Hello, Statesboro!
Happy Monday and welcome to Edition 31. It is a week that has something for just about everyone in our community. Paulson Stadium fills up this morning for the first of four local commencement ceremonies, thousands of proud families are rolling into town, Downtown Live brings a free Taylor Swift tribute to the Courthouse Square on Thursday, and First Flight Statesboro returns to the airport Saturday with free rides for local youth. On the news side, Bulloch County commissioners made a major move last week on data centers, a homicide investigation from Cinco de Mayo remains active, and the May 19 primary election is just eight days away.
It is a big week. Let us get into it.
📰 TOP NEWS
Bulloch County Commissioners Vote to Extend Both Moratoriums and Move Toward a Data Center Ban
Last Tuesday evening's Board of Commissioners meeting was one of the most consequential of the year. After public hearings, the board voted 5-0 to extend the moratorium on residential and planned-unit-development rezoning applications and the moratorium on data center permit applications, both now running through December 31, 2026. Then, in a second 5-0 vote, commissioners directed Planning and Zoning Director James Pope to draft a zoning ordinance amendment that would outright prohibit data centers in unincorporated Bulloch County. Pope said the process typically takes about two months, meaning a formal vote on the ban could come as early as mid-summer. Chairman David Bennett said he is "leaning toward no" on data centers. Commissioner Toby Conner, who made the motion for the extension and is facing a competitive May 19 primary, framed it plainly: "I have a feeling this is the same way the Hyundai plant got started." County Attorney Jeff Akins noted the existing cryptocurrency-mining provision will also need updating as part of the ordinance work. The board also denied a conditional-use request for multifamily development near Brooklet despite a Planning and Zoning recommendation to approve.
Homicide Suspect Identified After Cinco de Mayo Shooting; U.S. Marshals in Pursuit
A Cinco de Mayo gathering outside Azul Tex-Mex restaurant at 408 S. Main Street turned violent the night of May 5. Gregory Johnson Jr., 39, of Statesboro was fatally shot; a woman was also hospitalized with a gunshot wound, and a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the chaos that followed. SPD Captain Jared Akins announced Friday, May 8 that detectives have identified a suspect and that warrants are now with the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, which believes the suspect has fled the area. The name has not been released at the Marshals' request. Mayor Jonathan McCollar noted it was the city's first homicide since October 2025. If you have information, contact Senior Detective Eric Short at 912-764-9911.
City Council Approves $681K in Public Works Contracts, Proclaims Bike Week
At its May 5 morning meeting, the Statesboro City Council unanimously approved a $364,778 contract with Fine Point Services to replace the Solid Waste Transfer Station tipping floor and a $316,749 contract with Tim Lanier Construction for the Edwina Drive Improvements Project, funded through 2023 TSPLOST dollars. Council also approved an alcohol license for The Slider Joint at 22 W. Vine Street, issued proclamations for International Firefighters Day and Mental Health Awareness Month, and officially declared May 11-17 Statesboro Bike Week.
📋 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Georgia Southern Unveils Steverson Family Baseball Facility
On Friday, May 8, Georgia Southern held a ribbon cutting for the new Steverson Family Baseball Facility, a nearly 21,000-square-foot expansion at J.I. Clements Stadium described as an approximately $11 million project. The building includes team spaces honoring the Nelson family, Anthony and Natalie Tippins, Donald and Kathy Neesmith, and the family of longtime broadcaster Nate Hirsch. President Kyle Marrero, Athletic Director Chris Davis, and head coach Rodney Hennon all spoke at the ceremony.
The Slider Joint Coming to Downtown
Travis Phillips, known around town as "Shug the Painted Chef," is bringing a new downtown concept called The Slider Joint to the former Vandy's BBQ space at 22 W. Vine Street. The micro-kitchen will specialize in 80/20 Black Angus hand-pattied smashed burgers including a signature maple-bourbon goat cheese slider and a blackened mahi with pineapple salsa. Planned hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, with lunch sliders aimed at the $10 price point. Phillips will continue The Painted Chef catering operation alongside the new spot. Opening is targeted within the next few weeks.
Greatest American Cleanup Hits the Boro
Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful hosted the local leg of the national Greatest American Cleanup on Saturday, May 9, with volunteers gathering at City Hall on East Main Street. The campaign is part of Keep America Beautiful's effort to remove 25 billion pieces of litter from the national landscape by July 4, 2026, in honor of the country's 250th birthday.
Bulloch NAACP Honors 2026 Scholarship Recipients
The Bulloch NAACP Education Committee recognized its 2026 scholarship recipients at a banquet at the Statesboro Food Bank on April 27. Among those honored were Jeneane Brown, Keith Wilkey, Adria Rhodes, Kobe Burroughs, Isley Simpkins, Alexis Morton, and Regina Holloway.
Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Now Open
Locally owned by Umang and Arpita Patel, the new Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers location at 1852 Northside Drive East celebrated its ribbon cutting on May 4 with a Chamber of Commerce ceremony. Services include orthopedic rehabilitation, balance therapy, fall prevention, and neurological recovery.
📅 THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (May 11-17, 2026)
Monday, May 11
🎓 Georgia Southern Spring Commencement Ceremony 1 | 9:00 AM | Allen E. Paulson Stadium | FREE to attend with tickets College of Science and Mathematics, College of Arts and Humanities, Waters College of Health Professions, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. Speaker: Bob Somers, Georgia Southern alumnus and Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Delta Air Lines. Livestream available at georgiasouthern.edu/commencement.
🎓 Georgia Southern Graduate Commencement Ceremony | 6:00 PM | Hill Convocation Center | FREE to attend with tickets All graduate students across all campuses. Speaker: Nick Westbrook, owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Hinesville and 2020 GSU graduate.
📚 Family Constellation Craft Activity | 4:00 PM | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages all | FREE
🏛️ One Boro Commission Meeting | 5:30 PM | City Hall, 50 E. Main Street | Open to public
Tuesday, May 12
🏛️ City of Statesboro Council Budget Work Session | Time TBD | City Hall | Open to public
🏛️ Bulloch County Board of Commissioners Meeting | 5:30 PM | North Main Annex, 115 N. Main Street | Open to public
📚 Adult Craft Activity | 11:00 AM | Statesboro Regional Library | FREE
⚾ Eagle Baseball vs. College of Charleston (Boro Appreciation Night) | 6:00 PM | J.I. Clements Stadium | Tickets at GSEagles.com
🏘️ Tuesday Social | 3:30 PM | Bethany Community Commons, Gesmon Neville Lane | FREE
Wednesday, May 13
🎓 Georgia Southern Savannah Undergraduate Commencement | 9:00 AM | Enmarket Arena, Savannah Speaker: Berry Aldridge, former Savannah Bananas executive. Livestream at georgiasouthern.edu/commencement.
📚 Genealogy Class | 3:30 PM | Statesboro Regional Library | FREE
🏘️ Bulloch Retired Educators Association Luncheon | 11:30 AM | Pittman Park United Methodist Church | Contact Wilhemina Walker at 912-682-4382
Thursday, May 14
🎓 Georgia Southern Statesboro Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 3 | 9:00 AM | Allen E. Paulson Stadium College of Education, Parker College of Business, and College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Speaker: Kim Hartsock, CPA and inaugural chair of the Parker College Young Alumni Board. Livestream at georgiasouthern.edu/commencement.
🎵 Downtown Live: Elizabeth as Taylor (Taylor Swift Tribute) | Food trucks and vendors 6:00 PM, Music 7:00 PM | East Main Street in front of the Bulloch County Courthouse | FREE This is your free outdoor concert night of the week. Bring a lawn chair, grab something from the food trucks, and enjoy a full tribute set in the heart of downtown.
🏛️ Bulloch County Board of Education Regular Session and FY27 Budget Work Session | 6:30 PM | Central Office Boardroom, 150 Williams Road | Open to public
📚 Teen Sewing Circle | 4:00 PM | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 12-18 | FREE
📚 B.Y.O.B. Book Club | 5:30 PM | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 18+ | FREE
Friday, May 15
🗳️ Final Day of Early Voting for May 19 Primary | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM | Bulloch County Annex Elections Office, 113 N. Main Street, Suite 201 | Bring photo ID
📚 Senior Bingo | 11:00 AM | Statesboro Regional Library | Ages 55+ | FREE
🐾 Fixing the Boro Pet Adoption Event | 3:00-5:00 PM | Statesboro Regional Library | FREE
Saturday, May 16
🌽 Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market | 9:00 AM-12:30 PM | 222 S. Main Street | Local produce, flowers, baked goods, food trucks, and live music | FREE
✈️ First Flight Statesboro | All morning | Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport Free introductory flights for youth ages 8-19, flight simulators, plane tours, and food trucks. One student will also receive a full 15-hour flight training scholarship with Lowcountry Flight Company. Info: Beth Williams, 912-541-1499.
🦅 GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
A Record-Setting Graduation Week Begins Today
President Kyle Marrero wrote to faculty and staff last week that Georgia Southern will "celebrate more than 4,500 graduates during five commencement ceremonies in Statesboro, Savannah, and Swainsboro" this week, positioning the university to award a record number of degrees in a single academic year. Two ceremonies take place in Statesboro today, Wednesday's ceremony moves to Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Thursday brings the final Statesboro undergraduate ceremony to Paulson Stadium, and a fifth ceremony is scheduled Thursday afternoon at East Georgia State College in Swainsboro, featuring State Representative Butch Parrish as speaker. Georgia Southern Athletics also recognized 57 graduating student-athletes at its annual ceremony this past week.
🏈 SPORTS AND CAMPUS EVENTS
Eagle Softball Season Ends at Sun Belt Tournament
The Eagles' season came to a close Wednesday in Lafayette, Louisiana. Coastal Carolina defeated Georgia Southern 6-2 in the first round of the Sun Belt Championship, with the Chants scoring five runs in the first three innings. Braelyn Queen had a two-run double in the third that proved to be the difference. Georgia Southern finished the year 24-29 overall and 11-13 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Eagle Baseball Splits Weekend Series With Georgia State, Wins on Walk-Off
Georgia State took the home series from the Eagles 2-1 over the weekend. The Panthers swept Friday's doubleheader 5-1 and 10-5, clinching the first-ever series win by a visiting team in program history at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles rallied Sunday for a 6-5 walk-off win on a Brady Christman RBI single in the ninth, after Sammy Leis had tied it with a solo home run in the eighth. Up next: Eagle Baseball hosts College of Charleston tonight (Tuesday) in the true regular-season home finale before heading to Hattiesburg for a weekend series at Southern Miss (May 14-16). The Sun Belt Tournament follows May 19-24 in Montgomery.
Track and Field Heads to Sun Belt Outdoor Championships
The Eagles' track and field programs travel to Mobile this week for the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships, hosted by South Alabama at Jaguar Track, May 14-16. Coverage streams on ESPN+.
🍽️ RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
Del Sur Taqueria and Cantina: South of the Border, Right on the Blue Mile
If you have out-of-town guests in this week for graduation and you want to show them something that feels unmistakably Statesboro, put Del Sur on the short list. Tucked into 514 S. Main Street right on the Blue Mile, the taqueria was opened in 2017 by Al Chapman, who also owns Gnat's Landing across the street, and it has been a fixture ever since.
The concept is unapologetically fusion: a Southern take on Tex-Mex, built around gourmet street-style tacos and loaded with personality. The space is anchored by a bold Calavera (sugar skull) brand, colorful murals, and 20 premium draft taps at the bar. The menu leans into creative taco combinations that go well beyond the ordinary. Regulars swear by the Buffalo chicken, Hawaiian, Greek gyro, and Booyah shrimp tacos. The nacho trios and house guacamole are table staples. The margarita list earns its own attention.
Del Sur is also a reliable Sunday spot. Brunch service runs Saturday and Sunday starting at 10:00 AM, and the place has a loyal after-church crowd that shows up for the chips, the drinks, and the laid-back atmosphere.
Hours: Monday 4:00-10:00 PM | Tuesday through Friday 11:00 AM-10:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM-10:00 PM (brunch from 10:00 AM)
🌤️ WEATHER ADVISORY
A Hot and Mostly Sunny Week Ahead
Statesboro is in for a dry, warm stretch this week, with temperatures climbing through the 90s by the end of the week. Families attending outdoor commencement ceremonies at Paulson Stadium this morning and Thursday should plan accordingly: bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Temperatures at the 9:00 AM ceremonies will be pleasant, but the stadium will be warming quickly by the time ceremonies wrap around noon.
Day | High | Low | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon, May 11 | 85°F | 56°F | Partly sunny, light SW wind |
Tue, May 12 | 89°F | 57°F | Sunny after early patchy fog |
Wed, May 13 | 91°F | 58°F | Sunny |
Thu, May 14 | 91°F | 60°F | Mostly sunny, great concert weather |
Fri, May 15 | 94°F | 62°F | Sunny and hot |
Sat, May 16 | 96°F | 65°F | Mostly sunny, excellent for the airfield |
Sun, May 17 | 91°F | 63°F | Partly sunny |
Reminder: The statewide outdoor burn ban remains in effect across Bulloch County and more than 90 other Georgia counties. No open burning is permitted until further notice.
👀 LOOKING AHEAD
May 19 | General Primary and Nonpartisan Election Day Polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at all 16 Bulloch County precincts. Bring a photo ID. The most contested local race is the Republican primary for Bulloch County Commission District 2-B, where incumbent Toby Conner faces challengers Frank Bedell and Dr. Ted Redman. Also on the ballot: Bulloch Board of Education District 5 (Jessica L. Jones vs. incumbent Glennera Martin), state races including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 12, and several court of appeals seats. Absentee ballot requests closed May 8. Find your polling place at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
May 19-24 | Sun Belt Baseball Tournament Montgomery, Alabama. Eagle Baseball's seeding will be determined after the Southern Miss series this weekend.
May 22 | Last Day of School for Bulloch County Schools
May 23 | Splash in the Boro Shifts to Summer Hours Seven-days-a-week operations begin for both Splash in the Boro and Luetta Moore Pool.
May 25 | Memorial Day City and county offices closed.
May 28 | Downtown Live: Y2K Kids | 7:00 PM | East Main Street | FREE Food trucks and vendors open at 6:00 PM.
May 30 | Statesboro Fire Department Smoke Alarm Blitz Crews and American Red Cross volunteers will canvass neighborhoods near W. Jones Ave. Ext., Maple Street, Success Street, Solomon Circle, Denmark Street, and Presidents Circle. Info: 912-764-3473.
June 11 | Downtown Live: The Tams | 7:00 PM | East Main Street | FREE
June 16 | Potential Primary Runoff Election Day (if any race requires it)
June 25 | Downtown Live Season Finale: Papa Sol | 7:00 PM | East Main Street | FREE
✉️ THANKS FOR READING!
That is Edition 31 in the books, Statesboro. This is a big week for our community, and a well-earned one for the more than 4,500 graduates who walk across the stage. If you see a cap and gown anywhere this week, say congratulations. They made it.
Eight days until the May 19 primary. Know your candidates, check your polling place, and bring a photo ID.
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See you next Monday!