About The Forest-blade. (Swainsboro, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2021)
“Custom” Made Blinds You Can Trust 'Em At... 104 West Pine St., Swainsboro GA * 237-6483 CHEVY OPEN ROAD FOR VERY WELL-QUALIFIED BUYERS NO MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THE REST OF SUMMER. PLUS W /O FOR f b MONTHS ON SELECT POPULAR 2021 SUV MODELS WHEN YOU FINANCE WITHGM FINANCIAL' CHEVROLET ■ BUICK • CMC TRUCKS Tdanie sehev/com STGA U.S. Hwy. 80 East at SR #56, Swainsboro, GA 478.237.4111 • 1.800.424.8721 The Forest-Blade Proudly serving the community for 160 years | EMANUELCOUNTY hyt/.COM ©2021 Emanuel County Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved. VOLUME 162, NO. 28 Swainsboro, Georgia • July 14, 2021 ONE DOLLAR New school year welcomes new administration Meet Emanuel County Schools' newly appointed seven CHIEF ELLISON ADDRESSING COUNCIL Swainsboro City Council meets for month of July by WHITLEY CLIF TON Monday, August 2, will mark the first day of the 2021-2022 school year for students in the Emanuel County School System. With less than three weeks remaining of summer break, the school district anticipates a more-normal school year on the horizon with some minor, yet major, changes to be expected. Emanuel County Board of Educa tion announced its ap pointment of Scotty Hatt- away as Emanuel County Schools superintendent in the recent months and has since made addition al changes within the dis trict's administration. WARNOCK Central Office Dr. Warnock takes dis trict Dr. Denise Bryant War nock, Ed.D., is Emanuel County Schools' new as sistant superintendent. She was appointed to her new position by board members following the retirement of her prede cessor, Toni Terwilliger, effective last month. The City of Adrian and the Adrian Police Department is pleased to announce it has re ceived a $6,000 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safe ty (GOHSj. The grant, which will continue through September 2021, will help finance all new computers, printers and all associ- Although Dr. War- nock's first career was in banking and finance, she has been an educator since 1994 and has served the local school district for quite some time. During the beginning of her career with Emanu el County Schools, she dedicated 13 rewarding years as classroom teach er before moving into administrative support roles at Swainsboro Mid dle and Swainsboro High Schools. Dr. Warnock be came assistant principal at Swainsboro Middle School in 2010, and later, in 2012, became Swains boro High School's prin cipal where she served until her recent appoint ment as assistant super intendent. Dr. Warnock holds an extensive education background and has earned bachelor, master, and specialist degrees. Her most recent degree, a doctorate degree in ed ucation administration, was achieved in 2015 from Georgia Southern University, where she ob tained her other degrees as well. A native of South Geor gia, Dr. Warnock has proudly called Swains- boro-Emanuel County home for most of her adult life. She and her husband, Ken Warnock, have been married for more than 24 years and have one son, Cameron, who is currently engaged and completing an elec- ated hardware for patrol vehicles. "The loss of one life on our roads is one too many, and the fact al most all fatal traffic crashes can be prevent ed is one reason why we are awarding this grant," Allen Poole, di rector of the Governor's Office of Highway Safe ty said. "The target of trical engineering degree this fall. "I am humbled, hon ored, and excited to serve as the new Assistant Superintendent for Emanuel County Schools. Experience has taught me every student can experi ence growth through per sonalized learning under the guidance of a teach er who has faith in that student's success. As an educational leader, it has always been my duty to serve our students by providing support to our teachers. In my new role, I look forward to work ing with Superintendent Hattaway and the cen tral office staff to provide support to our district's school leaders and teach ers so that together we grow our student and help them be successful in school and life." ANDREWS Swainsboro High School Andrews levels up Assuming the roles of Swainsboro High School principal for the upcom ing school year will be (Continued on page 5B) zero traffic deaths in our nation is achievable, and we will continue to help develop and implement educational messages, enforcement campaigns, and other safety initia tives aimed at bringing us one step closer to our goal." "We will continue to work every day to (Continued on page 5A) by WHITLEY CLIFTON Swainsboro Mayor Charles Schwabe and members of city council held their regular month ly meeting Monday, July 12, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Reverend Andrew Flowers of Eastwood Church of God gave the night's invo cation and the pledge of allegiance was recited by all. Council approved to In light of recent con cerns voiced by residents of Emanuel County regarding an increase in property taxes, the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners announce the follozving: The Emanuel County Tax Assessor Board is wrapping up a three-year project that includes the reassessment of all prop erties within Emanuel County due to many val ues not being adjusted in years. The end goal of this re-evaluation is to create uniformity, which means similar properties within Emanuel County will have similar values. The State of Georgia requires that the tax assessor board perform this process and signifi cantly penalizes counties that do not comply. The evaluation of prop erty in Emanuel County is the sole responsibility of the Emanuel County Tax Assessor Board and, legal ly, cannot be influenced and/or controlled by the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners. If you are not satisfied with the evaluation received, the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners strong ly recommends that you file an appeal with the Tax Assessors Office. Emanuel County Board amend the night's agen da, allowing a seventh item of discussion to be included under new busi ness. Minutes from the regular June meeting were then reviewed and unanimously approved by council members. New Business License application and Public Comments License applications of Commissioners have announced that the coun ty mileage rate, which is controlled by the commis sion, will be rolled back so that no new revenues (as a whole) will be col lected as a result of the reassessment of existing property. This means that if existing property val ues, as a whole, increase 15 percent, then the com missioners will roll back the millage rate 15 percent. Some taxpayers may pay more, while some will pay less - this depends on your value; but, the net effect on the county's budget will be neutral. County Administrator L. Guy Singletary empha sizes that the commission er's office has played no part in the reassessment process and advises the local public to direct all Council heard three license application requests - one business, one alcohol-con- sumption on premises and one alcohol-retail. • Michelle Standford submitted a business license request for Lucy's Quick Stop, a conve nience store, located at 210 Williams Street. The request was unanimous- continued on page 5A) concerns and / or questions pertaining to property tax increases to the Emanuel County Tax Assessors Office. "In regard to the re-assessment process, we have no skin in on that game. The process is not something we have dictated. Although property values have increased, our goal, as County Commissioners, is to remain neutral. Any disputes pertaining to the reassessment are highly encouraged to be appealed so that values are established as they should be," Singletary commented. "The county is financially sound, and, as a result, we are able to roll back the millage rate to counteract tax increas es," Singletary concluded. What's Inside, Mostly Sunny Obituaries 4A Church Page 4B Sports News....C Section Editorial Columns 3C Crime Blotter 4C Classified Listings 2D Legal Notices 3D 7 "18122 05230 ll Today's Forecast Governor's Office of Highway Safety Awards Technology Grant to Adrian Police Department "The county is financially sound..." Commission office addresses recent property assessment concerns with mileage rate proposal CYAN-AOOO MAGENTA-OAOO BLACK 012908
