October 10th Weekly Update

FRIDAY SWAMPLINE UPDATE — OCTOBER 10, 2025

Most of you remember when I used to post weekly updates as part of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation Ambassador Program, covering what was going on in Georgia and right here in Waycross.

I’ve stepped away from that role, and from now on, we’re doing things a little differently. We’ll still touch on some state-level news and policy, but we’re going to focus more locally — on what’s happening right here in Southeast Georgia.

From here on out, these updates are going to be about what I want to talk about — the things that matter to our communities, our people, and our daily lives. You’ll also start hearing more of my opinion and personality in these posts. I want this to be informative but also real — something that helps walk people through what’s going on, why it matters, and how it affects us here at home.

So, let’s jump right in.

WAYCROSS & WARE COUNTY

The Waycross Police Department has announced its Halloween patrol plans. Trick-or-treat patrols will begin Thursday, October 31st at 5 p.m. to help keep our kids and neighborhoods safe. I’ve always been a big supporter of our police. They do a great job protecting this community, and I know they’ll do just that on Halloween night.

Detective Marc Horne has been named October’s Employee of the Month. He’s a great detective and absolutely deserving of that recognition.

Judge Brooks has issued an order in Commissioner Sheinita Bennett’s case, dismissing her appeal and denying her petition, meaning she will not be on the ballot in this year’s municipal election. I like Commissioner Bennett. She’s done things I’ve agreed with and things I haven’t, but she’s a good person who cared about her district and made history as the first woman to hold that seat. I don’t think this was any sleight of hand — she simply missed the filing deadline. It’s unfortunate for her and her supporters, but that’s just how the process works.

The city held its October work session and there were several notable updates. The city is cleaning up and surplusing old furniture at the National Guard Armory — finally getting that property ready for future use. It’s about time. The city is also pursuing several grants: one for parks and trails, one for transportation improvements, another for water and sewer upgrades, and one for tire cleanup and recycling. I hope Waycross gets every one of them. Those funds could do a lot of good here.

District 1, 2, and 3 park grand openings are scheduled for October 17th — District 2 at noon, District 3 at 1 p.m., and District 1 at 2 p.m. I’m excited for this. It’s a great opportunity for Waycross, but we’ve got to take care of them. The city government needs to treat these parks with respect, and so do we as citizens. If we want nice things, we’ve got to maintain them. These parks are a great opportunity for our kids and our community.

The city has also updated its credit card policy to strengthen accountability and transparency. Hopefully this clears up some of the issues we’ve all seen coming out of City Hall and prevents us from seeing anything like that again.

Finally, Christmas preparations are already underway downtown — and I think this year’s going to look great.

REGIONAL EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS

Two local students have been selected to represent our region on the Georgia Department of Education’s Student Advisory Council for 2025–2026 — Jarrett Smith from Ware County High School and Avery Crews from Brantley County High. That’s something to be proud of. It’s great to see Southeast Georgia students get that kind of recognition and leadership opportunity.

Ware County High School also recorded a 95.4% graduation rate for the Class of 2025 — one of the highest in school history. Our school board’s doing a good job. Honestly, with this generation, sometimes it’s hard for me to believe the numbers are that high — but they are, and that’s something to celebrate.

Brantley County’s Class of 2025 SAT scores beat the regional, state, and national averages, and Pierce County High School was ranked the number one public high school in Georgia. Those are big wins for our schools — something to be proud of across Southeast Georgia.

STATE AND WILDLIFE NEWS

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a third case of Chronic Wasting Disease, this one in Lowndes County, expanding the management zone to Lanier, Berrien, and Lowndes counties. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer — it spreads through contact and contaminated soil, and there’s no cure. It’s not known to affect humans, but it’s creeping closer to Southeast Georgia. Hunters should follow disposal rules and submit deer for testing.

GEORGIA POLICY AND STATE UPDATES

Georgia’s doctor shortage continues to grow — policymakers really need to rethink how we build our medical workforce.

A nonprofit in Calhoun recently won a court victory for tiny homes, challenging city size restrictions and opening the door for more affordable housing options.

The state’s tax collections were up almost 2% in September, totaling $3.27 billion — a sign of steady fiscal management according to Governor Kemp.

And the Georgia National Fair is wrapping up its final weekend in Perry with strong attendance — great news for Middle Georgia’s economy.

STATEWIDE AND COASTAL GEORGIA

In coastal Georgia, International Paper is closing its mills in Savannah and Riceboro, cutting over 1,000 jobs total. That’s going to hit local economies, timber suppliers, and tax bases hard. Leaders are already talking about retraining programs and ways to repurpose those industrial sites.

In Savannah, the city council is preparing to vote on whether to demolish the MLK Jr. Arena at the Civic Center — a big debate between preservation and redevelopment interests.

Statewide, Georgians will soon be choosing two members of the Public Service Commission — the board that regulates our power rates and utilities. Even though it’s a district race, everyone in the state gets to vote. So make sure you know about the PSC and the candidates before you head to the polls — and most importantly, make sure you do head to the polls.

NATIONAL — GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

When it comes to national and global news, I usually let the big guys handle that. But I do want to take a minute to talk about something that affects all of us — even right here at the local level — and that’s the U.S. government shutdown.

As of today, October 10th, we’re on Day 10 of the shutdown, and it looks like it’s going to stretch into next week.

So what exactly is a shutdown? It’s what happens when Congress can’t agree on a spending bill to fund federal agencies. Without that budget, most agencies can’t legally spend money — meaning employees are furloughed, services stop, and critical operations rely on emergency funding.

Why did this one happen? Because lawmakers couldn’t compromise on spending levels and policy priorities — same story we’ve seen too many times. Both sides blame each other while real people suffer the consequences.

And while they argue in Washington, real families are paying the price. Federal workers are out of work or unpaid. Here at home, that impacts postal employees, TSA agents, veterans waiting on services, and small businesses dealing with delayed permits or funding. Even our local governments feel it when federal grants slow down.

I’ll be honest — it’s frustrating. This shouldn’t be a normal part of our political cycle. We need leadership that prioritizes stability over politics. And from where I’m sitting, it looks like this one isn’t ending soon. It could last well into next week — maybe longer.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

Downtown Waycross Pumpkin Fest — Thursday, October 16th at 5 p.m.
Ware County GOP Candidate Forum — Tuesday, October 14th at the Administration Building
District 1–3 Park Grand Openings — Friday, October 17th (District 2 at 12 p.m., District 3 at 1 p.m., District 1 at 2 p.m.)

Also, U.S. Senate candidate Regan Box is in town this week. She’s come all the way from North Georgia down to Waycross and the surrounding area. If you see her out and about, she’s a nice person — take a minute to get to know her, shake her hand, and learn about her policies. It’s important to speak with and learn about every candidate and what they stand for. Even if you’ve already made up your mind, it’s still important to hear from everyone running — and she’s in town now.

Make sure you check your city and county websites and Facebook pages for updates, events, and important information. Stay informed, stay involved, and keep Southeast Georgia connected.

We’re going to try to keep these updates going out every week, and we’re also working on sitting down with some of the municipal candidates for one-on-one interviews with me before the election.

We’ll continue doing our best to keep you informed about what’s going on in your government and how it’s affecting you locally.

Until next time — stay safe, stay aware, and stay involved.