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Page 2A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, December 27,2023 South Georgia Technical College’s Barnhill and Lee awarded Smarr-Smith Criminal Justice scholarship Special to the Ledger South Georgia Tech nical College Criminal Justice Technology graduates Charles Allen Barnhill of Albany, and Andrew Lee of Lees burg, were awarded the Smarr-Smith Law Enforcement/Crimi nal Justice scholarship recently by the South Georgia Technical Col lege Foundation. The Smarr-Smith endowed scholarship at South Georgia Techni cal College was created in memory of fallen Americus Police Officer Nicholas R. Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Cam pus Safety Officer Jody C. Smith. The endow ment was created by the Smarr-Smith Founda tion, private individu als, and an anonymous donor. Both Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith attended the criminal justice program at South Georgia Technical College. Sergeant Charles TITLE PAWN We Lend More Man Money... We Lend A Hand! 1508 C U.S. Hwy 19 South Leesburg Car Title Loans! Got Bad Credit? No Problem! 0 Locally Owned Business 0 Quick & Easy Loans 0 Friendly Environment 0 Most Money Loaned on Vehicles 0 Just Need Free & Clear Title When new customer closes a loan with us! 2024 OCCUPATIONAL TAX RENEWALS (Also known as a Business Licenses) Dear Business Owner, On behalf of your Lee County Board of Commissioners, “Thank you for your Investment in Lee County.” Please go to Lee County’s website at www.lee.ga.us for information regarding renewals for 2024. If you do not have internet access you may contact our office at 229-759-3326 and we will mail you a packet with an application and all information. We will start the renewal process for the 2024 Occupation Tax/ Business License on November 1,2023. All current Business Licenses will Expire on December 31,2023. Thank you, Carol Lee License Administrator Lee County Building Inspection Department 102 Starksville Ave. N. Leesburg, Ga 31763 229-759-3326 Barnhill is a career law enforcement officer, cur rently employed by the Leesburg Police De partment. He has spent the past 23 years in law enforcement, serving as a correctional office, po lice officer, road-patrol corporal, and a School Resource Officer with the Lee County School System. “I’ve always wanted to go back to school and pursue my degree. But like most of us, life happened, and I went to work as a Correctional Officer at the ripe old age of 19. Then at 22,1 became a police officer and I kept telling myself, I will do it later, I have time. Then I got married and my responsibilities got greater. Working a regular shift then getting all the overtime and extra duty details I could get to help support my new family,” said Barnhill. His wife went back to school to get her degrees in education. First an associate, then bachelor’s and finally a masters. She always pushed her husband to go back to school. “My wife told me that is was something that no one could take away because I earned it,” said Barn hill, who added “after 23 years, I finally did it. I have accomplished get ting my associate degree in Criminal Justice. “I would like to continue my education because after going to South Georgia Technical College, they gave me Edwardjones > edwardjones.com | Member sipc Cheers to a New Year! r«iv, ( ft X As the calendar turns the page, we wish you the very best in the year ahead. . wi '■ - fr.-Js v .... Greg Parrish Jr, AAMS® Bailey Cave Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 190 Oakland Pkwy Ste C Leesburg, GA 31763 229-883-0416 2801 Old Dawson Road Suite 140 Albany, GA 31707 229-432-7553 Submitted Photos Sergeant Charles Allen Barnhill of the Leesburg Police Department and Andrew Lee of the Georgia Department of Corrections received the Smarr-Smith Criminal Justice Scholarship from the South Georgia Technical College Foundation recently. the confidence that I can do this and go on and pursue my bachelor’s degree.” Leesburg Police Chief Christopher J. Prokesh, Barnhill’s boss and a former Smith-Smarr recipient, said “Charles Barnhill has proven to be a highly self-motivat ed and valued resource for our agency, and is loved by the staff at his school. I am pleased to recommend him for this scholarship. He paints the mural of what ‘dedication’ truly means within our profession.” Georgia Department of Corrections Special Agent Andrew Lee is the other SGTC Foun dation Smarr-Smith scholarship recipient. “Special Agent Lee is a dedicated profes sional with a great zeal towards his professional work. I have the pleasure of supervising him and I think he is a quality candidate for the Smarr- Smith Criminal Justice Scholarship,” wrote Randy Howard, Jr., Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Georgia Department of Correc tions Southwest Region Criminal Investigation Division. “Firstly, I would like to say I greatly appre ciate the opportunity to receive this scholarship,” said Lee. “I have great respect for Nick Smarr and Jody Smith. Their dedication to upholding peace and justice, their selflessness in serving their community, and honor in upholding the oath they took is a testa ment to their character as men.” Special Agent Lee started his law en forcement career at the Albany Police Depart- AN LOCAL Sfej GROCERY Hot Breakfast To &o - Starting at 7 a.m. & BUTCHER SHOP FACEBOOK@LOCALGROCERYLLC 216 WALNUT AVENUE SOUTH LEESBURG. GA 31763 229-814-1044 USDA Select Angus Beef Boneless Chuck Roast $4" lb Covington Farms (Sold in 101b Bags) Fryer Leg Quarters $ 0.59 ib Fresh Lean N’Meaty Family Pack Ground Beef $249 Fresh Lean N’Tender Small Pork Spare Ribs $1 99 Fresh Lean N’Meaty Boston Butt Pork Roast $i" lb 5 lb Russett Potatoes.., $ 2" bag Lee Brand Hickory Smoked Hog Jowl $049 Ad Good December 27 - January 2, 2024 ment in 2016. He has also worked for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and is currently em ployed as a special agent for the Georgia Depart ment of Correction’s Office of Professional Standards Criminal In vestigations Division. “I work full-time and am the father of four children,” said Lee. “I plan to continue my edu cation toward my bache lor’s in Criminal Justice and this scholarship will be a tremendous help.” South Georgia Tech nical College Presi dent Dr. John Watford congratulated Barnhill and Lee on their accom plishments and thanked the Smarr and Smith families and others for their support of this scholarship. “We all re gret that this scholarship opportunity had to come at the expense of the lives of two outstanding South Georgia Technical College students and law enforcement officers,” said Dr. Watford. “Our hearts will continue to go out to the family and friends of Officers Smarr and Smith. But it is our prayer that this gift will assist other POST certified officers who wish to continue their education. We hope that the fine men and women who earn these scholarships will honor the memories of Offi cers Smith and Smarr through their service to our citizens and that the memory of Nick Smarr and Jody Smith will con tinue to live on through the lives of these schol arship recipients.” Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith, both attend ed the South Georgia Technical College Crim inal Justice Program. Smarr attained his Asso ciate of Applied Science Degree in June of 2011 and became a certified law enforcement officer in 2012. Jody Smith had attended South Georgia Tech in 2010 and had re turned in 2016 to begin completing his Criminal Justice associate degree. For more information about donating to the SGTC Foundation or en dowing a scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the SGTC Foundation and Vice President of Institutional Advance ment, at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Contributions may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, PO. Box 6102, Americus, GA.