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jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - Page 5
T a
O fc> i t ci eiir i %
Contact our office 478-401-5007. Prices start at $25.
Deanna P. Burke
■ A Deanna P. Burke passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024, after an extended hard-fought
\ battle with cancer. DeAnna had recently retired from her job as a PreK teacher due to her
■ illness. She loved all of her pre-k babies through the years.
| Deanna was preceded in death by her parents Francis & Betty Dryer and her husband Joseph
I Burke.
She is survived by her daughter Amy (J.D.) Meadows of Sylvania, GA, son Brad (Anna)
Dryer of Millen, GA, daughter JoAnna Burke of Millen, GA, and son Joseph (Bert) Burke of
Sylvania GA.
She’s also survived by her grandchildren Lexi (Zan) Becton of Swainsboro GA, Kylee
Meadows, Lillian Meadows of Sylvania GA, Brie Dryer, Banks Dryer of Millen GA, Reba
„ Burke, Rayne Burke of Millen GA and Cameron Burke and Bobby Dye of Sylvania, GA;
and one sister Vicki (Chris) Adams of Millen GA. nephew Robert (Amy) Deason and niece
Amber (Tanner) Kent and their families.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday February 10 at 3 p.m. The service will be held
at Ellis Chapel Methodist Church located at 3657 Perkins Hiltonia Road, Sylvania GA 30467
with the Reverend Sonny Moon officiating.
Per DeAnna’s wishes, if you choose, please wear bright .vibrant colors instead of black. This is a celebration of the life
she lived and if you knew her, you know she loved vibrant, bright colors and statement jewelry.
Jury Duty Scammers Target Georgians
Keri Farley, FBI Special Agent/Special Contributor
The FBI Atlanta Division is warning the public about a telephone scam claiming you have failed to
report to jury duty. During the call, the scammer impersonates a law enforcement officer or officer of
the court. The caller claims you failed to report for jury duty and may threaten criminal prosecution or
jail time. The scammer tells the victim that he or she can avoid arrest by paying a fine immediately
and may request payment information or other personal information. The scammer also may request
that the victim purchase a prepaid card, such as a Green Dot card or gift card, for payment.
The scammer may provide information like titles and badge numbers of legitimate law enforcement
officers or court officials, names of federal judges, and courtroom addresses to make the scam appear
credible. Scammers may even “spoof the phone number so that it appears to be from the Court or a
government agency when it is not. If someone receives such a call or e-mail, they should not provide any
personal information, credit card numbers, prepaid cards, or money. Courts do not call prospective jurors and
ask for money or personal identifying information over the telephone. If someone summoned for jury duty fails
to appear, that person will receive correspondence by U.S. Mail, not by phone or email. Here are some tips to
avoid becoming the victim of this type of phone scam:
□ Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.
□ Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did
not initiate contact.
□ Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressure you, or says things that don’t sound right,
hang up.
□ If concerns remain about the caller’s claims, verify the information with the appropriate law
enforcement agency or court officials.
Anyone receiving a jury duty/failure to appear scam phone call should report it, with a description of
the caller and any available caller ID information, to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.
gov.
The American Legion for Screven and Jenkins Counties
meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m. Meetings are
held at 112 Community Dr. Sylvania
The American Legion Auxilliary for Screven and Jenkins
Counties meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Meetings are held at 112 Community Dr. Sylvania
Jenkins County Commissioners meet the second
Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m.
Millen City Council meet the first Tuesday of each
month at 6:00 p.m.
The Jenkins County Board of Education meeting
dates for 2024 has been approved: All meetings are
held at the board office at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted
prior to the meeting. February 26, March 25, April
29,May 20, June 17, July 29, September 30, October 28,
November 18, December 16, January 27, 2025
Ladies Night Out Feb 22
Historic Pal Theater
$10 Entry Fee
Doors open @ 6PM Fashion Show @7PM
Retired Educators will meet at 11:30 at the school
media center with lunch at noon in the cafeteria.
MEETINGS WILL BE HELD:
March 28, 2024; and April 25, 2024
in the school media center.
The Jenkins County Democratic Committee meets
every second Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Jenkins
County Senior Citizen building, located at 98 College
Ave., Millen, GA 30442.
THE
COTTON GIN
" Millen's Florist"
Since 1987
478.982.2153
717 Cotton Ave.
Millen, GA
‘Ros£s - ©£;ars
©alloons
Millen City Council
Jiscusses Mayoral
’ortraits, Downtown
Jevelopment, and
nfrastructure Updates
-Joe Brady, Editor
The Millen City Council convened for their monthly
meeting last Tuesday at 6 p.m., addressing a range of
community concerns and development projects. Here are
the key highlights from the meeting:
1. Mayoral Portraits Stir Public Discussion: Gwen
Watson brought attention to the wall of photos displaying
past mayors in the city council chambers. Expressing
concern, Watson suggested that the council members'
pictures should replace the mayoral portraits on the main
wall. Despite Watson's request, the council did not address
the issue during the meeting.
2. Bites and Boogie Event Approval: Main Street Millen
and the Chamber of Commerce requested the closure of
the streets area around the Historic Pal Theater for the
upcoming Bites and Boogie event on Feb. 24th at 7 p.m.
The council approved the request, supporting community
events and local businesses.
3. Downtown Development Authority Appointments:
Three appointees on the Downtown Development Authority
were up for renewal. Mrs. Pam Dwight requested to be
removed from the board, and Mrs. Shana Brinson was
nominated to fill her position. Mr. Talmadge Fries was
reappointed, and Mr. Lee Wilson will be replaced by Mrs.
Gwen Watson. The DDA drafts a list of potential nominees
for the City Council to approve. Mrs. Watson was nominated
by Councilmember Joel Carter.
4. Gas Main Relocation for CDBG Project: The
natural gas main on Buckhead Road, dating back to the
1950s, needs relocation before the 2023 CDBG project. The
council voted to allocate $83,000 from the ARPA fund to
Thomas Utility Contractors for the specialized job, ensuring
the road's repaving will be funded through CDBG.
5. Street Light Malfunctions and Gas Department's
New Service Truck: Several streetlights not cycling
properly were reported to Georgia Power. Additionally, the
Gas Department is set to acquire a new service truck - a
2024 Chevrolet purchased from Brannen Motor Company
for $59,000, funded by SPLOST 7.
6. Financial Update and Sanitation Rates: City
Manager Jeff Brantley reported an $8,487 income shortfall
for January, citing slow tax payments and outstanding
property taxes. The council discussed a potential 16%
increase in sanitation rates, pending negotiations with
Allgreens and the county.
7. Landfill Changes and Surveillance Cameras:
The landfill will no longer accept furniture due to citizen
complaints. The Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
recommended disposing of mattresses and furniture in
designated roll-off containers. Two surveillance cameras,
costing $6,000 each, will be installed on Highway 25 to
address various traffic-related issues.
8. Community House Upgrades: The council approved
additional lighting at the Community House and addressed
a tripping hazard by seeking a bid from a local brick mason
to correct the uneven top row of bricks.
9. SPLOST 8 Considerations: SPLOST 7, set to mn
until 2026, was discussed, and preparations for SPLOST
8 were mentioned. Both the City Council and County
Commission will address the matter further in upcoming
meetings.
As Millen continues to address community needs and
development projects, these discussions reflect the ongoing
commitment to enhancing the city's infrastructure and
overall well-being.
C _ yftasn £Ae Aea/i£
By Sam Eades, Publisher/Writer
THERE’S NOT A FRIEND
LIKE THE LOWLY JESUS
Most of you probally do not know, but, I was ordained
into the ministry at the early age of 19. One of my favorite
writers was always, Johnson Oatman, Jr. He was truly a
prolific writer and hymn writer. He wrote many novels
along with many wonderful hymns. "Count your blessings,
"Hand in Hand with Jesus", Higher Ground" and the list
goes on.
Johnson was bom in 1856 and was ordained at the age of
19 himself by the Methodist Episcopal Church. However,
like me, he never pastored full time. He confined his
ministry to local Churches while he partnered with his
father in his families mercantile business, "Johnson
Oatman and Son." After his father's death, he bcame an
administrator for a very large insurance company in New
Jersey.
Although, my father was in insurance, I did work with my
family in the Christian Bookstore Business that the family
owned as general manager. So, needless to say, me and Mr.
Oatman had a good bit in common.
Now, Oatman was an excellent singer, but he was in the
shadow of his father, which was one of the best soloist in
the state. Young Oatman couldn't get a Church because he
wasn't much of a preacher.
However, the insurance business to the younger Oatman,
was unfulfilling. So, in 1893, due to his health, he decided
to retire. After his retirement, he seemed to be at a loss
about God's purpose for his life, until he discovered that
he was a pretty good writer, he then became the most
important and prolific gospel song writer of the late 19th
and early 20th centuries. For three entire decades he
wrote four to five new songs per week, composing some
5,000 songs in total during his lifetime. He never really
wanted to be paid for his song writing, however, his
publisher insisted and so he agreed and received the going
rate for songs in that day of 1,000.00.
At the time, he didn't know what he was suppose to do.
In 1895, Johnson wrote these words to reflect how he
felt about his personal experience with this particular
song. "This song, extols our living Lord, using child-like
language in typical gospel song character and employs a
repetitive phrase, "no, not one", which allows people of
all ages and backgrounds to join heartily together in the
praise of Christ as our friend."
"There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus", was written
sometime in the 1890's. Johnson continued to say, "Songs
such as this can teach even the youngest child the truth
about the preeminence of Jesus and also remind us as
adults of his nearness and love in every situation of our
lives.
One of my favorite verses is the second verse, and it says,
that Jesus is our Friend because He is meek and lowly.
Look at these verses from the Bible. "Jesus is high in that
He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high", Hebrews
1:1-3. "He is also holy in that He is undefiled and sinless",
Hebrews. 7:26. "Yet, at
the same time He is meek"
Matt. 11:28-30.
In conclusion this week,
the chorus continues
to extol Jesus for His
wonderful characteristics
as a Friend. When difficult
situations arise in our
lives, we should remember
that with regard to having
a true Friend, like Jesus
to help us, there’s “No,
Not One!, No, Not One!,
friend, like him."
Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856-1922)
1 There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus-
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases-
No, not one! no, not one!
Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus-
No, not one! no, not one!
2 No friend like Him is so high and holy-
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly-
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
3 There’s not an hour that He is not near us ■
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us—
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
4 Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
n/jW (-)/ • y/nui/ 1 ')
The family of Mr. Buford “Jerry’
Small would like to thank
every’one for their outpouring of
sympathy during our recent loss.
During a time like this, we realize
how much our friends and
family really mean to us. Your
expression of sympathy in the
form of your thoughts, prayers
cards, food, and flowers will
always be remembered.
The Jerry’ Small Family
<Deuteronomy 31:8
c .The Lord himseCfgoes 6efore you and void 6e with you; he wid never
[eave you nor forsake you. Do not 6e afraid; do not 6e discouraged