Hello, Statesboro!
Two weeks ago the city voted to let a data center onto Burkhalter Road. This Tuesday the county takes up a text amendment that would ban them outright in three of its zoning districts. Same subject, different government, and the two are pulling in opposite directions.
Both bodies meet Tuesday, September 1. The city at 9 a.m., the county at 5:30 p.m. If you only follow one thing this week, follow that.
Also in this edition: an arrest in the May shooting at Azul, a new fire insurance rating that takes effect Tuesday and should lower some homeowners' premiums, three city tax hearings coming the week after next, and the Eagles open at home Saturday night.
Let's get into it.
📰 TOP NEWS
The Data Center Ban the County Tabled in August Is Back on Tuesday's Agenda
Bulloch County commissioners meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the first of seven zoning items is the one they set aside a month ago: a text amendment that would ban data centers in the General Business, Heavy Manufacturing and Light Manufacturing districts. The amendment also writes a definition of "data center" into the county code and strips out the existing references to cryptocurrency mining.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 5-1 on July 21. Commissioners then voted 3-2 on August 4 to postpone it about 30 days. That 30 days is up.
One thing to watch: on August 18, county staff presented a different idea, allowing data centers in specific overlay areas with restrictions rather than banning them from those three districts. That alternative has not entered the formal amendment process, so it is not what commissioners vote on Tuesday. It is context for whatever they do.
Separately, the county's temporary moratorium on data centers across the unincorporated county runs through December 31, 2026 unless commissioners act sooner. So a no vote Tuesday does not open the door tomorrow, and a yes vote is a permanent answer rather than a pause.
Also on Tuesday's agenda: a public hearing on abandoning John D. Lanier Road, six more zoning proposals, ten consent items, and a $193,500 contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates for a corridor study covering 2.2 miles of Burkhalter Road.
City Council Votes Tuesday Morning on a $459,895 Trail Contract and a New Street Name
City council meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 50 East Main Street. Five business items, two of them worth knowing about.
The first is a $459,895 contract with EMC Engineering Services for design work on the Creek on the Blue Mile Multi-Use Trail. The money comes from a Transportation Alternative Grant and the local transportation sales tax. This is design, not construction, so nothing gets built this year.
The second is a public hearing and vote on naming the short street between East Cherry and East Vine, the one that runs behind City Hall. The proposed name is Nicholas Anciaux Lane, after a Revolutionary War veteran who served with the French forces allied with George Washington's Continental Army at Yorktown, later settled here, and received a land grant near Mill Creek in 1807.
Two hundred and nineteen years later, the city is putting his name on a block behind City Hall. That is a long wait for a street sign.
An Arrest in the May Shooting at Azul
Statesboro police announced last week that a suspect is in custody in the May 5 shooting at Azul Restaurant on South Main Street. Andrew White, 22, of Statesboro was arrested August 25 at a Statesboro residence by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, acting on a tip from the public. He is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Those are charges, not convictions, and the case now moves toward prosecution.
Gregory Johnson Jr. was killed in the shooting. A 31-year-old woman with him was hurt, and her injuries were not life threatening.
The department credited the Marshals and the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office with the arrest, and credited the tip that led them to the address. Nearly four months is a long time to wait for that phone call to come.
📋 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
The County's Fire Insurance Rating Improves Tuesday, and It Could Show Up on Your Premium
The Insurance Services Office has given Bulloch County a Public Protection Classification of 4, effective September 1. The Class 4 rating applies to property within five road miles of a recognized county fire station; beyond five road miles the rating is Class 10. Insurers use these scores when they set homeowners and commercial premiums, so a better number can mean a lower bill. Commission Chairman David Bennett said the improved rating "will result in a homeowners insurance savings for many people." Worth asking your agent about after Tuesday.
Three City Tax Hearings, September 8 and 15
The city has tentatively adopted a millage rate that requires an increase in property taxes of 33.98 percent, and state law requires three public hearings before it can be adopted. They are September 8 at noon, September 8 at 6 p.m., and September 15 at 5:30 p.m., all in the council chambers at City Hall. Read that percentage carefully: it is measured against the rollback rate, the rate that would bring in the same revenue as last year, not against your current bill. When the FY27 budget draft came to council in May, City Manager Charles Penny tied the increase to fire protection costs and said it should be a one-year bump.
Blue Mile Phase 2 Comments Are Due September 25
Tuesday's open house on Phase 2 of the Blue Mile Streetscape has come and gone, but the comment window has not. Written feedback goes to Brad Deal, city engineer, or to [email protected], through September 25. Phase 2 runs from the Fair Road intersection to the Statesboro Regional Library and covers street rehabilitation, a grass boulevard, brick-paver sidewalks, signal upgrades, left-turn lanes, drainage replacement and utility consolidation. Estimated cost is $10 million from the transportation sales tax, with possible GDOT help. Construction is projected to start in the fourth quarter of 2027 and run about 24 months, with lane shifts rather than full detours.
A Correction: Splash in the Boro's Last Day Is September 8, Not September 6
Edition 46 listed Sunday, September 6 as the final day of the season. That is the last weekend day, but it is not the last day. The park's own schedule adds two bonus days after it: Monday, September 7 and Tuesday, September 8, both 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend hours through September 6 are Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Hours are subject to change, and the park's number is (912) 489-9089.
I-16 and I-95 Lane Closures Through Saturday
If you are driving toward Savannah this week, GDOT has daytime and overnight lane closures running through September 5 for the 16@95 projects. Daytime intermittent closures on I-16 between the I-516 and I-95 interchanges run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Overnight, expect intermittent closures 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. on I-16 and double-lane closures 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on I-95 at the I-16 overpass. All of it is weather permitting.
The Burn Ban Is Still On
Nothing has changed since last week, and nothing could have. The ordinance restricting outdoor burning in unincorporated Bulloch County can only be lifted by a formal commission vote, and the commission has not met since August 18. The next meeting is Tuesday. Yard debris burning stays prohibited; cooking on an approved grill or fire pit is fine, as are agricultural and forestry burns under a Georgia Forestry Commission permit. The drought picture is flat rather than improving: the August 25 U.S. Drought Monitor map has 95.51 percent of the county at abnormally dry or worse and 16.18 percent in moderate drought, essentially unchanged from the August 18 map.
Dove Season Opens Saturday
Georgia's 2026-2027 dove season opens September 5 and runs through October 11, then November 21 to 29, then December 19 to January 31. Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset, with a daily bag limit of 15.
📅 THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (August 31 to September 6, 2026)
Statesboro Line Dancing Club
Monday, Aug. 31 | 5:30 p.m. | Statesboro Regional Library, 124 S. Main St. | Free, all ages | (912) 764-1341
Statesboro Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 9 a.m. | Council chambers, City Hall, 50 E. Main St. | Open to the public
Bulloch County Board of Commissioners
Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 5:30 p.m. | North Main Annex, 115 N. Main St. | Open to the public
Teen Sewing Club
Thursday, Sept. 3 | 4 p.m. | Statesboro Regional Library, 124 S. Main St. | Free, ages 12 to 18 | (912) 764-1341
Kids' Craft Activity: Paper Pumpkins
Thursday, Sept. 3 | 4:30 p.m. | Statesboro Regional Library, 124 S. Main St. | Free, ages 6 to 11 | (912) 764-1341
Statesboro High vs. Emanuel County Institute
Friday, Sept. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Statesboro High School | Ticket required
Southeast Bulloch at Burke County
Friday, Sept. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Burke County, Waynesboro | Ticket required
Main Street Farmers Market
Saturday, Sept. 5 | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | 222 S. Main St., behind Visit Statesboro | Free to browse
Georgia Southern vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Sept. 5 | 7 p.m. | Allen E. Paulson Stadium | Ticket required, streaming on ESPN+
Splash in the Boro
Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 6, noon to 6 p.m. | Admission varies | (912) 489-9089
A note on the library dates: the Statesboro Herald's printed calendar labels September 3 as a Wednesday. September 3 is a Thursday. We went with the dates.
🦅 GEORGIA SOUTHERN UPDATES
Fall Camp Is Over and the Coordinators Have Named Their Standouts
Georgia Southern wrapped fall camp last week, and coordinators Ryan Aplin, Mike Mutz and Blake Wilson each named the players who separated themselves. On offense: third-year right tackle Colin Alexander, Illinois transfer receiver Ashton Hollins, who gives quarterback Max Johnson a 6-foot-5 target outside, and fifth-year running back Terrance Gibbs. On defense, returning starter Brandon Tyson has taken on a bigger leadership role in the linebacker room after Brendan Harrington's departure, alongside Abilene Christian transfer Rashon Myles Jr.
"He shows up every day as the same guy, with the same attitude," Aplin said of Alexander. "You never know when the guy's having a bad day because he's always full tilt."
Camden Brown Made the Cowboys' 53-Man Roster
The receiver who became the first Eagle to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season is in the NFL. Camden Brown made the Dallas Cowboys' initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent after a preseason that produced nine catches, 177 yards and two touchdowns. In 2025 he started all 13 games in Statesboro and finished with 65 catches for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns, then took home First-Team All-Sun Belt and Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.
🏈 SPORTS & CAMPUS EVENTS
The Blue Devils Are 2-0
Statesboro High scored late to beat Burke County 29-22 at home Friday, a week after opening with a 44-7 win at Southeast Bulloch. They stay home Friday against Emanuel County Institute at 7:30 p.m.
Southeast Bulloch Got Its First Win in Overtime
The Yellow Jackets outlasted East Laurens 26-20 in overtime at home to even their record at 1-1. Friday they travel to Burke County, the team Statesboro just beat.
The Eagles Open Saturday Night
Georgia Southern's season starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Paulson Stadium against Charleston Southern, streaming on ESPN+. The forecast high that day is 95, so bring water.
🍽️ RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
Patriot's Chicken, 218 Lanier Drive
We have been watching this one since June. Editions 40, 43 and 45 each checked whether Patriots American Chicken had opened on Lanier Drive, and each time the answer was no. It is open now. The company's own site lists the Statesboro location with hours and a phone number, and Google's business record for 218 Lanier Drive is live.
The location is deliberate. It sits across from Eagle Village and directly in front of the Subway near Paulson Stadium, visible from Veterans Memorial Parkway. Erin Boike, the company's vice president of marketing, told Grice Connect in June that being close to campus was the point. "We love the enthusiasm and motivation college students naturally bring to a community," she said.
This is the chain's second restaurant. The first opened July 4, 2023 in Blaine, Tennessee. The menu runs to fried and grilled chicken strips, sandwiches, salads, homemade sides, hand-dipped shakes, and a full breakfast, including biscuits, iced coffee, cheese-stuffed tater tots and something called Papa's Torpedo, a pastry filled with eggs, bacon, sausage, onion and mushrooms. Boike said the chicken is fresh, never frozen, and hand-breaded in house.
It is built for the drive-thru, with a walk-up window and patio seating with string lights and umbrella tables.
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday is temporarily closed.
Phone: (912) 512-8102
Worth knowing: a 6 a.m. breakfast is a new thing for that stretch of Lanier Drive, and Saturday is a home game.
🌤️ WEATHER ADVISORY
No watches, warnings or advisories were active for Bulloch County when this went out. Here is the National Weather Service forecast, pulled Monday morning.
Monday: High near 90, showers and storms likely after 2 p.m., rain 60 percent
Tuesday: High near 92, patchy fog before 9 a.m., storms possible in the afternoon, rain 30 percent
Wednesday: High near 92, chance of storms after 2 p.m., rain 30 percent
Thursday: High near 92, chance of storms in the afternoon, rain 30 percent
Friday: High near 94, sunny, chance of storms in the afternoon, rain 30 percent
Saturday: High near 95, sunny, chance of storms in the afternoon, rain 50 percent
Sunday: High near 90, chance of showers and storms, rain 40 percent
Today is the wettest day of the week and the coolest. After that it dries out and heats up, and Saturday is the hottest day on the board at 95 with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Friday night high school football sits under a 94-degree day cooling into the evening.
The rain totals are the real story. Monday's storms may bring a tenth to a quarter inch. Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast at less than a tenth. That is not drought-breaking rain, which is why the burn ban is where it is.
Forecast from weather.gov, gridpoint CHS/20,55, pulled 9:33 a.m. Monday. Conditions change; check before you make plans.
The Eagles open at home Saturday at 7 p.m. against Charleston Southern. What are you doing?
👀 LOOKING AHEAD
Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day. Splash in the Boro is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8: The last day of the season at Splash, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also the first two city tax hearings, at noon and 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10: Bulloch County Board of Education regular session, 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Central Office on Williams Road.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Wing Maxx turns 15, with a community celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a wing eating contest between local nonprofits, and 15 percent of proceeds going to Safe Haven.
Tuesday, Sept. 15: The third and final city tax hearing, 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Friday, Sept. 18: "Boro Nights, Senior Lights" at the Statesboro Family YMCA, a Grease-themed prom for local seniors. Red carpet at 4 p.m., event 5 to 7 p.m., $25 per person or $40 per couple, with proceeds to LIVESTRONG at the YMCA and the Cardiac Rehab Phase 3 program.
Thursday, Sept. 25: Written comments on Blue Mile Phase 2 are due.
Saturday, Oct. 3: The Gary Oglesby Memorial Youth Fishing Rodeo returns to the Mill Creek Regional Park pond, 7 a.m. to noon. Free, ages 5 to 15, bring your own gear and an adult.
Tuesday, Nov. 3: The District 2 special election. Loletta Donaldson Elliott, Maleek Jones and Kathleen "Katie" Keehner are on the ballot for the seat Paulette Chavers left in May.
✉️ THANKS FOR READING!
Two governments, one Tuesday, and the same question pointed in opposite directions. The city said yes on Burkhalter Road. The county decides whether to say no everywhere else. Both meetings are open, one at 9 in the morning and one at 5:30 in the evening, and between the two of them there is a time that works for almost anybody.
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