Newspaper Page Text
(VOL. 1 NO. 14 April 13, 2022
Quality News
SERVING ALL OF SCREVEN COUNTY
SYLVANIA, GEORGIA • $1.25)
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National and local news re
ported last week that Betty
Lewis, widow of Julian E.
Lewis has been awarded
$4.8 million from the state of
Georgia.
In a statement by Hall and
Lampros, attorneys for Lew
is, they said, “while the settle
ment does not bring back Mr.
Lewis, it sends a message to
the State that unnecessary use
of force against citizens is un
lawful, morally corrupt, and
carries legal consequences.”
Lewis, 60, was shot and
killed when trooper Jacob
Thompson attempted to stop
-Joe Brady
Editor
State School Superintendent Rich
ard Woods named Screven County
High School one of 239 Advanced
Placement Schools for 2022. The
2022 AP Honor Schools are named
in eight categories, based on results
from the 2021 AP courses and ex
ams.
Screven County was listed under
the AP Challenge category with
enrollments of 900 or less students
testing in english, math, science,
and social studies.
The remaining categories are:
AP Access and Support Schools-
schools with at least 30% of AP
exams taken by students who iden
tified themselves as African-Amer
ican and/or Hispanic and 30% of
Commissioner John Triplett
WORKS TIRELESSLY FOR DISTRICT 7
-Joe Brady
Editor
“I try to model my life after my
Uncle Tom Triplett and if I can
have the same impact as he did, I
will have accomplished a lot.” John
commented recently as we dis
cussed his re-election campaign for
District 7 County Commissioner.
John is a native of Screven County
and a 2004 graduate of SCHS.
John entered politics to better un
derstand both taxes and govern
ment. In fact, his business knowl
edge and experience as a business
owner is what his peers took into
consideration when asking him to
head up the county budget process
four years ago.
John has been in the grocery busi
ness since 2010 and is co-owner
of B&T’s Food Fresh Market with
several locations around Georgia
and South Carolina.
The father of four admits to run
ning the county like his own busi
ness. “I’m more conservative with
the taxpayer’s money than my own.
For instance, we have had a millage
rate reduction as well as adding fire
departments which lowers the hom
eowner’s taxes.”
There is a lot John is proud of dur
ing his first term as Commissioner.
“We saved our hospital, that is one
of the most important things and it
was essential for continued growth
of the community. A county without
a hospital is detrimental to future
economic growth.”
John also counts as a county com
mission accomplishment the pro
motion of Lori Burke as well as the
Rec Department expansion. John
doesn’t just talk the talk; he actively
promotes Screven County growth.
For instance, he put up his own
money to develop land in his neigh
borhood to promote the growth of
his hometown.
John and his family are members
of First Baptist Church, where he
is a deacon. “My parents instilled a
strong work ethic and moral char
acter in us. Mom and Dad taught
us to live by the golden rule and to
care about our neighbors.” In fact,
John credits his parents, William,
and Becky Oliver Triplett with
equipping he and his two siblings
with the strong moral character
that makes up their lives today. The
Triplett family also sponsors the
Donnie Oliver Scholarship for high
school senior football players each
year. The scholarship is awarded to
the player who exhibits Christian
character and leadership.
John’s list of goals for his second
term is to focus on the infrastructure
of the county to promote increased
growth. He admits to enjoying be
ing in government, “I enjoy the trust
my constituents have placed in me.
and I will continue to work tireless
ly for a bigger, better Screven Coun
ty. But let’s not talk about changing
Screven, why change something
that isn’t broken? Let’s improve
upon what we have.”
John believes as his Uncle Tom
Triplett believed, who was instru
mental in the redevelopment of
downtown, hard work pays off. In
addition to representing District 7
and running a small business, John
sits on the advisory board of MDI
or Merchants Dis
tributors, as well
as little league
coach, putting
his college bas
ketball career to
good use. He is
also the liaison
for the Industrial
Development Au
thority. This June
he will travel to
Washington D.C.
where he will
meet with the Na
tional Grocers As
sociation (NGA)
and the MDI Ad
visory board to
discuss legisla
tion with senators
affecting small
business.
“Contrary to what some may be
lieve, the relationship between the
City and County is stronger than it
has been in a long time. The budget
is balanced, and the voters can be
rest assured that their local govern
ment is working for them.”
“When it boils down to it,” John
explained, “I am running again
because I want to build upon what
we have started and to leave my
community better for my kids and
my neighbors’ kids.”
Pictured are John and his wife Kaylee with children Carlee, Avery,
Aubree, and Emory. “I am running again because I want to leave
my community better for my children and my neighbors’ children,”
John said, (photo contributed)
all AP exams earning scores of 3 or
higher.
AP Expansion Schools - AP
schools with
25% grown in
AP student par
ticipation from
May 2020 to
May 2021 and
a minimum
of 25 students
testing in May
2020.
AP Humani
ties Schools
- Schools with
a minimum of
five students
testing in ELA, two history/social
science courses, one fine arts course
and one world language course.
AP Humanities Achievement
Schools - AP Humanities schools
with at least 50% of all AP Humani
ties exams earning scores of 3 or
higher.
AP Schools of Distinction -
Schools with at least 20% of the
total student population taking AP
exams and at least 50% of all AP
exams earning scores of 3 or higher.
AP STEM Schools - Schools with
a minimum of five students testing
in at least four AP STEM courses.
AP STEM Achievement Schools -
AP STEM schools with at least 50%
of all AP STEM exams earning
scores of 3 or higher.
“I’m very proud of Screven
County High School for being
named a 2022 AP Honor School.
Our offering of at least one AP
course in each of the four core
content areas is a testament to
the commitment of the adminis
tration and teachers at Screven
County High School to provide
challenging academic opportuni
ties for our students and prepare
them for post-secondary learn
ing,” Dr. Jim Thompson, super
intendent of the Screven County
School System said.
The Georgia Department of Ed
ucation began recognizing AP
Honor Schools in 2008.
Register
to vote for
the May
Primary
-Joe Brady
Editor
The last day for citizens to register to vote in the General Primary/Non-Par-
tisan/Special Election and Runoff Election is April 25, 2022. This is also the
earliest day for the local registrar to mail a regular absentee ballot for the May
General Primary.
Registering to vote has never been simpler with a computer or phone. Simply
visit www.sos.ga.gov and go to the elections tab.
Through the Secretary of State site you may check voter registration or register
to vote. Georgia law requires photo identification when voting, either in person
or absentee. Acceptable identification for in-person voting is:
• Valid state or federal government issued photo ID including a free ID
card issued by the Screven County registrar’s office or the Department of Driver
Services.
• Georgia’s driver’s license, even if expired.
• Student ID from a Georgia college or university.
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or
entity of the U.S. Government, or Georgia.
• Valid US passport.
• Vaid US military photo ID containing a photo of the voter.
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter.
Bring one of these forms of identification to vote in person.
Lifestyles 2 Editorials 3
Church News 4 Obituaries 5
Classifieds 8 Legals 8
Sports ...9 & 10 Farm & Land .. 11
State awards widow
$4.8 million
-Joe Brady
Editor
him for a traffic-related of
fense in the county back in
August 2020. A grand jury de
clined to indict Thompson on
the charges of felony murder
and aggravated assault.
Julian E. Lewis
TRIPLETT
District 7 County Commissioner
