Soaking it all in

To say that Derek Sills loves Georgia Southern University and legendary football coach Erk Russell is an understatement. A walk through his home is like visiting a museum dedicated to the iconic coach and a tribute to Eagles football. But Sills does more than simply follow the Eagles. An alumnus of GSU, he sits on the school’s alumni board, the GSU Athletic Foundation board and is a member of the presidential steering committee working on developing new GSU football facilities. What’s more, Sills is president of the Coastal Eagle Club based in Midway, and the Liberty County resident said he is proud his local alumni club is spearheading a project he and many others feel was a long time in coming. The Erk Russell Project was born after a series of events left Sills wondering why the father of GSU football wasn’t recognized by a life-size statue as other coaches have been. Sills said he read an article in Sports Illustrated containing an interview with Urban Meyer. The s...

Despite a few days of slightly lower temperatures, there is little doubt that the extreme heat of summer is just around the corner. Being from Florida I don’t mind the intense heat and humidity that make up the ‘Dog Days.’ I can tolerate the heat much better than I can handle the cold that always seems to creep into my toes and fingers during the winter. As a sports writer for the Coastal Courier, summer time means no high school sports. Sure there are still plenty of local sports to cover but last year I made a decision to try something completely different, a non-traditional sport, so to speak, and ended up covering the Savannah Derby Devil boot camp for the newspaper. It was a great opportunity to introduce a local team doing a local sport that was quickly flourishing across the nation. As most of you know that little adventure turned into a new athletic career for me. My first official bout was on April 2 and although we lost, I’m looking forward to the next bout and I’m complet...

The Savannah Derby Devils, an all-female flat track roller derby league team, is offering a unique opportunity to mingle with the skaters and raise funds for the American Diabetes Association’s annual Kiss-A-Pig campaign. The Devils are participating in this year’s campaign as the ‘Squeals on Wheels,’ and will be hosting a Business after Hours event from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday March 23, at Star Castle Family Entertainment Center in Savannah. Participants will get the chance to skate with the Devils while enjoying some retro tunes, snacks and refreshments. There will be games, raffle drawings and prizes will be awarded. No skates or gear required but if you have a pair of skates, you are encouraged to bring them with you and lace up for the cause. Tickets must be purchased online and no later than 3 p.m. the day of the event. No ticket sales are available on site. The $25 registration includes a ticket to the Savannah Derby Devils’ April 2, home opener bout against Charleston, debut...

As some of you are aware, last June I covered the Savannah Derby Devils’ Roller Derby boot camp by participating as a skater during the one-week event. Before June 6, 2010 I had not been on quad skates in more than thirty years. The experience completely changed my life – for the better I might add. I was hooked since day one. Not only was the exercise starting to feel good but the women involved with the Devils’ organization were kind, patient, and fierce and all are professionals in their ‘day-time’ jobs. At the end of boot camp there was a chance to try out for the team, but I missed this opportunity because I was out of town for my birthday. I was extremely bummed but was told I could continue to participate by joining the referees. I studied the rule book, passed my test and wore my stripes for the Fresh Meat scrimmage and three regular bouts thereby earning my official Derby Devil Jacket. I attended as many practice sessions as I could, skating around the perimeter of the trac...

Le-Conte Woodmanston is by appointment only Recent vandalism, work on master plan aide decision Sept. 4, 2010 Continuing to feel the pinch of a tight economy and a few recent incidents of vandalism and theft have forced the Le-Conte Woodmanston Plantation to lock its wrought iron gate and be open for tours by appointment only. In July Mary Beth Evans, executive vice president of the LeConte-Woodmanston Foundation announced the section of the site which encompasses the Botanical Gardens re-created slave cabin and the hunting lodge would be closed off with gates and signs while the board searches for sources of funding to enable the foundation to hire fulltime, paid staff and create a sustainable future. During that time folks still had access to the nature trails which winded through Bull Town Swamp and included the original rice fields and floodgate pond. Evans said the board was still working on the master plan but the lack of funds and the recent discovery of vandalism and ...

I love wildlife and animals. When I was younger I wanted to be a Veterinarian or zoo keeper. During my late teens and early twenties I worked as a vet assistant/kennel worker and realized I would never have the heart to deal with seeing injured or sick pets on a daily basis. Having to put Rover to sleep because he was hit by a car, neglected by his owner or has made it to the end of a long and great life was just to much for this girl to bear. Later life took over and the thought of starting college and studying biology, zoology and what not was not a viable option at that point. As it turns out life has a funny way of always bringing you back to your passions. As a writer/photographer for the Coastal Courier newspaper in Hinesville, Georgia I've gotten the opportunity to work closely with our local animal shelter writing stories on their behalf, creating adoption videos and even adopting two of their shelter pets. Last year and just this past Monday I also got the opportunity to t...