FLAG
DAY
JUNE
14th
Lights to shine bright
at Historic Pal Theater
once again
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
It’s been a long time since lights shone bright at the
historic Pal Theater on a regular basis but thanks to the
newly formed group, The Jenkins County Players, those
lights will shine once again for a new generation. “We
have a gem right here on Front Street,” declares Mandy
Underwood, director of the Jenkins County Chamber of
Commerce, “for too long, the theater has been dark. I’m
really excited about this new move to revitalize the arts
in Jenkins County.”
Sam Eades, owner of Spring Creek Auction and publisher of Jenkins County Times and the Sylvania Times,
has been named the director of productions at the venue. “I have always been a big supporter of the arts
and when Mandy and I began discussing possible plans for the Pal, I was interested. I have seen firsthand
how the arts can revitalize a town. We currently have new businesses opening downtown, this venue can
be a catalyst to breathe new life into our community.” Eades cites historic Newberry, SC as an example.
All productions will be held at the historic Pal Theater and profits will be utilized in the preservation
of the theater such as new seating which according to Underwood is “the first priority.” Eades and Un
derwood encourage individuals and businesses to become supporters of the Jenkins County Players. “If
you are interested in becoming a friend of the Jenkins County Players, call us
at the chamber office at 478-982-5595 or by emailing icda@bellsouth.net § ee THEATER page 6
The Jenkins County Players have wasted no time in throwing their hats in
Summer Reading kicks off with
a magical start
By Sarah Saxon, Reporter
for
The Times
Magician Brian Robert entertains the crowd
with his various tricks. Photo by D. Hearn
On Tuesday, June 6, the Scre
ven Jenkins Regional Library
kicked off their 2023 “All To
gether Now” summer reading
program.
Anyone interested in reading,
from Pre-K to adults is asked to
join the program and every five
hours a child or teen reads, and
every book an adult reads that
is recorded in Beanstack (sjrls.
beanstack.com) earns a chance to
enter the weekly drawing.
Beanstack is an online program
that helps you to have a blast
tracking your reading hours. It
also offers special Summer Read
ing virtual prizes, challenges,
reading recommendations, and
fun projects.
Sharon Blank, the assistant
director of the Screven Jenkins
Regional Library, stated that “55
individuals including children,
teens and parents were in atten
dance for the show.”
Magician Brian Robert from
Senoria, Ga. got into magic when
his dad bought him his first mag
ic book. Originally from Toronto,
Canada, he knew at the age 10 he
wanted to become a magician, so
his mother introduced him to his
mentor Alister who taught him all
the tricks of the trade.
The crowd was in awe as he
wowed everyone in attendance
with his various illusions of El
vis the Handkerchief Mouse and
even included various children
who became his assistants in
multiplying red balls, mysterious
card games and magical rings that
somehow interconnected with
each other. He ended his program
by levitating a table to the amaze
ment of everyone!
If you have any questions about
the Summer Reading Program at
the library, call 478-982-4244
and they can assist you.
Next week, on June 13, at 2
p.m. Oatland Island Wildlife
Center will bring some of their
animals for everyone to see.
Removal
of broken
utility poles
slow process
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
It seems like broken power poles
have been a fixture of Winthrope Av
enue since most of us were in diapers.
But the end of this eyesore is in sight.
GA Power has rerouted the electric lines
to new poles to replace those that have
seen the end of their life span. “We are
waiting on the other utility companies
to reroute their lines before the final
step can be done and finally remove the
broken poles,” explains city manager,
Jeff Brantley. The work will hopefully
be completed by this fall.
The new poles, installed by Georgia Power months ago, wait patiently to
carry their weight. Photo by D. Hearn.
Cooper leaves
big shoes to fill
By JP Hearn,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
On July 1, 2023, the
Jenkins County School
system will have a new
superintendent for the first
time in 12 years. Tara Cooper
became superintendent of
JCSS in July of 2011. When
Cooper officially retires on
June 30, 2023, her tenure
will be longer than the three
previous superintendents
combined. She leaves
behind a legacy that will
outlive her and some huge
shoes to fill.
When Mrs. Cooper assumed
her role as the superintendent the
state of Georgia and the US A were
in a terrible recession. Because
of the recession, the JCSS had
already furloughed teachers to
meet the budget. Furlough days
started at 3 but went up to 10.
This means our students were
losing 10 days of instruction each
year. Also, between 2009-2014
the JCSS workforce was reduced
by 43 employees. This continued
for a couple of years. One of her
first priorities was to work to end
the furlough days.
There are two pieces of advice
that Mrs. Cooper has given me
over the last several years. The
first is that it is lonely at the top.
She doesn’t mean that you will
not have any friends or that you
are superior to others. Rather that
you will have to make decisions
that are the best decision, but it
will not be popular.
The second piece of advice
is that if you always base your
decision on what is best for
students, it will be right and
easy to explain. Mrs. Cooper’s
solution to end furlough days was
very unpopular. However, she
made the decision to raise the
millage rate anyway. As I said, it
was very unpopular, but it was
what was best for our students in
Jenkins County, and it is the only
time taxes have been raised under
her tenure.
She took the heat and continued
to lead. Because of that decision
and the other fiscally responsible
decisions she has made over the
last 12 years, we are in better
financial shape than we have
ever been. Since then, the BOE
has rolled back the millage rate
each time it has been suggested.
The JCSS has a reserve fund
that would allow us to continue
operation of our system for over
half of a school year without
receiving funds from the county
or the state. This means that
See COOPER page 8
New member Vicki Adams is pictured with Jimmie Edenfield, sponsor, and club
president Robert Boatright. Photo by D. Hearn
Local Lions club
welcomes first lady
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
Women were invited in 1987 to
join the Lions Club family. Today,
women are the fastest growing
segment of the group, with more
than 425k women serving around
the world.
Last Thursday evening at the
monthly Millen Lions Club
meeting, members accepted their
first female, Mrs. Vicki Adams.
Vicki might as well be a native of
the county. She and her husband,
Christopher Adams, have been
married 28 years and have two
children. Vicki has worked for
Queensborough Bank and Trust
for 29 years, having worked for
Mr. Jimmie Edenfield during the
early days of her career. Vicki has
also been the chairperson for the
Jenkins County Relay for Life and
“enjoys helping her community.”
Lions Club International Vice
President Brian Sheehan said,
“our clubs and organization have
been strengthened since women
have joined. They have brought
new and vibrant ideas to our clubs
about what we should accomplish
for our communities and how
we can contribute outside of our
community.
It has made us an extremely
strong and diverse club, with a
great mix of seasoned and new,
young Lions members.”
Vicki understands the pressure
of being the “first” female
member, “it’s an absolute honor
and I have the support of my
family. Helping my community
and the Lions Club is what is
important to me. To be amember
of a civic organization like the
Lions Club requires a giving
demeanor. I admire what the
group does for the children of our
community.”
Service is at the heart of Lions
Clubs around the world. Giving
of your time and energy to help
others is a way to help the local
community. It also “provides a
See LIONS page 8
Local Living ..2
Faith & Family ..3
Perspectives ..4
Obits ..5..
Crossword/Comics ...7 & 8
Sports ..9 & 10
Farming & Fishing ..11
