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She Sutler iteratfi “Your Newspaper Since 1876” (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