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Meaningful Gifts (FJart|l 'SeeYAmberJ 7A June 14, 2023 National <3 See Healthlines 11A The Vidalia Advance Established 1901 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia Ev'ry heart beats true heath the Red, White and Blue. Homelessness - George M. Cohan News BYTES Community Food Drive Boy Scout Troop 933 is collecting canned goods and nonper ishable items for God's Storehouse until June 27. Dona tions may be dropped off at the drop-off box on the front porch of the Vi dalia Boy Scout Hut, located at 102 Stockyard Road be side the tennis courts. For more in formation, contact Scoutmaster Brett Copeland at (706) 476-1684. Food Giveaway The Tri-County Family Connection is host ing a food give away at the old Montgomery County High School, located at 701 Dobbins Street, in Mount Ver non on June 17, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Volunteers are also needed for this event. Anyone with questions or inter ested in volunteer ing should call Theo- tis Summerset at (478) 697-3782. City Councils Facing Growing Problem By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Homelessness has be come a growing concern in the cities of Vidalia and Ly ons, more so in Vidalia. On any given day individuals can be seen pushing shopping carts filled with their belong ings along city sidewalks and roads; homeless camps have sprung up in various areas. One such encampment was located in a lot adjacent to the Boys & Girls Club in down town Vidalia. Individuals that occupy these camps generate unsightly litter and debris and have become an unsavory nuisance. The depravity of the homeless individuals roam ing the streets has not only become an eye sore but has caused problems for business es. Squatters found in vacant properties by private owners NOWHERE TO GO - The homeless population has increased in Vidalia and Lyons, making individu- Please see Homeless page als pushing shopping carts of their belongings through the city a common sight. 4A Report Finds Automatic Voter Registration Growing Voter Rolls in Georgia By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service The voter registration rate in Georgia increased from 78% to 98% during the first four years of automatic voter reg istration, according a report released Wednesday by a non partisan nonprofit that pro motes election integrity. The Peach State imple mented automatic voter regis tration in 2016 through state motor vehicles offices. Every Please see Voter page 3A Toombs, Montgomery Named Beta Districts Of Distinction By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail. com Toombs and Montgomery County Schools are two of the 42 school districts across the nation to earn the title of 2022- 2023 National Beta District of Distinction. Beta Club is an academic honors program emphasizing leadership and community ser vice with membership tradi tionally based on grades and test scores. National Beta Club is the largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization in America. The National Beta District of Distinction is awarded to school districts that demon strate a commitment to aca demic excellence, leadership development, and service in- Please see Beta page 3A DIY Terrarium The Nelle Brown Me morial Library in Ly ons will allow adults to make their own terrarium on Satur day, June 17, at 11 a.m. For more infor mation, call (912) 526-6511. IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 6A Obituaries Page 8A From the Record Page 5A Your Mind On Line Page 4A Sports Page 1 B SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 30% OFF NEWSSTAND IMV Call 537-3131 (or delivery! MoCo Citizens Outraged Standing Room Only Over Tax Assessments By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The regular monthly meeting of the Montgom ery County Commission had standing room only on Monday night, June 12, as over 75 citizens gathered to share concerns with Com missioners about the recent skyrocketing of property values, which were mailed out on Friday, June 9. Many of the citizens in attendance reported rises in property values by $60,000 and one individual cited a $300,000 increase in his assessment. Overall, attendees agreed that most saw 45%-60% increases in property values this year. Commission Chair man Leland Adams began the meeting by addressing Please see MoCo page 12A iTEW b sxJ/A 4 m i v vEr Photo by Makaylee Randolph PACKED MEETING - Over 75 citizens were in attendance for the meeting of the Montgomery County Com mission on Monday night, after having received property appraisal notices that have increased by an average of 50%.