The Led County Ledger
Your Hometown Source Of Local News
Hometown Newspaper of Joan Deck
Volume XLVI- Number 35
Leesburg, Georgia - - May 29, 2024
Fifty Cents
Lee County Vice-Chairman Chris Guarnieri Recognized
For Academic Achievement In Lifelong Learning Academy
Special to the Ledger
The Association
County Commissioners
of Georgia (ACCG or
Georgia’s County Asso
ciation) recently award
ed county officials with
certificates for complet
ing core requirements
in the ACCG Lifelong
Learning Academy. Lee
County Vice-Chairman
Chris Guarnieri was
honored during the As
sociation’s 2024 Annual
Conference in Chatham
County.
“Lifelong learning
stands as a vital pillar
within our association,”
said Executive Director
Dave Wills. “Through
collaboration with the
Carl Vinson Institute of
Government, we offer a
diverse array of train
ing and development
opportunities, aimed
at equipping county
officials to navigate
the challenges inherent
in local government. I
commend leaders like
Vice-Chairman Guarni
eri for their unwavering
dedication to continuing
their education in order
to better serve their
constituents.”
The Lifelong Learning
Academy is a product of
the longstanding part
nership between ACCG
and the Carl Vinson
Institute of Govern
ment at the University
of Georgia (CVIOG).
Created with input from
county commissioners
who identified courses
based on the issues and
decision-making chal
lenges they faced regu
larly, it is a unique adult
education program that
provides county officials
with a tailor-made learn
ing experience to assist
them with governing at
the local level. To ensure
the course requirements
and curriculum remain
relevant and engaging,
the ACCG Lifelong
Learning Committee -
which comprises county
commissioners and staff
from both ACCG and
CVIOG - meet regularly
to review the curriculum
and adjust accordingly.
The Lifelong Learn
ing Academy has been
successful in equipping
county officials with the
necessary skills to meet
the current needs of
their constituents thanks
to the collaborative
approach undertaken by
ACCG and CVIOG.
Mr. Guarnieri states
“It is an honor to be rec
ognized as a Certified
County Commissioner
from ACCG and the
Carl Vinson Institute of
Government at the Uni
versity of Georgia. This
program
is an asset
to County
Commis
sioners as we
undertake
these import
ant duties in
service to
commu-
our commu
nity.”
ACCG is
Georgia’s
county
association and works
Chris Guarnieri
nities by
providing
public
policy and
legislative
advocacy,
leadership
develop
ment, civic
and community engage-
on behalf
of county
officials
and their
ment initiatives, insur
ance and retirement pro
grams that specialize in
local government needs
and other cost-saving
programs. Formed in
1914 when county offi
cials came together to
help fund the state’s first
highway department,
ACCG today serves as
a catalyst for advancing
Georgia’s counties. For
more information, go to
www.accg.org
LCHS Literary Team members, Kason Watson, Caleb Dale and Loryn Bell were recognized
at the Lee County Board of Education meeting May 13th. Lee County High’s Literary team
competed in State Literary March 16 at Bremen High School. Literary has 12 events including
Extemporaneous Speaking, Music, Theatre Interp, and Essay. The literary team competed in
two events to compete at the state-level after winning at the region-level. Duo Interpretation
team, Kason Watson and Caleb Dale, placed first in the state. Argumentative Essayist, Loryn
Bell, brought home first place for Lee County. The LCHS Literary team, as a whole, placed
sixth in the state. Kason Watson, Caleb Dale and Loryn Bell are pictured with Dr. Kathleen
Truitt, Superintendent and board of education members, Fran Walls, Donna Ford, Claire Lang
and Jamie McDowell.
LCHS’s seven students that finished in the state competition top three places at the State SkillsUSA in Atlanta, February 22-24 were recognized
at the Lee County Board of Education meeting May 13th. Quirin Rudolf and Kaleb Blalock qualified to compete in the SkillsUSA National
Championships that will be held in Atlanta the week of June 24-28 by placing first place in their competition. Quirin Rudolf will compete in
Carpentry and Kaleb Blalock in sheet metal. Taryn Lee finished third in blueprint reading and Jon Henderson and Ryland Butts finished
third in construction technology. Thomas Nichols and Hunter Daughtry finish second in vehicle shop.The SkillsUSA winners are pictured
with SkillsUSA are pictured with Dr. Kathleen Truitt, Superintendent, John Wanner, construction teacher and board of education members,
Fran Walls, Donna Ford, Jamie McDowell and Claire Lang.
Jeffcoat Sentenced to 286 Months Federal Prison
Special to the Ledger
On November 7, 2023,
8 10499 02456 8
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Leesburg
City
Council
will meet
Tuesday,
June 4 at
6:00 p.m.
at the
Leesburg
City Hall
the Lee County Sheriff’s
Office Narcotics Inves
tigation Division (LCSO
NID) participated in
a multi-agency, joint
surveillance/enforce
ment operation target
ing Brian Chadwick
Jeffcoat of Lee County,
GA. Also present were
investigators/agents with
the Albany-Dougherty
Special Investigative
Unit (formerly ADDU),
Georgia Bureau of
Investigation South
western Regional Drug
Enforcement Office
(GBI SWRDEO), and
the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA).
Investigators previously
received information
that Jeffcoat was distrib
uting methamphetamine
and fentanyl in the Lee
County and Dougherty
County area. Investi
gators were aware of
Jeffcoat and knew he
was under active state
and federal probation
conditions for prior drug
distribution crimes.
On November 7, 2023,
investigators conducted
surveillance on Jeffcoat
and located him in his
vehicle
near the
entrance of
the Coun
try Inn
Suites on
Notting
ham Way
in Albany,
GA. There,
investiga
tors made
contact
with
Jeffcoat and conducted
a probable cause search
of his vehicle where
they located distribution
quantities of metham
phetamine and fentanyl.
Investigators conducted
a subsequent search
of Jeffcoat’s person
and hotel room where
they located addition
al smaller amounts of
methamphetamine and
fentanyl. Jeffcoat was
arrested and charged
with trafficking meth
amphetamine and
trafficking fentanyl. A
federal grand jury later
indicted Jeffcoat as it
relates to this
investigation.
On May 23,
2024, Jeffcoat
appeared
before U.S.
District
Court Judge
Louis Sands
at the federal
courthouse
in Alba
ny, GA for
sentencing in
this case. Jeffcoat was
sentenced to 262 months
imprisonment, followed
by 8 years of supervised
release (federal proba
tion). Jeffcoat was also
sentenced to an addi
tional 24 months of im
prisonment regarding a
probation revocation due
to being on supervised
release at the time of the
November 7 incident.
Jeffcoat received a total
sentence of 286 months
in federal prison as a re
sult of this investigation.
This case was pros
ecuted by the United
States Attorney’s Office,
Middle District of Geor
gia, Albany Division.
Sheriff Reggie D.
Rachals would like to
thank everyone in-
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Brian Chadwick
Jeffcoat
volved in this case for
their hard work and
dedication to fighting
the scourge of illegal
narcotics in our area.
This case showcases the
importance of teamwork
and interagency cooper
ation.
