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We are Tkankful for F riends like You o 04 ^3* ■'3- O 04 OJ Vol. 143, No. 39 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - $1.00 Property owner and church leader deny militant rumors SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Editor’s note: The True Citizen received information via email Oc tober 29, 2023, that some residents in Willow Oak Estates were greatly concerned about activities taking place on approximately 40 acres owned by a nonprofit, Father’s Heart of Georgia. The email contained a petition signed by 14 neighbors, but not yet submitted, complain ing to the Burke County Board of Commissioners that the group’s activities violated noise-related or dinances. Additionally, the activities on the property were described as “militant” in nature, instilling fear and “rocking” the community. The author of the email expressed dis satisfaction with the way the Burke County Sheriff’s Office was handling complaints. “...but if our Sheriff department is in the wrong here and continues their lack of law enforcement, it could drive someone to take the law in their own hands, maybe then it’ll be news worthy,” the email stated. The True Citizen interviewed two of the neighbors who mentioned rumors of military-like cadence sounds, animal sacrifice and several hours of gunfire. The True Citizen made open records requests with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, spoke with Scott Lee of the Planning Commission and County Manager Merv Waldrop prior to reaching out to the nonprofit’s founder, Jimmy Harris. Harris willingly agreed to a face-to-face interview and Morris Williams willingly attended after the invitation was extended to him. In response to rumors that the FBI and/or CIA may be monitoring the activities on the property, The True Citizen reached out to Sheriff Alfonzo Williams for assurance that moving forward with the story was “safe ” from a law enforcement perspective. RUMORS, Sheriff Williams gave us 13 This drone footage photo was supplied to The True Citizen by one of the neighbors. FCA students visit Washington, D.C. Students, teachers and parents from Faith Christian Academy arrived in Washington, D .C. November 1 to experience the grandeur of the nation’s Capital firsthand. It was a trip of many firsts for the group of eighth through twelfth grade students. For most students, the flight from Augusta Regional Airport to Reagan National Airport was their first. When they arrived in Washing ton, they took the Metrorail subway system to the downtown hotel. Navigating their way on the metro was another first for most. When they arrived at the hotel on the National Mall, the students caught their first glimpse of the Capitol building and the Washington Monument. Later in the trip, students embarked on a tour of the Capitol building and later rode a tiny elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. “The Washington Monument was held together by gravity and people holding their breath,” exclaimed eighth grader Colin Bell. “I know I was holding mine when we got to the top.” Sara Morgan Sapp added that her favorite part of the Washington Monument tour was “seeing all of the stones and decorations on the inside of the monument.” Peyton Wheat recalled wondering “if the group had gotten lost at the top” of the 555-foot monument. Students, teachers and parents recently embarked on a trip to Washington, D.C. where they experienced a multitude of historical sites. The students also visited the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, a favorite of freshman Jonathan Brown. He enjoyed seeing the “Spirit of St. Louis.” The group hit all the hot spots in cluding, the Lincoln Memorial, the MLK Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the FDR Memorial FRIDAY, 5 P.M. Keysville mayor receives deadline SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Keysville Mayor Linda Wilkes has until Friday at 5 p.m.to comply with a resolution that was approved by the City Council last July or face a Superior Court judge. The resolution requires Wilkes to add Vice-mayor Sharon Neely and Councilwoman Maggie Terrell to the city’s bank accounts. Initially, Wil kes signed the document, however she retracted her signature after she noticed Sherrell Russ was named the “interim” city administrator, instead of city administrator. When Wilkes attempted to justify her actions, City Attorney Doug Kidd didn’t cut her any slack. “Your excuse for not signing it, isn’t valid,” he retorted. “Even if she had the wrong title on there, cross it out and put the right title on it. There was no need to go through this and waste five months.” After Wilkes rolled her eyes and hem hawed about whether she could complete the task by the end of the week, the council voted to allow Kidd to file a petition in Superior Court asking a judge to order her to comply if the task was not com pleted by Friday, November 17. Kidd pointed out that the city’s charter is clear that the mayor is obligated to provide financial information to the council when asked. The mayor has Linder the advisement of Attor ney Doug Kidd, the Keysville City Council gave Mayor Linda Wilkes until Friday at 5 p.m. to add Vice mayor Sharon Neely and Council- woman Maggie Terrell to the bank accounts. stalled long enough, he said. Kidd said the financial informa tion is imperative as Keysville has also been notified by the state re cently that they are behind in their audits for years 2020 through 2022. After the council voted, Wilkes responded that she wanted Kidd to address filing another petition and addressing issues she has with the panel. She did not elaborate on the issues of which she referenced. “When do I have time to get with you and file the other one?” she asked Kidd. “I will make sure it is filed.” After the resolution ^ ^ issue was resolved, John McClean of DEADLINE Tumipseed Engineer- 9 Calling all smokers: More lung cancer screenings needed in Burke County SHELLIE SMITLEY thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com The Medical College of Georgia’s Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Dan Miller, said better access to lung screenings is needed in rural parts of the state. Miller is also the director of the Lung Screening Program at the Georgia Cancer Center in Augusta. “Only 5% of people in Georgia who are eligible get screened,” he said of the test for lung cancer. Miller said the Augusta facility is looking at getting a mobile unit that will enable staff to screen people at rural doctor’s offices, health depart ments and rural hospitals, including Burke County. “It’s easier to go screen those people instead of them coming to us, because they have to work,” he said. “But also, we will screen for head and neck cancer, obtain cardiac calcium scores and look for coronary disease.” There are more cases of undiag nosed lung cancer and smoking-re lated diseases in rural areas because of the limited access to healthcare. Also, rural dwellers tend to smoke more cigarettes, Miller said. Since successfully treating lung cancer is tied to early detection, the survival rates are higher in metro-Atlanta than in rural areas. “If there was no smoking in the U.S., 50% of the hospitals would be closed,” Miller stated. Although many smokers may not be familiar with lung cancer screenings, information in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2011 pointed to the value of the screen ings in saving lives. However, they were not approved for coverage by Medicare until 2015. Medicaid just approved coverage of the test two years ago, Miller said. Lung cancer screenings at Well- star/MCG Health are $90 for the un insured. Indigent care is available for those who can’t afford to pay. Insur ance companies, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover screenings for patients who are high risk, including people between the ages of 50-80 years old, who are asymptomatic and smoked for at least 20 years. “If you have J ccp symptoms; cough ing up blood or SCREENINGS, pain, that’s not a 6 / Dr. Dan Miller