About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2024)
j enkinscountytimes. com The Jenkins County Times Wednesday, December 25, 2024 - Page 9 Jenkins County Booking Log December 25 December 10-Anthony Dequan Lawson - Hold Placed for PDC. December 12 - Adam Lee Woods - Driving w/o License Suspended/Revoked, Failure to Drive within Single Lane Maintain Lane, Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects, Possession of Methamphetamine. December 13 - Kevin Adrian Moncerrate Torres - Driving w/o License (Misd), Speeding (19-23 Miles Over) (65 Zone). December 14 - Stacy Jermaine Jordan - Hold Placed for Bulloch County. December 14 - Kenneth Russell Shockley - DUI, Seat Belt Violation, Speeding (15-18 Miles Over) (55 Zone). December 14 - Larry Donnell Wright - Driving while License Suspended/ Revoked. Incidents December 14 - Traffic Stop w/Arrest of Adam Lee Woods (charges above), Paramore Hill Rd. SAXON Continued from Page 1 contributions to the community and to celebrate her retirement. “God has truly blessed me, and I have had a wonderful life helping others,” Saxon said during the ceremony. She expressed gratitude to her coworkers, assured them she would miss them, and playfully added that they shouldn’t worry about her future. “I already have five job offers lined up,” she joked. For Saxon, the most rewarding part of her career has been witnessing the impact of her work. “I see patients in the grocery store, and their kids are running around them,” Saxon said. “They wave at me and tell their children, ‘This is the lady who took care of me.’ Seeing patients get the care they needed and then having them bring their babies back to see me has meant so much.” Jefferson Hospital CEO Wendy Martin praised Saxon as a cornerstone of the hospital. “She has been here forever, and everybody loves her,” Martin said. “She cares deeply about everyone—patients and staff alike. She takes it personally; those patients are like her children.” As Saxon steps into retirement, her legacy of compassion, dedication, and community service remains deeply woven into the fabric of Jefferson County. Her work has not only saved lives but has also created lifelong bonds with generations of families. “I’m going to miss everyone, but I know I’ll still see them out and about,” Saxon said. “This has been such a blessing.” Jefferson County, and all those whose lives Saxon touched, will no doubt remember her for years to come. Several FEMA Disaster Centers Closing FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Chatham, Toombs, and Columbia counties are closing this week, and a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Candler County has been extended until the end of this week. Regular hours at all centers are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday; closed Sundays. Chatham County Toombs County Columbia County Candler County Although these recovery centers are closing, FEMA is still here to support recovery in Georgia. Survivors may visit any open recovery center to get one-on-one help applying for federal assistance, receive updates on their applications and learn about the appeals process. To find center locations in the state, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia Page, FEMA’s DRC Locator or text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Justice Department Sues City of Brunswick for Attempting to Close Faith-Based Resource Center for Homeless -Joe Brady, Editor The Justice Department announced yesterday that it has filed a lawsuit against the City of Brunswick, Georgia, alleging violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The lawsuit stems from the city’s attempts to interfere with and permanently close The Well, a faith-based resource center affiliated with the United Methodist Church that provides support for homeless individuals. “Federal law protects the right of religious groups such as The Well to use their land to help others,” said Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The division will continue to vindicate the rights of groups to exercise their religion and fight local land use laws that unlawfully restrict those rights.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, claims that The Well operates as an expression of its staff’s Christian faith, offering daytime hospitality services to homeless individuals. Since opening in 2014, the center has provided showers, meals, laundry services, and religious resources to those in need. According to the complaint, the City of Brunswick initially recognized The Well’s contributions to reducing homelessness, even citing its work in public filings for federal funding. However, the city later launched efforts to close the center, claiming it was responsible for unrelated criminal activity in the area. The complaint also alleges that, despite The Well adopting safety measures suggested by the Bmnswick Police Department, the city proceeded to file a state court lawsuit to shut it down. “We will take the steps necessary, including filing suit, to protect religious exercise against unreasonable and improper restrictions,” said Jill Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “This office will steadfastly defend the right of institutions like The Well to lawfully use their land to help their communities as an expression of their religious beliefs.” The Justice Department asserts that Brunswick’s actions impose a substantial burden on The Well’s religious exercise without a compelling government interest or use of the least restrictive means to address its concerns. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the city from further infringing on The Well’s religious freedoms. RLUIPA, a federal law passed in 2000, safeguards religious institutions from discriminatory or unduly burdensome land use regulations. The Justice Department’s Place to Worship Initiative, launched in 2018, further reinforces RLUIPA’s protections for houses of worship and faith-based organizations. For nearly a decade. The Well has served as a lifeline for Brunswick’s homeless population. Its closure, supporters argue, would not only infringe on religious freedoms but also leave a vulnerable community without vital services. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAGAS.Civil. Rights@usdoj.gov or the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743. Reports may also be submitted through the Place to Worship Initiative portal at justice.gov. Georgia Lottery Benefits Jenkins County Students with HOPE Scholarships and Pre-K Funding -Joe Brady, Editor Since its inception in 1994, the Georgia Lottery has been a significant source of educational support for Jenkins County students. Over nearly three decades, the lottery has provided crucial funding for both the HOPE Scholarship and the Pre-K program, directly impacting thousands of local families. HOPE Scholarship Impact A total of 2,469 Jenkins County students have received the HOPE Scholarship, which is awarded to Georgia students who meet academic requirements. The program has provided $10,079,180 to help students pursue higher education, easing the financial burden for families and supporting access to college opportunities. Pre-K Program Success The Georgia Lottery has also been instrumental in funding the state’s Pre-K program, which prepares young learners for kindergarten and beyond. In Jenkins County, 2,013 children have benefited from this program, with $8,374,182 allocated to support early childhood education initiatives. A Legacy of Educational Support The Georgia Lottery's contributions have made a lasting impact on Jenkins County’s educational landscape, fostering opportunities for both young children and aspiring college students. This funding underscores the lottery’s broader commitment to education across the state, ensuring that students of all ages receive the resources they need to succeed. Looking Ahead As the Georgia Lottery continues to generate funds for education, Jenkins County students and families can look forward to further benefits that enhance access to quality education and support academic achievement at every stage of learning. NEA Crossword. Puzzle ACROSS 1 Fond du — 4 Mixed- breed dog 8 Singer — Cass Elliot 12 “Born in the —” 13 Foil cousin 14 Press 15 Zip 16 Rural way 17 Aerie 18Slap in the face 20 Come to a 43 Pirate’s liquor 44 Howl 45 Early patriot — Allen 48 Exude 52 Be idle 53 “— Fiction” 54 Run hither and — 55 Ride a wave 56 Ait 57 Say further 58 Port in Answer to Previous Puzzle s 1 P C A L F s o L D A M A o D O R T R U E G A P w A D E R E T E A G A R E N G A G E D O R E s Z A P A S 1 B 1 G C O B A D Z B O R E A P O L 1 Z F A D S N E W A N 1 A F T O L D O P S S O Y A O V E R T H E s C U D M A R s ■ o L L A A D O 1 N N o o B O L N 1 T T E E N T A L L E O S close Pennsylva 21 Unmatched nia g 22 Spoil 59 Use a 10 23 Singer — parer 11 Lauper 60 “Every dog 26 Financially sound — its day” 19 30 Caviar DOWN 20 31 Name 1 Moon 33 Home to goddess 22 billions 2 “ by 23 34 Eager magic!” 24 36 Member 3 Baby ship bovine 25 charge 4 Tuneful 26 38 Cuckoo 5 “ at 39 Hotel room ’em!” 27 conve 6 Flimsy nience shelter 28 41 Heartless 7 Pipe fitting 8 Roman goddess of wisdom the pot Stewart baseball mystic indistinctly Jacob’s twin Baseball team 29 Follow 32 Not know from — 35Zoo animal 37 Surgical knife 40 Roll 42 Flour type 44Girl at a ball 45 Threat ender 46 Guided visit 47 Mata — 48 Trick 49 Indian nurse 50 Bubbly beverage 51 Tips 53 Seed 3-11 © 2024 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS r UNIVERSAL Sudoku Puzzle r\ 4 2 5 6 9 9 1 6 7 2 3 6 7 8 9 5 7 6 1 8 3 4 1 8 5 6 7 2/2 DIFFICULTY RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Complete the grid so every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. Previous puzzle solution 9 2 5 3 6 1 4 7 8 6 4 7 2 9 8 1 3 5 3 8 1 5 4 7 9 2 6 5 7 3 1 8 9 2 6 4 4 9 2 6 7 5 3 8 1 8 1 6 4 2 3 7 5 9 2 5 4 9 3 6 8 1 7 7 6 9 8 1 2 5 4 3 1 3 8 7 5 4 6 9 2 © 2024 by Andrews McMeel Syndication Jenkins County Times Cancer Support Group Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Are you a caregiver? The Jenkins County Times is planning a support group to meet at Spring Creek Auction either monthly or weekly. If interested in these open, honest, and sharim times. meetings please email us at joe® ienkinscountym com December Camp Lawton Tour 10 -10:45 am Meet at Camp Lawton Center for a tour of what was once the largest prison in the world. Admission to the History Center is included. $5 (Ages 3 and under free) Registration is required in advance. Dec 28 Grinch Archery 2-3 pm Learn archery from a certified instructor with all equipment provided. Take on your Grinch name and see how many Christmas balloons you can pop! This is great practice for experienced archers as well. Meet at the archery range just past Cottage 9. $10 Ages 7 and up. Registration is required in advance. Dec 28 Hand Dipped Candles 11:30 am - 12 pm Gather on Camp Lawton History Center’s side porch and learn how to make an old-fashioned hand dipped candle. $3 Registration is required in advance. Dec 28 Please stop by the Visitor Center or call (478)982- 1660 to register in advance. All programs and events are subject to change or cancellation. A $5 park pass is required for all events