About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2024)
Page 12 - Wednesday, February 14, 2024 The Sylvania Times thesy lvaniatimes .com mmMB JkCEOSS By Joe Brady. Editor Authorities capture prison escapee Georgia authorities have captured a prison escapee who was arrested for burglary, drug possession and other crimes on Feb. 2 and then made a break for it Tuesday while hospitalized. Brandi Marie Cannon was being treated at the hospital in Clayton County when she informed officers that she had swallowed drugs prior to being taken to jail. She slipped her cuffs and pulled the fire alarm to escape. Cannon was captured Wednesday evening in Forest Park. Teen charged with vehicular homicide after killing Woodstock teen Oliver Luis Roman, 18 , of Powder Springs has been arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in Cherokee County. Roman was involved in a fatal accident in Woodstock which killed two metro area teenagers. A victim, Esteban Cortez Rendon, was celebrating his 18th birthday when the fatal accident occurred. The other teen losing their life was Gabriel Escandon from Marietta. Teen wanted in Savannah homicide The Savannah Police Dept is looking for another man wanted in a 2023 homicide investigation. Laronta Morrell, 19, is a 5 foot 4 inch mail with brown hair and brown eyes. The November 27, 2023 shooting claimed the life of Fundicia McQuaige. SPD responded to an alert at the coumer of MLK Blvd and West 40th St. They found the victim unconscious. Fie was taken to an area hospital with serious gunshot wounds where he later died. Last week, 19 year old Izell Jackson was arrested in Washington D.C. for the murder. Savannah Rapper arrested, charged with DUI Savannah Rapper Quando Rondo was arrested last Tuesday night. This comes less than a month after he was indicted in a state gang and drug case. The 24 y ear old faces charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving. Prosecutors have also indicted him on dmg charges. The rapper was released on $4600 bond after his arrest Tuesday. His singles “I remember” and “ABG” led to a deal with Atlantic Records, which released his debut album, “QPac” in 2020. His follow up album, “Recovery” came out in 2022. GSUgets new convocation center A $64 million Georgia Southern facility is taking shape. The 95,000 square foot, double decker building is the largest venue from Savannah to Macon. This is the first of the GSU’s buildings on the south campus. The arena will hold welcome ceremonies for freshmen and other events. The venue will hold 5500 people. The building is 40% done The top floor is event space and a NCAA basketball court while the bottom floor holds classrooms and labs for exercise medicine students. VP Harris faced protests during Savannah visit During the Feb. 6 Fight for Reproductive Freedom Tour, VP Kamala Harris heard activists protesting peacefully. Pro life members of Reformation Bible Church and Savannah 4 Palestine were two of the groups who wanted their voices heard. The protests were peaceful demonstrations. When asked if they felt they had been heard, one protestor said, “This administration is funding war in Israel with our tax dollars so no, we weren’t heard.” Georgia politicians urge a deepening of Savannah harbor again Every member of congress from Georgia has signed a letter asking for a study to determine whether the Port of Savannah needs to be deepened yet again. The $937 million expansion was completed in 2022. Leaders cite ever growing classes of cargo ships need deeper water to reach the port even after the last project added five additional feet to the depth. Getting the federal government to authorize a study is the first step in a long process. COLOR ME The Times Building -125 North Main St. - Sylvania, Ga. Let us print it for you! • Brochures • Newsletters • Programs • Invitations • & More The Times Printing Services 912.451.6397 GA House approves $5 billion boost to state budget THE CORNER Special to The Times Georgia’s House backed changes to the state budget Wednesday that would add $5 billion in spending, including a burst of roadbuilding, new dental and medical schools, and money to cover bonuses paid to state employees and teachers. ’’Five billion dollars. You can do a lot of good with $5 billion,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Hatchett, a Dublin Republican, told House members. “Now, not every item in the budget is glamorous, but I can tell you it’s needed.” The House voted 161- 2 to pass a bill that adds money to the current budget running through June 30. The bill now goes to the Senate for its own changes. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp proposed the boost, which would push spending of state money to $37.5 billion. Total spending, including federal aid, college tuition, fines and fees, would rise to $67.5 billion The state can spend lots more, even though growth in tax collections is slowing, because Kemp set a revenue estimate much lower than what the state will actually collect this year and because Georgia has $10.7 billion in surplus cash beyond its $5.4 billion rainy day fund. Kemp would spend up to $2 billion of the surplus. Because lawmakers can’t spend above Kemp’s revenue estimate, lawmakers can only cut or rearrange the governor’s proposed spending. In some cases, the House voted to add back projects that Kemp originally struck from this year’s budget, a move that provoked anger among lawmakers. Kemp has since allowed some of that spending to take place, and Hatchett said the House would continue to push for other items. “Please know, we aren’t done with the discussion,” Hatchett said. The governor before Christmas ordered $1,000 bonuses paid to state and university employees and public school teachers. The House plan includes $315 million to pay for the bonuses. Kemp has also proposes pay raises for employees beginning July 1, which lawmakers will finalize in March when they vote on next year’s budget. Kemp wants state and university employees to get a 4% cost-of-living increase across the board, while teachers would get a roughly equivalent $2,500-a-year increase. The House agreed to Kemp’s plan to spend $1.5 billion more to speed planned roadwork and establish a freight infrastructure program. But the House wants to spend $100 million more on road repaving to cover higher costs for asphalt and concrete. The House also boosted spending for airport aid. To pay for those changes, the panel cut Kemp’s proposed spending on freight infrastructure by $131 million to $510 million. The House would allocate Kemp’s proposed $200 million increase in road and bridge aid to cities and counties in a way that wouldn’t require local governments to match the money. The measure also includes $178 million for a new dental school at Georgia Southern University in Savannah and $50 million for a freestanding medical school at the University of Georgia. The House approved Kemp’s plans to spend $451 million to finish a new prison in Washington County and $135 million to repair other prisons. The budget also adds money to install technology to prevent inmates from using contraband cell phones. Also approved were $500 million to pay down debt in one of the state’s employee pension funds, $250 million to finance water and sewer work, and $200 million for grants and sites to attract industry. Love’s Philosophy -Percy Bysshe Shelly The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the Ocean, The winds of Heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thing? See the mountains kiss high Heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea; What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me? Percy Bysshe Shelly Winners of the Youth Sculpture Contest sponsored by Garden Club By Sarah Saxon. Reporter The Screven County Garden Club is pleased to announce the winners in the locally sponsored Youth Sculpture Contest. Each winner was awarded a monetary gift by the local club. The contest was sponsored by the National Council of Garden Clubs to promote the idea to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. First place winner received $15. Each of the six entries were sent to be judged for the state contest. Winners from the state are then judged by Deep South Garden Clubs and those winners are judged by the National Council of Garden Clubs. The local garden club has sponsored this project for two years and is grateful to Mrs. Ella McAfee, the Screven County Middle School STEM Teacher. estate Farm Darlene F Anthony Agent 616 W Ogeechee Street Sylvania, GA 30467-2217 Bus 912-564-7678 Fax 912-564-7671 darlene.anthony.cfh6@statefarm.com ' v Good Neighbor Agent since 1988 r i G- 6th grade winners are: 3rd place Sophie Graham, 2nd place Keimora Wedlow and 1st place Jaylee Flanders, SCMS STEM Teacher Mrs. Ella McAfee, Screven County Garden Club representative Mrs. Joni Thompson, 8th grade winners: 3rd Piper Black, 2nd place Brianna Sweet and 1st place Lilly McAfee. BLESSSING OF THE CROPS SCREVEN COUNTY FARM BUREAU IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE CROPS ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024, AT 6:00 PM. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE SCREVEN COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE. PLEASE COME JOIN US IN ASKING THE LORD TO BLESS THIS SEASON OF PLANTING, GROWING, HARVESTING AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FARMERS. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. CONTACT PERSON: BETH REDDICK (912) 564-7891 Run 2/14-2/21 Window Cleaning Allstate Building Services, llC Window Cleaning * Pressure Cleaning * Caulking Specialist QUALITY WORK AT ITS BEST 25+ years of experience Narvel Pettis, Owner P.O. Box 1129 813-809-7188 Millen, GA 30442 Npettisll@yahoo.com CALL FOR AN ESTIMATE! TretS-Siurtip Rernovii Starm Clean Kip Expe*T Trimming land Clearing eru-Eln Curung Busin H egging Skid* Work UCEPfSEDfi INSURED
