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The ADVANCE, August 16, 2023/Page 5A
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
BRIDGING THE GAP - During the visit to Lyons Primary School Congressman Allen (left)
and Superintendent Barry Waller (right) spoke about the struggle to bridge the gap
between graduation and entering the workforce.
Allen
continued from page 1A
books, and then distrib
ute them as requested by
members of Congress. We
started this program be
cause it is essential that we
advocate for childhood lit
eracy As you know, statisti
cally, if you are not reading
at a third grade level when
you finish the third grade,
you are likely not going to
graduate from high school.
And if you don’t get a high
school diploma, in this
country, the options are
not very good for you as far
as job training and that sort
of thing.”
He emphasized, “The
bottom line is we don’t
want to shortchange our
children. We want to make
sure they have the [future]
ability to provide for their
families and get the right
kind of education for them
selves.”
At Lyons Primary
School, Allen spoke with
several school administra
tors on his own experience
with education, and the is
sues with today’s youth and
the workforce. “I serve on
the Education and Work
force Committees, and we
are doing what we can to
make sure we are support
ing the education system,
and or course, we did pass a
bill to encourage parents to
get more involved in their
child’s education.”
Among the challenges
the education system is
facing is students’ social
and emotional issues. “The
emotional health of young
people is something we
have never seen before. It
is almost like an epidemic.
They have so many issues.
Of course, we understand
and know that some of
where that is coming from
is social media. We’ve had
numerous hearings deal
ing with TikTok and some
of these others sites that are
really disturbing in what
they are putting into the
minds of children,” Allen
told the group.
He continued, “I tell
young people, ‘[your mind]
is the greatest computer
ever created, and if you put
garbage in here, you’re go
ing to get garbage out.’ So,
parents and teachers, guard
the minds and hearts of
your children because they
can take in a lot of informa
tion and then try to sort it
all out. I tell young people
if you don’t know who you
are - your purpose and
identity - and whose you
are, you are more than like
ly going to have emotional
problems because those are
the two things that carve
you out of a crowd.”
Allen said that these is
sues often distract students
from realizing the impor
tance of their education.
“You have to get kids early
these days to get them on
the right pathway because
it is so easy in our culture to
get off the tracks and to be
drawn to other things,” he
stated. “Kids deal with a lot
of these social issues, but
the thing with education
that they need to under
stand is that this prepares
them for the rest of their
life and their ability to pro
vide for their family, com
munity, church, and this
nation. Thank you for those
strides you’re making.”
The struggle to educate
youth translates into strug
gles within maintaining a
fully-staffed workforce, ac
cording to Allen. “Every
where I go, workforce is an
issue,” he emphasized. “We
are severely shorthanded
in the workforce, which is
really keeping the econ
omy from growing. Most
companies - including the
company I founded - have
basically dialed back their
work load so that they can
get the work done with the
people they have.”
He continued, “Geor
gia is in pre-COVID levels
as far as economic devel
opment goes; it could be
further along if we had the
available workforce.”
Toombs County
Schools Superintendent
Barry Waller informed
the Congressman of the
school district’s work to
prepare students to enter
the workforce upon gradu
ation. He told Allen about
the numerous pathways,
such as the latest Heavy
Equipment Pathway. “We
are preparing kids to take
that job and position in the
workforce, and it does fall
Please see Allen page
12A
Vidalia Onion Committee is
Seeking New Member Nominations
Vidalia, GA; August 14, 2023—The Vidalia * Onion Committee (VOC) is currently
seekingnominations to the Committee from producers in the industry. The VOC
elects eight newnominees each year as part of an annual process. There are currently
four members and four alternate seats available on the Committee.The VOC admin
isters the federal marketing order locally and consists of eight producer members
and their alternates and one public member and an alternate. The role of the VOC
is to oversee the Vidalia onion marketing order and its role in carrying out research,
marketing,and advertising on behalf of the industry. Members are limited to three
consecutive two-year terms of office. The VOC encourages all interested members
including minorities, women, and those with physical challenges to apply as they
work toward building a diverse and representative membership. We are also espe
cially interested in getting input from small business and organic growers so that the
Committee might represent all interests in the Vidalia onion industry. Newly elected
members will be seated in their new positions upon approval of U. S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), Secretary of Agriculture. Potential Committee members must
first be nominated. Nominations will be accepted from August 14 th - September
8 th . Please contact the Vidalia Onion Committee to receive a nomination form at
cablaxton@vidaliaonion.org or via phone at (912) 537-1918. Nomination forms can
be submitted via fax at 912-537-2166 or by mail at P.O. Box 1609, Vidalia, GA 30475.
After the close of nominations voting will take place on September 21 st from 8 a.m.-
5 p.m. at the VOC office. No absentee votes will be accepted: walk-in voting only.
All voters must be in good standing with the Committee - defined as having timely
regular reports and assessments that are current. Election officials will tally ballots,
and all election materials are the property of the USDA.
Chelsea Page, Interim Executive Director of the VOC remarked, “The Committee
members serve in a role that is critical in the success and management of the Vidalia
Onion Committee. Members provide a voice to on issues and concerns so we can
build programs that meet the direct needs of our growers and see that their funds
are well managed.”
About the Vidalia® Onion Committee
Because Vidalia® onions are sweetly unique, farmers united to seek legal protection
for their crop and its name. Federal Marketing Order No. 955 was established in
1989, to stipulate where the crop can be grown and help with research and promo
tion of Vidalia® onions. The Vidalia® Onion Committee administers FMO No. 955
and authorizes production research, marketing research and development and mar
keting promotion programs. This federal program along with Georgia state laws that
protect the Vidalia® trademark have provided a legal framework for the industry. So,
you can try to grow a sweet onion elsewhere, but you cannot call it a “Vidalia®,”
unless it is from Georgia! For more information, visit VidaliaOnion.org.
From the Record
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...
• Janet Latrelle
Lee, of Lyons, was ar
rested on August 7
and charged with
Cruelty to Animals.
• Ira Dale Clem
ents, of Lyons, was
arrested on August 9
and charged with
Warrant Service-2
counts.
• William Ste
phens, of Ailey was
arrested on August
10 and charged with
Disorderly Conduct,
Possession of Mari
juana Less Than
Ounce.
• Wendall Keith
Edwards, of Lyons,
was arrested on Au
gust 10 and charged
with Warrant Service,
Driving While Unli
censed.
In Toombs
County...
• Johnny Childs,
of Vidalia, was ar
rested on August 9
and charged with
Willful Obstruction or
Hinderance of Fire
fighter-Misdemeanor,
Theft by Taking.
• Phyllis Collins, of
Lyons, was arrested
on August 7 and
charged with Aggra
vated Stalking.
• Shyheim Coo
per, of Vidalia, was
arrested on August
10 and charged with
Probation Violation-
Felony.
• Shawn Harper,
of Soperton, was ar
rested on August 9
and charged with
Probation Violation-
Felony-4 counts; Pos
session of Drug Re
lated Objects; Giving
False Name, Address
or DOB to Officers;
Methamphetamine-
Purchase, Possession,
Manf, Distribution,
Sale.
• Sherman Kirk
land, of Vidalia, was
arrested on August
10 and charged with
Parole Violation.
• Dustin Lee, of
Vidalia, was arrested
on August 7 and
charged with Driving
While License Sus
pended or Revoked-
Misd, Probation Vio
lation-Felony.
• Christian Med-
ders, of Lyons, was
arrested on August
10 and charged with
TCDC-Previous Case
(CPO or Detainer.
• Ira Moore, of Vi
dalia, was arrested
on August 6 and
charged with Theft
by Receiving Stolen
Property, Probation
Violation-Felony.
• Brandy Smith, of
Mt. Vernon, was ar
rested on August 9
and charged with
Failure to Appear-
Misdemeanor-2
counts, Failure to Ap
pear, TCDC-Out of
County Hold.
• Ayla Sumner, of
Vidalia, was arrested
on August 7 and
charged with Failure
to Appear-Misde-
meanor-2 counts.
• Chandler
Thompson, of Uvalda,
was arrested on Au
gust 7 and charged
with TCDC-Out of
County Hold, Theft of
Automobile.
• Kelly Titus, of Vi
dalia, was arrested
on August 9 and
charged with Illegal
Possession of Dan
gerous Drugs, Cruelty
to Children (2nd De
gree)^ counts, SCH II
Controlled Sub
stance-Purchase,
Possession, Manf, Dis
tribution, Sale.
• Jarvis Walton, of
Vidalia, was arrested
on August 8 and
charged with TCDC-
Court Probation Or-
der-CPO.
• Emilio Xitumul,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on August 9
and charged with
Driving While Unli
censed; Safety Belts,
Required Usage.
In Montgomery
County...
• Jesse Lee Rog
ers, of Mount Vernon,
was arrested and
charged with Disor
derly Conduct, Pe
destrian Under the
Influence.
• Armando Diaz
Lopez, of Hazlehurst,
was arrested and
charged with DUI,
Driving with Sus
pended License, Fail
ure to Maintain Lane.
• David Ralph Ev
ans, of Lyons, was ar
rested and charged
with Failure to Main
tain Lane, Expired
Tag, DUI.
• Terry Lee Hines,
of Cobbtown, was
arrested and
charged with DUI,
Driving with Sus
pended License, Fail
ure to Stop at Stop
Sign, Open Con
tainer, Failure to
Maintain Lane, Seat
Belt Violation.
• Shavon Dean-
thony Patterson, of
Glenwood, was ar
rested and charged
with Seat Belt Viola
tion, Driving with Sus
pended License.
• Pashion Jedessa
Ryals, of Mount Ver
non, was arrested
and charged with
Driving with Sus
pended License.
• Ashley Krysten
Caldwell, of Dublin,
was arrested and
charged with Posses
sion of Controlled
Substance.
In Vidalia...
• Jeremy Brew-
ton, of Warner Rob
ins, was arrested on
August 8 and
charged with Shop
lifting / Possession of
a Controlled Sub
stance / Possession
of Drug Related Ob
jects / Possession of
Dangerous Drugs.
• Ravin Brown, of
Vidalia, was arrested
on August 8 and
charged with War
rant Served (Parole
Warrant).
• Delta Rogers, of
Glennville, was ar
rested on August 8
and charged with
Theft by Shoplifting.
• Nina Smith, of
Vidalia, was arrested
on August 9 and
charged with War
rant Served.
• Robert Moody,
of Glennville, was ar
rested on August 9
and charged with
Theft by Shoplifting /
Criminal Trespass.
• Yolanda Tiffany
Moore, of Soperton,
was arrested on Au
gust 10 and charged
with Theft by Shoplift
ing.
• Cassandra
Stewart, of Vidalia,
was arrested on Au
gust 12 and charged
with Forceful Ob
struction x2 / Aggra
vated Assault / Theft
of Services / Theft by
Shoplifting.
In Wheeler
County...
No arrests re
ported.
PURCHASE ENGRAVED
BRICK FOR NEW COURTHOUSE
Since the creation of Toombs County on August 18, 1905, there have
been three courthouses built. The first one was completed in the Fall
of 1907. Due to fire, a subsequent courthouse was completed and oc
cupied on February 2,1920. It would be forty-five years later when the
current courthouse was completed in August 1965. Fifty-eight years
later, Toombs County will complete the fourth courthouse in our one
hundred eighteen year history.
You can be a part of this historical event by purchasing an engraved
brick that will be placed on the grounds of the new courthouse for
$100.00/brick.
We can accept a check made to the order of Toombs County Board of
Commissioners or cash; we do not process any plastic payments. We
ask that you send or bring in your brick order before Aug. 31, 2023.
Forms and instructions can be found at https://www.toombscoun-
tyga.gov/notices/ or at the Commissioner’s Office at 100 Courthouse
Square, Lyon, Georgia 30436 or by calling 912-526-3311.