Newspaper Page Text
3J|e Sutler Herald
“Your Newspaper Since 1876”
(Publication Number USPS 534*720)
144th YEAR, NO. 37 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 1 SECTION, 10 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
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Fickling
Masonic
Lodge #129
Rededicated
After 101
Years
-~Time Capsule
From 1920 Opened
Sunday, Sept. 12th, mem
bers of Fickling Masonic
Lodge #129 andguests (pic
tured, top) celebrated 101
years at the current lodge
with a cornerstone rededi
cation Ceremony. The Pledge
of Allegiance was recited,
and Madison Sloan sang the
National Anthem and “Gad
Bless America. ” Most Wor
shipful Grand Master of
Masons in Georgia, Bro. Jan M. Giddens performed the ceremony, with Grand Lodge
Officers (pictured, center) assisting. The crowd was addressed by Fickling Masonic Lodge
Worshipful Master Henry Clay “Buddy" Griggs, Jr., who, along with Bro. Giddens, opened
a box (pictured, lower), which was removed from the cornerstone of the lodge. The box
was placed in the cornerstone on July 10, 1920. During the ceremony, the contents were
revealed, which included a kaolin tile, the roll of members and officers in 1920, a Butler
Herald from 1920, and more. Time took a toll on the deposits in the time capsule. New
memorabilia was added to the time capsule, and it was sealed and replaced in the corner
stone. (See more on page 10.)
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney
Mark Preston Jones Indicted For Misconduct
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
For the second time in a week,
a Georgia prosecutor has been
indicted for misconduct in a
criminal investigation,
Chattahoochee Circuit Dis
trict Attorney Mark Preston
Jones is charged with bribery,
influencing witnesses, violat
ing his oath of office and sub
ornation of perjury. The most
serious charge in terms of pen
alties is bribery, which carries
up to 20 years in prison. | Tay
lor County is in the
Chattahoochee Judicial Cir
cuit. 1
Jones is accused of trying to
convince a law enforcement of
ficer to testify that the defen
dant in a Muscogee County
case, Elijah Parrel, believed
deceased victim Sara Holtrop
was cheating on him. That
would have provided a motive
allowing Farret to be charged
with murder,
‘‘It is important for the citi
zens of Georgia to know r that
our office will not hesitate to
enforce the ruleoflaw, includ
ing when it involves the actions
of a public official," Georgia
Attorney General Chris Carr
said. “We look forward to pre
senting our case in court.”
A Muscogee County grand
jury handed up the indictment
last Tuesday. The case was in
vestigated by the Georgia Bu
reau of Investigation.
[Jones is currently on trial for
separate charges related to a
campaign video recorded in a
government building parking
lot. He is charged with First
Degree Criminal Damage and
Interfering With Government
Property, I
Commissioners Clarify Intentions On
Proposal To Close Railroad Crossings
By VALOR I MOORE
Editor
The regular meeting of the
Taylor County Board of Com
missioners was held Tuesday,
Sept. 7th, with State Represen
tative Patty Bentley in atten
dance to discuss Norfolk South
ern Railroad’s proposal to close
the railroad crossing at Lofton
Street.
On Aug. 24th, there was a
called meeting with a represen
tative from Norfolk Southern
Railroad, who proposed closing
two railroad crossings in the
county, in an attempt to reduce
railroad crossing incidents.
The crossings are on Lofton
Street and one in Howard, The
Commissioners voiced concerns
about closing both crossings,
and did not agree to dose them.
The issue was tabled.
At this month’s meeting, Rep,
Bentley asked the Board to not
accept the proposal to close the
crossing on Lofton Street. She
noted that the crossing is used
frequently and is used to divert
traffic from Hw r y. 137, when
that crossing is out of commis
sion, Also, it is a quick way for
emergency services to reach
residents in the area, and the
crossing is used to walk to
school.
Board Chairman Randy
Nelson advised that an esti
mate has been received to up
grade the Lofton Street cross
ing, rather than close it. The
estimate is around $80,000 and
does not include crossarms. He
asked Rep. Bentley to help the
County obtain assistance from
the Department of Transporta
tion to upgrade the Lofton
Street crossing.
Chairman Nelson clarified,
“Norfolk offered a proposal.
The commissioners did not say,
L Lct ! s close this thing dow r n!’ If
we can work with the state, the
commissioners are happy with
that!”
Commissioner Robert Pea
cock added that the Board is
working to keep both crossings
open, the one on Lofton Street
and the one in Howard. No
proposal has been accepted to
close either one.
Planning & Zoning Director
Rex Robinson advised that
Marvin Yoder has applied for a
conditional use of an approxi
mately 1.5 acre lot at Old Co
lumbus Rd. and Hwy. 96, to
huild, sell, and transport out
side building, bumper trailers,
etc. The business includes a lot
of online sales. The Commis
sioners approved the condi
tional use.
Fire Coordinator Jeremy Wil
liams reported that the Taylor
County Fire Department re
sponded to 11 calls in August:
two EMS related calls; seven
accidents, one wires down, and
one structure fire, He thanked
the Butler Fire Department for
responding to the structure
fire,
Commissioner Tameka Harris
noted that the Georgia Depart
ment of Community Affairs is
offering a program Lo assist
with paying mortgages for
those negatively affected by
COVID-19, For more informa-
tion, call 1-800-781-8346 or
visit the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs website.
Following the regular meet
ing, the Board went into execu
tive session to discuss legal and
personnel matters, followed by
a work session to discuss the
budget.
Board Of Education Plans To Set
Millage Rate With No Tax Increase
By VALOR! MOORE
The September meeting of the
Taylor County Board of Educa
tion was held Monday, Sept.
13th and opened with the In
vocation by Rev. Duran
Kirksey.
A called meeting was sched
uled for Sept. 23rd, at 8:30
a.m., to set the millage rate.
The millage rate is expected to
be rolled back from the current
15,31 mills to 15.196 mills, with
no tax increase.
School Superintendent Jenni-
fer Albritton reported that a
Town Hall Meeting was held on
Zoom to discuss moving for
ward during the uptick in
COVID-19 cases. As a result
of the meeting, updates were
made to the school district’s
COVID-19 guidelines. As pre
viously reported, face masks
were implemented on buses,
quarantine guidelines were
adjusted, and an option for
online distance learning has
been implemented. Approxi
mately 35 students (2.7%)
chose the distance learning op
tion.
Also, the school district is
partnering with the Depart
ment of Public Health (DPHi.
DPH will have staff on campus
once a w r eek to provide volun
tary COVID-19 testing. DPH
will also continue to make the
Pfizer COVTD vaccine available
at the school. It was empha
sized that the testing and vac
cines arc available and volun
tary, but not mandated.
In other business, the Board
approved the purchase of an
intercom and bell system, ap
proved fundraising activities at
the schools, and agreed to con-
>See School Board on pages
Grand Jurors Drawn For October
Term Of Taylor County Superior Court
The Taylor County Grand
Jury for the October term of
Superior Court has been
drawn. According to Taylor
Comity Clerk of Superior Cou rt
Lisa McDonald, grand jurors
should report to the Taylor
County High School Audito
rium on Oct. 12th, at 9:30 a.m.
Grand jurors are asked to con
tact the Clerk’s Office at 862-
5594 with a working phone
number, so you may be con
tacted with any changes to vour
jury service.
The following grand jurors
should report on Oct, 12th:
Patsy Denna Adams, Zohee
Paige Allen, Matthew Preston
Anthony. Kecia Marlene Bailey,
Brick Cooper Barnes, Eugene
Beasley, Kenneth Terry Bea
vers, Lewis Phillip Blair, Jr,,
Michael C. Bodrey, Eva Louise
Bone, Phyllis W. Brand,
Clifford Levett Bunkley, Jr.,
Jenna Leigh Burnell Seddrick
Todd Cain, Jennifer J. Carpen-
>See Grand Jurors on page 8
“Remember 9HV y
Students At Butler United Methodist
Preschool Observe Patriot Day
Students at Butler United Methodist Preschool f BUMP) dressed in their patriotic attire
and observed Patriot Day, remembering 9/11, 20 years after the terror attacks on our
nation, which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 Americans in 2001.