Hello Statesboro!
Big week ahead. Tuesday brings critical county votes on two development moratoriums that could reshape growth for years to come, while City Council continues wrestling with a $4.3 million fire funding gap. But it's not all budget battles. Georgia Southern's women's basketball team is tied for first place in the Sun Belt, the Eagles host #5 Georgia Tech in baseball Tuesday night, and temperatures this week will feel more like April than mid-February. Let's dive in.
TOP NEWS
Tuesday's county commission meeting could freeze development
The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 17 at the North Main Annex with two potentially transformative agenda items. First, commissioners will consider a 90-day moratorium on all residential and PUD rezoning applications to buy time for enacting an impact development fee ordinance to ensure future growth pays its proportionate share of infrastructure costs. Second, they'll weigh a 90-day moratorium on data center permitting in unincorporated Bulloch County while the county researches whether data centers should be prohibited, allowed, or subject to supplemental standards. If approved, public hearings for both items are scheduled for May 5, 2026. The data center moratorium arrives as state legislation to insulate Georgia consumers from data center electricity costs recently advanced through a House committee.
Asphalt plant hearing set for Tuesday
The Bulloch County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a hearing on Concrete Enterprises' proposed $1.8 million asphalt and concrete plant at 12139 Highway 301 South, a former auto junkyard. The project has triggered a Development of Regional Impact notice from the Coastal Regional Commission. A County Commission vote could follow on March 3.
City wrestles with $4.3 million fire funding crisis
The city is grappling with a $4.3 million structural shortfall created when the county ended its fire district agreement and a federal SAFER grant is expiring. At a February 9 public meeting, officials outlined two paths to close the gap. Option one: a municipal fire service fee capped at $20/month for single-family homes and up to $300/month for commercial properties, which would capture tax-exempt properties like Georgia Southern and churches. Option two: a property tax millage increase. City Manager Charles Penny confirmed the gap must be resolved in the FY27 budget beginning July 2026. Fire Chief Tim Grams warned that failing to replace revenue could force firefighter reductions and jeopardize the city's ISO Class 2 rating. An offset exists: the voter-approved 1% FLOST sales tax that began collecting in January 2026 is expected to generate approximately $3.5 million annually.
City council approves $1 million CDBG infrastructure grant
The Statesboro City Council holds its work session at 4:00 p.m. (note the time change from the usual 3:30) and regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. Council continues building on its February 3 session, where members unanimously approved a $1 million Community Development Block Grant application for utility, drainage, and sidewalk improvements on Roundtree Street and Church Street. They also greenlit $65,000 for three new bus stop shelters at the Social Security Office, Food Bank, and Newport Trace Apartments, all high-ridership locations funded through 2018 TSPLOST revenue.
County's first-ever town hall draws full house in Portal
The Bulloch County Commission held its first-ever informal town hall meeting on February 10 at Willow Hill in Portal. Chairman David Bennett explained the shift away from formal speeches: "What we were doing before, we felt like a lot of it was more performative versus informative." The standing-room-only event featured direct conversations between commissioners and residents. **Future town halls are planned quarterly: May 12 in Statesboro, August 11 in Brooklet, and potentially a Stilson session.
County approves $1.75 million fire station property purchase
At the February 3 regular meeting, commissioners approved a $1.75 million property purchase at 2600 Highway 301 South for a relocated Fire Station 13 in a split vote. The 5.07-acre property with a 9,600-square-foot building and eight roll-out bays will serve as a future fire training facility and staffed fire-EMS station, advancing the county's long-term goal of 23 stations. Total project cost is estimated at $2.6 million.
Schools secure $50.3 million in bonds for new high school
The Bulloch County Board of Education completed a major milestone on February 12, selling $50.3 million in general obligation bonds at an effective 2.16% annual interest rate to partially finance the new 2,000-student Southeast Bulloch High School. The project's total cost is projected at up to $165 million, with construction slated to begin this summer. Strong demand drove over $200 million in bond orders, reflecting the district's excellent Moody's Aa1-equivalent credit rating. Formal bond closing with Raymond James is scheduled for February 24.
Four new principals appointed for 2026–27 school year
The board approved four new principal appointments effective July 1, 2026: Nate Pennington at the new Southeast Bulloch High School, Chakira Draine at Mattie Lively Elementary, Reginald Cordy at Langston Chapel Middle School, and Kelly Spence at Portal Elementary.
Pre-K registration opens Saturday, February 21
Pre-K registration for the 2026–27 school year opens online Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m. with 398 available spaces assigned by lottery. An in-person event runs simultaneously at the Central Office cafeteria, 150 Williams Road.
Walmart incident leads to arrest after BB gun threat
The Statesboro Police Department responded to a tense incident at the Walmart Supercenter on February 10 when Nathaniel Anthony Jones, 40, of Portal broke into a glass BB gun display case and threatened a customer and her child. Officers arrived within two minutes; Walmart staff isolated Jones in the garden center. He faces aggravated assault and second-degree burglary charges. No injuries were reported.
Fire contained to single room in multi-family dwelling
The Statesboro Fire Department contained a structure fire on February 12 at the 100 block of Gentilly Drive in an occupied two-story multi-family dwelling. Crews arrived within three minutes and limited the blaze to its room of origin. No injuries occurred, and the cause remains under investigation.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
Monday, February 16 - Presidents' Day All Statesboro Regional Library branches are closed for the holiday. Bulloch County Schools are on winter break (Feb 13, 16–17).
Tuesday, February 17
Bulloch County Board of Commissioners, 8:30 a.m., North Main Annex (moratorium votes)
Bulloch County Planning & Zoning hearing on proposed asphalt plant
Statesboro City Council Work Session, 4:00 p.m., City Hall
Statesboro City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., City Hall
Graphic Novel Book Club, 4:30 p.m., Statesboro Regional Library (ages 6–11)
Georgia Southern Baseball vs. #5 Georgia Tech, 6:00 p.m., J.I. Clements Stadium
Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday Celebration, 3:30 p.m., Bethany Community Commons
Wednesday, February 18
Georgia Southern Softball at Mercer, 6:00 p.m. (Macon)
Thursday, February 19
Statesboro Youth Commission Meeting
Telepath Wellness Career Education, 10:30 a.m., Statesboro Regional Library
Genealogy Program: "Breaking the 1870 Brick Wall," 3:00 p.m., Library (ages 18+)
Life Skills Chapter One: Cooking, 5:30 p.m., Library (ages 16–21)
Piano in the Arts featuring David Murray, 7:30 p.m., GSU Fine Arts Auditorium (free)
GS Women's Basketball vs. Marshall, 6:00 p.m., Hill Convocation Center (ESPN+)
GS Men's Basketball at Georgia State, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Friday, February 20 - Arbor Day in Statesboro
Senior Bingo, 11:00 a.m., Statesboro Regional Library (ages 55+)
Personalized Reading Journals Class, 4:00 p.m., Library (ages 14+)
GS Softball GATA Challenge begins at Eagle Field (Tennessee Tech, Rhode Island, Eastern Kentucky)
The Page Brothers Band (live music), Pour House Pub
Saturday, February 21
Arbor Day Celebration, 10:00 a.m.–noon, Marvin Park with tree giveaways, memorial planting for longtime Tree Board member Henry Clay, food/pet food donation raffle. The city has held its Tree City USA designation for 33 consecutive years.
**Pre-K Registration opens online at 9:00 a.m. at bullochschools.org/prekindergarten
GS Softball GATA Challenge continues
GS Men's Basketball at Appalachian State, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 22
Pine Needle Plantation Bridal & Event Showcase
All month: The library's Food for Fines program continues through February. Each non-perishable food item donated equals $1 off library fines. The Larissa Miller Exhibition is on display at the Averitt Center's Rosengart Gallery.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
Record enrollment of 29,633 students fuels university's momentum
Georgia Southern is building momentum across every dimension. The university posted record enrollment of 29,633 students with a freshman class of nearly 6,000, driving an economic impact exceeding **$1.1 billion annually. Six online graduate programs landed in the U.S. News & World Report top 100, including Criminal Justice at No. 28 and the Online MBA for Veterans at No. 56. The university is positioning for Carnegie R1 research classification in the 2027-28 review cycle, already meeting benchmarks of roughly $50 million in annual research expenditures and 78 research doctorates. Perhaps most notably, the Georgia House amended budget allocates $30 million to establish a new optometry college at Georgia Southern, a transformative investment.
Football finalizes 44-player signing class with Statesboro native
Football finalized a 44-player signing class on National Signing Day, including transfer Kam Mikell, a Statesboro High alum returning from Colorado.
Women's basketball team makes historic run at Sun Belt title
The Eagles women's basketball team is having a program-defining season at 19-6 overall and 12-2 in the Sun Belt, tied for first place with an 11-game home winning streak. They defeated Arkansas State 69-60 on February 11, with Kishyah Anderson posting 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks, then topped Coastal Carolina 67-56 on Valentine's Day. Destiny Garrett leads the team at 15.3 points per game, supported by McKenna Eddings (13.5 PPG) and Jashanti Simmons (11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.0 SPG). They host Marshall on Wednesday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hill Convocation Center on ESPN+.
Men's basketball delivers Senior Night explosion on ESPNU
The men's team (15-12, 7-7 Sun Belt) delivered a statement performance on Senior Night, routing Marshall 101-87 on national television (ESPNU) on February 14 in the first nationally televised game inside the new Hill Convocation Center. Tyren Moore erupted for 32 points on a career-high 8 three-pointers, with five Eagles scoring in double figures. The win snapped a three-game skid. This week they travel to rival Georgia State on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+) and visit Appalachian State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Sun Belt Tournament begins March 3 in Pensacola.
Baseball opens season, hosts #5 Georgia Tech Tuesday
A young Eagles baseball squad dropped its opening weekend series to West Virginia (losses of 3-15 and 10-11 in a game two comeback attempt) at J.I. Clements Stadium. Head coach Rodney Hennon's team features just six seniors after graduating 20 from last year's roster. The spotlight turns to Tuesday, February 17 at 6:00 p.m. when the Eagles host #5 Georgia Tech at Clements Stadium, a marquee non-conference showdown.
Softball hosts GATA Challenge tournament this weekend
Softball returns home for the GATA Challenge tournament February 20-22 at Eagle Field, hosting Tennessee Tech, Rhode Island, and Eastern Kentucky after a tough road swing at the Easton Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa.
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
Huey's on Main Street brings Bourbon Street to the Boro
Downtown Statesboro's dining scene keeps evolving, and one of its freshest additions is Huey's on Main Street at 232 South Main Street inside the Quality Inn hotel. Owned by Tom Scarborough and his daughters Casey Pope and River Green - the same family behind Huey's on the River in Savannah. This New Orleans-inspired restaurant serves po'boys made with bread shipped directly from New Orleans, pasta jambalaya, beignets, and NOLA-style cocktails. The interior features hand-painted murals by Casey Pope, and the menu was developed with a chef from New Orleans. Hours are 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 4–9 p.m. daily. Call (912) 259-9940.
WEATHER ADVISORY
Storms exit, summer-like warmth arrives
Sunday's severe weather - which brought a Tornado Watch, 45 mph wind gusts, and heavy rain across Bulloch County, clears out Monday morning, giving way to a remarkable warming trend. Expect lingering showers early Monday with a high around 66°F, then drier skies Tuesday through Thursday as temperatures climb sharply. By Thursday, highs reach the upper 70s, and Saturday could see 83°F - roughly 20 degrees above normal for mid-February and potentially record-setting. A brief round of scattered showers returns Friday and Saturday, though rainfall amounts look light.
Day | High | Low | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon 2/16 | 66°F | 44°F | AM showers clearing, partly cloudy |
Tue 2/17 | 68°F | 40°F | Sunny, pleasant |
Wed 2/18 | 75°F | 53°F | Partly sunny, warming |
Thu 2/19 | 78°F | 57°F | Mostly sunny, near-record warmth |
Fri 2/20 | 79°F | 61°F | Scattered showers likely |
Sat 2/21 | 83°F | 65°F | Scattered showers, unseasonably warm |
Sun 2/22 | ~80°F | ~52°F | Clearing, still warm |
LOOKING AHEAD
New retail projects reshape Northside Drive
Statesboro's commercial landscape is getting a significant refresh. Academy Sports + Outdoors appears poised to occupy the former Publix store at 600 Northside Drive East, vacant for nearly 30 years. An electrical permit was filed in December 2025 and interior demolition is underway on the 47,448-square-foot space, though City Planning Director Justin Williams cautions no official build-out permit has been issued. Nearby, HomeGoods is moving into the former Kmart building in Southern Square Shopping Center on Northside Drive, with signage already installed and interior work ongoing.
Mayor to deliver State of the City Address February 24
Mayor Jonathan McCollar delivers the 2026 State of the City Address at 7:00 p.m. at the Emma Kelly Theater, 35 East Main Street. Topics include economic growth, public safety, housing, youth literacy, and the city's declining poverty rate (now at 36%). WTOC anchor Dawn Baker moderates Q&A. Free, open to the public, and live-streamed on the City of Statesboro Facebook page.
Statesboro Festival of the Arts returns March 21–22
The 2nd Annual Statesboro Festival of the Arts returns to The Market at Visit Statesboro on the Blue Mile (222 S. Main Street). Free admission, 40+ artist booths, live music, food trucks, and children's activities. This year features a $5,000 Georgia Council for the Arts grant and cash prizes for standout artists.
THANKS FOR READING!
That's it for Edition #19! Big week ahead with Tuesday's moratorium votes and City Council meeting, plus Georgia Southern hosting #5 Georgia Tech in baseball. Next Monday, we'll recap the votes, share State of the City highlights (Feb 24), and preview March events including the Festival of the Arts.
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See you next Monday, Statesboro! 🦅