Statesboro Police Department Community Information Specialist Ruth Atchley and Statesboro resident Jad Deal are paired for the 2026 Dancing with the Statesboro Stars. The event is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Connection Church. The pair plans to support Safe Haven.
Atchley is in her fifth year with the department. She started in its records unit and moved into her current role in 2025. During one year in public information, she helped grow the department’s social media audience from about 29,000 followers to nearly 100,000.
Atchley received the Statesboro Police Department’s Chief’s Award for Excellence in 2025. In April 2026, state Sen. William Hickman presented her with a proclamation recognizing her community outreach and public engagement; it was read before the Georgia Senate. She graduated from Ogeechee Technical College, where she led the National Technical Honor Society and served on the Student Leadership Council. She received the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership in 2019.
Deal, who is originally from Donalsonville, works as a Driver Associate for Last Mile Logistics in Port Wentworth. He has danced in school productions and recitals, and performed on cruises and at Disney with a school dance group. Deal also took part in Dancing with the Statesboro Stars in 2023 and 2024, making the 2026 event his third appearance. Admission details were not provided.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
