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Are y’all ready fofsome football? O 04 ^3* o 04 CM GO Vol. 143, No. 26 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - $1.00 Williams blames woes on “Group of 12” SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Editor’s note: The True Citizen’s primary reporter, Shellie Smitley, has been employed with the newspaper since March 2021. She has never interviewed former Sheriff Greg Coursey and has only met him. once briefly. She has never met former Chief Deputy Lewis Blanchard and only spoke to him recently to ask him about his intentions to run for sheriff at which time he declined to comment. In no way is her coverage of the sheriff, the Board of Commis sioners or the Burke County Sheriff’s Office a product of any collusion with either Coursey or Blanchard. During the Austin Rhodes radio program August 11, Sheriff Alfonzo Williams blamed FBI, GBI and WRDW investigations along with ar ticles in The True Citizen on former Chief Deputy Lewis Blanchard and former Sheriff Greg Coursey. “The truth is that the person who now wants my job was a part of my administration,” Williams said of Blanchard who is rumored, but not confirmed, to be running against him in the next election. “The for mer sheriff that is behind a lot of this (who) is very evil and mean spirited...” Rhodes accused The True Citizen of not “going after” Coursey despite what Rhodes says was an administra tion riddled with problems. “I can tell you they are in collusion with them now,” Williams said of The True Citizen and Coursey. Williams claimed Coursey is jeal ous that there is more funding avail able to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office now than when Coursey was in office. He speculated that Coursey feels if he’d had more money that he could have done a better job while holding the office. “He had a lot of great employees,” Williams said. “The employees just didn’t have the right leadership. He is coming after us.” Williams said he is experiencing the influx of investigations into his management of the sheriff’s depart ment in part because of Blanchard. “It’s a conspiracy between a num ber of persons; Lewis Blanchard, Gregory Coursey, the assistant chief over at the (Waynesboro Police De partment) ,” Williams said. “Lewis is out telling people that (I) sold all of my rental properties three days be fore I deposited (more than $50,000 handed over from Coursey’s admin istration) into the bank. That is a lie.” Rhodes pointed out that Williams was making “serious accusations.” However, Williams went on to ac cuse others of conspiring against him, and went as far as attribut ing ongoing GBI investigations to Blanchard, Coursey, County Man ager Merv Waldrop and others. “There is a group,” Williams said. “I call them the group of 12.” Williams said he is not concerned about the outcome of ongoing in vestigations but is concerned more about how the public might perceive them. “People are hearing that and begin to think, ‘where there is smoke, there is fire,” Williams said. “I will tell you there is no fire GROUP OF 12, here.” 6 Regarding on- (I to r) Burke County Board of Elections Board Member Carol Jones, Elections Supervisor Angie Parrish, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Vice-chair Ed Burke pose for a photo during the Lunch & Learn event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce August 10. Secretary of State speaks at Chamber luncheon BOC responds to Sheriff controversy SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger spoke during the Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn event at the Waynesboro Ice Plant August 10. Raffensperger’s discussion centered around the function of his office, including the issuing of approximately 140 business- related licenses. He said reforms now allow business owners to renew their corporations for up to three years at a time. Raffensperger also touched on the purpose of SB 84, aimed at preventing financial exploita tion of senior citizens. Governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law in May. As far as voting, Raffensperger pointed out that many don’t real ize that people can register to vote at the age of 17 Vi years and they can vote if they turn 18 by election day. Raffensperger said he is spreading awareness of state programs emphasizing financial literacy and civics to high school students. After the luncheon, he declined to comment on the lawsuit that challenges the con stitutionality of SB 92, hied in part by District Attorney Jared Williams. SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com In an August 10 press release, Chairwoman Terri Lodge Kelly said the BOC is “obviously aware” of several controversies surrounding the Sheriff’s Office. Kelly said the BOC’s goal is to deal with each situation by acting within the law. “We strive to handle each situation in such a way that allows the people of Burke County to know we are taking this seriously and at the same time allowing the legal system to play out,” she said. In the press release, Kelly said the county’s insurance company has assigned an attorney to repre sent Sheriff Williams in the sexual harassment allegations made by a former employee. She also said the board was awaiting a response from District Attorney Jared Williams’ office regarding the GBI’s investiga tion into training classes provided by the Sheriff for law enforcement accreditation requirements. Addi tionally, she acknowledged recent concerns about whether arrestees by the Waynesboro Police Department were properly booked into the jail. She said the board would allow the two agencies to reach a resolution. Kelly reiterated that the board feels they adequately fund the sheriff’s department and pointed out that despite nearly doubling his budget since 2017, Williams has gone over budget nearly every year. “We must also not forget that Sheriff Williams unsuccessfully sued the County Commission for “more” control over his budget,” Kelly wrote. “Even though the Judge ruled against him, the Sheriff continues to reject cost-control measures the County Commission utilizes for other departments.” The letter did not mention the second investigation the GBI has turned over to the District Attorney’s office pertaining to potential misuse of county and grant funds, nor the Columbia County investigation of the tasing death of Freddie Walker that has been forwarded to the Dis trict Attorney’s office as well. Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke • Move to a cooler area • Loosen clothing • Sip cool water • Seek medical help if symptoms don't improve Dizziness Thirst Heavy Sweating Nausea Weakness Heal exhaustion con lead to heat stroke. Confusion Dizziness Becomes Unconscious CALL 911 • Move person to a cooler area • Loosen clothing and remove extra layers • Cool with water or Ice Heat stroke con couse death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given. £33 Tzosm stay Cool, Stay Hydrated, Stay Informed! Burke Health offers tips for navigating the resurgence of COVID -19 LACEY HILLIS-ZORN lacey@alisonsouthmarketing.com The world is facing yet another phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant progress in vac cination efforts and public health measures, the virus continues to prove its resilience by resurging in various parts of the world. The resurgence serves as a stark reminder that the virus remains a formidable adversary. Several factors contribute to this uptick in cases, including the emergence of new variants, the waning immunity of some vaccinated individuals, and lapses in preventive measures due to pandemic fatigue. Essential Protocols Vaccination: Prioritize and Continue Vaccination remains the corner stone of our defense against COV- ID-19. Governments and healthcare agencies must continue to prioritize vaccination campaigns, ensuring that as many eligible individuals as pos sible receive their full vaccine regi men. Emerging variants highlight the importance of achieving high levels of population immunity to reduce the virus's potential to spread and mutate. Masking in High-Risk Areas As the virus resurges, wearing masks in high-risk areas or situa tions can greatly reduce the risk of transmission. This is particularly im portant indoors, in crowded spaces, and in places where social distancing is challenging. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals should consider masking to protect them selves and others. Maintaining Hygiene Practices Basic hygiene practices like fre quent handwashing with soap and water, avoiding touching one's face, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of the el bow remain crucial in preventing the spread of the vims. Hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content can also be used when hand washing facilities are not available. Adhering to Travel Advisories Travel has been a significant con tributor to the global spread of the vims. As cases surge, it's essential to stay informed about travel advisories and follow any recommended guide lines or restrictions. Quarantine and testing protocols may be necessary to prevent the vims from being carried across regions. Flexible Work Arrangements Businesses and employers should consider maintaining flexible work arrangements where possible, in cluding remote work options. This not only reduces the potential for vims transmission in workplaces but also helps alleviate pressure on public transportation systems. Prioritizing Ventilation and Air Quality Adequate ventilation and air ex change in indoor spaces can help reduce the concentration of viral particles in the air. Where feasible, increase the flow of outdoor air into indoor spaces and use air filtration systems to improve indoor air qual ity. Monitoring Symptoms and Testing Individuals should SEE continue to monitor their COVID-19, health and be vigilant for g