By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Rally and worship as back-to-school turns 20
Project Reach GANG back to school rally
Liberty County Sheriff deputy Keith Jenkins hands out school supplies at the 20th annual Project Reach GANG back to school rally held this past Saturday at Briar Bay Park in Riceboro.

The Project Reach G.A.N.G (God’s Anointed Now Generation) choir could be heard for miles down Barrington Ferry Road. As the choir sang, the community came together at Briar Bay Park. It was more than just a back-to-school rally. For Project Reach founder Lavonia LeCounte it was their 20th year of being blessed by the community she calls home.

Through music, worship, fellowship and praise, families came together in support of their largest investment – their children.

The rally celebrated the upcoming school year and the incoming student body. Guest speakers and community leaders offered empowering words to the next generation of possible lawyers, doctors, educators and local and federal leaders.

Liberty County Board of Education vice Chair, Verdell Jones served as the emcee. She read a resolution from state representative Al Williams (D-Midway) recognizing the efforts of Project Reach G.A.N.G. for their “Efficient, effective, noble and dedicated service to the state of Georgia and the residents of Liberty County.”

Newly hired LCSS Deputy Superintendent Dr. Zheadric Barbra spoke on behalf of LCSS Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry who had an unexpected emergency which kept him from attending the rally.

“I am elated to be here at the Liberty County Schools,” Barbra said. “Georgia is home for me.”

Barbra commended LeCounte for her service to the community, the churches and the annual event. He then turned his attention to the children and said, “We are waiting to see you in school in a few weeks. Enjoy the last weeks of summer. Have fun but start picking those books back up.”

Barbra said students deserve to receive the best education possible. He also encouraged parents to be more involved with the school system and stay connected to their children’s educators.

“We are focused on results, not excuses,” Barbra said. “We are aiming for excellence.”

Riceboro native and Westside Elementary School Principal Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond was among the guest speakers. She started off by saying how proud she was of her community.

“I am so home-town proud right now,” she said.

Hammond spoke about the importance of education and making the right choices in school. She said successful students are those who can show leadership skills and follow the path. She said students need to think before acting and know that there are consequences for their actions. She said children should check their surroundings and separate themselves from the bullies and trouble makers.

“You should surround yourself with people who will help you be better,” she said. “Surround yourself with people who want something good out of life.”

Project Reach G.A.N.G. founder Lavonia LeCounte said the back to school rally started back in 1998 when concerned parents came together to give their children a better chance at life through education, the arts and the church.

She said Briar Bay Park has served as the event’s location since its inception and thanks to local efforts, the park and the surrounding environment have improved remarkably.

LeCounte founded Project Reach with the goal of improving the children in academics, health and wellness, cultural awareness and increase parent involvement in their children’s lives. Project REACH G.A.N. G. provides youth development training, peer pressure classes, job interview training mentoring and tutorial programs.

They also provide vocal and performance training through the G.A.N.G choir which released its first Gospel Recording CD entitled “Grateful” in 2010.

At Saturday’s rally the G.A.N.G choir had people dancing and rejoicing. Organizers thanked the community vendors for their contribution of school supplies. LeCounte thanked the community for their annual support saying they were all a blessing from God.

After the ceremony and choir the children were released into the playground where the community vendors welcomed them with gifts and school supplies.

Project Reach G.A.N.G. was also able to give away five tablets to high school seniors and students entering their freshman year in college.

Project Reach GANG Back-to-School

GANG Back to School Rally 2018-07-14

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Sign up for our e-newsletters
3rd ID, Army, allies mourn four soldiers lost in accident
Farewell ceremony set for Thursday morning in Lithuanian capital
four soldiers

The four U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania have been identified.  

The Army has confirmed the four soldiers who died when their vehicle sank into a bog as Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, 25, PFC Dante Taitano, 21, and Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, 28.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

Knutson-Collins, Duenez Jr., and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2018 and was assigned to 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion.

Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Master Technician Badge.

“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander, Foxtrot Company, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”

“The pain we feel from this loss is insurmountable,” said Lt. Col. Erick Buckner, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion commander. “Staff Sgt. Knutson-Collins was well loved throughout our unit and a brother to all. He was an expert, an incredibly talented mechanic and a warrior. We will never forget his dedication to his unit, his family and his country.”

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers will be held Thursday morning in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

“Every soldier is also a Lithuanian soldier, and their families’ pain is our pain,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

Latest Obituaries