Newspaper Page Text
The ADVANCE, June 30, 2021 /Page 2A
Slfre Aiiuancg
Retiring Sheriff’s Department
Employees Honored at
Toombs Commission Meeting
Photo by Rebekah Arnold
EMPLOYEES HONORED BY SHERIFF - Sergeant Cindy
Brown and Administrative Assistant Patsy Chester, who
recently retired, were recognized by Sheriff Alvie Kight,
Jr., at the Toombs County Commission's June meeting.
Left to right are Brown, Kight and Chester,
By Rebekah Arnold
Contributing Writer
Toombs County Sheriff
Alvie Kight, Jr., recognized
two retiring employees dur
ing the June 15 session of
the Toombs County Com
mission.
Cindy Brown has
worked in every position
at the Toombs County Jail
during her 26 years there,
retiring as Sergeant. Kight
observed that Brown had
to be a special person to
serve in such a difficult area.
“What you have taught the
young ones down there will
go on for a long time. I ap
preciate that.”
Patsy Chester, Ad
ministrative Assistant, has
served in the Department
for 20 years. Kight said that
when he first became Sher
iff he learned that, “I had
to depend on good people
to help me. I found out real
quick that you don't do the
job by yourself.”
Chester said she would
not want to be working any
where else than with Sher
iff Kight and all the other
County employees. Chester
and Brown provided vital
support needed to run the
Department.
Toombs Library Trust
ee Brian Bishop thanked the
Commissioners for their
support and recognition of
how vital the public library
services are to the commu
nity. Bishop said, “It never
ceases to amaze me how
good our community is. We
have raised over $700,000
locally,” and with the help
of Senator Blake Tillery and
past Representative Greg
Morris, the State has allo
cated funds for the library’s
renovation. Dr. Mark Spiv
ey and Tonya Spivey have
received naming rights for
their donation of $250,000.
Bishop recognized the
Library Board for its dili
gence in seeing what needs
to be done to complete the
renovation project and to
help fund personnel and
operations. Additionally,
the library staff, headed by
Director Cameron Asbell,
does a fantastic job, he add
ed.
Asbell emphasized
that the library runs three
branches in Toombs Coun
ty on only $113,000 a year.
The ability to prop up local
operating costs from state
paid employees has run out,
and this fiscal year’s bud
get is in a deficit. With all
the vital services provided
by the library, and with the
top-notch technology to
be added in the renovation,
public use will increase.
Support for operating costs
is needed now and will be
needed in the future.
Approvals of actions
by the Commissioners in
cluded: completion of re
pairs on the county section
of North Jefferson Street
by McLendon Enterprises,
to be paid by Public Works
funds; the reappointment
of Ann Bedingfield to the
Toombs County Board of
Family and Children Ser
vices through June 2026 as
requested by DFCS Direc
tor Ashley Payne; and con
tinuation of the process of
drafting an ordinance for a
Broadband Ready Commu
nity, for which the proposal
will be presented in a pub
lic hearing before the next
board meeting on July 20.
ask A,;
Ms a Magnolia^
Letters have been edited for length and clarity.
Dear Ms. Magnolia,
/ work in a business office in Dub
lin, and one of my coworkers who
works out in the warehouse wants me
to write him a recommendation for his
Linkedln account. As I’ve seen from
his evaluations, he really doesn’t seem
to know what he’s doing in this job. He
does his work haphazardly, doesn’t try
to improve, and in general is a pill to
work with. / have to watch what / say
to him to keep from offending him and
making things uncomfortable at work.
How can / tell him that / won 7 write a
recommendation ?
G
Dear G,
There are several responses you
can make: The best is, “No, it is of
fice policy that we administrative
assistants (or your title) don’t write
recommendations.” Ask your super
visor if you can use that one. Other
wise, you can say, “No, it is my policy
not to write recommendations.” You
might add, “You should get some
one who knows your work well.” Or,
“Find someone who can give a ben
eficial review of your work.” If that
doesn’t work, just smile, tilt your
head, and say, “No,” and then turn
and walk off. It is surprising how ef
fective that can be.
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.
New* patients cute welcome!
Oliver Jenkins, MD
Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist
Jesup
125 Memorial Drive
Blackshear
Pierce County
Health Center
333 W. Carter Avenue
Wayne Memorial
& St. Joseph’s/Candler
Physician Associates
Call for an appointment.
(912)427-7790
Dr. Jenkins is a board certified
otolaryngologist and head and neck
surgeon specializing in the diagnosis
and treatment of general ear and sinus
conditions, sleep apnea, and allergies.
Treating pediatric and adult patients.
Oliver Jenkins, MD
TWO LOCATIONS:
MoCo
OUTSTANDING ATHLETE - Recent MCHS graduate Dre'on
Jackson (L) was recognized by the Montgomery County
Board of Education as the recipient of the Middle Geor
gia Region Positive Athlete Award for basketball. Jack-
son enhanced the Eagles high school basketball team
tremendously during the past season, said Interim Su
perintendent Mark Davidson (R), who praised Jackson's
character and exemplary skills as an athlete.
continued from page 1A
tion specified that Interim
Superintendent Dr. Mark
Davidson be allowed to
apply for the position,
along with any other qual
ified individuals.
The Superintendent’s
position was left vacant
after Hugh Kite was ter
minated on March 18.
The Board appointed Da
vidson as Interim Super
intendent on March 22.
Davidson, a retired edu
cator, had been teaching
at Montgomery County
schools for the past four
years.
Also during the June
session, the Board ac
knowledged a Positive
Athlete Award and the
School System Nutrition
Team Award.
Recent MCHS gradu
ate Dre’on Jackson was
recognized as the recipi
ent of the Middle Georgia
Region Positive Athlete
Award for basketball. Jack-
son enhanced the MCHS
Eagles basketball team tre
mendously during the past
season, said Davidson,
who noted that the award
was well deserved.
“Dre’on exemplifies
positive character and atti
tude on and off the court,
and we look forward to all
he will accomplish in the
future,” Davidson com
mented.
The school system
received the Hunger He
roes award for its work in
providing students with
free lunches during the
summer. This lunch provi
sion is overseen by Regina
Harris, who Davidson said
is “incredibly efficient” at
her task.
The Board approved
contracting with Geor
gia Power to replace the
system’s football stadium
lights with modern LED
lights. Along with this re
placement, Georgia Power
will add poles and lights to
the baseball and softball
fields. Davidson sought
bids from various com
panies but informed the
Board that Georgia Power
was the “most economi
cally advantageous.” The
project will be paid for
through the ESPLOST
fund.
The following per
sonnel changes were ap
proved: Kaci Rudd was
moved from an elemen
tary computer lab position
to a 5 th grade teaching
position; Sheri Meriquinn
was hired as a bus driver;
and Regina Best was hired
as a permanent bus moni
tor on the Special Educa
tion bus.
A spending resolution
was also passed because
the budget will not be ap
proved in time to include
the July expenses for the
school. Board Chairman
Jim Paul Poole said similar
resolutions are passed ev
ery year.
Former Assistant Su
perintendent Marcee Pool
reported on the Eagle Ral
ly, an event that brings to
gether educators from all
areas of the school system
to review data and to make
new plans. Pool reported
that 12 elementary edu
cators and six educators
from the middle and high
schools were working to
assess which areas of the
curriculum succeeded and
which areas need improve
ment.
Vidalia'^ Independenee Day
celebration featuring
The Block Party Experience Band
Saturday, July 3 rd
Stage at City Park\
I v-,Vv
1*‘* j %
R* * * Jr W Af
SV-V y
pfc Hr
6:00p Gates open Mifi
6:30p Kid's Karaoke ContSfw
q T /
Must pre-register: Call Sha'Keema Woodeff / 912-403-7606
7:30p Music begins
Fireworks at dark
Come early for the kid's activities
$5 Admission, Kids 5 and under free
Food, drink and beer and wine vendors in the park
Bring your chairs but please no coolers, no pets
Call Vidalia Convention & Visitors Bureau 912-538-8687
Or visit VidaliaVidaliaGA.com or Visit Vidalia on Facebook