Hello, Statesboro!
Spring is fully in the air and the Boro is buzzing. This week we have a heavy local news story out of the skies over Bulloch County, a massive economic development win in Brooklet, and a cultural milestone for downtown. On the lighter side, both Eagles baseball and softball had their best weeks of the season, and this Saturday's 912 Spring Game weekend is packed with free events the whole family will love. We also have a restaurant spotlight on one of downtown's most distinctive and underrated gems. Grab your coffee and let's get into it.
TOP NEWS
Pilot Killed in Small Plane Crash Near Statesboro-Bulloch Airport
A 60-year-old pilot from Peculiar, Missouri, Harvey Cleveland, was killed on March 25 when a single-engine experimental aircraft crashed in a field near the 600 block of Sand Spur Road off Highway 24, approximately two miles from the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport. The aircraft was an extraordinarily rare amateur-built amphibious Airshark airplane. According to FAA records, only seven such planes exist in the United States.
Authorities say Cleveland was conducting a test flight before delivering the plane to a buyer elsewhere in Georgia. The Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, EMS, and Fire all responded to the scene. The NTSB dispatched an engine specialist to investigate the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
American Aero Breaks Ground on 45,000-Square-Foot Brooklet Facility
Big economic development news for Bulloch County. American Aero officially broke ground on March 24 on a new 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility across from its current location at 16274 U.S. Highway 80 East in Brooklet, on the former W.K. Jones Building Supply site.
Founded in 2018 as a small family operation, the company currently employs just over 100 people and plans to grow that number to as many as 300 once the new building is complete. That would nearly triple the workforce. Construction is expected to wrap before the end of 2026. This is one of the most significant private sector job creation announcements in the county in recent years.
Festival of the Arts Nearly Doubles Attendance in Second Year
The second annual Statesboro Festival of the Arts, held March 21 and 22 at The Market at Visit Statesboro, drew an estimated 2,000 visitors. That is nearly double the attendance from year one. The two-day juried fine art event featured artists from across the Southeast and as far as New York, more than $5,000 in awards, live glass-blowing demonstrations funded by a Georgia Council for the Arts and NEA grant, food trucks, and live bluegrass and blues music.
Festival Coordinator Kimberly Riner called the arts-through-tourism potential transformative for the local economy. If the growth continues at this rate, Statesboro's Festival of the Arts is shaping up to become a signature regional event.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
The Slider Joint Coming to Former Vandy's Location Downtown
Travis "Shug" Phillips of The Painted Chef is opening The Slider Joint at 22 West Vine Street in the former Vandy's Bar-B-Q building. The concept centers on quick, affordable slider meals around $10, with hours running 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. Phillips says he wants to fill a gap in downtown's late-night dining scene. He will honor the previous tenant with a barbecue slider named after Vandy's and will continue his catering operation alongside the new restaurant.
VFW Post 10825 Honors Firefighters, Teacher, and Essay Winners
Statesboro's VFW Post 10825 held its annual awards dinner on March 24 at the Statesboro Food Bank. Firefighters of the Year Mike Rushing, Kyle McMillan, and Randy Totten received certificates, checks, and gift cards. Melvin Hamilton, a 29-year Army veteran, was named Teacher of the Year. Voice of Democracy essay winners were also recognized: first place went to Bailey Bergans, second to Ariel Scarboro, and third to Joshua Hicks.
10th Annual GreenFest Debuts Cycle Celebration Downtown
Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful marked a milestone with its 10th annual GreenFest on March 28, held from 1 to 5 p.m. on East Vine Street. New for 2026, the festival added a Cycle Celebration promoting alternative transportation alongside the usual sustainability exhibits, food trucks, farmers, and family activities. A decade of GreenFest in Statesboro is worth celebrating.
Bulloch County Schools Begin FY 2027 Budget Discussions This Week
The Bulloch County Board of Education is kicking off its Fiscal Year 2027 budget process with four public sessions. The first is this Thursday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Office boardroom (150 Williams Road). Additional sessions are scheduled for April 23 and May 14. Public comment will be welcomed at each meeting, and the final budget vote is set for June 11. This is your opportunity to weigh in on how the school district spends its money.
Statesboro STEAM Academy's New Building Taking Shape
The new 36,000-square-foot, $9 million building for Statesboro STEAM Academy at East Main Street and Veterans Memorial Parkway is on track for spring completion and is expected to open to students in August 2026. The expansion will add third grade and grow enrollment to approximately 250 students.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (March 30 - April 5, 2026)
Monday, March 30
No major scheduled community events. A relatively dry and warm day, so a good one to get outside before the stormy stretch begins Tuesday (see Weather below).
Tuesday, March 31
"ME" First Tutoring | 5:00-6:30 p.m. | Statesboro Regional Library | FREE | Continues every Tuesday and Thursday through April 30
Baby Time | 10:00 a.m. | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 0-24 months | FREE
Wednesday, April 1
Toddler Time | 10:30 a.m. | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 2-5 | FREE
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Opens | AMC CLASSIC Statesboro 12, 610 Brannen St. | Check AMC app for showtimes
Thursday, April 2
Bulloch County Board of Education FY '27 Budget Session | 6:30 p.m. | Central Office Boardroom, 150 Williams Road | Open to the public with comment welcomed
GS Softball vs. ULM | Strikeout Cancer Night | 6:00 p.m. | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | FREE admission | Free pink visor giveaway for fans
Greener Boro Commission Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | City Hall Council Chambers, 50 E. Main St. | Open to the public
Friday, April 3
GS Softball vs. ULM | Field Day Friday | 5:00 p.m. | Eagle Field | FREE admission | Playground-style games and family fun on the concourse
Senior Bingo | 11:00 a.m. | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 55+ | FREE
Saturday, April 4 - 912 Spring Game Day
This is the one. Georgia Southern's football program opens its doors for a full day of free community fun. Here is everything happening:
Eagle Walk | 10:00 a.m. | Paulson Stadium | Welcome the football team as they walk in
Little Eagles Egg Hunt | 10:15 a.m. | Tippins Family Training Facility | 2,000 eggs including golden eggs with prizes (football tickets, autographed football, sideline passes)
GS Women's Tennis vs. Marshall (Senior Day) | 10:00 a.m. | Wallis Tennis Center | FREE admission
"The Hangout" Pre-Game Festival | Gates open 10:30 a.m. | Paulson Stadium | Lawn games, inflatables, crafts, video game trailer | FREE
Cheerleader Showcase | 11:00 a.m. | Tippins Family Training Facility | FREE
Blue-White Spring Football Game | 11:30 a.m. kickoff | Paulson Stadium | FREE admission | $1 popcorn
Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market Opening Day | 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 222 S. Main Street | The market runs every Saturday through November
GS Softball vs. ULM | Eggstra Innings | 12:00 p.m. | Eagle Field | Easter egg hunts and holiday-themed contests
Eagle Football Alumni Luncheon | After the Spring Game | Paulson Stadium | RSVP to [email protected]
EFAA $10,000 Reverse Raffle | Happy Hour 6:00 p.m., Raffle 7:00 p.m. | Hill Convocation Center | Ticketed event supporting Eagle Football. Each ticket includes one raffle entry and admission for two.
Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday
Happy Easter, Statesboro! Enjoy the holiday with family.
Road Alert for the week: GDOT has scheduled I-16/I-95 traffic interruptions for the 16@95 Improvement Projects through April 3. Build in extra time if you are traveling those corridors.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
New Dean Named for Paulson College of Engineering and Computing
Georgia Southern has selected Abhijit Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., as the next dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, effective July 1, 2026. Bhattacharyya currently serves as the inaugural dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Arkansas State University, where he built new academic programs in high-demand fields and deepened industry partnerships. This is a significant leadership hire for one of GS's flagship colleges.
Office of Student Activities Earns National NASPA Gold Award
Georgia Southern's Office of Student Activities received the Gold Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. The Student and Organization Leadership Development (SOLD) Workshop Series won in the Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, and Student Activities category. SOLD is a free leadership development program open to all GS students.
"Sweat" Coming to the Performing Arts Center April 9-11
Georgia Southern Theatre and the PAC will present "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage, winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, on April 9 through 11 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Directed by GSU alumnus Teresa-Michelle Jackson, the play explores working-class friendships tested by factory layoffs and economic hardship. Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Student, senior, and faculty discounts are available.
SPORTS AND CAMPUS EVENTS
Baseball: Eagles Sweep Opener and Win First Conference Series
Last week was a turning point for Eagles baseball. After dropping a rough 8-14 game at Charleston Southern on March 24, the team bounced back immediately with a 5-2 road win at College of Charleston on March 25 powered by eight scoreless innings from the pitching staff. That was the team's first road win of the season.
Then came the Sun Belt home series against Troy. Friday night brought one of the most exciting games of the year: a walk-off double in the ninth inning capped a three-run comeback for a 4-3 win, even as Troy's Steven Meier hit for the cycle (only the third in Troy program history). Saturday was all Eagles as starter Carter DeGondea threw a complete-game shutout in a 10-0 run-rule win in just seven innings. Troy salvaged Sunday's finale 11-5, but the Eagles had already clinched their first Sun Belt series win of the season.
The Eagles now sit at 9-19 overall, 3-6 in Sun Belt play. Next up: at North Florida on Tuesday, then a three-game conference road series at Texas State starting Thursday.
Softball: Eagles Go 4-0 and Sweep Coastal Carolina
After losing six straight games, Eagles softball roared back with a statement week. The Eagles opened with a dominant 7-1 home win over College of Charleston on March 24, with senior Alana Barnard throwing a complete game and Delanie Thames hitting her eighth home run of the season.
The team then traveled to Coastal Carolina for a Sun Belt series and delivered a clean three-game sweep, outscoring the Chanticleers 26-10. Thames continues to lead the Eagles offense with 32 RBIs and 8 home runs on the year. The Eagles are now approximately 16-18 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
This week the Eagles are back home for a three-game series against ULM, Thursday through Saturday at Eagle Field, with themed promotions at each game (see events section above).
Spring Football: Blue-White Game This Saturday
Spring practice wraps up this week with the Blue-White Spring Game on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Paulson Stadium. Admission is free. This is the best chance fans will have to see the 2026 squad before fall camp and get a first look at how depth and competition is shaking out at key positions. Combine it with all the other Spring Game weekend activities and you have a full day of Eagles fun. Bring the family.
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
Tandoor & Tap: Downtown's Boldest Dining Experience
If you have not made it to Tandoor & Tap yet, here is your nudge. Located at 40 East Main Street in the heart of downtown Statesboro, the restaurant is the city's first and only authentic Indian restaurant, and it has become one of the most distinctive spots on the Blue Mile since opening in August 2020.
Owner AJ Jetwani took a real gamble opening a tandoor oven restaurant in Statesboro during the height of the pandemic. It paid off. Tandoor & Tap won the 2023 Best of Georgia Regional Award (a customer-voted honor) and a "Most Fabulous New Business" award shortly after opening.
The menu centers on traditional dishes cooked in a clay tandoor oven, including Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Chops, and Mahi Mahi Tikka, alongside crowd-pleasing curries like Butter Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, and Mango Chicken. The Garlic Cheese Naan has a loyal following. The bar program features creative craft cocktails including the signature Coffee Masala Cocktail (bourbon, demerara syrup, coffee cream), with daily happy hour until 7 p.m. featuring $5 cocktails.
The back patio, complete with heating and live music on select nights, is one of the better-kept secrets in downtown dining. Jetwani is also a community builder beyond the restaurant: he co-founded BoroFest and regularly partners with local organizations for yoga events, fundraisers, and more.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for dinner. Closed Mondays. Reservations accepted. Entrees generally range from $15 to $25.
WEATHER ADVISORY
A Warm Week with Daily Storm Chances - Plan Accordingly for Spring Game
Temperatures this week will run well above average for late March and early April, with highs reaching into the low to mid 80s. Unfortunately, the warmth comes with daily thunderstorm potential starting Tuesday and running through the weekend.
Monday, March 30 | High 78°F | Mostly sunny, low storm chance (20%) | The best day of the week to be outside
Tuesday, March 31 | High 80°F | Partly sunny with afternoon storm chance (20%)
Wednesday, April 1 | High 82°F | Clouds and sun with afternoon thunderstorm possible (35%)
Thursday, April 2 | High 81°F | Partly sunny, afternoon storm chance (15%)
Friday, April 3 | High 77°F | Mostly cloudy with storm chance (35%)
Saturday, April 4 (Spring Game) | High 85°F | The warmest day of the week. Storm chance is there (approximately 55% per extended outlook), but the 11:30 a.m. kickoff should fall before the afternoon heating. Bring sunscreen, water, and keep an eye on the radar throughout the day.
Sunday, April 5 (Easter) | High 84°F | Variable clouds with early shower possible
If you are spending time outdoors at Spring Game events or the Farmers Market opening this Saturday, plan around potential afternoon storms and have an indoor backup ready.
LOOKING AHEAD
April 2 | Bulloch County BOE FY '27 Budget Session | 6:30 p.m. | Central Office Boardroom, 150 Williams Road | Public comment welcomed
April 4 | 912 Spring Game Weekend (full schedule above) | Paulson Stadium | FREE
April 5 | Easter Sunday
April 7 | Bulloch County Commission Meeting | 5:30 p.m. | North Main Annex, 115 N. Main St.
April 9 | Downtown Live Concert Series Kickoff | Liquid Pleasure (Motown to modern hits) | 7:00 p.m. | East Main Street in front of the Bulloch County Courthouse | FREE | Food trucks open at 6:00 p.m.
April 9-11 | "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage | GS Performing Arts Center | 7:30 p.m. nightly | Ages 13+
April 15 | Inaugural Choose Bulloch Event | Ogeechee Technical College | Community showcase hosted by the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, presented by Georgia Power
April 16 | Wyatt Flores: Drive All Night Tour | 7:00 p.m. | The Blue Room, 1830 Chandler Rd. | With Kashus Culpepper
April 17 | Relay for Life of Bulloch County/GSU | 6:00-10:00 p.m. | Downtown Statesboro, East Main Street | Register at RelayForLife.org/bullochga
April 18 | BIG Boro Bash | 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Downtown Statesboro | Live music, food trucks, vendors, and a vintage market | FREE and family-friendly | Read more at Grice Connect
April 20 | Voter Registration Deadline for the May 19 primary election | Register at georgia.gov
April 23-25 | 15th Annual Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo | Bulloch County Agricultural Complex, 44 Arena Blvd. | Gates 5:00 p.m., rodeo 7:30 p.m. | Advance tickets only at statesborokiwanisrodeo.com
May 13-17 | Georgia Southern Spring Commencement | Three ceremonies at Paulson Stadium (Statesboro), two at Enmarket Arena (Savannah)
May 19 | Georgia Primary Election | Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
THANKS FOR READING!
That is Edition 25 wrapped up. There is a lot to look forward to between now and Easter: a full day of Spring Game events this Saturday, the Farmers Market opening, another Downtown Live concert coming April 9, and one of the most calendar-packed Aprils Statesboro has seen in a while.
Enjoy the warm weather this week, stay weather-aware on Saturday, and have a great Easter with your families.
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See you next Monday!