About The Forest-blade. (Swainsboro, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2021)
‘Custom” Outdoor Furniture You Can Trust 'Em At... : URNITURE • FLOOR COVERING CO. 104 West Pine St., Swainsboro GA * 237-6483 Facebool miMI 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 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 News-payers Inc. All rights reserved. VOLUME 162, NO. 29 Swainsboro, Georgia • July 21, 2021 ONE DOLLAR Search continues for suspect involved in Thursday shooting Swainsboro Police De partment responded to yet another shooting incident. At approximately 4 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, officers received information from 911 dispatch of shots fired at 218 Williams Street. Officers were on the scene within minutes and located a black male identified as Kentrel Wadley, age 35, on the porch of the residence. Wadley had been shot multiple times but was alert and provided in formation to officers as to what had occurred. Wadley TILLMAN was removed by EMS and was transported to Augusta due to the severity of his in juries. The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Jonathan Clarence Til- liman of a Braswell Blvd. Swainsboro address had fled the scene and as of the time of this release has not been located. This is an ongoing inves tigation. If anyone has an information about this case, please contact Swainsboro Police Department at 478- 237-8967. Statement From The Mayor This community has seen two shootings caused by totally senseless vio lence in less than two weeks. In light of that, I have asked Chief Ellison and his Department to increase the level of patrolling, police presence and investigation in the areas where these crimes were committed. We will not allow this disrespect for human life to be representative of our City. All necessary resources of city government will be used to provide for the safety of all out citizens and the rigid guarantee of law and order in Swainsboro, Georgia. Charles Schwabe Mayor, City of Swainsboro GRAY ADDRESSES RECENT APPRAISAL CONCERNS AT COUNTY MEETING Commissioners hear presentation from Tax Assessor Gray by WHITLEY CLIFTON Emanuel County Board of Commissioners held their regularly monthly meeting Monday, July 19, at 6 p.m. at the John C. Coleman Ho tel in Swainsboro. Chair man Jim Sherrod called the meeting to order and wel comed all. Commissioner Desse Davis then gave the night’s invocation and Com missioner Hugh Foskey led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners were then introduced to four county employees and briefed on their new job positions. In cluded in the introduction were Public Works Direc tor Justin Morris, Building and Facility Superintendent Mike Head, Transfer Sta tion Superintendent Travis Beach and Building and Code Enforcement Director Stephen Graham. It was also announced that Brandon Frix has been hired as the county’s new code enforce ment officer. The introduction was fol lowed with a presentation made by Darryl Gray with the Emanuel County Tax Assessors Office. He ad dressed concerns pertain ing to recent appraisals and (Continued on page 6C) Emanuel County woman sentenced after admitting to defrauding program for COVID-19 small business relief Federal sentence includes repayment of $66,400 -66 FITZNER, WEATHERS AND ALTMAN Chief Assistant District Attorney Weathers named Division 1 c Assistant District Attorney of The Year An Emanuel County woman who admitted to creating a fake business and using it to receive funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief pro gram has been sentenced in federal court. Tracy Kirkland, 41, of Swainsboro, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to an Infor mation charging her with Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hal A press release made by The United States Depart ment of Justice Southern District of Georgia on Fri day announced that Wanda Phillips, age 40, of Adrian was 1 of 30 to face indict ment charges for trafficking methamphetamine. The 30 defendants are charged in a Laurens County meth amphetamine-trafficking indictment unsealed in the KIRKLAND also ordered Kirkland to pay restitution of $66,400, forfeit a 2019 Dodge Char ger and $16,250, and serve Southern District of Geor gia that includes the seizure of nearly 80 firearms. The indictment in USA v. Monroe et. al charges 30 defendants with 56 felony counts, and includes forfeiture allegations listing 77 firearms, including a machine gun, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. All 30 defendants three years of supervised re lease after completion of her prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. “Tracy Kirkland has a disturbing history of two decades as a petty thief, and was on state probation when she stepped her crimes up another notch by defraud ing the COVID-19 relief program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “She is once again being held account able for her criminal activ- ity As described in court (Continued on page 6C) are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and if convicted face a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life. There is no parole in the federal system. “The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and other (Continued on page 6C) Chief Assistant District Attorney Kelly Weathers of the Middle Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Georgia recently received special recognition at the 2021 Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Summer Conference, an annual event attended by prosecuting attorneys continuing their education. The summer conference, held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, began Sunday, July 18, and con tinued through today, Wednesday, July 21. During this year’s annual awards ceremony held July 18, Weathers received the pres tigious title of Division 1 Assistant District Attorney of The Year. The coveted award was presented to Weathers by Middle Judicial District Attorney Tripp Fitzner, who, accompanied his predecessor, Hayward Altman, in nominating Weathers for this year’s Division 1 award. “I am incredibly blessed to have worked alongside Tripp and, now, for Tripp; and having worked for Mr. Hayward. They have both, in their own way, (Continued on page 6C) What’s Inside... Obituaries 4A Church Page 5A Sports News....C Section Editorial Columns 4B Crime Blotter. 2C Classified Listings 2D Legal Notices 3D [ Mostly Sunny 7 8122 05230 1 1 Today's Forecast Adrian woman included in 30 charged in Middle Georgia methamphetamine traf ficking conspiracy emergency broadband benefit i n r y= are yo n eligibl phone + internet + technology + security Visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org to learn if you are eligible for up to a $50/month discount for your broadband services. ^smarA GIG-CERTIFIED «/ PROVIDER www.pineland.net | 800.247.1266 CYAN-AOOO MAGENTA-OAOO BLACK 012908
