Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 - Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Jenkins County Times
jenkinscountytimes.com
THE
POETS!_
CORNER
ff Nobody But You"
By Sam Eades, Publisher/Writer
for
The Times
Millen had a fish hatchery, Yes it did!
Located near the Jenkins County Airport is the spot
where the old Millen National Fish Hatchery was located.
The hatchery sat on over 127 acres located on Highway 25
North. The old hatchery was established in 1950 to produce
fingerling largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish.
The hatchery provided these fish for distribution to farm
ponds in over 28 counties in eastern Georgia.
Fish operations began in 1952 after the completion of 9
ponds on the property. Now, by the end of 1957, 16 newer
ponds had been completed, which gave a total of 25 ponds
on the property. It is said that in 1959, the Millen hatchery
attempted to spawn white catfish.
The last two ponds were completed in 1981 and this gave
the hatchery a total of 27 ponds on 24 plus acres. Water to
fill these ponds was pumped from Magnolia Springs.
In November of 1988, the Millen National Fish Hatchery
was renamed to The Bo Ginn National Fish Hatchery, by an
Act of Congress of the United States of America. Bo Ginn
was a congressman from the first district from 1972 until
1982.When the farm pond program was discontiued, this
station reduced the number of warm water fish production
and then began an increased production of striped bass.
In 1996 this national fish hatchery ceased operation as the
use was transferred back to the State of Georgia. Then in
2009, Georgia transferred the property back into the hands
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the land
itself has remained in the hands of the Federal Government
since 1948. This 127 acre hatchery was a valuable asset
for aquatic resource conservation in the southeast. The
hatchery accessed crystal clear springs that are estimated to
have flowed between 7 to 9 gallons per day.
This large hatchery remains closed to this day, even though
talks about reopening it took place after it's closer in 1996.
This is Jenkins County History that will go down as a great
part of our heritage, and who knows, maybe one day, may
see it's spring water flow again.
Until next week,
Sam
Rotary District 6920 Launches
Ambitious Tree Planting Project
to Protect the Environment
By Shana Brinson, Special Contributor
for
The Times
In a commendable effort to address environmental
concerns. District Governor Felix Smith of Rotary District
6920 has initiated a significant project falling under
Rotary International's 7th Area of Focus - Protecting the
Environment. The ambitious goal set by Governor Smith is
to plant one tree per Rotary member throughout the district.
The latest development in this eco-friendly endeavor took
place in Millen, where the local Rotary club, comprising 21
members, successfully planted 21 white oak saplings. The
strategic locations chosen for this tree-planting initiative
were the Community House, Recreation Department, and
Edenfield Apartments.
The genesis of this widespread initiative began when
District Governor Felix Smith personally acquired a
staggering 2918 white oak saplings in Byronville, Georgia.
Displaying remarkable efficiency, the saplings were swiftly
divided and distributed to the 15 Assistant Governors in
District 6920.
Each Assistant Governor took charge of further division
and delivery, ensuring that the saplings reached the 4-5
Rotary clubs in their respective areas based on the number
of members in each club.
The saplings, now dispersed across the district, have
embarked on a remarkable journey, reaching their
designated locations within
just two days. This rapid See ROTARY page 11
deployment showcases the
Rotarians Shana Brinson and Mandy Underwood help the Jenkins County
Rec Department plant trees. Photo contributed.
Fisk to introduce
Dungeons &
Dragons campaign
By Sharon Blank,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
The library will be closed on Monday, January 15 to
honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Do you have a teenager who would love to use their
imagination, make some friends, and maybe even learn
a few things along the way? Experienced game master
Benjamin Fisk will be starting a Dungeons & Dragons
campaign right here in the library, and we’d love to see
your teen join in on the fun! For more information, stop in
for the meet & greet event on Tuesday, January 23 at 4 pm,
where you can meet the GM, find out more about the game,
and sign up. Please note that this program is intended for
teens 13 years old and older. For more information, email
bfisk9549@gmail.com or text him at 912-388-0546.
If your New Year’s resolution included picking up some
new skills, the library is the place to come! Whether you
want to learn how to draw, sew, cook or even hunt or fish,
we’ve got plenty of ways for you to find out how to get
better at whatever you want to do! Whether you want to
pore over a physical book, check out an ebook on a topic of
interest, or take online video courses for free, the library is
here to help you!
The Jenkins County Memorial Library Board will be
meeting on Thursday, January 18 at 10:30 am in the library.
The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library Board will meet
on Thursday, January 25 at 4 pm in the Jenkins County
Memorial Library.
Want to know more about what’s happening at the
library? Head over to our Facebook page at www.facebook.
com/jenkinscountymemoriallibrary and check us out!
New at the library
THE TINY BUT MIGHTY FARM: CULTIVATING
HIGH YIELDS, COMMUNITY, AND SELF-
SUFFICIENCY FROM A HOME FARM by Jill Ragan.
Want to start growing more healthy food for yourself and
your family and friends? Already growing on your mini
farm but want to increase yields and turn it into a business?
Whether you’re just starting to grow food, need to increase
yields, or want to make some money with that extra produce
you’re growing, Jill Ragan of Whispering Willow Farm can
point you in the right direction!
Well, that’s all for now - see you at the library!
Kent’s celebrate second child
Grayson and Ashley Werkheiser Kent had a lot
to celebrate this Christmas season. Their second
child, Brooklynne Denee Kent was born Sunday,
October 22, 2023, at 10:31 p.m. in Chattanooga,
TN. Brooklynne weighed 7 lbs 5 ounces and was
21 inches long.
In addition to her parents, Brooklynne was
welcomed by her brother, Brantley Kent. Her
paternal grandparents are B.L. Kent and the late
Becky Kent. Maternal grandparents are Kevin
and Connie Werkheiser. Her Uncle Josh and Aunt
Karen Farthing were also on hand to welcome her
home as well as Cousin Kaylee Farthing.
by: Charles Bukowski
Nobody can save you but
yourself
and it will be easy enough to fail
so very easily
but don’t, don’t, don’t,
just watch them,
listen to them,
do you want to be like that?
a faceless, mindless, heartless
being?
do you want to experience
death before death?
nobody can save you but
yourself
and you’re worth saving.
it’s a war not easily won
but if anything is worth winning then
this is it.
Charles Bukowski
What a great way to end 2023 for the City of Millen!
At the end of December, our city received a check from
Norfolk Southern for $54,000. for the Public Safety Grant.
The icing on the cake is the check included an additional
$100,000. for Norfolk Southern's Thriving Communities
Grant. The $54,000. grant money will be used to replace
the twenty-year-old radio console currently in city hall. The
updated console will be a great asset for our fire, police,
and utility departments. The $100,000. grant money will
be used to build sidewalks on Old Waynesboro Road. This
project will begin at Barney Avenue and work toward
Winthrope Avenue. Because the grant money won't fund
the entire project, we will be applying for another grant
later this year and hopefully be able to use some existing
SPLOST money and/or TIA funds. The TIA funds are part
of the $26 million Millen and Jenkins County will receive
over the next 10 years.
We are already off to a great start in 2024. Engineering has
begun on our $1 million CBDG grant that was awarded in
2023 and we are already beginning the application process
for the same $1 million grant in 2024. Our council is off
to a great start too with the swearing-in ceremonies taking
place at our recent council meeting on January 2, 2024.
Our current council is dedicated to working hard for the
betterment of our city and to providing the best employment
opportunities and incentives for our city employees. Our
employees often don't get the recognition and "thanks" they
deserve so if you have an opportunity to let them know, I'm
sure they would appreciate hearing from you. I'm looking
forward to many other great things coming in 2024 for our
city and as mayor, I promise to work diligently with the
council, our city employees and you, the citizens of Millen,
who have allowed me to serve our great city for another
four years.
On a personal note. To the voters and citizens of Millen,
a belated but very BIG "thank you" for your vote and
support in the recent mayoral election. There were many
people who worked very hard on my behalf, and it truly
was a "team" victory! I will always be grateful for each
one who worked tirelessly to help ensure my re-election. To
my opponents, I would like to express my sincere desire to
work with each of you for the betterment of our city and I
would love to hear your ideas and agendas. I encourage our
citizens and others to please contact me with any concerns
etc. I am always accessible and can be reached on my cell
or business phone. My door is always open, and I welcome
you to stop by my "office at my hardware store” any time.
For the last 33 years, I have been honored to serve as the
mayor of the City of Millen and I am humbled now to serve
for another four years. Thank you for the trust you have
placed in me for so many years. God bless each of you and
God bless our city.
Sincerely, King Rocker