🌱 How Georgia Southern’s new optometry college will reshape Statesboro’s Highway 301

Good morning to you Statesboro! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in Statesboro? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.

In today's newsletter:

• How Georgia Southern’s new optometry college will reshape Statesboro’s Highway 301
• What the Sir Shop’s Statesboro Mall closure means for local shoppers
• How Statesboro’s Renaissance Faire turned the ag center into a fantasy realm

Also on today's calendar: It's A Family Affair, Confronting The Family Skeletons and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Sun and clouds, with a high of 82 and low of 64 degrees.
• Friday: Clouds and sun with a shower, temps: high: 76, low: 66.
• Saturday: Some rain, with a high of 76 and low of 71 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• First in state: Regents approve college of optometry for GS (statesboroherald.com) — Georgia Southern University in Statesboro has secured Board of Regents approval and nearly $30 million in state funding to create Georgia’s first college of optometry, with classes expected to begin in 2029. The Highway 301 facility will be renovated into a modern training center, expanding local health education jobs and eventually boosting eye-care access across rural Georgia.
   

• Statesboro's The Sir Shop to Close at the End of the Year • The Georgia Virtue (thegeorgiavirtue.com) — A longtime Statesboro clothing staple, The Sir Shop at Statesboro Mall, will close by the end of 2026, ending more than five decades serving local and Georgia Southern customers. Current owners Tim and Erin Coleman say mall challenges drove the decision, but the brands will continue at their Burlap store in Metter, with transition and sales planned through year’s end.
   

• Statesboro Renaissance Faire (thegeorgeanne.com) — Statesboro just wrapped up its 2nd Annual Renaissance Faire and Market at the Bulloch Agricultural Facility, drawing families into a weekend of fantasy, costumes, and live entertainment. Attendees enjoyed jousting, acrobatics, music, kids’ activities, and a bustling marketplace of local food trucks and artisan vendors, all while supporting small businesses in the area.
   

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📸 Around Statesboro

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Statesboro

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday October 9

• The Undercovers →
  Emma Kelly Theater, 35 E Main St, Statesboro
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Thursday October 8

• ACFE Fraud Examiners Club →
  Information Technology Building, Statesboro
  5:00 pm
• Board of Education Regular Session
  Bulloch County Schools, 150 Williams Road, Suite A, Statesboro
  6:30 pm
• Tennis @Bryan (Away @ Bryan Co.)
  William James Middle Statesboro, GA 30458
  8:00 pm
• SHS Cross Country @ 7 Mile Farm Inv.
  7th Mile Farm, 7200 GA-46, Statesboro
  8:30 pm

Friday October 9

• Planetarium Presents: Perfect Little Planet →
  Math/Physics Building, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro
  10:00 am
• Standup Comedy in Statesboro! →
  727 Buckhead Drive, Statesboro
  7:30 pm

Monday October 12

• Board of Elections meeting →
  North Main Annex, 115 North Main Street, Statesboro
  1:30 pm
• Tennis (Away) @Screven
  William James Middle Statesboro, GA 30458
  8:00 pm

Saturday October 24

• It's A Family Affair, Confronting The Family Skeletons →
  Eastern Heights Baptist Church, 23805 US-80, Statesboro
  7:00 pm

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📣 Statesboro Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday October 8

• MMS Tennis Match
  Candler County School District, 901 North St W, Vidalia
  4:00 pm
• JV Football Game
  Candler County School District, 156 Collins St, Hazlehurst
  5:00 pm
• MHS Cross Country meet (Away)
  Candler County School District, 371 George L Smith State Park Rd, Twin City
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Amazon just notified me my package was delivered and handed to a resident.
  No one home and camera shows no deliveries. Was anyone handed a package for me @ 602 Hampstead Ave? If so, please leave on my porch or I can pick it… (Nextdoor Bridgewater/Stonebrook)
• Hello there.
  I live on Register Way Statesboro. I'm currently looking for some part time housekeeping work. Flexible hours. I have All my own cleaning supplies.(… (Nextdoor Old Register/Lanier/CypLK)

• GasPro Services posted a job opening for Store 105: Maintenance Associate in Statesboro. Apply here.
• Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in Statesboro. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Statesboro here.

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🗞 Nearby News

Brooklet

• Police Report - 10/7/26 (statesboroherald.com)
• USA TODAY Sports Super 10 Georgia high school flag football rankings, Week 3 (usatoday.com)
• Obituary - Donnie Williams Sr. (statesboroherald.com)

Portal

• Katielyn Yates, Portal Flag Football (griceconnect.com)
• Obituary - Mr. James Larry Lanier (statesboroherald.com)

Metter

• Metter shuts out Redskins, 14-0 (metteradvertiser.com)

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Ok Statesboro! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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