Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140, No. 14 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 - $1.00
Remembering the fallen
In light of the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of their annual memorial service, shipmates of the
USS Stark FFG 31 gathered in Burke County on Sunday to pay respects to their fallen brothers. Bernard Martin
hosted the event, which was live streamed on Facebook, at his Waynesboro home. Shipmates attending were
Laurence Barrow of Jacksonville. Fla., Richard Wechsler of New Braunfels, Texas, James Pair of New Brockton,
Ala., Mike Riordan of Atlanta and Gold Star family member Jana Ryals of Belpre, Ohio whose brother SMSN
Pat Ryals was killed in action aboard the USS Stark with 36 other shipmates. Assisting with the service were
the Sons of the American Revolution, Brier Creek Artillery, Bear Creek Artillery, 32nd Georgia Artillery and
Sons of Thunder motorcycle ministry. Martin handcrafted the special marker and bell himself.
A soldier’s story,
told in letters home
EDITED BY ROY F. CHALKER JR.
In August of 1940, well over a
year before the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor, 19 year-old Noah Allen
Hickman of Girard enlisted in the
United States Army.
The following are excerpts from
letters sent to his family, including
his parents, Noah A. Hickman and
Mary Hickman and his sister Eva.
Fort Benning, Ga.
August 5, 1940
My Dear Mrs. Hickman,
Your son Noah has enlisted in
the United States Army and is
assigned to this company. He is in
fine physical condition and generally
speaking, quite contented and happy.
This letter is written to acquaint
you with your son’s condition, his
opportunities in the Army, and my
address should you ever need any
assistance in the solution of service
connected problems.
We are vitally interested in
developing your son into the type
of American citizen we can ah be
proud of.
Very Sincerely Yours.
D.H. Hundley
Captain, 8th Infantry,
Commanding
Amphibious Training Center
Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla.
Oct. 10, 1943
Dear Eva and family,
Just a few words to say hello and
let you know I am still in Fla. and
am O.K.
I haven’t had time to write to
anybody in the last 10 days. I was
not working, I was trying to vomit
my guts out. I was never so sick as
I was for about three days. I guess
you know what I’m talking about is
SEA SICK.
But I am getting used to it now
and it does not bother me anymore.
Well, as news is short I will close
for this time. So tell all hello for me
and I will see you soon I hope.
Love,
Allen
Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla
Oct. 18, 1943
Dear Eva and family,
I am going to the hospital tomorrow
and I guess that I will be there for
about a week. I’m going to have my
tonsils cut out. Every time it turns
cold they swell up so I am having
them cut out.
Well, as there is no other news of
interest here I will close. So answer
soon and I will do the same.
Love,
Allen
Somewhere in France
June 6, 1944
Dear Mother and Dad,
Just a few words to let you know
that I am O.K. and still living. I doubt
if you can read this writing because
I am down in a foxhole and that is
not such a good place to try to write
a letter.
Mom, don’t you worry about me
Noah Allen Hickman
because I think I will get along O.K.
after ah, this thing is not quite as bad
as you might think it is.
I have been in France for quite a
few days now and have not had it
so very bad, although once or twice
things were pretty hot. But I came out
O.K. and I think I will continue to do
so although it may take a few prayers
from me and the folks back home.
Mom, I can’t think of much to
write and Jack Hill is trying to sleep
in the same hole with me and he
snores something awful.
Teh ah the folks hello for me and
don’t you worry one
bit. SEE
Love forever, HICKMAN
Allen 3A
BES paraprofessional
killed in crash last week
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
A three-car collision claimed the
life of a Burke County educator
Thursday morning.
Shalonda Free-Gardner, 40, of
Girard was killed after her Honda
Accord collided with another
vehicle head-on while traveling
along Highway 24. According to
reports from the Georgia State
Patrol, Gardner was traveling
westbound near mile marker 15
when a car driven by 17-year-old
Shaun Pierce of Sardis struck her
from behind, sending her across the
center line into oncoming traffic.
Gardner then hit a third vehicle,
driven by Merree Blomstrom, 32, of
Waynesboro, head-on. The impact
caused Gardner’s vehicle to overturn
onto the driver’s side. She was not
wearing a seatbelt.
The report said that Pierce was
following too closely.
A11 three drivers were transported
to the Burke Medical Center
Emergency Room, where Gardner
was pronounced deceased.
Blomstrom was released and Pierce
was also discharged after being
treated for minor injuries.
Ashley Goodin, a teacher at
Blakeney Elementary School,
said Gardner had worked as her
paraprofessional over the past
eight years, teaching students
with disabilities in grades third
through fifth. "’Shalonda was one
of the most caring, thoughtful and
compassionate individuals who has
worked with students with special
needs,” Goodin said. “She had a
God given gift to care for and meet
the needs of exceptional children.
She brought cheer and laughter to
students, faculty and staff with her
contagious personality. Shalonda
was very committed to putting others
above herself. I am going to miss her
so much.”
Early voting underway
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Early voting has gotten off to a
slow start in Burke County for the
state primary, but election officials
say that could be because citizens are
opting to use absentee ballots rather
than showing up at the polls.
Laverne Sello, who serves as
the executive director of the Burke
County Board of Elections Office,
said Tuesday afternoon 77 county
residents had come in to vote.
Normally, Sello says, she’d have
more than that in one day, “For an
election like this, we’d usually see
more than one hundred on the first
day, and around the same per day
each day after.” She went on to say
that people are still confused about
when they can vote with the various
date changes and extensions due to
the coronavirus pandemic. “We had
people rushing in here today thinking
this was the last day to vote. Some
don’t realize election day has been
moved.”
The state primary will take place
on June 9, and voters have three
weeks of early voting prior to then
to make their votes count. For Burke
County, early voting began Monday,
May 18 and will continue Monday -
Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., through
June 5. There will also be one
Saturday when the polls are open:
May 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A11 early voting takes place at the
board of elections office located on
the first floor of the old courthouse in
Waynesboro. On election day, voters
will go in-person to their designated
precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to cast
their ballots. Burke Countians who
wish to vote via absentee ballot are
asked to submit their mail-in requests
to the local office by May 29.
There are different versions of the
ballot available to voters. First, voters
must submit whether they want to
vote democratic or republican. For
those who already voted early in
the presidential primary, they will
receive a ballot with state and local
offices only; those who did not vote
will received the combined ballot for
both primaries.
This week, we feature a Meet
the Candidates section for District
Attorney and Senate District 23.
While these races will not be
determined in June, both will be
narrowed within their parties.
Republican Natalie Paine, incumbent
District Attorney, has opposition on
the same ticket from Jason Hasty,
and Republicans Trey Allen and
Max Burns are both vying for the
senate seat. See page 7A for more
information about them.
In last week’s True Citizen, we
featured all local candidates. Two
of those races will be determined in
June: the county sheriff as well as
the District 5 county commissioner.
Incumbent Sheriff Alfonzo Williams
is joined on the democratic ballot by
challengers Wayne Scott and Xavier
Wimberly. County commissioner
George DeLoach has been challenged
by Art Lively on the republican
ticket. Voters in District 5 will
have to decide whether they want
to vote for their
• • QEE
commissioner or
their sheriff at the EARLY VOTING,
polls. 5 A
COVID Corner
PLANT VOGTLE
As of press time, there were 32 active confirmed positive cases of
COVID-19 from the Vogtle 3 & 4 workforce, with 198 employees who
tested positive reportedly recovered and available to return to work. The
overall test results now stand at 230 positive test results and 683 negative.
The company is waiting test results for three employees.
COUNTY REPORTS
The B. Lamar Murray Health Center reported a total of 113 positive
cases for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Of those, four have
resulted in death.
Every Purchase
Customer's Choice
Gas Grill
or Yeti Cooler
FINANCING
84 MONTHS