Newspaper Page Text
The ADVANCE, August 23, 2023/Page 10A
Stye Aiiuancg
Wheeler BOE Invests
in Safety Measures
vcc
continued from page 3A
honor anytime our youth
excel, and we would like
to recognize and celebrate
that. This past recreation
softball season, we had two
of our girls softball teams to
win state championships;
so, we’re happy to recognize
their accomplishments,” he
remarked about the occa
sion.
Action Items
The Council approved
to shift the funding source
for the Waterline Replace
ment Project on McIntosh
Street from money gained
from the Georgia Environ
mental Financial Authority
to funds from the American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
grants.
Council members also
approved to begin a Leaf
and Limb pick up service
in the Office/Residen
tial zones within the city.
Currently, this service is
available to residents, but
several businesses have
shared their interest in the
program. Around 30 busi
nesses will be notified of
this option, which will cost
$4 per month. A hearing
will be held in September to
hear any concerns, and the
service should begin in Oc
tober or November.
Hofstadler and Associ
ates was selected as the en
gineering firm to manage
the Ezra Taylor Regional
Sports Complex renova
tion. This service will cost
12% of the total cost of the
project, which is expected
to be completed within a
year and a half. Council also
approved to execute a grant
administration contract
with the Heart of Georgia
Altamaha Regional com
mission to administer the
grant for this renovation.
Council approved an
ordinance amendment
clarifying that all properties
owned and created prior to
new guidelines in the city
ordinance section on mini
storage units are “grandfa
thered in” and not required
to abide by the new rules.
The Council also
agreed to move a stop sign
from the Intersection of Poe
Street and 5th Avenue to
Star
continued from page 9A
gal, compared to 13% in
1996.
What I find particularly
alarming is that among
Democrats, 44% say abor
tion should be legal in the
third trimester.
We may have differ
ences of opinion about the
key abortion issue: When
does life begin?
But in the final trimes
ter, the situation is crystal-
clear.
With proper care, esti
mates are that survival
chances of a prematurely
bom child at 25-26 weeks
are 80%. At 32 weeks, it is
95%.
Yet, 44% of Democrats
believe abortion in this pe
riod should be legal. This
means that, for them, de
stroying a living, feeling
baby is OK. I think it is
called murder.
For sure, these same
Democrats, citizens of the
left, that see no problem
with abortion are outraged
that slavery was once per
mitted in our country.
But just as slavery
showed something sick in
our national soul, the same
is the case with legal abor
tion.
And just as slavery
damaged the nation, so
the intersection of Peacock
Street and 5th Avenue, as
recommended by city of
ficials.
The following purchas
es were approved:
• Vent and Hood Sys
tem and Installation for the
Senior Center side of the
Vidalia Community Cen
ter - $55,000,000; funded
through Special Local Op
tion Sales Tax (SPLOST)
• Replacement of Air
Conditioner at ESG Of
fice on Brinson Road —
$4,653.00; funded through
SPLOST
• 1 Half Ton Pickup
Truck for Public Works
- $35,890.00; funded
through SPLOST (Ap
proved in 2023 Budget)
• 1 Half Ton Pickup
Truck for Water/Sewer
Department - $35,890.00;
funded through SPLOST
(Approved in 2023 Budget)
Alcohol licenses were
approved for General Store
30474, Tappas, and Sip-N-
Smoke.
Reports
According to City Mar
shal Chad Phillips, a lot
of work is currently being
done in attempt to remedy
issues caused by the home
less population within the
city limits. One of these is
sues which Phillips directly
addressed was the removal
of shopping carts from
Food Lion. “They say they
are having to order almost
30 carts every 3 months,” he
emphasized. “We may need
to look into doing some
thing about this.”
Vidalia Police Chief
James Jermon informed the
Council that 2 cadets were
currently at the Georgia Po
lice Academy, and had suc
cessfully passed their mid
terms. He also said that he
had 2 interviews scheduled
for potential cadets, who
would attend the October
session of the Academy,
along with one recruit who
was confirmed to begin his
journey to becoming a po
lice officer in July 2024.
During her report,
Downtown Vidalia Asso
ciation Executive Direc
tor Tonya Parker told the
Council that the last two
Coffee Before Hours net
working events had hosted
over 100 citizens and busi-
does abortion.
It shows decline of indi
vidual grasp of good and
evil and hence personal re
sponsibility.
The result is more and
more turning to govern
ment to pay for the damage
caused by broken families,
decline of marriage, and ad
vancement of a culture of
selfishness.
I think our Republican
candidates should be more
focused and aggressive in
Shooting
continued from page 1A
Both victims have since re
covered.
Timothy Vaughn,
District Attorney for the
Oconee Judicial Circuit of
Georgia, which includes
Wheeler County, said the
four men were included in
one indictment and sen
tenced over a period of
several months, with the
last sentencing occurring
August 14.
“It was a challenge to
unfold,” Vaughn said of
the case. “It was like put
ting together one of those
thousand-piece puzzles as
to who did what. The cases
against individuals came
together at different times.”
Flint and McDuffey
ness owners. The next Cof
fee Before Hours is sched
uled for September 6, from
8 a.m. until 9 a.m. at Home
made On the Go.
She and Mayor Doug
Roper also both shared their
satisfaction with the recent
Touch-A-Truck Sweet Sat
urday event, which was held
downtown on August 12.
Next months Sweet Satur
day event will be held on
September 9.
Convention & Visitors
Bureau Executive Director
Alexa Britton announced
that this past July marked
the second-largest crowd of
visitors in history that the
City has had in July. She also
said that the Bureau was
working with City Attorney
Justin Franldin to develop a
contact with the Savannah
College of Art & Design for
a new design of the Vidalia
Onion Museum. Britton
concluded her report by
informing the Council that
she planned to add the Wild
Mustang Ranch, located
in Toombs County, to the
City tourism information as
a part of “Things to Do.”
The Greater Vidalia
Chamber informed the
Council that construction
has began on the Center
for Rural Entrepreneurship,
and is expected to be com
pleted by the 2024 Vidalia
Onion Festival. Chamber
President Michele Johnson
also shared that there is a
new position opening with
in the Chamber, as they
search for a Director of En
trepreneur Development.
Vidalia Regional Air
port Manager Billy Ragan
spoke to the Council on
the current runway reha
bilitation project, which
has limited airport opera
tions to a single runway. He
also said that several nui
sance animals had recently
been removed from airport
grounds as a manner to
continue to promote safety
and efficiency at the facility.
Vidalia Onion Festival
Past Chair Andy Wood
ruff made recommenda
tions to the Council on the
2024 Vidalia Onion Festi
val Committee Chairs, and
informed the Council that
the Committee had already
begun looking into musi
cal acts to perform at next
year’s concert.
discussing abortion as a
symptom of a broader cul
tural crisis in the country.
Our fiscal bankruptcy
and our moral bankruptcy
go hand in hand.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of the
weekly television show "Cure
America with Star Parker." To
find out more about Star
Parker and read features by
other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit the
Creators Syndicate website at
www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.
COM
were sentenced on January
4. Flint pled guilty to invol
untary manslaughter and
gang charges, and received
a sentence of 15 years with
7 years to be served in pris
on. McDuffey pled guilty
to three counts of aggra
vated assault and received
a sentence of 10 years with
3 years to be served in pris
on.
Hooks, who was sen
tenced July 6, pled guilty
to voluntary manslaughter
and received a sentence of
20 years, with 7 years to be
served in prison. McCrae,
who was sentenced on Au
gust 14, pled guilty to one
count of aggravated assault
and possession by a person
on first offender probation.
He received a 7-year sen
tence, with 3 years to be
served in prison, and a fine.
By Deborah Clark
Regional Editor
dclarkadvance@gmail. com
After viewing a video
presentation from Safe Ha
ven Defense Southeast on
its bullet-proof film used
to cover glass, the Wheeler
County Board of Education
voted to use part of a state
Department of Education
safety grant to purchase
the film for placement in
the most vulnerable areas
of the school. The Board
also approved the purchase
of a 3-M Company shatter-
resistant glass covering for
other areas that are already
guarded by fencing.
A $50,000 security
grant from the state was in
cluded in the FY24 budget
for every Georgia school.
The deadline for spend
ing these funds is March
2024. The grant has already
underwritten costs of add
ing fencing and cameras to
the new campus, and ad
ditional grant funding pro
vided locking mechanisms
for classroom doors and
enabled the purchase of
a metal detector for ath
letic events. The grant also
funded placing cameras on
the front and side of the
gymnasium to cover stu
dent parking and Railroad
Street, which is adjacent to
the gym.
A second grant from
the Georgia Department
of Health for $60,000
($20,000 per school housed
in the Wheeler School
complex) was used for the
improvement of air quality
and the health and safety of
the students and staff) spe
cifically the placement of air
purifiers in each classroom.
Superintendent Su
zanne and Facilities Direc
tor Gregory Wilcher met
with various companies to
acquire quotes for security
Kight
continued from page 1A
ful to God. For 25 years,
He has provided guidance,
safety\ and direction in ev
erything we have done. To
my wife, family, and friends,
thank you for the support
and patience that you all
have given me so that I could
effectively serve our commu
nity. To the people of Toombs
County, thank you for trust
ing me and believing in our
community.
Toombs County is my
home, and my priority has
always been to protect our
citizens and more specifical
ly, our children. The Sheriff’s
Office is full of exceptional
MoCo
continued from page 5A
of possession of a firearm
during the commission of
a felony, theft by receiving
stolen property
• Anslie Alena Mead -
trafficking in illegal drugs,
possession of methamphet-
amine with intent to distrib
ute, possession of marijua
na with intent to distribute,
taillight violation, operating
a vehicle without insurance,
and failure to register a ve
hicle
• Brenton Hunter Mc
Daniel - 2 counts of ag
gravated assault, criminal
damage to property in the
second degree
• Coy Alvin Maness -
felony theft by taking, and
film to provide protective
coverings for glass in certain
areas of the school. Couey
also referenced the Safer
Georgia Schools Grant from
the Georgia Department
of Education for which the
district recently submitted
an application as another
potential funding source
for future projects. Word on
that grant is expected later
this month.
The Safe Haven prod
uct is costly at $200 per
square foot, but is able to
withstand tremendous
force, such as that from a
bullet. “Of course we hope
we never need it, but we
don’t want to get to the
point where we need it and
don’t have it,” Couey told
the Board. While the 3-M
product is not bullet-resis
tant, it will hold shattered
glass in place.
Superintendent’s Report
Couey told the Board
that there are still a few
loose ends yet to be resolved
with the school’s construc
tion contractor JCI/Lentile
for finish work at the new
school, including landscap
ing. “They have planted
grass three times and can’t
get grass to grow,” she said,
noting that the next step is
getting sod and irrigation
installed. She noted that
other pending work — re
placement of the front steps
and signage — were accom
plished recently.
She said that the sec
ond floor of the new school
has had air conditioning is
sues recently, with inside
temperatures climbing into
the high 70s. She said she
has communicated with
the contractor and HVAC
subcontractor concerning
adjusting the computerized
AC system, and has been
advised that other schools
are having the same prob-
ojficers and employees. They
are constantly training and
honing their skills to be the
best at what they do. I was
blessed to follow a great man,
Sheriff Charles Durst, who
filled this Office with great
people. I took the same atti
tude as he and always looked
for people that saw law en
forcement as a calling and
not just a job. I have aimed
to encourage and I am proud
of our officers. I could not
have fulfilled my duties as
Sheriff without the support
and teamwork of these out
standing individuals. Thank
you to every officer and em
ployee that has worked at the
Sheriff’s Office over the past
25 years.
I am confident that the
felony obstruction of an of
ficer
• Joshua Lewis Foskey
- 3 counts of possession
of a firearm by a convicted
felon, 2 counts of hunting
without a big game license,
2 counts of hunting without
a valid license, 2 counts of
hunting deer at night, and
2 counts of hunting upon a
public road
• Jason Rafe West, Jr. -
possession of methamphet-
amine
• Dustin Corbin Tarver
- terroristic threats, crimi
nal damage to property in
the second degree, battery
(family violence)
• Timothy Jermaine
Jackson - 2 counts of pos
session of methamphet-
amine with intent to distrib
ute, possession of cocaine
lems because of the intense
summer heat. She was ad
vised that beginning the
cooling process at 4 a.m. ev
ery school day might resolve
the matter, and that is being
implemented immediately.
One day of school was
cancelled on Friday, August
11, due to an issue with the
City of Alamo’s water sys
tem, to which the Wheeler
County School is connect
ed. Apparently, a problem
was detected at the Wheeler
Correctional Facility well,
also tied into the city sys
tem, which caused the En
vironmental Protection
Division to issue a boiled
water alert for the entire
City of Alamo for a short
period of time. Couey said
the local health department
recommended closing the
school and cafeteria (hence
the cancellation of school)
and advised the school to
drain water coolers and ice
makers upon returning to
school. The matter was re
solved and the school re
opened as usual for classes
on Monday, August 14.
Personnel Changes
The Board approved
the following personnel rec
ommendations:
• Hal Ford, who retired
recently and returned to
work this school year part
time at 49% of his retire
ment salary as Transporta
tion Director, will be al
lowed to work for two or
three months full-time.
• DeAna Soriano, Brit
tany Ford, and Yvonne Riv
ers were approved as para-
professionals;
• Brandi Walker and
Jacqueline Gooch were
hired as substitute class
room instructors.
• Keyboard instruc
tor Drucilla Dallis was ap
proved for a supplement of
$2,500.
Sheriff's Office has excep
tionally trained officers and
employees who are ready to
take the Office through the
21st century. My prayer for
the future Sheriff is that he
be an ethical individual who
will be adaptable to change,
proactive, and stand by par
ents in the challenges of rais
ing our kids- a Sheriff for all
people.
In closing, I love Toombs
County, but more specifically,
I love the people of Toombs
County. Thank you for en
trusting me to serve as your
Sheriff for the past 25 years.
Not goodbye, butseeyou
around,
Sheriff Alvie Junior Kight
with intent to distribute, 2
counts of battery (family
violence)
• Sherrilyn Marie Tay
lor - possession of meth-
amphetamine with Iintent
to distribute, and posses
sion of cocaine with intent
to distribute
All those indicted will
now begin the process of
entering pleas so that the
Montgomery County Su
perior Court can schedule
further hearings.
In addition to these in
dictments, the Montgom
ery County Grand Jury
appointed Penny Ennis as
a primary member of the
County’s Board of Equal
ization, and Stacie Ran
dolph was appointed as the
Board’s alternate member.