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Vol. 143, No. 42 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - $1.00
Edmund Burke captures first-ever football state title
TRES BRAGG
The old football saying “defense
wins championships” may not ring
true for Edmund Burke Academy’s
(EBA) football season as a whole,
but few could argue that adage when
the school took on Gatewood during
last Friday’s GIAA-AA State Cham
pionship game.
The EBA Spartans captured the
school’s first ever football state
title after defeating the Gatewood
Gators 16-10 at Mercer University.
Gatewood’s 10-points was the team’s
second fewest scored all season, as
they entered the contest averaging
over 30-points per game. Although
there were few explosive offensive
plays from either team during the
matchup, Spartan fans were thrilled
by how well the team’s defense
stepped up multiple times to secure
the historical win.
“Our defense has played outstand
ing all season long,” EBA head coach
Andy Woodard said. “Our defensive
coordinator Buddy Woodard had the
defense extremely prepared for the
title game as Gatewood threw every
thing they had at us with their play
action passes and tweaks to their run
game,” he added.
Woodard went on to say how the
Spartan defense forced four key turn
overs, all of which potentially saved
the game. Two of those turnovers
came when junior standout, Owen
Redd intercepted the ball during
Gatewood possessions. The other
two were forced fumbles from se
niors Connor Syms and Ayden Phil
lips. Both fumbles were recovered
by Junior Aden Hickman.
In addition to the turnovers, sev
eral Spartans posted big numbers
on the defensive side of the ball.
Sophomore Matthew Hood harassed
Gatewood’s offense all game and
garnered 16 total tackles. Hickman
tallied 12 tackles of his own with
Redd right behind him with 11. Se
nior Kade McGill, Edmund Burke’s
leading tackier for the season, re
corded nine during the win while
Grant Mobley had eight. Parker
Oliver had seven tackles, two for a
loss, and recorded two sacks. Clint
Miller and Will Gelderman added
seven and five tackles respectively.
Offensively, quarterback Grant
Mobley rushed for 117 yards on 26
attempts with two touchdowns. The
additional 23 rushing yards came
from Phillips and Lee. Mobley also
completed six of nine passes for 43
yards. Redd caught four
of the passes for 34 yards
and Lee grabbed two for
nine yards. Kicker Bray- ®
Walker family hires high profile attorney
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A spokesperson for famed civil
rights attorney Benjamin Crump
confirmed he is representing the
Walker family regarding the death
of Freddie Walker.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office
was dispatched to a residence on
Bailey Road July 27 after the Burke
County EMA reported difficulty with
a combative person. Walker’s family
was attempting to transport him to
a hospital for a mental evaluation.
During the incident, he was tased
by Deputy Tyler May four times
in approximately 2 minutes and 20
seconds.
Walker was later pronounced dead
at Burke Health hospital. The
Columbia County Regional
Force Investigation Team con
cluded the use of force was
justified. After a review, the
District Attorney's office de
cided against presenting the
case to a Grand Jury.
Crump, often referred to
as “Black America’s Attor
ney General,” represented the
families of Ahmaud Arbery,
Breonna Taylor, George Floyd,
Trayvon Martin, Tyre Nichols
and Jacob Blake. He also
represented people affected Rev. Al Sharpton (left) with Attorney Ben
by the Flint Michigan water Crump (right) during the George Floyd
crisis and the plaintiffs behind trials.
the 2019 Johnson & Johnson company’s product caused ovarian
baby powder lawsuit alleging the cancer in Black women.
Jones wins mayoral race
James Chick Jones won the
Waynesboro mayoral position
in a close race. Jones received
52.5% or 378 of the 720 bal
lots cast.
Incumbent candidate Bill
Tinley received 47.5% or 342
of the total votes. Those who
voted represented 21.5% of
registered voters. There were
38 votes cast by mail, 277 dur
ing advance voting and 405 in-
person ballots cast on election
day Tuesday, December 5.
Three decades
Roberts celebrates 30 years at Burke Chamber
ANNE MARIE KYZER
She’d passed through the Bird Dog
Capital countless times heading back
and forth from her hometown of Au
gusta to Georgia Southern University
during college, never guessing she’d
devote her career to being one of
Burke County’s greatest promoters.
But when a job opening came up
with the Burke County Chamber
of Commerce just after graduation,
Ashley Roberts jumped at the op
portunity and moved to Waynesboro.
Roberts marked her 30th an
niversary at the helm of the Burke
County Chamber last week, a role
she’s never regretted taking on all
those years ago.
While the chamber industry, busi
ness needs and challenges have
changed over the years, she says the
common denominator has always
been the humbling support of others
toward a common goal.
“When I think about the past thirty
years, the word that comes to mind
is grateful,” Roberts said. “I feel
grateful and blessed to have been
afforded the opportunity to do this
job. I’m also thankful for the hun
dreds of people who give their time,
money and resources to support this
organization and this community.”
In her early days, Augusta Cham
ber of Commerce Director Al Hodge
served as a mentor and offered
invaluable guidance as she learned
her role, while local leaders in Burke
County extended a warm welcome to
the community.
Chip Bare field, longtime local
business leader, can still remember
the first meeting she attended in the
auditorium of the Burke County Of
fice Park in 1993.
“Since then, it’s evolved into this
career and she just does a great job,”
he said, recalling his terms on the
board over the past three decades and
as chair. “She’s always worked hard
on everything she does, and people
want to help her.”
Burke County farmer Henry Hop
kins called that consensus-building
ability one of her great strengths.
Hopkins served on the chamber
board in 2001 and then again nearly
20 years later.
“I've watched her grow and mature
in that position and think she does
a wonderful job of bringing out the
best in Burke Coun
ty,” Hopkins said. “I SEE
think of her as a team ROBERTS
captain, always with ^
At right, Burke County Cham
ber of Commerce members
celebrated 30 years with Ashley
Roberts at their helm.