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3ht Sutler 3tfrral& “Your Newspaper Since 1876” (Publication Number US PS 534-720) 144th YEAR, NO. 28 THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY There Was Once A Team Book Signing Held Saturday In Crowell Bunny Fuller Harris wrote the booh *There Was Once A Team,” which was co-authored by her daughter.■ Katie Harris Doclrill, about the 132 game winning streak of the Lady Vi kings, from 1967-72, Bunny was a member of the team for four of the five winning streak seasons. She and Katie wrote the book to honor the team, their coach, Lady Viking Head Coach Norman Carter, and the community. A book signing was held Saturday, July 10th, at the Crowell Community Center Bunny, Katie, Coach Carter, and many of the members of the winning Streak team were available to sign books. Books are $20 and are available through cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal from Bunny Harris (bunnyharris35@gm.ail.com), Pictured (left) are: Katie (l), Bunny (r) 9 and Tom Callier discussing "There Was Once A Team * and Coach Carter (right) addressing the large crowd. (See more on page 5.) Board Of Commissioners Calls Special Meeting To Discuss Roads The Taylor County Board of Commissioners held a special Notice The Taylor County Development Author ity is seeking public input at a meeting on Wednesday, July 14th, at 1 p*m., at the Tay lor County Board of Commissioners Annex Building, as they are applying for a GDOT TAP Grant for the downtown walkability, safety enhancement, and beautification project, to be located around the courthouse square and downtown Butler. called meeting Wednesday morning, July 14th, to update the 2020 Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) projects. According to the meeting min- utes, when assigning projects for the 2020 LMIG, the engi neers recommended resurfac ing Crowell Church Rd_ How ever, beginning in 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to repair the bridges on Ilwy. 128, north of Reynolds, and to detour traffic >See Commissioners on p. 5 Representative Patty Bentley Appointed To Broadband Infrastructure Committee June 29, 2021, Governor Brian Kemp named members of the Georgia Jobs and Infra structure Committees, which will be responsible for receiv ing applications and making recommendations to the Gover nor regarding federal corona virus relief funds allo cated to Georgia through the American Rescue Plan. State government entities, units of local government, industries, and nonprofits will be eligible to apply. ‘Today, I am naming a bipar tisan group of state leaders to three Georgia Jobs and Infra structure Committees focused on broadband, water and sewer infrastructure, and the eco nomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic/' said Governor Kemp. 'These committees will ensure federal coronavirus re lief dollars are allocated stra tegically across our state and address one-time funding needs in these three key areas. ' 1 The Georgia Jobs and Infra structure Committees will re ceive applications beginning August 1, 2021 at opb.georgia. gov. Applications will close on August 31, 2021, and grants are targeted to be announced the week of October 18, 2021. These dates are subject to change as guidance from the U S, Department of the Trea sury continues to evolve. State Representative Fatty Bentley was selected to serve on the Broadband Infrastruc ture Committee. Bentley said, "I am honored to be selected by the state's Governor to serve all Georgians in this capacity. Broadband is critical to every day life, and I want to do all I can to ensure every area of this state has access to high speed internet services/’ During the 2020 General As sembly Session, Representa tive Bentley was named Secre tary for the Higher Education Committee. ir^’i H\ ^ P/ease $otn tfs 4 T\MjORCOI NTS SCHOOL DISTRICT - * MEET THE TE \CHER EVENT July 2<h 2021 Primary School 1:10 jini fk'il) pin I'Jemrntarv ScIhmiI .1:1)0 pm 7:00 pm Middle School .1:00 pin 7:00 pm High School .1:00]iiu 7: 50 pm Department Of Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward Visits Taylor County During the last week of June, the Commissioner of the Geor gia Department of Correct ions, Timothy C. Ward, made a visit to Taylor County. He met with the Board of Commissioners, local law enforcement. Repre sentative Patty Bentley, and in terested citizens. Commissioner Ward said the Department of Corrections is seeking a sustainable business for the former probation deten tion center building in the In dustrial Park in Butler. Ward also discussed the men tal health crisis that plagues the Department of Corrections, Sheriff Jeff Watson stated, “It’s insane the amount of money citizens spend on menial health. The biggest mental health center in the country is the jail and prison system/ Ward was appointed by Gov ernor Brian Kemp as the Com missioner for the Georgia De partment of Corrections on Feb. 18, 2019. As Commis sioner, he manages a $1.3 bil lion budget and leads approxi mately 10,000 employees. The agency’s responsibility is to pro tect the public by supervising more than 50,000 state offend ers through the operation of secure and safe facilities, while reducing recidivism through effective programming, educa tion, and healthcare. Ward began his career with the Department in 1992 as a Correctional Officer, He served in several capacities in the De- Grand Jury Convened In June The Grand Jury of Taylor County convened on the 14th day of June 2021 with 23 mem bers present and sworn. The following officers were elected: Cordarious O’Neal Searcy, foreperson, and Shonda Renee Blair, secretary. The Grand Jury returned four true bills and three no bills. The Grand Jury made the fol lowing appointments to the Board of Tax Equalization: Debra Flowers, from Jan. 1, 2021 until Dec. 31, 2023, and Delissa Jones, from Jan. 1, 2021 until Dec. 31, 2024. The Grand Jury recom mended that these present ments be published in The Tay lor County News. The Grand Jury wishes to thank the Honorable Judge Bobby Peters and District At torney Mark Jones and his staff for their service and assistance. Lilia Beth Summers Advances To Regional Round Of Drive, Chip & Putt Lilia Beth Summers won 2nd place overall at the Drive, Chip & Putt, at The. Country Club of Columbus, on Thursdayi July 8th. She now advances to the regional round at The Club at Savannah Harbor in Savannah—one step closer to the finals at the Augusta National Golf Club. Lilia Beth is the daughter of Wes and Gina Summers of Reynolds. Stale Representative Fatty Bentley presents Commissioner Ward with a token of appreciation, a basket of local goods. partment, to include Counselor and Senior Counselor, and was a former Superintendent at Western Probation Detention Center in Butler and McEver Probation Detention Center. He served as Warden at Rogers, Johnson, and Phillips State Prisons, as w r ell as Director of Facilities Operations and As sistant Commissioner of Facili ties. He was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as Chief of Staff in Dec. 2016, and was appointed Interim Commis sioner in Jan. 2019 by Gov. Kemp. Ward holds a Bachelor’s De gree in Criminal Justice from Savannah State University and a Master’s Degree in Pub lic Administration from Colum bus State University. He and his wife have three children, He is a native of Dawson, GA and resides in Milledgeville. Reynolds Policeman Lends A Helping Hand Recently, a couple was traveling through Reynolds, when they had a flat tire. Lt. Chris Gillespie of the Reynolds Police Department offered to help and chained the tire. Reynolds Police Chief Lonnie Holder stated, “Policing is more than taking people to Jail and writing citations. Thank you, Lt. Gillespie for going above and beyond and helping this couple get back on the road after getting a flat tire. *