Hello, Statesboro!
June is here, and things are moving fast. Summer is officially underway, and so is one of the most consequential budget debates this city has seen in years. A proposed property tax hike is heading to a public hearing tomorrow, a kidnapping suspect is behind bars after a dramatic arrest, and Statesboro High School has been selected for a first-of-its-kind drone safety program launching this fall. We have all of that, plus library summer programming that kicked off today, a real forecast for a week that starts wet and ends beautiful, and a spotlight on one of Statesboro's most mission-driven coffee shops.
Grab your coffee and let's get into it.
📰 TOP NEWS
City Budget Proposal Includes a 44% Property Tax Increase
The most consequential financial decision facing Statesboro residents in years is heading to a public hearing tomorrow morning, and if you own property in the city, this one directly affects your wallet.
City Manager Charles Penny has proposed a fiscal year 2027 budget that includes a 3.835-mill increase in the property tax rate, up from the current 8.625 mills. That translates to roughly $376 more per year for a homeowner with a house valued at $250,000. The primary driver is the loss of two significant funding streams: the fire service contract with Bulloch County that ended July 1, 2025 and had generated nearly $2.8 million annually, and a three-year federal SAFER grant covering 12 firefighter positions that expires in August. City officials explored a fire service fee as an alternative but halted those plans in April over legal concerns. Penny has framed the increase as a one-year bridge, with new FLOST sales tax revenue expected to allow a rollback beginning July 1, 2027. The public hearing is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 at the regular City Council meeting at City Hall.
Man Arrested in Kidnapping and Three Motel Arsons
Statesboro Police arrested a Hephzibah man last week after an anonymous tip, citizen video, and two surveillance networks helped detectives crack a kidnapping and linked the suspect to three arson fires at a local motel.
On May 27, a concerned citizen called police after witnessing what appeared to be the forced abduction of a woman on South Main Street and provided video clips of the incident. Detectives used the Fusus video-sharing network and the Flock license plate reader system to track the suspect's vehicle to Burke County, where deputies located the victim. She confirmed that Xavier Evans, 34, had forced her into the vehicle in Statesboro. Investigators say the two had previously been in a romantic relationship and that the victim had relocated to Statesboro weeks earlier to distance herself from Evans. Detectives then linked Evans to three arson fires at the Super 8 motel on Jameson Avenue, where the victim had been staying. Evans was booked into the Bulloch County Jail on charges of kidnapping, first-degree arson (three counts), and stalking. Anyone with information can contact Captain Jared Akins or Senior Detective Purvis at 912-764-9911.
Statesboro High Selected for State Drone Active-Shooter Pilot
Statesboro High School is one of four Georgia high schools tapped for a state-funded pilot program that deploys human-piloted drones to respond to active-shooter situations, set to launch this fall.
The Georgia legislature included $550,000 in the 2026 state budget to fund the system, run by Austin, Texas-based company Campus Guardian Angel. The drones, charged on pads throughout each campus and piloted remotely from the company's headquarters, can fly at 30 to 50 mph indoors and up to 100 mph outside. They are designed to reach a threat before law enforcement arrives and can deploy non-lethal measures including pepper spray, sirens, strobe lights, and kinetic energy hits, while also carrying an embedded speakerphone. The other participating schools are Coffee County High in Douglas, Gainesville High, and River Ridge High in Woodstock. A fifth selected school, Forsyth Central High, will not take part. Systems are being installed this summer, and the pilot runs through June 2027. State Rep. Matt Dubnik, who championed the funding, described the technology as a complement to school resource officers, not a replacement. Statesboro High is still evaluating final participation details.
📋 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Superintendent Contract Vote Set for June 11
The Bulloch County Board of Education is scheduled to take its final vote on Torian White's superintendent contract at the June 11 regular meeting. White, who currently leads South Effingham High School and is a former Southeast Bulloch Middle School principal, was named sole finalist on May 18 following a unanimous board vote. If approved, he would begin July 1, succeeding the retired Charles Wilson. Interim Superintendent Richard Smith has led the district since April 1.
County Plans to Close 10 of 22 Trash Collection Centers
Bulloch County staff presented commissioners with a plan to close 10 of the county's 22 solid waste collection centers, staff the remaining 12, lock gates at night, set standardized operating hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on rotating days), and verify county residency at entry. The proposed start date is January 4, 2027. Sites slated for closure include the Olney, Arcola, Old Groveland, Union Church, Sinkhole, Millcreek (Hwy 24), Clito, Rocky Ford, Highway 80 West, and Lake Collins centers. Commissioners gave informal direction but took no formal vote on the closures. They did vote 6-0 to end the county's longstanding clothing-bin agreement with Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire.
Georgia Southern Lands Nearly $40M in State Funding
Following the signing of the state budget, Georgia Southern received $29.8 million to establish Georgia's first College of Optometry, which would renovate the Highway 301 building in Statesboro for a Doctor of Optometry program pending University System and accreditation approval. The FY27 budget also included $5.5 million to create the Georgia Southern University Literacy Center under the Georgia Early Literacy Act, $4.2 million for East Georgia Campus HVAC renovations, and a $1 million endowment match for a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar chair. This is in addition to the GRA membership milestone covered in Edition 33.
Fatal Crash on Williams Road
A Statesboro man died in a single-vehicle crash on Williams Road last week, according to Grice Connect. Details remain limited as the investigation continues.
📅 THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (June 1-7, 2026)
Summer Reading Program Kicks Off Today Monday, June 1 | Statesboro Regional Library, 124 S. Main St. | FREE
The library's 2026 Summer Reading Program starts today and runs all summer for all ages. Register on Beanstack and earn weekly prizes. This week's programming is dinosaur-themed and packed: Dino Olympics (today, 2-4 p.m.), Senior Craft activity (today, 11 a.m.), Teen Leaders meeting (today, 1 p.m.), Baby Art Time and Adult Mosaic Art Class (Tuesday), Toddler Story and Craft (Wednesday), DIY preserved-amber activity (Wednesday), special guest Chad Crews's "Dig Into Reading Safari" (Thursday, 10:30 a.m.), and Teen Sewing Club (Thursday, 4 p.m.). Call 912-764-1341 to confirm times.
City Council Meeting and FY27 Budget Public Hearing Tuesday, June 2 | 9:00 AM | City Hall Council Chambers, 50 E. Main St. | Open to the public
This is your opportunity to weigh in on the proposed 3.835-mill property tax increase before council moves toward a June 16 adoption vote. Public comment is part of the hearing.
Bulloch County Board of Commissioners Meeting Tuesday, June 2 | 5:30 PM | North Main Annex | Open to the public
Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market Saturday, June 6 | 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM | 222 S. Main St. | FREE
Fresh local produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, and live music every Saturday through the season. Rain forecasted mid-week clears out well before the weekend, so Saturday should be warm and sunny. Market2Go online ordering is also available year-round.
🦅 GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
GSU Awards Record Number of Degrees This Year
Georgia Southern celebrated more than 4,500 graduates across five commencement ceremonies in Statesboro, Savannah, and Swainsboro in mid-May, capping a landmark academic year. Summer terms are now underway across all three campuses.
New College of Optometry and Literacy Center Funded
As noted in the briefs above, Georgia Southern received $29.8 million for Georgia's first College of Optometry and $5.5 million for a new university literacy center. Both represent significant milestones in the university's push toward R1 research status, building on last week's Georgia Research Alliance membership announcement.
🏈 SPORTS AND CAMPUS EVENTS
Football Game Times Announced for Fall 2026
Georgia Southern Athletics has released several key kickoff times for the 2026 football season. The Eagles open at home on Saturday, September 5 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, then travel to Clemson on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network. A Thursday night road game at Old Dominion is set for October 15. Season tickets are on sale now.
Baseball Season Complete
The Eagles wrapped up the 2026 season after being swept at No. 8 Southern Miss in late May, finishing 16-39 overall and 7-22 in Sun Belt play. The Sun Belt Tournament ran May 19-24 in Montgomery with Southern Miss entering as the top seed. The offseason begins now.
🍺 RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: Eagle Creek Brewing Company
If you have not made it to Eagle Creek Brewing Company yet, you owe yourself a trip downtown.
Statesboro's first craft brewery opened in August 2013, founded by Dustin Wilson and owned by Franklin Dismuke. The very first pint was sold on July 23, 2013, a date Eagle Creek fans will recognize as Erk Russell's birthday, a fitting tribute in a town that runs deep with Georgia Southern pride. In November 2016, Eagle Creek became the first production brewery in the area to convert to a full brewpub, adding a kitchen and expanding what a night out downtown could look like.
Today Eagle Creek is one of the most beloved gathering spots in the Boro. The brewery focuses on producing flavorful, approachable craft beers using quality ingredients, and it shows. Local favorites include the Tea Party Amber, Spot Tail, and the River Street Praline, which is exactly what it sounds like. Beyond the taps, the menu leans gastropub, with crowd-pleasers like loaded waffle fries topped with house-smoked pulled pork or brisket, hand-breaded tenders, and wings tossed in sauces ranging from classic buffalo to pineapple habanero. The bar also stocks wine, cocktails, and a rotating selection of regional and national craft beverages for non-beer drinkers.
The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, with board games, trivia nights, and live music from local artists on a regular rotation. It is the kind of place that works equally well for a casual Tuesday happy hour or a lively Saturday night.
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. | Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Address: 106 Savannah Ave, Suite B, Statesboro | (912) 489-2337
🌤️ WEATHER ADVISORY
Rain is coming mid-week but clears out just in time for the weekend. Here's what to expect:
Day | High | Rain Chance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon, June 1 | 82°F | 20% | Mostly cloudy, light chance of afternoon showers |
Tue, June 2 | 80°F | 75% | Rainy day, plan indoor alternatives for Council hearing evening |
Wed, June 3 | 79°F | 0% | Clear and pleasant |
Thu, June 4 | 83°F | 0% | Sunny and warm |
Fri, June 5 | 86°F | 0% | Sunny, heating back up |
Sat, June 6 | 88°F | 0% | Great day for the Farmers Market |
Tuesday's 75% rain chance is the week's main weather event. If you are heading to City Hall for the budget hearing, plan for wet conditions. The rest of the week is clear and dry, making it a great stretch for outdoor activities as summer gets rolling.
👀 LOOKING AHEAD
June 2 | Statesboro City Council Meeting and FY27 Budget Public Hearing City Hall Council Chambers, 50 E. Main St. | 9:00 AM session, public hearing to follow. This is the key moment to speak on the proposed tax increase before the June 16 adoption vote.
June 5 | Absentee Ballot Request Deadline Last day to request an absentee ballot for the June 16 Commission District 2-B runoff between Toby Conner and Dr. Ted Redman.
June 8-12 | Early Voting for June 16 Runoff Bulloch County Annex, 113 N. Main St., Suite 201 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays. This is the only early voting location for the runoff.
June 11 | Downtown Live: The Tams East Main Street in front of the Bulloch County Courthouse | Food trucks at 6:00 PM | Show at 7:00 PM | FREE. The legendary beach-music and classic soul group The Tams close out the 2026 Downtown Live series. This traditionally draws the biggest crowd of the season, so get there early.
June 11 | Bulloch County Board of Education Regular Meeting Central Office boardroom, 150 Williams Road | 6:30 PM. The board is expected to take a final vote on Torian White's superintendent contract.
June 16 | Primary Runoff Election Day Polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at all Bulloch County precincts. Photo ID required.
June 16 | FY27 Budget Adoption (Tentative) City Council Chambers, 50 E. Main St. Final vote on the proposed millage rate increase.
June 25 | Downtown Live Season Finale: Papa Sol East Main Street | 7:00 PM | FREE.
✉️ THANKS FOR READING!
That's Edition 34! Summer is officially here, and things are just getting started. The June 2 budget hearing is the biggest civic moment of the month, so if you have thoughts on how your tax dollars are spent, tomorrow is your chance to share them.
Next Monday we will have a full recap of the budget hearing, Downtown Live coverage, and everything else happening as Statesboro heads deeper into summer.
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See you next Monday!
