Hello, Statesboro!
This might be the most consequential week of the summer for local government, and your voice is right at the center of it. By the time you read next Monday's edition, we will know who holds Bulloch County Commission Seat 2-B, whether your city property tax bill is going up, and how the county balanced its books for the year ahead. Voters head to the polls Tuesday, the City Council takes a final vote on its budget that same evening, and county commissioners follow on Thursday. Add in a brand new schools superintendent, a community say in who becomes our next police chief, and a packed Juneteenth weekend, and you have a week worth paying attention to.
Let's get into it.
📰 TOP NEWS
Voters Decide Commission Seat 2-B Runoff Tuesday
Election Day is here. The Republican primary runoff between incumbent Commissioner Toby Conner and challenger Dr. Ted Redman is being decided Tuesday, June 16, with polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Because no Democrat qualified for the seat, the runoff winner takes the four-year term outright. In the May 19 three-way primary, Conner led with 2,949 votes (49.46 percent) to Redman's 1,935 (32.46 percent), leaving Conner roughly 32 votes shy of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Early voting ran June 8 through 12, and turnout will tell the story Tuesday night. If you live in Commission District 2 and have not yet voted, find your polling place at mvp.sos.ga.gov and bring a photo ID. Results were not available as of publication, so watch local outlets after polls close.
City Council Takes Final Vote on FY2027 Budget and Tax Increase Tuesday
The Statesboro City Council is scheduled to adopt its FY2027 budget Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM, and it includes a proposed 2.129-mill property tax increase that would raise the rate from 8.625 mills to 10.754 mills. On a $225,000 home with a standard homestead exemption, that works out to roughly $187 more per year. City Manager Charles Penny has described it as a maintenance budget with no new personnel. The increase stems largely from the county's dissolution of a decades-old fire service agreement, which cost the city about $2.755 million in revenue, and the expiration of a federal SAFER grant that funded 12 firefighters. Mayor Jonathan McCollar has said that without the fire decision, the city would actually be rolling its rate back this year. Officials stress the increase is meant to be temporary, with full-year FLOST sales tax revenue expected to allow a rollback in 2028. A council work session precedes the vote at 4:00 PM.
Bulloch County Schools Names Dr. Torian White Superintendent
The Bulloch County Board of Education voted unanimously, 5-0, on Thursday, June 11 to hire Dr. Torian White as the district's next superintendent under a three-year contract worth $235,000 annually. White starts July 1. A veteran educator with 23 years of experience, White previously served as principal of Southeast Bulloch Middle School from 2014 to 2019 and most recently led South Effingham High School, his alma mater. He succeeds Charles Wilson, who retired March 31 after 14 years leading the district. White has outlined a leadership approach built on what he calls clarity, capacity, and community. The board also approved its own FY2027 budget the same evening.
📋 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
County Commission Finalizes Budget Thursday
Bulloch County commissioners are scheduled to adopt their FY2027 budget Thursday, June 18 at 5:30 PM at the County Annex. After a June 9 public hearing, commissioners amended the plan to keep seven solid-waste convenience centers open and to fund six new Sheriff's Office positions, adding about $1.45 million in spending. The county still expects a partial millage rollback from the current 11.35 mills to roughly 10.4 mills, helped by early FLOST revenue.
Dutch Bros and Qdoba Headed to Statesboro
The retail and dining pipeline keeps filling up. Dutch Bros Coffee has announced its first Statesboro location at 23974 U.S. Highway 80, between AutoZone and Newk's Eatery, with an early 2026 opening. Qdoba Mexican Eats is building out a space at 229 Tormenta Way near Publix. Both join a busy stretch of new openings on the east side of town.
Downtown Bridal Shop Changes Hands
GG Formals and GG Forever, owned by Georgia Southern graduates Suzanne and Matt Lake, is set to move into the former Frills and Company space downtown this summer. Frills closed after nearly 20 years in business. The new shop continues a wave of fresh activity along the Blue Mile corridor.
Free Summer Meals for Kids Continue
Bulloch County Schools is offering free summer meals for children throughout June at sites across the district. With school out and grocery budgets stretched, the program helps families bridge the gap. Classes resume August 1.
Adult Kickball Registration Opens June 22
Bulloch County Recreation and Parks will open registration for its adult kickball league on Monday, June 22. It is one of several summer rec offerings as families look for ways to stay active during the warmer months.
📅 THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (June 15-21, 2026)
Police Chief Search Town Hall Monday, June 15 | 6:00 PM | Council Chambers, City Hall, 50 E. Main Street | FREE
With Chief Mike Broadhead retiring July 1 after nine years and more than four decades in law enforcement, this is your chance to shape the search for his replacement. Janice Allen Jackson of executive search firm Developmental Associates will outline the nationwide process and gather public input on the qualities residents want in the next chief. All residents welcome.
Statesboro Regional Library Summer Reading Program All week | 124 S. Main Street | FREE
The dinosaur-themed "Unearth a Story" program rolls on. Highlights this week include Senior Decoupage Napkins (Monday, 11:00 AM), Baby Music Time (Tuesday, 10:00 AM), Toddler Build a Dino Day (Wednesday, 10:30 AM), a Volcano Lab (Wednesday, 3:00 PM), special guest Jeffini (Thursday, 10:30 AM), and a Dinosaur D&D Adventure (Friday, 1:00 PM). Register on Beanstack and call 912-764-1341 to confirm times.
Juneteenth Celebration in Portal Friday, June 20 | 6:00 to 8:00 PM | Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center, Portal | FREE
Hosted by the Bulloch County NAACP and Willow Hill, this celebration features live performances, speakers, and food vendors at one of the region's most significant sites of African American history. A meaningful way to mark the holiday close to home.
Juneteenth Music and Food Festival Saturday, June 21 | 4:00 to 9:00 PM | Fair Road Park, 1 Max Lockwood Drive | FREE
Juneteenth Bulloch hosts an afternoon and evening of music, food trucks, bounce houses, and craft vendors. Bring the whole family and settle in for a relaxed summer evening in the park.
Splash in the Boro Open daily | Mill Creek Regional Park, 1388 Highway 24 East
Summer hours are in full effect at the area's favorite water park. After a recent refurbishment, you will find updated water slides, luxury cabanas, and a new walking taco stand. With Father's Day landing Sunday, it makes for an easy family outing. Hours vary by day, so check ahead.
Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market Saturday, June 20 | 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM | 222 S. Main Street | FREE admission
Fresh local produce, meats, baked goods, and artisan goods every Saturday through the season. Get there early for the best selection before the midday heat sets in.
🦅 GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
Georgia Southern Signs Partnership with University of Belize
On June 12, Georgia Southern signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Belize, opening the door to joint research in marine biology, tropical ecology, and natural resource management, along with new graduate degree pathways. Provost Avinandan Mukherjee called it a great step forward for the university's standing as a major research institution. The agreement builds on Georgia Southern's recent momentum toward R1 research status.
TOP Institute Hosts Inaugural Performance Conference
Georgia Southern's Tactical and Occupational Performance Institute hosts its first ever Tactical and Occupational Performance Conference in Savannah from June 15 to 17. The event draws military personnel, first responders, and human performance professionals, with keynote speakers including Col. Ken Dwyer and University of Kentucky researcher Mark Abel.
Virtual SOAR Session Wednesday; Minimester II Begins June 22
Incoming students have a virtual SOAR orientation session Wednesday, June 17, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Minimester II courses begin Monday, June 22. If you have a student heading to campus this fall, now is the time to lock in orientation details.
🏈 SPORTS AND CAMPUS EVENTS
Football Season Tickets on Sale for 2026
Season ticket packages for Georgia Southern football start as low as $100 for all six home games. The Eagles open September 5 at Paulson Stadium against Charleston Southern, travel to Clemson on September 12, and host Houston on September 26 in a marquee matchup that brings the first Power Four program to play in Statesboro. Order at GSEagles.com or call 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Longtime Voice of the Eagles Moving On
Danny Reed, Georgia Southern's longtime radio voice and Director of Broadcasting Services, announced he will leave in August for a national role with Westwood One Radio. Georgia Southern and Learfield will conduct a search for his successor. Reed has been a familiar presence for Eagles fans across countless broadcasts.
🌮 RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: Vandy's Bar-B-Q
If you want a true taste of old Statesboro, few places carry more history than Vandy's.
Vandy's Bar-B-Q was opened by Vandy Boyd in 1929 in nearby Portal, then moved to its current downtown Statesboro home at 22 W. Vine Street in 1943. It has cooked over the same brick and cement-block open-air pit ever since, making it one of only a handful of traditional open-air barbecue pits left operating in Georgia. The pork is pit cooked low and slow over local oak, with the fire sometimes lit at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning.
The menu keeps things classic and well loved. The chopped pork and the famously secret barbecue sauce are the headliners, but the Brunswick stew deserves its own mention. The late Atlanta humorist Lewis Grizzard repeatedly called it among the best in the world, and locals tend to agree.
The business stayed in the Boyd family until 1984 and changed hands several times over the decades. In fall 2020, Darin Van Tassell's DVT Enterprises, which also operates The Clubhouse and Ibis Catering, purchased it. After the longtime Statesboro Mall location closed in early 2025, the team poured energy into the downtown restaurant, which went through a major renovation that brought a new roof, refreshed kitchen, new floors, and the rediscovery of the building's original wood ceiling. The restaurant has since added a beer and wine license and leaned into downtown's growing dining scene. As managing partner Michael Blackmon put it, the goal is to bring it back to what everybody remembers as a kid.
Address: 22 W. Vine Street, Statesboro | Phone: (912) 764-2444
Hours can shift with the season, so call ahead before you go.
🌤️ WEATHER ADVISORY
Summer is settling in for real this week, with hot afternoons and the daily chance of a pop-up storm. Here is what to expect:
Day | High | Rain Chance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon, June 15 | 88°F | 30% | Partly sunny, stray afternoon shower |
Tue, June 16 | 90°F | 25% | Warm and mostly clear, good day to vote |
Wed, June 17 | 92°F | 45% | Best storm chance of the week mid-afternoon |
Thu, June 18 | 94°F | 35% | Hot, isolated evening thunderstorm possible |
Fri, June 19 | 95°F | 30% | Very warm, scattered late-day storms |
Heat builds steadily toward the weekend, with highs reaching the mid-90s by Friday and heat indices climbing higher. Plan the Juneteenth festivals, the farmers market, and Splash in the Boro for the morning when you can, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on the radar for late-day storms. Conditions can change fast on a summer afternoon, so check the latest before heading out.
👀 LOOKING AHEAD
Monday, June 22 | Georgia Southern Minimester II Begins Summer semester continues for Georgia Southern students across all campuses.
Monday, June 22 | Adult Kickball Registration Opens Bulloch County Recreation and Parks opens sign-ups for its summer adult kickball league.
Thursday, June 25 | Downtown Live Season Finale: Papa Sol 7:00 PM | East Main Street | FREE Food trucks open at 6:00 PM as Papa Sol closes out the 2026 Downtown Live concert season. A perfect way to spend a summer Thursday evening downtown.
Thursday, June 25 | Bulloch County Board of Education Work Session 6:30 PM | Central Office boardroom, 150 Williams Road.
Saturday, June 28 | Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel Emma Kelly Theater at the Averitt Center for the Arts. A tribute concert for fans of the classic duo.
And with the calendar turning toward July, watch for Fourth of July celebration and fireworks announcements in the coming weeks.
What are your big summer plans this year?
✉️ THANKS FOR READING!
That is Edition 36! It is a pivotal week for our community, with voters and elected leaders making decisions that will shape Statesboro and Bulloch County for years to come. Get out and vote Tuesday if you have not yet, enjoy the Juneteenth festivities this weekend, and we will be back next Monday with full results from the runoff and both budget votes, plus everything else happening around town.
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See you next Monday!
