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(Publication Number USPS 534-730)
144th YEAR, NO. 36 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
Three Teens In Custody, One In Critical Condition
Following Gang-Related Shooting Thursday Evening
On Thursday, Sept. 2nd,
around 6:50 p.m., a shooting
occurred on Pine Forest Drive,
about two miles north of
Reynolds. One teen male,
Jayveion Dcmarcus Floyd, 17,
was shot in the head and air
lifted from the scene to Atrium
Health Navicent Medical Cen-
The U.S. Census Bureau re
leased additional results in Au
gust, which detailed results for
cities and counties. Across the
nation, there was a trend to
ward a more urban population
during the last decade The
more heavily populated coun
ties grew, while the smaller
counties saw a decline in popu
lation. This trend was reflected
in Taylor County, as the
county's population decreased
by 8.8%, from 2010 to 2020. In
Flint Energies is distributing
$5.27 million in September to
those consumer-members who
received electric service during
1999, 2000, or 2001. Nearly
41,000 current and former
Flint Energies members will
receive their share of the total
in margin refunds, also known
as capital credits.
More than 24,300 current
members of the Cooperative
will receive a credit on their
September hill; that’s approxi
mately 34% of Flint's current
membership, Bill credits save
Flint members and their coop-
erati ve tens of thousands of dol
lars in cheek printing and post
age costs, which can go toward
future refunds.
More than 16,550 consumers
who are no longer Flint mem
bers will receive their checks
after September 15. II the
ter in Macon, He is in critical
condition. Floyd was dropped
off dow r n the road on Pine For
est Drive, and three teens left
the scene.
Following the shooting, the
Taylor County Sheriff's Office
and Georgia Bureau of Inves
tigations (GBI) were searching
2010, Taylor County's popula
tion w'as 8,906. According to
the 2020 Census, Taylor
County’s population is now
7,816.
Population growth in Georgia,
since 2010, was primarily in
counties in metro Atlanta and
along the coast. Many of the
counties in rural Georgia lost
population since 2019, espe
cially in South Georgia.
According to Dave Williams,
Capitol Beat New Service,
check would be written for less
than $5, the credit will carry
over to the next refund.
If someone receives electric
sendee from a cooperative like
Flint Energies, he/she owns the
company along with everyone
else who receives service.
Rather than earning profits
from monthly payments, after
paying off debts and establish
ing a reserve for unexpected
events, Flint returns the excess
revenue to its members. These
funds are called capital credits.
Each year, the Flint Energies
Board of Directors determines
w hat portion of capital credits
can be retired or returned to
the membership. Capital cred
its are only returned if it is fi
nancially prudent to do so.
Each member is assigned
capital credits based on the
electricity purchased during
for the thr ee teens, who were
wanted for Aggravated Assault
(Felony) and Participation in
Criminal Street Gang Activity
(Felony). By the afternoon of
Sept. 3rd, all three subjects had
been captured, arrested, and
were being held in the Taylor
County Jail. They are:
“Georgia remains the nation’s
eighth most populous state,
with a population of 10.7 mil
lion, up from 9.7 million a de
cade ago. With the slower
growth, only six states will re
ceive more congressional seats,
For the first time since the L980
census, Georgia will not be one
of them. The General Assem
bly will use the data to redraw
Georgia’s congr essional and leg
islative districts during a spe
cial legislative session this fall."
the year. This invested amount
represents the value of a
member’s ownership in the Co
operative. Flint Energies uses
the “first in, first out’’ (FIFO)
method of retiring capital cred-
its, refunding to members
whose capital has been in
vested for the longest time in
the Cooperative,
“Flint Energies operates at
cost; therefore, excess revenue
is returned unlike with inves
tor-owned utilities. Our pri
mary focus is service, not prof
its,” says Marian McLemore,
Vice President of Cooperative
Communications, “Including
this year s refund, Flint Ener
gies will have refunded more
than $70 million in capital
credits from our beginning in
1937 through 2000 to our mem
bers.”
Samquez Dev onnAl sob rook, 16
years old; Jabori Peeples, 17
years old; and Antaveon
Sanchez Howell, 16 years old,
all from Butler.
Schools were closed Friday,
Sept. 3rd. School Superinten
dent Jennifer Albritton posted
on the school’s w'ebsite that the
closing was out of an abun
dance of caution during the in
vestigation of an off-campus
incident involving students.
After transporting Floyd to
the hospital in Macon, the life-
flight helicopter was returning
to its home base, when it expe
rienced technical difficulties
and made an emergency land
ing on Hwy. 19 North, in the
Antioch area,
Taylor County Sheriff Jeff
Watson said this investigation
is ongoing and will be provided
to the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit District Attorney's Of
fice for prosecution. He thanks
everyone for the tips, phone
calls, and help. Anyone with
information regarding this in
vestigation may contact the
Georgia Bureau of
Investigation’s Regional Inves
tigative Office in Columbus at
(706) 565-7888 or the Taylor
County Sheriff’s Office at (478)
862-5444. Anonymous tips can
also be submitted by calling 1-
800-597-TIPS (8477), online at
https://gbi.gcorgia.gov/submit-
tips-online, or by downloading
By VALOR I MOORE
Editor
The Reynolds Mayor and City
Council held the regular
monthly meeting on Aug. 16th,
which began with department
reports.
Police Chief Lonnie Holder
advised the Mayor and Coun
cil that the part-time secretary
for the police department ac
cepted another job, and the de
partment is in need of a secre
tary, again. The position was
advertised .
Chief Holder also announced
that the National Night Out
held on the courthouse square
in Butler was very successful,
with a large turnout.
In addition, a safety point
check was held last month, fol
lowing an event at Silver Dol
lar Motor Sports Park. Chief
Holder said guns and drugs
were taken off the streets.
Chief Holder introduced
newly hired police officers to
the Mayor and Council. They
are Officer Clifford Albritton
and Officer Delane Hill. Both
are “seasoned" officers.
Within the next tw p o months,
the Reynolds Police Depart
ment will be state accredited.
The audit has already been con
ducted.
Agrant is available to replace
terracotta sewer pipes in the
City. Public Works Director
Scott Jones said the City’s
match can come out of rescue
funds (through the American
Rescue Act for COV1D-19 re-
the See Something, Send Some
thing mobile app,
* * *
The shooting did not involve
multiple gangs. All four teens
identify with the same gang,
and the shooting was the result
of an intragang power struggle .
State Representative Patty
Bentley told WMAZ News, “It’s
lief) expected next year. Jones
explained that this project is
not eligible for CDBG (Commu
nity Development Block Grant)
funding, and the only way to
fund the project is a USDA
grant/loan. This is a competi
tive grant. The Council agreed
to apply for the grant/loan and
to offer a $100,000 match.
Jones noted that the Environ
mental Protection Division
(EPD) is requiring additional
water monitoring for nitrates
and ashestos. He said the
City’s water is within the allow
able limits, but the results were
higher for nitrates. Nitrates
are naturally occurring.
The roof in the City’s building
rented to His & Hers Salon is
leaking. Jones obtained ap
proval to seal the roof.
City Clerk Brian Smisson re
ported that three properties
remained on the City’s tax sale.
The sale was held Sept. 7th. At
the time ofthe sale, there were
two properties remaining to be
sold.
In new business, Tim Gaines,
owner of Tim’s Fireside Grill,
requested permission to install
an awning and paint the exte
rior ofthe building with a mu
ral by artist Chris Johnson,
who painted the City’s new
mural on the side of Knight’s
Pharmacy. The City rents the
restaurant building to Mr.
Gaines. The Council relayed
that it will need to see a pic
ture ofthe mural before a deci
sion is made.
important for teens to know
this kind of violence carries se
rious consequences. 1 beg high
school students--male, female-
-to not engage in anything gang
related because it will put a
huge, tremendous burden on
your family if you ever get ar
rested and charged with any
thing relating to gang activity.
Also, the Council approved a
sign for Chip’s Auto Glass, lo
cated on E, Marion Street.
The City Clerk and the City
Council will be reviewing the
Employee Handbook and Per
sonnel Policy to correct errors,
Chief Holder and City Council-
woman Lihhy Bond have al
ready reviewed the Police De
partment Handbook. The
Council also agreed for Coun
cil members Danny Perkins
and Libby Bond to review the
employee payscale. Council
man Perkins said some are his
toric.
A raise was also approved for
Assistant City Clerk Tammy
Jones, who has been doing
three jobs during an employee
transition period.
On Aug. I2th, a special called
meeting was held for an execu
tive session to discuss person
nel- With no reference or back
ground information presented
at the Aug, 16th meeting, a mo
tion was made to not investi
gate. The Council passed the
motion, with Mayor Butch
Turner casting an opposing
vote. Next, Councilman Danny
Perkins made a motion to not
accept any outside sewage.
This motion unanimously
passed.
During his report, Mayor
Turner stated, “The City of
Reynolds does not contract
with any septic service to pump
waste.”
With no further business, the
meeting w T as adjourned.
invites you to join our
2021 Virtual Parent Technology Night
Thursday, September 9 t 2021 from 6-7 P.M,
Zoom Meet mu I .ink :
hit ds ://usO(nveb. zoom .us/i/84355036269?
Dwd-ZnBoSzltTFFBalhiav9RSIZkYXYrZzQ9
Learn how to support your child at home by learning about
Google Classroom, USA Test Prep, Infinite Campus, and other
school programs.
2020 Census Results: Taylor County’s
Population Down 8.8% Since 2010
Over $5 Million To Be Refunded
To Flint Energies Members
City Of Reynolds Moves To
Not Accept Outside Sewage