About The Forest-blade. (Swainsboro, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2021)
The Forest-Blade • ummiEmamielCoimtyLive.com • Swainsboro, Georgia • February 24, 2021 3A Hometown Public Servant: Twin City Police Chief Hank Whiters This week's Hometown Public Servant is Twin City Police Chief Hank Whiters. Chief Whiters has dedicated approxi mately 34 years to serv ing the public as a law enforcement officer. He first entered the field as a campus officer while attending college at Savannah State. He later transferred over to city police. Apart from serving in the Savannah area, other locations Chief Whiters has served include Emanuel County and Jenkins County. "I've always held an interest in law enforce ment since I was young and still enjoy my pro fession today. I love the City of Twin City and Emanuel County," Chief Whiters stated. Working under the leadership of Twin City Police Chief Johnny Lane, Whiters served the CHIEF WHITERS City of Twin City as assis tant chief prior to tak ing a sergeant position with the Millen Police Department, where he stayed on staff until accepting his current position as Twin City Police Chief in August 2020. Chief Whiters keeps a strong presence within Twin City and can often be seen on a regular basis directing traffic in the early morning and after noon hours for Twin City schools. "Interaction with local youth is important to me. Most children with in the area call me the candy man because I always try to present them with some sort of candy," Chief Whiters commented. Chief Whiters and his wife reside in Millen and share the love for two daughters and three grandsons. He is a native of Perry, Georgia, and was born the ninth of 12 children to his parents. In a 2020 interview conducted with Chief Whiters, one comment remains to be top priori ty to the Twin City Police Chief to this day, and that is to "make every law enforcement agency around the state, coun try, and maybe, even the world, jealous of Twin City." Second arrest made in December shooting On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 16, the U.S. Marshall's Fugitive Task Force, GBI, Eman uel County Sheriff's Office and Swainsboro Police Department ar rested William Jammal Givens for his associa tion with the 2020 mur der of Dajarius Zashawn McGuire. According to Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer, Givens is the second suspect arrested for the death of McGuire and has been charged with three counts of violation of street gang terrorism and prevention, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Givens was transported to the Emanuel County Courthouse for his first appearance hearing last week and is current ly being held without bond. Recap GIVENS On Monday, Dec. 28, between the hours of 6:30 and 7 p.m., two vehicles were travel ing south on US #1 in Emanuel County when the trailing vehicle opened fire on the front vehicle, striking it sev eral times. McGuire, the pas senger in the front ve hicle, was killed in the gunfire. The driver of the vehicle, Daniqua S. Sanders, 21, of Swains boro, was transported by EMS to Emanuel Medical Center, treated and released. On Jan. 2, warrants were issued for Jachon Tydarian Mills, the first suspect arrested for McGuire's death. Mills surrendered himself to the Emanuel County Jail just two days lat er on Jan. 4. Mills was charged with three counts of violation of street gang terrorism and prevention, two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Mills was held without bond until his prelimi nary hearing took place on Jan. 27. Represented by Attorney Kendall Gross in the Emanuel County Court House with the Honorable Judge Tommy Smith presiding, Mills was denied bond based on probable cause. Stay tuned, more in formation will be re leased as received. B©bcat Sp©t iftjk Vs goiAg oA rtf (jour 1\om<l4vi*ia colln^ej Athletics Week in Review Our Bobcats were in action again this week on the court and the diamond, with all four teams either on the road or at home. The week's action began on Tuesday, Feb. 16 when the Men's Basketball team took on Albany Tech at home, falling 77-65. The Women's Basketball game against Albany Tech was postponed, as was their second matchup against the team on Thursday. On Wednesday, the Lady Bobcat Softball team took on USC Salkehatchie on the road and took home a win and a loss, scoring 12-5 in game one and 15-1 in game two. Britney Foster pitched all seven innings, allowing just seven hits and five runs. Sierra Taylor, Allana Hooks, Makenzie Wilkerson and Taylor Morgan led the team from the plate, where the Bobcats pounded out 20 hits in their first game. Game two saw a completely different game as the Lady Bobcats spotted the Indians nine runs in the bottom of the first inning and were unable to make up the difference over the course of the game. The Men's Basketball team faced off against Gordon State on Thursday at home and brought in a win 70-57 for their first conference win for the season, and Coach Travis Garrett's first conference win as tire Bobcats' head coach. Saturday, Feb. 20 saw three of our teams in action, with the Men's Basketball team taking on Gordon State on the road and falling 68-64; the Women's Basketball team keeping their meeting with Albany Tech at home with a win 76-63; and the Lady Bobcats Softball team taking on USC Union in a double-header on the road at Spar tanburg Methodist, winning game one 13-2 and falling in game two 14-9. The Bobcats edged deeper into their season with games on Sunday, Feb. 21, rounding out the week as Bobcat Softball took on USC Union at home in a dou ble-header and earning two wins—5-0 in game one and 4-1 in game two. The Bobcat Baseball team faced USC Lancaster at home in a double header and added to their eight-game winning streak with a win of 13-3 in game one and 9-8 in game two. This leaves our Lady Bobcat Softball team sitting atop the GCAA Conference with eight wins and just four defeats, and Britney Foster set the EGSC record for most strikeouts in one game by an EGSC pitcher when she put down 13 Spartanburg Methodist players in their first game on Saturday. Way to go, Bobcats! PLATER OF THE WEEK GCAA ALLANA HOOKS HOMETOWN: TWIN CITY FIRST BASEMAN H FOR B BATTING AGAINST SPARTANBURG METHDDI5T .BGT% BATTING AVERAGE • 7.761% 5LG 1 SINGLE & 3 DOUBLES • H RUNS Upcoming Events: February 22 - 26 - Add Back for Non-Payment - 12 Week Session Only February 24 - Black History Month Trivia with Student Life - 11 a.m. Baseball Home Game - Double Header - 12 p.m. February 25 - Criminal Justice Club Meeting - 1 p.m. Women’s Home Basketball Game* - 5:30 p.m. Men’s Home Basketball Game* - 7:30 p.m. February 26 - Baseball Home Game - Double Header - 12 p.m. February 27 - Baseball Home Game - Double Header - 12 p.m. Men’s Home Basketball Game* - 3 p.m. March 1-12 Week Session Classes Begin - All Campuses March 2 - BCM Club Meeting - 10:45 a.m. Baseball Home Game - Double Header - 12 p.m. Softball Home Game - Double Header - 1 p.m. Women's Basketball Home Game* - 5:30 p.m. *Due to COVID-19 concerns, no fans or spectators are allowed at home athletic events for basketball. Fans are allowed at home baseball and softball games, but must observe all rules. For more information on EGSC’s schedule and response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, visit www.ega.edu/COVID19 7>iA you aHxsiA cJasszs Af EOSCf JoiA our AIhmAi AssodA-fior\! CsoAfAcAr Kakia -ho A Ay A-b kgnfkriiy@,i^A.^Au WWW. EGA .EDU SWAINSBORO • STATESBORO • AUGUSTA • ONLINE Join us for Late Spring Term beginning March l! Contact the Office of Admissions at 478-289-2017 or admissions@ega.edu
