Page 4 - Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
j enkinsc ountytimes .com
Across the Pond with Tyler
Studying abroad in England
time I got to the auction it
was almost 5 o’clock! By
then I was hot, tired, and
getting irritable. Sweat had
run down my back for over
an hour. It’s amazing how
the dip in your back where
your spine is can act like
the Nile River when sweat
starts running!
I ain’t seen so many
dad-blamed gnats in all my
days. Y’all, I swear I got
sore eyes out there, fanning
them blasted things. Ain’t
nothing can get me in a foul
mood quicker than gnats!
You know, when you stay
inside most of the time,
you forget about gnats! Oh
my God, how they make
you want to cuss!
But, the things I do for
the sake of my neighbors
and bringing them the
news! At least that’s what
I want each and every one
of you to remember as
you watch the video from
the comforts of your air
conditioned houses. I did
tell our tour guide, they
should be more mindful
of fat people and slick
Letters to the editor of The
Jenkins County Tunes are wel
comed and encouraged. These
are pages of opinion, yours and
ours. Letters to the editor voice
the opinions of the newspaper’s
readers. The Jenkins County Times reserves the right to edit any
and all portions of a letter. Unsigned letters will not be published.
Letters must include the signature, address and phone number
of the writer to allow our staff to authenticate its origin. Letters
should be limited to 400 words and should be typewritten and
double-spaced or neatly printed by hand. Deadline for letters to
the editor is noon on Wednesday. Email Letters to the Editor to:
thejenkinscountytimes@gmail.com
bottom shoes, how many
times did I almost bust my
overly large behind trying
to step out of the van when
what I really wanted to do
so was crawl out on all
fours. But one must show
decorum. Granny would
have advised.
And while I’m
complaining, I told Debbie
if she ever takes another
video of me in all my
obese glory, I was gonna
get her back. I never knew
how much like my Uncle
Kenneth Mons I looked
until I saw that video. No
wonder Mama always calls
me Kenneth. I’m going
on a starvation diet and
joining the gym!
But all joking aside, if
you can’t make it to the
tour, then at least watch
it on FB and remember
the suffering I did for
journalism! That’s all for
now, take care!
OECK OUT OUR
Daily Specials
ON
Facebook
(478)982-2390
537 East Winthrope Ave.
Millen, Georgia 30442
One thing about this
landfill business, I am
learning more about
them than I ever wanted
to! Friday, Debbie, and
I attended one of the
tours Mr. Wall is giving
of the current landfill
and answering questions
the citizens may have. I
would highly recommend
everyone to attend the next
one on August 5. It was
informative.
The tour started at 2
and y’all I kid you not,
it was after 4 before we
finished, during a torrential
downpour, I might add. In
fact, I even told the panel of
experts, “oh no, don’t stop
talking now, we can’t get
to our cars!” But Debbie,
always my lifesaver,
had previously walked
to her car for some air
conditioning, y’all know
she don’t do sweat well,
pulled up and stuck her
umbrella out the window.
That was sweet and all.
So, for those who don’t
know, Friday afternoons
is auction time and by the
By Tyler Busch,
Podcast Director & Writer
for
The Times
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
John Paul Hearn, Superintendant
Jenkins County School System
Have you ever flown
on an airplane? To me it’s
an exhilarating feeling
when you are zooming
down the runway about to
take off. That second that
you realize you have lost
contact with the earth and
are pointed skyward is a
very freeing feeling. It is
a very peaceful feeling
for me. There is also a lot
of anticipation because
the time in flight you are
thinking about what awaits
you at your intended
destination.
Last week I mentioned
the book Good to Great by
Jim Collins. After reading
that book, I have decided
that is my mantra. After
all, who doesn’t want to be
great. I am going to quote
you the first few sentences
of the book.
“Good is the enemy of
Great. And that is one of
the key reasons we have
so little that becomes
great. We don’t have
great schools, principally
because we have good
schools. We don’t have
great government because
we have good government.
Few people attain great
lives, in large part because
it is just so easy to settle
for a good life.” (Collins,
2001)
Over the next few months,
I am going to discuss
what I think it means to
become great. I am not
taking about becoming
great in a conceited sense.
Rather becoming great is a
personal goal that each of
us should have so that we
can have a positive effect
on the lives of people that
we encounter each day.
While reading Good to
Great, I came up with some
words that are character
traits when seeking to
become great.
G is for Grit. Now I
do love some good grits
cooked in chicken broth
with cream cheese but
that’s not what I am talking
about. Grit is that part
of one’s character that
doesn’t allow them to give
up. R is for Relentless.
Relentless means that
you are determined to
do something, and you
refuse to give up. When I
think of that word, I think
of someone like Michael
Jordan. E squared is
Expect Excellence. When
you are seeking to reach
new heights and go places
you’ve never been, you
must expect excellence of
yourself first. You must be
at peak performance every
day. You also must expect
excellence from everyone
in your organization. Every
person in an organization
is vital to the health and
success of the organization.
A is for Accountability.
This is a tough one. No one
that I know enjoys looking
in the mirror and pointing
out their own shortcomings.
But that is part of what it
takes to become great. I
don’t know anyone who
likes others to point out
their shortcomings either.
But that is what it takes to
become great. We all must
improve and accountability
to ourselves and others help
us do that. Finally, T is for
Trust. In an organization,
you must trust those you
are working with. You
should trust each other to
do their specific job. You
ought to trust each other
to make the best decisions
for the organization and all
those that the organization
effects.
I shared with our staff
this week that I feel like
the Jenkins County School
System is sitting at the end
of a runway. Our engines
are fired up and we are
ready for takeoff. We as
a system are poised to go
places, we have never been.
But just like in flight, you
may feel a bump here or
there and it may cause
that little uneasy feeling.
We may even encounter
a storm. However, at the
end of the day, our students
deserve us to be GREAT
every single day. That is a
choice we each must make.
Jim Collins says great
doesn’t happen by chance.
It is a conscious choice that
each one of us must make.
I encourage you to choose
GREAT every day.
It comes as a surprise to me that, already, a month has passed since I left
Atlanta embarking on a journey of a lifetime. What I have accomplished
and seen in that span of time, has surprised me but also has led to many
great memories and new friends made. I have greatly enjoyed my first study
abroad trip and would do it again in a heartbeat. I came in with fairly high
expectations and I would say it did meet them! I passed my two classes with
flying colors and am thankful it is over with. The two classes I took were
interesting, definitely more entertaining than I thought it would be, and it
didn’t hurt that I had a great professor!
The study abroad portion of my UK trip ended early Thursday morning,
with all of us maybe half-awake. The last few days were spent souvenir
shopping, getting those last drinks in at whatever pub came to mind, eating
at Hard Rock Cafe, and more. Having to not worry about school for the last
couple days of the trip was tmly a gift from above. The time was also spent
making sure to spend as much time as I could with the friends I made that
won’t see for awhile. Thankfully some of the friends I made do go to Georgia
Southern and I know I am looking forward to making new memories with
them very soon.
This past Sunday, I along with my professor and a couple friends went to
Sunday service at the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral. The inside of the cathedral was absolutely stunning! The amount of detail
everywhere was jaw dropping. Where we sat for service was directly under the dome. This so far is the prettiest and oldest
church I have been to. The choir that was singing was from an Episcopal church in San Antonio, Texas. Hearing them sing,
the organ play, and then hearing the echoes from them both gave me chills. Hearing it all was very soothing and touching.
It was also funny seeing the surprise on my friends’ faces when they drank communion wine for the first time. Welcome to
the worldwide Anglican Communion y’all.
Part Two of my UK trip began a couple days ago when I met my parents at London-Heathrow and so far so good. My
parents, like I was a few weeks earlier, were exhausted from their plane ride from Atlanta (getting no sleep) but happy they
made it to London safe and on time. We rented a car and drove north of London to the area my dad spent several years
growing up. It was interesting to see in person the places that I have heard mentioned throughout my life. It is different
seeing these places (and any place) in person and not on a computer screen via Google street view. We drove past the Air
Force base my late grandfather was stationed at and walked through the nearby village of Huntington. For lunch, it was
Fish and chips and they did not disappoint. In my opinion the
more salt and malt vinegar you put on your fish & chips, the
better it is (just don’t confess this to your doctor).
We then drove later in the day to Cambridge and ended the
night with dessert at the hotel. Earlier today, my parents and
I drove to William Shakepeare’s hometown, Stratford Upon
Avon. It is a tourist trap but glad we went. The Avon River
that flows right through the heart of town gives the town so
much character and so do the many swans swimming in its
water. With the weeping willows, river, and sunshine, I was
definitely feeling romance all over. I did see the birthplace
of Shakespeare and walked the streets he did hundreds of
years ago. His legacy still endures on and for good reason.
Tomorrow my folks and I leave England to head to Glasgow,
Scotland to meet up with our tour group whom we will be
seeing much of Scotland with. It has been a busy but amazing
ride this last month and glad I am not going up quite yet, but
am looking forward to the day I can have some sweet-iced
tea.
Safe travels everyone and a happy new school year for
those who go back soon.
FOR SALE IN MILLEN
4 BED 3 BATH 2200 SOFT
REALTOR
JESSICA HERRMANN
C: 912-536-6149
O: 912-489-0067
jessica@greatgare alty.com
3028 JAXON MASON LANE, MILLEN, GA
.Jenkins County Times
Proudly covering Jenkins County’s news, sports, and community events
Sam Eades Publisher
Joe Brady Editor
Sam Eades Advertising Sales
Debbie Heam Admin/Layout and Design Executive
Sarah Saxon Admin/Legals/Reporter/AP Correspondent
Brad Asbury Sports Editor
Jake Gay Reporter
Tyler Busch Podcast Director/Reporter
THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES
issue 22 August 2023 is published weekly by on Wednesday
for $35 per year by THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES,
425 Hwy 25 S • Millen, Ga. 30442. Periodical
postage pending at Millen, GA and additional mailing
offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES, Millen GA 30442
Phone: (478) 401-5007
Subscription Rates (Includes tax):
1 Year in Jenkins County $19.95
1 Year Online Only $18.00
2 Years In Jenkins County $49.95
1 Year Outside of County $19.95
1 Year Outside of Georgia $42.00
1 day online pass $1.99
