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Happy weekend, Statesboro! In today’s edition: New home warranty protections, Candlelight Celtic, Smackdown Hunger, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Consumer rights get an upgrade: Georgia’s new law boosts HVAC warranty protections for homeowners around Statesboro, banning registration requirements, starting coverage at installation, and allowing warranties to transfer automatically to buyers after a home sale — see what the law changes.

Community service tradition thrives: Feed the Boro is offering meaningful ways to pitch in across Bulloch County this year, building on work since 1999 with help from Georgia Southern and dedicated neighbors — see how to get involved.

Regional leaders take spotlight: Three Bulloch County residents named to the Leadership Southeast Georgia class of 2026 are Sean Fox, Bethany Gilliam, and Georgia Southern’s Ava Edwards, who will join a five-month leadership program — read the full story.

Library system overhaul in motion: Effingham County commissioners approved a contract helping libraries leave Live Oak Public Libraries for Statesboro Regional Public Libraries, ending 80-year partnership. Patricia Herndon was hired to guide transition despite pushback — learn what the transition involves.

Community celebrates educator excellence: Portal Elementary second-grade teacher Jessica Autry was named Georgia Mentor Teacher Award recipient for mentoring future educators at a statewide meeting earlier this month, bringing pride to Bulloch County — read the full story.

Fire department funding overhaul: Statesboro proposes a fire fee capped at $20 a month for single-family and duplex homes, and $300 a month for other properties, after last year’s funding losses, with no firefighter cuts planned — get all the details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Got debt? See if you qualify to pay up to 45% less
• This is the best home warranty (and it’s $150 off right now)
• This free tool makes it easy to find a financial advisor
• Over 62? Learn how to turn home equity into tax-free cash
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• Open a GoldCo account & get up to 10% in free gold/silver

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🕯 Candlelight Celtic @ Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center | Monday (3/2) at 7:30 PM – If your winter chill needs a proper thaw, catch this candlelit Irish set where over a thousand flames, fiddles, and pipes do the heavy lifting. World champ dance roots and touring pros bring tunes, stories, and cozy magic that practically begs for a post-show pint.

🐝 Gardening Learning Series: Pollinators @ Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University | Tuesday (3/3) at 10:00 AM – Finally, a birds-and-bees talk you can have with your yard. Learn which native flowers and shrubs actually attract pollinators, how to build safe habitats, and easy at-home steps for a healthier garden. Registration includes Botanic Garden admission, so linger, wander, and call it research.

🎗 Catie’s Gathering @ Visit Statesboro! | Friday (3/6) at 6:30 PM – Trade your usual dinner for Catie’s Gathering in Statesboro, a feel-good night of themed tables, silent and live auctions, and a program that hits the heart. Out-decorate your neighbors, win a bidding war you will brag about, and fund precision medicine for kids fighting cancer.

🥊 Smackdown Hunger @ Bulloch County Agricultural Complex | Friday (3/6) at 6:30 PM – If you’ve needed a reason to yell at strangers in spandex, this is it. Wrestling takes over the Ag Complex to bodyslam hunger with Feed the Boro, 3.5 million meals and counting, so grab a ticket, feel virtuous, then boo, cheer, repeat at tinyurl.com/SmackdownHunger.

🎤 DWYWT @ Averitt Center for the Arts | Friday (3/6) at 7:30 PM – Head downtown to the Averitt Center for a proper Irish tunefest, DWYWT making their debut. Think fiddles, stories, and songs you can actually sing along to, no green beer required. It’s cozy, quality sound, and mercifully over before your knees file a complaint.

🎶 Derek Warfield & The Young Wolf Tones @ Emma Kelly Theater | Friday (3/6) at 7:30 PM – Irish folk concert at the Emma Kelly Theater with Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, blending five decades of balladry with new-generation spark. Leave green top hats in the attic, it’s a history lesson you can tap to, all storytelling, skill, and pint-raising choruses.

🎤 Art of Xpression Party Band @ Gators & Gypsies | Friday (3/6) at 8:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade the couch for a dance floor, this is it. Art of Xpression Party Band brings tight grooves, sing-along favorites, and enough funk to count as cardio, so wear shoes you trust.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Statesboro report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 66°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 4%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 2 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 74°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Most popular house this week

This all-wood 4-bed, 2-bath two-story sits on 9.93 acres off Middleground Road with postcard pond views. Hardwood living areas, carpeted bedrooms, and two fireplaces, including one in an upstairs bedroom, set the tone. A wide front porch and a 2,500 sq ft spray-foamed, epoxy-floored shop with three roll-up doors headline the outbuildings, plus barn, studio, and pond house.

Take a peek inside →