Newspaper Page Text
t Sutler BUeralh
“Your Newspaper Since 1876”
(Publication Number USPS 534-720)
H4th YEAR, NO. L7 THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
Miss April
The Taylor County News Calendar Girl for April is Ana
Caroline Albritton• Caroline is a senior at Taylor County
High School, where she will be an Honor Graduate. She is
a member of the Lady Vikings Softball Team, Beta Club,
Key Club, FBLA, 4-H, Student Council, FCA, aftd .s/ze im,s
a memftfir ofthe tennis team for three years. S/ze attend#
Butler United Methodist Church. Following graduation,
she plans to attend the University pf Georgia. Caroline is
the daughter of Chad and Tabby Albritton of Butler. She
has two brothers, Luke and Christian Albritton. Her grand
parents are Mr. and Mrs, Tab Winters of Butler) Donna
Minor of Townsend, GA, and the late Cleveland Albritton
of Butler The Calendar Girl is a monthly feature of Taylor
County High School and The Taylor County News, Calen
dar Girls are chosen based on academics, extracurricular
activities, personality, and character.
Mr. April
Jaylen Riley has been named The Taylor County News
Calendar Guy for April. Jaylen is a senior at Taylor County
High School, where he completed a path way in Audio-Vi
sual Technology and Film. He is a member of JROTC and
Beta Club. He attends Felton Chapel Church in Macon
County. Following graduation, he plans to enlist in the
United States Air Force. Jaylen is the son of Shequita
Walker and Harold Riley, Jr. His siblings are Braylen Still,
Caylen Still, Laylah James, Darren James, and Trinity
Duffy. His grandparents are Annette Riley and Harold
Riley. The Calendar Guy is a monthly feature of The Tay
lor County News and Taylor County High School, Calen
dar Guys are chosen based on academics, extracurricular
activities, personality, and character.
Sheriff Jeff Butler Police Chief Kain Cobb Resigns
Watson
Addresses
Reynolds
Council
About Jail
—New City
Clerk Brian
Smisson Hired
By VALORI MOORE
Editor
The Reynolds Mayor and City
Council met last Monday night
for the regular monthly meet
ing.
Following an executive ses
sion. the Council hired Brian
Smisson as the new City Clerk.
Brian is a native of Fort Valley
and holds a Bachelor of Busi
ness Education degree from
Mercer University. Please wel
come Brian. He will begin full
time on May 6th,
* * 4
Taylor County Sheriff Jeff
Watson addressed the Mayor
and Council. He said. “IVe
been sheriff for 17 years and
have never been to a council
meeting, because you handle
your business, and 1 stay out
of your business.” However,
following a discussion at last
month s meeting about housing
Reynolds inmates in the Tay
lor County Jail, Sheriff Watson
said, “It was in the paper, and
I received phone calls. Tm here
to get the facts out!”
Sheriff Watson explained that
during the COVID-19 pan-
>See Reynolds Council on p. 2
Sheriff’s
Office And
Reynolds
Police
Team Up To
Apprehend
Armed
Robbery
Suspect
Monday morning, April 26th.
around 7:55 a.m., Peach
County Sheriff’s Office issued
a 911 BOLO for an armed rob
bery suspect, who robbed Nick
Food Mart in Fort Valley, with
a shotgun. The suspect was
identified as John Austin
Cummings, a 22 year old, black
male of Reynolds, who was be
lieved to be heading to a
relative's residence on S. Ma
con St. in Reynolds.
Reynolds Police Chiel Lonnie
Holder, Reynolds Police Lieu
tenant Chris Gillespie, Taylor
County Sheriffs Office Inves
tigator Wallace Carpenter, and
Chief Deputy Tommie Fowler
set up a parameter and began
searching for Cummings, Dur
ing the search, Cummings w r as
spotted as he headed back to
Peach County The officers fol
lowed Cummings to the river
bottom in Taylor County, where
Peach County Deputies arrived
on the scene.
A traffic stop was conducted,
and Cummings was arrested
without incident. Cummings is
charged with Armed Robbery,
Aggravated Assault, and Pos
session of a Firearm During the
Commission of a Felony, He is
in the custody of Peach County
Sheriff’s Office.
On Friday, April 16, Butler
Police Chief Kain Cobb ten
dered his notice of resignation
to the City of Butler Mayor
and Council. Chief Cobb com
mented that after much
thought and prayer, he had de
cided to change careers. He
has accepted a joh at Sumter
Electric Membership Coopera
tive as a System Operations
Specialist.
Cobb began his law enforce
ment career in Butler in 2008.
In 2011, he left the City and
began employment as a Patrol
Deputy with the Taylor
County Sheriff’s Office, under
the leadership of Sheriff Jeff
Watson. He was later trans
ferred to the Criminal Inves
tigation Division, where he
served as a Criminal Investi
gator, He was promoted to the
rank of Sergeant. In October
2017, he left the County and
returned to the City of Butler
as the Chief of Police.
Cobb stated that he has been
afforded many great opportu
nities during his career in law
enforcement. He added that he
has enjoyed serving the com
munity and is very grateful for
the tremendous community support!
Record Turnout For Strawberry
Festival’s ‘‘Gospel Music In The Park”
The Georgia Strawberry Festival was postponed until May 8th, but the “Gospel Music in
the Park*' was held Friday, April, 23rd, with a record turnout gathering in Julian Knight
Park in Reynolds to enjoy the Shepherds and The Danley Family, Gtxxl food, good music,
and good weather made for a great eveningf
Butler Garden Club Yard Of The Month
The Butler Garden Club Yard ofthe Month for April is the landscape of Chuck and Melanie
Byrd. The Yoshino ch erry trees pictured were a gift to Chuck’s parents, Garland and Gloria
Byrd, from William Fickling, a Reynolds native, who was instrumental in bringing the
cheriy trees to Macon that we still celebrate. The Byrd landscape also features azaleas,
dogwoods, Japanese maples, and camellias. This landscape can be viewed at 109 Sherwood
Drive in Reynolds. The Yard of the Month is a monthly feature of and is chosen by, the
Butler Garden Club.