The Forest-Blade • ummiEmamielCoimtyLive.com • Swainsboro, Georgia • February 17, 2021 5A
Otis Lee Williams, 82
Mr. Otis Lee Williams, Jr.,
82, of Swainsboro, passed
away Saturday, February
6, 2021, at Emanuel Med
ical Center following an
extended illness. Funer
al services were Sunday,
February 14, at 2 p.m.
at the Swainsboro City
Auditorium with Rever
ends Jerry Armstrong and
Melvin Adams, Jr. offici
ating. Interment followed
in the Mt. Gilead Mission
ary Baptist Church Cem
etery. The family received
friends from 4 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 13, at
Chapman Funeral Home.
In compliance with the
guidelines set by the CDC,
6-feet rule was enforced
during visitation and ser
vice.
Mr. Williams was born
April 1, 1938, in Canoo-
chee, to the late Otis L.
Williams, Sr. and Twillie
Walker Pierce. He was a
truck driver for Twin City
Concrete, and a member
at Mt. Gilead Missionary
Baptist Church. Mr. Wil
liams is preceded in death
by his parents; daughter,
Telda Tina Corley, and
sons, Henry Chance and
Jimmy Fann.
WILLIAMS
Survivors include his
sons, Deacon John E. Park
er, Charlie Clark, and Her
bert Artis, all of Swains
boro, Jermaine Jackson
and Andre' Jackson, both
of Canoochee, Charles
Riddles of Florida, Her
man (Martha) Murphy of
Maryland, and Michael E.
Parker of Fairburn; daugh
ter, Cherry Ann Sweet of
Augusta; devoted cousin/
surrogate sister, Mamie
W. Pierce of Swainsboro;
uncle, Fletcher (Sadie)
Nobles of Swainsboro;
a host of grandchildren,
cousins, and friends.
Chapman Funeral
Home of Swainsboro was
in charge of arrangements.
Addressing your worst
enemy
by PASTOR NICK ROB
ERTSON, CONSUMING
FIRE MINISTRIES
We all know this horrible
enemy called the devil, who
wants to take everything
you have and cast you into
a place of entire loneliness.
The devil has put on many
disguises to accomplish his
mission over the years in
each of our lives. He has
tempted people to do hor
rific things, but he is not
our worst enemy. Guess
ing time... Who is closest to
you than anyone else and
is around you all the time?
This person has done the
most damage in your life.
I am sure some of you are
seeing your spouse in your
mind right now, but it's not
them, it's YOU. Yes, you.
Let me explain the reason
I say we are our own worst
enemy and not the devil or
demons. Let's start by eval
uating a portion of the sto
ry of Job in the bible. Satan
wanted to totally destroy
Job but God said this in Job
1:12 KJV, "...., only upon
his soul do not touch." This
next statement is very im
portant to understanding
as we progress. Our soul is
the place where our will, in
tellect, and emotions dwell.
The soul is where we re
member and feel things in
life, the bible references it
as our heart in some con
text. If the will of a person
has been broken, it was be
cause the soul was affected
by an outside influence. If
our intellect is not full, it
is because of an outside in
fluence that caused a false
perception to be a person
al reality to an individual.
If a person's emotions are
damaged, it is because of
a wound that happened to
that person's soul. The soul
is what brings life to a per
son. It was created whole by
God but outside influences
may darken it.
The point that we get
from the scripture men
tioned above is, though the
enemy may attack our body
and possessions, he cannot
touch our soul physically.
So, his master plan is to in
fluence us by the things that
happen to us or that is said
about us, to get us to accept
a negative view. Once we
accept the negative into our
hearts, it takes root into the
soul. I could name many
scriptures to help bring this
into perspective, but I end
with these: Luke 6:45 and
Ephesians 6:12. The scrip
ture in Ephesians explains
that we are not in a battle
with other people but with
the evil one. The scripture
in Luke explains that what
a person speaks will display
what is in their soul (heart).
Therefore, I believe that the
worst enemy we have to
face is ourselves. We are in
control of what we let into
our hearts (souls).
When another person
says cruel and evil things
about you and to you, we
should realize that the en
emy is using this person's
mouth to make us believe
negativity. I give an exam
ple, if you are in a relation
ship and your partner tells
you that no one loves you
but them, DON'T believe
this. If you believe this, you
damage your own soul. If
you let this into your heart,
it will make it hard for you to
believe that God loves you.
I have met and counseled
people who do not believe
that God loves them. Sadly
this comes from negative
words from co-workers,
family members, friends
(boyfriend/girlfriend),
and/or spouses. This we all
know, that God paid a great
price that shows how much
He does love you. The price
was His Son. God has giv
en you a special gift that He
wrapped your individuali
ty in, your soul. Your indi
viduality is loved by God
and He wants you to keep
it pure before Him. Don't
let the enemy influence
you to be an enemy against
yourself. We can't stop the
words from being spoken
or the trauma that may hap
pen, but we can stop our
selves from believing the
enemy. Let us believe what
God has said and not the
enemy. It's not the posses
sion you have, your appear
ance, or your health status.
It is about your soul that
will be judged in the day
of judgement. Will God be
pleased at what you believe
about yourself and others?
If not, reject the poison of
lies from the enemy and
dive into Gods perfect and
loving word to see what He
says about you. I promise,
it will have a positive ef
fect on your will, intellect,
and emotions or just simply
put... your soul.
Do your part!
In light of recent concerns received regarding
citations issued to individuals using local coun
ty dumpsites, Magistrate Judge Dawn Braddy,
County Administrator Guy Singletary, and
Emanuel County Code Officers Justin Morris and
Stephen Graham sat down in a meeting with The
Blade to discuss and address concerns.
According to Singletary, the county, on average,
spends approximately $150,000 per year picking
up trash off the grounds of dumpsites and road
sides throughout the county, which includes an
approximate 300 miles of paved roads and an
additional 600 miles of dirt roads. In addition to
the $150k spent on trash pickup, an additional
$1,000,000 is dedicated to the disposal of trash in
trash containers. If everyone did their part to help
with litter control, this number could be reduced.
"Emanuel County code enforcement officers are
asked by the Board of Commissioners to help clean
up the community. Our biggest concerns received
from the community is the dumpsites and trash
on the side of the roadways. We have a significant
amount of trash to deal with, above and beyond
what we've ever handled, and for the most part,
we do a pretty good job at handling it. However, it
could be handled much better if we received more
compliance from residents. Just think of where
county funds could be allocated if we didn't have
to spend $150,000 each year picking up trash off
the ground," Singletary commented. "
The county's base fine per charge is approxi
mately $200, plus state add-ons of $90. The county
can charge up to $500 per charge, which would
end up totaling to $725 with the add-ons of $225.
One or two citations with two charges on each
could be no less than $580. Judge Braddy, based
on the violation, has decreased the fine in half at
times to try to help the citizens.
"I try to treat people with respect and equality,
just as I like to be treated and is what I promised in
my 2020 election campaign," Judge Braddy stated.
In addition to trash accumulating on the ground,
issues with items being left at dumpsites for others
to pick up was another topic addressed during the
Wednesday meeting session.
"The county dumpsites are not 'swap shops'.
When large items are left on the grounds at trash
sites, it prevents dump trucks from emptying trash
cans and others from being able to park in close
range to the trash cans to dispose of their trash.
Large items or commercial building's garbage
should be taken to the transfer station, not county
dumpsites." Singletary added.
For those who do not know: Emanuel County's
transfer station has changed its hours of operation
to be more suitable for citizens to use. The new
hours of Emanuel County's transfer station are 8
a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday, and from 8 a.m. until 12
p.m. on Wednesdays. The transfer station is closed
Sundays. Loads taken to the transfer station that
weigh in less than one ton are free. Individuals
hauling loads to the transfer station that exceed
one ton will have to pay approximately $40 per
ton. Also to be noted, credit cards are now being
accepted as forms of payment.
"If you have items that are in good condition
and think someone can use them, please do not
put them on the ground at dump sites, because
this will cause a citation to be issued. Contact
area churches that accept gently used items to
assist those in need or the Hinton House located
in Adrian. We all have to work together to keep
Emanuel County clean," Judge Braddy stated.
"For the past couple of years, our code enforce
ment officers have been issuing a ton of citations.
We are fortunate to have a judge who will hold
people accountable for their actions but, at the
same time, uses discretion and judgement to
determine if that person has made a mistake and
needs to be forgiven or warned. The commission
ers and I support Judge Braddy and her decisions
to the fullest," Singletary commented.
"The citizens of the county are fortunate that we
have a code. And the reason I say that is - there
is nothing within this county code that isn't in
the state code. We're talking misdemeanors here.
Throwing trash on the ground is a state misde
meanor. Do you want that to go on your record?
I think it's great that we have a code that informs
the citizens when they are wrong and let it be
adjudicated without hitting individual's records,"
Code Enforcement Officer Graham stated.
"What we do, most of the time, is try to make
contact with the individual involved so that the
issue can be resolved instead of a citation or
warning being issued," Code Enforcement Officer
Morris stated.
Singletary went on to commend the code
enforcement officers for their superb job perfor
mance with not only handling trash-related issues,
but also for other jobs performed with building
NO DIGGING IN DUMPSTERS
HOUSEHOLD GARBAGEONLY
APPLIANCES, DEAD ANIMALS,
SCRAP LUMBER, TREE LIMBS,
LAWN TRIMMINGS AND ALL OTHER I™ 4
MUST BE TAKEN TO COUNTY LANDFILL
8799 HWY. 297, SWAINSBORO, GA 30491
PHOTOS OF FAIRGROUND ROAD
CONTAINERS TAKEN BY BILL CAHILL
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2021
inspections and permits, trash violations on both
public and private properties, assisting with the
county's timber ordinance, as well as responding
to calls regarding nuisance animals and noise vio
lations.
"Our wheels for trash are always spinning and
it's a huge collaboration that has to be handled
case by case, which is what Judge Braddy does,"
stated Singletary.
Define Codes:
Codes are the parameters a governing body
places on what may be done and how it may
be done within its jurisdiction. Cities and coun
ties derive their authority to write and enforce
code from the state constitution, their subsequent
municipal charger, and statutes established by the
state legislature; the charter outlines the authority
of elected officials to manage affairs within the
community through its code.
Emanuel County Code Enforcement "Mission
Statement"
The mission of the Code Enforcement Department
is to enforce the county codes, to promote, pro
tect, and improve the health, safety and welfare
of the citizens and visitors of Emanuel County.
The Emanuel County Code is listed on the county
website and can be located by visiting https: / /
library.municode.com/ ga/emanuel county /
codes /code of ordinances. To report violations of
Emanuel County's code, contact should be made
with the Code Enforcement Office, Magistrate
Office, or County Commissioners Office.
For His Glory Ministries
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR
TUESDAY NOON DAY BIBLE STUDY
"DISCOVERING PURPOSE"
12 O'CLOCK NOON Eastern Time Zone,
11 O'CLOCK Central Time Zone.
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