Toombs Continues Moving Forward
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Toombs County continued moving forward with growth and development this year, as new leadership arose and several changes were championed throughout the County.
In January, Toombs County Sheriff Jordan Kight took the reins from his father, retired Sheriff Alvie “Junior” Kight, as he officially began his first term in the office. Kight is a lifelong resident of Toombs County and graduated from Toombs County High School; following graduation, Kight earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and has since expanded his knowledge about law enforcement through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Professional Management Program at Columbus State University, Georgia Sheriff’s Association Command Staff Training, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Development Program.
In 2002, Kight began working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as a Drug Task Force Agent; he was promoted to Assistant Commander of the Force in 2007. Kight joined his father at the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office in 2015, where he served as Captain of Investigations until assuming the role as sheriff.
“When asked, how do I feel about becoming the new Sheriff, I find myself filled with so many different thoughts and emotions. I am excited but humbled in starting a new chapter in my life as your Sheriff,” Kight began. “I realize that this is not only about me, but also a new chapter for Toombs County. After 25 years, Toombs County has a new face as its chief law enforcement officer. My father was that face for 25 years, and God has allowed me to continue the legacy he began.”
He continued, “When I think about it, it’s pretty neat that my new chapter in life has created history. For the first time in the history of Toombs County, a father and now son will hold the title of Sheriff. This would not be possible without God and the mentorship that I have received from a man I have called Sheriff since 1998. I have worked with my father for over 21 years during my law enforcement career. We’ve always had a close working relationship, and I will deeply miss that but now get to call him my dad again. It is such an honor and privilege to serve Toombs County. It’s a privilege you cannot fully appreciate its value unless you have the opportunity to serve people in this capacity. God has given me the duty and responsibility to serve Toombs County, and I will do that with everything in my heart. I will always do my job with the highest standards and expectations set forth in our core values of professionalism, integrity, respect, loyalty, and courage.”
New Commissioner
Commissioner Buck Moon also officially joined the Toombs County Board of Commissioners in January, as he succeeded longtime commissioner Wendell Dixon.
Moon is the owner of the Moon Agency – Farmers Insurance, with which he has worked for over 5 years. He has extensive experience working in the political realm, as he has served as a campaign consultant and manager for 30 years. He has continued to establish roots in Toombs County, as he lives in Vidalia with his wife Mary and their children Tripp and Ann Elise.
When asked his goals for his first term as commissioner, Moon shared that he hoped to work to “keep the county’s millage rate low, to support our law enforcement to ensure that Toombs County is a haven for law-abiding citizens and a nightmare for criminals, and to prepare Toombs County for the expected growth from the east, specifically the Port of Savannah.” Moon spoke on this new position. “I am thrilled to embark on this journey of serving the outstanding citizens of Toombs County on the Commission! I want to thank Commissioner Wendell Dixon for his many years of service to our community. Although he is no longer on the Commission, his legacy of service will continue to inspire us,” he remarked. “While our county has weathered storms and faced tragedies over the past year, we have risen together, demonstrating our resilience and strength. I am confident that with hard work and everyone in our county pulling for the same goals, our future is brighter than our past!” New Tax Commissioner
Longtime Tax Commissioner Brenda Williams officially retired at the end of 2024, so a new leader arose in 2025 to fill the position.
Tax Commissioner Anna Wommack Holcombe is a Toombs County native and a graduate of the Toombs County High School Class of 2002. She has been married for 17 years to her husband Brent Holcombe, and the couple have four children – Chloe, Kadyn, Collin, and Remington. She is very active in the local faith community, as she is a member and youth pastor at Oasis Church of God.
She has over 15 years of experience working in the Tax Commissioner’s office, and most recently worked in patient relations at HCA Meadows Women’s Care.
When asked her goals for her first term as tax commissioner, she said that she wants to improve customer service within the office, to communicate efficiently with citizens, and to inform citizens about programs and options which are available through the office.
Vidalia Police Chief
Former Vidalia Police Chief James Jermon was terminated by the city in January, and Captain Gerry Colson served as the interim Chief until former Metter Police Chief Robert Shore joined the Department as its leader in May. City Annex Renamed
In January, the Vidalia Municipal Annex was renamed to honor longtime Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem John Raymond Turner in a surprise ceremony. “Renaming the current annex building ‘the John Raymond Turner Municipal Building’ is a fitting tribute to a man whose heart has always been with this community. His service – whether through his career, military service, or decades in public office – has touched countless lives. We also recognize the unwavering support of his wife, Lillie, throughout the years. Public service is a sacrifice for families as well, and we are deeply grateful to both of them,” Mayor Doug Roper shared at the ceremony on January 30.
During the ceremony, other officials spoke of their admiration of Turner, and the impact that they felt he had on the community. Turner’s church family also attended the event, performing a song and sharing sentiments about their appreciation for the leader.
Turner later passed away on April 1, and the City mourned his loss greatly.
Weeks later, a special election was announced to determine the individual that would fulfill the remainder of Turner’s term, and ultimately, it was Reverend Ronald Miller who won the bid. New Altama Museum Director Former Art Teacher and Downtown Business Owner Donna Belcher was named the Altama Museum of Art and History Executive Director in February.
Belcher has been known in the community as a talented artist and avid supporter of the arts for several years. She has an extensive background in art education and has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving cultural heritage while making art and history accessible to the public. Before joining the Museum staff, Belcher served as the upper school art teacher at Vidalia Heritage Academy, where she led an award-winning program that earned many accolades, including a Region Championship. She also owned and operated the Downtown Craft House, which combined her passion for creativity with entrepreneurship, and gave her experience in small business management.
“I am honored and excited to join the Altama Museum of Art and History,” Belcher commented. “My goal is to create experiences that inspire, educate, and bring people together in meaningful and engaging ways. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated volunteer staff, board members, and community supporters to build on the museum’s rich legacy while introducing fresh opportunities for engagement with art and history.”
Citizens of the Year
Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper and Pam Langston received the ultimate honors from the city in 2025, as they were named the Vidalia Man and Lady of the Year in March.
1995 Vidalia Citizen of the Year Dent Temples had the honor of recognizing Roper as the 2025 Man of the Year, as he shared an overview of the Mayor’s accomplishments throughout the year. Roper reacted to the honor, emphasizing his humility in receiving the award and thanking his family who had supported him. “Most of you know my parents, Doug and Linda Roper,” the Man of the Year said. “I could not have picked better parents; they are amazing. You know, the last 10 months have been crazy from a tornado downtown, to Tropical Storm Debby, to the ‘500 Year Flood', to Hurricane Helene.”
“And then, I thought we were going to have to fire Josh [Beck, City Manager] when we got snow!” Roper shared with a laugh. “It’s been a wild ride! But I couldn’t have done it without my family, so to my beautiful bride Marlee, thank you for being my rock. To my boys Cutter and Durham, you guys are the apple of my eye. I love you all!”
“My pro career didn’t last as long as I anticipated, but getting hurt early brought me back to Vidalia and I know God had His hand in it and He always knows what He’s doing,” Roper added. “As I’ve said before, this storm may have forever changed the landscape of Vidalia, but it will never change the fabric of the people of Vidalia. I love this community, and I am honored.”
Langston’s honor was announced by 2024 Lady of the Year Angela Lane. Lane championed Langston for the substantial volunteer work she completed in the community, as Lane stated that Langston has been “more than generous with her time” and “quite passionate about the need to make a positive difference in our community,” having supported Vidalia City Schools as both an employee and a volunteer, and having worked with several local charities, such as Mercy Ministries and the Salvation Army. She is an avid supporter of local cultural organizations, such as the Franklinia Playhouse, the Altama Museum, ORCA, and the Pal Theatre.
Langston reacted to the honor, thanking the crowd for the award and saying, “I am a private person as Angela said. I do what I do to help the community. As she said, I have volunteered at The Mercy Clinic, and I’ve loved it, but my passion right now is at the Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center. I love the patients, the staff, and I love what I do there.” Lyons Homeless Intervention Program In March, Lyons announced that their new homelessness intervention program had found success in rehabilitating citizens in need.
The Lyons Police Department has been working with Safe Harbor to help transition several individuals off the streets into a stable home. Police Chief Wesley Walker recently discussed two local success stories of the program, and allowed these individuals to tell their stories.
Safe Harbor, which is currently headquartered in Brunswick, is an organization which works to provide assistance for children, families, and individuals throughout the region. The organization was first founded by Jekyll Island Residents Susan and Bob Hamer, who sought to create a safe place for runaway, homeless, abused, and neglected children in 1991. Since then, the program has grown significantly, and now features the STRIVE Transitional Living Services, which helps provide assistance for those struggling with homelessness.
To receive assistance, individuals are referred by the local police departments or by street outreach workers, who canvass the area and make the organization aware of those who need help. From there, individuals may be placed in a group home or receive rapid rehousing, during which they are assisted in getting jobs and saving money. These group home residents pay nothing for their stays and work to get stable and “back their feet” before getting an apartment and receiving rental assistance. Safe Harbor also helps to teach these individuals valuable life skills, aiding them to continue to improve their situations, and gives them rental and food assistance.
The organization first came to the Vidalia, Lyons, and Toombs County area two years ago, and started meeting with local law enforcement and city officials to attempt to coordinate a partnership for the program. Safe Harbor currently serves 23 counties, and is seeking another location where they might be able to take referrals of those who can utilize their assistance and connect those in need with services.
Hughes Death
The community came together to mourn the death of a 4 year-old little girl – Reese Hughes — in March, as the child’s mother and mother’s boyfriend were charged with child abuse and murder after the child was determined to have been beaten to death.
The couple both went before Chief Middle Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Robert Reeves for their first appearance in court on Monday, March 17, where Judge Reeves informed the pair that bond would not be considered at the current time. Hughes requested a court-appointed attorney while Brown stated he would hire his own counsel, and with no further business to attend, the hearing was adjourned.
Brown and Hughes were each indicted by the Toombs County Grand Jury on April 22 on two counts of malice murder and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.– one for each body part (abdomen and head) which was struck during the incident. The couple also were charged with four counts of felony murder – a count each for “maliciously causing cruel and excessive physical pain by striking the child” in the head and abdomen, and continued from page
a count each for harming the child’s brain and intestines, ultimately leading to her death. Two additional counts of aggravated battery were also charged to the couple because of these injuries.
On July 17, Hughes entered a formal guilty plea to the court for her role in her daughter’s murder as she failed to protect Reese from the abuse from Brown. Prior to the plea, Hughes told investigators critical information about the case and agreed to testify against Brown, who potentially faces the death penalty, in the upcoming trial later this year.
Middle Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Reeves accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Hughes to serve life imprisonment with twenty years added concurrently.
Vidalia Onion Festival
The Vidalia Onion Festival returned to the area in April, as Clint Black and ERNEST hit the stage to entertain the crowd, hot air balloons grazed the air, and festivities drew in crowds from near and far to the Sweet Onion City.
In November, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew in for a visit to prepare for the upcoming Vidalia Onion Festival, which will feature an Air Show and performance by the squadron. Historic Preservation Commission In July, the City of Vidalia created a Historic Preservation Commission to help protect and improve the city’s historic areas.
The goals of this potential Commission are to stimulate revitalization of the business districts and historic neighborhoods; to protect and enhance local historic and aesthetic attractions to tourists; to stimulate and promote business, to enhance opportunities for federal or state tax benefits under relevant provisions of federal or state law; and to establish a uniform procedure for use in providing for the protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of places, districts, sites, buildings, structures, objects, and landscape features having a special historical, cultural, or aesthetic interest or value. Seventh in the Nation
Toombs County was named the 7th best county per capita in the nation for economic performance by Site Selection magazine in July.
The magazine editors – who have also repeatedly named Georgia as the top state to do business with – looked at the number of total projects per capita within each county from January 2024 until March 2025, and ultimately found Toombs County to be among the best in the nation for economic performance. They shared these rankings in the July 2025 edition of the publication.
Meadows New CEO
Memorial Health Meadows Hospital had a new face leading their team this year, as Wesley Taylor joined HCA as the Hospital CEO.
Taylor comes to Vidalia from the state of Utah where he and his family lived for the last five years. Starting in 2020, he served as the CEO of Ashley Regional Medical Center, a 39bed, level 4 trauma center and Level 2 NICU hospital.
Taylor also founded in 2023 a professional services organization, Discipline to Win, LLC. The company provides coaching and training in leadership skills for professionals with a mission of developing a “discipline to win.”
Loss of Former City Manager The City of Vidalia and local leaders mourned the loss of former City Manager Nick Overstreet in August.
Overstreet, 46, of Vidalia, served as the Vidalia City Manager for 7 years, from 2016 until 2023, and was currently working on several projects within the area through his employment as a project manager for Roberts Civil Engineering. He was a member of the Vidalia Rotary Club, a local business owner, a husband, a father, and a friend to many.
Lyons City Council Elections The Lyons City Council elections heated up in 2025, as the races for the Ward 1 and Ward 2 seats were contested.
Current Ward 1 City Councilman Tracy Johnson, former City Councilman Larry Griggers, and James Shell all faced off for the seat, but ultimately, it was Shell who came out victorious.
In Ward 2, Councilwoman Cathy Benton and former Councilwoman Sonja Eason went headto- head to represent the district, but it was Benton who won the bid. Open Container District
The City of Lyons created an open container district in the downtown area of the city in September.
This ordinance was first proposed during the August meeting of the council, when the first reading of the legislation was completed. This new ordinance comes from a revision to the city’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing ordinance and would allow patrons to stroll along sidewalks with alcoholic beverages at permitted hours – during Lyons Main Street Association events and from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 12:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Saturdays. The district is proposed to begin at the easternmost edge of the Lanier Street right-ofway, and continue west until the westward edge of the Washington Street rightofway; it is planned to also begin at the southernmost edge of the Broad Street right-of-way and continue until the northernmost edge of the alley between the Columbia Avenue and Broad Street right-of-ways. The 304 Society Garden will also be included in this Open Container District.
Citizen of the Year
In September, Lyons Mayor Willis NeSmith Jr. was named the 2025 Lyons Citizen of the Year.
During the recognition, NeSmith was championed for his servant leadership and focus on unity between local governments. When introducing him as the Citizen of the Year, 2024 Citizen of the Year Benny McLendon shared many stories and insights on NeSmith’s life, as he began by explaining that continued from page
as a child, NeSmith loved the outdoors and playing with other kids in the neighborhood – but more than that, NeSmith always loved Lyons.
NeSmith responded to the honor. “Thank y’all for this. I love Lyons and that’s because of the people. I am honored to live with you and beside you. This recognition means a lot to me,” he told the crowd.
The Real Squeal
In October, the Real Squeal BBQ and Music Festival heated up the downtown Lyons streets and Partin Park, bringing excitement, fun, and delicious food to the citizens. Haygood Earns National Honors Toombs County Farmer Aries Haygood earned national recognition in October, as American Vegetable Grower named him the 2025 National Grower Achievement Award winner.
The Grower Achievement Award honors outstanding vegetable growers across the country that use their leadership skills, innovation, and community impact to help improve the agricultural industry. Haygood was nominated for the award alongside 92 other candidates, and was named the East Region Award Winner, as he went on to face two growers from Ohio and California for the National Award.
In announcing his selection as the regional award winner, the award committee championed Haygood for his success, as they stated his farm serves as “a national model for sustainability and quality.” These individuals went on to explain that under Haygood’s guidance, A & M Farms, headquartered in Lyons, had increased and expanded the Vidalia Onion crop production, improved soil health and pest management practices, and embraced new technologies while maintaining consistent excellence with his produce. School Superintendent Candidate Debate Four republican State School Superintendent Candidates came to Vidalia on Tuesday, October 14, for a forum at the Southeastern Technical College to introduce themselves to voters in the community in preparation for the 2026 election.
The event was hosted by the Toombs County Republican Party, which collaborated with other surrounding counties’ Republican parties to coordinate the forum. Four candidates – former State Representative Mesha Mainor, Dr. Randell Trammell, Candler County Schools Superintendent Fred “Bubba” Longgrear, and Dr. Nelva Lee – took to the stage to share information about themselves and answer questions from the public. Incumbent State School Superintendent Richard Woods had planned on being at the event, but was absent due to working in Dublin to help solve the issue of an outstanding financial deficit in the Dublin City Schools district.
Riley Gaines Visit
Former Collegiate Swimmer and Political Activist Riley Gaines encouraged individuals to stand firm in their beliefs even when the surrounding society believes differently during her keynote address at the Vidalia Heritage Academy Benefit Dinner on Tuesday, October 28.
“We cannot become complacent, which is almost inevitable when you see the success and the winds that we have seen that we have benefited from over the past 10, 11 months at this point. I say it's almost inevitable because that's what success does: it breeds complacency,” Gaines emphasized. “But what does complacency breed? It breeds failure. So we cannot become complacent with what the Democrats do, I should say the other side, I'm really not here to deliver a partisan message. It's with the other side. Those without common sense – without God and their lives – they do it really well. They don't become complacent. They don't allow themselves to be steamrolled. They don't just roll over, they continue on with full steam ahead. But hear me when I say, this war on woke, if that's what you want to call it. It has not been won.”
Forester of the Year
The Georgia Forestry Commission has named Toombs County Native Matthew O’Connor as the 2025 Forester of the Year. This recognition comes in honor of O’Connor’s tireless efforts to help Vidalia and surrounding areas to recover from Hurricane Helene last year.
O’Connor joined the Georgia Forestry Commission in 2019, after graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in forestry and currently serves as the Region 4 Lead Forester, overseeing forest management and conservation efforts, and a licensed prescribed burner, as he carries out many prescribed burns throughout the region. Having grown up on a local tree farm, O’Connor learned from an early age the hard work which goes into cultivating and harvesting trees and has since worked tirelessly to ensure excellence in forestry in the region.
After Hurricane Helene hit last year, O’Connor jumped into action to help clean up his community and help surrounding foresters, overseeing the survey of thousands of acres of forests and working to repair the damaged Georgia Forestry Commission facilities. According to the Commission, this work showcased O’Connor’s versatile skills and strong support of sustainable forest management.
“Matthew has been consistently raising the bar in every aspect of his work,” remarked Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “As a new supervisor, he helped the team complete 20-percent more landowner cases in the region and was an indispensable resource in evaluating Helene storm damage. To our agency and to landowners in his region, Matthew is a wellknown advocate for the forestry community.” O’Connor also reacted to the honor. “I’m truly grateful to receive this recognition from the Georgia Forestry Commission,” he emphasized. “Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to work with local forest landowners as they recover from the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene. It’s been an honor to support landowners in Toombs County and the surrounding areas as they pursue their land-management goals and continue recovering after the hurricane.”
Conclusion
2026 will bring more change and growth to the County; yet, one thing will remain for certain: Toombs County will continue to thrive throughout whatever challenges or opportunities arise.
