Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140, No. 15 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 - $1.00
Seniors soar on graduation day
After a long several weeks of missing out on so many important senior year events, seniors at Edmund Burke and Faith Christian academies were finally able to relish in some
celebration. FCA held its commencement ceremony on Friday night, where a total of 11 graduates received their diplomas. EBA’s Class of 2020 held its ceremony on the school’s
football field Saturday morning with 35 seniors graduating. Pictured are the senior class from each school joining together for a traditional cap toss. Burke County High School
plans to hold graduation on July 25, and members of the senior class were able to pick up their diplomas last week via a special drive-thru service at the school.
CAMP IN A BOX
BCRD offers new way
to have summer fun
No decision yet on early ballot opening
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Beginning next week, local
children will have the opportunity
to participate in a unique summer
activity — the Burke County
Recreation Department is offering
camp in a box.
“We really wanted to give kids
something fun to do, especially
since we cannot be together,” said
BCRD Program Manager Dylan
Thomas. “This is a way for us to still
interact with them while practicing
social distancing guidelines. We’re
so excited to still have camp, even
though this year is going to be quite
different.”
Thomas explained that this year’s
summer camp, which is completely
free, will be conducted over the first
four weeks of June. BCRD staff will
have pick-up sites covering the entire
county on each Monday, June 1, 8,
15 and 22. Campers simply come
to one of the 13 locations to pick
up a box filled with activities and
challenges to complete. Each week
is themed not just around summer
but on the outdoors, Thomas said,
to encourage children to get outside,
have fun and stay active. Week
one’s theme is Surf’s Up; week two:
Buggin’ Out; week three: Flying
High; and week four: Fun in the Sun.
There will be a special surprise
related to the theme each week,
and camp attendees will be asked
to submit photos of themselves
completing specific challenges for
each theme. Each week, five campers
who submitted their pictures will be
selected at random to be the BCRD
official Campers of the Week. Those
selected will received special prizes
at the end of June.
For each week, 500 boxes are
available, and the amount at each
location will vary.
“We might not be able to physically
have summer camp, but we are going
to make the most of it,” Thomas said,
adding that having the boxes is also
allowing the recreation department
to reach more children throughout
the county who otherwise may
not have an opportunity to attend
camp at the regular sites. “We hope
everyone enjoys this and that they
will be patient with us as this is
very new to us all. We ask that those
who come pick up boxes continue to
practice social distancing. Above all,
have a great summer
and know that your
recreation department CAMP,
loves you!” 8A
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Though the State Election Board
passed a rule to allow for early
opening of absentee ballots in
Georgia, Burke County election
officials say they haven’t decided
yet if they will take the opportunity.
The emergency rule was
unanimously passed earlier this
month in order to help deal with
the number of mailed-in ballots as a
result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Usually, absentee ballots cannot be
processed until election day, but with
the rule in place, election workers
may begin opening the ballots eight
days ahead of the June 9 election.
Officials from different counties
across the state worry that even if
opened early, results from some
Though Burke County reached
five COVID-19 related deaths this
week, public health officials say
they think things are improving
overall.
According to Gina Richardson,
County Nurse Manager at B.
Famar Murray Public Health
Center, the number of positive
cases has significantly decreased
in the last few weeks. “I do believe
the curve is flattening,” she said in
races may not be available for days
following the election depending on
the surge of absentee ballots and the
time it takes to count them.
Burke County Board of Elections
Executive Director Laverne Sello
says they’ve not made a decision yet
but that even being able to have the
envelopes sliced open and ready may
make a difference when it comes to
counting those ballots on election
night. The rule allows election
workers to open and scan the ballots
in advance, she explains, but the
votes are still not counted until polls
close. In the meantime, the votes are
stored in the computer’s memory,
just as they are for in-person early
voting. “We’re not sure if we are
going to scan early either,” Sello
says, adding that they will depend
on the number of absentee ballots.
a telephone interview on Tuesday
afternoon. “We are not getting
nearly as many confirmed cases as
we were initially.”
She confirmed a fifth death in
the county, though that number
hadn’t yet hit the state map at
the time of this interview. She
explained that state numbers
fluctuate for a variety of reasons,
one being mass testing at Plant
Vogtle. “Many of the confirmed
As of Tuesday afternoon, her office
had received more than 2,000 mail-in
ballots. “We normally have around
3,000 come in during the entire
three-week duration of early voting,
and within just the first week, we
are close to that number so we will
see what happens. We will make a
decision next week because we have
to let the state know our plans.”
Sello also said a total of 233 voters
had cast their ballots in-person as of
press time Tuesday.
Early voting continues through
June 5 at the election and registration
office, located on the first floor of
the old courthouse in Waynesboro.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
This Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m., will be the only weekend day
open to voters.
cases are listed in the surveillance
system as Burke residents. Errors
have been found and corrected
with contact investigations.
Also, the blending of county
lines is an issue. Residents may
reside in Burke County but have
mailing addresses
in an adjoining SEE
county. In addition, COVID
with multiple users g.
in SENDSS (State
Health officials encouraged by Covid-19 numbers here
/06-554-2114
NO PAYMENTS FOR 120 DAYS
Willi
Every Purchase
Customer's Choke
Gas Grill
or Vdi Cooler
0%
FINANCING
hflii»iioa In* 5 30Q4K
84 MONTHS
www.mizellford.com Waynesboro, Ga.