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144th YEAR, NO. 47 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 1 SECTION, 10 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
Miss November
The Taylor Cou nty News Calendar Girl for November is Natalie
Joy Rohrer: Natalie is a senior at Taylor County High School,
where she is Varsity Cheer Captain and has been a Varsity Cheer
leader for four years. She is also an All American Cheerleader
and a Recreation Department Cheer Coach. She is Key Club Presi
dent and a member of Beta Club, the Literary Club, and Concert
Band for six yearsi She is a Gold Card Student and a Governor’s
Honors Program nominee. Following graduation, Natalie plans
to attend the University of Georgia or University of North Geor
gia and major in Social Studies Education to become a U.S. His
tory Teacher She is the daughter of Jeff and Jenny Rohrer of
Butler and has a sister, McKenna Rohrer. Natalie's grandpar
ents are Peggy Jan oe of Tarpon Springs r FL, Rich and Julie Rohrer
of Ft. Myers, FL, and the late David and Eileen Young. The Cal
endar Girl is a monthly feature of Taylor County High School
and The Taylor County News. Calendar Girls arc chosen based
on academics, extracurricular activities, personality f and char
acter.
Mr. November
Carson Harp has been named The Taylor County News Calendar
Guy for November. Carson is a senior at Taylor County High
School, where he is Brass Captain and a 5-year member of the
Taylor County Marching Band, He is a 4-year member of JROTC
and is a Gold and Royal Card recipient. He attends First Baptist
Church of Butler and Marshallville United Methodist Church.
Following graduation, he plans to attend Middle Georgia State
College in Cochran, then transfer to Mercer University for the
engineering program. Carson is the son of Langdon and Christie
Harp of Reynolds. He has a sister, Grace Harp. H is grandpar
ents are Desmond and Cheryl Harp of Reynolds arid Ron and
Debbie Davis of Lavaca, AK. The Calendar Guy is a monthly
feature of The Taylor County News and Taylor County High
School. Calendar Guys are chosen based on academics, extracur
ricular Activities, personality; and character.
Tensions Run High At Reynolds Council Meeting
By VALORI MOORE
Editor
The Reynolds Mayor and City
Council held the regular
monthly meeting on Nov, 15th,
with Councilwoman Tiffany
Coker and Councilman Erie
Barker absent from the meet-
ing.
Police Chief Lonnie Holder
advised that a safety point
check was held over the week’
end, which resulted in the re
covery of a stolen firearm.
Public Works Director Scott
Jones reported that a pump at
the lilt station went out a few
weeks ago, and he is having
trouble getting parts to repair.
It will cost around $3,600 to
repair. The City has three
pumps and runs one at a time.
One pump will be rebuilt, and
a new one will be purchased for
around $8,200 and will be paid
with ARPA (American Rescue
Plan Act) funds. The new pump
will replace a pump which func
tions at 40 percent.
Sam McCrary w'ith the
Reynolds Fire Department re
ported that the fire department
responded to four calls last
month: two vehicle collisions,
one alarm call, and one power
line down, which resulted in a
power outage in the City.
McCrary requested permis
sion to apply for a Georgia For
estry 50/50 Grant, for up to
$10,000 for PPE (Personal Pro
tective Equipment) and other
equipment. Council approved
the request- If the grant is
awarded, the City’s match will
be paid with solar funds,
McCrary noted that the recent
golf tournament hosted by the
fire department went great.
There were 18 teams and 22
sponsors The department
raised $2,800. He thanked the
Council for its support.
In addition, the lire depart-
merit wil 1 be donating food and
gifts to needy families during
the holidays.
Interim City Clerk Tammy
Jones reported that the City
has received approximately
$34,000 in taxes, as of now-.
Also, there will be a 7.9% in
crease in the City’s employee
health insurance through
Humana. Other available
plans place a harder burden on
employees, so the Council
agreed to stay with the current
Humana plan.
Since mail is running more
slowly, the Council agreed to
extend the date for penalties to
be assessed to overdue water
bills from the 11th to the 15th
day of each month. Online pay
ments will be promoted.
Mayor Butch Turner an
nounced that the City of
Reynolds has one project on the
Regional TSPLOST (Transpor-
City Of
Butler
Thanksgiving
Week
Trash Pickup
Trash pickup in the
City of Butler for
Thanksgiving Week
will be Saturday* Nov.
27th. Regular Friday
trash pickup will re
sume the following
week.
tation Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax) Invesment
List. The project was not speci
fied, but he said the City only
submitted one project, which is
a trail from the City to the
Reynolds Golf Course.
Councilman Walker Moore
advised that he came up on a
man who had a seizure in his
truck In the middle of Hwy. 96,
and called E911. After about
20 minutes, Reynolds Police Of
ficer Chris Gillespie arrived on
the scene, and called E911,
again. There was no response
from Moore’s call to E911. He
asked, “Where is the break
down?’’ Chief Holder said there
are a lot of problems with E911,
at this time, and there is a lot
of new personnel at the re
gional E911 center.
Heather Hartley and Gina
Summers addressed the Mayor
and Council, asking to slightly
modify one of the City’s tennis
courts for pickle ball. They
noted that pickle ball is the
fastest growing recreational
sport in the country. There is
a $250 grant available to the
City for start-up pickle hall
courts, which requires no
money from the City. Permis
sion was granted to apply for
the grant.
Georgia Farm Bureau Agent
Brent Worley was present and
requested permission for a
lighted sign and a digital sign
at the Farm Bureau Office at
The Armory. Permission for the
lighted sign was granted, and
Worley will return to the Coun
cil when the digital sign details
are determined.
Mayor Turner said the police
department has an opportunity
to apply for another static dis
play at The Armory, such as the
tank at Julian Knight Park.
Councilwoman Libby Bond
said she would rather not ap
ply, if the only words on the
armory building are “Reynolds
Police Department”. She said
there is some concern about
militarization of police depart
ments in the country.
A motion was made to rename
the Reynolds Multi-Use Build
ing to “The Armory" and re
quest the static display. The
motion was tabled for further
discussion.
And, this is the point where
tensions and emotions esca
lated during the meeting.
Dr. Teresa 'Turner, owner and
operator of Montessori Joy
Learning Center, was next on
the agenda. Mayor Turner
asked Mayor Pro-tem Danny
Perkins to handle the meeting
at this point, due to a potential
conflict of interest, since he is
co-owner of the Montessori
school and the husband of Dr.
Turner. The following discus
sion/argument does not stay on
topic and is not totally coher
ent.
Dr. Turner was following up
on her previous request for the
City to find a solution to the
flooding issue on the sidewalk
in front of the Montessori
school. One option is to cut the
concrete and install a metal
ramp. Another option is to
place two wooden bridges, one
at each door to the school. Dr.
'Turner said the sidewalk is
City property, and the City is
liable for any injuries incurred.
Mayor Pro-tem Perkins said,
“It concerns me the amount of
money we’ve spent on your
building, around $23,565."
Councilman Moore suggested
installing the bridges. He
asked Dr. Turner If she would
pay for one bridge, if the City
pays for the other one.
Dr. Turner replied, “No! The
City paid for the awnings at
Tim’s I Fireside Grill!!” This led
to an argument between Dr
Turner and Tim Gaines, owner/
operator of Tim’s Fireside Grill.
Mayor Pro-tem Perkins called
the meeting to order.
Dr. Turner said it is a prob
lem that Mr, Gaines’ rent is
partially paid with in-kind ser
vices, which was agreed upon
when Mr. Gaines rented the
building from the City.
Councilwoman Bond asked
Dr, Turner, “You have an open
records request, why are we
discussing this here?” She
added that Mr. Gaines used his
own money to renovate the
huilding and turned in receipts
His rent Was reduced according
to what he spent on renova
tions. She slated, “This has
nothing to do with bridges!’’
Mrs, Bond moved to drop the
bridges.
>See Reynolds Council on p, 6
jgId us for
Cfty of Gutter Christum Tree
justness Christum H?r]tet
JN ov^wber 30, 2021 st 6:00 p.iu.
©d the Courthouse gqu?re
Butler Garden Club Yard Of The Month
The Butler Garden Club Yard of the Month for November is the landscape of Heath and
Vicki Walker: Christmas is around the corner, and the Walkers are ready. This landscape
can be viewed at 15 Carter Trail in Butler. The Butler Garden Club Yard of the Month is
a monthly feature of and is chosen by, the Butler Garden Club.