The opening was still pending at the close of the year. Local radio stations WKUB, WWUF and WSGT were sold to Higgs Multimedia in August when longtime owner Troy Mattox retired. A long-standing Blackshear restaurant, Oak Plaza, reopened in September under new ownership and with a newly remodeled dining area and banquet room. Hog-n-Bones announced plans to locate in the current Jerry J’s Restaurant in mid-summer 2019. Both restaurants are owned by Concept 99 Group. Bennett’s Hardware closed in September after nearly 50 years in business and Davis Feed (Boutique) moved into the space on Main Street, expanding their clothing store. Denise Bennett bought Pierce Family Pharmacy in September. Burger King got a makeover, and a New United Market was under construction on U.S. Highway 84. First Baptist opened the doors on their new 22,00 square foot Ministry Activity Center (MAC) building in September.
No. 7 — Accidents include wrecks, house fire: Brandi Merday died in a wreck on U.S. Highway 84 near Offerman Baptist Church in May. Ryan Dixon died in a wreck on Georgia Highway 15/121 South of Blackshear in October. Helen Cason died July 4 of injuries sustained in a house fire at her home June 30. A freak accident in June severed the arm of Casey Davis as the truck he was driving collided with a tractor and planter rig on Gordon Street near the Courthouse. EMTs Linnie Andreae, Dalton Johnson and Shawn Johnson are credited with saving Davis’ life.
No. 8 — Elections: There were few surprises in local elections this year. County commission chairman Neal Bennett and BOE chairperson Linda Zechmann each won re-election. The Rev. Mitch Hall was elected unopposed for district two on the board of education after David Williams gave up the seat in an unsuccessful bid for BOE chairman. Political newcomer David Lowman defeated fourth district commissioner Lanier Walker, while second district commissioner Mike Streat ran unopposed for another term. In the biggest political surprise of the year, Rep. Chad Nimmer decided not to seek re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives. Steven Meeks of Screven easily won the seat, despite opposition from two Pierce Countians, former state court judge Franklin Rozier Jr. in the Republican primary and Democrat Greg O’Driscoll in the general election. Turnout in the general election was at near record levels with over 64 percent casting ballots, second only to the 2008 presidential election and the 2012 sheriff’s election. Pierce County remained a deep ruby red in the election as Republicans dominated all races with nearly 90 percent of the vote. Local voters also approved a regional transportation sales tax to be devoted to local street and road improvements in the county and cities. Democrats narrowly lost the governor’s race and other constitutional offices statewide, but Pierce County enjoyed plenty of attention from Republican candidates during the year. Republican Gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp made at least four visits to Pierce County during the year. Pierce County also made headlines statewide after the local Republican party included a ballot question asking if South Georgia should secede from the state and become the 51st state.
No. 9 — New county staff changes: Recreation director Shawn Smith resigned in August and Patrick Arrington was hired to replace him. Billie Ann Burchall succeeded Jared Crapps as the county’s 4-H agent and Autumn Nash succeeded Trey Walker as 4-H assistant in November. The Pierce County EMS building on Carter Avenue opened in October.
No. 10 — Patterson celebrates: Patterson celebrated its 125th anniversary in December with a day of music, arts and craft vendors and food at Eagle Station. The event was initially to be held downtown, complete with a parade, but inclement weather moved the celebration indoors.
