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(AYNESBOROYGEORGI, mnaEianl vsjRTCA 7:30 pm at-Island 7:30 p!m! O 04 o (NJ OJ Vol. 143, No. 34 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, October 11,2023 - $1.00 WPD makes budget wish list SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com The Waynesboro Police Depart ment expressed its budget needs to the city council during a Public Safety Meeting October 2. Chief Willie Burley began the meeting with an update of the department’s employee numbers. Currently, the WPD employes 24 people, including three serving in administrative capacities and 21 road patrol officers. Investigator Angela Collins in formed the city that the department has made an effort to get rid of “junk vehicles” that were littering up the agency’s back parking lot. The WPD was able to raise approximately $21,000 from the sale of the autos, most of which did not run. “We are hoping next year, instead of asking for funds for an unmarked vehicle, we will use that money in part to purchase (one),” Collins said. “Once we fill our (open) positions, we will have no unmarked spares.” Additionally, the WPD used seized asset funds to purchase two new laptops, thereby reducing the number of laptops still needed for road patrol officers. Still, the WPD has asked for an ad- SEE ditional 10 computers WPD, at a cost of $2,313.26 g WPD Investigator Angela Collins and Chief Willie Burley addressed the city October 2 with the department’s budget needs. local fyuBa&t cancetMvwi ac) jbi loicfme Teresa L. Carter said a routine mammogram caught breast cancer before the disease had metastasized beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs in the body. SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Teresa L. Carter, executive di rector of Communities in Schools of Burke County, Family Con nection, knows the value of early detection of cancer. In 2018, Carter was admitted into the hospital for a procedure to address increased menstrua tion flow. However, during the operation, doctors found one of her ovaries to be “flipped over” and growing on it was a tumor. A biopsy confirmed it was stage 1 ovarian cancer. Carter was blessed to receive such an early diagnosis. Accord ing to the Georgia Department of Public Health, “every year in Georgia, about 615 females are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Non-Hispanic white females are 21% more likely than non- Hispanic black females and 42% more likely than Hispanic females to be diagnosed with the disease. About 395 females die from ovarian cancer each year” in the state. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer diagnosed and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in Georgia. Ovarian cancer is often re ferred to as the “silent killer” because many women experi ence almost no symptoms until the disease has reached stage 4. The most prevalent symptom is bloating. However, even in stage 1, Carter’s menstruation flow had increased to the point of requiring blood transfusions. Doctors were able to remove the ovary and Carter was spared the experience and effects of chemotherapy. Fol low up appointments moved from every three months to every six months. Her oncologist cleared her September 22, 2022 of the devastating disease. “I graduated to coming back once every year,” Carter stated. However, five days later Carter was floored when she was given a diagnosis of stage 3B breast cancer. “It was time for my routine mammogram ap pointment,” Carter SEE explained. In fact, SURIVI0R, she was the first 7 State clears board in election investigation SHELLIE SMITLEY thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com The Secretary of State’s Office cleared the Burke County Board of Elections and former Elections Supervisor Laverne Sello on allega tions made by Brenda Lewis and Doris Tongo in reference to the No vember 2019 race. According to an In vestigations Division Summary, Lewis and Tongo alleged there were 148 unaccounted absentee ballots, some absentee ballots were intentionally mailed late and the number of voters were fewer than the number reported. However, the SOS department said the investigation did not reveal any evidence to support the local Board Elections violated Georgia Election Code, SEE INVESTIGATION, 5 The Burke County Board of Elections met Tues day morning, (left clockwise) Chairman Harrison Simpson, Board Member Carol Jones, Vice Chairman Ed Burke and Board Member Mat thew Abrams. Democrat Party President Herman Brown (back) sat in on the meeting. Fire Department makes 100k capital equipment request SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Chief Robert Parrish III of the Waynesboro Fire Department asked the city to consider more than $100,000 in capital equipment re quests for 2024. Included on his budget request is $15,000 to replace a fire hose that failed pressure testing in 2022 and 2023. Also, two portable generators are needed to replace a mounted 31-year-old generator that is well past its useful life and another that is mounted to a surplus military unit that is no longer in service. The most expensive item on the list is a new chief’s vehicle estimated at $85,000. Parrish said the current 2005 Ford Excursion with 131,000 miles has a worn- out front end. Not on the list is a new fire engine since the one most recently pur chased will not be paid off for anoth er two years. Parrish suggested the city start considering the purchase of another one around the middle to end of next year since delivery of new fire trucks is backlogged up to two years. So far this year, the Fire Depart ment has responded to 352 calls, including 37 fires, 39 medical service incidents, 42 hazardous material in cidents (no fire) and79 false alarms. Domestic abuse survivors are not alone DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Awareness Month SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Georgia ranks 25th in the nation in the number of domestic violence incidents. According to the National Coali tion Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 37.4% of Georgia wom en and 30.4% of Georgia men ex perience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. The coalition defines domestic vi olence as willful intimidation,physi cal assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats and emotional abuse. In 2019, Georgia domestic vio lence programs answered 52,282 cri sis calls. Domestic violence shelters in the Peach State provided safety to 7,214 victims. An additional 4,176 were turned away due to lack of bed space. In 2017, there were 149 domestic violence-related fatalities in the state, with 70% of those involving firearms. Additionally, Georgia ranked 10th highest in the nation for women murdered by men that year. Domestic violence is an epidemic. This year, the Defense Department is calling on the military community to help prevent abuse and support victims as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is rec ognized annually in October. This national observance was created to raise awareness about how to report domestic abuse and encourages com munity members to speak up if they suspect abuse. This year's campaign theme is "United Against Domestic Abuse." According to the Department's Re port on Child Abuse and Neglect and Domestic Abuse in the Military for Fiscal Year 2022, there were 15,479 reports of domestic abuse. Abusive and unhealthy relationships are not limited to military members and their spouses. They can also include those who are dating, living together or have children in common. Resourc es , including safety plans, protection orders and emergency services that address medical, housing, legal and counseling needs, are available to help victims, a press release states. The Defense Department provides resources to support individuals experiencing domestic abuse and keep them safe through the Family Advocacy Program. It also strives to help service members and their partners build and maintain healthy communication and relationship skills through counseling and educa tion services offered by the Family Advocacy Program. In a White House press release issued September 29, President Joe Biden said, “Every survivor should know that they are not alone and they deserve better. Together, we will keep spreading awareness, chang ing culture, supporting survivors and moving toward a world free of gender-based violence.“