Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department will hold its annual Daddy-Daughter Dance Friday evening, Feb. 12, from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Recreation Department Gym, 632 McLeod Bridge Road, Swainsboro. (Mark Williams Studio will be set up to take pictures from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.) The dance is for girls, ages 4 to 12, and their daddy (or an adult escort). Cost is $20 per couple. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, gym capacity restrictions will apply and the dance will be limited to 50 couples. No exceptions. Also, no one except dance couples will be permitted inside the gym. Refreshments will be limited and masks will be strongly encouraged.
Preregistration is required and will only be taken until the restricted limit is filled. For information, call Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department at 237-8098.
Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks and Recreation Department will hold Spring Sports Registration January 25-29 at the Recreation Department, 632 McLeod Bridge Road, Swainsboro. Registration hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. First time participants must bring a birth certificate. Registration fee is $35 (insurance available for $6 extra) for the following sports:
T-Ball (for 3 & 4 year olds) & Coach Pitch (for 5 & 6 year olds.)— Player must be 3 before May 1, 2021, and cannot turn 7 before May 1, 2021. (Players who turn 6 years old before May 1, 2021 have the option of playing coach pitch or youth baseball or girls softball.)
Youth Baseball (Ages 6-12)—Player must be 7 on or before September 1, 2021 and cannot turn 13 before September 2, 2021. (Players who turn 6 years old before May 1, 2021, have the option of playing coach pitch or youth baseball.)
Girls Softball (Ages 7 through 17)—Player must be 7 on or before September 1, 2021 and cannot turn 18 before September 2, 2021. (Girls who turn 6 years old before May 1, 2021 have their choice of playing coach pitch or softball.)
For more information, contact the Recreation Department at (478) 237-8098.
Swainsboro City Hall will be closed Monday, January 18, 2021 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Utility payments may be placed in the drop box at City Hall or they may be paid online by clicking here.
The January 2021 Hometown Hero recipient is Perry “Raymond” Riner who was nominated by Emanuel County retired sheriff Tyson J. Stephens and Derek Hartmeyer.
Mr. Perry Raymond Riner was born February 1, 1930 to Perry and Irene Claxton Riner. He graduated from Swainsboro High School in 1948. He has been a member of Swainsboro Primitive Baptist Church, known as United Primitive Baptist Church, from 1942 to date. In 1948, Raymond married Johnnie Clyde Curl and, together, they had two sons, Larry and Donny Riner. A member of the Georgia National Guard, he served in Korean Conflict. Raymond attended LSU Banking school for three years and worked at Central Bank for 12 years. He also worked at Perry’s Open Air Market and Perry’s Auto Auction with his father, becoming owner of the auction in 1962. In 1963, the Dixie Youth Baseball Complex named one field in his honor. Raymond served on the Emanuel County City Council for three years. He married Ava Hartmeyer in 1973, adding to the family her children, Steven, Derek, Shea, and Stormy Hartmeyer.
A letter of recognition from previous Emanuel County Sheriff Tyson J. Stephens read as follows:
I’ve known Raymond Riner all my life. Our families have had close relationships for several generations.
I know Raymond has touched the lives of countless alcoholics and other substance addicts and their families for the last 40 plus years. He always knew that alcoholism and drug addiction are family diseases.
The word “no” was not in Raymond’s vocabulary, along with others, he helped to get state funding of a medically supervised detox center on Anderson Drive, establishing a place for suffering alcoholic, addict and his or her family.
Raymond served on the Board of Directors of the Bridges of Hope in the early days of its infancy. Alcoholics and addicts could stay in their recovery program as “long as it took” and their families could pay for if they could. Many had no means to pay anything. Now, there are 6 or 7 Bridges of Hope throughout the state.
Family members would come to Raymond at their wit’s end for advice on how they could keep their loved ones from dying from the disease of addiction. He would always listen and then, if possible, help them.
Over the years, thousands of people have benefitted from Raymond’s life of service. Many times his help would be financial. He followed where God led him.
Most recently, Raymond and a group of local people bought 4 houses and began what is called “Crossroads-Swainsboro.” One has been dedicated for females and the others for men. These are half-way houses for men and women to live in and, eventually, find work and get back on their feet. The only requirement is to continue in their recovery program and to have some structure in their lives and when they can, pay their way.
One could go on and on about Raymond’s life of service to recovery and to our community that he loves so dearly! People have heard him say: ‘Don’t praise me for those who are successful but don’t blame me for those who failed, this time, because the next time we try to help them, they may succeed. Never give up.’
Mayor Charles Schwabe presents the OurTown Hero Award to Raymond Riner.
The Emanuel County Event Planning Committee has announced the cancellation of the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and commemoration services.
To whom it may concern:
I, Al Huston, wish to express my sincere gratitude for all your previous participation in the recognition and celebration of a great civil rights leader’s life and legacy. The events that honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are a highlight of the Emanuel County community and are greatly supported by our elected officials and the community at large. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebration for the commemoration service and parade for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., scheduled Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, 2021, has been cancelled.
The Emanuel County Planning Committee wants to make sure the community remains safe during this time and season. We are regrettably sorry that these events cannot take place as usual. We look forward to a safer environment next year for the festivities to take place.
Thank you in advance for your understanding. We hope everyone has a happy and prosperous New Year, on behalf of the Emanuel County Event Planning Committee.
