The strongest hurricane in over a century, Helene, ravaged Pierce County in September and led to the first emergency responder death in the line of duty in recent memory. A record drug raid led to the seizure of $22.3 million in marijuana and the arrest and federal indictment of eight Chinese nationals. The first murder in Blackshear in four years resulted in the death of a young mother and the arrest of a father and son from Waycross. In local elections, four positions will have new faces in the new year, but three of those are due to retirements. Three Pierce County children were tragically lost in accidents during the year. Pierce County cheerleaders finished as state champions this year. The old Pierce County High School came tumbling down, though the gym was saved. While things are supposed to be quiet in the library, there was plenty of turmoil about it during the year. Several personnel changes took place at the county, cities and school board this year.
These items were among the top 10 stories in an eventful news year for Pierce County in 2024.
1. Historic Hurricane Helene unleashes wrath and fury: Helene swept through Pierce County and southeast Georgia late Thursday night, Sept. 26 and early Friday morning, Sept. 27. The category 4 storm roared ashore in the Big Bend region of Florida’s Gulf Coast and raced northward across southeast Georgia before dissipating in the Tennessee valley. Winds were clocked at category 2 strength with unofficial reports of near 100 miles per hour gusts in Blackshear and in the northwestern portion of the county. More than 2 inches of rain were reported. The strongest hurricane to effect Pierce County prior to Helene was David in 1979 and an unnamed storm in 1898.
The storm killed one person in Pierce County. Blackshear Assistant Fire Chief Leon Davis died answering a call in the storm. (See Top Ten story #2).
Helene demolished the local power grid and service in some portions of the county was out for over two weeks.
Trees were blown down all over the county, with countless roads blocked and numerous homes and businesses damaged. School was out for several days. Pierce County was included in a federal disaster declaration.
Disaster relief teams from the Red Cross and other benevolent organizations began arriving over that weekend to lend aid. The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Pierce County Gym in the aftermath of the storm. In addition to power disruption, cell phone and internet service was disrupted countywide.
Local churches, restaurants and businesses and out-oftown food trucks teamed up to provide meals to residents in the aftermath of the storm.
Helene was the most destructive storm of the year, but Hurricane Debby also affected the county, dropping almost a foot of rain across the area in August. No injuries were reported in that storm.
2. Leon Davis, Blackshear’s assistant fire chief, dies in line of duty: Blackshear Assistant Fire Chief Leon Davis gave his life for his community.
Davis, 69, died in the line of duty as Hurricane Helene raged through Pierce County early Friday morning, September 27.
Davis, a veteran firefighter with over 30 years of service, died when a tree fell on the cab of a city truck. He was clearing up from a call of downed trees and power See REVIEW, Page 2 Continued from Page 1
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lines on Hendry Street in Blackshear near the Pierce County Department of Family and Children's Services.
His was the first in the line of duty death among local first responders in recent memory.
Davis was well-known and well-liked in the community and loved addressing people in John Wayne-style with the moniker “Pilgrim”.
Blackshear Fire Chief Bucky Goble said Davis was a 'great guy' and his death is 'just devastating'.
Davis is remembered as someone who loved helping his community and never let a chance to help someone pass him by.
Firefighters and first responders and emergency personnel gathered in Blackshear for Davis’ funeral and burial Friday, October 4.
3. Record drug raid results in seizure of $22.3 million in marijuana and arrest of eight Chinese nationals: Pierce County Investigators discovered a large-scale indoor marijuana growing facility between Offerman and Patterson in February which led to the discovery of another operation in Brantley County.
Hiawen Huang, 54, Yim Hung Yuen, 61, Chen Hui Shu, 35, Jen Peng Ma, 34, Zhu Sheng Bing, 64, Wei Sheng Deng, 42, Lecai Huang, 67 and Zhi
A large indoor growing operation was busted last February.
Yong Ma, 52, were arrested and in December all were indicted and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants among other charges.
Law enforcement officers seized 11,153 plants inside a building between Cal-Maine Foods and Progress Rail on U.S. Highway 84 between Patterson and Offerman. The operation was disguised as a fish farm.
Sheriff Bennett said at the time the operation was “elaborate” with the “growing room” set up. The marijuana was being cultivated in four different growing rooms inside a structure on a tract of land at the location. The bust is the largest in the history of Pierce County.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Corrections and Georgia Power Security Department assisted with the operation. Approximately 35 law enforcement officers were on scene to assist with the case.
4. Murder of young Blackshear mother results in the arrest of father and son from Waycross: Kimberly Guess, 34, of Blackshear, was murdered in front of her home in the 800 block of Ware Street early Thursday, October 17, as she walked out to her car. Guess’ family members put up a reward for information resulting in the arrest of the killers and conducted several marches and vigils in the weeks after the murder. Blackshear Police arrested a father-son duo from Waycross Thursday, Dec. 12.
Tracy Lee Bryant Sr., 53, and Tracy Lee Bryant Jr., 30, both of Waycross, were charged with malice murder and felony murder in connection with Guess’s death.
Warrants in the case said Bryant Sr. shot Guess multiple times between 55:30 a.m. the morning of Thursday, October 17.
According to the warrants, Bryant Jr. “intentionally aided and abetted” his father in the murder.
Both men were already in custody on drug charges related to the murder investigation.
Bryant Sr. was Guess’s supervisor at her job at Clayton Homes in Waycross. The pair had also been romantically involved, but Guess had recently broken off the relationship.
Guess 5. Elections lead to few changes in local government: Four newly elected public officials will take office in January, but there were no major changes after local elections this year. Melissa Howard will take over as clerk of court, Nicole Scurry as tax commissioner and Shelly Herndon as magistrate judge and Troy Mattox will join the county commission as a new member in the new year. Howard and Scurry ran unopposed and will succeed Clerk of Court Thomas Sauls and Tax Commissioner Teresa Davis who both opted to retire after the current term. Herndon ran unopposed and will succeed former magistrate judge Terry Thrift. Thrift opted not to run for a term in his own right after being appointed to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Glenda Dowling a couple of years before. Mattox was the lone challenger to defeat an incumbent as first district voters elected him over incumbent Harold Rozier Jr. in the election. Sheriff Ramsey Bennett returned to office though the year opened with Bennett under fire for the handling of the death of Ethan Taylor, 21, an inmate at the jail. Bennett fended off a primary challenge from local investigator Grady Wilson. Blackshear Police Major Robby Boatright made several attempts to get on the ballot, but all were unsuccessful. Boatright decided to forgo the primary election process by running as an independent. His petitions to run as an independent candidate were rejected by the Board of Elections due to “material errors”. A court challenge to allow him to qualify failed. Boatright later missed a deadline to run as a write-in candidate ending any threat to Bennett’s tenure as sheriff.
Though no election was required, the school board gained a new second district representative when former educator Perry Tison was appointed to the board. Tison succeeded the Rev. Mitch Hall who resigned after buying a new home and moving outside of the district.
6. Heartache comes in the accidental deaths of three Pierce County children: Three elementary school students tragically lost their lives in accidents, including two in the span of 24 hours in May. Hadleigh Claire Lee died in an accident on her 9th birthday April 21, as she and her family were leaving a rodeo in Waycross. The family’s vehicle was struck by someone allegedly driving under the influence. Lee is remembered as someone who was spunky and determined. She was passionate about gymnastics as a member of the dance team at Southeastern Elite (SEE) and she loved horses.
Caroline Dowling, 11, died May 18, of injuries she received in an ATV accident. Dowling was a fifth grade student at Patterson Elementary.
Dowling was known for her academic accomplishments as well as her athletic talents.
She was an active participant at the Pierce County Recreation Department where she played basketball and softball and enjoyed being a pitcher.
She was a member of the National League of Junior Cotillions St. Illa Chapter.
Logan Sharpe, 7, died the next day, May 19, after being struck by a vehicle on Tyre Bridge Road in Patterson.
Sharpe was a first grade student at Patterson Elementary.
He loved to read, loved giving big hugs and especially loved everything Spider-Man related.
Sharpe’s death brought renewed attention to complaints by Patterson residents about speeding motorists on Tyre Bridge Road.
The Patterson City Council later installed larger stop signs and rumble strips along the road in an effort to improve safety.
7. Old Pierce County High School is demolished — mostly: The old Pierce County High School was demolished in June — or most of the building was anyway. Under a save-demolish project, the bulk of the 44-year-old high school building, including the academic, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) wings, band room, cafeteria and auditorium, was torn down. The gym and a portion of the administration area and front classroom are being saved in a $4.918 million restoration project. The old high school was not the only major demolition in 2024. The old Grady Street Elementary School was also torn down in September, the week Hurricane Helene came through. The old Pierce Timber Company building was also torn down during the year. Not everything is being torn down, however. Several road construction and building projects are also underway or in the works.
The county has selected Carter and Sloope of Macon to design the new recreation complex expansion on County Farm Road as well as a remodel of the William Wall Complex on Ware Street. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced major changes in the area near County Farm Road, West Road and Owens Crossing/New School Road. The three phase project will add turning lanes and an additional access road in the area. Oak Ridge Community residents will finally get a new access road in and out of their community in the coming year. The county announced plans to construct a new road there to provide an additional route in and out of the area. Currently, the only crossing in and out of Oak Ridge is routinely blocked by CSX freight trains waiting to enter Rice Yard in Waycross. GDOT also began replacing the Satilla River Bridge at the Pierce-Ware County line. The county will begin building a new fire station in Otter Creek in the coming year. Crossroads Christian Academy will begin construction on new buildings on their campus on Golf Course Road. First Baptist Church also announced plans for an expansion project. Jeremiah’s Promise, a new school for students struggling with brainbased and behavioral challenges, was founded and will be moving to Pierce County in the new year.
The PCHS competition cheerleaders celebrate their win in Atlanta.
8. PCHS competition cheerleaders win state championship: Pierce County High School’s competition cheerleaders earned the state championship title in November. It was the eighth state cheer title for PCHS.
9. Pierce County Library changes affiliation, but still doesn’t get promised funds: The Pierce County Public Library Board voted in May to withdraw from the Okefenokee Regional Library System and join the Three Rivers Regional Library System. The decision came after the Okefenokee System became embroiled in controversy over sexually oriented material and bathroom usage policies. County and school board officials encouraged the local library board to make the move to Three Rivers System headquartered in Jesup. However, the school board declined to restore funding during its August meeting. The Three Rivers Director, Clint Moxley, was dismissed by the regional board later in the year after alleged financial improprieties.
10. New fire chief, recreation board members, Patterson police chief among personnel changes: Christopher Todd was hired as the new county fire chief, following a pair of resignations by Chief Santo Niño. Niño resigned to take a job in Ware County in May, but after that job was withdrawn he asked to be reinstated. Niño then resigned again the following month. Three members of the recreation board, Barrett Boatright, Timothy Griffis and Chairman Johnny Thigpen Jr. resigned en masse. No reason was given, but there were rumors of continuing turmoil inside the department. Three new members were appointed, including Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright, Jake Stewart and Trey Thompson. Patterson Police Chief Darrell Strickland resigned in May and Nick Strickland succeeded Dixon as chief in August. Angel Robson will be the new city clerk in Blackshear, changing roles with current clerk Jenny Grant. Grant will transition toward retirement. EMS director Blake James was hired for the newly created position of public safety director. Matt Carter resigned as executive director of the Pierce County Industrial Development and Building Authority, but stayed on in an interim role through the end of the year. Cassie Davis stepped down as chamber of commerce director and was succeeded by Christi Pitts. Bixbee Wilsey became assistant principal at Blackshear Elementary filling the role previously held by Mandy Williams. Williams became principal of the school following the death of Lanna Denison in 2023. Brandi Walker Metts was hired as the new assistant principal of Patterson Elementary following the resignation of Dr. Coriann Barclift. Barclift decided to step down from administration and return to the classroom. Myra Thompson was named the new city clerk for Offerman in March. She succeeded Edward Cady in the role. Cady resigned in February in an unsuccessful run for office in Ware County.
