Newcomers2013complete

Why we love

Liberty

Get moving

Locals give their take

Recreation leagues offer fun for all ages

Technology trailblazers Digital domain on display in Liberty classrooms

Created on 11-3-10 at 11:53:47 by SYMBOLOGY, INC. Maple Grove, Minnesota, 55369 763-315-8080

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Arts, theater, musical groups offer creative outlets

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Departments

14

Government

Where to Live

Connect to services & the elected officials who oversee them.

Seven municipalities within Liberty County offer a range of environments to call home.

Education

Churches

Liberty County School System, private alternatives & higher education offer ample opportunity to learn.

Military connections

Looking for faith and fellowship? Liberty has hundreds of congregations.

22 52

56

Community, veterans’ organizations foster ties to Fort Stewart, Army newcomers.

40 82

34

Weather & Emergency

Details on Liberty’s climate, storm preparation & emergency resources.

What we love about Liberty

44

Health Care

Liberty Regional Medical Center and Winn Army Community Hospital expanding to serve more.

63

Locals share their enthusiasm for the area.

Leisure & Recreation The Liberty Trail, recreation centers, civic groups & arts organizations enhance quality of life.

Hot Happenings

Annual events draw all ages together for food, fellowship & fun.

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

5

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PUBLISHER S. Marshall Griffin Breastfeeding Information And your annual If your household mgriffin@libertylifemagazine.com Nutrition Education income is no greater size is: than: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hollie Moore Barnidge Healthy Foods 1 hbarnidge@libertylifemagazine.com $20,147 There are over 1,600 WIC acceptable food 2 $27,214 Danielle Hipps MANAGING EDITOR stores in Georgia where the WIC vouchers dhipps@libertylifemagazine.com Eat Healthy•Grow Healthy•Live Healthy 3 $34,281 be redeemed.

Eat Healthy•GrowmayHealthy•Live Healthy CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ekaterina Wilkerson 4 $41,348 Income Eligible Guidelines: kwilkerson@liberylifemagazine.com Georgia WIC Provides: Income Eligible Guidelines: Each Add’l Family Georgia WIC Provides: Georgia WIC30,Serves: July 1, 2011 to June 2012 +$7,067 per year Leslie Miller PRODUCTION MANAGER Member Breastfeeding Information July 1, 2011 June 30, 2012 Andto your annual lmiller@liberylifemagazine.com If your household Breastfeeding Prenatal Womenincome is no greaterAnd your annual If you are pregnant, you should count yourself as two.

Nutrition EducationInformation size is: If your household than: Nutrition Education Breastfeeding Mothers (up to 1 year) income is no greater For more information call your Healthy Foods size is: than: 1 $20,147 local Health Department OR Healthy Foods Infants There are over 1,600 WIC acceptable food 1 $20,147 1-800-228-9173 A DV ERT I SI NG 2 Women (up $27,214 There are over 1,600 WIC acceptable food Postpartum to 6 months) stores in Georgia where the WIC vouchers 1-800-255-0056 (TTY) 2 $27,214 stores in Georgia where the WIC vouchers 3 $34,281 Children age 1 to 5 Years may be redeemed.

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912.876.2173 Main Clinic or 912.877.3330 Fort Stewart Clinic

6

Call Georgia WIC at 1-800-228-9173 | Visit Georgia WIC online at www.wic.ga.gov

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Shelly Carpenter

scarpenter@libertylifemagazine.com

Wyler Smith wsmith@libertylifemagazine.com

Sommer Nixon snixon@libertylifemagazine.com

C ON T R I BU T I NG W R I T ER S Samantha B. Koss, Patty Leon, Randy C. Murray

C ON T R I BU T I NG PHO T O GR A PH ER S Geoff L. Johnson, Patty Leon, Randy C. Murray

OF F IC E STA F F Business Manager Kathryn Fox Distribution Manager Johnny Brown Liberty Life magazine: 125 S. Main St., Hinesville, GA 31313 912-876-0156 www.libertylifemagazine.com info@libertylifemagazine.com Published by Morris Newspaper Corporation of Hinesville, Inc. Neighbors & Newcomers and Liberty Life magazine are publications of Morris Newspaper Corporation of Hinesville, Inc. For SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES, BACK ISSUE ORDERS and ADVERTISING INQUIRIES call 912-876-0156 For EDITORIAL INQUIRIES, email editor@libertylifemagazine.com.

We welcome your news. Please send press releases and media kits to info@libertylifemagazine.com.

Copyright 2013 by Morris Newspaper Corporation of Hinesville, Inc. All rights reserved.

This publication may not be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher.

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letter from the publisher

T

Welcome to Liberty County, a place of southern coastal splendor.

ransitioning to a new area requires a lot of work and comes with a deal of curiosity about what lies ahead.

To ease that adjustment, we’ve created this comprehensive community guide. Our goal is to help newcomers adapt to their new surroundings in historic Liberty County, Hinesville and the surrounding municipal areas.

Throughout our pages, you will find vital information for settling in and learning about places of worship, recreational outlets, points of interest, civic clubs, arts and the overall quality of life available in this Coastal Georgia community.

Our community has built many of its programs to accommodate 3rd Infantry Division soldiers and their families, who are critical to our identity and growth. Opportunities to unite newcomers abound, and several businesses offer military discounts as a token of their support.

Now is a wonderful time to become acquainted with Fort Stewart, Hinesville and Liberty County.

Several exciting projects are in the works in downtown Hinesville, where Bradwell Park is home to a weekly farmers market and where much of the city and county governments conduct their business.

Downtown also is a gathering point for the Liberty County Historical Society and Hinesville Area Arts Council, and the recently opened Bryant Commons Amphitheatre will host several cultural events each year.

Nearby on Memorial Drive, a veterans’ clinic, library and an Armstrong Atlantic State University campus are in the works.

In Midway, the Liberty County Board of Commissioners plans to open a recreation complex complete with a swimming pool and library branch this summer.

Business and real estate also have increased in the past number of years, and new housing developments are rebounding throughout the county.

Good things are happening in the Liberty County School System as well. The Liberty College and Career Academy,

which gives high-school students hands-on technical training in more than 10 fields in conjunction with Savannah Technical College, opened in August 2012 and its programs are expanding. Three high-school classes also are now taught through digital course materials, and a Department of Defense grant that provides iPads for middle-school math and science classes will enter its third year this fall.

We welcome you to learn about this rich community and become one of the fibers that strengthens its fabric. Our hope is that you forge lasting connections while making a difference.

We’re glad to have you here.

S. Marshall Griffin Publisher NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

11

on the cover

The Durrence Family at the Liberty County Pre-K Center

R

iceboro residents and Liberty County natives Clint and Kimberly Durrence shared family time with their children, Demery, 5, and Tinsley, 4, at the Liberty County Pre-K Center’s recently constructed playground.

Clint Durrence is a lead line technician at Coastal Electric Cooperative in Midway, and Kimberly Durrence teaches at the pre-K center, which Demery attended last year and Tinsley will attend beginning fall 2013.

“We love the new playground,” Kimberly said as the kids scanned their surroundings with wide eyes. The new playground was completed in January 2013 as part of a $436,238 renovation and improvement to the pre-K center, which is on Bradwell Street next to the Liberty County Board of Education’s central office.

After school, Demery keeps busy with Liberty County Recreation Department T-ball and dancing at Cheryl Brett Dance Studio, and Tinsley loves to golf on sunny afternoons with his dad.

On the weekends, the water’s the spot for this family.

“I like that it’s a small community, and there are a lot of things to do in our area, but it doesn’t take far to get to many of the things we like to do right outside our area,” Kimberly said. “We go to the beaches.”

“We like the coast life,” Clint adds. “We like to go to St. Catherines.”

“We spend our summers on the water,” Kimberly said.

Both Liberty County High School graduates say the area has grown tremendously from the days when Highway 84 was a one-lane road.

When asked what they would share with area newcomers, Clint said he spends much of his time hunting and fishing in nearby recreation areas.

“There’s something about Liberty County and Hinesville.

Whenever you’re from here, it just brings you back for some reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to live in Savannah, but you’re close enough that you can go to Savannah or Brunswick or St. Simons.”

Kimberly said she loves getting out and about with the children and attending downtown Hinesville festivals and events, such as the farmers market, the annual Scarecrow Stroll and Christmas in the Park.

“It’s like a small-town community with a family feel,” Kimberly said.

Cover photography by Geoff L. Johnson, design by Ekaterina Wilkerson.

12

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Liberty Regional Medical Center

MOVING HEALTHCARE FORWARD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Cardiology/Cardiac Rehab Surgical Services Family Medicine Pediatrics OB/GYN with Labor & Delivery Emergency Medicine Stroke Telemedicine Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapies Nephrology Pulmonology/Respiratory Therapy Internal Medicine Ophthalmology Oral & Maxillofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Hematology & Oncology Podiatry Radiology Long Term Care

At Liberty Regional, we’re expanding and growing to meet your needs. From emergency medicine, expert surgical services and cardiac care to state-of-the-art imaging, diagnostic technologies and comprehensive rehabilitation therapies, our worldclass physicians and clinical teams deliver patient-centered care representing a wide array of specialties.

Having access to excellent healthcare is important. Having it right here makes all the difference. Come visit us and experience the best in healthcare solutions for you and your family!

Liberty Regional Medical Group Coastal Manor Long Term Care Liberty Regional Rehabilitation Center Liberty Regional Emergency Medical Services

where to live

Where to live in Liberty County

By Hollie Moore Barnidge

Thinking of living in Liberty?

W

hether new residents have come to Liberty County in search of warmer climates, cultural diversity, historic attractions, affordable housing or economic growth, this coastal community with seven municipalities has plenty to offer.

With endless outdoor recreation possibilities, an array of eateries and retail establishments, those who choose to settle in Liberty will face no shortage of amenities. And when it comes to scenic beauty, the area’s stately live oaks, peaceful marshes and serene forests have every base covered.

Liberty County was established in 1777, and its roots have cultivated its status as a historic county. The area initially was settled on the coast at Sunbury, which was at one point

14

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Learn more about each of the area’s municipalities: the state’s second-largest port. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett, and two generals of the American Revolutionary War — one of whom was Daniel Stewart, for whom Fort Stewart was named — are from or spent time in Liberty County. Today, proximity to major ports, interstates and rail systems still makes the area a prime location for commerce.

Fort Stewart, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River, employs more than 14,000 soldiers, and their presence in Liberty County has helped boost the economy and enrich the culture for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the HinesvilleFort Stewart Metropolitan Area increased 3.4 percent from April 2010 to July 2011, making it the No. 3 fastest-growing metro area during that time.

Hinesville

Home to more than 30,000 people, Hinesville is the Liberty County seat and a hotbed of activity. Five highways run through the city, which has several schools and many businesses.

While Hinesville has experienced some economic hardship, Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas Jr. said those effects are receding.

“Our soldiers are re-uniting with their families with no future deployments in sight, our city is experiencing revitalization, and jobs are being created,” Thomas said. “For this we are truly grateful.”

Live.

Work.

Play.

115 East M.L. King, Jr. Drive, Hinesville, GA 31313 Phone: (912) 876-3564 | Fax: (912) 369-2658 www.cityofhinesville.org www.facebook.com/hinesvillega Twitter @HinesvilleGa

Home for a Day or a Lifetime

Thanks to Fort Stewart, Hinesville has a significant military retiree population. Former soldiers entering their “golden years” often choose to make the city their home base.

There are many shopping centers, manufacturing companies and other industries in the area.

The Memorial Drive corridor, which runs from Highway 84 to the edge of Fort Stewart, is among the most scenic areas in the city. It is home to several churches and the Liberty County Board of Education, and several projects are under way to bring interest to the area.

At Highway 84 and Memorial Drive, workers broke ground in early 2013 for a 23,000-squarefoot Department of Veterans Affairs clinic that will have six primary-care physicians. It is slated for completion in spring 2014.

In spring 2013, the Georgia General Assembly approved $4.75 million in construction funds for a satellite campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University. It will be built across from

a new Hinesville library branch, which operates as part of the Live Oak Public Library System.

Around the corner from the Armstrong site is Bradwell Institute, a high school that began as Hinesville Academy in 1840 but was renamed Bradwell Institute in 1871 by Samuel Dowse Bradwell. That same year, he also established the Hinesville Gazette, which later became the Liberty County Herald and now is the Coastal Courier.

Flemington

Adjacent to Hinesville, Flemington is home to its own hustle and bustle. Within the tiny city there are several hotels, a few restaurants and Stacy’s Florist, a decades-old Flemington institution in a structure once known as the Trask house and store. Additionally, the community boasts quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods with a historic feel. The city was chartered in 1941 and is governed by a mayor and six coun-

cil members. It is home to Liberty County High School, which was constructed in 1991. The school’s Panthers have a 6,000-capacity football stadium that’s brimming with life on Friday nights in the fall.

Midway

Midway was one of the first settled communities in Liberty County, as coastal waterways made it an ideal hub for shipping and transportation. As a result, the city is full of historical relevance and charm. It is home to the Midway Congregational Church, which was established in 1752, and Fort Morris (now a state park), which was established in 1776 to protect the growing seaport.

Today the small city has two schools, Liberty Elementary School and Midway Middle School, several new housing developments and some hometown eateries. The Liberty County Board of Commissioners broke ground in early 2012

on an East End Community Complex, which will offer recreational opportunities once construction is complete in summer 2013. On the site of former school grounds, the complex will boast a swimming pool, library, county offices and more.

The east-end city also holds many historical points of interest. The Midway Museum and Cemetery shed light on the area’s earliest settlers, while the Dorchester Academy Museum commemorates the storied history of one of the earliest educational institutions for freed African-Americans in Georgia. Later, it was used as a training ground for civil-rights efforts. It is considered a National Historical Landmark and was named one of the 11 most endangered historical landmarks in America.

Gum Branch

Gum Branch is a small, quiet municipality nestled on the western

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edge of Liberty County, bordering Long County. The city has around 700 residents, who enjoy the area’s tight-knit community.

The most noteworthy structure in Gum Branch is the Gum Branch Baptist Church. It was created in 1833 under the name Gum Branch Primitive Baptist Church by the members of Beard’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church — most notably Samuel Delk, Fashau Long Jr. and David Delk. Gum Branch Baptist Church was a member of the Baptist Union Association until 1908, when it became a member of the New Sunbury Baptist Association.

The church began offering full-time services in February 1949.

Allenhurst

The Dunlevie Lumber Company contributed in the early 1900s to the establishment of Hinesville’s western neighbor, Allenhurst. The small town was incorporated in 1965 and now has about 900

residents.

While few traces of the lumber company’s impact remain, there is a small corridor in the town that has been designated as a protected historic zone. The 1,400-acre tract known as Miller Pasture also maintains its natural state. The town also is home to a 40-year-old horse farm, Dixie Stables, which has equestrian showcases several times per year.

Elsewhere, growth booms in the form of new housing developments and established neighborhoods.

Very close to the city are Frank Long Elementary School and Lewis Frasier Middle School, which share adjacent campuses off of Highway 84.

Allenhurst has been a popular housing choice for military personnel for decades.

“In Allenhurst, you get the smalltown feel on the outskirts of a larger town. You can feel the military’s support of the community and the pride that comes with it,” said

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Walthourville

Walthourville may be the newest member of the Liberty County family of municipalities, but its beginnings are a source of pride for those who set up their homes inside the city limits.

Organized by women, Walthourville was established by Mayor Lyndol Anderson, the first mayor of the city of Walthourville. She was appointed

by Gov. Jimmy Carter in 1974.

Attorney J. Noel Osteen administered the oath of office to the mayor, her council — Faye Booth, Maxine Gaskin, Carrie Kent, Ardith Herbert and Celia Davis — and clerk Molene Burke at the Walthourville polling office April 10, 1974. In her first act, Anderson donated her $150-per-month salary for the betterment of the city and council.

Walthourville’s current mayor, Daisy Pray, says the community is “a quiet, family-oriented city.” This is evident through the Walthourville Youth Organization, which offers mentoring, sports activities and tutoring at Hillery Park. The group’s basketball team, the Walthourville Blazers, always is on the move. In addition, members of the Walthourville Senior Citizens walk together at Hillery Park and assist the city’s youth.

The Liberty College and Career Academy opened in fall 2012 on Airport Road in Walthourville. Open to public high school students who attend Bradwell Institute and Liberty County High School, the academy offers hands-on training in more than 10 technical pathways, including culinary and health professions.

The joint venture, operated by the Liberty County School System and several business-oriented organizations, aims to foster the connection between students and their business communities.

The town is best known for being home to the Tea Grove Plantation, which is owned by Danny Norman and boasts collections of classic cars, tools, machinery, buildings and

posters in addition to a turpentine still, cotton gin, blacksmith shop, printing press, a sawmill and other staples of plantation life.

Riceboro

Nestled southeast of Hinesville, the Riceboro community’s roots run deep. It is home to the county’s first courthouse square, which was laid there Feb. 1, 1797. The land was donated by Matthew McAllister, Thomas Stevens, Daniel Stewart, Joel Walker and Henry Wood, who were the first Liberty County commissioners. At the time, Riceboro served as the county seat and many public buildings were built in the city. The state officially recognizes its incorporation as Jan. 1, 1927.

In addition to its civic heritage, it also is a centerpiece for the faithful of Liberty County. Riceboro is home to the Historic Baptismal Interpretive Trail, where, it is said, some Riceboro natives were baptized as early as the late 1800s.

Liberty’s oldest African-American congregation, The First African Baptist Church, also is in Riceboro. The church has its origins in the North Newport Baptist Church, founded in 1809. It was comprised of white and black members, with a gallery for slaves. When the North Newport Church moved to Walthourville in 1854, the black members in the area continued to use the church that exists today.

Geechee Kunda, a cultural reflection center, pays homage to the area’s agrarian past and the West African slave descendents who maintained their native culture even in America.

The area’s heritage is celebrated each fall with the annual Ricefest.

Riceboro also is home to the French-based chemical company SNF, which is the area’s third-largest employer with about 900, and Interstate Paper, which boasts about 230 on its staff.

Both take an active role in partnering with the community, which has a youth center that offers after-school, recreational and tutoring programs to the city’s youth.

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

17

Rentals | Real Estate | Utilities | Rental trucks | Storage Apartments Affordable Apartment Rentals 108 Devereaux Road, Hinesville 977-2881 www.fortstewartrentals.com Ashton Place Apartments 634 Airport Road, Hinesville 876-8762 Baytree Apartments 217 Bradwell St. #A1, Hinesville 369-8255 Denmark Mobile Home Apartments 402 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-2300 Grove Park Apartments 550 S. Main St. #3, Hinesville 877-6017 Independence Place Apartments 1300 Independence Place Drive, Hinesville 877-2270 www.liveatindependence.com Link Terrace Apartments 110 Link St., Hinesville 368-3555 Mission Ridge Apartments 802 Veterans Parkway, Hinesville 368-5715

Hinesville Mobile Home Supply 110 Devereaux Road, Hinesville 876-3460 Mill Creek Mobile Home Estates 1201 Pipkin Road, Hinesville 876-9121 Palms West Mobile Home Rentals 1750 John Wells Road, Hinesville 876-2466 Robert’s Properties Mobile Home 375 Davis Road, Hinesville 369-3211 Salter Mobile Home Park 564 Talmadge Road, Walthourville 368-9318

Rental groups David McDonald Rentals 704 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-9218 teresa @wdmrentals.com Davidson Estate Properties Hinesville, GA 31313 369-7902

Southern Rental Investments 1091 Kings Road, Midway 977-3303

Real estate A Plus Realty Group 105 N. Main St., Hinesville 980-4701 www.buyorsellinhinesville.com Century 21 Action Realty 123 E. Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 368-2100 www.century21-actionrealty.com Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors 730 Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 368-4300 www.fortstewart.com Countryside Estates Realty 501 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 369-4188

ERA Southeast Coastal Real Estate 139 Ryon Ave., Hinesville 876-3538 www.erasoutheastcoastalrealestate.com

Diamond Homes Investment Group 14509 Fenney Court, Jacksonville, FL 404-825-8105

Regency Park Apartments 100 Regency Place, Hinesville 368-3466

Dryden Properties 101 West Court St., Hinesville 368-6105 www.rentdryden.com

Great American Realtors 109 S. Main St., Hinesville 369-1100 www.greatamericanrealtors.com

Gaskin Rentals 73 Dunlevie Road, Allenhurst 368-4651

Islands Real Estate & Appraisal Company 13053 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-5862 www.islandsrealestate.net

Treetop Apartments 600 Taylor Road, Hinesville 369-8211

Mobile homes Denmark Mobile Home Apartments 402 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-2300

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Krebs Rentals 1618 Airport Road, Hinesville 368-2010 Mosley Rentals 8582 Rye Patch Rd., NE Lot 31, Ludowici 369-6812 www.mosleyrentals.com Norman Realty 139 Ryon Ave., Hinesville 368-3433

Stewart Realty 323 Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 368-3700 www.fortstewartrealty.com Trinity Realty 732A E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 368-5633

U.S. Real Estate Professionals 808 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 977-0637 usrealtypro.com

Exit Team Realty 576 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 408-8000 www.myexitteam.com

Summerwinds Village Homes 910 Brett Drive, Hinesville 369-3442

The Sikes Group 229 Gen. Screven Way, Suite M4, Hinesville 876-2626 www.thesikesgroup.com

Elaine Boggs Realty Group 116 Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 368-6868 www.elaineboggs.com

The Pines at Willowbrook 841 Willowbrook Drive, Hinesville 877-2162

Holtzman Real Estate Services 1146 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 876-8886

SI Realty Company 509 N. Main St., Hinesville 876-4967 www.sirealtycompany.com

Covenant of the Torch Realty 20 E. Daryl Drive, Hinesville 980-6657

Northgate Apartments 804 Veterans Parkway, Hinesville 369-8279

Stewart Way Apartments 302 W. Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 368-3777

320-4469 www.remaxhinesville.com

United Southeast Realty 790 Veterans Parkway, Suite 108, Hinesville 877-7107 www.unitedserealty.com

Dennis Waters Rental Properties 565 Dunlevie Road, Allenhurst 368-9205 www.denniswatersco.com

Stewart Pines Condos 350 Beverly St., Hinesville 876-2319

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Happy Acres 1125 Kelly Drive #76, Hinesville 876-6881 www.ilovehappyacres.com

Keller Williams Realty 202 Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 877-1262 Priesthood Realty 944 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 408-2211 www.priesthoodrealty.com Realty Executives Liberty 401 S. Main St., Hinesville 877-6600 www.realtyexecutivesliberty.com REMAX All American 1453 W Oglethorpe Hwy, Hinesville

Electricity Canoochee EMC 2983 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 800-342-0134 www.canoocheeemc.com Georgia Power 923 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 888-660-5890 www.georgiapower.com Coastal Electric 1265 S. Coastal Highway, Midway 884-3311 www.coastalelectric.coop

Natural gas Few Liberty County residences are heated with natural gas because there are few distribution lines installed. But if you find a home on one of those lines, the Public Service Commission’s website has a list of companies authorized to sell gas in the state: www.psc.state.ga.us/ gas/certifiedmarketers.asp.

Commerce Energy 877-226-5392 www.commerceenergy.com Constellation 877-997-9995 www.constellation.com

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True Natural Gas 877-746-4362 www.cfemcnaturalgas.com Fireside Natural Gas 866-517-0250 www.firesidenaturalgas.com Gas South 877-472-4932 www.gas-south.com Georgia Natural Gas 877-850-6200 www.onlygng.com Infinite Energy 877-342-5434 www.infiniteenergy.com SCANA Energy 877-427-4321 www.scanaenergy.com Stream Energy 866-543-4642 www.streamenergy.net Walton EMC Natural Gas 866-936-2505 www.waltonemcnaturalgas.com

Propane Gumbranch Propane P.O. Box 665, Hinesville 876-1000

Liberty Propane 4420 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 408-3040 www.libertypropanega.com

Dish Network 866-774-7465 www.dish.com

Solid waste services

Phone Customers pay an average of $65 per month for a basic bundle that includes phone and Internet services. Deposits are required for some new accounts based on anticipated use and the prospective customers’ credit ratings.

CenturyLink 115 Patriots Trail, Hinesville 408-1240 www.centurylink.com Comcast 1050 Kacey Drive, Hinesville 888-266-2278 www.comcast.com

The city of Hinesville provides garbagecollection services along with its water service. Each customer receives one 90-gallon rollout cart, weekly pickup service and repair or replacement of damaged carts. Hinesville also offers free collection of leaves and other yard debris, which is used for mulching.

The Liberty County Solid Waste Authority offers curbside pickup in Flemington and for the rural residents of Riceboro and operates seven trash convenience centers throughout the county for other residents.

Recycling drop-offs : 25 S. Dairy Road (Highway 196 West, Gum Branch) 156 Pate Rogers Road (Fleming) 836 Limerick Road (near Lake George) 64 Left Field Road (Highway 84, Miller Park) 619 J.V. Road (west of Hinesville) 50 Isle of Wight Road (Midway area) 344 Fort Morris Road (East End near Sunbury)

Cable/TV Comcast Communications 1050 Kacey Drive, Hinesville 368-5800, 800-COMCAST www.comcast.com DIRECTV 855-482-0759 www.directv.com

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rental trucks Budget Truck Rentals 750 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-3535 Penske Truck Rental 501 W. Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 369-0564 U-Haul rentals available Alive Beauty Supply 4500 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 408-7244 All American Storage & U-Haul 1146 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 408-7878 www.allamericanstorageuhaul.com

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education

Advancing academics Liberty County schools educate and enrich

By Danielle Hipps

T

he Liberty County School System is known for its pioneering focus on technology, and it has emerged as a leader in adapting digital resources for the classroom.

In Southeast Georgia, the system is a leader for implementation of a $1.35 million Department of Defense Education Activity that will place iPads in all middle-school math and science classes,

and several schools have hosted digital showcases.

In 2010, the Liberty County School System was one of three to be nationally recognized by the National School Boards Association for excellence in technology. Now, the district continues the tradition of being on the cutting edge and boasts a tight ratio of students to technology devices in each classroom.

But the buck doesn’t stop there. Ele-

Liberty County schools by the numbers: • $1.35 million — Department of Defense Education Activity grant for middle school iPads • 43 percent military connected • 7 elementary schools

22

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

• 3 middle schools • 2 high schools • 1 career academy • 1 pre-K center • 9,900-10,500 students enrolled

Left: Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal, wife of Gov. Nathan Deal, reads to Button Gwinnett Elementary School kindergartners in March 2013.

Right: Students learn graphic arts principles on state-of-the-art iMacs at the Liberty College and Career Academy.

(Photographs by Danielle Hipps)

Liberty County School System 200 Bradwell St., Hinesville 876-2161 www.liberty.k12.ga.us

mentary classrooms make use of interactive Smartboards, tablets, iPods and other devices, while the coming school year marks the second year that three high-school courses will be taught with teacher-created digital course materials.

“It’s real-world. When you go out, you may have a PC computer at home, but with your iPhone, your iPad or your iPod Touch, you’re using both anyway,” said Dr. Patti Crane, the district’s executive director of technology and media.

The district also had strong showings in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, a Georgia literacy competition where students are tested on their recall skills.

Bradwell Institute and Lyman Hall Elementary both made it all the way to state, and Bradwell placed second at the highest level of Helen Ruffin competition.

District-wide, 352 multimedia projects were submitted to the local Student Media Festival, where 202 were deemed superior and advanced to the state competition. In May, the district recognized creators of 109 projects that earned superior rankings at state and will advance to the International Student Media Festival.

That’s not the sole area of focus for the district, which boasted aggregate elementary and high-school scores above

the state average on the Georgia College and Career Ready Performance Index, which released its first-ever school and district scores in May 2013.

Taylors Creek and Waldo Pafford elementary schools both scored in the A range — the state index does not assign letter grades, but scores are one a 100point scale, much like students — and Lewis Frasier Middle School was four points above the state average.

High school students will enter their second year with access to the Liberty College and Career Academy, a halfday program that opened in 2012 and gives students hands-on exposure to more than a dozen technical trades.

Changes ahead

yet hired a new superintendent, but they appointed Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Conley to serve as the interim superintendent.

Elementary schools also will see shifts due to the closure of former Jordye Bacon Elementary School, which was the system’s oldest campus.

Students there have been rezoned for six other elementary schools.

Consolidating from eight to seven elementary schools is a cost-saving move that reduces operations costs by about $3.2 million, according to information presented during 2012 board

meetings.

“The bottom line is, we have enough students for seven elementary schools, and we’re actually operating eight elementary schools,” Conley said during 2012 meetings leading up to the closure.

The board also has weathered budget cuts due to budget uncertainty that comes with the sequester, which could affect federal impact aid designed to offset lost property-tax revenue from Fort Stewart, but district officials assure their cuts have not been as hardhitting as other counties.

participation by at least 25-30 percent this year. We expect our dualenrollment programs to double in size over this year.”

The academy offers more than 10 pathways and will add manufacturing and general medicine during the 201314 school year, as well as begin offering sociology and psychology as additional dual-enrollment courses.

“This credit is transferable in the technical college and university systems in Georgia, and like all our partnership programs with Savannah Tech, are at no cost to the student,” Alexander added.

“It’s our goal that every student that comes through the career academy leaves not only with a high-school diploma, but with a skill,” he said.

“That’s what it’s all about.”

Academy programs are open to sophomores and older from Liberty

County High School and Bradwell Institute. Shuttles transport the students to and from their main campuses, and the academy courses are offered during the daily block schedule.

Program areas include — but are not limited to — engineering, agriculture, graphic communications, architecture, metals, transportation, computer science, culinary arts, nursing and cosmetology.

The academy is one of 26 statewide that spreads a line of careeroriented thinking in compliance with state career, technical and agricultural education pathways — and officials acknowledge that it comes with a paradigm shift.

With the shift, career education has become a greater priority at all levels, said Sonja Duncan, LCSS executive director of special programs. In elementary school, educators introduce the

W

hile the school system still aims to provide a quality education for every student enrolled, including the 43 percent who are connected to the military, the 2013-14 school year comes with some change.

The board of education this summer will welcome a new superintendent to head the district, which serves between 9,900 and 10,500 students. At press time, the board of education had not

Academy offers immersion

T

he Liberty College and Career Academy enters its second year of operations in a 50,000square-foot facility on Airport Road in Walthourville.

Aimed at immersing high school students in hands-on technical and professional environments, the center runs under the Liberty County School System with partnerships with the Technical College System of Georgia, the Liberty County Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce.

“The response to the career academy concept wildly exceeded our expectations this year,” LCCA CEO Tom Alexander said. “We likely will see an overall increase of program

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

23

idea of careers, while middle school focuses on career exploration.

In eighth grade, students make a transition toward choosing a cluster of classes to help them consider a major, and high-school classes aim to integrate

career experiences with academics.

“There are lots of students out there that, at the end of their four years, aren’t necessarily working in the career that they trained for,” Duncan said.

“What we want is to streamline that

process so that students get an awareness of careers — maybe not a particular fine-detailed occupation, but a career in general, whether it’s business, medical, etc.”

Engaging young minds, too

young children with a positive, firm foundation and quality childcare.

“It is unique. It is one of very few, specifically designated pre-K centers in the state, and it was one of only about two that was designed and built as a pre-K center,” said former Superintendent Dr. Judy Scherer.

“Most school systems — a lot of them because of funding issues — have

had to totally eliminate pre-K from their public school system,” Scherer said. “It’s found much more in private daycares right now.”

Students must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 and reside in Liberty County to attend the voluntary program, where core instructional programming is offered free of charge.

T

he system also operates the Liberty County Pre-K Center, which serves about 440 4-year-old students for one year before they head to kindergarten. Its mission is to provide

2013 CCRPI scores Elementary school grades State avg: 83.4 | District avg: 84.3 Button Gwinnett — 87.9 Frank Long Elementary — 86.7 Jordye Bacon Elementary — 75.6

Joseph Martin Elementary — 89.3 Liberty Elementary — 76.5 Lyman Hall Elementary — 74.7 Taylors Creek Elementary — 92.9 Waldo Pafford Elementary — 91.6 Middle school grades State avg: 81.4 | District avg: 78.7

Lewis Frasier Middle — 86 Midway Middle — 75.1 Snelson-Golden Middle — 76.8 High school grades State avg: 72.6 | District avg: 76.3 Bradwell Institute — 75.4 Liberty County High — 78.3

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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Links to the Liberty County School System websites can be found at www.liberty.k12.ga.us Pre-K Center 206 Bradwell St., Hinesville 876-0773 Button Gwinnett Elementary 635 Taylor Road, Hinesville 876-0146 Frank Long Elementary 920 Long Frasier St., Hinesville 368-3595 Joseph Martin Elementary 1000 Joseph Martin Drive, Hinesville 368-3114 Liberty Elementary 600 Edgewater Drive, Midway 884-3326 Lyman Hall Elementary 1396 Shaw Road, Hinesville 368-3348 Taylors Creek Elementary 378 Airport Road, Hinesville 369-0378

26

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Waldo Pafford Elementary 2550 W. 15th St., Hinesville 877-4188 Lewis Frasier Middle School 910 Long-Frasier St., Hinesville 877-5367 Midway Middle School 425 Edgewater Drive, Midway 884-6677 Snelson-Golden Middle School 465 Coates Road, Hinesville 877-3112 Bradwell Institute (HS) 100 Pafford St., Hinesville 876-6121 Liberty County High School 3216 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-4316 Liberty College and Career Academy 245 Dorsey Road, Hinesville 846-4904

Post schools Brittin Elementary School 2772 Hero Road, Fort Stewart 368-3324 Diamond Elementary School 482 Davis Ave., Fort Stewart 876-5797 Keesler Elementary School 1127 Austin Road, Fort Stewart 368-3598

Private schools First United Methodist Church Pre-K and Kindergarten 203 N. Main St., Hinesville 368-3355 www.hinesvillepreschool.com First Presbyterian Christian Academy 308 E. Court St., Hinesville 876-0441 www.fpcahinesville.com Trinity Christian Academy 1016 Live Oak Drive, Hinesville 369-6082

Colleges and universities Savannah Technical College Liberty Campus 100 Technology Drive, Hinesville 408-3024 http://www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/ Liberty Army Education Center 100 Knowledge Drive, Building 100, Fort Stewart 767-8331 http://www.stewart.army.mil/services/ education/education.asp Armstrong Atlantic State University — Liberty Center 740 East General Stewart Way, Suite 210, Hinesville 877-1906 http://www.armstrong.edu/ Departments/liberty_center/liberty_ctr_ welcome

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First Presbyterian Christian Academy student Herbert Roberts, then a sophomore, rallies his classmates in December 2012 during a spirit walk for the Under Armour Finding Undeniable Challenge. The Highlanders were crowned in January 2013 as winners in the second-annual competition. (Photograph by Danielle Hipps)

H

Private alternatives

inesville is home to First United Methodist Church Preschool and Kindergarten as well as First Presbyterian Christian Academy, a private institution with classes for students in preschool through 12th grade.

The FUMC Preschool and Kindergarten program provides children with a loving and innovative environment to promote personal, social and cognitive development during 9 a.m.-1 p.m. classes.

FPCA, grounded in conservative Christian values, seeks to provide a studentfocused support system that plays to each student’s talents, passions and skills.

And the school is sure to put those traits on display — FPCA recently garnered national attention for the secondannual Under Armour Finding Undeniable Challenge, where the Highlanders reigned supreme in 2013 after finishing within the top three in January 2012.

The FPCA Lady Highlanders soccer team won the Georgia Independent School Association Class AA state title in May 2013, where they topped Monsi-

gnor Academy, 3-0, for the championship trophy on at Frederica Academy, finishing the season 11-1 with 6-0 in region playoffs. Their male counterparts also made it all the way to the title game, but they fell 7-0 with an 11-3 overall season.

In the fall of 2012, the school’s first varsity football team finished its inaugural season. The program is open to all athletes in grades eight through 12. The school also offers baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, softball, soccer, tennis and volleyball.

Fine-arts programs for band, choir, drama and literature round out the school’s enrichment.

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First United Methodist Church Preschool and Kindergarten 203 N. Main St., Hinesville 912-368-3355 www.hinesvillepreschool.com NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

27

Liberty County Board of Education

The Liberty County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the board office, 200 Bradwell St., Hinesville.

Chairwoman: Lily Baker 368-7228 lbaker@liberty.k12.ga.us District 1: Verdell Jones 884-3067 vjones1978@execs.com District 2: Carolyn Smith Carter 368-2356 or 977-9638 ashdoug@coastalnow.net District 3/vice chairwoman: Carol Guyett 876-6234 cguyett@liberty.k12.ga.us District 4: Marcia Anderson 369-7308 manderson@liberty.k12.ga.us District 5: Harold Woods 368-7008 hwoods@liberty.k12.ga.us District 6: Becky Carter 876-3292 bcarter@liberty.k12.ga.us Fort Stewart/HAAF school liaison officer: Gregory Cooke 767-6533 greg.cooke@us.army.mil

28

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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Professional learning workdays Open house for Pre-K through 12 from 3-6 p.m.

Students return to school Labor Day (holiday)

Send progress reports home First grading session ends

Columbus Day (holiday) Furlough Day #2 (No school) Report card day Veterans Day (holiday) Furlough Day #3 (No school)

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education

University, tech schools have Liberty presence Higher-education institutions offer several paths to success

By Danielle Hipps

W

hether the focus is on health occupations or cosmetology, several higher-education institutions offer Liberty County residents a path toward professional futures.

30

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

The Fort Stewart Army Education Center has long been available for nontraditional students, and growing schools off-post are following that lead to provide strong learning opportunities for soldiers on the move, the families that follow and civilians with other responsibilities.

The Savannah Technical College Liberty Campus in April 2013 celebrates the opening of cosmetology and barbering suites, which will give students a chance to practice with customers. (Photographs by Danielle Hipps)

Technical careers in demand

S

avannah Technical College has a campus on Airport Road that offers 12 associate-degree programs, 14 diploma programs and an abundance of technical certificates of credit, from advanced emergency medical technicians to tax-preparation specialists. The tech school offers day and nighttime classes and even collab-

Armstrong Atlantic State University presence expanding

T

hough it has operated a Liberty Center for years, the Savannahbased Armstrong Atlantic State University is in the process of expanding its Hinesville programs. That’s thanks in large part to a $4.7 million campus in the works for Hinesville’s Memorial Drive. Depending on when funds are made available, the state could break ground as soon as fall 2013.

“This formalizes construction of a long-anticipated and much-needed facility,” Armstrong President Linda Bleicken said. “Our partnership with the city of Hinesville allows an expanded presence to create new educational pathways in the region for students of all ages. Armstrong also looks forward to serving the military population, their families and other adult students with the flexible options we are able to provide.”

The Armstrong-Liberty Center expansion has been made possible with $6 million in infrastructure and land acquisition from the city of Hinesville and $4.7 million in state funding.

Classes are projected to begin at the new Armstrong-Liberty Center with the spring 2015 semester.

With its close proximity to Fort Stewart, Armstrong-Liberty Center also will be convenient for military

orates with the nearby Liberty College and Career Academy.

The school also recently celebrated the opening of cosmetology and barbering suites that will provide students with real-world experience and offer discounted services.

“The lab enhances the facility, which enhances the school in its totality, which I would like to say enhances the Liberty County and surrounding counties’ workforce …,” said Donald Lovette, who is chairman of the Savannah Tech board of directors and

the Liberty County Board of Commissioners. “It winds up enhancing the quality of life here, if you all and everybody feels good and looks good … and they’re able to be entrepreneurs and gainfully employed.”

For students unable to commit to a full-semester schedule, the seven-week “mini-mester” offers a wide range of online classes and a variety of times for in-person classes in core areas, as well as a commercial truck-driving course open to 12 students each term.

spouses and family members. In addition, many of the university’s degree and certificate programs are part of the MyCAA program, giving eligible military spouses up to $4,000 in financial assistance.

Currently, the Armstrong Liberty Center provides a complete associate of science program for health occupations, an associate degree of criminal justice and an associate of arts in liberal studies. The center also offers access to the foundation for a wide range of studies offered at the main campus, and several courses are available online.

Armstrong also offers a flex-term to accommodate students who may not have traditional attendance options.

Hinesville students also can begin nursing, health sciences, medical laboratory science, radiological science, rehabilitation science, respiratory therapy, and communication sciences and disorders tracks toward the associate of science degree.

Dr. David Ward, dean of the College of Health Professions, also announced this spring that Armstrong’s nursing program will hold 16 additional students beginning in fall 2013, bringing the total nursing enrollment to 96.

Along with the expansion come clinical rotations at Liberty Regional Medical Center.

In the future, the university plans to expand associate of science degree options in health professions and science and technology at the new Armstrong Liberty Center, and education program offerings also will be expanded.

“The new facility will build upon what is already a beautiful downtown

area, while providing increased opportunities for the residents of Liberty and surrounding counties,” said Col. Peter Hoffman, director of Armstrong Liberty Center. “An investment of this magnitude is commensurate with the demand for higher education in this region and also reflects a commitment by our state and local leaders to meet the needs of our citizens. The new Armstrong Liberty Center will answer that demand.”

Armstrong Atlantic State University — Liberty Center 740 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Suite 210, Hinesville 912-877-1905 www.armstrong.edu Army Education Center 100 Knowledge Drive, Building 100, Fort Stewart 912-767-8331 www.stewart.army.mil/services/education/ education.asp Savannah Technical College Liberty Campus 100 Technology Drive, Hinesville 912-408-3024 www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/Liberty

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

31

It’s Your Life.

It’s Your Community.

Get Your News.

The Coastal Courier

We cover the issues that matter to the people of Liberty County and Ft. Stewart.

If it’s happening at city hall, in the schools, on your streets or in your neighborhood you’ll find out more about it in the pages of Coastal Courier and Liberty Life and online at CoastalCourier.com.

Need to know which Liberty County businesses offer the best deals and values?

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Serving Liberty County and Coastal Georgia since 1871

coastalcourier.com Council on raises: We did www.coastalcourier.com

Sunday, March 28, 2010

75 centS

detheridge@coastalcourier.com

Despite some vocal opposition from residents, the Hinesville City Council voted Thursday to raise the mayor’s and council members’ salaries beginning in 2012.

Per the city charter, the present council and mayor will not benefit from the salary

other term.

The mayor’s salary will be increased from $15,000 to $40,000 and the council members’ salaries from $7,500 to $20,000.

Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas said the mayor’s job is a full-time position and said he works an average of 45 hours a week.

In a public statement, Thomas said

The Hinesville City Council votes, following a lateafternoon, closed session, to more than double the salaries for the mayor and council members in 2012.

The council notifies the public it will reconsider the salary-increase vote.

January

How it all went down: a timeline

April After reviewing meeting minutes, the Coastal Courier publishes a story about the vote, which is then called into question.

April 1

By denise etheridge

March 19

Hinesville officials OK pay hikes for mayor, council

March 14

Let your special student know just how much you care with a good-luck message.

January 7

raduation time L I B E R T Y ’ S O N L I N E G GisAT Hhere ERING PL ACE nearly

The council votes to increase salaries starting in 2012.

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Government

Liberty County

By Danielle Hipps

A

dopted by the Constitution of 1777 as a union of the St. John, St. Andrew and St. James parishes, Liberty County is considered to be Georgia’s sixth county.

Now, the county boasts a population of more than 65,000 over 489 square miles, and it spans from St. Catherines Island and coastal marshes on the east to rural inland woods on the west.

The area is governed by the Liberty County Board of Commissioners, which is comprised of a chairman at-large and representatives from six districts. Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. Chairman Donald Lovette was elected in 2012, as were commissioners for districts 4, 5 and 6. A special election was held in district 2 to fill the seat Lovette formerly held.

As a board, the commission oversees

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

building and licensing for unincorporated parts of the county, the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency, county parks and recreation, roads maintenance and more.

Slated to open in summer 2013 is the Liberty County Community Complex, a multifaceted site on Highway 84 near Midway. Once open, the complex will have a swimming pool, playground, library branch and a museum dedicated to the “old” Liberty County Elementary/High School, which was the county’s school for black students prior to integration.

The county also owns a fire station just west of Gum Branch, which opened in spring 2012. The $782,000 facility currently is staffed by volunteer firefighters. However, the commissioners are working toward a paid, full-time fire protection plan for the entire county.

The Liberty County Board of Commissioners are, from left: Marion Stevens Sr., Pat Bowen, Chairman Donald Lovette, Connie Thrift, Gary Gilliard, Justin L. Frasier and Eddie Walden. (Photograph by Danielle Hipps)

Liberty County Board of Commissioners The BoC meets at 6 p.m. every first Tuesday of the month and at 5 p.m. every third Thursday at the Courthouse Annex, 112 N. Main St., Hinesville. www.libertycountyga.com.

Liberty County offices Courthouse Annex

112 N. Main St., Hinesville

Board of Commissioners Chairman: Donald Lovette District 1: Marion Stevens Sr. District 2: Justin L. Frasier District 3: Connie Thrift District 4: Pat Bowen District 5: Gary Gilliard District 6: Eddie J. Walden Contact: 876-2164 Meetings are 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month and 5 p.m. the third Thursday.

County Administrator Joey Brown 876-2177 http://www.libertycountyga.com Building and Permitting Paul Zechman 876-8454 Capital Improvements Program Lamar Tillman, project manager 368-6289 County Taxes Glenda Roberts, Chief Appraiser 876-2823 Virgil Jones, Tax Commissioner 876-3389 www.libertygatax.com Vehicle Tag Office 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday

Office of the Clerk of Courts Superior Court, State Court, Juvenile Court and Magistrate Court Clerk and Court Administrator F. Barry Wilkes 876-3625 www.libertyco.com clerkofcourts@libertyco.com Superior Court Judges Chief Judge David L. Cavender 368-2250 Judge D. Jay Stewart 739-4922 Judge Robert L. Russell III 912-437-3033 Office: McIntosh County Courthouse Judge Charles P. Rose 877-4770 Senior Superior Court Judge Judge A. Ronnie Rahn III 912-557-6393 State Court Judge Leon M. Braun Jr. 876-7101

Juvenile Court Judge Linnie L. Darden III 876-0111 Jones, Osteen & Jones 206 E. Court St., Hinesville Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission 408-2030 www.thelcpc.org

Other offices

Child Support Services 876-4154 Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services 112 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-5174 Georgia Forestry Commission 884-3331

Keep Liberty Beautiful Sara Swida, executive director 880-4888

District Attorney Tom Durden, district attorney 876-4151, 370-2600

Mosquito Control Jack Vereen, supervisor 884-2065

Georgia Department of Driver Services 2301 Airport Road, Hinesville 370-2064 www.dds.ga.gov

Public Works Department Clenton Wells, supervisor 876-8216 (24-hour answering) Road Department 884-3310 Solid Waste Department 884-5353

Magistrate Court Chief Magistrate Melinda Anderson 876-2063 Probate Court Judge Nancy K. Aspinwall 876-3589 www.gaprobate.org

State Offices

EXCELLENCE

Georgia Department of Labor 740 Gen. Stewart Way, Suite 202, Hinesville 370-2595 Hinesville Probation Office 368-8211

IN

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Law Library 368-5111

HISTORIC Liberty County CourtHouse

100 N. Main St., Hinesville

Liberty County Justice Center

Located just a mile from Liberty Regional Hospital near the intersection of Veterans Parkway and E.G Miles Parkway, Georgia Eye offers comprehensive specialty care services to include treatment for glaucoma, retina disease, cataracts, disease of the cornea and routine vision services.

Call us at 912.368.2522 to schedule your appointment with Drs. Manocha, Kim, Ray and Kang.

201 S. Main St., Hinesville Board of Voter Registration/ Elections Ella Golden, supervisor 876-3310

Atlantic Judicial Circuit Public Defender Steven J. Messinger 369-6338 Also serves Bryan, Evans, Long, McIntosh and Tattnall counties

Coroner Reggie Pierce 884-4490 University of Georgia Cooperative Extension/4-H Robert Bell, extension agent Kasey Bozeman, 4-H agent 876-2133

741 Weeping Willow Drive | Hinesville, Ga 31313 912.368.2522 | www.gaeyeinstitute.com NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas, Ralph H. Johnson VAMC Director Carolyn Adams, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston and Col. Ronald Place, former commander of Winn Army Community Hospital, break ground in January 2013 at the Hinesville Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic construction site. (Photograph by Danielle Hipps)

W

ith an estimated population of 34,519, Hinesville is the heart and county seat of Liberty County.

Founded in 1837, the city of Hinesville celebrated its 175th anniversary in September 2012. The hub of the Fort Stewart Metropolitan Statistical Area, Hinesville has seen considerable growth in recent years.

And that growth should continue, given projects under way within the city, such as the Armstrong Atlantic State University satellite campus, a Veterans Affairs clinic and a new library.

Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas and the council’s five district representatives adopt policies that govern the municipality.

Run on a day-to-day basis by City Manager Billy Edwards, city hall also is home to a city clerk’s office, businesslicense office, water department, community-development department,

inspections and geographic information systems, human resources and public relations.

The city also has its own police and fire departments as well as a publicworks department, which is run by Operations Management International, or OMI. OMI is a private corporation that specializes in utilities management. Its employees in Hinesville handle trash collection, road and park maintenance and meter reading and oversee the sewage-treatment plant, which also serves Fort Stewart.

Downtown Hinesville is known for its small-town charm. Bradwell Park, in the core of the city, is a gathering point for weekly farmers markets and annual events like Christmas in the Park.

Surrounding the park are law offices, hair salons, a children’s boutique, coffee shop, churches, a jewelry craftsman and a homemade-candy store that make the area a pedestrian-friendly social destination.

City of Hinesville offices City Council Mayor: James “Jim” Thomas Jr. Mayor pro tem/District 1: Charles Frasier District 2: Jason R. Floyd District 3: David Anderson Sr. District 4: Keith Jenkins District 5: Kenneth Shaw Meetings are at 3 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month.

Contact: 876-3564 Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards Hinesville City Hall, 115 E. M.L. King Jr. Drive 876-3564 www.cityofhinesville.org Above: State Sen. Earl “Buddy” Carter, left, announces his intention to run for United States Congress in Georgia’s 1st District in May 2013 in downtown Hinesville. (Danielle Hipps) Left: Hinesville’s Bradwell Park is home to special events throughout the year and weekly farmers markets spring through fall. (Randy C. Murray)

Hinesville Downtown Development Authority 115 E. M.L. King Jr. Drive 877-4332 or www.hinesvilledowntown.com

T

he Hinesville Downtown Development Authority also is dedicated to preserving downtown Hinesville’s past and ensuring it has a bright future.

Governed by a board of seven directors, the HDDA facilitates business transitions downtown, spearheads beautification projects and coordinates events that bring revelers to the city’s core.

Sponsored by the HDDA, the 2013 Hinesville Downtown Farmers Market runs

from 4-7 p.m. Thursdays from May 2 to Oct. 31, with a smaller-scale fall market to follow throughout November. The event offers a chance to enjoy the outdoors, mingle with the community and score fresh produce and artisan products. On the second Thursday of every month, the farmers market features local artists and live music.

The authority also recently celebrated the opening of Bryant Commons, a 150-acre park site that hosts special events. It is the former home of the late Sen. Glenn E. Bryant and his wife, Trudie P. Bryant. Bryant Commons is jointly managed by the Bryant Foundation, city of Hinesville, HDDA and the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association, which has a museum on the site.

offices in

city hall

Business licenses 876-3564 City clerk 876-3564 City council meeting chamber 876-3564 Department of Community Development 876-3164

Inspections and Geographical Information Systems office 876-4147 Mayor’s office 876-3564 Water Department 876-3564

Other city offices Hinesville Fire Department Station 1 103 Liberty St., Hinesville 876-4143 Station 2 640 Airport Road, Hinesville 876-4852 Hinesville Police Department 123 E. M.L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville 368-8211 Municipal Court Honorable Gary A. Sinrich, Judge Mary E. Dowd, Clerk of Court Cris Schneider, Solicitor 123 E. M. L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville 368-8206 Public Works Department 876-8216

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Other municipalities Midway City Council Mayor: Dr. Clemontine Washington Mayor pro tem: Curtes Roberts Sr. Council members: Levern Clancy Jr., Terry Doyle, Melice Gerace Meetings are at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month in City Hall. City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Contact: 884-3344, historicmidway.com

Walthourville City Council Mayor: Daisy Pray Mayor pro tem: Patricia Green Council members: Charlie Anderson, James Hendry, Luciria L. Lovette Meetings are at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of the month.

Contact: 368-7501, cityofwalthourville.com

Flemington City Council Mayor: Sandra Martin Mayor pro tem: Paul Hawkins Council members: Dotty Fermin, Gail Fox Evans, Charles Richardson, Palmer Dasher, Donnie Smith Meetings are at 4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.

Contact: 877-3223, flemingtonga.com

Riceboro City Council Mayor: William Austin Mayor pro tem: Tommy Williams Council members: David Miller, Chris Stacy, John Young Meetings are at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

Contact: 884-2986, cityofriceboro.com

Meet Your Representatives Whether they serve in the Georgia General Assembly or on Capitol Hill, these representatives were elected to provide a voice for the state and its coastal residents.

Federal government officials: Senators Sen. C. Saxby Chambliss, R-Moultrie Washington, D.C., office: 416 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-3521 East Georgia office: 3633 Wheeler Road Suite 270 Augusta, GA 30909 706-650-1555 Sen. John “Johnny” H. Isakson, R-Marietta Washington, D.C., office: 131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-3643 Georgia office: One Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30339 770-661-0999 House of Representatives Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah Washington, D.C., office: 2372 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia 20515-1001 202-225-5831

Savannah office: 1 Diamond Causeway, Suite 7 Savannah, GA 31406 912-352-0101

State officials: Governor Nathan Deal The Office of the Governor, State of Georgia 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-1776 Lt. Governor Casey Cagle 240 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5030 Senators Sen. Earl “Buddy” Carter, R-Pooler District 1 (includes most of Liberty County) Capitol office: 301-A Coverdell Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5109 Pooler office: 406 Purple Finch Drive Pooler, GA 31322 912-748-1414 bcarter331@aol.com Sen. Tommie Williams, R-Lyons Senate Pro-Tem District 19 (includes extreme western Liberty County) Capitol office: 321 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-0089 404-463-5220(fax) Lyons office: 148 Williams Avenue

Lyons, GA 30436 912-526-7444 tommie@tommiewilliams.com Representatives Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway District 168 (includes most of Liberty County) Capitol office: 511 Coverdell Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-6372 Midway office: 9041 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 977-5600 al.williams@house.ga.gov Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Garden City District 164 (includes Fleming and most of Fort Stewart) Capitol office: 228 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5099 Savannah office: 45 Cove Drive Savannah, GA 31419 912-966-5665 quickrxdrugs@yahoo.com

Political organizations: Concerned Taxpayers of Liberty County 368-6676 Liberty County Democratic Party Chairman: Charles Frasier 884-2304 gary.burch11@comcast.net Liberty County Republican Party Chairman: John Wood 271-5819 coachwood35@yahoo.com

Allenhurst City Council Mayor: Thomas Hines Council members: Amanda Cox, Carl Easton, James Willis Meetings are 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.

Contact: 876-2180

Gum Branch City Council

C. Saxby Chambliss

John “Johnny” H. Isakson

Jack Kingston

Nathan Deal

Earl “Buddy” Carter

Tommie Williams

Al Williams

Ron Stephens

Mayor: Kathy Todd Council members: Irene Chandler, Charles Simpson, Jesse Strickland, Edward Wells Meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

Contact: 876-5945

38

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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Weather & Emergency

Public safety a community priority Emergency management tracks climate, weather

L

iberty County emergency services respond to all emergency calls in the area. For health responses, well checks, fires and crashes, these well-trained members of the community are at your beck and call.

Currently, Hinesville is the only area in the county protected by a paid, full-time fire department. The other municipalities either contract with Hinesville for services or rely on volunteer firefighters.

However, the Liberty County commission is attempting to unite the county under a fire-protection plan with paid staff. Currently, seven volunteer stations serve communities outside of Hinesville’s reach.

Although emergencies can’t be prevented entirely, individuals can take precautions to limit the effects of emergencies such as hurricanes.

Experts recommend that newcomers research hurricanepreparedness tips through the Emergency Management Agency

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Hinesville police and fire departments draw interest from children at Public Safety Display held for Georgia Cities Week at the Shuman Recreation Center in April 2013. (Photographs by Randy C. Murray)

and the local Red Cross. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but storms have occurred before and after this time frame.

Liberty County has not taken a direct hit in years; however, hurricane bands and residual storms do pass through the area.

Since most of the county is at or near sea level, it is important for residents to be aware of and prepared for flooding.

Liberty County Emergence Management Agency Director Mike Hodges said in an April 2013 town-hall forum that storm predictions call for a busy season with 18 storms and as many as nine hurricanes.

“Out of that, they predict four will be at the catastrophic level … so all of that plays into how we are going to use the

tools we’ve got,” Hodges said.

Due to Liberty County’s geographical location, storms can come from both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Residents should know that the local building code requires braces to help withstand the force of winds — but if an evacuation is called for, experts agree it is in your best interest to leave.

In the event of an evacuation, all of Interstate 16 becomes westbound between Savannah and Douglas. Evacuees can listen to WSVH 91.1 FM for information or call 511 for real-time travel information. Information also can be found on Liberty County’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Those with medical conditions or issues that would require special assistance or evacuation by ambulance or wheelchair during an evacuation should call the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency at 368-2201 to be placed on the special-needs registry.

Coastal Georgia’s Climate Many people choose to live in Liberty County because of its enjoyable weather and beautiful, blue skies. The climate is semitropical, which means mild winters and warm summers — perfect for the area’s waterways and outdoor escapes.

Winter

The Southeast is known for its mild winters. Here, residents can expect an average high of 61 degrees and low of 41 degrees. The average snowfall is less than one-tenth of an inch.

Summer

The average high is 90 degrees, while the average low is 71 degrees. But beware of humidity levels, which can increase the heat index up to as much as 120 degrees.

Spring and fall

By far the most pleasant times of year, average highs of 71 and lows of 47 make outdoor recreation a dream. Both seasons are perfect times to enjoy touring historic sites and nature trails.

Alert Liberty updates on the go

LIBERTY CYCLE Inc Polaris ATV’s Professional Service Motorcycle Parts & Accessories

In early 2013, the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency launched an emergencyalert program that enables officials to provide real-time, mass publicsafety notifications. The service, Alert Liberty, can be used to communicate with up to 10 devices on matters such as severe weather, road closures, missing persons and evacuations. The opt-in program is free and designed to protect user privacy.

To register, go to www.libertycountyga.com/alertliberty

Preparation is key Experts say preparation is the best protection during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Here are some must-have items: 1. At least one gallon of water per person per day for at least five days 2. A five-day supply of nonperishable food items that do not require cooking, water or refrigeration 3. A first-aid kit and a twoweek supply of all prescription medicine 4. Clothing and bedding 5. Supplies including flashlights, extra batteries, battery-operated radio and hand-worked tools 6. Important family documents, including copies of wills, insurance policies, shot records and passports 7. Waterproof storage containers for above supplies Source: Liberty County Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross

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Saint Stephen Catholic Church

DAILY MASSES Tuesday & Thursday 12:10 pm Wednesday & Friday 7:00 pm WEEKEND MASSES Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am & 10:00 am Sunday Spanish Mass 12:30 pm HOLY HOUR Wednesday 6:00 pm HOLY DAY MASSES Vigil 7:00 pm Holy Day 12:10 pm, 7:00 pm RECONCILIATION Saturday: 4:00-4:30 pm

Fr. Adam Kasela Parochial Administrator

399 Woodland Drive • Hinesville sscc399@clds.net • 912-876-4364 NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

41

Law enforcement | Fire | Ambulance Other emergency resources Law enforcement Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Court operations: Liberty County Justice Center 201 S. Main St., Hinesville 876-2131 General services: Liberty County Jail Complex 180 Paul Sikes Road, Hinesville 876-4555 www.libertyso.com Hinesville Police Department 123 E. M. L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville 368-8211

Georgia State Patrol 2301 Airport Road, Hinesville 370-2600

Fire Hinesville Fire Department 103 Liberty St., Hinesville 876-4143 Fleming Volunteer Fire/Rescue 809 Fleming Loop Highway, Fleming 884-4242 Fort Stewart Fire Department 119 Coe Ave., Building 457, Fort Stewart 767-8118

Flemington Deputy Sheriff Sgt. Guy Pagliolo deputy956@gmail.com

Riceboro Volunteer Fire Department 5786 S. Coastal Highway, Riceboro 884-5539

Midway Police Department 10490 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 880-1000

Gum Branch Volunteer Fire Department 7199 W. Highway 196, Hinesville 368-8181

Walthourville Police Department 192B Talmadge Road, Walthourville 368-6525

Midway Volunteer Fire Department 10490 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-3676

Lake George Volunteer Fire/Rescue 14 Fourth St., Midway 884-5666 Walthourville Volunteer Fire/Rescue 264 Busbee Road, Walthourville 368-6260 Eastern District Volunteer Fire/Rescue 2630 Fort Morris Road, Midway 884-3950

Public safety/nonemergency: 368-3911 Liberty County Emergency Management Agency 100 Liberty St., Hinesville 368-2201 877-5362 — Weather Line www.libertycountyga.com American Red Cross Southeast Georgia Chapter — Liberty Branch 218 Fraser Drive, Hinesville 876-3975 www.savannahredcross.com

St. Catherines Island Volunteer Fire Department 182 Camellia Road, Midway 884-5002

Fort Stewart American Red Cross Building 253, Suite 2074, 55 Pony Soldier Ave., Fort Stewart 767-2197 www.fortstewartarc.org

Ambulance Liberty Regional Emergency Medical Services 413 S. Main St., Hinesville 369-9403

Other emergency resources

Public Safety Communications Office 102 Liberty St., Hinesville 368-3911

EMERGENCY: 911

Welcome to

Liberty County

Dr. Elizabeth Miller

Dr. Elizabeth Miller and the Georgia Eye Institute appreciate the men and women of our armed forces. We are pleased to offer all military active duty, retired military personnel and their immediate families 30% off LASIK surgery.

Thank you for protecting our freedom.

Call 912.629.5925 to schedule a free LASIK consultation.

425 W. Oglethorpe Hwy, Hinesville 912-368-4445 www.libertycounty.org Liberty Chamber

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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Health Care

Medicine in motion Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville and Winn Army Community Hospital on Fort Stewart both have expansion projects in the works, which will mean improved services and amenities for community members, soldiers and families.

By Hollie Moore Barnidge

Liberty Regional Medical Center is undergoing a $14.7 million expansion that will renovate 60 percent of the building, which is between South Main Street and E.G. Miles Parkway. (Photograph by Patty Leon)

Liberty Regional Medical Center

A

ccording to LRMC Chief Executive Officer Scott Kroell, construction under way at the hospital will double the size of the emergency room and add obstetrics and a C-section operating room. The $14.7 million project, which will include renovations to 60 percent of the existing building

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

and will move the mobile MRI inside the hospital’s imaging department, is on schedule and on budget.

To date, crews have encountered no major obstacles during the construction phase, and the perinatal expansion and new GI unit will be finished in early July. The emergency-room expansion will be finished in early August, and the lab and imaging renovations will be finished in December.

The cardiopulmonary/cardiac rehabilitation and mammography renovations are complete, as is additional parking for the facility.

“At the present time, our plans are to host a grand opening and ribboncutting event with tours of the facility with an open invitation to our entire community and serving area once the ER and perinatal expansion is complete,” LRMC Director of Marketing Rene’ Harwell said.

A few new jobs may be created as more staffers will be needed to accommodate a larger emergency-room facility. The ER already sees approximately 28,000 patients annually and the expanded center will allow them to treat even more patients, Kroell said.

The hospital’s recruitment program is strong and active, Harwell said.

Some of the facility’s most recent additions include Dr. Jeff Brunelli of Liberty Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Aaron Ford of Liberty Cardiology, Dr. LaKimberly Pearson of Liberty Pediatrics, Dr. Ophelia Gherman of Liberty Family Medicine, Dr. Christina B. McCain of Southeast Georgia Surgery and Dr. Rebecca Coefield-Floyd of Southeast Georgia Surgery.

In February, the hospital began a long-term affiliation with consulting firm Studer Group, which helps with internal operations and creates a more customer-service-focused environment, Kroell said.

LRMC also will see some of the latest in medical advances with minimally invasive surgical techniques, especially in bariatric and orthopedic surgeries.

New equipment also will enhance patient care, according to Harwell. A new C-Arm will be used during surgical procedures — particularly orthopedic — and during emergency-care procedures. It’s an imaging scanner intensifier with radiographic capabilities used primarily for fluoroscopic imaging. An upgraded analyzer will be used for laboratory testing, and refaced exterior signage bearing the hospital’s new logo will be installed on the campus this year.

LRMC and its employees recently received several awards, honors and recognitions. According to Harwell, the hospital received the GHA Chairman’s Circle - Hospital Engagement Network Patient Safety Circle award and was recognized as one of Georgia’s Top Critical Access Hospitals in Georgia Trend Magazine’s December 2012 issue. Additionally, Kroell received Hometown Health’s Hospital Leader of the Year Award, and McCain was named a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Kroell added that a site is being prepared for a new clinic on the east end of the Tradeport East Business Park industrial complex in Midway. A building plan has been created and LRMC is looking to conduct a needs assessment with industry professionals at Tradeport East to see how a clinic best can serve them.

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Mayor Daisy S. Pray Mayor Pro-Tem Patricia A. Green Councilman Charlie Anderson, Sr. Councilwoman Sarah B. Hayes Councilman James Hendry Councilman Luciria L. Lovette City Clerk Shana T. Moss Deputy Clerk NeLean Lewis Fire Chief Robert Davis Police Chief Tracy A. McFadden, Sr. Public Works Supervisor Jimmie Martin Assistant Supervisor Ralph Roberts

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

45

Winn Army Community Hospital

W

inn Army Community Hospital continues to expand its footprint on Fort Stewart.

The hospital has several expansion and renovation projects under way — all of which are running on schedule and on budget, according to Winn public affairs officer Michelle Gordon.

Phase I will open in December. The first floor of the new 65,000-squarefoot addition will house musculoskeletal functions, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, orthopedics and podiatry. The second floor will house behavioral health and will bring together services that currently are spread out across the installation, said Col. Ronald Place, outgoing com-

mander of Winn Army Community Hospital.

Phase II, a $38 million expansion, began with a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this year and will create a new two-story, 43,637-square-foot emergency room facility with a specialized elevator that will speed and ease transition from the emergency room to the operating room. The emergency department is expected to be complete this fall, Gordon said.

“The second project includes expanding and renovating 55,000 square feet within the current Winn ACH footprint. Most notable is the pharmacy expansion, which is expected to increase from four service windows to seven,” she said. “A total of 13 clinics and departments will be affected by the project and a new 234-space parking lot will be built along the northeast corner of the facility to accommodate the increased serviceable population.

All Phase II construction projects

are scheduled to be complete in late 2016.”

The projects will bring more than just additional space to access and treat patients; they also will serve to update the hospital’s existing equipment and technology. Existing equipment is within the standard of care but not the most technologically advanced, Place said. Another $15 million has been allocated for new equipment and transition execution.

“It’s a multi-phased attempt to upgrade the technology that we have within our existing building in addition to the expansion project,” he said.

He added that state-of-the-art cardiac monitors will be brought onboard in the ER. Endoscopy will be incorporated into the operating rooms, and OR ceilings will be reinforced to allow equipment to drop down from the ceiling on arms. New flat-screen monitors will replace existing ones that take up a lot of space and are hard to move.

health care Cardiologists Liberty Cardiology Bryan Ristow, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 205, Hinesville 876-5620 Geoffrey Peters, M.D. SouthCoast Medical Group 445 S. Main St., Suite 201, Hinesville 527-5300

Chiropractors Regan Chiropractic Center Duncan Regan, D.C. 200 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 876-3964 www.reganchiro.com Arrowhead Clinic Dr. Monica Gilbert 809 Willowbrook Drive, Suite 107, Hinesville 368-7246 www.arrowheadclinics.com Advanced Chiropractic Center 514 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 876-2011 Liberty County Clinic of Chiropractic David Peer, D.C. 951 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 368-4002 www.libertyccc.com

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Dermatologists Dermatology and Skin Care Center Michael Sharkey, M.D. 510 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-3376

Dentists Wege Dental William E. Wege, D.M.D. 124 W. M. L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville 876-2155 www.wegedental.com Johnson Dental Group John P. Johnson, D.D.S. Joyce M. Roberts, D.M.D. 615 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 877-3070 www.johnpjohnson.com Howard Family Dental Dr. Daisy Broadhead Dr. Steve Schmitt 319H Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 368-6881 www.howardfamilydental.com Advent Dental Dr. Donna Phillips 102 West St., Hinesville 876-3200 Robert Simmons, D.D.S. 101 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 368-3333

T. Alan Lyle, D.D.S. 103-B Ryon Ave., Hinesville 876-9331 Townsend Family Dental Center Darin Townsend, D.M.D. 767 Veterans Parkway, Suite 102, Hinesville 877-6453 www.townsendfamilydentalcenter.com Midway Family Dental Dr. Rollin B. “Tad” Jackson lll 28 Butler Ave., Midway 880-2288 www.midwaydentist.com Coastal Dentures 28 Butler Ave., Midway 226-2506 www.mycoastaldentures.com

Emergency medicine Liberty Emergency Group Bobby Herrington, M.D. 462 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 369-9400 James Snow, D.O. 1275 Shiloh Road, Kennesaw 912-369-9410 St. Joseph’s/Candler Immediate Care — Hinesville Dr. Derek Heldzinger

Dr. Diane Harris 780 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 332-7262

Family medicine Liberty Family Medicine Ophelia Gherman, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 104, Hinesville 876-5644 Dr. Robert G. Carter 109 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-2290 Diversity Health Center 303 Fraser Drive, Hinesville 877-2227

General surgeons Southeast Georgia Surgery Christina B. McCain, M.D .

Rebecca Coefield-Floyd, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 102, Hinesville 876-5505

Hematologists & oncologists Low Country Cancer Care Associates George Negrea, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 105, Hinesville 368-3630

“For II know know the the plans plansIIhave have “For for you,” you,” declares declaresthe theLORD, LORD, for “plans to to prosper prosper you youand andnot not “plans to harm harm you, you, plans plansto togive giveyou you to hope and and aa future.” future.” hope Jeremiah 29:11 29:11 Jeremiah

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Internal medicine Bryan Medical Associates Adewunmi Sobowale, D.O. 740 Gen. Stewart Way, Suite 101, Hinesville 876-5452 Hinesville Family Care Center Calin Badea, M.D. 502 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Suite B, Hinesville 368-4169 Prime Care Medical Services Olugbenga Awe, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 105, Hinesville 408-2555 242 S. Coastal Highway 17, Midway 884-3444 SouthCoast Medical Group Firas Bannout, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 201, Hinesville 877-6822 Ludowici Medical Center Traiana Pacurar, M.D. 15 N. McDonald St., Ludowici 545-9511

Mental health American Brain 938 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 877-7924 Darsey, Black and Associates William Darsey, M.A., LPC 215 E. Court St., Hinesville 876-4010 Hope, Care & Consulting Suzanne Baroody, LPC, NCC 455 S. Main St., Suite 103, Hinesville 369-4673 Comfort Behavioral Health and Social Services 445 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 492-4739 Fraser Counseling Center 203 Mary Lou Drive, Hinesville 369-7777 http://www.frasercenter.com Helen’s Haven (Child Advocacy) Hinesville 369-2326 Gateway Behavioral Health 1113 Oglethorpe Highway 368-3502 www.gatewaybhs.org

Nephrologists SouthCoast Medical Group Nizar Eskandar, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 201, Hinesville 877-6822

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Obstetricians & gynecologists Hinesville Women’s Clinic 4540 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Suite B, Hinesville 369-7800 Comprehensive OB/GYN Health Center Seth Borquaye, M.D., Zorana Sifford, M.D., Kathleen Cools, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 202, Hinesville 877-2228

Oral & maxillofacial surgeons Coastal Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Mark Clayton, D.D.S. 4540 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Suite A, Hinesville 369-3692 www.coastaloms.com Southern Georgia Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. Roger L. Myers 790 Veterans Parkway, Suite 102, Hinesville 408-7100 www.rogermyersdmd.com

Orthodontists Vaught Orthodontics Robert A. Vaught, D.M.D., M.S.D. 601 Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 368-7000 www.vaughtorthodontics.com Dr. Leon Wills 715 Courtland Drive, Hinesville 876-4435 South Georgia Orthodontics 230 W. Gen. Screven Way, Suite 104, Hinesville 876-3880 www.eatmonorthodontics.com

Orthopedics Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia 475 S. Main St., Suite A, Hinesville 1-866-806-0800 http://www.bjisg.com Liberty Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Jeff Brunelli, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 106, Hinesville 369-0284 Optim Orthopedics 1146 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 877-4400

Ophthalmologists Georgia Eye Institute of the Southeast Mark Manocha, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 204, Hinesville 368-2522 Professional Eye Care Joseph “Jody” Pittman, O.D. 556 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-2020 www.doctorpittman.com Low Country Eye Care Tim D. Hendricks, O.D., Angela Appleman, O.D. 127 Gen. Screven Way, Hinesville 877-2422 www.lowcountryeye.com Walmart Vision Center 751 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 369-3432

Pediatricians Phillips Pediatrics Phillip Ajayi, M.D., Tometricia Brown, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 101, Hinesville 876-6868 Pajaro Pediatrics Julio Pajaro, M.D. 1763 E. G. Miles Parkway , Hinesville 876-2298 Liberty Pediatrics LaKimberly Pearson, M.D. 455 S. Main St., Suite 105, Hinesville 876-0250 Eric L. Hall, M.D. 512 S. Main St #A, Hinesville 369-5438

Plastic & reconstructive surgeons The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery Bahair H. Ghazi, M.D. 556 W. Oglethorpe Hwy, Hinesville 408-5068 http://www.mycosmeticsurgeon.md/ Most Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Daniel Most, M.D. 512 S. Main St., Suite B, Hinesville 335-6629 www.drdanielmostsavannahga.com

Podiatrists All Ways Feet Henry Taylor, D.P.M. 127 MacArthur Drive, Hinesville 876-8637

Ankle & Foot Associates Robson Spinola, D.P.M. Candice Escalea, D.P.M. 481 E.G. Miles Parkway, Suite C, Hinesville 432-7236 www.anklesandfeet.com Parkwood Podiatry Associates 600 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-3036 parkwoodpodiatryassociates.com

Pulmonary & sleep medicine Coastal Medical Specialists in Lung & Critical Care Adewumi Oguntunmibi, M.D. John Cortina, D.O. 508 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 369-5864

RADIOLOGY Radiology Associates of Savannah Sanford Berens, M.D. 462 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville, GA

Rehabilitation West Rehab & Sports Medicine 475 S. Main St., Hinesville 368-4131 www.westrehab.com Spine and Sport 740 Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 368-1078 www.spinesport.org

Specialized health care Alcoholics Anonymous 24-hour line: 1-912-356-3688 Fraser Counseling Center Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Individual, marital and family counseling 203 Mary Lou Drive, Hinesville 369-7777 Coastal Medical Assistance Clinic Liberty County Health Department 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-2173 Diversity Health Center 303 Fraser Drive, Hinesville 877-2227 Hospice Savannah 912-355-2289 Scale Solutions 203 West Court Street, Hinesville 877-7546

5

St. Joseph’s/Candler Home Healthcare 1-800-942-5232 www.sjchs.org/homehealth

Veterinarians Flemington Veterinary Hospital Dr. Peter Martin 3263 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Flemington 368-3226 Beatie Animal Clinic Dr. David Beatie 1001 Beatie Blvd., Hinesville 368-4080 Liberty Veterinary Clinic 1094 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville Dr. Maurice Sweat 876-3357

health department clinics The Hinesville Clinic Community Service Center 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-2173 Hours of operation: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Friday Fort Stewart WIC Clinic 1183 W. Bultman Ave., Fort Stewart 877-3330 Hours of operation: 7:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday Riceboro WIC Clinic Highway 119, Head Start Center, Riceboro 884-3889 (only on third Tuesday of each month. At all other times, call 876-2173) Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. only the third Tuesday of each month.

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Painting a

brighter Picture The Canoochee EMC Foundation Scholarship

At least ten $1,000 scholarships are given each year to students that are members of Canoochee EMC, or live in the homes of a Canoochee EMC member.

Senior Citizens/Disability Plan

Canoochee EMC has implemented another program aimed at helping our senior citizens and our disabled members by allowing payments to be made to coincide with benefit payments around the first of the month.

HomePlus Home Improvement Loan

Are you a member? Are you using too much energy in your home? Would you like to replace that aging air conditioner or upgrade your insulation and reduce your utility bills? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, then Canoochee EMC’s HomePlus Loan Program is a clear choice for you.

75

th

193 8

3 201

Co-op Connection Card

Members of Canoochee EMC can save money by shopping at participating businesses. The Card also has the added bonus of savings on prescription medications at participating pharmacies.

Visit www.canoocheeemc.com for more information.

2983 Hwy 196 West, Hinesville, GA • 800-342-0134 • canoocheeemc.com NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

49

real estate servIces www.FortStewart.com We’re here to assist you with your property management and rental needs.

Angie DeGroat, Wynde Wood, Sandy Duggan, Shawna Fisher, Faith Thomas, Rachel Parlett and Toby Mahan.

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912-876-8886

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Military connections

Community camaraderie Civilian businesses, organizations support military

By Randy C. Murray

M

any cities welcome newcomers with a claim to fame, such as a championship athletic team or a native celebrity. In Liberty County and Hinesville, the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division serves as both.

The areas surrounding Fort Stewart make one strong military community whose culture, values and economy are intricately connected with the Army and its affairs.

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Above left: Soldiers perform drills on Fort Stewart, the Army’s largest installation east of the Mississippi River.

Left and above: More than 9,000 troops from Fort Stewart were deployed during the first half of 2013, but Army officials say troops should be back in full force by the end of the year.

(Photographs by Randy C. Murray)

More than 9,000 troops have been deployed during the first half of 2013, but leaders say several rounds of homecomings should take place before the 2013 holidays.

Fort Stewart Rear Chief of Staff Col. Scott Jackson said during a March luncheon that having 9,000 troops deployed is “the maximum number we are going to deploy.”

Once they begin making their returns, about 4,500 soldiers and families are projected to remain in the area.

“Life’s not going to disappear from

Fort Stewart because their families are still here, unlike in Desert Storm where a lot of families went home,” he said.

According to fiscal year 2012 data, more than 24,235 active-duty soldiers, 6,608 civilian employees and contractors work on or near Fort Stewart, and they reside nearby with nearly 36,000 family members. Another 32,250 military retirees and their family members live in the surrounding communities, where they can maintain their ties to the “Rock of the Marne.”

Their combined payrolls, along with

“Coastal Georgia has everything I was looking for — great people, mild weather and access to outstanding facilities for health and recreation, both on and off post.”

— Paul Andreshak, retired soldier and executive director of Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter

Daily homemade from scratch bakery sweets!

Sunday Worship Services

9am and 11am Visit our website for more info on youth, children, music and special ministries

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annual expenditures from Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, have an economic impact on Southeast Georgia of $5.6 billion a year, according to Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Gregory’s “State of the Garrison” report in May 2013.

While the economy largely is connected to Fort Stewart, its soldiers, military civilians and their family members also are an integral part of the larger community, alongside retirees and their families.

Military residents are important members of the community because this is their home, too — whether it’s for the time they’re stationed here or for the rest of their lives.

They live, pay taxes, vote and serve jury duty here. Their children attend local schools. And many of them retire here.

“My wife and I decided to stay here in Liberty County when I retired from the Army because we love the moderate climate and the slower pace of life,” said Luis Carreras, who now serves as the Army Reserve Ambassador for Georgia. “This is a great place to raise a family. Even though I’m a city boy from New York, I’ve made Coastal Georgia my home.”

The ever-growing number of military retirees and the fact that StewartHunter has won the Army Community of Excellence award five times indicate why this area is called The Southern Living Station of Choice and why it is the fastest-growing community in Southeast Georgia.

“From where I view things, we have the Army’s habitual premier community of excellence in Fort Stew-

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Above: The community and soldiers join in commemorating the sacrifices of fallen soldiers each year during the annual Wreaths for Warriors Walk in December.

Right: A young fishing tournament participant shows off her catch during one of the installation’s family-oriented events. (Photographs by Randy C. Murray)

art and Hunter Army Airfield and the Southeast Georgia counties, cities and residents that support it,” said Paul Andreshak, a retired soldier and the executive director of Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter.

“I decided to stay here when I retired from federal service because Coastal Georgia has everything I was looking for — great people, mild weather and access to outstanding facilities for health and recreation, both on and off post.”

Carreras, Andreshak and most military retirees don’t simply retire then play golf or go fishing. Many of them start new careers. Most stay active through a myriad of military and veterans’ organizations. These veterans strongly support each other, their active-duty counterparts and the communities they now call home.

To show support for those who serve, many local businesses offer military discounts, and several organizations have committees and consultants to offer a military perspective.

The Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership, funded by the Department of Defense Office of Eco-

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

nomic Adjustment, is a four-county multi-governmental entity dedicated to ensuring that future growth in Bryan, Liberty, Long and Tattnall counties will promote the general welfare of the region. The partnership specifically focuses on education, housing, infrastructure and quality of life.

Still, other organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion are dedicated to connecting former and retired service members to the resources they need.

The community also rallies to commemorate patriotic and veterans’ events, such as the birthdays of various service branches, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Sept. 11 observances, Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day. Groups lay wreaths at memorial ceremonies, retire the American flag for private organizations and government agencies, provide food to soldiers and their families at public events and visit their own at the VA hospitals in Dublin and Charleston, S.C. Soon, they will be able to extend that service to veterans at the Hinesville VA clinic on Memorial Drive.

Military and veterans’ organizations American Legion and Auxiliary, Post 168 1121 Highway 84 West, Hinesville 876-0168 American Legion and Auxiliary, Post 321 Meets at the Midway Police Station 6:30 p.m. first Thursday of every month Call Dennis Fitzgerald, 884-2830, 912-980-5204 Association of the United States Army Hinesville Call Mark Baker, 706-566-5165 Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary, Chapter 46 Liberty County Health Department, Hinesville 368-2546 Hinesville Military Affairs Committee Meets at the Hinesville Police Department, Hinesville 7 p.m. fourth Monday of each month Call Linda Blanchard, 368-8211 Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter 300 S. Main St., Hinesville 408-6225 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary 931 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 876-6602 Vietnam Veterans of America, Liberty Chapter 789 Hinesville 369-5378

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Churches

Place of Faith Community ties, divine connections are plentiful

Gum Branch Baptist Church on Highway 196 West is among the area’s numerous spiritual gathering points.

C

hurch communities and their spiritual support are a vital part of Liberty County, which has more than 200 churches that represent 20 differ-

ent religions.

“Liberty County is a progressive community with a diverse cultural and spiritual history,” United Ministerial Alliance President Pastor Richard D. Hayes said.

Whether they enjoy small, intimate parishes or larger, more robust congregations, most newcomers can find their

56

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

niche in one of the area’s houses of worship. Southern Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians and Jehovah’s Witnesses alike should be able to satiate their religious desires.

For newcomers, the UMA offers information about local churches, pastors and ministries to help everyone find a place of worship, Hayes said.

The organization also acts as a beacon to strengthen the community and ensure its needs are met, based in the scriptural theme of Psalms 133:1: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

In addition to praise, churches also offer camaraderie and connections. Many local churches have youth groups, Bible studies, musical groups, ministries and more.

Churches improve the quality of life throughout Liberty County by providing chances to interact with like-minded people and gather as a family, even when your own may be thousands of miles away.

Houses of worship also offer support to those in need.

“When we come together, we’re able to clearly deal with challenges that are affecting the people we serve,” Hayes said. “We are united in facing those challenges to ensure the people get the help they need.”

The Joseph House, a local food pantry and clothing closet, was founded by the Live Oak Church of God and helps provide the essentials to numerous people throughout the community. Another faith-based operation, the Manna House, aims to ease hunger through its soup kitchen.

Congregations often are the backbone of charitable and celebratory events such as parades, Relay for Life, blood drives, area cleanups and international efforts. Pastors serve as business owners, chaplains for the Georgia State Patrol, event organizers and educators. Some area churches offer scholarships and sponsor students for religious activities.

The idea of entering an established congregation could be intimidating, but don’t let that scare you. The churches of Liberty County encourage new members and quickly will make you feel at home.

United Ministerial Alliance To get involved, email presidentofuma@gmail.com.

Episcopal church

The reverend William h. lea, priest

Sunday 9:45 aM Youth christian Education Nursery open 10:00 aM holy communion, rite ii 11:30 aM adult christian Education

WedneSday 9:00 aM Morning prayer 6:00 pM Evening prayer (3rd week)

The reverend adna r. chaffee iV, Deacon

Friday 8:00 aM holy communion rite ii, Korean service The rev D. Ki chul lee Priest to Korean Congregation

Follow us on Facebook for events & updates | Sunday Homily available on our website

302 East General stewart Way, hinesville | (912) 876-2744 | www.stphilipshinesville.com

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

57

churches African Methodist Episcopal Bethel AME Church 233 Gause St., Hinesville 876-5647 www.bethelhinesville.com Pleasant Grove AME 1450 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-3266 or 368-4112 www.pleasantgroveame.com St. Peter’s AME 5394 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 876-6874 Thebes AME Church 132 Walthour Road, Midway 884-9116 or 884-2647

Apostolic Calvary Apostolic Temple 2975 S. Coastal Highway, Riceboro 884-4073 Cathedral of Faith Church 1437 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville 876-9857

Last Days Full Gospel Apostolic Ministry 306 Fennell St., Hinesville 876-3543 Pillars in Zion Apostolic Church 90 Sanders Road, Allenhurst 368-5146 or 368-3071 Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ 901 Pipkin Road, Hinesville 368-5153 progressivehinesville@yahoo.com www.progressivechurch.org

Assemblies of God Victory Assembly of God 612 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 876-8231 http://victoryhinesville.com/

Baptist Baconton Missionary Baptist 20 Tibet Road, Walthourville 368-9154 www.BacontonMissionaryBaptistChurch. org

Beach Hill Baptist Highway 17 North, Fleming 884-2858 First Baptist Church of Hinesville 220 E. Memorial Drive, Hinesville 876-2687 www.fbchinesvillega.com

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Korean First Baptist 1094 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 369-7500 Liberty Missionary Baptist Church 1110 Hodges Road, Hinesville 368-6142

First African Baptist Church 1709 Barrington Ferry Road, Riceboro 884-2838

Midway First Baptist 10471 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-5446

First Zion Baptist Church E.B. Cooper Highway, Riceboro 884-2947

Military Christian Servicemen 2031 Talmadge Road, Allenhurst 876-2881

Fleming Baptist Church 3526 Coastal Highway 17, Fleming 884-5759 www.flemingbaptistchurch.org

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist 1370 Shaw Road, Hinesville 876-6464 www.mtzionministries.net

Friendship Baptist Church 12199 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-3231

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist P.O. Box 218, Walthourville 368-2696

Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church 4424 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Allenhurst 877-5909

New Anderson Grove Baptist 423 Retreat Road, Midway 884-3587

Gum Branch Baptist Church 8590 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 876-3630

740 East General Stewart Way, Suite 210 • Hinesville GA • 912.877.1906

58

www.gumbranch.org

New Zion Missionary Baptist 9235 E.B. Cooper Highway, Riceboro 884-2454

Palmyra Missionary Baptist Sunbury Road, Midway 884-3291 Riceboro Baptist Church E.B. Cooper Highway, Riceboro 884-3523 Shiloh Missionary Baptist Temple 229 Thompson Road, Hinesville 877-3122 South Main Baptist 1166 S. Main St., Hinesville 368-4008 Sunbury Missionary Baptist 512 Trade Hill Road, Midway 884-3521 St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church 48 Elim Road, Hinesville 876-9889 http://stlukembc.com Trinity Missionary Baptist Temple 1016 Live Oak Drive, Hinesville 369-5363 www.trinitymissionarybaptist.com Westside Baptist Church 108 Welborn St., Hinesville 876-7600 westsidebaptistchurch.us Wilderness Baptist Church Midway

884-5076

Baptist — independent Grace Baptist Church 1406 Airport Road, Hinesville 368-2358 www.gracebaptistchurchhinesville.com Victory Baptist Church 1933 Talmadge Road, Allenhurst 368-2722 or 876-2881 www.victoryinallenhurst.com

Catholic St. Stephen Catholic Church 399 Woodland Drive, Hinesville 876-4364 http://diosav.org/parishes/hinesville

Church of Christ

Live Oak Church of God 296 Live Oak Church Road, Hinesville 876-8769 www.liveoakchurch.org Riceboro Church of God Highway 17, Riceboro 884-5749

Episcopal

Church of God in Christ Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries 5253 W. Oglethorpe Highway P.O. Box 748, Walthourville Abundant Life Worship Center P.O. Box 443, Hinesville 876-7452 www.abundantlifeworshipcenter.net Full Gospel Tabernacle 809 Veterans Parkway, Hinesville 368-3044

Church of Christ of Allenhurst 4667 Highway 84 West, Allenhurst 876-9211 cofcallenhurst.com

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Church of God

Church of Christ in Unity Mission 5270 Lewis Frasier Road, Midway 884-9799

Holy Church of God 128 Clay St., Hinesville 876-2718

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 220 Sandy Run Drive, Hinesville 368-3910

St. Philips Episcopal Church 302 E. Gen. Stewart Way, Hinesville 876-2744 www.stphilipshinesville.com

Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness 1779 Talmadge Road, Allenhurst 876-8896

Missionary Korean Mission Church 1199 Curtis Road, Hinesville 369-6683

Nazarene New Hope Church of the Nazarene 150 Sandy Run Drive, Hinesville 368-5457

Southern Living in Liberty County

Liberty County Board of Commissioners Donald Lovette, Chairman Dist. 1, Marion Stevens, Sr. Dist. 2, Justin L. Frasier Dist. 3, Connie Thrift Dist. 4, Pat Bowen Dist. 5, Gary Gilliard Dist. 6, Eddie J. Walden

Left to Right: Bowen, Stevens, Gilliard, Chairman Lovette, Thrift, Walden, Frasier.

Liberty County is blessed with an abundance of southern beauty and charm, but more importantly, we’re blessed to be home to Fort Stewart and soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division. These defenders of freedom have found a home of welcome and respect. 3rd Infantry Division soldiers are a vital part of this community and that makes Liberty County a great place to live.

Thousands of retiring veterans have discovered Liberty County as a great place to live for a lifetime.

Southern charm and hospitality abound. Step back from

the hustle of the business world and find yourself in a way of life that few have the opportunity to experience.

All roads lead to Liberty County. We’re connected to the outside world by interstates, rails, air and sea ports.

History surrounds us. You’ll enjoy exploring the historic Midway Museum and Liberty Trail. Liberty County is the home of Button Gwinnett and Lyman Hall, two signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Highly trained engineers spend their week manufac-

turing high tech components and spend Saturday’s engineering the perfect golf swing. Liberty County offers the tranquility of coastal beauty living in harmony with the millwrights of Interstate Paper who operate one of the largest paper mills in the southeast.

Liberty County offers a mix of old south tradition with advanced state of the art technology. It’s a lifestyle second to none. We live in a place that we’re proud to call home. Once visited, you too will want to stay for a lifetime.

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

59

Nondenominational Bethesda Church 116 Patriot’s Trail, Hinesville 368-6121 www.theamazinglife.net Christ the Rock Ministries 4156 Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 369-3551 Christ Prayer Deliverance & Outreach Ministry 4203 Highway 84 West, Allenhurst 876-6670 www.cpdom.org

New Day Outreach Ministry 77 Kent Road, Walthourville 415-1204

Pentecostal and Pentecostal Holiness Aisle of Hope Holiness 314 Gause St., Hinesville 876-2892 Faith Temple Holiness Church 5170 Highway 84, Hinesville 876-2540

Church of Deliverance 1060 S. Main St., Hinesville 876-2268

Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal 1229 Curtis Road, Hinesville 368-4448 http://iglesiapentecostalmihinesville. webs.com

Crossroads Church 2470 Highway 196 West, Hinesville 876-9600 www.crossroadsonline.cc

Life United Pentecostal Church 1301 Pipkin Road, Hinesville 368-4660 www.lifeupc.org

His Anointing Christian Church 60 Butler Road, Midway 884-4671

Powerhouse of Deliverance 218 Airport Road, Hinesville 368-0617

Liberty Prayer Chapel 302 Memorial Drive, Hinesville 368-7335

Zion Temple Holiness Church 6201 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-5770

Presbyterian

United Methodist

Allenhurst Presbyterian 30 Church St., Allenhurst 369-8999

First United Methodist 203 N. Main St., Hinesville 368-2200 www.hinesvillemethodist.com

First Presbyterian Church of Hinesville 320 Memorial Drive, Hinesville 876-3670 http://www.fpc-hinesville.org/

Midway United Methodist 215 Martin Road, Midway 884-2329

Flemington Presbyterian Church 750 Old Sunbury Road, Flemington 876-2706 www.facebook.com/flemingtonpc

Mt. Olivet United Methodist 667 Mt. Olivet Church Road, Fleming 884-3536

Christian/Misc.

Korean Presbyterian Church 1010 Beatie Blvd., Hinesville 877-5588

Agape Christian Fellowship Church 1896 Shaw Road, Walthourville 876-5929 or 876-4463

Midway First Presbyterian Church 672 N. Coastal Highway, Midway 884-5967

Christ Tabernacle of Faith Church 908 S. Main St., Hinesville 610-2902

United Church of Christ Church of Christ 317 W. Court St., Hinesville 876-2816

Destiny Christian Center 321-C Memorial Drive, Hinesville 368-8038 Faith Bible Chapel 1603 Seabrook Island Drive, Midway 884-3697

Serving Liberty County Since 1911

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Fellowship of Love Worship Center 4372 Oglethorpe Highway, Allenhurst 877-6080 www.fellowshipoflove.net

If you’re feeling nervous about visiting the dentist, we understand. At Howard Family Dental, our #1 priority is to help you to feel completely at ease throughout your visit. That’s why we offer a range of sedation options to help you relax.

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Greater Works Community Church 8966 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-2008

New Life Family Church 435 Martin Road, Midway 884-2966 Newlifefamilychurch.net

Hinesville House of Refuge 203 North Maple Drive, Hinesville 877-7252 http://houseofrefugeinc1.org/home

Restoration Church 201 Mary Lou Drive, Hinesville 977-9033 www.restorationchurchnow.org

Hinesville Korean Full Gospel Church 758 Tupelo Trail, Hinesville 368-8780

Solomon Temple Church of Christ Midway 884-5478 Trinity Outreach Ministries 546 Bacontown Road, Midway 884-6058

House of Prayer Christian Church 2540 Airport Road, Hinesville 368-1553

Fort Stewart

House of Refuge 307 Welborn St., Hinesville 877-7576

Main Post Chapel Building 500, 10 Cavalry Way 767-5409

Junior Church of Christ Retreat Road, Riceboro 884-3985

Marne Chapel Building 610, Gulick Ave./Sixth St. 44 767-8801 Ga-1

Living Waters Ministries 109 Wilson Ave., Hinesville 661-4079 www.lwchministry.org

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Recreation for all ages Athletics, parks and clubs enhance spare time Compiled by Patty Leon and a multi-purpose room that can be rented for events. Open swim and lessons will be offered at the pool and instructional programs will be offered in the multi-purpose room.

607 Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 912-448-5273 or 912-876-5359 http://lcrd2.homestead.com

The Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA Youngsters strut their soccer skills during a Liberty County Recreation Department game. The department offers league play in several sports to keep all ages active.

(Photograph by Patty Leon)

W

hether indoors or out, Liberty County and Hinesville offer a host of opportunities to stay active.

Water enthusiasts love to explore the coastal marshes by boat or kayak, and St. Catherines Island has a public beach that’s a big draw for boaters. It’s also an area where anglers cast lines for miles of inshore and offshore fishing.

On land, several hunting and nature preserves also offer a chance to get up close and personal with wildlife.

For those keen on sports and manmade diversions, area organizations provide opportunities for recreational activity for children and young adults, while five area golf courses offer a place to tee off and appreciate Coastal Georgia’s sun and warmth.

Social butterflies will find opportunities to connect through the area’s rich blend of civic and volunteer organizations.

The Liberty County Recreation Department offers sports and activities for children and adults of all ages throughout the year, including leagues for baseball, softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball. The LCRD also keeps kids moving and entertained with summer programs held at several parks and facilities throughout the county.

The LCRD’s main office is located in the heart of Hinesville at Liberty Independent Troop Park on Highway 84.

It is adjacent to the Stafford Pavilion, which houses the public swimming pool.

This summer, a new LCRD complex at the Liberty County Community Center is expected to be complete in July. Located on Highway 84 in Midway, the complex is a big addition for residents in the east end.

The Midway/Riceboro branch of the Live Oak Public Library will relocate to the complex, which also includes a swimming pool, playground

aims to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirits, minds and bodies for all.

The Liberty Y, a branch of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, serves individuals and families in Liberty County and Fort Stewart with sports and activities for children, workout facilities for adults and group fitness programs.

201 Mary Lou Drive, Hinesville 912-368-9622 www.ymcaofcoastalgeorgia.org

The St. James Sports Center provides east-end children a variety of sports and academic programs ranging from AAU and YBOA basketball to day camps and after-school programs. St. James also provides adults with recreational opportunities. The center has a weight room, game room, concessions, a full kitchen and a basketball court in addition to the recently added baseball and soccer fields. The center also anticipates expanding the gym with a second basketball court and sporting area for wrestling, tae kwon do and music venues.

1140 Holmestown Road between Midway and Hinesville 912-884-3016 or 912-980-4559 www.coastalcrewrebels.com NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

63

PARKS | GOLF COURSES | PASS AND PERMITS | CIVIC GROUPS NONPROFITS | SERVICE GROUPS Parks Bradwell Park Commerce St. and East M.L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville Gazebo and park benches Hinesville Swimming Pool Highway 84, Hinesville Pool, benches, playground, restrooms, softball fields, walking trail Irene B. Thomas Park Sharon St., Hinesville 876-5359 Fishing pond, full kitchen, gas and charcoal grills, park benches, picnic tables, playground, restrooms, walking trail Jack Carter Park 115 East M.L. King Jr. Drive, Hinesville 876-3564 Basketball court and playground James A. Brown Park 800 Tupelo Trail, Hinesville 876-7220 Restrooms, walking trail, softball fields Liberty County Recreation Department Skate Park 607 Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 876-5359 Ramps and rails Liberty Independent Troop Park Highway 84, Hinesville Football field, park benches, playground, restrooms, softball fields, swimming pool, walking trail Jones Creek Park Isle of Wight Road, Midway Public landing for small boats Riceboro Dock Highway 17 South, Riceboro Public boat landing with large fishing pier Sunbury Dock Sunbury Road off of Highway 38 Public land with direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway Gum Branch Park Highway 196, Gum Branch Playground, picnic pavilion with kitchen, restrooms, basketball/tennis court, softball fields, walking trail with workout stations Joseph Miller Park 7036 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway Picnic pavilion, restrooms, basketball court, walking trail, softball field

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

Eve Park at Half Moon Next to Colonels Island Marina Screened-in picnic tables, restrooms, kitchen with charcoal grill, playground Briar Bay Park Barrington Ferry Road, near Riceboro 884-2057 Playground, picnic pavilion with kitchen, restrooms, basketball court, volleyball court, workout station, lighted ball field, walking track Hillery Park Carter Road, Walthourville Picnic tables, restrooms, kitchen, charcoal grill, playground, walking trail, softball field Jesse Stevens Park Highway 84 East at Dorchester Academy Playground, ball field, picnic table seating, restrooms, kitchen, charcoal grill Holmestown Park Westfield Road, Holmestown Playground, basketball court, picnic tables, restrooms, kitchen, charcoal grill Main St. Park/Liberty Trail 201 South Main St., Hinesville Gazebo, park benches, walking trail Stafford Pavilion Highway 84, Hinesville Football field, full kitchen, picnic table seating, playground, restrooms, softball fields, swimming pool

Semiprivate, 18 holes 832-4653 www.sapelohammock.com

Pass and Permit Office Fort Stewart Pass & Permit Office Ga. Highway 144, Fort Stewart 435-8061 or 435-8033 Located in front of the gun and archery ranges, the Fort Stewart Pass & Permit Office is the place to go to purchase onpost hunting and fishing permits. After purchase, remember to pick up your instructional package, which will guide you through the automated check-in process.

The office is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Monday-Friday and from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

For information on hunting and fishing at Fort Stewart, go to www.stewart. army.milldpw/wildlife/ Home%20page. htm or www.stewart.army.milldpw/fish/ default.htm.

Civic clubs Al Sarrar Shrine Club 572-4823 Hinesville Lions Club 281-253-0324 hinesvillelions@yahoo.com Hinesville Rotary Club 432-8577

Golf courses

Hinesville/Fort Stewart Shrine Club 368-7470

Cherokee Rose Country Club 225 Cherokee Trail, Hinesville Semiprivate, 18 holes 876-5503

Liberty County Branch of the NAACP 376-2578 libertycountynaacp@gmail.com

Sterling Links Golf Club 53 Sterling Links Way, Richmond Hill Public, 18 holes 727-4653 www.sterlinglinksgolf.com Taylors Creek Golf Club 2150 Gulick Ave., Fort Stewart Public, 18 holes 767-2370 Black Creek Golf Club Bill Futch Road, Ellabell Semiprivate, 18 holes 858-4653 www.blackcreekgolfclub.com Sapelo Hammock Golf Club 1354 Marshview Drive, Shellman Bluff

Liberty Coastal Lions 876-8324 gbruce2006@yahoo.com www.libertycoastallions.org Liberty County Kiwanis libertykiwanis@gmail.com Knights of Columbus Council 10210 – Franciscan Martyrs of Georgia 271-1126

Masonic groups Hinesville Masonic Lodge #271 368-5619 Button Gwinnett Chapter 497 Order of Eastern Stars 368-8076

Sororities Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Hinesville Alumnae Chapter 884-2024 http://www.hacdstalumnae.com Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Nu Rho Omega Chapter npoaka@yahoo.com

Nonprofit organizations American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Liberty County 912-355-5196 www.cancer.org American Diabetes Association 912-353-8110 www.diabetes.org American Heart Association 678-224-2000 1-800-257-6941 www.heart.org March of Dimes 912-354-5900 www.marchofdimes.com/georgia United Way of the Coastal Empire — Liberty Office Brantley Building, Suite A 135 E. M.L. King Jr. Blvd., Hinesville 368-4282 www.uwce.org

Service groups Dorchester Improvement Association 8787 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-2347 Keep Liberty County Beautiful 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 880-4888 www.keeplibertybeautiful.org Liberty Humane Shelter 279 Briarwood Circle, Hinesville 876-3647 www.libertyhumaneshelter.com American Red Cross 218 Frasier Drive, Hinesville 876-3975 www.savannahredcross.org Junior League of Savannah 28 E. 41st St., Savannah 912-790-1002 www.jrleaguesav.org

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PROFESSIONAL GROUPS PROFESSIONAL groups Hinesville Area Board of Realtors 213 E. Court St., Hinesville 368-4227 www.usamls.net/hinesville/ Hinesville Downtown Development Authority 302 S. Main St., Hinesville 877-4332 www.hinesvilledowntown.com Liberty County Chamber of Commerce 425 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-4445 www.libertycounty.org Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau 425 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville 368-3580 www.discoverlibertyga.com Liberty County Retired Educators Association 368-0044

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS SavannahMallAd6313.indd 1 2013

Places of interest Brewers Christmas TreeBlueberry Farm Robert Hill Road, Midway www.brewerchristmastreefarm.com Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center 189 Charlie Butler Road, Midway Dorchester Academy and Museum of African-American History 8787 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway 884-2347 Dorchester Village Civic Center 1804 Islands Highway, Midway 884-3342 Dunham Farms 5836 Islands Highway, Midway 880-4500 www.dunhamfarms.com Fort Morris 2559 Fort Morris Road, Midway 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday 884-5999

Fort Stewart Museum 2022 Veterans Parkway, Building T904, 2, Fort Stewart Temporarily closed.

767-7885 Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center and Museum 622 Ways Temple Road, Riceboro 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 884-4440 or 272-8061 www.geecheekunda.com Hinesville Area Arts Council Gallery 102 Commerce St., Hinesville Rotating exhibitions; hours vary www.hinesvillearts.com LeConte-Woodmanston Rice Plantation and Botanical Gardens 4918 Barrington Ferry Road, Riceboro Tours are by appointment from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday 884-6500 www.leconte-woodmanston.org

Melon Bluff Nature and Heritage Preserve 2999 Islands Highway, Midway 880-4500 Midway Museum Includes Midway Church and Cemetery 491 N. Coastal Highway, Midway 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 884-5837 www.themidwaymuseum.org Old Liberty County Jail & Museum 302 S. Main St., Hinesville Tours scheduled by appointment 877-4332 www.discoverdowntown.com Seabrook Village 660 Trade Hill Road, Sunbury (Midway) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 884-7008

6/7/13 12:54 PM

leisure

Arts and culture abound Groups celebrate the finer side of life

By Danielle Hipps has served as the area militia for 225 years. The troop first was mustered into service Oct. 8, 1861, at Sunbury, and they have been mustered several times since.

Randy Branch is the society’s president.

“We’re trying to pull all the history together so people can learn, preserve and pass on this knowledge,” Branch said. He hopes an exhibit on St. Catherines Island will become part of the museum in the future.

The Liberty History Center is open Thursdays during the Hinesville Farmers Market, and Branch said he hopes to expand the hours in the future with a team of volunteers.

Prospective historical society members can call Branch at 977-3282 or go to www.libertyhistory.org.

Hinesville Area Arts Council

Army Public Health Nurse Valarie Isaac, left, speaks with members of the Hinesville Gators U-11 soccer team about making health-conscious decisions during Go Pink Night in October 2012. The annual event draws together members of the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority, Hinesville Area Arts Council and other organizations. (Photograph by Danielle Hipps)

L

iberty is only 45 minutes from the bustling art and culture hub of Savannah, but creativity is not confined to Georgia’s premier coastal city.

Hinesville and the surrounding areas also have creative outlets that appeal to the finer side of life — from an arts council to an annual festival dedicated to world cultures, those seeking a cultural experience are sure to find it here.

Liberty County Historical Society The organization dedicated to preserving Liberty County’s lore and legacies recently celebrated the opening of a downtown storefront to showcase its history.

The Liberty County Historical Society opened the Liberty History Center at 100 Commerce St. in May. It currently features an exhibition on the Liberty Independent Troop, which

Those seeking to unleash their inner Ansel Adams or Monet will find ample opportunities through the Hinesville Area Arts Council, a nonprofit that offers classes, exhibitions, adult paint parties and more.

The council has a downtown Hinesville facility at 102 Commerce St., where monthly exhibitions typically open with receptions that allow viewers to meet the artist. Exhibiters range from beginners to professionals who majored in fine arts, and subject matter has included coastal landscapes and more cerebral mixed media.

For family fun, the group hosts several movie nights each year as well as two Cupcake War events, where attendees can sample a smorgasbord of baked creations before deciding on a people’s choice winner.

Classes appeal to a variety of ages NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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and include concepts like comic creation, oil painting and even make-up application techniques.

Liberty Theatre Company For thespians and those who love live theater, the Liberty Theatre Company provides a performance outlet.

The troupe, which serves as the performing-arts wing of the Hinesville Area Arts Council, aims to perform two productions each year. This spring, they brought Neil Simon’s comedy “Barefoot in the Park” to life, and in fall 2012 they got the audience involved in the musical comedy whodunit, “Clue: The Musical.”

Several area churches also stage plays for annual occasions and religious holidays.

Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette leads Love-It-Productions, which has expanded the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to reach younger audiences.

To become involved with the Liberty Theatre Company or for upcoming shows, go to www.hinesvillearts.com.

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Liberty County Mass Choir For songbirds, the Liberty County Mass Choir is an opportunity to practice and perform a range of musical selections at community events throughout the year.

The ecumenical group began long ago with between 60 and 70 members, but the group now is much more intimate with about 25.

But music coordinator Eleanor Hudson said singers of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets are welcome to join.

“We need singers, whether they can sing very well or not,” Hudson said. “If they love to sing, we love to have them.

Especially men — they seem rare.”

The group purchases its own music, which comes with songbooks and CDs for practice, leading up to its annual performances.

They reflect on American history at the end of June with a patriotic concert that includes versions of the “Star Spangled Banner,” geographical songs like “Shenandoah” and “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor.”

They also have performed more

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religious selections from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, and classics like Handel’s “Messiah.”

“I think it maybe can help people appreciate this type of music, … for a cultural setting and for the pure enjoyment of the music,” Hudson said. “And of course, we love doing it — sometimes we feel like we’re doing it for ourselves.”

Leading up to performances, like the annual Hinesville Mayor’s Thanksgiving Service or their Christmas cantata, the group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the First United Methodist Church in Hinesville.

To become involved with the group, call music coordinator Eleanor Hudson at 876-7610 or email behud5@yahoo. com.

Stars & Stripes Quilt Guild Another group in the area shares a common interest in preserving and reviving an art that most people associate with past generations.

The Stars & Stripes Quilt Guild has about 45 members and meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center on the first Tuesday of the month — but they’re interested in recruiting younger members.

“We are venturing, we are really venturing out, trying to reach out to the public,” Stars & Stripes Quilt Guild President Karen Haymans said. “I keep telling them: ‘Quilting is a dying art because people think they can’t do this.’”

Quilters and sewing fanatics of all skill levels belong to the group, and its mission is to help everyone hone their craft through custom creations.

They were a featured exhibitor in the Hinesville Area Arts Council during March, and they held demonstrations for World Quilting Day. “I would say we range from teenagers to over 80, and actually, they all intertwine, because something that somebody else does, we may say ‘I want to do that — show me what you’re doing,’” Haymans said. Among the members are soldiers, nurses, teachers, doctors, librarians and chiropractors.

To become involved, call Marsha Cross at Cross Screen Printing at 3692252 or email starsstripesquiltguild@ hotmail.com.

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leisure

Let the Liberty Trail be your guide From Colonial era to Geechee preservation, heritage tourism lives on

By Patty Leon

L

iberty County still is closely tied to its heritage, which has been documented since the 1700s.

The land that would form Liberty County was ceded to the English by the Creeks in the Treaty of Savannah on May 21, 1733, a move that was confirmed and expanded by agreements of 1735 and 1736.

Since then, these lands have seen struggles against Spanish and British rule, Southern plantations rich with rice and Civil War conflict. Each event has shaped the area’s rich and still-celebrated history.

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The historic Liberty Trail, a 10-stop driving tour with points throughout the county, preserves and displays that history as well as local culture and ecology.

In addition to offering outdoor family fun, the trail also supports the local economy, according to Leah Poole, CEO of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Liberty County is a diverse community, representing a multitude of races, ethnicities and cultures,” Poole said. “It is our hope that the Liberty Trail does the same, also representing our community and its extensive co-

Seabrook Village offers a glimpse at African-American life between 1835 and 1930, and Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center in Midway allows visitors to get up close and personal with nature.

(Photographs by Patty Leon)

lonial, African-American heritage and cultural tourism aspects.”

Because the trail offers visitors a little bit of everything — perusing sites, bike riding, kayaking and fishing — it’s a valuable treasure with infinite possibilities.

The trail begins near the coast at the Sunbury Cemetery and works its way west. The self-guided structure means visitors can follow the path in a single day or plan longer stays at each of the locations.

Sunbury Cemetery is one of the few standing remnants of the 18th Century society at Sunbury, which was protected by Fort Morris.

Re-enactors bring life to Fort Morris State Historic Site during several annual events, such as the November “Come and Take It!” encampment. (Photographs by Patty Leon and Tim Hipps)

Sunbury Cemetery Established in 1758, Sunbury was the second-largest town in Georgia before the Revolutionary War. At one point, Sunbury’s seaport was a major shipping port in Colonial Georgia. But in 1778, during the Revolutionary War, British troops captured Sunbury for three years and left it in ruins. A yellow-fever epidemic and two hurricanes turned Sunbury into a ghost town by the mid-1800s.

The Sunbury Cemetery is the final resting place of the early settlers of Sunbury and members of the Midway Congregational Church. While many of the cemetery’s burials were from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, most of the grave markers were destroyed by the 1870s. Thirty-four original markers remain, with the oldest dating back to 1788.

Hours: Self-guided tours from sunrise to sunset Directions: From I-95, take Islands Highway east to Fort Morris Road. Turn left onto Fort Morris Road and follow Fort Morris Road to Sunbury Road. Turn left on Sunbury Road and turn right on Dutchman’s Cove Road.

Fort Morris State Historic Site Three forts once stood at Fort Mor-

ris State Historic Site, and the shelters have been instrumental in protecting Coastal Georgia. The first fort was built in 1741 to protect the plantation home of Sunbury settler Capt.

Mark Carr from Indians who were allied with the Spanish Colonial Forces in Florida. The fort was dormant for a few years before it was refortified in 1756 against a rumored invasion of Creek Indians and French pirates during the French and Indian War. In 1776, delegates from the Colonial Congress recognized the importance of Sunbury’s emerging seaport and authorized the building of two ports — one in Savannah and the other in Sunbury.

Fort Morris was built entirely of earth and wood at the site of the existing fort. It mounted 24 guns and housed more than 200 men.

British troops barraged the fort Nov. 25, 1778, while it was under the command of Col. John McIntosh.

The British demanded that McIntosh surrender the fort, to which he infamously replied: “Come and take it!”

The British troops withdrew, but they conquered the fort in January 1779 and renamed it Fort George. During the War of 1812, it was renamed Fort Defiance but never was called into active service.

Today, Fort Morris is known as the

last spot on Georgia soil where the old Colonial flag was flown. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1970. The state now owns the site, where earthworks show the size of the fort that once defended the Medway River and seaport of Sunbury. Scenic trails overlook St. Catherines Sound, and the museum offers a glimpse of the fort’s role during the wars.

Fort Morris hosts annual events, such the “Come and Take It!” American Revolutionary encampment. The 2013 event is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nov. 23 and will feature re-enactments of Col. McIntosh’s stand against the British troops. There will be demonstrations of cannon and musket firings and 18th-century music. The fort also will host an Independence Day Colonial Fair from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 4, a Labor Day commemoration from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 2 and Colonial Christmas from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 14.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission: $3-$4.50 Location: 2559 Fort Morris Road, Sunbury Contact: 912-884-5999 Website: http://www.gastateparks.org/info/ftmorris/ Directions: From Sunbury Cemetery, get back onto Fort Morris Road and travel one-fourth of a mile to the fort entrance on left.

NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

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Seabrook Village

Award-winning African-American living history museum Seabrook Village offers a glimpse at African-American life from 1865-1930. The community was established by Gen. William Sherman’s Field Order 15, which confiscated a strip of coastline from South Carolina to Florida and redistributed roughly 400,000 acres to newly freed black families in 40-acre plots. Seabrook Village allowed African-Americans to become landowners, many of them on the same lands they once worked as slaves.

“Our motto was making do,” Seabrook Village operations manager Florence Roberts said. “We made do with whatever we had or whatever we could gather together. … People had to really pull their resources together, but that was the one thing about this community back then. They pulled together and worked together — it was a true sense of community.”

Visitors can tour the one-room Seabrook School and browse artifacts.

During planned group visits, costumed interpreters re-create life as it was in the old village, where corn was handground into meal and clothes were washed on scrub boards. Exhibits include remnants of the grave art of Cyrus Bowens, whose concrete work and wood carvings elaborately decorated his family’s graves at the Sunbury Baptist Church.

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Saturday tours by appointment only.

Location: 660 Trade Hill Road, Midway Contact: 912-884-7008 Directions: From Fort Morris, turn left to take Fort Morris Road back toward Islands highway. Travel 2.5 miles and make a right at Trade Hill Road. The museum office is on the right.

Melon Bluff Nature and Heritage Reserve Although it is part of the historic trail, Melon Bluff is a private section of the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.

The reserve once was a rice and rowcrop plantation, and its interpretive trail now features a 1.5-mile loop through the maritime forest and along the marsh edge. Visitors will learn about the time when the Southern live oak was the most valuable tree in the

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world. Bird watchers can visit the treetop viewing platform that rises 45 feet above the marshes of the North Newport River.

Hours: By appointment only for groups of six or more Location: 2999 Islands Highway, Midway Contact: 912-884-5779 Directions: From Seabrook Village, take Trade Hill Road back to Islands Highway. Head west on Islands Highway for 1.5 miles and Melon Bluff will be on the left.

Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center Boasting a 1,900-foot boardwalk, a 20-foot observation tower and a dock off the marsh, the Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center is another jewel for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts.

Oak, palm, palmetto and magnolia trees line the wooden deck. Visitors will delight in the animals that call Cay Creek home. The trail cuts across dikes once used to grow and cultivate rice that flourished in the area.

Hours: Cay Creek Wetlands is wheelchair accessible and is open daily from dusk to dawn.

Location: 189 Charlie Butler Road, Midway Contact: 912-884-3344 Directions: From Melon Bluff, continue east on Islands Highway (which becomes Highway 84 and Oglethorpe Highway) for approximately 6 miles. Turn left onto Charlie Butler Road and the entrance to Cay Creek is down one-tenth of a mile on the right.

Midway Museum, Church and Cemetery Settled by Puritans in 1752, the city of Midway was home to two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett. It also is the final resting place of two Revolutionary War generals, Daniel Stewart and James Screven. The town, which thrived on agriculture, was named for being midway between Savannah and the Scottish settlement of Darien. In the center of town, on what now is U.S. Highway 17, Midway had an artesian well where travelers stopped to quench their thirst, water their horses and make trades.

The original Midway Church was built in 1756 but was burned to the ground during the Revolutionary War. A new church, which stands today, was constructed in 1792. African-Ameri-

cans were allowed to attend services along with Caucasians. A separate entrance gave African-Americans entry into the upstairs gallery while Caucasians used the pews downstairs, according to Midway Museum Executive Director Diane Kroell.

“Many churches in the South had African-American and Caucasian members,” Kroell said. “The Midway Church had 752 Caucasian members and 1,238 African-American members.”

The Midway Museum, which documents and displays the city’s history, was built in 1957 with inspiration from an 18th-century Riceboro Inn. The raised cottage-style museum houses exhibits, documents, artifacts, paintings and a large collection of genealogy books referencing many of the prominent families and settlers of Midway and Liberty County.

The museum even has ties to presidents Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt.

“Teddy Roosevelt’s mother is Mittie Bulloch, and she was Daniel Stewart’s granddaughter,” Kroell said. “Of course, Fort Stewart is named after Daniel Stewart.”

Across the street from the museum is the historic Midway Cemetery. In the center of the cemetery stands a tall monument paying tribute to Revolutionary War heroes Stewart and Screven, both buried in the cemetery.

The cemetery also has its fair share of folklore, as several residents seem to refuse to rest in peace.

The two-acre cemetery hosts an annual “Tales and Legends” tour every October. The 2013 events are 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 26.

The museum hosts several annual events, including the Colonial Christmas Tea, which is scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 14.

Hours: Cemetery and church tours are coordinated through the museum, which is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations required for groups.

Location: 491 N. Coastal Highway (U.S. Highway 17), Midway Contact: 912-884-5837 Website: http://www.themidwaymuseum.org/ Directions: From Cay Creek, take Charlie Butler Road to Highway 84, turn left and follow Highway 84 for 2.5 miles to U.S. 17 (North Coastal Highway), turn right.

Clockwise from top left: A historic bell is among the historical remains at Seabrook Village; Melon Bluff Nature and Heritage Reserve is along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail; grave markers at the Midway Cemetery mourn members of the colonial Midway Church and Society; and Dorchester Academy, once a school for freed slaves, is a community center today. (Photographs by Patty Leon) The museum, church and cemetery will be about 1/2 mile down the road. Turn right into the museum parking lot at the wrought iron gates.

Dorchester Academy The American Missionary Association guided the creation of Dorchester Academy, which was the first post-Civil War school built by and for AfricanAmericans. It served as a boarding and day school, where children and adults learned to read, write and study the Bible.

“People came from all around,” said Deborah Robinson, the Dorchester Academy museum curator.

The school opened with 15 students and grew each year; people often paid their tuition with vegetables or services.

Dorchester Academy also was a meeting place for several organizers of the civil-rights movement, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

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King and his instructors used the center to train thousands of teachers on voter education and nonviolent social change.

The academy was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2006.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed on holidays.

Group tours by appointment.

Location: 8787 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway Call: 912-884-2347 Directions: From the Midway Museum, take U.S. Highway 17 back to Highway 84 and turn right. Travel on Highway 84 for 3 miles. The Dorchester Academy will be on the left.

LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation and Botanical Gardens The former inland rice plantation home of renowned scientist and bota-

nist Louis LeConte is a jewel of flora and fauna known as the LeConteWoodmanston Plantation.

LeConte’s father, New Jersey native John Eatton LeConte, established the plantation in 1760, and it later became home to his son’s world-renowned botanical garden.

The younger LeConte, who trained as a medical physician, established the gardens with rare plants and herbs that had a variety of medicinal purposes. By the early 19th century, botanists from around the world were drawn to LeConte’s garden and research. The botanist introduced the camellia to Georgia, and he may have cultivated 40 different species of flowering bulbs.

Visitors also can walk along the trails and see the tidal flow system that the plantation used to cultivate rice. The trails provide opportunities to learn about native birds, plants and animals. Bird species, such as waterfowl, herons and egrets, are especially

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plentiful during the migratory season.

The Coastal Audubon Society classified the trail as a unique birding habitat.

Hours: The site is open daily to the public for hiking, picnicking and self-guided garden tours. Guided tours are available by appointment only.

Admission: $5 per person Location: 4918 Barrington Ferry Road, Riceboro Contact: 912-884-6500 Website: http://www.leconte-woodmanston.org/ Directions: From the Fort Stewart Museum, take Veterans Parkway back to Highway 84. Turn right on Highway 84; continue for 3 miles and turn left on Dunlevie Road. Follow Dunlevie for 2 miles and turn right onto E.B. Cooper Highway. Follow E.B. Cooper Highway for 9 miles; turn right onto Barrington Ferry Road. Follow Barrington Ferry Road for 3 miles and turn left at the sign indicating LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation.

Geechee Kunda Cultural Center Riceboro attraction Geechee Kunda pays tribute to the Geechee/Gullah, who descended from African-Americans brought to the Southeast as slaves.

Known as Gullah in the Carolinas and Geechee in Georgia, descendants preserved their African linguistic and cultural heritage largely through isolation.

Jim and Pat Bacote, who are dedicated to preserving and sharing the Geechee language, culture and legacy, run the interactive center out of their home. Located on the site of the former Retreat Rice plantation where many Geechee slaves were forced to work and where many died, the facility houses many African artifacts dating back to the 1700s. The center also has workshops, demonstrations and lectures about the culture’s rich traditions.

Visitors will see artisans making and selling fishing nets, baskets and pottery.

They also can sample many foods considered Southern traditions that were derived from Geechee culture, including black-eyed peas, collard greens, chitlins, rice and peanuts.

Every April, Geechee Kunda hosts The Gathering, a chance to take in meals, art, history lessons and music.

In November, direct descendants of the slaves gather for a homecoming and reunion. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the group gathers for its annual

sugar-cane-grinding festival.

Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Tours also are available by appointment.

Location: 622 Ways Temple Road, Riceboro Contact: 912-884-4440 Website: www.geecheekunda.com Directions: From LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation, get back on Barrington Ferry Road and turn right on Sandy Run Road. Travel 4.3 miles to South Coastal Highway (U.S. 17) and turn right. Travel about 1 mile and turn left on Ways Temple Road. Follow the road to the Cultural Center entrance.

There also has been talk of adding other stops to the trail, such as the old Liberty County Jail on South Main Street.

Historic Liberty Jail

The old Hinesville jail was built in 1892 and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. When the jail first opened, the two-story, three-bay brick building featured two fireplaces and was considered a lavish and modern jail for its time. It was not Liberty County’s first jail, but it was the longest-serving, open for 80 years before it was condemned by then Gov. Lester Maddox.

In 1970, the building was auctioned to the Liberty County Historical Society and later donated to the city. In 2008, The Hinesville Downtown Development Authority refreshed the building by bringing it to code while restoring the interior to resemble its use as a prison. More recently, the building has undergone exterior work to restore it to its past appearance with the addition of a porch, and restoration of the wall that surrounds the prison yard will take place shortly.

Hours: Tours are available by appointments only.

Location: 302 S. Main St., Hinesville Contact: 912-877-4332 or discoverdowntown@ coastalnow.net

Liberty Life writer Patty Leon, who has made several visits to most of the sites along the trail, compiled this story with facts from the Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau, “Liberty County: A Pictorial History” and “Sweet Land of Liberty.” For more information about the trail, go to www.libertycounty. org.

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By Danielle Hipps handcrafted goods in Bradwell Park. Go to www. hinesvilledowntown.com.

Midway Arts Festival

Typically held on a Saturday in April, this festival explores various arts of Liberty County. Attendees can meet and greet exhibition artists and authors and even watch masterpieces come together at the event, which is held at the Midway Museum and nearby Midway Gallery. Go to www.themidwaymuseum.org.

The Gathering at Geechee Kunda

Riceboro’s own Geechee Kunda Cultural Center hosts a reunion gathering where Gullah/Geechee historians discuss the group’s culture and Teetkrakas, shouters, artists and African Spirits and musicians. Typically from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on a Saturday in April at 622 Ways Temple Road in Riceboro.

Liberty County groups host a variety of events and festivals every year for attendees of all ages and backgrounds. Whether your fancy is food, music or childhood games, this community has got you covered.

MLK Jr. Observance and Parade

Every January, the Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Association commemorates the great civil rights leader’s legacy with several days of celebration.

King was known to visit the Midway area for rest and relaxation, and his ties still run deep.

The event includes plays and a leadership breakfast before a winding procession of community members parades through Hinesville. Then, the group convenes for a ceremony where students and community members are rewarded for carrying on King’s mission.

Local businesses, family groups and organizations participate in the parade, which ends with a ceremony at Bradwell Institute. Parade entry fees go

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

toward supporting the following year’s celebrations and scholarship funds. This event is organized by the Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Association.

Colonels Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade If the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day festivities are too wild for your taste, ride out to the east end of Liberty County for a special show of emerald, usually held during the day on March 17. During this neighborhood event, you’ll find a long line of decorated golf carts, homemade floats and lots of laughs.

Hinesville Farmers Market

The official Hinesville Farmers Market runs from May through the end of October on Thursday nights from 4-7 p.m. — but high demand has led to smaller spring and fall markets, too. The spring market is Thursday afternoons from March through April, and the fall market continues the first three weeks of November. Patrons can find a variety of vegetables, homemade breads, desserts and

Georgia Cities Week

Georgia Cities Week is a week-long celebration of city life throughout the state, with themes that change each year. Participation in Hinesville has grown over the years to include the mayor’s annual “State of the City” address during a Liberty County Chamber of Commerce Progress Through People luncheon, a student art and essay contest and a themed Cupcake War coordinated by the Hinesville Area Arts Council.

Small World Festival

Generally held in late spring, the Small World Festival is a celebration of world cultures that have taken root in Liberty County. Music, dance, food, demonstrations and crafts from around the globe bring the new Bryant Commons venue to life. Go to www.hinesvilledowntown.com.

Walk to Dorchester

The third Saturday in June, supporters of the Historic Dorchester Academy lace up and venture out on a 9.5-mile trek from Riceboro’s Briar Bay Park to the former school for freed slaves on Highway

84 in Midway. The journey symbolizes the dedication former students had to their school and raises funds for its restoration and museum operations.

To become involved, call Dorchester Improvement Association President Bill Austin at 884-5458.

The all-day event features a 5K run in the morning, several live music performances and more food than you can eat beginning in the afternoon. Located at the Sunbury Crab Company, this is a party you won’t want to miss.

Fort Stewart’s July 4 celebration

Scarecrow Stroll and Beggars Night

Most years, Fort Stewart’s annual Independence Day celebration draws thousands of supporters from all over the state to enjoy a carnival, petting zoo, entertainers and a free outdoor concert. Held every year on July 4, the festival is one of the largest events in Liberty County and is known to showcase diverse talents. Country star Faith Hill headlined the show in 2012, and 2011 featured the Zac Brown Band and “American Idol” winner Fantasia. Due to funding uncertainty, however, it was not clear by press time whether the festival would occur in 2013. Go to www.stewartmwr.com.

Summer Slam

The annual outdoor family festival that began as an outdoor sporting and music event now draws close to 20,000 people per year in early July. Visitors can expect a large car, truck and bike show and concerts featuring local and national artists at Salter’s Field, which is at the intersection of Leroy Coffer Highway and Highway 84 in the McIntosh community.

Back-to-School rally

Each year, community organizations unite for the back-to-school rally, which offers parents and guardians a chance to obtain information and supplies for the upcoming school year and allows children to let loose before returning to the classroom. The event features games, rides, food and concerts. The 2013 rally begins at 10 a.m.

Saturday, July 13, at Briar Bay Park, 3850 Barrington Ferry Road in Riceboro.

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An annual children’s favorite, this event offers safe spooks like downtown trick-or-treating, storytelling and an outdoor movie. The event has drawn more than 10,000 people for the family-friendly festivities, which usually are held the Friday before Halloween. The 2013 event is Friday, Oct. 25.

Veterans Day parade

Join the East Liberty County American Legion Post 321 as it commemorates living and fallen service members during the annual parade. Every year around Veterans Day, the parade marches through the streets of downtown Hinesville to showcase one of Liberty County’s strongest allies: the 3rd Infantry Division. Soldiers, law-enforcement officers and other area organizations make this parade a fun time for all.

Christmas in the Park

The annual Christmas in the Park is dedicated to ensuring every child experiences the magic of the holidays with a Santa visit, live choral performances, games, activities and more in Bradwell Park. In 2013, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce will host the event Dec. 2. Go to www.libertycounty. org.

Christmas Cupcake War

The Hinesville Area Arts Council will host its thirdannual Christmas Cupcake War on Dec. 3, 2013.

The event pits bakers head-to-head as they vie for the “cupcake victor” title and people’s choice — and it’s a competition where the judges always win. Stay tuned to the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, www.libertycounty.org, and the HinesBlues and BBQ A BUSINESS PARTNER ville Area Arts Council, www.hinesvillearts.com.

This annual event is theBECOME perfect opportunity to Cynthia Barnes, business development director tickle your taste budsContact and delight your ears. The cbarnes@goodwillsavannah.org (912) 354-6611 2013 event is Sept. 21. We’re not sure which we Illuminated Christmas JOB CONNECTION CENTER like more: the bluesACCESS musicians Aand performers or 9701 Ford Ave, Richmond Hill (912) 459-0397 parade the booths featuring some of the best finger-lickin’ Thousands line the streets every December to see SHOP or DONATE barbecue around. Don’t miss the cook-off competi115 Hendry Street, Hinesville downtown Hinesville brightly lit by an assortment tion between backyard chefs, restaurants and area of cars, floats and trucks decked to suit a holiday businesses. Go to www.hinesvillearts.com. theme. Area businesses, churches and other organizations participate in this opportunity to spread Sunbury Blue Crab cheer throughout the town, and shops along the Festival route usually stay open late for the spectators. The Every October, the Sunbury Crab Festival draws 2013 parade is Dec. 6. crowds to the coast to enjoy seafood and music.

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What we

“The community here is so cooperative. They’re also goal-oriented.”

Roger Hutchinson Yates-Astro Exterminating employee

“I like what the community does for the military here.”

Sabrina Tillery Pioneer Services employee

“I like that it’s small. You don’t have that big-city craziness, but then if you do want to get into that, then you just go to Savannah, and it’s only an hour away. It’s got that small-town feel, but if you want to go out or have fun, Savannah’s only down the road.”

Vanessa Camacho Resident of eight years

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NEIGHBORS & NEWCOMERS 2013

“I like the laid-back, non-hustle and bustle atmosphere. It’s got that hometown feeling.”

Joe Ford AUSA president, Liberty County Chamber of Commerce board of directors

“There’s a sense of community here. We all live, co-exist and harmonize together.”

Leah Poole Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO

“One thing I like about Hinesville especially is that they have so many sidewalks for walking.”

Catherine Quiros New resident

e v lo

about Liberty

“I love the home-town feel.

Liberty County is like a hub to so many different activities. Whether it is the mountains, the beach, big cities or amusement parks, we are just a few hours’ drive from each one.”

Elaine Boggs Real-estate broker

“I like the fact that it’s getting more like the city, because we’re in the country — coming from New York, this is the country … But nearby, there’s River Street and Splash in the Boro. You have the time of your life, it’s a huge space and you can try all these rides. It’s fun on top of fun on top of fun.”

KayShean Robertson Liberty County High School senior

“I like to learn about the history and visit the historical sites, which include Fort Morris. It is a great place to picnic, as are the Midway Museum and so many others. I love that we are beginning to have more arts such as plays, concerts and featured local artists.”

Cathy O’Hagan Retail operations executive at VIP Office Furniture & Supply

“This is a great community full of people who really care about where they live.

The county also has a rich history with a prominent place in Georgia and American History. Liberty County is also a beautiful coastal county. … I think many people do not realize how beautiful this county is, particularly on the coastal area.”

Sara Swida Keep Liberty Beautiful director

“I grew up here, went to college and then came back here. I love the farmers market; I think this is probably the best thing that Liberty County has had in a long time.

I like that we get a lot of things that we normally might not get, especially the fresh produce. And these vendors are so awesome. You can say, ‘Hey, I would love two flats of strawberries next week,’ and they say, ‘OK, great.’”

Jeci Crane Bohannon Liberty County High School agriculture teacher

“I like that a lot of people know each other, so it’s not hard to have friends here.

It’s easy to hang around because it’s not a big city; you don’t get lost in it. I like the warm feeling, like I can go outside and just be familylike with people.”

Kayla Williams Liberty County High School graduate

“The people in our community are amazing.

I interact with the public every day, so I’m afforded the privilege of meeting different people and learning new things about Liberty County daily. The ability of residents from all walks of life to bond and make our community great is something that can’t be replicated. You can build venues and you can pay for entertainment, but you can’t find such a diverse, yet connected citizen base in every city or county.”

Krystal Britton Hart City of Hinesville public relations manager

“I’m originally from Philadelphia, and I love the small-town feel, the sense of community. It’s hard to put in words, but I had the opportunity to move back to Philadelphia. I love it here.

I find the people to be caring; a neighbor will help you out.

If you really need help, they’re willing to help one another and take time to actually have a conversation.”

Aranita Williams Joseph Martin Elementary School paraprofessional

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