Newspaper Page Text
144th YEAR, NO. 18
Qht Sutler JKeralti
THURSDAY, MAY 13 t 2021
Your Newspaper Since 1876
(Publication Number USPS 534-720)
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
50 CENTS PER COPY
National Day Of Prayer Held In Reynolds
Thursday, May 6th, was the 2021 National Day of Prayer, and the local observance was
held at the City Gazebo in Reynolds. Reynolds Mayor Butch Turner welcomed the faith
ful crowd, and Rusty Sloan performed. Local preachers participating in the prograjn
were Rev, Tommy Beeland, The Church; Rep, Fitzgerald Brown, Mt. Pisgak Baptist Church;
Rev. Mike Brandenburg, First Baptist Church of Butler; Rev. Jeff Cummings, First Bap
tist Church of Reynolds; and Rev. Alvin Turner; Free Run Baptist Church. This was the
70th observance of the National Day of Prayer, which was signed into law by President
Many S. Truman in 1952. The National Day of Prayer is a day when people of all faiths
are asked to pray for our nation. This year’s theme was, ‘Lord Pour Out Your Love, Life,
and LibertyF (Photos courtesy of Rev. Jeff Cummings)
Local Gas Pumps Shutting Down After
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack
Gov. Brian Kemp signed an
executive order to temporarily
suspend the gas tax in Georgia
in light of‘the Colonial Pipeline
cyber attack. The Alpharetta-
based company that supplies
nearly half of the gasoline con
sumed on the East Coast re
ported a ransomware attack
last Friday that forced a shut
down of a 5,.500-mile pipeline
running from Texas to New Jer
sey. The FBI blamed the attack
on DarkSide, a group of hack
ers believed to operate out of
Russia or Eastern Europe.
The Governor also announced
that Georgia is increasing the
weight limits for trucks trans
porting fuel, providing more
supply for stations as they re
ceive deliveries. The order fur-
>See Gas Pumps on page 3
Sheriff’s Warning:
Taylor County Sheriff Jeff Watson is warning everyone that the SherifFs Office will
be cracking down on littering and illegal dumping of trash in the county. Cameras
will be installed at dumpsters to help deter illegal dumping, and deputies will be
patrolling the areas. Sheriff Watson stated, “Please, help keep Taylor County clean!”
YOU Have The POWER To
LOVE® MO®
YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO WHUUNrraiBflt WITH
TAYLOR COUNTY yM
VOLUNTEER
FIRE DEPT.
Applications - https://taylorcountyga.com/resources_5_4219605085.pdf
The Taylor County Volunteer Fire Department
Needs YOU!
Volunteer Fire Departments across the country are struggling to maintain clue to
the lack of available personnel, and Taylor County needs your help. Our Fire De
partment currently lias seven stations placed throughout the county to serve our
Community. While having multiple stations is nice, we need volunteers to help re
spond to calls and maintain minimum requirements. When we lack volunteers, we
are faced with a lesser service to our community, which leaves lives and property at
higher level of danger and unprotected. If you would like more information or would
like to join our agency, please feel free to visit the Taylor County website
taylorcountyga.com/departments-administration.php. Under resources,click on Fire
and Rescue and dick on Fire Department Application. You can also come by the
County Annex Building, located at 7 Ivy St., Butler GA 31006, to pick up an applica
tion, Mon* - Fri., 9-5,
The Taylor County Fire Department meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Thurs
days of each month at 196 East Main St., Butler GA 31006.
You can also visit our Faeehook page at focebook.com/Tay1orCountyG AVFD/
Georgia Center To Close
By VALOR I MOORE
Editor
Last Tuesday night, the Tay
lor County Board of Commis
sioners met for the regular May
meeting, which was opened
with the Invocation by Rev, Phil
Bozeman, pastor of Turner’s
Chapel Free Will Baptist
Church.
State Representative Patty
Bentley was in attendance and
provided an overview of the
2021 legislative session, which
ended March 31st.
Rep, Bentley announced that
the Georgia Center for Youth,
located outside of Reynolds,
will he closing. She stated,
“We're thankful the Georgia
Center has done business in
Taylor County all these years,
and sorry they have to close
and over 60 employees will lose
employment.”
The closure comes after an
Outcry from the community fol
lowing several absconding in
cidents.
Rep. Bentley explained that
when you do business with the
State and get licensure from
the State, there are a lot of re
quirements, and if things are
not done according to the re
quirements, the relationship
could end. She said, “1 believe
this is what happened "
The Georgia Center had con
tracts with the Department of
Family and Children Services
and the Department of Juve
nile Justice, The Department
of Juvenile Justice did not re
new their contract with the
Georgia Center.
Rep, Bentley suggested the
Commissioners consider what
type of business they would like
to see at the current Georgia
Center facility and look at or
dinances to govern that area.
Also, Rep. Bentley said the
2020 Census reporting did not
go as well as hoped. The State
will he redistricting based on
the Census results, which have
not been reported locally.
There will he a special session
of the legislators later to
present redistricting maps.
She said an election bill
passed this session, which will
allow local government to take
over Boards of Elections if
things are not being handled
properly.
In addition, she noted that the
railroad track on Railroad
Street in Butler needs widen
ing. Rep, Bentley said CARES
f Corona virus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security) Act fundi ng
could help in this dangerous
area. She will organize a meet
ing with the Department of
Transportation to discuss the
issue. Commissioner Tameka
Harris added that there is a
railroad crossing in Reynolds
with the same problem.
Fire Coordinator Jeremy Wil
liams reported that the Taylor
County Fire Department re
sponded to three calls in April:
a vehicle accident, a vehicle fire
at Boondocks Mud Park, and a
wildfire. They also assisted the
Reynolds Fire Department
with two structure fires, A
work day W'as held at the
Rupert Fire Station, and work
days are being planned for
Other stations in the county.
Commissioner Tameka Harris
On May 9th, Deputy Josh
Harris with the Taylor County
Sheriff's Office conducted a
traffic stop on H wy, 96 near the
intersection of Suggs Mill Road.
The purpose of the traffic stop
w r as that the driver was failing
to maintain the lane of travel.
The traffic stop resulted in the
arrest of Kelsey Castillo
Herrera, a 28 year old Hispanic
announced that it is her goal to
have a community center in
Taylor County. She is seeking
funding and looking into Com
munity Deveiopment Block
Grants (CDBGs) and other
grants. Assistant County Man
ager Jared McCarthy noted
that the project is eligible for a
CDBG, but not competitive. He
said the project could be eligible
for a USDA grant/loan.
The county has completed
safety coordination training
and a safety action plan to
qualify for an ACCG (Associa
tion County Commissioners of
Georgia) safety discount for
2021, The Board approved this
discount.
Also, County Manager Lenda
Taunton was reappointed to
serve another term on the Tay
lor County Development Au
thority.
The Cooper Family owns
property on both sides of Coo
per Road in Rupert and has
asked that the road be dosed.
AD affected parties are in
agreement, and a motion was
made to begin the process to
close the road.
Following the regular meet
ing, the Board went into execu
tive session to discuss legal
matters, followed by a work
session to discuss the budget.
male from Warner Robins, GA.
Herrera was charged with Fail
ure to Maintain Lane, Driving
Underthc Influence of Alcohol,
Obstructing a Law Enforce
ment Officer, Possession of
Methamphetamine, and Cross
ing the Guard Lines with Con-
traband.
Herrera is currently in the
Taylor County Jail.
Warner Robins Man
Jailed After Traffic Stop
Leads To Meth Charges
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Georgia Strawberry
Festival Held In
Reynolds May 8th
Thousands of people converged on downtown Reynolds, “The Sweetest Spot in Georgia”
on Saturday, May 8th for the Geoigia Strawberry Festival. The festival was rescheduled
from April 24th, due to inclement weather, but May 8th was the perfect day for a festivalI
Festival-goers enjoyed an arts, crafts and boutique show, an old book sale, a photography
show, food vendors, and a vintage tractor show. Also, there was a 5KRun, the Deny Blast
Softball Touniament, a Children’s Parade and Grand Parade, cake walks, a Strawberry
Pie Bating Contest, a Fire Truck Pull, Weenie Dog Races, Story time with Authors, a Kid
Zone, strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream, and lots of strawberries at the Straw
berry Patch! (Photos on page 8)