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The Led County Ledger
Your Hometown Source Of Local News
Hometown Newspaper of Wyatt and Glenda Busbee
Volume XLVI- Number 15
Leesburg, Georgia - - December 27, 2023
Fifty Cents
Lee County Elementary School was chosen as a Title 1 Distinguished
School for the state of Georgia. Candice Smith, Principal, and Hailey
Kilcrease, Assistant Principal, are pictured with board members Fran
Walls, Donna Ford, Dr, Truitt, Superintendent, board members Dr, Trey
Newell, Claire Lang and Jamie McDowell.
Lee County Primary School was chosen as a Title 1 Distinguished
School for the state of Georgia. Lee County Primary School was
chosen because of their exceptional performance in closing the gap
among their students. Jamie Murdock, Principal, and Kayla Day,
Assistant Principal, are pictured with board members Fran Walls,
Donna Ford, Dr, Truitt, Superintendent, board members Dr, Trey
Newell, Claire Lang and Jamie McDowell.
Holt Named Twin Oaks Elementary School Interim Principal
Dr. Brian Holt has been
named as interim principal
for Twin Oaks Elementary
School. He replaces Ka
tie Peppers as principal.
Katie Peppers was recently
named P-5 Senior Director
of Learning and Leadership
for the local school system.
Dr. Holt has been the
assistant principal at TOES
since the fall of 2019. He
spent the previous 21 years
as a grades 9-12 teacher
at high schools in Crisp
County, Effingham Coun
ty, Worth County, and Lee
County. He taught Social
Studies, English/Language
Arts, Broadcast Video
Production, Graphic Arts,
and Journalism. He was the
advisor for yearbooks and
newspapers for 15 years. He
also broadcast Lee County
football games online and
program the stadium’s jum-
botron.
Dr. Holt earned his Ed
ucation Specialist degree
in Educational Leadership
from Liberty University in
Lynchburg, VA, in 2017. He
completed his Education
Doctorate in Educational
Leadership from Liberty
University in 2022. He also
has an Associate’s Degree
in Education from Abraham
Baldwin College and Bach
elor’s and Master’s degrees
are from Georgia Southern
University. His wife Melis
sa teaches at Lee County
Middle School West. They
reside in Lee County with
their three children: Audrey,
Zachary, and Levi.
Dr. Brian Holt
Girl Scout Troop 40523 Holds Winter Awards Ceremony
Special to the Ledger
Christmas came a bit
early for the girls of
Troop 40523, the local
Girl Scout troop in
Lee County, GA. On
Monday, December
18th, the troop had their
winter awards ceremo
ny where the hard work
and dedication of every
member was rewarded.
The tables displaying
all the different awards
was much like a Christ
mas tree with all the
different ornaments and
decorations.
Daisies, Brownies,
Juniors, Cadettes,
Seniors and Ambassa
dors all showed up to
receive commendations
and applause from their
family, friends and
leaders who worked
to support and give
these future leaders
and adventurers won
derful opportunities to
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Leesburg
City Council
will meet
Tuesday,
January 2
at
6:00 p.m.
at the
Leesburg
City Hall
learn and explore new
things. Patches, pins,
badges and trophies
were awarded for the
accomplishments of the
Girl Scouts of Troop
40523. Over 500 items
of recognition were
given out to almost 50
Girl Scouts.
The leaders of Troop
40523 took great pride
and joy in mentoring
these young girls,
helping to foster friend
ships, build courage
and compassion and
strive to make the
world a better place.
These characteristics
of our Girl Scouts are
only a few attributes
that describe the Girl
Scout Law.
Mathis Announces End Of Chairmanship
Billy Mathis an
nounced last week that
he is ending his service
as chairman of the
county commission.
He notified the other
Commissioners that he
no longer wish to serve
as Chairman after this
year.
Mr. Mathis is the
longest serving com
missioner. He was first
elected and served as a
commissioner from 1999
to 2006. He ran again
in 2014 and has been
serving the citizens of
Lee County since 2015.
His current term expires
in December of 2026.
Billy Mathis has filled
several roles while serv
ing as a commissioner
including chairman
from 2001 to 2003 and
from 2019 to the present.
He was selected by his
fellow commissioners to
serve as vice-chairman
in 2000 and from 2017
to 2018. He also served
on the Utilities Author
ity from January 2000
to December 2003. He
was the chairman of the
Utilities Authority from
January 2001 to Decem
ber 2003.
As chairman, Billy
Mathis devoted his time
and energy to ensure
the needs of Lee Coun
ty’s citizens were being
met while operating the
county within a conser
vative financial budget.
Mathis noted that the
recently completed audit
reflected the overall
financial strength of the
county’s general fund.
The county’s fund bal
ance of 22 million will
cover approximately 260
days (8 plus months).
When Mr. Mathis
was elected in 1998,
the county used Tax
anticipated Notes
(TAN) to fund the daily
business of the county
until property taxes
were collected. Many
school boards, cities and
counties borrow money
to fund needed projects
and repay the loans from
property tax proceeds.
Reserves have more
than doubled during his
tenor as chairman. Mr.
Mathis is proud that a
new fleet of ambulances
and fire equipment were
added to the county
fleet. A new 911 com
munications system was
also installed to ensure
the safety of the citizens.
Mr. Mathis said he will
devote his time to the
needs of his district. He
said he is proud of what
Billy Mathis
the commission has ac
complished. Lee County
is in the best financial
condition ever with 22
million in reserves. The
commission has lowered
the millage by 12%. Mr.
Mathis said “Thanks for
the support. As always
my phone and door are
always open.”
In January, the com
missioners will elect a
new chairman to serve
during 2024.
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