Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140, No. 3 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - $1.00
This crash on Friday night left part of Highway 56 closed for more than two hours
Local man dies following crash
DIANA ROYAL • jdianaroyal@gmail.com
A crash on Friday night involving
a propane truck shut down part of
Highway 56 South for two hours as
first responders worked to extricate
its driver.
Around 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 28, the
Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Burke
County EMA, Waynesboro Police
Department and the Department
of Transportation responded to the
scene, about half a mile south of
Edmund Burke Academy. Traffic
was shut down in both directions
until approximately 9:30 p.m. The
driver, James William Odom, 65, of
Hephzibah, did not survive.
While the crash is still under
investigation, a statement from the
BCSO says the initial investigation
reveals a medical emergency may
have occurred “due to the vehicle
leaving the roadway for an extended
period of time combined with no
signs of the vehicle breaks being
applied.”
No additional information was
available at press time.
Reed is seeking Commission post
Retired businessman Ron Reed
has qualified as a candidate for
Burke County Commission Post 1,
currently held by Lucious Abrams.
Reed, who retired after 27 years
from BellSouth/AT&T, has been
married to Allene Bessent Reed
of Gough for more than 50 years.
They have two children and six
grandchildren.
Reed served two years in the U.S.
Army, including a tour in Vietnam.
He received a BBA from Georgia
State University in 1976 and an
MBA from Phoenix University in
2000.
Reed said Monday he wants
to use his “skills, experience and
education to run a better Burke
County government ‘of the people,
by the people and for the people’.”
Ron Reed
Qualifying for May
primary has started
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
This week began early voting for Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary
and also qualifying for a number of local and state races for the May 19
General Primary.
By Tuesday afternoon, several local citizens had qualified to run for various
races to be determined in the 2020 election cycle. In the three seats up for grabs
on the Burke County Board of Commissioners, all three incumbents qualified
for re-election: Lucious Abrams for District 1 (Democrat), Evans Martin for
District 3 (Republican) and George DeLoach for District 5 (Republican).
The only opposition thus far comes from S. Ronald Reed, who is challenging
Abrams on the Democratic ticket.
Probate Judge Rex Myers (Republican) also qualified and has opposition
from Ashley Moore Jr. (Democrat).
Several other incumbents qualified for re-election with no qualified
opposition as of Tuesday afternoon: Sheriff Alfonzo Williams (Democrat),
Clerk of Court Radeta Smith (Democrat), Tax Commissioner Marian
Jackson (Democrat), Coroner Val Prescott (Republican), State Court Judge
Jackson Cox (nonpartisan) and Board of Education District 3 representative
Lynn Crews (nonpartisan).
Incumbent Magistrate Judge Sterling Wimberly had not qualified nor had
current BOE District 4 representative Greg Chandler. No one in opposition
had qualified for either post as of press time on Tuesday.
Qualifying will continue this week at the Burke County Board of Elections
Office, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon
on Friday.
According to Laverne Sello, executive director for the board of elections
and registration, 56 early voters had cast their ballots for the Presidential
Preference Primary on Tuesday afternoon. She said her office was in the
process of mailing out absentee ballots. While voter registration for the March
24 Presidential Preference Primary has ended, citizens have until April 20 to
register to vote in the general primary.
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU VOTE?
While candidates are busy qualifying, early voting has also begun for
Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary (PPP). Early voting will continue
through March 20 at the Burke County Board of Elections Office, located
on the first floor of the old courthouse in Waynesboro. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Weekend voting will also be available on Saturday, March 14, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE?
While voters must pick party lines in this primary, their preference for
president is not the only thing on the ballot. There will also be a question as to
whether Georgians want to adopt a second round of TSPLOST (Transportation
Special Local Option Sales Tax). How does this vary from SPLOST? A Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is a sales tax used for capital
projects within a city or county; the Transportation SPLOST is a sales tax in
which the projects are intended for transportation purposes only.
The Burke County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors encourages
voters to say yes to TSPLOST.
To date, TSPLOST 1 has raised more than $465 million for
transportation in our region, with more than $200 million still
to come. “A second round of TSPLOST is ready to address
more needs with $555 million in specific new projects,
SEE
QUALIFYING,
2A
TIME TO
O R W A a D
Varnadoe is new hospital CEO
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Local fire officials are reminding
folks that “springing forward” this
weekend is not just about changing
clocks.
Daylight Saving Time begins
this Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m.,
and Robert Parrish, Waynesboro’s
Assistant Fire Chief, says it’s the
perfect time for residents to change
the batteries in their smoke detectors.
While we move our clocks forward
by one hour, this annual event can
also be used as a schedule of sorts
to help people develop a routine
that could ultimately save their
lives. “Many clocks and cell phones
are programmed to adjust to time
change, but batteries aren’t going to
replace themselves,” Parrish says.
“Change the batteries in your smoke
alarms. They can’t save you if they
don’t work.” He added that folks
should also test them once a month
and replace detectors once they are
10 years old.
“Reliable smoke detectors are
relatively inexpensive,” Parrish says,
“and for the protection they offer, it’s
an investment worth making.” They
are available in most stores where
home supplies are sold and can be
purchased for as little as $10.
In addition to the upkeep of smoke
alarms, Parrish says residents should
also use this time to ensure there
are fresh batteries in flashlights and
weather radios. “It’s also a good time
to develop an emergency plan for
severe weather and to inspect tires,
safety belts and fluids on vehicles in
preparation for spring and summer
trips,” he adds. “Just taking a few
extra minutes to do these things
helps to make sure that the coming
months will be safe for you and your
loved ones.”
Millen native Tiffany Varnadoe
has assumed her duties as
the new CEO/CFO of Burke
Medical Center. She succeeds
Brandon Hargrove who resigned
last month in order to accept a
position in Blairsville.
Varnadoe is a 25-year veteran
of the healthcare profession
with a background in hospice,
home health, nursing homes and
hospitals.
She is a graduate of the
University of South Carolina and
spent the last six years working in
the healthcare industry in Alaska.
This week she said, “I am glad
to be back home and part of the
community once again. Since
joining BMC in October, I have
been witness to the highest level
of care, compassion, dedication
and strength by the staff.”
She added
that, “while
BMC has
undergone
many
changes
over the past
few years,
the staff has
continued to
provide this
excellent care
and I am so proud to be a part
of the team. My goal for the
hospital is pretty simple - stability
and consistency. I look forward
to stabilizing our operations so
that staff can focus on the most
important thing - taking care of
our community. We are all part
of this community and we need
the hospital and all the services
BMC provides.”
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