Newspaper Page Text
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The ADVANCE, January 6, 2021 /Page 3A
New Toombs County Probate
Sworn Into Office
Judge
By Rebekah Arnold
Contributing Writer
A changing of the guard
has occurred in the Toombs
County Probate Office. On
Wednesday December 30,
Tina S. Lindsey was duly
sworn in as Judge of Pro
bate Court, taking the helm
from retiring Judge Larry
Threlkeld, who has held the
office for 12 years. Lindsey
ran unopposed and was
elected in June of 2020.
Family, friends and col
leagues gathered in the main
courtroom of the Toombs
County Courthouse as
Judge Tommy Smith of
the Superior Court for the
Middle Judicial Circuit ad
ministered two oaths for
the office. Lindsey placed
her left hand on her own
King James Bible, which
was a gift from her mother-
in-law, Geraldine Lindsey.
The Bible was held for the
swearing-in by Judge Lind
sey’s husband, Keith. Lind
sey raised her right hand to
repeat first the loyalty oath
of allegiance to the govern
ments of the United States,
the State of Georgia, and to
Toombs County.
The longer oath of of
fice whereby Lindsey will
“well and faithfully dis
charge the duties...accord-
ing to law, to the best of
my knowledge and ability,
without favor or affection
to any party” in her office of
Judge, was then repeated.
Before the ceremony,
Judge Threlkeld began
the event with prayer and
remarks about Lindsey’s
service as Clerk of Pro
bate Court. “It’s a pleasure
and an honor for me to be
asked to be a part of your
welcome,” Threlkeld said to
Judge Lindsey.
In November of 2014,
Judge Threlkeld informed
the Toombs County Com
missioners by letter of a
newly-hired Clerk of Pro
bate Court. He told the
Commissioners at that time
that Lindsey was highly rec
ommended and affirmed
by anyone whom he asked
for a reference.
Lindsey started her ca
reer in 1985 with the State
of Georgia at Pineland Men
tal Health. In May of 2000
she moved to the Toombs
County Department of
Family and Children Ser
vices, and then to Adult
Protective Services, where
she served for 10 years, and
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retired from there, before
joining Threlkeld’s team in
the Probate Court office.
Threlkeld said of the
passing of the judgeship
from himself to Lindsey,
“This is one of the most
seamless transitions an of
fice in the courthouse has
made.” He continued, “It
is a great office and people
will appreciate the great
service they are going to
get. We are a service orga
nization if there’s ever been
one.”
Threlkeld also said,
“I’m appreciative to the
people who have voted
for me over the years and
helped us create a legacy
of sorts of good service to
the good people of Toombs
County.”
Lindsey thanked the
outgoing Judge Threlkeld,
saying she has “been riding
on his coattails for the past
six years, learning every
thing I possibly could about
the Probate Court and I
appreciate his confidence
in me. Thank you for your
support.” Through tears,
Lindsey thanked her par
ents, children, grandchil
dren, her extended family
and friends, and especially
her husband for their en
couragement and confi
dence in her.
Judge Lindsey stated
her objective for her new
position: “The Probate
Court will serve the gen
Probate Judge Recaps
Annual Activities At
Toombs Commission’s
Last 2020 Session
By Deborah Clark
Regional Editor
dclarkadvance@gmail.com
Photo by Rebekah Arnold
JUDGE LINDSEY TAKES OATH — Judge Tommy Smith of the Superior Court for the Middle
Judicial Circuit administers the oath for the office of Probate Court Judge to Tina S.
Lindsey, as her husband, Keith Lindsey, holds her Bible for her swearing-in.
eral public and the citizens
of Toombs County with
integrity, respect, compas
sion and professionalism.
We will work efficiently as
a team to ensure the highest
standard of service within
our office.”
The “two very capable
people” who will complete
the Probate Court team as
clerks are Diane Stripling,
who has served since 2008,
and Angelia Sanders, who
was hired in September of
2020, Judge Threlkeld said.
The office of Probate
Judge is one of four county
positions that draws its au
thority from the state con
stitution and does not fall
under the authority of the
board of commissioners.
The other constitutional
officers are sheriff, superior
court clerk, and tax com
missioner. The probate
judge is elected for a four-
year term in countywide
partisan elections. The
powers and duties of these
officers are determined by
general law and not on a
county-by-county basis.
The general duties of the
probate judge are judicial,
ministerial, and clerical.
Toombs County Pro
bate Judge Larry Ihrekeld,
who retired December 31
after 12 years at his post,
apprised Toombs County
Commissioners at their
last session of 2020 about
the recent activities of
his office. His report was
heard at the Commis
sion’s December 15 meet
ing at the Toombs County
Courthouse.
Despite being closed
for two and half months
due to COVID-19, the of
fice still processed more
cases than during the
previous year. “In 2019,
165 cases were filed and
in 2020, 240 cases were
filed,” Threlkeld told com
missioners. In 2019, 159
marriage licenses were
handled by his office, but
in 2020, the number was
193. While in 2019 there
were 678 applications for
new and renewed fire arms
licenses, Thelkeld’s office
processed 1,071 of these
permits in 2020.
The judge said he ex
pects a smooth transition
as Tina Lindsey steps into
the role of Probate Judge.
She won election to the
post in the June 9 primary.
Public Works Director
Chris Keene reported that
his office started 2020 “in
the hole with 29.18 inch
es of rain within a four-
month period.” This chal
lenge was compounded by
COVID-19. “But we never
missed a lick,” he told
commissioners. His crews
paved or resurfaced 14
miles of roads, maintained
115 miles of rights of way
and striped 26 miles of
road in addition to every
day duties, including grad
ing dirt roads and main
taining pipes and ditches.
The Commission also
approved the following:
• A bid by C. Merrill
Construction of States
boro of $1,740,000 for
a the construction of a
building at the proposed
Ross Bowen Agricultural
Complex.
• A bid of $115 per
transport by All Green for
solid waste transportation.
An agreement with South
eastern Technical College
to provide clinical train
ing for emergency medi
cal technicians through
the Toombs County EMS
program.
• Indemnification and
hold harmless agreement
with the Georgia Depart
ment of Transportation
(GDOT) for a permit
to provide driveway en
croachment at the new
courthouse.
• Final price and de
sign/build renovation
of the Emergency Medi
cal Services/Emergency
Management Agency
building with Harry Mo
ses Construction ofVida-
lia at a cost of $1,389,709
plus $14,879.12 for elec
tronic door systems.
• Purchase of radios
for the county fire de
partments with HUB
Electronics at a cost of
$20,270.00. The purchase
marks the first step in a
long-term plan to convert
completely to digital ra
dios.
• A revolving loan ap
plication for Vidalia Api-
cultural & Bee Co., LLC
for $300,000 (10-year loan
with a maximum 5% inter
est). The application pre
viously received Toombs
County Development Au
thority approval and final
approval at public hearing
the following week.
• A quote by BPM
Construction of $7,500
for replacement of the roof
on the EMS building.
• An MOA and sub
lease agreement with
the GDOT for rental of
the Old Lyons Primary
School.
The Commission ap
proved the following alco
hol licenses: Center Gro
cery/ CEKK LLC; Jani’s
Mart; Fruteria Rodriguez;
Pop’s General Store; La
Joya Mexican Store; Cedar
Crossing Grocery Store
and Dennis Sport Shop
LLC.
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ask
Ms,o Magnolia
Letters have been edited for length and clarity.
Dear Ms. Magnolia,
After Christmas every year, when /
store Christmas decorations, / try to do
some minimalizing by getting rid of so
many things that / have kept around for
years but no longer need. Since my chil
dren are grown, / can see that / may not
need as much space as / used to. / just
keep staying in the same house here in
Mt. Vernon because it contains so many
good memories. / am considering down
sizing to a smaller house, but I am not
sure that I really want to. What is more
important - memories or practicality?
Mother
Dear Mother,
Deciding to move out of a home
filled with years of memories can be
difficult, but downsizing is a practi
cal option for many empty nesters.
Having a smaller home can ease
your workload and can be more
cost-efficient, with money saved on
utility and repair bills. If the real-es
tate market in your neighborhood is
good, you could sell your house and
make money by downsizing. You
can still enjoy your good memories
in the photos and the furniture and
objects you decide to use in your
new home.
Put your emotions aside and
determine if your home is meeting
your current needs. Are you finan
cially able to pay household bills? Is
it difficult for you to do the clean
ing and yardwork? Have old friends
and neighbors gone? Take your time
and weigh your decision carefully.
You would not want to move and
be unhappy with your decision, but
you might be happier with a smaller
place and new friends.
If you have a question for Ms. Magnolia, please mail it to P.O. Box 669, Vidalia, GA
30475, or e-mail to msmagnoliaadvance@yahoo.com.
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