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The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - Page 7
News you can use, or not
“No Talking” policy enforced
at Cook County middle
schools; parents outraged
By Alicia Lewis,
Special Contributor
for
I iii Times
A new policy at Cook
County Middle School
does not allow students to
talk during lunch hours or
during class transitions.
Parents and students
have raised concerns about
not agreeing with the new
policy, and according to
parents and students, the
students are only allowed
to talk during Friday at
recess. If students talk,
they are sent to in-school
suspension. Parents were
never notified this policy
was being enforced until
students informed them
after the first day of school.
One parent says she was
told by school officials that
this is being enforced as
a proactive tactic to keep
students disciplined.
“I think it’s insane, they
cannot speak in the hallway
they cannot speak in class,”
a parent said. “They have to
walk in the two-tile square
that is closest to the wall to
pass between classes.”
Some even told WALB
they feel as if their kids are
getting treated similarly to
inmates, and they want a
further explanation as to
why.
“It’s okay for them to
make a name for the school
sports-wise but you get
them in there and you want
to treat them like those kids
are not in a penitentiary.
This is not refomi school,
and this is not a prison,”
another parent added.
Cook County Middle
School made a statement
on Facebook;
“Cook Middle School’s
administration and staff
appreciate the concerns
you have expressed
regarding our new lunch
and transition procedures.
MS is striving to ensure
all students understand
the mles, routines, and
procedures needed for a
safe and orderly school
environment so they
can excel academically
and socially. After
three days of following
appropriate procedures,
students have risen to the
occasion and exceeded our
expectations. We have seen
improvements in hallway
traffic flow and our ability
to attend to students’
needs. Our desire is to
effectively model and teach
expectations as we begin
the new school year to
strive for success. We value
your help and support in
this endeavor, and we look
forward to our students
having conversations
during lunch in the coming
days as they continue to
demonstrate responsible
behavior.”
Parents told WALB that
a big part of their student’s
development is practicing
social skills. These
comments on Facebook
show how distraught
parents are knowing their
child’s speaking rights are
taken away. Due to this
new policy, several parents
are having lunch with their
children at the schools
during that time to give
them some freedom from
school.
“I don’t know what point
they are trying to prove or
what kind of control they
are trying to get but this
is not the way to do it, if
there is an issue with the
kids that you want resolved
involve the parents,” said
another parent.
We spent the day at the
board of education trying
to get a hold of the middle
school’s principal, the
superintendent, as well
as the administrators for
further explanation and
where the policy stemmed
from, but no comment was
given.
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
Georgia man charged with scheme
to bilk customers for purchase of
cryptocurrency computers
Steven Drawdy, 39, of Grovetown, GA
was indicted in U.S. District Court on
one count of Wire Fraud. This sentence
carries a maximum penalty of 20 years
in prison. From August 2021 through
April 2022, Drawdy participated in
an online cryptocurrency forum and
received $lmillion from 30 victims
who believed they were paying Drawdy
to provide them with cryptocurrency
mining computers.
Indictment charges former soldier
with stealing vehicle, crashing into
Army facility
Treamon Dominic Lacy, 39, of Dublin
is charged with Damage to Government
Property and Theft of Government
Money, Property or Records. Lacy is
subject to a mandatory sentence of 20
years. On July 10, Lacy stole a Humvee
at Fort Stewart and drove into the front
doors of the U.S. Army’s third infantry division headquarters. Lacy was a retired staff
sergeant.
Georgia breaks economic development records three years in row
Gov. Brian Kemp announced that for the third year in a row the state broke records for
economic development during 2023. Total investments in facility expansions and new
locations totaled more than $24billion resulting in 38,400 new jobs through 426 projects.
This includes two of the biggest projects in the state’s history, Rivian and Hyndai Motor
Group.
No Talking policy being enforced at Cook County middle schools
A new policy at Cook County Middle School does not allow students to talk during lunch
or class transition. Students are only allowed to talk on Friday’s at recess. If students talk,
they are sent to in-school suspension. Parents, outraged over this policy change are outraged
over it.
Some parents have even said, their children are being treated like inmates and they want to
know why.
28-year-old victim shot to death in overnight Cordele homicide
Just after midnight on Friday, Cordele Police Officers and Crisp County Sheriff’s Deputies
responded to a possible shooting. They located a 28 year old victim that had been shot
multiple times. The victim died of his injuries. Investigators are working with GBI to identify
the suspects. The identify of the victim has not been released pending family notification.
Crumble Cookies to open in Statesboro
Crumble Cookies is coming to Statesboro! The cookie franchise will be located at 113
Tormenta Way and the doors will open August 18 at 8 a.m. The store will be open 8-10 on
weekdays and 8-12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Cookie flavors rotate on a weekly basis
with six flavors to choose from.
The new store will create 55 new jobs in the area and beginning August 23, the store will be
available for delivery, pickup, catering and nationwide shipping.
UGA fires football staffer who survived fatal crash
UGA has fired the football recruiting staffer who survived a January crash that killed
player Devin Willock and another staffer, less than a month after she filed a lawsuit against
the university’s athletic association. The school issued a statement, “Victoria Bowles was
dismissed because she refused to cooperate with an internal investigation into the crash.”
Her attorney’s claim she is being retaliated against for filing the lawsuit which also names
former Georgia player Jalen Carter.
Song of the Ogeechee
I recently learned of
a book based on the
Ogeechee river. "Song of
the Ogeechee" is based
on a true story about two
cousins who were like
brothers bom to families of
affluent cotton planters in
early 19th century Georgia
who encountered set backs
and ordeals caused by the
Civil War and followed by
other hardships during the
Reconstmction period. It
continues after this period
to tell how they overcame
problems and responded
to adverse conditions to be
recognized for their efforts
in a world that was busy
with industrial progress
and social change.
The Allen cousins were
bom in Burke County
near Midville not far from
the Ogeechee River. Dr.
Young John Allen spent
his life in China and when
he died was well known
throughout China, Korea,
Japan, and America for
his achievements as a
Methodist missionary in
China from 1860 to 1907.
Capt. John P. Allen spent
his life in Dawson and
Terrell County, Georgia,
and when he died was
well known throughout
the South as a member of
the Immortal Six Hundred
and as a pioneer citizen
and reputable jeweler in
Dawson.
The author attempts to
tell this story for the first
time to relate the amazing
account of heritage and
inherited talent in the Allen
family through the symbol
of a silver chalice passed
on to descendants from
1857 and the magic of the
Ogeechee River, the Indian
name for River of Songs.
The authoris adescendant
of the Allen family and has
spent considerable time
researching the lives of his
ancestors. He is a graduate
of Emory Business School
and Emory Law School,
retired from business
in Atlanta, a Methodist,
and an active member in
the Sons of Confederate
Veterans, the Military
order of the Stars & Bars,
the Ft. Delaware Society,
the Point Lookout POW
Association and lives in
Dunwoody, Georgia, with
his wife, Roberta. His three
children live in Georgia
and Alabama.
Saturday, August 26, 2023 - Paw Patrol Live 10:00 am, at James Brown
Arena, Georgia, United States of America, Tickets are now on sale and prices
range from 44.00 USD to 496.00 USD, Don’t miss your chance, Get your
tickets for Paw Patrol Live today!
September 9 & 10 - Steel Magnolias, Pal Theater, Millen, September 9, 7
p.m. and September 10, 3 p.m., General Admission $15, Reserved Seating
$25, Table VIP Seating $40, tickets available at the door (until sold out),
tickets available at The Sylvania Times office, Jenkins County Chamber of
Commerce, Spring Creek Auction and Jenkins County Times.
October 13 - Lorrie Morgan in Concert, 7 p.m., Call 912-754-1118 for
more information.
October 16-21-61 st Statesboro Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair, Statesboro
November 4 - Saturday - AugustaCon - ComiCon - 10:00 am to 05:00
pm DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Augusta, 2651 Perimeter Pkwy, Augusta,
GA 30909, USA, Martinez, United States.
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