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146th YEAR, NO, 16 THURSDAY, APRIL 20,2023 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES $1.00 PER COPY
Final Public Hearing For
Comprehensive Plan Held
During Butler’s Meeting
By VALORI MOORE
Editor
The third and final public
hearing far the five-year update
of the Taylor County Compre
hensive Plan was held during
the City of Butler's regular
monthly City Council meeting,
which was April 11th, The first
public hearing was held at the
March meeting of the Reynolds
City Council, and the second
was held during the April 4th
meeting of the Taylor County
Board of Commissioners, The
Comprehensive Plan is a 10-
year plan, which must be up
dated every five years. The
Plan is prepared in compliance
wdth the Georgia Planning Act
of 1989.
Camille Biclby, Regional
Planner with the River Valley
Regional Commission, was
present to explain the process
for updating the Comprehen
sive Plan, She said the Plan
will guide the county and cit
ies through the next five years.
The Plan allows the city to re
tain its Qualified Local Govern-
ment (QLG) status, which is re
quired for any funding. Updat
ing the Plan is a 13-month pro
cess, which began a couple of
months ago. The Plan is due
Feb. 28, 2024.
The Comprehensive Plan “en-
sures that future development
will occur where, when, and
how T the community and local
government wants." The Plan
requires, at a minimum, the fol
lowing elements: Community
Goals, Needs and Opportuni
ties, Community Work Pro
gram, Economic Development,
Land Use,and Broadband. Ms.
Biel by said community involve
ment should drive the planning
process, and the steering com
mittee and county stakeholders
have been identified. The
steering committee includes
the county commissioners and
staff, both city councils and
staff, and the development au
thor! ty staff. Community
events will be held throughout
the planning process.
Taylor County’s vision state
ment guides the Plan and is,
"The distinctive foundation of
Taylor County is a peaceful,
supportive, and welcoming
community rooted in small
town Jiving and values* and
centered around historic dow n
town, active schools, champion
ship sports, vibrant churches,
strong families, and ambitious
small business, Enterprising
city and county governments
work closely and enthusiasti
cally with the develop ment au
thority, the chamber of com
merce, and a technical college
rated third in the nation, to
encourage, facilitate, and in
spire business and industry in
this exceptional area.”
Following the public hearing,
the regular City Council meet
ing was held.
Police Chief Matt Woodard
advised that Operation Life-
saver began on April 1st and
will continue through this
month. This is a concentrated
patrol at the intersection of
Hwy, 96 and Hwy. 19, Chief
Woodard said that as a result
of Operation Life Saver, there
have been several possession of
narcotics cases.
Public Works Director David
Windham reported that bids
were opened for the Commu
nity Development Block Grant
(CDBGj project in the Gloria
St./Venus St. area. This is the
second hidding round for this
project, In January, the first
bids were rejected, because
they were extremely high,
Windham said there were five
bids, this time, with more com
petitive prices. Approval of the
bid is expected at next month s
meeting.
There wlIL be a Scrap Tire Dis
posal event on Friday, May
12th, from 9 a.m,-4 p.m, t and
Saturday, May 13th, from 9
a,m,-12 p.m., at the Butler Eire
Department. This is a free
event for residents to dispose
of scrap tires. It is not for busi
nesses.
Windham said it is lime for
the Hazard Mitigation Update.
The update is done through the
EMAs of the county and both
municipalities. It is required
for emergency funding,
Windham has received a call
from the Department of Trans
portation, A business around
the square in tow p n requested
speed bumps around the
square. Options will be consid
ered, Mayor Pro tem Ed Guinn
noted, il A speed bump is a haz
ard. They are dangerous, in my
opinion."
Fire Coordinator Eddie
Moulton reported that the But
ler Eire Department responded
to 19 calls in March, Also, the
Jaws of Life and rescue jacks
are on the tracks and in service.
Mayor Barry Whitley relayed
a compliment received from a
lady who was involved in a ve
hicle crash at the red light. The
crash involved her horse, and
Mayor Whitley cared for the
horse. The lady thanked Mayor
Whitley and all emergency re
sponders. citing their caring
and professionalism.
Following the regular meet
ing, the Mayor and Council
held a work session.
Qcn Stivw&Wlft CmecnA
Baby Miss: Toddler Miss: Tiny Miss:
Beckh n Cliacq RemiGrnco But lor HI Izabella Retiford
Petite Miss
Jenna Cox
Princess: Princess: Princess:
Audrey tlolkulai Charlotte Parker Ava Chambers
Little Miss: Junior Miss: Teen Miss: Miss: \| s: Ms, Princess:
Rayktnn Widener Bayli \lhiutn Cadence Goodwin Charleitill Harper \manda Spear J-'ern Lloyd
Little Miss Georgia Strawberry Contestants in the Evening Gown Competition
2023
Georgia
Strawberry
Queens And
Princesses
Crowned
On April 8th, 76 contes
tants graced the stage at the
2023 Miss Georgia Straw
berry Pageant. The pageant
was held at Taylor County
High School Auditorium.
Girls and ladies from all
over Georgia competed in
Strawberry Fun Fashion,
Evening Gown s and On-
Stage Introduction for the
coveted Georgia Strawberry
Crown. The Pageant Direc
tor is Lauren Ray Gates, and Division Strawberry Queens in tltelr Strawberry Fun Fashion:
Pride of Butler provided con- front row, (l-r), Junior Mbs Bayli Aultnian and Little Miss Raylann Widener:
cessions for the event. second row, Ms. Amanda Spear, Miss Cliarleigh Harper, and Teen Miss Cadence Goodwin
The Strawberry Queens will serve as royal ambassadors at the 2023 Georgia Strawberry Festival this weekend in
Reynolds, They will be representing their titles in the parade on a custom float built and sponsored by Anthony Norton
with All American Men Home Solutions of Butler.
Congratulations to all of the contestants and new 2023 Georgia St raw berry Queens and Princesses: Baby Miss, Becklyn
Chaco; Toddler Miss, RemiGrace Butler; Tiny Miss, Elizabella Reliford; Petite Miss, Jenna Cox; Little Miss, Raylan n
Widener; Junior Miss, Bayli Altman; Teen Miss, Cadence Goodwin; Miss t Charleigh Harper; Ms., Amanda Spear; Straw
berry Princess, Audrey Holladay; Strawberry Princess, Charlotte Parker; Strawberry Princess, Ava Grace Chambers;
and Strawberry Princess f Fern Lloyd, People's Choice winners were named Strawberry Princesses.
(See more on page 5)