Newspaper Page Text
(Eift Aiiuancg
The ADVANCE, February 17, 2021/Page 10A
THE BLOTTER
These are the reported
arrests from the Toombs
County Sheriff's Office,
the Vidalia and Lyons
police departments,
and the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Office
for the past week.
Incidents are taken
directly from police
files. All suspects are
innocent until proven
guilty.
In Lyons...
• Deandre Terrell
Pryor, of Lyons, was
arrested on February
11 and charged with
Following Too
Closely, Failure to
Stop at Stop Sign,
Georgia Hands Free
Law, Fleeing, At
tempting to Elude
Arrest-2nd Offense,
Driving While License
Suspended or Re
voked (First).
• Christopher Lee
Collins, of Lyons, was
arrested on February
12 and charged with
Willful Obstruction of
Police Officer Sim
ple/Verbal, DUI-Less
Safe-Alcohol, Open
Container.
In Toombs
County...
• Joey Foskey, of
Lyons, was arrested
on February 13 and
charged with Wire
less Telecommunica
tions Device use Pro
hibited, DUI/Any
Combination of Al
cohol/Drugs/Toxic
Vapor/Less Safe,
Open Container-Al
coholic Beverage-
Passenger, Probation
Violation-Felony.
• Benjamin Poole,
of Uvalda, was ar
rested on February
13 and charged with
Battery-Family Vio
lence (1st Offense).
• William Ricks,
Jr., of Dublin, was ar
rested on February 9
and charged with
Probation Violation-
Felony.
• Justin Barnard,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on February
11 and charged with
Probation Violation-
Felony.
• Cameron Buie,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on February 7
and charged with
Theft of Automobile,
Probation Violation-
Misdemeanor.
• Steven Doug
las, of Vidalia, was
arrested on February
8 and charged with
Probation Violation-
Felony, TCDC-No
Bond-Previous Case.
In Montgomery
County...
The Montgomery
County Sheriff's Of
fice Police Report
was not available at
presstime.
In Vidalia...
• Kimberly Ann
Hall, of Glenwood,
was arrested on Feb
ruary 9 and charged
with Theft by Shoplift
ing.
• Jessica Lynn
Hitchcock, of Metter,
was arrested on Feb
ruary 8 and charged
with Giving False In
formation / Shoplift
ing / Vidalia Bench
Warrant.
• Matthew Brian
Miller, of Vidalia, was
arrested on February
8 and charged with
Open Container /
Possession of Mari
juana.
Annual Roundup in Montgomery
County Rolls in 1400 Scrap Tire:
Vidalia City Clerk Sworn Into Office
Photo by Rebekah Arnold
VIDALIA CITY CLERK SWORN IN — After a month of tran
sitioning into the position of City Clerk and Finance Di
rector, Amy W, Murray, right, was sworn-in by Probate
Judge Tina S. Lindsey at Vidalia City Council's February
meeting.
By Deborah Clark
Regional Editor
dclarkadvance@gmail. com
Montgomery Coun
ty’s Department of Roads
collected 1400 scrap tires
from 77 residents during
its recent scrap tire am
nesty event Roads Super
intendent Milton Fountain
reported during the Mont
gomery County Commis
sion meeting February 8.
The effort was funded
by a $15,075.75 Scrap Tire
Abatement Grant award
ed to the county by the
Environment Protection
Division of the Georgia
Department of Natural Re
sources. In accordance with
the grant, the Montgomery
County Commissioners
staged a five-day event to
round up and dispose of old
tires.
The event was open
to the public but for resi
dents of the county only.
The drop-off site was the
Montgomery County Solid
Waste Center outside of
Ailey. Rules applied. For in
stance, car, truck and ATV
ties were accepted, as well
as a limited number of com
mercial truck tires (10 per
household address.) The
county reserved the right to
Guest
continued from page 6A
recently calculated what
working families at different
income levels would have
earned at retirement if they
could have invested their
payroll tax rather than
paying into Social Security.
For instance, a low-
income couple who started
working in 1971 and retired
in 2015, where one earner
earned 45% of the national
median income and the
other 25%, would have
gotten an annual Social
Security benefit of $21,035.
If that same couple could
have invested 10% of their
paychecks in a stock fund
over the same period, using
actual historic data for this
stop accepting commercial
tires during the event. All
tires had to be disconnected
from any wheels and free of
debris. County staff was on
hand to assist the public at
the drop-off site.
The scrap tire abate
ment project, conducted an
nually, is in its third year in
Montgomery County. Tires
collected at the event were
picked up by Quality Tire
Recycling company from
Jackson. The reimburse
ment grant funds the haul
ing and disposal of the tires.
During the Commis
sion session County Ad
ministrator Brandon Braddy
reported January property
tax collections increased the
monthly revenue to $2.3
million. As of January 31,
the county had expended
$309, 809 for 8.7% of the
$4.5 million annual budget.
Also, during the session,
the Commission adopted
an Amended Timber Op
erations Ordinance follow
ing its second reading. The
ordinance was amended in
order to comply with state
statute and regards business
and business regulations as
set forth in the Montgom
ery Code.
In other business, the
commissioners approved
45-year period, they would
have had $738,360 at
retirement that could
produce $40,610 annual
income for them — almost
double what they would get
from Social Security.
They would also have
the benefits of ownership.
They could bequeath what
remains to their heirs.
Per the Federal
Reserve, 29.9% of white
Americans say they have
benefited from inheritance
or some other family gift.
Only 10.1% of Black
Americans say they have
received an inheritance or
family gift.
If Black Americans do
not feel part of and invested
in the nation, as they
should, one reason is that
they are disenfranchised by
the annual Geospatial (Q_-
Public) contract, which
allows the public to view
property data online; a re
quest for a proposal to pur
chase a new motor grader;
a request for a proposal for
residential and commercial
solid waste collection and
disposal services; and ap
proval of a $21,039.59 con
tract with McLendon Enter
prises to replace four storm
water catch basins and to
perform necessary work to
achieve positive draining at
the Montgomery County
Recreation Center. “It is a
safety issue,” Braddy said of
the work to replace the ob
solete drains.
The Commission also
agreed to set its work ses
sions on the Thursday prior
to its monthly meeting. The
work sessions will be held at
5:30 p.m. in the Adult Lit
eracy Center.
Reviewing activities for
the month of January, EMA
Director Donnie Daniels re
ported 96 EMS calls and 27
fire calls. He also noted that
the county’s hazard mitiga
tion plan has been approved
by GEMA and FEMA and
that its early warning siren
has been installed on the
campus of Brewton-Parker
College.
the same government that
claims it wants to help.
So, Secretary Yellen,
policy adviser Rice, how
about getting on board with
me? How about showing
Black Americans, and all
Americans, that you really
want to level the playing
field?
The Social Security
Trustees report that by
2034, the system will have
insufficient funds to meet
obligations.
Ownership, rather than
more government, is the
answer.
Now we just need
courageous leadership.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of the
new weekly news talk show
"Cure America with Star
Parker."
By Rebekah Arnold
Contributing Writer
After being at the City
Clerk and Finance Direc
tor’s desk for the City of
Vidalia for a month, Amy
W. Murray was officially
sworn in to the position
on February 8. The City
Council’s regular monthly
session meeting was the
setting for Probate Judge
Tina S. Lindsey to admin
ister the oaths of office to
Murray. The new clerk was
welcomed with applause.
Retired Finance Direc
tor Bill Bedingfield was ap
proved for an appointment
as Assistant City Manager
through September 30,
2021. Bedingfield and the
Council are pleased and
confident with Murray as
his replacement, but the
county tax digest process
to be done in August is
complex, and the budget
ing process for 2022 begins
in September and involves
use of complicated soft
ware. These are two areas
with which Murray will
need assistance.
The purpose of Bed-
ingfield’s appointment is so
he will be available as need
ed for training purposes.
As a nonmerit employee,
meaning he receives limit
ed benefits, and is paid for
documented hours only,
his position will save the
City money while Murray
receives transition training.
Although the City, the
Council and the citizens
do not want Bedingfield
to leave, he is sure of his
retirement. He has earned
it. “I am retired! It’s not
that I’m just jumping into
a new job. This is a way to
help Murray in the transi
tion and not have such an
impact on the City budget.
I’m here to help in any way
that I can” for the agreed
upon time period, Bed
ingfield declared. Mayor
Doug Roper expressed ap
preciation for Bedingfield’s
service and the seamless
transition in the position.
Roper stated that the
Council held a planning
session and retreat on Janu
ary 30. “We, as elected of
ficials, take seriously what
we have been charged to
do to represent the citizens
of this community. We had
a great planning session
looking at short, mid- and
long-range goals that will
bring about some changes
in some areas. Stay tuned
to future agendas.”
Roper also took time
to remember the loss of
people with close ties to
the City. In particular, Mrs.
Mary McIntyre served the
City as Administrative As
sistant to the city manager
and the mayor, and then
as City Clerk, from which
she retired. Roper and City
Manager Nick Overstreet
noted other families who
serve Vidalia who have
been touched by recent
loss due to COVID-19.
Downtown Vidalia As
sociation Director Tonya
Parker reported that she
has received many ques
tions about the Artists Call
for a mural to be placed on
the Meadows Street wall
at Mary’s Interiors. Ren
derings of the design are
due by February 19 and
the mural should be com
pleted by April 1. Vidalia
Convention and Visitors
Bureau Director Alexa
Britton will handle a sepa
rate but similar process for
choosing artists to create
three small murals on the
wall of the alley beside the
Pal Theater.
Parker announced the
new Executive Committee
of the DVA: President Greg
Hudgins of Georgia Power,
Vice President Rhonda
Jones of Dermatology As
sociates, Secretary Valarie
McLendon of Altamaha
Bank, and Treasurer Amy
Murray, the City of Vidalia.
Michele Johnson, Di
rector of the Development
Authority, announced that
her agency has $400,000
in the Toombs County
Revolving Loan program
for qualifying applicants to
use for their business oper
ating in the County. “It’s all
about job creation!”, John
son said. Businesses can use
the loan to buy or upgrade
real estate, buy equipment,
or use as operating capital.
More information about
the loan can be found at
toombsconnect.com/con
nect/ news/toombs-coun-
ty-revolving-loan-funds-
available. Johnson also
announced that the annual
Chamber meeting will be
March 18.
Overstreet presented
three considerations for
approval regarding equip
ment purchases and con
tractor inspections for
pump station and water
treatment station repairs,
replacements, and up
grades, all using SPLOST
funds. Roper noted that
these items are the result of
discussions at the planning
retreat pertaining to five
different issues in water,
sewer and infrastructure,
and the approvals given by
the Council will address
and resolve three of those
issues. ESG works closely
with the City on these
projects and Roper com
mended everyone for the
good work done. Roper
also introduced Tony Hall,
a new director of ESG, who
was present at the Council
meeting.
Council approved the
purchase, with SPLOST
funds, of portable tempo
rary fencing for use at the
Regional Sports Complex
at Ezra Taylor Road. Recre
ation Department Director
Matt Smith said this fenc
ing will be used for young
er players’ ball practice at
the complex. Smith said
the fencing, bathrooms
prepared for use, and fields
being cleaned and lined
will allow the complex to
be utilized for some prac
tice and league play this
spring after not being used
for four years. The VRD
and the City will seek feed
back from the public about
the use of this complex.
Police Commissioner
Brian Scott reported that
the Law Enforcement Cer
tification program with
the Georgia Association of
Chiefs of Police is a volun
tary program consisting of
meeting 129 standards to
become a state= certified
agency. Some of the ben
efits of attaining this certifi
cation are the confirmation
that the department uses
consistent and progressive
best practices, greater pub
lic confidence, greater op
erational effectiveness, and
reduced liability potential.
The VPD first achieved
this certification in 2006,
and has maintained it since
then. In December, it was
determined that the VPD
has fully demonstrated and
met all standards and con
tinues to be recognized as
a certified law enforcement
agency through Decem
ber 2023. Of the 628 law
enforcement agencies in
Georgia, the VPD is one of
140 that is certified.
Scott said, “I want to
recognize all of the hard
working men and women
of the police department
who made this possible.
This is no easy feat to ac
complish. I especially want
to thank our certification
manager Lawanda Beasley
for her hard work and dedi
cation.”
City Marshall Shaun
Oliver reported that a per
mit has been issued to re
model and expand the hos
pital maintenance building
on Maple Drive for use as
the County EMA/EMS fa
cility. Roper said, “Citizens
of the community want to
see us working closely with
our neighboring munici
palities and this is an exam
ple, with Toombs County
EMA/EMS locating inside
city limits of Vidalia. We
are thankful we are work
ing closely with our neigh
bors in that regard.”
City Manager Over-
street announced that
April 10, two weeks before
the Vidalia Onion Festival,
will be clean-up day around
the City. This will be in
partnership with Republic
Services, ESG and Chick-
fil-A. The City of Lyons
and Toombs County lead
ership also plan to conduct
clean-ups on this day.
Call 537-3131
When You See News Happen