About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2024)
136 Industrial Road Sylvania, Georgia 304-67 912.564.2003 Mon. - Fri. 7:30 - 5:00 Saturday 7:30 - 3:00 Closed Sunday Httxonta * Newington * Rocky Ford * Sylvania * Oliver * Cooperville * Dover * Halcyondalf * Mtt.t havfn VOL.3 NO. 1 January 17, 2024 | LEGAL ORGAN OF SCREVEN COUNTY | Sylvania, Georgia $1.25 Editorials ..11 | Church News ..3 | Sports ..4-5 | Obituaries ..6 | Legals ..7 | Farm & Land.. 10 | Booking Log ..9 | Crossword ..8 LJ O co in 01 o CO o CO A Brave Journey: Michael Boswell Triumphs Over Cancer By Blis Savidge, Special Contributor for The Times Michael “Mikey” Boswell is a 12-year-old boy from Sylvania, GA who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right femur in April of 2023. Less than two weeks before his diagnosis, he was playing baseball, one of his favorite activities, when he began to limp. His mom also noticed that his right thigh felt a little different. Thinking it might just be a pulled muscle she called their pediatrician to be safe. After seeing his MRI and x-ray results, Michael’s doctor made a swift decision to refer the family to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta- more than 170 miles from home. After some research and talking with their pediatrician, Michael’s family were confident that bringing Michael to Children's was the best decision, even despite the lengthy drive. After a biopsy in April of 2023, doctors confirmed the family’s worst fears- Michael had cancer. He immediately began treatment and On January 5, 2024, Michael rang the bell signifying the end of his cancer treatment while everyone, including Blanche cheered him on. Photo contributed Michael and Blanche became close during his stay at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Leaving all of his friends back in Sylvania was made easier by having Blanche. Photo contributed underwent an 11-hour surgery to remove the tumor. Michael was able to keep his leg, but still had to endure another few months of chemo and intense physical therapy. While his journey wasn’t an easy one, Michael never had to endure it alone. Although he spent a lot of time away from his close-knit family and friends who were back in Sylvania, he made many new friends, including Children’s facility dog, Blanche. “Blanche has been the greatest blessing to Michael,” said Beth Boswell, Michael’s mom. “He could be having the worst day, but Blanche will always put a smile on his face. She knows when he’s feeling sad, and she will snuggle up with him and provide comfort or give him a silly kiss when he needs a laugh.” Blanche also helped Michael meet his physical goals by encouraging and pushing him to regain his mobility and offering some stability while he regained his strength. On January 5th, 2024, Michael rang the bell signifying the end of his cancer treatment while his friends, family, and of course, Blanche cheered him on! We are so excited for Michael’s bright future! County Commissioners Tackle Key Issues in Recent Meeting Will Boyd and JC Warren were re-elected to their positions as Chairman and Vice Chairman during the January 9 County Commissioners Meeting, photo by Sarah Saxon. Bv Sarah Saxon, Reporter for The Times The Screven County Commissioners convened on Tuesday morning, January 9, at the Courthouse for a session marked by the re-election of key officials, consideration of important board positions, and discussions on pressing community matters. Following the customary invocation and pledge of allegiance, Will Boyd secured his position as Chairman, being re-elected by the majority of commissioners present. However, Commissioner Willis dissented, expressing her disagreement with the decision. Similarly, the commissioners voted to re-elect J.C. Warren as the Vice Chairman. Commissioner Willis also expressed disagreement, stating her belief that re-election was unwarranted. The approval of the meeting agenda and the minutes from the December 12, 2023, commissioners meeting was passed without major contention. Rev. Uley Robbins took the opportunity to extend an invitation for the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade, scheduled for Saturday, January 13, in downtown Sylvania, fostering community engagement. An important consideration was made for the appointment of James Snow to fill the expiring term on the Tax Assessors Board. The board also discussed adopting a resolution that would establish the terms of office for Tax Assessors Board members, contingent on no further changes. Looking ahead, commissioners engaged in a robust discussion regarding the renewal of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Preliminary discussions centered on identifying projects for consideration before August 6, with the aim of placing them on the November ballot. Another critical issue on the agenda was the impending expiration of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Sanitation Services in June. Concerns were raised about service interruptions during the holidays, particularly due to a flu-related staff shortage at All Greens. Commissioners emphasized the need for consistent trash pickup, suggesting at least twice a week to address potential disruptions. James Wood, the County Street Supervisor, joined the meeting to address concerns about road conditions. Numerous complaints were received, particularly about the Jenk Hill area and the area around Hurst Church Road. The board acknowledged the need for swift action in addressing these road- related challenges. BUDGETS FOR Pimm© §©H©©L Georgia Southern By Dwayne Grice, Special Contributor for The Times Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues legislative preview event, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced his budget proposal will include 178 million dollars for the design and constmction for a dental school at Georgia Southern University - the first school of its kind in our state since the moon landing in 1969! "This is a great day for Georgia and especially for Georgia Southern University. We are thrilled to see this included in Governor Kemp's budget and we owe a special thanks to Representative Butch Parrish for leading the charge on this. The shortage of dentist in Georgia is a critical healthcare priority," said Senator Billy Hickman, Chairman of Higher Education and Appropriations member. Governor Kemp’s address celebrated years of record- breaking economic development and laying out priorities for the 2024 legislative session to continue that success. The Governor announced his administration’s priorities to continue addressing workforce development challenges, including in healthcare; reinforce Georgia's status as a right-to- work state; address the need for more information regarding civil litigation; invest in infrastructure across the state, including workforce housing; and establish new higher education assets. Below are the Governor’s prepared remarks in full: Good morning, thank you for that introduction. I’m proud to be here today with the nation’s best First Lady - Marty Kemp! And we’re glad to be here with Speaker Bums, Lt. Governor Jones, UNIVERSITY other members of the General Assembly, Mayor Dickens, and some of the great local partners who have helped us keep Georgia the best state for opportunity. I also want to thank Chris Clark and the Georgia Chamber team for making this yearly event possible. It’s thanks to allofthese partners, and many others throughout Georgia, that we remain the No. 1 state for business. We’ve seen over 171,000 new jobs come to our communities. We’ve brought in roughly 74.5 billion dollars in investment to the state, with the majority going to mral parts of Georgia. We have more people working than ever before in our state. And we have jobs open for anyone looking for work or a new career. That’s a track record everyone in this room should be proud of. But that’s where we are today. What everyone in this room should consider is where we need to be in five years, in ten years, in generations to come and how do we get there. My vision for that future Georgia is one where all people have opportunity and can succeed, where job creators and innovators choose us repeatedly because we’re the best place to build the businesses of tomorrow, and where every community see DENTAL on page 8 Senator Max Burns Announces Reelection Bid for State Senate Sylvania, GA - State Senator Max Bums announced today that he will be seeking reelection for a 3rd term to Georgia’s 23rd State Senate District. Senator Bums was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly as a State Senator in November 2020 and took office in January 2021. Senator Bums chairs the Senate Ethics Committee which oversees all election legislation in Georgia. Bums was the author and lead sponsor of SB 202, The Election Integrity Act of 2021. “Today, I am announcing that I will seek reelection to Georgia’s 23rd State Senate District. While we have had redistricting of the State Senate maps since the last election, the 23rd Senate District makeup is not changing. I am committed to serving the citizens of the 23rd State Senate District. Conservative values in Georgia, and the United States as a whole, are under attack, and we must support and protect Georgia’s economy, education, public safety, religious freedoms, and election integrity. I have a proven conservative track record of results, and I look forward to continuing to serve our communities in the 23rd District and provide leadership for Georgia in the State Senate.” The Republican Primary Election Date is May 21, 2024. The General Election Date is November 5, 2024. The 23rd Senate District is made up of Burke, Columbia (portions), Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, Richmond (portions), Screven, Taliferro, and Warren counties. UPER BOWL LVIII CBS, Nickelodeon & Paramount - 6:30 p.m. EST
