Newspaper Page Text
Let
The Music
Speak
Page 5
CASE
DISMISSED
Judge dismisses
case against Willis
Joe Brady
Editor
Screven County
Commissioner Allison Willis
had her day in court this past
Monday, 8/8, when the case
for arrest warrants brought
by her daughter, Samantha
Lee, was dismissed. Willis
testified on her own behalf
and answered questions from
Screven County Sheriff s
Office Investigator Alan
Anderson.
In early July, Screven
County Magistrate Judge
James “Jimmy” Griner, Jr.,
recused himself from the case
which allowed the assignation
of Effingham County Chief
Magistrate Judge Scott Lewis
to preside. The hearing was
not to determine guilt or
innocence, but to rule if the
case held merit to be pursued.
Willis testified that she acted
in self-defense. Both Willis
and her daughter Samantha
Lee acknowledge that the
incident did in fact occur.
Willis explained that she
had made repeated attempts
to help her daughter who
admitted on the witness stand
that she had a drug problem
in the past.
Lee was arrested on April
8, 2022, for possession of
a Schedule II controlled
substance and possession of
a prescription drug without a
label.
Local landmark
to be repaired
City Council approves $180,000
Sarah Saxon
Reporter
The majestic fountain that has
greeted visitors and residents alike
has been silent for almost a year.
But that will soon be coming to an
end. On Thursday, August 4at the
regular City Council meeting, council
members voted to contract with
Savannah based company. Fountains
and Such to repair the downtown
fountain.
Fountains and Such has been
serving the coastal empire for nearly
20 years and can repair and service
fountains of all types and styles.
The scope of work includes
removing the existing fountain pool
and pedestal, rebuilding walls with
brick veneer, install a custom cap, decorative nozzles, new pumps, and
lights. Also, work crews will cut concrete, and install 2 sump pumps,
and seal the interior of the fountain pool with an aggregate finish.
They (contractorsjwill also provide and install plumbing for
fountain and nozzles, install six 1” frothy fountain nozzles, install
two submersible fountain pumps and provide and install six LED
submersible low voltage lights with mounting brackets and a low
voltage transformer.
The $180,000 to repair both the fountain and aging benches come
from the 2013 SPLOST fund under the passive parks grant that does
not expire. Mayor Preston Dees explained, “no money will come from
the general fund”
The 2013 funds will also be used to repair the 14 benches that sit in
the downtown park area. The benches which are made of wood, have
been damaged by the weather and has caused some of the wood to rot.
According to City Manager Stacy Mathis “Fountains and Such
submitted the lowest bid to fix the issues we have had for several
years.” The ring at the top of fountain is cracking, the pool is damaged
and needs extensive work.
Jimmie Cason, the Utilities Director for the City of Sylvania, and his
co-workers will be able to maintain the area once the repairs have been
made.
Stork makes special delivery
The stork made a special
delivery last Thursday
afternoon at 12:58 p.m., p
when Lillian James j
Johnson was bom to proud
parents Joshua and Lauren
Johnson. Lillie James
weighed 61bs and was 19
1 4 inches long. Her three
brothers, Jude, Jax and Jett
couldn’t wait to meet her!
Joshua is the pastor of Oak
Hill Church.
The ring at the top of the fountain is
severely cracked and the pool is damaged.
City workers will be able to maintain the
fountain once the repairs have been made,
(photo by Sarah Saxon)
Student arrested
Brings unloaded firearm on campus
Joe Brady
Editor
Last Thursday, 8/4, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Screven County High School
administrators were alerted by someone in the school that a student had a firearm
on campus. Administrators and law enforcement officials immediately responded,
detained the student without incident, and recovered the firearm. The student
was not in possession of any ammunition. The suspect is currently in the custody
of Screven County law enforcement and is in the Juvenile Detention Center in
Claxton, Ga. Screven County High School does not
have any metal detectors at any of the entrances
currently. However, there are some in the alternative
school.
Jim Thompson, Superintendent of Screven County
Schools states "we appreciate the quick response by
our local law enforcement and the quick action of
school administrators. It is very important for parents
to talk to their children about carrying either real or
play guns to school whether loaded or not. We will
not tolerate any weapons at school."
In the July 20 edition of The Sylvania Times, it was reported that local law enforcement; Screven
County Sheriff s Office, Sylvania Police Department, Hiltonia Police Department, and the Screven
County Board of Education took part in school safety and active shooter training. Training also
included discussion and presentations focused on threats, trends, response, and prevention.
First IBmpUhil Church
gets breath of fresh
Joe Brady
Editor
The First Baptist Church
Sylvania has a new preacher.
For Canadian born Wayne
Ayer, FBC Sylvania is right up
his alley, “my vision is for this
church to be a beacon of hope
in this community. We want
to be a church of irresistible
influence, to build bridges, not
burn them.”
Pastor Ayer and his wife,
Amber, have three children,
Ethan, Naomi, and Matthew.
Ethan is a student at Liberty
University. Naomi and
Matthew are students in
the Screven County school
system. The family moved
here from Pocomok City, MD
where Wayne served six years
as pastor. He has been an
ordained pastor since 1999.
“I am excited for God’s call to
this church. I believe together
we can grow in ministry. I
want this to be a church of
diversity and compassion. I
became a minister to make a
difference and together, we
can make FBC a church that
makes a huge difference in this
community and in the lives of
the residents of this county.”
Pastor Wayne doesn’t want
the church to be one of those
churches who scatter Monday
thru Saturday but serve on
Sunday, “how can we as
Christians make a difference
if we aren’t out there sharing
the Good News every day?”
Ayer is a self-proclaimed
textural driven preacher, or a
“preacher/teacher. The Bible
is the final authority for faith
and practice,” he affirms.
In a point where the face of
religion is changing everyday
since the pandemic, Ayer offers
renewed hope to Christians
who are tired, “we as churches
are at a pivotal moment
where we must become more
community focused, and
people driven. We can’t just
sit in the pews and expect the
hungry to find us.”
Pastor Wayne has a dedicated
staff who works along side him,
Clint Sheppard is the associate
pastor and Dee Bondurant is
the minister of music. Angela
Pastor Wayne Ayer hopes to build bridges
in the community. "I feel as if I have come
home," he smiles, Tm here for the church
and our community." (photo contributed)
Mesecher is the secretary and
the reason the church operates as
smoothly as it does. “We have a
dedicated staff who are grateful
for the hard work of Dr. Charlie
Cooper. He has been a trail blazer
in this church, and we stand on
his shoulders to continue the
building of this ministry.”
AYER
continued page 8
LADY GAMECOCK
SOFTBALL
Julia Dews slides in for the first Lady Gamecock run of the season. She singled to lead off the game, went to
second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Shay Sasser (photo by Ginny Atchley). (Complete Story on
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