Hi, Bulloch County! Although the spelling of both our names is rather unconventional — a “y” in hers, no “d” in mine — you’ve probably noticed that the picture above is no longer of Angye. 

That’s me, Linsay.

I was born and raised in Bulloch County and attended the University of Georgia, where I majored in journalism, before returning home a couple years after graduation to work at the Statesboro Herald. I’ve worn many hats in my 12 years with the company. If my mug looks familiar, you may recognize it from my early years as editor of Connect Statesboro or, more recently, of Moments magazine. Even more likely, you know me as Joe and Teresa’s daughter, because they’re essentially celebrities around these parts.

My husband, Matthew, and I just celebrated our 10-year anniversary in November. He works as an IT specialist at Georgia Southern, so we’re a family full of Dawgs and Eagles! We have a 6-year-old daughter who is as sassy and smart as she is sweet and sensitive — and we’re pretty convinced she hung the moon.

I adore my hometown and feel so blessed to be able to raise my own family here — so when I was presented with the opportunity to work with Discovering Bulloch, it didn’t take much convincing. We already miss Angye, and she’s left some really big shoes to fill, but I’m excited to continue her efforts to shine a spotlight on the countless reasons why our county is so special. 

But I’m not the only thing new around here. In fact, in this issue, we are highlighting a handful of exciting new beginnings in our community while turning the page to a brand new calendar year. Our cover story features the birth of an Associate of Science in Nursing program at Ogeechee Technical College, which will begin training its first cohort of future RNs in January 2024 and looks to have a major impact on the current shortage of nurses in our area. 

On the opposite end of that spectrum, we’re also celebrating the 50th anniversary of East Georgia State College and the recent installment of its sixth president, Dr. David Schecter. For more than half of those years, the college’s Statesboro campus has been open to students, first located in the Harvey House on Georgia Southern’s campus, then at its own building on Highway 301 South and, most recently, inside the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center at GS. EGSC has been making its mark across the region for half a century, and we can’t wait to see what the next 50 years have in store for the Bobcats. 

We’ll also tell you about Promise686, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that’s been around since 2007 but has just launched in Bulloch County and is already making a big difference in the lives of vulnerable children and at-risk families in our community with the help of local churches. 

Finally, with the holiday season in full swing, we asked readers to tell us about their favorite Christmas traditions. Some are classic, some are silly, and some are a little bit weird — but they should all do the trick when it comes to getting you into the holiday spirit!

As we welcome a new year, I’m looking forward this personal new beginning as editor, and I hope you’ll join in the journey with us as we keep discovering Bulloch!