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VOL. 117 NO. 24 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • 750 $12 million grant approved for blocked rail crossings DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor For years blocked rail crossings in the City of Millen and on the Millen By-Pass have created havoc for local citizens, truckers, and those traveling through the community. The City of Millen, Jenkins County Commissioners, and Jenkins County Development Authority (JCDA) have worked diligently to find solutions to resolve the problem with disappoint ing results. A federal grant application filed in September, 2022 by the Georgia Department of Transportation for construction of an overpass on the Millen By-Pass was denied in June of this year. On Tuesday, however, the tide of re jection turned. An announcement was made by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Wamock, a member of the Senate Commerce and Transporta tion Committee, that Jenkins County will receive $12 million in federal funding that can be used to begin a project that will help eliminate the blockage of highways/rail crossings when completed. A press release from the Senators’ offices states, “This latest grant will help alleviate stalled trains that hinder mobility for families and students and emergency services, promot ing greater accessibility for all. The project will implement three grade- separated rail crossings in Millen, one just north of the rail yard on SR21/Millen By-pass and two on SR67/East Winthrope Avenue.” GRANT, The $12 million in 3 It looks a lot like Christmas at Jenkins County Elementary School! Second grade teacher, Lisa Richardson, is shown with Cole Lyles, Pre-School, and Drake Lyles, 2nd grade. The three elves are ready to give Santa a helping hand! Millen PD undercover operation leads to arrest DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor An undercover operation by the Millen Police Department (MPD) has led to the arrest of John E. Cor tez, 38, of Augusta. He is charged with Aggravated Child Molestation- Criminal Attempt, Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to a Minor-Criminal Attempt, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, Sexual Exploitation of Children-Possession of Child Pornography with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana- Less Than an Ounce, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Related Objects. “The MPD undercover SEE MPD 3 John E. Cortez Juvenile arrested for threatening schools DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor The Jenkins County Sheriff’s Of fice announced on Monday that a juvenile responsible for sending a series of threats to the Jenkins County School System has been identified and arrested. The threats began Fri day, Dec. 7th, and continued through Monday morning, Dec. 11th. Following the first threat on Friday, security at the schools was increased with law enforcement on the site day and night. Following protocol, the schools were also placed on soft lockdown. Early Monday morning, School Superintendent, Dr. John Paul Hearn, received another series of threatening emails he reported to law enforce ment. The decision was then made to lockdown the schools by Dr. Hearn, School Resource Officer Gerald Green, Jenkins County Sheriff’s Of fice Chief Deputy Wesley Aaron, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Students arriving for school were turned away, and those who had arrived on school buses were trans ported back to their homes. Parents were notified via the school system’s Swift K-12 messaging sys tem, and Dr. Hearn reported that all students were reunited with their fam ilies by 9:30 a.m. Monday morning. As the investigation continued, a juvenile was identified as the person responsible for making the threats, and it was determined the individual was not in any way capable of carrying SEE out those threats. LOCKDOWN, Dr. Hearn released 3 Joel Carter Sr. sworn in as City Council member DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor The first order of business at the Dec. 5th Millen City Council meeting was a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected City Councilman Joel Carter Sr. to fill the unexpired term for the District #1 seat vacated by former Councilman Giovanni Shumake. Jenkins County Probate Judge Wanda Burke administered the oath of office. Moving on to other business, the City Council approved a bid from MMI Construction, LLC for $662,000 to stabilize the Kirkland Building project. The building is located at the intersection of Cotton Avenue and Gray Street. Funding for the project is provided through a $750,000 Rural Development Fund grant the Downtown Development Authority received in 2022 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Work on the project is expected to begin in January. City Manager Jeff Brantley reported that the city is the recipient of a Norfolk Southern Public Safety Grant for $54,000. The council approved use of the funds for the purchase of a dispatch radio system for $34,902.41 and a Millen Police Department server for $ 18,978. He also reported that the Thriving Community Grant through Norfolk Southern has not yet been approved. “This will bring our IT department up-to-date,” Brantley said. During his financial report, Brantley reported that the city has a year-to- date balance of $115,000. He also noted that $234,000 in 2023 property taxes are still outstanding. “But, it is not due yet,” he added. The acquisition of Christmas lights for Cotton and Winthrope Avenues was discussed and tabled due to conflicts with equipping the light poles with necessary electrical fixtures and ownership issues that must be resolved. Brantley reported that the Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce is attempting to secure Christmas fixtures for the decorative poles on Cotton Avenue. Issues with the collection of leaves and limbs by All Green Services were discussed. It was noted that the company agreed to discount the city’s December bill by $1,500. The closeout of the city’s 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was SEE announced. The grant COUNCIL was for $1 million with 5 Jenkins County Probate Judge Wanda Burke administers the oath of office to City Councilman Joel Carter Sr.