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  THINGS TO DO IN DECATUR COUNTY

Brown Bag Concerts in Willis Park 
Brown  Bag concerts are often held in Willis Park in downtown Bainbridge

There is plenty to do in Bainbridge and Decatur County and the surrounding area to keep you and your family busy throughout the year. Whether you like attending festivals, enjoying nature, enjoying the arts, listening to live music, playing sports, or outdoor activities, there is enough to fill up just about every weekend of the year.
 

Area Festivals
For a detailed description of the festivals listed below, visit our Festivals and Events page.

  • Rattlesnake Roundup
  • Riverside Artsfest
  • Dogwood Festival
  • Mayhaw Festival
  • Rose Festival and Parade
  • Rivertown Days
  • Bikefest
  • Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair
  • Mule Day
  • Swine Time

Celebrations, Tours, Arts and Parades
In addition to the many festivals in the area, there are celebrations throughout the year designed for the public. Just take a look at the some of experiences waiting for you:

  • July 4th Celebration
  • Holiday Open House
  • Bainbridge High School Homecoming & Homecoming Parade
  • Christmas Parade
  • Christmas Candlelight Walking Tour
  • Christmas Eve Service at Willis Park
  • Heritage Tour of Homes
  • Brown Bag Concerts in Willis Park
  • River Music Series
  • Bainbridge Little Theatre
  • Firehouse Gallery
     

A Night at the Movies
Bainbridge is proud to be the home of the Bainbridge Mall Cinemas, with movies shown throughout the week and weekends. With six theaters available, any currently released movie that you might want to see is sure to be playing. Prices are reasonable and wait times are always minimal.
 

HuntingAre You a Hunter?
Bainbridge and Decatur County, Georgia is home to some of the best hunting areas in the Southeastern United States. There is an abundant supply of wildlife, all carefully managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and its Fish and Wildlife Division. Choose from the many different types of wildlife available when you plan your next hunt, such as white tail deer, turkey, duck, quail, dove, squirrel, and rabbit.

Hunting is considered a vital recreational activity for many in Bainbridge and Decatur County. The DNR has recently acquired the Silver Lake and Hog Farm tract formerly part of International Paper's Southland Research Facility. For more infomration on the new SIlver Lake Wildlife Management Area, go to the DNR Web site

Photos of Silver Lake WMA, managed by Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources

Like to Read?
The Gilbert H. Gragg Memorial Library at 229-248-2665, is located the corner of Shotwell and Monroe streets, serves as the headquarters for the tri-county Southwest Georgia Regional Library System. Open six days a week, the library houses a collection of over 140,000 volumes, including adult fiction and non-fiction books, books for children and young adults, large print books, paperbacks, magazines, newspapers, CDs, and videos. The library also serves as a sub-regional library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for 11 Southwest Georgia counties. The Southwest Georgia Regional Library is a member of the PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) network that includes 34 regional and single county public libraries and more than 300 individual libraries.

There are computer workstations available for public use. Residents of the tri-county region also have access to home e-mail and Internet through five library phone lines.

Children can enjoy four regularly scheduled story times each week. In addition, groups, including schools, can schedule special story times by contacting the children's librarian. The library also has a Bookmobile that travels rural roads in three counties and provides audio books, CD's, and videos to nursing homes, day care centers, and churches.
 

Softball, Football, Tennis, Golf, Bowling and more ...

Bainbridge's Leisure Services Department offers a wide variety of activities in addition to the accessible parks. Coming soon at Earle May Boat Basin, located off of the Shotwell Street and Hwy. 97 South connector are new boat ramps and launches being created through the "Go Fish" initiative approved during Gov. Sonny Perdue's tenure in 2007. 

The local YMCA offers youth athletic programs, a public bowling alley and a pool for YMCA members while the City of Bainbridge maintains an excellent public pool at the Potter Street Community Center. For serious swimmers, the new Aquatic Center offers eight lanes for practice or competition and a designated diving well. For those who want to just have fun, there is a tall, twisting 140 foot long Spiral Speed Slide.

Statewide tennis tournaments, as well as baseball, softball, soccer, and flag football for all ages are also a big part of life in Decatur County. From tee-ball to young adult leagues, you're sure to be able to find the right league for you.

Are you a golfer? Golf enthusiasts in Decatur County will discover two golf courses located in the community. The privately owned Bainbridge Country Club features an 18 hole golf course, four lighted tennis courts, swimming pool, club house and a pro shop. An 18-hole public course, The Pines Golf Course, (229) 246-8545, is funded by Decatur County and managed by Roland Hebert,. This beautiful newly refurbished course is located on Davis Drive off Highway 27 North at the Decatur County Industrial Park.

 


Notices
 

County Commission Meeting

The next regular County Commission meeting takes place Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at 9 a.m. in the Administration Building at 203 W. Broughton St., in Bainbridge. Click on 2010-2011 County Budget to view this document. Click on Commission Information to view minutes and other commission documents.



Relocating Bell Precinct to Climax

Pictured above is Bell voting precinct building being moved to the Climax Swine Time Grounds on Wednesday, June 16, one of three old voting precincts, including Pine Hill and Parker, moved by the county. The old buildings will be part of a historical display in Climax.

Click on Decatur County Inmate Firefighters Part I and Inmate Firefighters Part II to view WCTV LaTasha Givens' story about the program that aired April 28 and 29, 2010.



Looking for the City of Decatur?

Please click on City of Decatur if you are looking for Decatur, Ga. The site you are currently viewing belongs to Decatur COUNTY, Ga., located in South Georgia near the Florida/Georgia State Line. Thanks!



Wireless Broadband Service

Click on Wireless Broadband Service if interested in registering for this service. Click on Ribbon Cutting for Mainstreet Broadband to get more information on the event. Call 1-888-807-FAST (3278) for more information.



2011 Regional Plan

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission invites citizens to participate in the 2011 Regional Plan.



2010 County of Excellence

Decatur County is named a 2010 County of Excellence by Association County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia Trend Magazine as of March 2010. Click on Georgia Trend March 2010 to view the ad. Click on WALB carries County of Excellence story to view it.



New Voting Precinct Maps

Link to map of new voting precincts.



Pay Citations/Fines Online!

Click here to pay citations or fines on-line.



WALB Weather Alerts

Link to WALB Weather Alerts



Lake Seminole Levels

Click on Lake Seminole levels for report.



Keep Decatur County Beautiful

Click on Keep Decatur County Beautiful for information on recycling or call Director Suzanne Brandt at 229-246-3611.

Flint River Keepers will hold an important meeting will be held at Cloud Livestock Facility, 13000 East River Road ( located on Decatur County Fairgrounds)Sunday, Aug. 12, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. regarding the proposed permit for Plant Longleaf in Blakely, a coal burning facility which could seriously impact air and water quality in Decatur and Seminole Counties. All interested person are encouraged to attend. Call 246-3611 for more information.

Click on Brinson Recycle Trailer news to view article in the Spring Creek Watershed publication "Watermark"



County Surplus Sales

Click on GovDeals.com to view county surplus items for sale.



Dr. Stafford. District 3 Commissioner, on ACCG Health and Human Services Committee

Each summer, county officials from across the state come together to discuss legislative issues important to county government through committee meetings organized by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). Decatur County Commissioner Dr. C.T. Stafford is a member of the ACCG Health and Human Services Committee and recently participated in a meeting to discuss issues that ranged from funding for trauma care to caring for those with mental health disorders.      

ACCG provides public policy development and advocacy on behalf of counties and their communities and works through a consensus building process to establish an annual legislative agenda called the County Platform.  The issues in the platform are developed through the work of six policy committees which include:  Economic Development and Transportation; General County Government; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and the Environment; Public Safety and the Courts; and Revenue and Finance. 

 

“Participating in an ACCG policy committee helps me stay better informed about legislative issues, understand trends health and human services and learn how new proposals could impact Decatur County,” said Commissioner Stafford.  “These meetings also provide a forum for hearing from state legislators and state agency officials, who develop legislation and policies that have a direct impact on our community.”

 

The primary purpose of the recent meeting was to discuss legislation that passed during the 2010 session of the General Assembly, identify information in the legislative platform to update or change; review revenue and finance issues expected to come before the General Assembly in 2011; and consider new policies to add to the County Platform.  The committee also identified issues that needed further study or discussion through a subcommittee meeting. County officials will vote on the County Platform at the Legislative Leadership Conference scheduled for October 4 – 6, 2010 in Atlanta.



County Property Sales

Click on County Property Sales for information and then click on BID FORM if interested in bidding on these.

Link to The Post-Searchlight story regarding property sales.



Application for Employment

Click on Application for Employment to download a copy.  Return completed applications to 203 W. Broad Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817 or Mail completed application to Decatur County Board of Commissioners, P.O. Box 726, Bainbridge, GA 39818, Attn: Human Resource Director



More Properties for sale

Click on Second Round of Property Sales to view ad. Click on Second Round Bid Sheet to download a copy.



Capt. Janice Van Kirk, "Jail Supervisor of the Year"

Decatur County Sheirff's Office Capt. Janice Van Kirk was recognized as "Jail Supervisor of the Year" by Georgia Jail Association during the Tuesday, July 27, 2010, session of the County Commissioner's meeting. We congratulate Capt. Van Kirk for receiving this honor and appreicate all of her hard work and dedication. The award was presented to her by Lt. Beth Shaffer, with comments from Sheriff Wiley Griffin. Commission Chairman Earl Perry read a resolution commending Van Kirk's achievement before presenting it to her at the same meeting. Click on Van Kirk Award Story to see BainbridgeGa.com's coverage.



Paul Soudi recognized by 2010 Census

Decatur County Planning Director Paul Soudi was recognized with a plaque of appreciation from the U.S. Census Bureau for his efforts in orchestrating a successful 2010 Census here in Decatur County. Soudi said the county is at 70 % participation rate, with more people expected to be counted due to census workers canvassing the area. The more people that are counted, the more likely the county can be eligible for certain federal grants or programs. Census also affects how congressional districts are apportioned, he said.




 

 

 

 

 

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