Statesboro Magazine - January/February 2023

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming each night…”

The song recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1964, perfectly describes the sentiments of most Bulloch County citizens tuned into the hope for new industries to fill

up the Gateway Industrial Park and the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park. The planning took 10 years, but now Bulloch County Development Authority CEO Benjy Thompson is reaping the reward of three new industries who have announced plans to build in Bulloch.

In our annual Economic Development issue, we showcase the hard work of the Development Authority Board of Directors, the City of Statesboro, the County and our partners in the Savannah Harbor -Interstate 16 Joint Development Authority, in preparing for the Hyundai Metaplant and the new suppliers who will be calling our industrial parks home.

We’re also proud to salute Georgia Southern which has been named an Innovation & Prosperity University by the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU). The announcement acknowledges the University’s working with public and private sector partners in the region and the state to support economic development.

Did you know that there are KOYO bearings manufactured in Sylvania at JTEKT’s Koyo Bearings plant which are on the Mars Rover? It’s really out-of-this-world to think that we have an international supplier of bearings to the major automotive companies and NASA just up the road that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Read about all the other companies and industries that benefit from doing business with KOYO-Sylvania.

We welcome all our new neighbors to the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park. We know you will enjoy doing business in Bulloch and the wonderful quality-of-life that we have to offer visitors and new residents. Here’s to a prosperous 2023 for everyone!

Enjoy!

Jenny Foss, Editor

ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000

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ABOUT THE COVER

“Build it and They Will Come!” That’s Bulloch County Development CEO Benjy Thompson, on top of the world at the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park which is now full of industries that will be supplying great jobs for area citizens & innovative products for the Hyundai Metaplant.

Ric Mandes

Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.

Lazar Brown Oglesby

Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories. Visit her at Dolan’s & Honey’s new location on South Main Street.

Rev. John Waters

Carolyn Altman

Carolyn Altman is the Director of the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University.

She holds degrees from Cornell University, Portland State University, and the University of Nebraska and has published, produced, and taught creative work of all forms, including dance, film, and writing. She spends as much time as possible outside, and has backpacked the Pacific Crest, telemark-skied the Northwest, white water paddled the Northeast, cycled Europe, and bike raced throughout the South. These adventures provide opportunities to learn local plants and how people live among them. Her son, Colby Parker, and daughter-in-law Jordan Miller, are USAF musicians who join Carolyn on wildflower expeditions in the Rockies and river trips through the Ogeechee cypress.

Doy Cave

From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of StatesboroMagazine.

BENJY THOMPSON’S FIELD OF DREAMS

Captured by award winning photographer Frank Fortune. #TheFortuneImage

Since 2005, John Waters has been the lead pastor of First Baptist Church Statesboro. Raised in a military family, he spent his childhood years in Tokyo, Japan, and Selma, Alabama. He earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. As a teenager, he once worked a weekend as a circus clown but now enjoys collecting fountain pens, reading across many genres, and visiting the great cathedrals of the world. His wife, Cynthia, is a retired elementary school teacher, and they have two married adult daughters and five grandchildren.

Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.

Frank Fortune

Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 24 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of Jack and Cate.

Jenny Starling Foss

Editor

Joe McGlamery

Publisher Hunter McCumber Senior Creative Director

Ashton Brown Director of Sales & Marketing

Frank Fortune Contributing Photographer

FRIDAYS – TUESDAYS

STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO

FRIDAYS – TUESDAYS @ 10:00 P.M.

STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO

Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets. Shop online Friday – Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. @ https:// statesboromarket2go.locallygrown.net/. Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.

JANUARY 19

ROAST & BOAST

STATESBORO-BULLOCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING

5:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

MEMBER TICKET $75/PERSON, NON-MEMBER TICKET $150/PERSON JACK HILL BUILDING

OGEECHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

ONE JOE KENNEDY BOULEVARD

The must attend, ticketed event of the year, held annually in January that recognizes exemplary businesses and business leaders in front of an audience of 200+ attendees. We recap the past year and highlight our vision for the upcoming year. www.Statesboro-Chamber.org.

MAIN GALLERY • AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

This show was created to provide an opportunity for marginalized artists to engage our audience in conversations on identity, representation, validation, and history. This exhibition seeks to cultivate a space to celebrate BIPOC narratives and amplify the voices of people of color in Statesboro. It features contemporary artworks across several mediums from artists Gabriel Diaz, D’Antre Harris, Johnesia Lucas, Nancey Price, and Danielle Scott. www.averittcenterforthearts.org

JANUARY

$15 STUDENTS

EMMA KELLY THEATER • AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Gazzie White is a Statesboro native who is known for forging a path past the traditional boundaries of artistry, especially in music. What started as a childhood passion has matured into a skilled art through mentorship, collaboration, and experience. Gazzie is known for her powerful voice and passion for inspiring people. In 2018, she was honored to be a part of the hit show, American Idol, where out of over 250,000 singers who auditioned for the show, she earned a golden ticket to Hollywood and was able to finish within the top 70. Breaking even more records, Gazzie’s debut single, Song of Majesty, landed #20 on the Billboard Digital Gospel Sales Charts in 2019. Currently, Gazzie is a worship leader at Branch Church. www.averittcenterforthearts.org

JANUARY 19

8TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION: BEHOLD HERE COMETH THE DREAMER 7:30 P.M.

$20/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES

$10 STUDENTS

EMMA KELLY THEATER • AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the spoken word recognizing the importance of original writing in our society, this series has become an annual favorite bringing together young emerging writers and poets with established spoken word artists such as educators Derrick Bailey, Kimberly Foxx, and Dr. Linda Michelle Baron. The evening is structured to give the young writers/ rappers a chance to perform their works and, after intermission, an opportunity to experience an accomplished wordsmith like this year’s Guest Speaker, Dr. Stacy Smallwood. Dr. Smallwood is an Associate Professor of Community Health in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and an affiliate faculty in the women’s Gender and Sexuality studies program at Georgia Southern University. If you wish to present your original work, please contact the Averitt Center for information and an application form. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

JANUARY 21

VOCALIST KARLA HARRIS LIVE!

7:30 P.M.

$30/PERSON

$25/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES

EMMA KELLY THEATER • AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Karla Harris is a jazz vocalist that grew up in the suburbs west of St. Louis. As a child, she listened to Nancy Wilson, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr., The Fifth Dimension, Aretha Franklin, and many others included in her parents’ album collection. In college, she began singing with Gateway Jazz Ensemble which featured jazz vocalist and her early mentor, Jeanne Trevor. She was also the lead vocalist in combos led by internationally acclaimed bassist Tom Kennedy in the early 2000s. She’s since relocated to Atlanta, where she now lives. Joe Alterman is a jazz pianist and journalist who was born and raised in Atlanta. He studied music and earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at New York University. While at NYU, he studied with greats such as Don Friedman, Joe Lovano, and John Scofield. He and his trio were on stage at the Emma Kelly Theater in 2019. The members of the quartet are Karla (vocals, music selection, and co-band leader), Joe Alterman (piano, music selection, and co-band leader), Kevin Smith (bass), and Justin Chesarek (drums and percussion). www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

JANUARY 27-28

EMMA KELLY THEATER

FEBRUARY 3

F1RST FRIDAY – WINTER FEST

5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT!

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

WEST MAIN & WEST VINE

Live music, food trucks, smores and more family fun!

FEBRUARY 3

DR. MICHAEL BRAZ PERFORMING LIVE!

TIMELESS CLASSICS & POPULAR STANDARDS

7:30 P.M.

$25/PERSON $20/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES

$15/STUDENTS

AVERITT

CENTER

FOR THE ARTS Statesboro’s own “The Dark Desert Highway Band” presents:

The Eagles Greatest Hits! The Eagles are arguably the quintessential American band, combining influences of both rock and country into a unique sound that provided the music of a generation. The Dark Desert Highway Band is a passionate group of ten talented musicians and singers who perform the rich vocal harmonies and intricate musical styles of The Eagles in a nonstop journey through their countless radio hits, top 10 singles and favorite solo and duet works in the band’s music catalog. All proceeds benefit the Exchange Club of Statesboro. You will want to grab your tickets early. It’ll be a trip down a musical memory lane that will have you out of your seats and singing along to “The Best of My Love,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Witchy Woman,” “Hotel California” and many more with this special tribute to the Eagles Greatest Hits!

EMMA KELLY THEATER • AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS Dr. Michael Braz is an internationally known performer, music educator, composer and long-time supporter of the Averitt Center for the Arts. For over 50 years, his pianistic and teaching skills have served to make music and musicianship accessible to children and adults on three continents. Braz received his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Miami, later completing a Ph.D. at Florida State University. Currently the principal keyboard of the Hilton Head Symphony, he also performs with the Charleston Symphony and Savannah Philharmonic. In this fundraising concert, the Professor Emeritus of Music at Georgia Southern University and Averitt Center Legend of the Arts performs timeless classics and popular standards as he plays “Request Roulette,” taking suggestions from the audience members and delighting them by marvelously playing from his vast repertoire as well as delighting concert goers with stories of his many travels. „

DARK DESERT HIGHWAY EAGLES TRIBUTE BAND LIVE!

BENEFIT THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF STATESBORO

FEBRUARY 23 – 26

SHREK THE MUSICAL

FEB. 23 – 25 AT 7:00 P.M.

FEB. 26 AT 3:00 P.M.

$25/PERSON

$20/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY

EMPLOYEES

$15/STUDENTS

EMMA KELLY THEATER

AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Set in a mythical “once upon a time” sort of land, Shrek the Musical is the story of a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked and feared his entire life by anything that crosses his path, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation. Suddenly, a gang of homeless fairy-tale characters (Pinocchio, Cinderella, the Three Pigs, you name it!), raid his sanctuary, saying they’ve been evicted by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad. So, Shrek strikes a deal: I’ll get your homes back, if you give me my home back! But when Shrek and Farquaad meet, the Lord strikes a deal of his own: He’ll give the fairy-tale characters their homes back, if Shrek rescues Princess Fiona. Shrek obliges, yet finds something appealing–something strange and different–about this pretty princess. He likes her. A lot. But why does she always run off when the sun sets? www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

FEBRUARY 11

LAZY CUPID SPORTS CARD SHOW

BENEFITTING THE ROOSEVELT CONE JR. SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

$5/PERSON ADMISSION

HOLIDAY INN STATESBORO UNIVERSITY AREA

455 COMMERCE DRIVE

Come meet former NBA player Jumaine Jones at the Lazy Cupid Card Show hosted by Statesboro Sports & Memorabilia. Jones will talk about his new book and tell great stories about his NBA career.

FEBRUARY 25

10TH

FEBRUARY 18

GREENFEST 2023

FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT

10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

GreenFest is a fun-filled community sustainability celebration packed with green exhibits, vendors and workshops to educate visitors about green living. Enjoy live music, activities for the kids, and green products and sustainable solutions for the whole family. Free workshops on Main Street and in partnership with the Statesboro Mainstreet Farmers Market will help you save green while living green.

We hope you are ready for another year of Statesboro’s SWEETEST race! Register and enjoy our sweet 5K Run through Georgia Southern University’s beautiful campus. As a reward for your participation in the race to raise money and awareness for the Open Hearts Community Mission, we will indulge you with some sweet treats, our race t-shirt and finisher medal. *T-Shirts & Finisher Medals will be available as supplies last ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON 2/24/23!

Early Packet Pick-up @ the GSU RAC Pavilion Friday, February 24 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Awards 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be given for Overall Male, Female and Masters (40+). Age group awards will be given to the top 1st and 2nd place male and female (10 and under; 11-14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; e35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 5054; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70 and over). Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Statesboro/ChocolateRun5K10K

Georgia Southern Libraries Designated as U.S. Patent and Trademark Resource Center, Supports Community Inventors and Entrepreneurs

Georgia Southern University Libraries has been designated as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. PTRCs comprise a network of 84 libraries nationwide that disseminate patent and trademark information and support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public. Georgia Southern Libraries is one of two officially designated PTRCs in Georgia.

“This designation places the Georgia Southern Libraries as a local face of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and helps to cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,” stated Georgia Southern’s Henderson Library Research Services manager John Schlipp. “Our PTRC designation enables the research customers of Georgia Southern Libraries to access the vast resources provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This new library service helps inventors and entrepreneurs to protect their intellectual properties ranging from patents, trade secrets, trademarks and copyrights.”

Inventors or entrepreneurs utilizing the new PTRC services at Georgia Southern will be able to determine the potential for their patent applications and federal registration for a trademark on their products or services.

Schlipp will also partner with the University’s Business Innovation Group and other regional like-minded organizations. With three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville, and two major libraries — Zach S. Henderson Library in Statesboro and Lane Library in Savannah — Georgia Southern is poised to join with its other partners in advancing innovation throughout the region.

Visit the Georgia Southern Libraries website for upcoming workshops and sessions for students and community inventors, entrepreneurs and business professionals to learn more about patents and trademarks. https://library.georgiasouthern.edu/

Tosto, DDS & Associates Ribbon Cutting

Two Bulloch County Athletes are High School Heisman Scholarship Finalists

Two Bulloch County student athletes were named by the Heisman Trophy Trust as school winners in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition.

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced on November 2, its 2022 School Winners for the national competition from an applicant pool of thousands. Portal Middle High School’s Emma Yates and Southeast Bulloch High School’s Eniya Robinson are among the more than 5,700 school winners from across the United States. Yates has been a member of her school’s flag football, softball, golf, and soccer teams, and Robinson is a cheerleader for Southeast Bulloch.

School winners continue for the chance to become state winners. The Heisman Trophy Trust announced those winners on November 4, and National Finalists were announced on Nov. 7. National Finalists receive a $2,000 college scholarship, and the male and female National Winners, who will be announced on Nov. 30, will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship.

The Heisman High School Scholarship was created in 1994 through a partnership between Wendy’s and The Heisman Trophy Trust.The Heisman High School Scholarship extends the prestige of the Heisman Memorial Trophy to our nation’s most esteemed high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes. To apply, graduating seniors must have a cumulative weighted grade point average of a B (3.0) or higher, participate in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Games and/or the National Federation of State High School Association, and be a leader in his or her school and community.

Over the past 28 years, the program has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to students and more than a million dollars to high school academic and athletic programs across the country.

Ronald A. Tosto, DDS & Associates | Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 4:00 p.m.

Tina Scott Nominated For Adult Education Teacher Of The Year

Tina Scott, an Adult Education instructor at Ogeechee Technical College, has been nominated by her colleagues for the 2023 TCSG Office of Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

“Teaching takes a level of patience, grace, and flexibility that few have. Tina has it all, she is one of our diamonds and sharpens everyone around her,” said OTC President, Lori Durden. “Recognition for her years of service and instruction in Adult Education are long overdue.”

Scott, a resident of Sylvania, has been teaching Adult Education for 25 years and has seen hundreds of students obtain a High School Equivalency, many have entered the workforce or gone on to pursue higher credentials.

“This was an easy choice for me,” said Samantha Smith, Dean of Adult Education. “I nominated Tina without hesitation because she not only meets all the requirements set forth by TCSG for the award recipient, but she is a dedicated instructor and fierce advocate for her students and the Adult Education program.”

The Office of Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year program is designed to recognize and honor the most outstanding Adult Education teachers who make significant contributions to the field through instruction, innovation, and leadership. The chosen instructors also participate in school and community activities, understand the importance of and are committed to the Adult Education profession, and exemplify excellence.

In addition to carrying the distinguished title, the recipient will receive a cash award of $500. The Office of Adult Education at TCSG will also award $2,500 to the program to support the acquisition of curricula materials. The four regional winners and the state winner will be announced during the 2023 EAGLE Leadership Institute held in Atlanta on March 1-2, 2023.

Bulloch Educator Penny Lott Receives U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award

A revered Bulloch County Schools educator has received the President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award for community service.

The U.S. President’s Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest level of the President’s Volunteer Service Awards, which are bestowed by the President of the United States to honor individuals and organizations that give more than 4,000 hours helping others.

Penny Lott, a teacher of gifted students at Langston Chapel Middle School, was presented with the award on Nov. 15, during the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement’s (Center) annual Leadership Breakfast at the Georgia Aquarium, held during the organization’s annual Georgia Youth Assembly activities Nov. 13-15, in Atlanta. Lott was one of five volunteers for the Center who received the award during the ceremony.

“This is very humbling,” said Lott, during an interview by telephone on Nov. 22. “I just do what I do because I love it, not for recognition.”

The Center is a certifying organization which is eligible to nominate its most exceptional volunteers. Dr. Randell E. Trammell, chief executive Officer, of the Center notified Lott’s school principal, Kelia Francis about the honor prior to the ceremony. Along with the ultimate honor of presidential recognition, Lott received a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion and a congratulatory letter signed by President Biden.

Lott, an educator since 1983, began volunteering as a Y-Club advisor at William James Middle School in the early 1980s until her retirement in May of 2018. She quickly returned to the classroom part time in August 2018, to teach gifted children at LCMS.

Tenth Cohort of REACH Georgia Scholars

Bulloch County Schools and the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education hosted a signing ceremony and reception for their tenth Cohort of REACH Georgia scholars on November 10.

Six eighth-grade students and their parents signed their commitment to the program’s stringent academic, attendance, behavior, and service standards during a signing ceremony prior to the Board of Education meeting. These are this year’s scholars: Roger Claudio of Langston Chapel Middle School; Ansley Martin and Hilda Reyes of Portal Middle High School; Gabriela Mendez and Aliyah Rawls of William James Middle School; and Cristina Pacheco of Southeast Bulloch Middle School.

Since 2013 Bulloch County’s REACH Georgia scholars have had a combined total of $530,000 invested in their post-secondary education. This local amount doubles to a combined total of more than $1,060,000 when the scholars choose to attend one of the state’s partnering colleges or universities.

These newest scholars, who will graduate from high school in 2027, are now part of a group of 53 local scholars who benefit from the program. Each receives a base scholarship of $10,000, which is held for them by the Georgia Student Finance Corporation until their high school graduations. More than 63 colleges and universities in Georgia have agreed to double-match and some triple-match the base scholarship, so graduates may receive $20,000 to $30,000 in scholarship funds depending upon where they decide to go to college in Georgia. These funds are over and above any HOPE Scholarship or other private scholarships they may also receive.

To learn more about the REACH Georgia Scholarship program in Bulloch County visit www.bullochschools.org/REACHGA. „

Stilson’s Hendrix is Bulloch County’s Teacher of the Year

County Foundation for Public Education, and the American Farm BureauWhite-Reinhardt Fund for Education Scholarship, and she’s partnered with Georgia Southern University, local garden clubs, and her school’s fine arts teachers to bring her creative lessons to life.

“We need more hands-on education, and I am glad that I can give my students these types of opportunities at Stilson,” Hendrix said.

Bulloch County Schools administrators surprised a Stilson Elementary School teacher in her classroom on Monday, to announce that she is Bulloch County’s Teacher of the Year.

Jenny Hendrix, the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) teacher for Stilson’s pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students, will now represent the school district in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition in May 2023, and possibly advance to the 2024 National Teacher of the Year competition in January 2024. Hendrix’s husband, Jeremy, and her tenth-grade son, Bryson, were secretly invited to the presentation and her youngest son, Eli, a third grader, just happened to be in Mom’s class at the time.

“Thank you so much,” Hendrix said. “I’m shaking. I appreciate this so much. I am thankful for my school and for all that the school district does.”

Superintendent Charles Wilson and other district administrators presented Hendrix with a bouquet of flowers and balloons. Hendrix will also receive $2,000 from the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education and the Parker’s Fueling the Community program, which fund the district’s teacher of the year program.

Hendrix has been an educator for 16 years,10 of those years with Stilson Elementary and Bulloch County Schools. At Stilson she has taught second and fifth grades and became the STEM Lab teacher in 2018. She also previously taught preschool in Bryan County from 2006 to 2012.

Next, she partnered with Stilson’s art and music teachers, Erin Henry and Rachel Thompson, to add a fine arts focus to STEM. Inspired by Hendrix’s trip to a gourd farm in North Carolina, the trio created a multi-year learning experience in which students complete a different phase from third through fifth grade. Known as the gourd project, each year third-grade students prepare the school’s two gourd tunnel trellises, planting seeds, monitoring the weather and the gourds’ growth cycle, and learning about the hard-skinned fruit’s different varieties and their past and present uses. They grow Swan, Loofah, African Canteen, African Bushel, Snake, Apple, Birdhouse, Long-neck Dipper and Martin gourds. When students advance to fourth grade they take their harvested gourds and fashion them into works of art, birdhouses and musical instruments in their art and music classes. In fifth grade the students host a school farmer’s market to sell their creations. The proceeds go back into helping sustain the project.

This year Hendrix and her second-grade students partnered with the Brooklet Garden Club and the Ogeechee River Daylily Club to create the Stilson Elementary School Perfectly Perfect Pollinator Garden. The children and volunteers planted 20 pots of native Georgia pollinator plants surrounding the school’s existing Gourd Garden in order to help attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

All of Bulloch County Schools’ school-level teachers of the year will be honored on January 24, at a banquet sponsored by the Statesboro Herald. The school district’s Teacher of the Year program is also sponsored by the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education and Parker’s Fueling the Community program. These are the 2022-2023 school-level teachers of the year who were eligible to apply for the school district title:

• Marci Cochran, Brooklet Elementary School

• Tonya Deal, Julia P. Bryant Elementary School

• Valerie McLaughlin, Langston Chapel Elementary School

• Tonya Gilchrist, Langston Chapel Middle School

• Summer Bishop, Mattie Lively Elementary School

• Dr. Jontia Grace, Mill Creek Elementary School

• Jenna Ellis, Nevils Elementary School

• Teresa Flemming, Portal Elementary School

• Clinton Thornburg, Portal Middle High School

• Chris Clark, Sallie Zetterower Elementary School

• Karla Anderson, Southeast Bulloch High School

• Stephanie Burke, Southeast Bulloch Middle School

• Tiffany Ward, Statesboro High School

• Jenny Hendrix, Stilson Elementary School

• Erin Cabral, William James Middle School.

As a STEM teacher, Hendrix truly believes she’s found her niche. She uses real-world experiences to teach her students how to create, think, engineer, problem solve and more.

“I am always looking for new ways to grow our STEM program, give students memorable experiences, and engage our community,” Hendrix noted in her winning application for the local level of the competition which was open to 15 school-level teacher of the year finalists, one from each of the district’s schools. “I realize the difference I can make in the lives of children. I create engaging lessons that meet the needs of all learners. I realize how truly important it is to explore different teaching methods.”

In the past five years she’s written and received multiple grants from the College Football Playoff Foundation, the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Bulloch

Hendrix’s principal, Elizabeth Stewart, also offered high praise. “It is an honor to work alongside such a well-rounded and gifted teacher leader,” Stewart said. “Our staff, students, and stakeholders greatly value her expert advice, opinions and leadership.”

In September, Hendrix was one of 21 teachers selected for the school district’s Aspiring Leaders program. Launched in 2016, the program gives teachers an opportunity to advance their leadership potential to possibly be promoted to school or district administration positions in the future. She has also served on her school’s leadership team and as a grade level chairperson for five years.

Hendrix is also a mentor to other teachers. In only her second year as a STEM teacher she began presenting her successful instructional practices to her peers at the Georgia STEM Forum. She now sees herself as an advocate for STEM education. She has even created a social media account dedicated to STEM education to further share ideas with educators.

“I want all teachers to see how easy it is to build engaging lessons without lots of money and without worksheets,” Hendrix said. “I hope to continue to advocate for hands-on learning and STEM education. I am stepping outside of my box and extending my advocacy nationwide. I have applied to present at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Orlando this summer.”

Hendrix received her bachelors’ degree in Child and Family Development from Georgia Southern University and her Masters of Art in Teaching from Armstrong Atlantic State University. S

FIELD OF DREAMS FOR BENJY THOMPSON

WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE

ince 2008, Benjy Thompson, CEO of the Bulloch County Development Authority, has been excited about the opportunity to sell land the BCDA purchased at U.S. Highway 301 and I-16 Exit 116 on the South side of the interstate, initially known as Southern Gateway Commerce Park, renamed Bruce Yawn Commerce Park in 2022.

The initial investments by the City of Statesboro, Bulloch County and the DABC took years of work on infrastructure for industries shopping for a place to call home. Hussey Gay Bell, an engineering and architectural firm, worked on getting the park “pad ready” since the first phases of laying pipe for water and sewage began in 2013.

Several industries have been interested in the property during the past 10 years, but none seemed a good fit for the area.

With the announcement of the Hyundai Meta Plant to be located in Bryan County, it seems that suddenly a cascade of companies associated with the electric vehicle market (and Hyundai specifically) have announced plans to locate in Bulloch County. But the recent announcements are possible because of years of work by Thompson and community partners to position Bulloch County as the best place for new industry.

“Industrial recruitment is a peculiar business, particularly in a rural community,” said Thompson. “Our recent successes have been built on four things – good decisions, hard work, patience and a little good fortune. The Development Authority has been very fortunate to have a great Board of Directors for many years – women and men who put the best interests of the community ahead of their own, and provide thoughtful advice and support for long term decisions. When the Authority purchased property at the Interstate 16/Highway 301 interchange, we knew that it would take some time to attract the type of industry we wanted there. We had dozens of opportunities over the years – some we turned down „

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORI GRICE

O NAMING OF BRUCE YAWN COMMERCE PARK

n October 24, 2022, the Gateway South Industrial Park at U.S. Highway 301 South and Interstate 16, was renamed after long-term Chairman of the Bulloch County Development Authority, Bruce Yawn.

The owner of Snooky’s Restaurant, a favorite hang-out of locals and university students alike, from 1971 – 2012, Yawn had a genuine love for the citizens of Statesboro and Bulloch County. He worked diligently to market the area in a positive light to visitors, customers and our government coalition. He served on numerous boards, in civic organizations and with non-profits giving freely of his time in making Statesboro a better place to live for everyone.

“The decision to rename our interstate park to honor Bruce Yawn, our former Chair who passed away in early 2022, was one of the most meaningful things in which I’ve ever participated,” said Benjy Thompson, CEO of the Bulloch County Development Authority. “Bruce was such an impactful person in this community in so many ways, including with the Development Authority. We have been blessed with great Chairs over the years (Kenny Stone, Earl Dabbs, David Holland, Bruce Yawn, and our current chair, Billy Allen), and the chance to honor Bruce in this way was very special.”

Yawn, 74, was still chair of the DABC when he died suddenly of a heart attack on January 20, 2022. He also served on the board of directors of Synovus Bank for almost 30 years. Yawn received the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1990, and the Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2001. And, in 2020 both local Rotary Clubs came together to name Yawn Citizen of the Year. With the naming of the industrial park, Yawn’s contributions to the betterment of Bulloch County and the region will be acknowledged for years to come. S

because of lack of fit, some we competed for but didn’t quite win. We knew Bulloch County would be a great place for suppliers for any project that located at the mega site. The good fortune kicked in when we were able to reconnect with Aspen Aerogels and help them decide to locate a new facility in Bulloch County, and with the successful recruitment of Hyundai to the region.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development in promoting the state to prospects has long taken a regional approach instead of marketing individual counties or cities. Thompson has taken advantage of such opportunities to put Bulloch County in the best possible position to be able to attract desired industries. Those which offer high paying jobs, which are environmentally sustainable, and which have a history of contributing back to the communities in which they locate.

The Savannah Harbor – Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (Savannah JDA) was started by regional partners including representatives from the development authorities of Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties, working with representatives from the state Department of Economic Development, to better market the area as a region with plenty of resources. The JDA representatives included Trip Tollison, Savannah Economic Development Authority; Brandt Herndon, Effingham County Industrial Development Authority; Anna Chafin, Development Authority of Bryan County; Thompson, and Alyce Thornhill, Director of Project Implementation and Supplier Strategy – Global Commerce, Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“The JDA has been terrific – challenging, but rewarding and fun, too. Working across county lines can be difficult as there is competition among all of us. At the same time, economic developers recognize that county borders don’t matter as much to projects,” said Thompson. “The Hyundai Meta Plant will have such a profound effect on the entire region, and it wouldn’t have happened without the partnership. Beyond Hyundai, Bulloch County has become more and more ‘attached’ to the Savannah metro area for many years now, particularly with the growth of the Port of Savannah and our connection through Interstate 16. On a personal note, my three colleagues in Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham Counties are good friends and respected professionals, and our work together has been a great experience for me.”

Trip Tollison agreed, “In recognizing that working together was better than apart, the economic development authorities in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham came together to work on regionally significant projects. By forming the Savannah JDA, we were able to combine the resources, assets and opportunities of all four counites instead of one.”

“Having four contiguous counties with good working relationships was extremely important to winning this project,” said Brandt Herndon. “Hyundai was impressed by our collective strengths, talent and experience.”

“We are fortunate to have some very talented economic developers in our region, who I also consider to be my friends. As a team, we were able to provide each other with moral support and bring different perspectives to the table to solve any problems that arose,” said Anna Chafin. “Another benefit was the local knowledge each JDA representative brought to the table. A company like Hyundai is interested in the quality of life of an entire region, and having people with intimate knowledge of each JDA community on the team was very impactful as we worked through how to share our quality-of-life message with Hyundai.”

Timing is an important factor in economic development as well. For example, EV battery insulation manufacturer Aspen Aerogels, first industry to locate in the Bruce Yawn Park, approached the Bulloch County Development Authority in 2015 to purchase land in the Gateway Industrial Park for manufacture of an insulation component for pipelines, but withdrew when oil prices decreased.

“The Hyundai Meta Plant is on track to start production in January 2025, so suppliers to the plant have to be ready to provide parts before production begins,” said Thompson. “We’ve been through the first wave of Hyundai supplier’s decisions, and we’ve been very fortunate to land Joon, Georgia – the first Hyundai supplier to announce. We’ve also been

"Our recent successes have been built on four things – good decisions, hard work, patience and a little good fortune.

Benjy Thompson

able to announce Ecoplastic Corporation which has chosen a location north of the Bruce Yawn Park on U.S. Highway 301 South. It is likely that additional suppliers will continue to look in the region as Hyundai ramps up its efforts, which is why we will continue to prepare ourselves for the future – not just in terms of land and other resources, but for workforce necessary for both suppliers and the existing industry partners that are so important to us.”

The JDA is already addressing workforce development regionally by commissioning a study and a comprehensive strategic plan. Georgia Southern University, Ogeechee Technical College and the Bulloch County School System are already working with Thompson locally to identify how and where each institution can best serve future workers.

“We are aware of the fiscal impact of the Hyundai project to the region, particularly the four counties involved with the JDA. We know that our regional workforce will be significantly affected, and that housing will be a huge issue – particularly for Statesboro and Bulloch County, where many new employees may choose to live,” said Thompson. “We know that land use planning will be extremely important, especially in Bulloch County as we do our best to maintain our quality of life. We are addressing all of these issues, including transportation, in partnership with local and regional entities.”

The purchase of available land for future industries had become more challenging for the local development authority, which has faced other challenges along the way in securing these new manufacturers to the area.

“To some degree, the greatest challenge is one that affects all large industrial recruitment projects – competition. These projects can locate anywhere in the world, and certainly most places would love to have them locate in their communities. For Hyundai, the competition started many years ago with the identification of a site suitable for such a large project,” said Thompson. “At that point, the site must be prepared as much as possible to help any project considering it to believe that the site works for them and can be in production on their schedule, which is usually very quick. The JDA started these efforts back in 2014 as we recruited other auto manufacturers to the site, including the Volvo project that ultimately chose greater Charleston over us in 2015. After Volvo, we kept working on the site and marketing to other regionally significant projects. As the electric vehicle industry became more active and prospect activity picked up, the Hyundai project came to us and required us to work very quickly to convince them to choose our site. Our ability to meet their needs and show them that this site would work was also part of the competition –built on years of advance preparation, continuing with long/hard hours

over a compressed amount of time in early 2022, and culminating with the decision to locate in our region.”

It took extraordinary teamwork, vision, and cooperation for the four counties to win the Hyundai meta site and reap the benefits of supporting industries and suppliers nearby, something Thompson knew all along Bulloch County would be ready for.

“The ability for four counties to work together on a project that would locate in only one of them is extremely difficult and rarely happens – but the commitment of all of us towards the greater good was certainly seen by prospective companies and our state partners as a critical part of the decision to locate here,” he said. “When the Joint Development Authority was organized, we saw Bulloch County as an important component of the Savannah region’s Interstate 16 corridor. We also believed that having Georgia Southern’s home community as part of the JDA would add a critical higher education component to our recruitment efforts. In addition, Bulloch County’s workforce draw area brings a more diverse group of prospective employees for both the Hyundai Meta Plant, our newest industries and prospective suppliers.”

The kind of high paying, environmentally sustaining industries that invest in the communities they serve. Dream companies. S

"When the Joint Development Authority was organized, we saw Bulloch County as an important component of the Savannah region’s Interstate 16 corridor.

Benjy Thompson

ASPEN AEROGELS FIRST TO BUILD IN BRUCE YAWN

WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS RENDERING COURTESY OF ASPEN AEROGELS

Before the announcement was made by the governor’s office about the Hyundai metaplant, in February of 2022 Brian Kemp’s office announced that Aspen Aerogels, a company that produces aerogel thermal insulating material used in electric vehicle batteries, would locate in Bulloch County’s Bruce Yawn Commerce Park.

Company officials announced they would be investing $325 million in the plant at I-16, Exit 116, to be in operation by late 2023, creating more than 250 advanced manufacturing jobs. The investment in Bulloch County will be the largest since the 1990s when the original Gateway Industrial Park I on U.S. Highway 301 South saw the construction of the Walmart National Distribution Facility, Viracon Glass (now Cardinal Glass) and Briggs & Stratton. The new facility will greatly expand the Rhode Island company’s current production capability.

“The market for our product has increased along with the production of EV vehicles,” said President & CEO Donald R. Young. “We are excited to be locating in Bulloch County and look forward to expanding our manufacturing capabilities in Georgia.”

Public investment for the Aspen Aerogels project will also be considerable, with the state of Georgia, Bulloch County and the City of Statesboro all offering an incentives package in exchange for the commitment to future job creation for citizens.

The DABC is providing free of charge a 90-acre site within the Bruce Yawn Park for construction. That 90 acres was purchased by the Development Authority of Bulloch County for just such a purpose; to attract industry and investment in the area. The company will enjoy a

Combined with Aspen’s original East Providence, Rhode Island plant, the newly planned state-ofthe-art facility here is designed to triple Aspen’s aerogel capacity in thermal barrier expansion plans in the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market. Through the project, Aspen is seeking to capitalize on increased demand for Aspen’s Aerogel Technology Platform™ as EV OEMs continue to adopt its PyroThin® aerogel thermal barrier solutions. „

10-year, 100% abatement of county-government property tax on the factory and site, through a lease arrangement, but will pay the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax that funds the Bulloch County Board of Education.

Water, sewer and natural gas lines were extended over seven miles to the Bruce Yawn Park several years ago by The City of Statesboro for the Tax Allocation District that contains the land offered in the park. The DABC has applied for a federal Employment Incentive Program grant for $750,000 to cover the cost of the City extending

ANNOUNCE PLANS TO COMMERCE PARK

its utility pipelines farther into the park to serve Aspen Aerogels.

Part of the City’s agreement for Aspen Aerogels addresses whether or not the site, which is currently well beyond the city limits, should ever be annexed into the City. In the event that should happen, the City Council has agreed that, if the park is brought into its fire service district, the City will not impose any property tax or fire fees within the 10-year term of Aspen’s lease agreement with the DABC. Aspen Aerogels will pay the industry rates for the city’s utility services after the connections are installed and running.

This is not the first time Aspen Aerogels has announced plans to locate in Bulloch County. In 2015, a smaller investment of a $70 million plant with 100 employees was announced with plans to manufacture Aspen’s traditional aerogel product, which is used to insulate petroleum industry pipelines.

After a dip in oil prices plans changed and the company decided to cancel the Bulloch County facility and start making new aerogel products under the registered trademark PyroThin, to serve as thermal barriers in electric vehicle, or EV, batteries. The product which will now be made in the newly announced facility.

Aspen Aerogels plant will be the first actual industry in the park, taking up about half of the DABC’s remaining land at the site.

In a press release from the Governor’s office, Young stated, “The City of Statesboro and the „

Aspen Aerogels is excited to be here and be a part of the community. Thanks to the support of Bulloch County Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce and others, our project is starting to take shape. We are appreciative of the warm welcome we have received and will continue to show our gratitude to the community through service events and sponsorships. We look forward to a more sustainable future and creating generational careers to elevate our community.

Brian McCarter Senior Director, Operations Aspen Aerogels

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability. The Company’s aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, electrification and sustainability. Aspen’s PyroThin® thermal barrier products enable solutions to thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle and energy storage markets. The Company’s carbon aerogel program seeks to increase the performance of lithium-ion battery cells to enable EV manufacturers to extend the driving range and reduce the cost of electric vehicles. Aspen’s Spaceloft® sustainable building materials provide industry-leading energy efficiency and fire safety to building owners. The Company’s Cryogel® and Pyrogel® products are valued by the world’s largest energy infrastructure companies. Aspen’s strategy is to partner with world-class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform™ into additional highvalue markets. Headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts, Aspen manufactures its products at its East Providence, R.I. facilities. Aspen began hiring in the second half of 2022 across a number of disciplines, from skilled manufacturing operators to advanced process engineers, as well as quality and maintenance technicians and professional support. Individuals interested in employment opportunities can visit the website for information as it becomes available or you may visit the current local offices at 116 South Main Street in Statesboro. For more information, please visit www.aerogel.com.

Bulloch County region offer Aspen a superior combination of operating features, including access to efficient ports; a strong, available workforce; and secure, low-cost utilities and critical raw materials. We are increasingly being asked to provide broader solutions for improved battery performance and safety centered on our PyroThin materials that provide thermal management, mechanical stability, and fire protection properties to EV battery systems.”

DABC Chairman Billy Allen, who replaced the late Bruce Yawn for whom the commerce park is named, was quoted in the governor’s announcement as saying, “Along with our great site and logistics advantages, we believe that Aspen’s decision to locate here is a testament to our region’s commitment to innovation, particularly in the electric mobility ecosystem. We are confident that our tremendous education resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will provide critical support to help Aspen flourish.”

In the fall of 2022, Aspen Aerogels and the DABC were honored for the project with the Georgia Economic Developers Association “Deal of the Year” Award for mid-sized communities within the state of Georgia. S

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JOON GEORGIA SECOND INDUSTRY TO LOCATE PLANT IN BRUCE YAWN COMMERCE PARK

INDUSTRY

n November of 2022, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Joon Georgia, Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer, will create 630 new jobs and invest $317 million in Bulloch County. Plans for the company’s new manufacturing facility mark the first confirmed supplier for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County. The new facility is expected to contain 866,000 square feet.

“Less than two weeks after the groundbreaking of Hyundai Motor Group’s innovative facility, we’re already seeing the regional impact it will have,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Joon Georgia will be the first of many companies drawn to the Peach State to support the Metaplant, creating jobs and opportunity for generations of hardworking Georgians. We’re thankful they have chosen to add their name to this ongoing success story.”

Joon Georgia is part of Ajin USA, a current supplier for multiple Hyundai

Motor Group facilities. The company produces a variety of automotive body parts and electronics for original equipment manufacturers.

“We are excited to be one of the first Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America automotive suppliers to build an automotive parts manufacturing facility in Bulloch County and for our first plant in the great State of Georgia. We look forward to partnering with the county and state, and with their assistance, help us make this new endeavor successful for all,” said Jung Ho Sea, CEO of Ajin USA. “Joon Georgia, Inc. will create approximately 630 new jobs with competitive benefits in Bulloch County and the State of „

Georgia. Our commitment is to not only be the best parts supplier for automotive and EV companies like Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, but to also be the best employer and corporate citizen and give back to the great community of Bulloch County and the City of Statesboro.”

Joon Georgia’s new facility will be located at Bruce Yawn Commerce Park, previously known as the Southern Gateway Commerce Park, near Statesboro and in close proximity to the Port of Savannah. With connections to the port, both Hyundai and Joon Georgia will be able to access global markets quickly and efficiently. Operations at the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park are expected to begin in mid-2024, and the company will begin hiring mid-2023.

“The Development Authority of Bulloch County is honored and proud to welcome Joon Georgia to the Statesboro-Bulloch County community and our region,” said Billy Allen, Chair of the Development Authority. “We believe that our great site in the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park and the proximity to the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America will serve the company well, and we know that our great education resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will provide critical workforce support to help Joon Georgia succeed.”

Director of Project Implementation and Supplier Strategy Alyce Thornhill represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this

competitive project in partnership with Development Authority of Bulloch County, Georgia Quick Start, Georgia Ports Authority, and Georgia Power. Workforce development for the new facility will be supported by Quick Start, the top-ranked workforce training program in the nation. By partnering with the Technical College System of Georgia, the program helps assess workers, train new employees on unique processes, and develop customized job-specific training using the most current techniques and media.

"We believe that our great site in the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park and the proximity to the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America will serve the company well, and we know that our great education resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will provide critical workforce support to help Joon Georgia succeed.

“Joon Georgia’s announcement today is a landmark moment as we drive Georgia’s automotive industry into the future,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Hyundai Motor Group, its suppliers, and the Savannah area JDA are creating generational opportunities for communities in Georgia. Supporting the jobs of tomorrow is a team effort, and regional collaboration ensures that those benefits are shared across county lines. We’re excited to welcome the company to Georgia, and we look forward to what the future holds in Bulloch County!”

Building on the assets that make the automotive industry successful, Georgia is positioned as a hub for the electric mobility industry. Since 2020, more than 30 EV-related projects have contributed over $13.3 billion in investment and announced more than 18,100 jobs in Georgia. On October 25, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America officially broke ground in neighboring Bryan County on its first fully dedicated EV and battery manufacturing facility. In addition to Hyundai’s direct contributions to the region, non-affiliated suppliers connected to the project are predicted to invest approximately $1 billion in other locations around the state.

Billy Allen

The new facility in Bulloch County will manufacture the frame for the vehicles at the Hyundai EV plant. S

[Source: Georgia Governor’s Office Press Release. Atlanta - November 7, 2022.]

TO BUILD MANUFACTURING IN BULLOCH COUNTY

BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

overnor Brian P. Kemp announced Jan. 5th that Ecoplastic Corporation, an automotive parts manufacturer, will create 456 new jobs and invest approximately $205 million in a new manufacturing facility in Bulloch County.

“We’re proud to welcome Ecoplastic to our growing ecosystem of manufacturers, logistics professionals, suppliers, and more, building on the record-breaking jobs and investments that are on their way to the Peach State,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This great company will be able to serve the Hyundai Metaplant well from Statesboro, where „

CONTRIBUTED

MANUFACTURING FACILITY COUNTY

it will find a welcoming community of hardworking Georgians and close proximity to our ports system.”

Established in 1984, Ecoplastic Corporation is a Korea-based company that manufactures plastic automobile parts for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other suppliers. Ecoplastic is a Tier-1 supplier for Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) and Kia and engages in the manufacturing of automotive interior and exterior plastic parts, including bumpers, consoles, trims, and plastic molds.

“Ecoplastic Corporation is honored to be engaged in establishing a production facility for electric vehicle parts in Bulloch County, Georgia,” said Shang Han, President and CEO of Ecoplastic. “By increasing new jobs within the area and providing a stable supply of high-quality products to our client, HMGMA, we look forward to contributing to the economic development of the State of Georgia and Bulloch County. We sincerely appreciate the support of the State and County governments, and Ecoplastic will do our best to preserve a continuous and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Ecoplastic’s new facility will be located at 4822 Highway 301 South Register near Statesboro. The new plant, capable of injection molding and painting, will produce exterior parts, bumpers and garnishes, interior parts, consoles, and trims for electric vehicles. The company expects to begin operations by October 2024 and will be hiring for HR, finance, parts development, quality control, facility maintenance, injection, and paint production positions. Interested individuals can learn more about Ecoplastic at www.eco-plastic.com.

“We are honored to welcome Ecoplastic to Bulloch County,” said Development Authority of Bulloch County Chair Billy Allen. “We are pleased that this important Hyundai supplier has chosen our community, and we’re confident that our location, workforce, and quality of life will help them succeed here.”

Director of Project Implementation and Supplier Strategy Alyce Thornhill represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Development Authority of Bulloch County, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Quick Start, and Georgia EMC.

“Ecoplastic has decades of experience as a supplier for Kia and Hyundai, and we’re excited to welcome them to Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “As we continue to build the supplier network for the Hyundai metaplant in Bryan County, we are excited to see suppliers spread out across the region – providing well-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs for Georgians. Congratulations to Ecoplastic, Bulloch County, and all the partners involved!”

Building on the assets that make the automotive industry successful, Georgia is positioned as a hub for the electric mobility industry. Since 2020, more than 30 EV-related projects have announced more than $21 billion in investment and announced more than 26,300 jobs in Georgia. On October 25, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America officially broke ground in neighboring Bryan County on its first fully dedicated EV and battery manufacturing facility. In addition to Hyundai’s direct contributions to the region, offsite suppliers connected to the project were predicted to invest approximately $1 billion in other locations around the state. Projects announced to date have already exceeded this amount.

ABOUT ECOPLASTIC CORPORATION

Ecoplastic Corporation was established in June 1984 as Apollo Ind Co., Ltd. It established its first Technical Research Center in 1987 and was publicly listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in March 2000. As a Tier-1 supplier to Hyundai and Kia, Ecoplastic manufactures automotive interior and exterior plastic parts, including bumpers, console, trims, and plastic molds. It currently employs more than 770 employees and has recorded sales revenue of more than $700 million in 2021. S

We are pleased that this important Hyundai supplier has chosen our community, and we’re confident that our location, workforce, and quality of life will help them succeed here.

Billy Allen

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MARS & BEYOND

JTEKT’S KOYO-SYLVANIA PLANT SOARS

WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE

IIs there life on Mars? Scientists are still looking to find the answer to that question. Perseverance, the newest Mars Rover designed by NASA, landed on the Red Planet in February of 2021. The car-sized vehicle collects data with a mission to look for signs of past or present life on the planet. One surprising thing that connects the rover to our area, is that some of the bearings used in the Rover are manufactured at the JTEKT-Koyo Bearings plant in Sylvania, Georgia.

“There are three Koyo bearings in the Mars Rover,” said plant manager Andy Durrence. “One is used to deploy the solar delivery vehicle, and two precision needle rollers are on the robotics arm that were manufactured in Sylvania. The majority of our bearings are used in the automotive, aerospace, and industrial industries. We’re not just a high-volume manufacturer. We are more comprehensive with many boutique-type applications.”

If you drive a Ford or Chevy truck in the U.S., bearings in the rear axle assembly and automatic transmission area come from Sylvania, Georgia, too. Our company both locally and globally supplies most all automotive brands, so your vehicle very likely has our product.

“Diversity in what we manufacture for our clients has kept us viable through the years,” said Durrence.

The plant first opened in 1973 as Torrington Company, a needle bearings manufacturer. In 2003, Timken purchased Torrington, and in 2009, JTEKT North America, a Japanese owned company, purchased the needle bearing business (automotive bearings) from Timken. JTEKT gained five manufacturing locations along with a technical center and a business office

in North America, plus eight other locations worldwide.

A 1973 opening date means the bearings plant in Sylvania has been in operation for 50 years. The purchase by JTEKT-Koyo has enhanced the plant’s future with greater diversity in production of components.

Koyo Bearings North America is a global leader in design innovation and manufacturing technology for Ball, Needle, & Roller Bearings. Koyo has been providing bearing solutions to the industrial and automotive markets since 1921, and has been operating in the North American market since 1958. A subsidiary of JTEKT Corp., Koyo is a major supplier to both original equipment and aftermarket customers in a wide variety of industries including, aerospace, Agri-con, automotive, construction, appliances, manufacturing, medical, construction, and rail. We supply over 1500 different part numbers to more than 300 different customers.

Bobby Jones, Quality Control Manager at Koyo in Sylvania, and former Materials/ Manufacturing Manager for the plant, has spent 28 years in management there.

“When I first came to Torrington, I thought I would be here for a few years, but I stayed because the employees here are a great group of dedicated people caring for one another. Our team is truly a team working together utilizing everyone’s talents and skill sets. One of the things that makes us strong is that most of our employees have been at the plant for a long time,” said Jones. “We have 135 people with over 30 years of employment. Our turnover rate has been less than 4% for many years. We only recently saw an uptick closer to 7% due to retirements.”

Proactive in the challenges of finding quality replacement employees, Jones is the area representative from JTEKT-Koyo who is involved with creating a well-trained pool of future workers. He serves on Georgia Southern University’s engineering advisory program, he is a member of Ogeechee Technical College’s board of directors, a member of

the Coastal WorkSource of Georgia Development Board, and the leader of a regional industrial group which includes 35 businesses and industries, (23 of which are in manufacturing), school system representatives, and CEOs of development authorities in a six-county area. He is quick to give credit to others.

This special group of manufacturers and community supporters, meets monthly to address the challenges facing each of them, and continues to work toward solutions to common problems. This group is considered to be unique by many industry and business leaders. The question is often asked, “what is the secret to this group’s years of success?”

Jones says, “It is very simple, the group understands the importance of partnering and collaborating towards the common economic good of the area. We are fortunate to have such committed leaders to work with.”

Jones also helps facilitate advanced partnerships with local industry, development authorities, and Ogeechee Technical College. That partnership of this committed team led to the creation of an industrial maintenance lab at OTC so industry employees both current and future could gain skills to „

advance in their careers. He is quick to point out this success was due to the hard work and partnering of many while downplaying his involvement. In 2017, his work was recognized by The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership which gave Jones a “2017 Faces of Manufacturing Award.” He was one of four Georgians recognized for their respective contributions and commitment to the manufacturing industry, which is a key driver of the state’s economy.

“We employ more engineers than most area manufacturers, because we also design custom components for some of our clients,” said Jones. “We’re in partnership with local school systems to fast- track future workers and we participate in an apprenticeship program with OTC and the state. We’ll be looking for those with maintenance, electrical and mechanical experience, management and engineering. We’re very fortunate to have both Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Technical College nearby supplying us with internships and co-ops. We’ve even worked with Georgia Southern mechanical and computer science engineering classes to improve our robotics. Some senior class projects include creating an automation road map and looking for automation opportunities in our manufacturing lines. Looking forward, robotics used in manufacturing will be programmed to perform more than one job, and will be flexible in creating an autonomous relationship in manufacturing. A change from stationary robotics will positively affect flexibility and production. In addition, we are very fortunate to have a close partnership with primary education systems leaders to help support and align

with the high school’s CTAE programs. This is certainly important to the area offering students a career path and visions of a prosperous future.”

“We have a large engineering team. The majority of our engineers are Georgia Southern graduates and 5 of the 10 managers in the plant are GSU graduates,” said Jones.

30% of the plant’s products are exported with much of it going through the Port of Savannah. And annually JTEKT-Koyo is ranked as one of the Top 20 automotive suppliers in the U.S. In 2019, JTEKT-Koyo’s Sylvania Plant was named Savannah’s World Trade Center International Business of the Year.

Now that the Sylvania plant is under Japanese ownership, some of the principles and work ethics of the parent company have been incorporated into the culture of the local plant.

“We have principles that we have adopted to facilitate efficiency and ownership in one’s job.” said Jones.

One such principle is called Continuous Kaizen. Which means “We are committed to go and see for ourselves, to thoroughly understand the situation, and identify root causes. We are committed to, with enthusiasm for imaginativeness and inventiveness, diligently continue Kaizen challenges. Continuous improvement is the key foundation to bringing success.”

The 50-year success of the plant means that the employees are dedicated to such principles and display excellent team work.

“They take great pride in what they do. Our people working together make us successful. The commitment of our people is our greatest asset by far. They are the ones to be recognized and given accolades,” said Jones.

Even though the plant has changed hands over the years, one thing remains the same: the productivity and profitability of the JTEKT- Koyo plant in Sylvania.

The facility has grown from 185,200 square feet to 273,000 square feet to house an ever-expanding product line, from the original needle bearings to custom bearings made for one production run or for a Top-Secret project like space exploration. The Sylvania plant is JTEKT’s only Certified Aerospace Center of Excellence. Which means reaching for the stars is now officially part of Koyo-Sylvania’s plans for the future. S

When I first came to Torrington, I thought I would be here for a few years, but I stayed because the employees here are a great group of dedicated people. Bobby Jones

"

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GEORGIA SOUTHERN NAMED AN INNOVATION & PROSPERITY UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY

In recognition of its strong commitment to economic engagement, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated Georgia Southern University as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University. The national designation acknowledges public research universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

“As the national leader in championing the substantial role that public universities play in regional economic development, the APLU’s recognition represents a crowning achievement not only for the team at Georgia Southern but

for our committed partners in private industry and the communities we serve,” said Georgia Southern University Vice Provost for Research Chris Curtis, Ph.D. “These cherished relationships stand at the crux of Georgia Southern’s Public Impact mission in research and innovation. We look forward to our future contributions to the region’s economic prosperity through technological and entrepreneurial innovation as an IEP-designated university.”

“Economic development is a major pillar of universities’ work,” said APLU President Mark Becker. “From talent development to path-breaking research to entrepreneurship and beyond, institutions have a central role to play in economic development. We’re pleased to recognize Georgia Southern for its commitment to engaging its community around these issues to advance regional economic development.”

Georgia Southern received the designation after an independent panel reviewed the school’s application, which included an internal review and analysis of its economic engagement activities that were conducted with outside stakeholder input. APLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE), which manages the designation process, is a national leader in efforts to help public research universities plan, assess

CONTRIBUTED BY GEORGIA SOUTHERN

ECONOMIC

and communicate their work in regional, national and global economic development and community engagement. The CECE “Economic Engagement Framework” includes tools for university self-assessment, metrics determination and economic impact analysis.

As part of the self-study conducted with external stakeholders that was central to the designation application process, the University identified three areas of institutional strength in economic engagement and described programs in these areas. Officials also identified areas for growth and improvement for the University’s economic engagement enterprise, and developed an improvement plan. This work demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and improvement in this kind of engagement vital to universities and their regional partners.

The Business Innovation Group (BIG), located in downtown Statesboro, is the business outreach arm for Georgia Southern. BIG provides resources for students and entrepreneurs to gain skills and training necessary to understand business principles, experience how businesses operate, and successfully launch new enterprises. BIG has a center in Metter and one in development in Hinesville. Over the past decade, BIG has assisted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in creating 380 new businesses in local communities.

The center just received news they are one of 51 nationwide grant recipients to receive $600,000 in grant funding along with $600,000 in local match funds. The goal is to accelerate technology entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to entrepreneurial support and startup capital.

Such accomplishments are why Georgia Southern is now one of 80 higher education institutions designated as an IEP university. Institutions that have received the IEP designation have reported significant advancement of their efforts due to the stakeholder engagement and self-study efforts undertaken in conjunction with the program. They are leveraging their status as Innovation and Economic Prosperity universities to identify new areas of opportunity in aligning with economic development objectives. Those schools are developing deeper engagement with others in their regional innovation ecosystems, and making changes within the institution to expand their impact.

“Earning the IEP Designation is not only about recognizing Georgia Southern’s efforts in cultivating talent, driving innovation and fostering a sense of place in the communities we serve,” said Dominique Halaby, Georgia Southern’s associate provost for innovation and commercialization and founding director of BIG. “It’s also about strengthening our long-term strategy to maximize our region’s economic potential.”

Applications for the designation are evaluated by a panel of reviewers representing other universities and regional and national partners. Scoring was based on a range of criteria emphasizing universities’ development of their economic engagement enterprise, their planning efforts around economic engagement, strategic communications around these efforts, and participation in encouraging economic engagement among peer institutions.

APLU is a research, policy and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. With a membership of 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and affiliated organizations, APLU’s agenda is built on the three pillars of increasing degree completion and academic success, advancing scientific research and expanding engagement. Annually, member campuses enroll 5 million undergraduates and 1.3 million graduate students, award 1.3 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $49.5 billion in university-based research.

www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu S

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF BULLOCH COUNTY

n February 2022: The Development Authority of Bulloch County announced the decision by Aspen Aerogels to locate its new manufacturing facility in Bulloch County - $350 Million and 250 jobs.

n November 2022: The DABC announced the first Hyundai supplier location decision at the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park by Joon, Georgia. Joon manufactures body parts for Hyundai and others - $317 Million and 630 jobs.

n December 2022: The DABC announced that revalyu Resources, an environmentally friendly recycling company, will locate in Gateway Regional Industrial Park - $50 Million and 71 jobs.

Bruce Yawn Commerce Park 301 South, Statesboro July 2020

Bringing Growth and Jobs to Bulloch County

n January 2023: Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Ecoplastic Corporation, a Hyundai supplier, will locate its new parts facility in Bulloch County - $205 Million and 456 jobs.

n New Project Commitments to Bulloch County in 2022 n 1407 Jobs - 897 MM Investment

Bruce Yawn Commerce Park 301 South, Statesboro December 2022

Aspen Aerogels January 2023

JoJo, A Guiding Light

WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY

Ilost one of my first culinary idols in 2022. She was just as important as Paula Deen, Justin Wilson, Anthony Bourdain, or any of my other culinary heroes. Like most, my earliest memories of food and cooking began in the kitchens of my family. Baking cookies with my grandma, crunching on strips of crispy fried fat back with Grandaddy, watching Bet Bet fry shrimp in a cast iron skillet are all prominent food related memories. My mother worked hard to expose us to new and different dishes while introducing recipes that became beloved family favorites. I know the way I cook was sculpted by all these influences. The biggest and most prevalent influence of my early years was the Brown cousins’ beloved nanny, Joann Huff, fondly known by all as JoJo. She was a large presence! She talked loudly. She was very expressive, and her laments were often punctuated by an “Oh, Lawd!” or a most dramatic eye roll! Her top teeth were wrapped and embellished with gold and her earrings were large shiny hoops, boisterous like her personality. I thought she was fabulous and wondered at her ability to change her hair every week. She was a master of wigs!! I admired her wigs long before I ever heard of Dolly Parton.

I wish I had a dollar for every piece of cinnamon toast she cooked with skilled perfection. The ratio of butter, cinnamon, and sugar was melted into caramelized excellence only rivaled by the top of a perfectly flamed crème brulée. The thought of her cheese grits makes my mouth water over thirty years later. To this day I will eat creamy grits, but I prefer the congealed version of slightly cooled leftover grits. They remind me of JoJo’s “stiff’ grits. They would stand up on a plate in a mound of cheesy goodness. JoJo’s fried chicken was a treasure. My Mother didn’t fry food often and never to my knowledge fried a piece of bone-in chicken. She said it was too messy and smelled up the house! Mother tried to curtail JoJo’s use of hot grease in the name of health, but everyone knew JoJo wasn’t afraid of a little grease. Frying was her specialty and her preferred method of cooking. When JoJo fried chicken legs for lunch we sat cross -legged on the kitchen floor impatiently awaiting our portion. JoJo coated her chicken in a “wet” batter. I was young but my mind was a sponge soaking up every detail.

JoJo attended to our every whim and need, except for 30 minutes a day when “her show,” Guiding Light, was airing on a local channel. That was her time and she guarded it with fierceness. We knew not to intrude. She talked to the characters on the TV as if they were her best friends and her afternoon mood depended on the storyline that day. The only TV event that elicited more emotion than her beloved soap operas was when Luther Vandross was a guest on the Oprah show. I heard such a commotion in the kitchen! JoJo was practically lying on the kitchen counter in the throes of ecstasy yelling “Lutha! Lutha!” I thought she was in real danger, but I quickly learned she was in love.

My sister, Mary Beth was clearly her favorite and it’s no wonder why. I was a terror! I made my cousins cry and created the biggest messes with my zeal for crafts and kitchen experiments. I required LOTS of attention during my daily performances of Michael Bolton’s and Garth Brooks’ greatest hits. Mary Beth was content to rest on JoJo’s ample chest and watch wide-eyed at my shenanigans. „

Melt butter and pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, half and half, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla. Dip sliced bread in egg mixture and place in the buttered baking dish. You can slightly overlap slices of bread if necessary. Mix topping ingredients and spread over the top of the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to bake, remove the dish from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350˚. Bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the top is caramelized. Serve with syrup, flavored butter, jam, whipped cream, or fresh berries!

The only day I remember JoJo getting even a little exasperated with Mary Beth began like any other. We watched Disney Movies reclining on big pallets made with old quilts and blankets spread across the living room floor. We enjoyed

CHEDDAR CHEESE PENNE WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

INGREDIENTS:

4 c. Penne Pasta (cooked)

2 Tbsp. Butter

1 lb. Smoked Sausage (sliced in ½ inch rounds)

½ c. Onion (diced)

1 quart Heavy Cream

1 c. Sharp Cheddar

½ c. Parmesan (grated)

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Pepper

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

PREPARATION:

Melt butter in a Dutch oven. Add sausage and onion and cook until caramelized. Remove sausage and onion from the pot and add the heavy cream. Cook the heavy cream on medium heat until it begins to simmer. Do NOT boil. Stir constantly until thickened. The consistency will be like a thin gravy. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Add the seasoning and taste. Add more seasoning if needed. Add pasta, sausage, and onions. Stir until all pasta is coated in cheese sauce.

Kraft Mac and Cheese for lunch, but it wasn’t just any mac and cheese. JoJo’s mac and cheese was always elevated with a sprinkle of garlic salt and hot dogs cut up in little round slices. After lunch JoJo asked Mary Beth to drive her to pick a ripe watermelon from Grandaddy’s garden. Mary Beth wheeled by the porch and picked JoJo up on the golf cart and delivered her to the garden to pick the perfect melon. On the way back to the house Mary Beth took a curve too fast, sending JoJo and the watermelon rolling across the yard. There was yelling, crying, and scolding. I was pleased I wasn’t on the receiving end for once! The incident caused JoJo a slight limp and bruised pride but mostly she was mad Mary Beth busted her watermelon.

My cousin Ashton lost an entire pigtail in another incident. It was NOT funny then, but now it gives us all a good chuckle. I once ordered a cassette

PREPARATION:

Place watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain to remove any seeds or pulp. You should have approximately 2 cups of juice. Add watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, Corona, and Grand Marnier to a small pitcher and stir. Serve over ice in glasses rimmed with Tajin. So refreshing!

tape collection called “Sessions in Night Beat” from a television infomercial. JoJo assumed all the blame when it was delivered…. C.O.D.! All her threats to call my Daddy were mostly in vain. I knew I could hug her and kiss her face until she abandoned her stance of being sullen and mad. However, I knew I was in real trouble when she wielded the ultimate threat of sending the “Turkeys from Mitsville (Midville)” to get after us. Many days I could tell she was just flat out tired, and her exasperation was evident, but she still loved us like we were her own.

In later years JoJo was in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation programs due to her failing health. My sister and I were usually on her list of friends to call when she arrived home. Her request was usually simple: a big pot of chicken and dumplings. It made my day to be able to cook for her

like she had done for me so many times before. Upon her passing I regaled JoJo’s family with one of my favorite stories. The one where an unnamed Brown Cousin tried to climb aboard the Jenkins County Book Mobile stark naked!!! The book mobile driver hollered in pure shock! JoJo snatched the nudist up and ushered him inside the house. It’s a wonder we all survived, but, oh, the memories!

Please enjoy “grown up” versions of recipes inspired by some of our favorite dishes prepared by JoJo. S

Marketable…and Ready to Mingle

WRITTEN BY DOY CAVE

In case you haven’t heard, the job market in southeast Georgia is heating up. The Hyundai plant in Bryan County will bring more than 8,000 new jobs to the area in the next couple of years, and here in Bulloch County, expansion seems to be everywhere.

I’ve relayed this information to my adult children who still live with me and are still waiting for someone to discover them on YouTube, but their immediate success plan of “going viral” seems so close…yet so far away.

However, for those of us who have given up on YouTube stardom, this is a good time to find new opportunities. If you’re looking for a new career or even looking to make a change to your current one, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Pamela Goodman, associate director of employee relations at Georgia Southern’s Office of Career and Professional Development, says it’s like meeting someone new.

“Who knows you better than yourself? It’s just a matter of you selling who you are,” she said. “You know what your skills are. You know your experience, your education. They don’t. So, in essence you are selling yourself, introducing yourself to someone who has never met you before.”

If you’re thinking about getting out there and mingling in the job market, Goodman has some tips to get you started.

KNOW YOUR WHY

Goodman says before you take the leap into a new opportunity, it’s good to know your “why” — perform a self-assessment to clarify your goals.

“What are your current skills?” she asked.

“What are your career goals? Are you looking for opportunities for leadership or advancement or are you looking for something more like work/life balance?”

Only when you’ve done that self-assessment can you start figuring out how your experience and interests align with certain careers and employers.

ARE YOU LINKEDIN?

The next step, says Goodman, is to get your résumé up to date, and in today’s job market, employers are looking at LinkedIn.

“We were looking at some numbers the other day and it said that 87% of recruiters find LinkedIn to be the most effective when vetting their candidates.”

Setting up a LinkedIn profile is free, and can be your best way to get on employers’ radar. When creating your profile (and when creating a résumé), Goodman says to focus on your transferable skills and include numbers wherever possible.

“Numbers say a lot, especially if you’ve made some great changes in your field where you have helped your company produce X amount of products or increased their revenue by X amount,” she said.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

When you’re going to work in a specific industry or for a specific company, Goodman says research is crucial. Whether considering a long-term career or leaving a long-term position to make a change, you need to know what you’re getting into.

When Goodman is vetting companies for the University to partner with, she makes extensive use of their websites and LinkedIn.

“Look at their website and look at their products or services, their mission, their values and employee culture. Look at their About Us page. What are they doing? Look at their teams and find out who’s there. If you’re using LinkedIn, you may find a contact who’s a fellow alumni. You can reach out to that alumnus and have a conversation about what that company has to offer.”

It’s a great time to live in southeast Georgia and a great time to find new opportunities.

And if you’re ever on YouTube and happen upon one of my kids, please smash that Subscribe button. They’re trying their best. . S

Impossible Landscape

WRITTEN BY CAROLYN ALTMAN

Ahouse I once owned had a steep front yard of impossible-to-cut grass and a back yard filled with an elevated deck, grass, and overgrown shrubs. Over time, I converted the front yard to a rock garden. I shaped the overgrown shrubs in the back, replaced the grass with a gravel path and surrounded the deck with raised wooden planters that met the deck surface as if the whole design had been integrated from the start. The dwarf fruit trees and blueberries planted in the beds took off in the good soil, and in no time, we were harvesting bountiful crops of plums, apricots, and berries.

It was lovely to pick an apricot from my chaise

lounge, and useful to run out to the rock garden and snip herbs for the evening meal. My landscaping approach was popular with the neighbors, who delighted in the springtime daffodils. There was an additional unexpected benefit, as well: when I sold the house, the realtor told me that my landscaping improvements had provided at least $15,000 in profit, and that’s in 2006 dollars.

Yes, the hardscape and trees cost money, but just a small percentage of that $15,000. Yes, there was the time and effort, but that was fun. And no, the yard did not require constant attention, since the trees and shrubs pretty much took care of themselves, occasional weeding took care of the rock garden, and there was no grass to mow. In fact, the entire property took very little attention, leaving me free to hike, bike, and raise my son.

Clearly, people value plants, even if we take them for granted much of the time. In fact, many of us suffer from a condition called plant blindness,

a term coined twenty years ago by two botanists, Elizabeth Schussler, of the Ruth Patrick Science Educator Center in Aiken, and James Wandersee, of Louisiana State University. Plant blindness means we don’t really notice specific plants or recognize their value. A few numbers might help sharpen our vision:

Pleasing landscaping can add 8-15% to the value of a home, according to multiple sources, including The Washington Post, the American Association of Landscape Architects, Homegate, and others.

The cooling effect of a healthy tree is the equivalent of running ten room-sized air conditioners for 20 hours a day, according to Trees for Energy Conservation.

A 100-foot-tall tree has about 200,000 leaves and an intricate network of roots, which work together to circulate 11,000 gallons of water between the ground and the air each growing season, according to the USDA. When trees are removed from this system, millions of dollars of flooding and erosion can result.

A windbreak of trees and shrubs planted about two times the height of the tallest tree away from the north/northeast side of your home can protect your house from energy-wasting wind chill, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Shrubs planted around a home trap an insulating layer of air that also helps reduce energy consumption and cost.

Whether planted naturally or deliberately as part of a process called phytoremediation, plants detoxify water and air, according to the USDA.

The financial benefits of plants are not limited to the homeowner either. As our region grows, plants are an essential part of that developmental infrastructure. Acres upon acres of roads and roofing heats up communities, creating microclimates dangerous to people and the planet. In addition to intolerable heat, these microclimates can also affect the rainfall an area receives. Extreme drought destroys crops, and short but intense rainfall can cause flooding. Intense heat and flooding kill people. Plants of all sizes and shapes can address all these problems.

We are fortunate in that our area is not yet extensively developed, and we have the opportunity to do things in ways that will benefit us in the short and long term. As we go forward, let us consider our region as a whole, and our individual homes special features of one enormous garden. We want to live in a place that pleases us, is a good investment, and delights our children. We want shade to keep us cool and reduce energy costs. We need clean air and water. Let’s install some of the most efficient, affordable flood control, erosion control, air and water purification systems ever: plants. Whether in our backyards, along our main streets, or wherever in our garden we can, let’s plant for ourselves and the future. S

Saturday Night Lonely Night

WRITTEN BY RIC MANDES

BJ. Thomas is singing “Precious Lord, take my hand.”

The room is filled with college graffiti: Greek letters and photographs of tanned smiling faces offer remembrances. An accounting book lies open on an unmade bed. Bar bells sit in the middle of the floor.

It’s late.

Saturday nights are for good times.

It’s all held together by a tall muscular young man in his early twenties. Clean cut. A shock of brown hair and eyes that match. He moves about the room singing with Thomas from time to time --- holding the notes with strong vibrato.

I can remember the first time I saw him. His mom and dad had taken him for an afternoon walk. He was three.

As the youngest he would look up at a sister who could dance beautifully and would twirl her baton into a full university scholarship. He would admire his brothers, one the athlete, the other the family actor.

He was the quiet one. And still is. Time moved on. The two brothers and sister grew to the stepping off place: marriage, college, choosing another place to live.

They remained a close family --- a lot of phone calls and letters, back home to Mom and Dad and the baby, now growing himself.

He loved his brothers and sister. And they loved him back. They watched to see which of them he would take after: the actor, the athlete, the dancer. He fooled them.

He accepted the love of God openly and got all three: acting, singing, and hitting a thirty-foot jump shot easily. The clan applauded him. He was smart too. An honor student.

He had given his parents something beyond a sense of pride. He simply had grown up with them after the other three children had gone. He kept them buying Cheerios and gallons of milk. He woke them on Saturdays to TV cartoons. He kept their PTA membership alive. He was the noise, the voice in the night Mom and Dad thought they heard.

It was obvious to all as he grew toward nineteen and twenty, he would be leaving soon. Of the three left at home, he would be the one to go. But he wasn’t.

It all began with discomfort in his mother’s hip. And suddenly the battle for life raged. The family came together. But there was little anyone could do.

All too quickly the mother left. If there is a heaven, she’s there.

Now, B.J. is singing about “beautiful horizons out there.” Midst the graffiti, the pictures of tan faces, there are tears.

He now joins Thomas full voice, and is thankful for the memories.

He lifts the bar bells high over his head, one-hundred-and-twenty pounds, and holds them steady.

On Saturday nights...life can be very, very special.

Lessons for a New Year

WRITTEN BY REV. DR. JOHN WATERS

As we journey into a new calendar year, none of us know what we will face in the coming months. Every year is filled with joy and sorrow, good times and bad, so we march onward with expectant hearts, hoping that this year will be one of our best.

The Apostle Paul wrote that we should be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil,” (Ephesians 5:16), so please allow me to share some life lessons that seem fitting at the start of this new year.

LESSON #1 – TIME PASSES QUICKLY.

Perhaps the Apostle Paul was focused on the need to redeem time because he understood how quickly it speeds by, waiting for no one. We too often think we manage time with our calendars, productivity hacks, and smartphones, but time never waits—it just keeps marching on. As a child, I heard adults talking mysteriously about how quickly the years pile upon one another, but I now fully understand what they meant. Moving from one stage of adulthood to another, watching my children grow and become adults themselves, and then rejoicing when grandchildren came along, stand as markers of the passage of time.

We know intellectually that time moves forward at a constant pace, but it certainly feels like it picks up speed as the years go by, advancing at an exponential rate. Time is valuable, and once squandered can never be reclaimed, regardless of how quickly it comes and goes.

LESSON #2 – SMALL THINGS MATTER.

In a world that screams for attention and online followers, I have learned that seemingly small and insignificant items matter more than most people realize. A friendly smile. A hand-

written thank you note. Letting a stranger go first in line. These small things add kindness to an unkind world, and they bring joy to us and to those around us. How much better might our lives become if we paid attention to the small things?

Take time to do something small. Don’t plan it, just do it. Smile big, compliment others freely, and take time to say thank you. Small things make big differences.

LESSON #3 – RELATIONSHIPS ARE WORTH THE WORK.

With so much time spent working on our keyboards and looking at screens, we can easily start preferring digital connections and surface-level posts over real relationships. That’s partly due to the messiness of real-life relationships. Keyboards don’t talk back. Software is predictable. Streaming videos don’t have hurt feelings. But don’t give up on relationships with real people, even though you may have to walk through the grit and grime of another person’s life. As the years roll past, the work of developing meaningful and lasting friendships with others proves well worth the time and effort.

Is there a friend you haven’t heard from in a while? Is there a family member that would welcome a phone call? Is there a person you know who is lonely? The time we take and the effort we spend to forge relationships become high points that dot the landscape of our lives when we look back over the years.

LESSON #4 – UNCHANGING THINGS NEVER CHANGE

Everywhere we look, we see change. Our ancestors faced changes in their world too, of course, but sociologists tell us that the world is changing at an ever-increasing rate. To consider how this world is different from the world of the 1960s and 1970s is almost breathtaking. But amid a constantly and rapidly changing world, the timeless and unchanging things remain the same. The love of family. The need for friends. The innocent laughter of a child. The longing for hope, peace, and rest.

God is the unchanging One who settles our soul and calms our spirit. Cling to Him and hope in His promises. No matter how much change is fueled by technology, politics, or the global economy, you can anchor your heart in Him.

If we are going to redeem the time, may we turn our eyes to the future and seize this moment we have been given. Live during these transformative days with joy and fullness, anchored deeply in the heart of God who does not change. S

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE.

“I can’t say enough about the value provided for Georgia Agriculture. GGIC is available to AG businesses for networking, education, coaching and more. Having such a wide variety of resource partners offers a combination of experiences and expertise to move members forward in their unique areas of impact.”

-Diana Earwood, Plain.Stated, LLC

“At the GGIC, we pull together the resources you need to help your business succeed.”

- Dr. Dominique Halaby, Business Innovation Group, Georgia Southern University

“The Georgia Grown Innovation Center (GGIC) is an economic development program created through a partnership with Georgia Southern University, the City of Metter, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The GGIC provides resources and support to early and middle staged agricultural businesses. These resources may include workspace, equipment, mentorship, financial assistance, and access to a network of industry professionals. The goal of the GGIC is to help entrepreneurs develop and grow their food businesses, by providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed.”

- Matt Kulinski, Director of Marketing Division, Georgia Department of Agriculture

Camellia Bowl

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Buffalo Bulls

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 | Montgomery, Alabama

Laura Moore Funeral Director

When You Need The Strength of A Family

Mrs. Mary Edith Abbott 11.11.22

Mrs. Joan Amick 10.05.22

Mr. Johnny Thomas Anderson 12.05.22

Mr. Ronald Theron “Ronnie” Anderson 10.29.22

Mrs. Janie Lou Britt Angles 10.23.22

Mrs. Grace Lanier Bacon 10.09.22

Mr. Robert Glenn “Bobby” Bailey, Sr. 11.17.22

Mrs. Sue Nell Baughn 12.01.22

Mrs. Jean D. Gibbins Beasley 11.08.22

Mr. George “Wendell” Best 11.26.22

Mr. Gerald “Danny” Bevill 12.01.22

Mrs. Mary Helen Tillman Booth 09.05.22

Mrs. Victoria Ann “Vicki” Edwards Bostwick 11.16.22

Mrs. Clay Anderson Boykin 11.23.22

Mr. Rupert Glenn Brinson 11.09.22

Rev. Willie Lee Brown 09.30.22

Ms. Tajara Cherise Burgher 11.03.22

Mrs. Josephine “Jo” Starr Callaway 12.04.22

Mr. James Thomas Cannady 10.19.22

Ms. Kristina Deanna Castor 11.04.22

Mrs. Ammie Milsap Clemmons 10.21.22

Mr. Richard Deal 11.13.22

Mr. Henry Grady Dean 11.09.22

Mr. Jimmy Bird Durden 11.23.22

Mr. James Franklin Edenfield 12.04.22

Ms. Janie Lasand Allen Ellis 10.19.22

Mrs. Dawn Deanna Erickson 11.01.22

Mr. Hayden Carter Fields 12.07.22

Rev. Mark Andrew Galo 10.09.22

Mr. John Moore Gould 11.28.22

Mrs. Omie Lee Rucker Hagan 11.27.22

Mr. Roger Dean Hagan 11.25.22

Mrs. Nancy Jeanette “Bebe” Hagan 11.18.22

Mr. Brooks Dru Harville 10.09.22

Mr. Robert Edward “Bobby” Hendrix 11.02.22

Mr. Booker T. “Billy” Hendrix 10.13.22

Mr. Glenn Andrew “Andy” Hickman 11.01.22

Mr. Clemontine Womack Hutchinson 10.30.22

Mr. Henry Earl “Earl” Jones 10.12.22

Mr. Herschel Craig Kennedy 10.04.22

Mr. Willie Knight 11.15.22

Mrs. Frances Rackley Lanier 11.23.22

Mrs. Edna Fulmer Lanier 09.30.22

Mr. D. Earl Lavender 11.23.22

Mr. John Henry “Skeeter” Lawson, Jr. 10.12.22

Mr. Robert Owen “Bob” Lewis 10.31.22

Mr. Bill Pertl Lovejoy 11.27.22

Mr. Timothy Donald “Tim” Marks 10.07.22

Mrs. Carolyn Parker McCarty 10.12.22

Mrs. Eva G. McClure 10.03.22

Mr. Gene D. McDaniel, Jr. 11.29.22

Mrs. Joyce Elizabeth Mays McElveen 10.16.22

Mr. James “Earl” Miller 12.08.22

Mr. Robert Eugene Mincey 11.06.22

Mr. Ronald Guy “Ronny” Minick 10.16.22

Mrs. Judy Ann Morris Mock 10.16.22

Mr. Paul Louis Moore 12.01.22

Mrs. Susie Mae Mutcherson 10.26.22

Mr. Kenneth Ray NeSmith, Sr. 11.05.22

Mrs. Jean Marilyn Vause Nessmith 10.16.22

Mr. Todd Henry Newman 10.09.22

Ms. Mary Esher Peppers 10.06.22

Mr. Herman Petty 10.30.22

Mrs. Betty Ann Lee Ragan 10.17.22

Miss Sharon Moyer Raines 10.17.22

Ms. Krystal Nicole Reese-Harris 11.12.22

Mr. Carl Rich 10.03.22

Captain Richard M. “Robby” Robbins 10.01.22

Mrs. Henriann Deal Robertson 12.06.22

Mr. John Thaddeus Rogers 10.12.22

Mr. Kristopher Sanders 11.13.22

Mr. Don Marshall “Don” Sink 11.09.22

Mr. James “Foy” Smith 12.01.22

Ms. Joannie Lehmkuhl Sparks 10.04.22

Mrs. Mary Jo Barron Strickland 10.26.22

Mrs. Mary “Bunny” Abbott Terrell 11.04.22

Mr. James Albert Weaver, Jr. 10.20.22

Deacon Alvin Wesley 10.24.22

Mrs. Phyllis C. Wiggins 10.21.22

Mrs. Eugenia Anne Futch Woods 07.30.22

Dr. Edwin Lamar Wynn, Sr. 12.01.22

Mrs. Dorothy Denton Youngblood 11.08.22

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