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Rincon awards bid for new fire station
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Patrick Donahue
Updated: May 2, 2014, 1:28 AM
Published: May 2, 2014, 1:30 AM

Rincon City Council members approved a bid for the planned Blue Jay/McCall road fire station, granting the contract to Nicky Powell Construction on Monday night.

The winning bid was $91,806. Two general contractors bid the entire project, and three others bid on parts of the contract. City engineer Tim Baumgardner said most of the vendors to be used on the project will be local.

“He’s aware we want to use all local vendors,” Baumgardner said.

The city has a deal with Effingham County to build a fire station on five acres of land it bought late last year. Under the agreement’s terms, the city has to have the building ready to go by July 1.

“He’s going to hit the ground running,” Baumgardner said. “The biggest concern is the short schedule.”

Original estimates of the building cost were $120,000. The city could put in the septic tank needed for the station and also do the paving work needed to access the station from the road.

Council members also voted to annex the entire 66-acre tract off Blue Jay and McCall roads into the city, though it is not contiguous to the city limits.

Council members also approved the purchase of a UTV, or utility task vehicle, for the police department, awarding a bid of $16,648 to Dal Kawa Cycle Center. The base price is around $12,000, and the company will outfit the vehicle for the police department.

“It comes with all the bells and whistles,” Police Chief Phillip Scholl said.

Chief Scholl said the UTV will be of use during parades, events at Freedom Park and at Macomber Park. He added he planned to ask for one patrol car, along with a criminal investigation vehicle, this year.
Effingham Donates 6,900 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
Cohen Busbee packs a shoebox with toys, school supplies and personal care items for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)
Updated: Nov 26, 2025, 7:11 PM
Published: Nov 25, 2025, 2:28 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Effingham County’s generosity will soon be felt across the globe. Local churches, civic groups and residents combined to donate 6,900 gift-filled shoeboxes this year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers presents — along with a message of Christian faith — to children in need around the world.

Volunteers fuel  participation

Among those helping lead the effort are Pat and James McElveen, who serve as project leaders for First Baptist Church of Rincon. The couple collects items for their church year-round, coordinates volunteers and helps involve people of all ages in the packing process, including seniors, Bible school groups and individuals from the Low Country Down Syndrome Society.

Operation Christmas Child, operated by the Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, aims to share the Gospel while providing what may be a child’s first gift. Each shoebox contains a “WOW” item, along with other small toys, personal care items, school supplies and clothing. Last year, the organization delivered nearly 12 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Operation Christmas Child
James and Pat McElveen (back row) stand with Cohen (left) and Asa Busbee in a room where shoeboxes have been packed for Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)

Churches, civic groups and residents all contribute

This year’s local total includes contributions from churches across the county — including First Baptist Rincon (5,100 shoeboxes) and Springfield Oaks (1,800 shoeboxes), which also serves as a drop-off site — along with Boy Scouts, high school groups and individual residents who pack boxes throughout the year. Pat said the wide community involvement is what makes the effort meaningful.

All 6,900 local boxes were delivered this week to Metter, where they will be transported to Atlanta for processing before being shipped around the world. Because many deliveries travel into remote regions, not every gift arrives by Christmas, and distributions continue throughout the year.

Once the shoeboxes reach their final destinations, each child receives both the gifts and a booklet explaining the Christian message in their language. For the McElveens and FBC Rincon, that message is at the heart of the project. ”It’s all about Jesus!”

With another successful collection completed, the McElveens say they are already preparing for next year and looking forward to the thousands of children who will once again open a shoebox packed by caring hands in Effingham County.