About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2024)
Page 4 - Wednesday, April 10, 2024 The Sylvania Times thesy lvaniatimes .com Senior Conference 2024 Was A Blast What an incredible weekend full of laughs, glam, and bull riding! Our 9th-12th graders along with 215 other students from across the state really had a Disco at the Rock!! Another Round of Election Law Changes Headed Our Way -Special to The Times For the second election cycle in a row, the ground rules will be different when Georgia voters head to the polls in November. The General Assembly passed the most far-reaching election law changes last month since 2021, when the legislature’s Republican majorities enacted a sweeping election system overhaul following Democrat Joe Biaen’s narrow victory in the Peach State in 2020 and the capture by Democrats of both of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats in January 2021 runoffs. The passage of most of the following five bills came primarily along party lines: • Senate Bill 189 - Makes it easier to file mass voter challenges; eliminates QR codes from paper ballots; eases requirements for third-party presidential candidates to get on Georgia’s ballot. • House Bill 1207 - Allows fewer voting machines on election days; requires poll workers to be U.S. citizens; allows closer access for poll watchers. • Senate Bill 368 - Prohibits campaign contributions from foreign nationals. • Flouse Bill 974 - Requires secretary of state to set up a statewide system to scan and post paper ballots at a minimum resolution; requires more audits of statewide election results. • House Bill 1312 - Reschedules state Public Service Commission elections following a ruling in a lawsuit accusing the current system of violating the federal Voting Rights Act. Senate Bill 189 and House Bill 1207 have drawn the most criticism from legislative Democrats and voting-rights advocates, so much so that the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has threatened to sue if Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signs Senate Bill 189. The 12-section bill was cobbled together last month after many of its provisions had failed to move when introduced earlier in the 2024 session as separate measures. What opponents find most objectionable is a provision establishing probable cause - an easier burden of proof to meet - as the standard for filing a successful voter challenge. In 2022, Republican activists filed thousands of voter challenges in Democratic-leaning counties only to see local election boards dismiss the vast majority as baseless. Opponents of Senate Bill 189 say they expect to see even more challenges this year once Senate Bill 189 becomes law. “We are making voter challenges easier to bring and easier to sustain,” state Rep. Saira Draper, D-Atlanta, said on the House floor before the bill gained passage on the last night of this year’s legislative session. “Mass voter challenges do not clean the rolls. They hurt eligible voters.” “Access to the ballot is at the heart of our democracy,” added Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia. “This election ‘Frankenbill’ violates the National Voter Registration Act. We are committed to protecting Georgia voters.” Republicans say this year’s election bdls are aimed at restoring election integrity, citing claims of widespread voter fraud lodged by GOP officials after the 2020 election. Those claims were subsequently dismissed by courts that found no widespread fraud. “What’s crazy to me is the idea that anybody in this chamber would be OK with a fraudulent vote canceling your legal vote or anybody’s legal vote,” Rep. John LaHood, R-Valdosta, chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, said on the House floor. “Fraud makes votes not matter. What this does is make sure your legal vote does matter.” “Our bill actually makes the process of challenging more difficult,” added Rep. Victor Anderson, R-Comelia. “ft actually is designed to clarify what constitutes a valid challenge and constitutes an invalid challenge.” House Bill 1207 takes Republican-led efforts to reduce the supply of voting machines an additional step. After absentee ballot drop boxes were made widely available leading up to the 2020 elections because of the pandemic, the passage of Senate Bill 202 in 2021 limited the number of drop boxes. The new legislation would give local election superintendents discretion to allow fewer voting machines on Election Day than current law requires, depending on the voter turnout they expect. SEE ELECTION, page 6 Financial Waters in Election Year 2024 -Joe Brady, Editor As the 2024 election cycle swings into full gear, investors across the nation are bracing themselves for the potential financial turbulence that accompanies political uncertainty. Historical data, however, suggests that tne fears of long-temi market instability post-election might be overblown. To guide investors through these uncertain times, financial experts are offering key strategies aimed at maintaining confidence and stability in one's investment portfolio. Understanding Historical Market Trends A comprehensive analysis conducted by U.S. Bank, scrutinizing market data since 1948, reveals that while elections do introduce a degree of short-temi volatility to the markets, the long-temi effects are minimal. This insight encourages investors to approach the election cycle with a level head, making decisions based on historical evidence rather than momentary anxieties. Staying the Course The consensus among financial professionals is clear: maintaining a steadfast approach to one’s long-temi financial plan is paramount. Attempting to time the market, especially m response to political events, is a strategy fraught with risk. Instead, investors are advised to keep a steady hand on their investment strategy, while also being open to periodic adjustments. Collaborating with a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) can ensure that one's asset allocations remain diverse and in alignment with their risk tolerance and evolving financial goals. Broadening the Perspective It’s crucial for investors to remember that the presidential election is but one factor in the broader financial landscape. The year 2024 is also poised to see changes in financial policies, including adjustments to tax laws, and potentially, modifications to student loans, Medicare, and Social Security. These changes could have a significant impact on personal finances. A knowledgeable financial planner can offer invaluable insights into navigating these changes, helping investors to adapt their strategies to meet their personal ana financial objectives. The Role of a Trusted Financial Advisor Regardless of which political party emerges victorious, the guidance of a tmsted financial advisor remains an indispensable resource for investors. A financial advisor not only provides a personalized roadmap for achieving financial goals but also offers tailored advice to refine one’s financial plan in response to both market trends and personal life changes. Riding Out the Election Year with Confidence The journey through an election year can be fraught with emotional highs and lows, making it all too easy for investors to lose sight of their financial objectives. However, with the support of historical insights and the expertise of a financial advisor, investors can navigate the tumult of 2024 with confidence, ensuring that their financial portfolio remains robust and resilient. PARADE 2024 ^Qo/ded Gl/Jimehh Call Chris Today! 912.403.2536 0 cinqo pest control □ □□□ □ □ ■ERJ.E.M.DS OF THE SCREVEN COUNTY LIBRARY IS Come and support our LOCAL. LIBRARY The Friends of the Screven County Library has resumed in-person meetings. WE need YOU to participate and to help our Library continue to serve Screven County with its many programs for Children, Youth and Adults. The next meeting will be: Thursday, April 18th Library Meeting Room Beginning at 5:30 PM WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. BRING YOUR FRIENDS! 912) 564-7002 DRUG, Inc. - (VW'lT ' juAt Cv cCu i§ it&'l&f Very Unique Gifts Georgia Bulldog Merchandise 127 North Main Street - Sylvania, Ga. 30467 Serving Screven County since 1975 Leadership Conference sponsored by Georgia Southern May 17,2024 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Continuing and Professional Education is a premier event tailored for businesses and industries in Georgia. To register please visit: https://academics.georgiasouthem.edu/ce/ conferences/cpe-leadership-conference/ Hiltonia City Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Oliver Town Council meets first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Rocky Ford City Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Newington Town Council meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m Newington Heritage Society meets the first Monday of each month at 4:30 in the Bank of Newington Board room. Screven Countv Board of Education meets second Monday of each month at 5 p.m. Sylvania City Council meets first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. American Legion for Screven & Jenkins Counties meets monthly on tne 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m. Meeting are held at 112 community Dr. Sylvania. American Legion Auxilliary for Screven and Jenkins Counties meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at 112 Community Dr. Sylvania VFWAux District #6 Meeting April 27,2024 Thunderbolt Post 4392 at 10:00AM Please try to attend: Nominations and Elections for 2024- 2025 Brunswick man sentenced to 20 years for fentanyl A Glynn County man has been sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to trafficking drags that led to two fatal overdoses. Jon Dillon Screen, 32, of Brunswick was sentenced and charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Screen received one of the highest sentences in Operation Ghost Busted. Prison inmate indicted for making bombs David Cassady, 55, an inmate at Phillips State Prison in Buford, GA and serving a life term, has been charged with Making an Unregistered Destructive Device; two counts of Mailing a Destructive Device; and two counts of Attempted Malicious Use of an Explosive. Cassady was an inmate at the now closed State Prison in Reidsville when he constructed bombs and mailed two of them via US Mail to the US Courthouse and Federal Building in Anchorage, Alaska and to a federal facility in Washington D.C. The case is being investigated by the US Postal Inspection Service, the US Marshal’s Service, FBI, Homeland Security, and GBI. Fulton County jail inmate stabbed to death A violent altercation last week at the Fulton County Jail left one inmate dead. The deadly stabbing has prompted an investigation by the Atlanta Police Department. It happened at 6:30 p.m. in the day room at the jail’s housing zone. Edward Cherry, 36, is accused of stabbing a fellow inmate multiple time. The inmate, identified as Feonard Fortner, 37, was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital at 7:40 p.m. The deceased had been in custody since January, arrested on allegations of criminal damage to property and was held without bond. It is believed that it is the same Feonard Fortner who was arrested after a fire on New Year's Day at an apartment complex on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. GA Judge refuses to toss Trump’s charges under First Amendment The judge overseeing former President Tramp’s Georgia election interference case rejected his attempt to toss the charges under the First Amendment on Thursday. Tramp and some of his co-defendants had contended their charges must be tossed because their efforts to contest the 2020 election comprised constitutionally protected “core political speech.” “Even core political speech addressing matters of public concern is not impenetrable from prosecution if allegedly used to further criminal activity,” Judge Scott McAfee wrote in the 14-page ruling. McAfee said only a jury can decide the question of whether the speech at issue was carried out with criminal intent. His ruling leaves open the possibility that Tramp could still raise a First Amendment defense down the road, once the factual record is more developed. Woman hit with rock on Lake Lanier dock A woman is recovering after officials say she was attacked at Lake Lanier. On Thursday, a Hall County Sheriff’s deputy was called to a dock at the Port of Indecision at Lake Lanier Islands by a security guard just before 9 p.m. When the deputy arrived, he found a 25-year-old woman who had a cut on her forehead. According to the investigation, the victim had been riding a jet ski with a friend who dropped her off on the dock. While she was waiting for her friend, another woman on the dock approached her and hit her on the head with a large rock and punched her. Authorities said the rock was about the size of a baseball. The victim told police she did not know her attacker. Officials said there has been no arrest as of Monday. The identity of the victim has not been released. The investigation into what prompted the attack remains ongoing. Earthquake shakes NYC An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 rattled the East Coast on Friday morning, prompting reports of the temblor in several states, according to officials with the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was reported near Lebanon, New Jersey, just before 10:25 a.m., officials said. Reports to the USGS show that people from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts and from Washington, D.C., to Vermont felt the shaking Friday morning.
