Pressure Washing in Statesboro, GA

Eagles need to win in order to become bowl-eligible

STATESBORO, Ga. —

Georgia Southern is looking to put a disappointing loss behind it as it turns the page to their regular-season finale, a critical road trip to Marshall.

Saturday's loss now makes this final game a must-win if the Eagles want to secure bowl eligibility. Marshall is in the same position, setting up a true do-or-die matchup — winner moves on to a bowl, loser sees the season end.

The Georgia Southern Eagles will not be playing just one more time at Paulson Stadium. However, they will be playing at least one more time during the 2025 season. That is this coming Saturday on the road at Marshall.

It is a big, big game for the Eagles because with only five victories in the season, they need a victory Saturday to become bowl-eligible for a fourth consecutive year.

"Pressure is a privilege," said Clay Helton, head football coach, Georgia Southern. "And we get to be here. We don't got to be here, we get to be here. There's 46 teams who either get to go to a bowl game or you're going fishing. I'm not ready to go fishing yet, you know. And to have the ability to fight and have a pressure situation, that's a blessing."

The Eagles find themselves in this must-win situation in the regular season finale after a disappointing 45-10 loss to Old Dominion Saturday afternoon in their home finale. But they're putting that loss behind them and focusing on the importance of this one last opportunity.

"It's ultra-important because that's what you talk about all season is, is getting to the postseason," said JC French IV, Ga. Southern quarterback. "And I think November is so important, because that's when you find out if you're a postseason team or not. I think Eagle Nation really appreciates when you go to a bowl game and obviously win one."

"It's of the utmost importance and is of the utmost importance to our community and in general," said Tracy Hill, Jr., Ga. Southern defensive back. "It means a lot to the people here, and we want to go out and do that for them. We want to do it for each other. We want to do it for our coaches. We want to do it for everybody."

The battle to play just one more time for the 2025 college football season will take place Saturday afternoon in Huntington, West Virginia, when the Eagles take on Marshall at 1:30 p.m.

Statesboro, Ga.'s Creek on the Blue Mile Project took center stage during the city's mayor and council work session recently when a comprehensive update on where the project stands and the financial challenges now shaping its path forward was heard.

The Creek on the Blue Mile project is one of Statesboro's most ambitious infrastructure efforts, combining flood control, recreation and transportation improvements along a key corridor of the Southeastern Georgia city.

Justin Williams, Statesboro's director of planning and development, explained that due to the project's multiple funding sources — each carrying its own regulations and requirements — the city has divided the design phase into three distinct contracts: one for drainage and flood control, one for a multi-use trail and one for new bridges.

GriceConnect.com, a Statesboro online news source, noted that Williams' update came as part of his department's ongoing effort to ensure that all design contracts are fully funded before being presented for city council approval.

The first contract covers flood control and drainage improvements to Little Lotts Creek, stretching from West Jones Avenue to Gentilly Road.

Williams noted that Statesboro received a $5.5 million grant from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) for this portion of the planned work. It has approximately $2.7 million remaining, which aligns with the estimated design cost for the drainage work.

City officials selected Savannah's EMC Engineering through the state procurement process after previously working with Freese and Nichols, a Fort Worth, Texas, firm.

However, Williams noted that the drainage contract cannot move forward until sufficient funding is secured for the trail design, as the two phases are closely tied.

The second contract involves the design of a multi-use trail that will run along both sides of Little Lotts Creek, connecting South College Street near South Main to Zetterower Avenue.

Statesboro received a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for $2.12 million, but those funds are designated for construction work only. The city has submitted a separate request for additional TAP funding to pay for the trail's design, estimated to cost $1.7 million.

Williams told those attending the municipal work session that the lack of design funding has temporarily delayed contract approval, adding that GDOT's federal process requires extensive documentation and reports that increase costs. Some design work completed by Freese and Nichols must be resubmitted to GDOT to meet current standards.

"At this time, we don't have sufficient funds to fully fund that design contract," said Williams. "We're working to obtain additional TAP funding, but that process could take several months rather than being an immediate result."

The design of new bridges at South Main Street, Fair Road and Zetterower Avenue make up the third contract.

This portion is funded separately through GDOT, with $3 million allocated for design and $6.48 million for construction. To lead this work, Statesboro has selected Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Michael Baker International, according to GriceConnect.com

Negotiations with the firm are nearing completion, and Williams said staff may soon present the design contract for city council consideration. GDOT also has indicated that it will cover construction costs even if they exceed the current $6.48 million estimate.

Creek on Blue Mile Faces Challenges

Williams also took time to outline the regulatory complexity surrounding the Creek on the Blue Mile Project and described GDOT's design approval process as a "step-by-step sequence requiring authorization at each stage."

The state agency's strict process, combined with the need to resubmit certain technical reports, has contributed to higher design costs and extended timelines, he said. While the drainage and trail phases remain interconnected, the bridge design may be able to proceed independently while the city waits for additional trail funding approval.

"The trail and drainage are very closely interlocked," Williams said. "We just want to make sure all funding is in place before we execute any contracts."

Once design funding is finalized, the Statesboro plans to move forward with EMC Engineering on the drainage and trail contracts and Michael Baker International on the bridge design.

Williams' update reaffirmed that while the Creek on the Blue Mile Project continues to face procedural and financial hurdles, it is advancing toward design completion with the goal of full construction funding in place over the coming year.

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A win over Old Dominion Saturday afternoon at Paulson Stadium would secure postseason berth

STATESBORO, Ga. —

The chances of a fourth-straight bowl game appearance for the Georgia Southern Eagles are now looking a lot better than it was a couple of weeks ago.

The Eagles' win over Coastal Carolina Saturday night put them just one win away from securing that postseason spot, a position they hope to secure this weekend in their final home game of the season.

The Georgia Southern Eagles get to play just one more time at Paulson Stadium in 2025. And what a big one it is. Because a victory over Old Dominion will be their sixth of the year and seal a bowl berth.

"We've won three of the last four games, you know, and we put ourself back into a chance to get back to postseason play for the fourth year in a row," said Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton. "So I'm proud of the guys. The job is not done yet, and that's what I've told them."

The Eagles are one step closer to a bowl game thanks to a 45-40 victory over Coastal Carolina last Saturday, their fifth of the year, and being able to secure that bowl berth with a win in their final home game is very important, especially to the senior class.

"It is very important," said Marcus Sanders, Jr., Georgia Southern senior wide receiver. "It's very important for the team, the whole school, the university. So to get that accomplishment done, it'd be a very great accomplishment for all the work that we put in over the summer and fall camp. I feel like that we have to make that happen."

Branden Harrington is another senior playing his last game at Paulson Stadium, and even though he's only been an Eagle for one season, he realizes how special it is at Georgia Southern.

"I've been incredibly honored to play here," Harrington said. "The past couple games here at Paulson have been electric, and that's what you come here for us to play in Paulson, play under the lights, be able to make plays with your teammates, and get wins to add to the power of Paulson."

Georgia Southern and Old Dominion will do battle at Paulson Stadium Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

No timeline set for construction; site also will include 4 outparcels, residential development

Just under three years since the Statesboro Publix opened in Eagles Corner Shopping Center, a proposal is moving forward for another major supermarket chain, Kroger, to have a big store and a fueling center built less than two miles to the west around the bypass.

Southeastern Property Acquisitions LLC, based in Augusta, applied to Statesboro’s city Planning and Development Department to have 28 acres in two adjoining tracts with the addresses 6850 Cypress Lake Road and 7406 Veterans Memorial Parkway, at the intersection, rezoned from R-3 residential to MX “mixed use.” The Statesboro Planning Commission voted 7-0, after a Nov. 4 hearing, to recommend conditional approval of the zoning change. City Council will take up the question Tuesday, Nov. 18, during its 5:30 p.m. meeting.

The 99,992-square-foot Kroger supermarket — for comparison, the Publix store, not counting outbuildings, covers about 49,000 square feet and the Walmart Supercenter about 186,000 — would be the centerpiece of the proposed mixed commercial and residential project.

A revised but still preliminary site plan, obtained Monday from city Planning and Development Director Justin Williams, now shows four outparcels, each a little more or less than one acre. Two of those store lots, with the Kroger Fuel Center on a narrower strip between them, would be on the side facing Veterans Memorial Parkway, also known as the U.S. 301 Statesboro Bypass, while the other two outparcels would face Cypress Lake Road.

“There are outparcels. We’re not certain what they’re looking to put on said outparcels, but there are hopefully going to be some great things on that frontage,” Williams said.

An earlier version of the preliminary site plan, placed in agenda packets for last week’s Planning Commission meeting, showed a different arrangement, with just two outparcels for smaller stores and no sketch of the residential portion of the property. This latest concept plan was received by city officials on the day of the Planning Commission hearing, Williams said.

Five access points

As already indicated in the earlier concept sketch and the city staff’s report, the developers are proposing a total of five access points, one being a right-in/right-out-only opening from the westbound side of Veterans Memorial Parkway. Two of the access points on Cypress Lake Road would be open entrance-and-exit points, and one would be a right-in/right-out-only.

A fifth “proposed access point to the north on Cypress Lake Road has yet to be determined with the future residential development phase,” stated the city staff’s zoning services report on its site details page. At that time, the conceptual site sketch left a blank “future development” patch where the housing might go.

Housing sketch added

But the latest plan shows existing Whispering Pines Boulevard providing the entrance drive to a detailed sketch of a proposed residential area on the opposite side of the Kroger shopping center area from the Bypass. Still, this is “just a sketch,” Williams noted in reply to an emailed question about the proposed number of homes.

The sketch shows 60 home lots arranged around a loop drive encircling a “clubhouse, pool and playground area.” Another 15 lots sketched on the other side of Whispering Pines Boulevard may be outside the area of the requested zoning change but on land belonging to one of the same property owners.

With wetlands protection and stormwater control having been identified as concerns for this property, a large stormwater detention area is proposed for the corner of the commercial development at the Cypress Lake Road-Veterans Parkway intersection. A smaller water detention area is sketched for the back corner of the residential development and a still smaller one in the bend of Whispering Pines Boulevard.

Local attorney Stephen Rushing, who has been representing Southeastern Property Acquisitions, LLC, as the applicant, was not reached with a phone call Monday seeking information about the company. But the Georgia-registered limited-liability company of that name shares its Augusta business address with a real estate firm simply called Southeastern, whose project portfolio includes a number of current and former Kroger stores, among other commercial developments across the Southeast, and whose website “news” page also highlights a few residential projects.

City’s 3 conditions

The city planning staff recommended conditional approval with three conditions, all adopted by the Planning Commission in its unanimous recommendation:

1) The applicant, in other words Southeastern Property Acquisitions, LLC, must provide a wetland plan to ensure that “substantial issues” are mitigated before an LDAP, or land disturbing activity permit, is issued.

2) “The applicant must submit a traffic study in accordance with requested site development,” also before an LDAP is issued.

3) “To reduce the potential of negative environmental impacts, the property owner must utilize standards” from the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual for “stormwater detention, TSS (total suspended solids) removal, overbank protection and extreme flood protection in submitting engineering plans,” the city report stated.

Incidentally, the applicant is apparently not the property owner at this point. The land parcels are reportedly owned by 3 Eagles Solutions and John Altman. The Cypress Lake Road parcel includes a circa-1960 single-family house, which would be removed, and wooded acreage. The parcel with the Veterans Memorial Parkway address, which is a smaller part of the tract proposed for development, is mostly cleared land with a secondary structure recently used for a landscaping business.

Both parcels were annexed into the city in September 2024, according to the staff report.

Traffic and wetlands

In drafting conditions such as those for the rezoning of this property, city Planning and Development officials seek to address the most important concerns in the simplest way possible, according to Williams.

“We want it to be simple, we want it to cover the most relevant things, so if you look at the conditions we recommended as staff, we’re making them build to a higher standard than truly is required here in the city of Statesboro,” he said. “The Georgia Stormwater Management Manual is what we’re basing our requirement on, which is something you see in larger cities.”

Given some recent and recurring issues with stormwater, this is something Statesboro area residents are very concerned about, “and I completely understand that,” he said.

In regard to roads at this intersection and frontage, Veterans Memorial Parkway, as part of a state and federal highway, is subject to Georgia Department of Transportation approval for an access point. Cypress Lake Road remains a county road and so would be subject to county standards, but Whispering Pines is a city street, according to Williams.

In regard to wetlands, “I want to make it clear that although there are wetlands shown, the applicant has gone through the process to look at those wetlands and they have a determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Williams said.

He made available a letter concerning the Corps of Engineers report.

No timeline yet

At this point the city has received no estimate of the developer’s cost of the project, which would be information required at a later permitting step, and Williams had no timeline for the actual start of construction.

“Not at this time,” he said. “I mean, there’s quite a lot to do still. Some approvals of this nature take longer than others, and for something this big, with this many moving parts, it might be a bit. I’ve been proven wrong before on developments, and they are looking to move forward, but until we have submittals, there’s no way we can estimate a timeframe.”

On Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, our community will come together to honor and thank our veterans and active duty military for their service to our country and community.

The Grice Connect team has worked to put together a list of events and other ways veterans will be honored on this special day, from ceremonies to free meals and more. This list is a starting point, so if you have an event or offering we have missed, we encourage you to email us at press@griceconnect.com or comment on our social media posts so that we may add it.

The Statesboro Family YMCA will host a free breakfast for veterans beginning at 9am on November 11. The Y is located at 409 Clairborne Ave. in Statesboro.

Major General Randall V. Simmons Jr., Ret. will speak at this year's American Legion Veterans Day Event on November 11. The event will take place at the Averitt Center for the Arts in Downtown Statesboro starting at 11am. Doughnuts and coffee will be served a half hour prior. A luncheon will follow at the American Legion Post 90 (100 Rucker Lane, Statesboro).

Grice Connect plans to livestream the program again this year on our Facebook page.

November 11, 8:15 a.m. – Brooklet Elementary School Veterans Day Program at BES

Brooklet Elementary School will host a Veterans Day Program for the community on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 8:15 a.m. The school’s fourth-grade students will be leading the patriotic event, and veterans are invited to attend.

November 11, 8:30 a.m. - Julia P. Bryant Elementary School Veterans Day Program at JPBES

Julia P. Bryant Elementary School will host a Veterans Day assembly on Tuesday, November 11 at 8:30 a.m. Statesboro High School’s JROTC color guard will be in attendance, and the school’s Kindergarten and first-grade students will perform patriotic songs under the direction of JPBES Music Teacher Kristine O'Malley. Veterans are invited to attend, and the school will host a coffee and donut reception in its media center following the assembly.

November 11, 8:30 a.m. – Stilson Elementary School Veterans Day Program at SES

Stilson Veteran's Day program will honor our Veteran families. It will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 11th at 8:30 in the gym. The public is invited to attend.

November 11, 9 a.m. – Mattie Lively Elementary School Veterans Day program at MLES Gym

We welcome veteran family members of our students to join us as we honor and celebrate their service. Our guest speakers will include Gary Martin from the American Legion and SGT Maliyah Higginbotham of the United States Army, currently stationed at Fort Stewart. We look forward to recognizing the bravery, sacrifice, and commitment of our nation’s heroes.

November 11, 9 a.m. – Portal Elementary School Veterans Day Program at PES

Portal Elementary School will host its annual Veterans Day program for students, faculty and the community on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m. in the school’s multipurpose room. The event will feature patriotic speeches and music performed by students, orchestral selections by the Portal Middle High School Symphonic Band, and recognition of veterans. The public is invited to attend.

November 11, 2:30 p.m. - William James Middle School Veterans Day Program in the WJMS Gymnasium

William James Middle School will host its annual Veterans Day program for the school and community on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 2:30 p.m., in the school’s gymnasium. Guests are asked to enter the gymnasium entrance on the north side of the school, and sign in. The student-led program will feature patriotic readings and performances by the school’s symphonic band led by Band Director Melvin Hamilon, a veteran himself.

November 11, 6 p.m. – Sallie Zetterower Elementary School Veterans Day Program at SZES

Sallie Zetterower Elementary School’s fourth and fifth-grade students will perform patriotic music during a Veterans Day concert for the school and community on Nov.11, at 6 p.m. Veterans and the community are invited to attend.

-- Veterans and active military can enjoy a FREE meal, a scoop or sandwich and one side, plus a regular drink, as our thank you for your service. Stop by on Tuesday, November 11, and let us serve you this Veterans Day. Stop by in uniform or with your military ID/DD214 to redeem. In-restaurant and drive-thru only, not available for online or delivery orders. Offer valid at all locations, one day only, 11/11/25.

-- Veterans and active-duty military members get a free meal on November 11 at all participating restaurants. Available in-restaurant only for select items. Military ID required to redeem offer.

-- On November 11, veterans get one free medium hot or iced coffee. The one-day-only offer is available at participating U.S. locations, and customers can redeem theirs by showing a valid military ID at purchase.

-- On November 11, veterans and active-duty service members with valid ID get a free Sunrise Pancake Special.

-- On November 11, active-duty military personnel and veterans can enjoy any size sub and receive a second sub for free with valid military ID.

-- Veterans and active-duty military receive a free 3-Piece Tender Meal with the purchase of a beverage on November 11. Must show Military or Veteran ID or 00-214 form to redeem.

-- On November 11, Olive Garden will offer each veteran and current member of the military who dines in a free entrée from a special menu. Simply show proof of military service.

-- Through Tuesday, November 11, Ruby Tuesday will offer a buy one entree, get one for $3 Veterans Day deal.

Shane's Rib Shack Statesboro -- On November 11, Shane's in Statesboro will offer a BBQ pork or chopped chicken plate (half pound of either meat and two sides) to veterans. Only proof of service is required. No purchase is necessary, and the meal is completely free. Dine-in or to-go meals are both available.

-- On November 11, active-duty military and veterans can enjoy a free 20oz smoothie at participating locations nationwide — no purchase necessary. The offer is available from 12–3pm and includes three patriotic picks: Strawberry X-Treme (red), Slim-N-Trim Vanilla (white), and Blueberry Heaven (blue).

-- Starbucks is honoring those who have served with a free tall (12-ounce) brewed coffee (hot or iced) for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. stores and licensed locations on November 11.

-- On Tuesday, November 11, every Texas Roadhouse location will distribute meal vouchers, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Proof of service is required and includes military or VA card, or discharge papers. Vouchers can be redeemed through May 31, 2026, for one of 10 entrees, including a 6-ounce sirloin and two made-from-scratch sides plus a choice of any Coca-Cola product, sweet tea/iced tea or coffee. Offers may vary by location.

Deals verified by military.com or Grice Connect. For a full list of restaurant deals for all areas, click here.

Autoshine Carwash, 830 Buckhead Drive, Statesboro – On November 11, veterans will receive a FREE CAR WASH. Hours are 8am-5:30pm.

– On November 11, veterans and active military service members can go to any U.S. Great Clips salon and get a free haircut or a card for a free haircut that can be redeemed during a future visit.

-- Veterans and active military personnel get 10% off on groceries on November 11. This offer excludes prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery tickets, postage stamps, and money services. Valid for in-store purchases only.

-- Military personnel and their dependents get a 20% discount off their entire purchase in store on November 11.

-- On November 11, participating Sport Clips locations will provide free haircuts to veterans and active-duty service members.

-- Active-duty military and veterans receive a 10% discount on November 11.

-- From November 8 through 11, veterans, military and their families will receive 20% off regular price eligible store items at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide. Restrictions may apply.

Deals verified by military.com or Grice Connect. For a full list of discount deals for all areas, click here.