Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140, No. 16 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 - $1.00
BCHS graduate Roshonda Jones receives a special gift from Rena Davis through the Adopt a 2020 High
School Graduate from the CSRA program.
ADOPT A GRADUATE
Program delivers light
to the Class of 2020
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
When a virus threatened the health of the
community and took away the second half of
their senior year, nearly 1,500 students across
the CSRA were showered with love and attention
thanks to the efforts of one local lady and
countless others who just wanted to show they
cared.
Vonetta Jackson Parham says she was merely
inviting others to join a Facebook page that her
graduating nephew told her about — a page
based in Atlanta that put high school seniors up
for “adoption” so participants could send them
special gifts and words of encouragement as
everything they looked forward to about the year
was stripped away one by one until the final blow
— school was canceled for good and graduation
postponed.
“I received a message from my good friend and
fellow coach, Jamika Harvey,” Parham recalls.
“She asked me if I had considered creating a
group for Burke County. After a few days of
considering her suggestion, I decided to open it
up to all seniors attending schools in the CSRA.”
From that planted mustard seed grew a group
of thousands: 6,771 members and 1,431 adopted
seniors to be exact.
Race did not matter. School rivalries were no
part of the mix. Bears adopted Rebels; families
from public and private schools came together;
white arms hugged black necks; generosity
poured from hearts as easily as the tears of joy
from teens who’d been robbed of so much.
Burke County High School Class of 2020
graduate Wendell Stallings was angry when he
first heard the remainder of the school year was
canceled. “I felt as if it were unfair,” he says. “You
know the saying, ‘It’s too good to be true’ — well
I felt as that news were ‘too bad to be true.’ But I
started to use other ways to celebrate my senior
year and that really helped distract me from the
fact that I wasn’t going to see my friends again or
be able to thank some of my teachers in person for
helping me, it was just some of the little things.”
Those little things included hosting a Facebook
live to announce his choice for college and
making a short video of his cap and gown
pictures. “I got a lot of support from, and though
those things might not be as exciting as others, I
just used what I had to make the best opportunity
out of it.”
Then came Courtney Quick, a Waynesboro
woman who adopted Wendell through the
Facebook group.
“I knew the person who adopted me, but I
didn’t know her personally, so when she adopted
me and told me how proud she was of me I was
ecstatic; that’s where our bond really formed,”
Wendell says, recalling one of her gifts to him.
“I received a book called ‘The Total Money
Makeover’ by Dave Ramsey, and this is a finance
book she read that helped her. I did ask for a book
because in college I am taking the business track,
and I wanted to learn more about finances for
my career and my personal life. This made me
feel special, and I was so thankful for anything.”
The adoption process was simple; seniors
simply posted their pictures and information
about their high school careers, and page
members commented under the senior they
wanted to adopt. Students then filled out a form
about themselves, listing their likes, favorite
stores, etc., to make shopping easier on their
adopters. In the weeks that followed, packages
were mailed; many were hand delivered to the
homes of the seniors or through surprise visits
at work. Pictures and thank you messages
began filling the group page, as did scholarship
opportunities and offerings of free senior photo
sessions.
Sgt. Heather Bryant of the
Burke County Sheriff’s Office SEE
wanted to adopt every senior ADOPT A
she saw, but settled on two: GRADUATE,
Jaylen Proctor (BCHS) and iqA
Lauren Deloach (Edmund Burke
State primary is June 9
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
As early voting wraps
up this week, the state of
Georgia is preparing for its
primary election slated for
Tuesday, June 9. For Burke
Countians, a number of local
races will also be determined
or narrowed down for the
general election in November.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Laveme
Sello, executive director for the
Burke County Board of Elections
and Registration Office, said a total
of 477 citizens had opted to vote
early in person, and another 2,500
plus had already mailed in ballots.
Early voting will continue through
this Friday, June 5, at the office,
which is located on the first floor of
the old courthouse in Waynesboro.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sello also said the board discussed
the emergency rule passed by the
State Election Board which would
allow for early opening of absentee
ballots and decided that Burke
County would conduct business as
usual and not scan or open ballots
prior to the polls closing.
Precincts across the county will
open at 7 a.m. on election day, and
voters have until 7 p.m. to cast ballots.
Two local races will be determined
that evening: the bids for County
Commission District 5 and Burke
County Sheriff. In the commission
race, incumbent George DeLoach
i s b e i n g
challenged
by political STATE PRIMARY
newcomer Art 9A
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graduation
(Edition
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this weeh^s paper.
City approves rezoning
request on Jones Avenue
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Waynesboro City Council voted
Monday night to approve a rezoning
request that many Jones Avenue
neighbors had been debating for
months.
On a 4-2 vote, the request from
Chris Gibbie and Tim Mashburn to
rezone their historic property known
as “The Shadows” from R1 (Single
Family Residential/Low Density)
to R2 (Single Family Residential/
Medium Density) passed. Council
members Alberta Anderson, James
“Chick” Jones, Willie Williams and
Vickey Bates were for the request to
rezone. Prior to Anderson’s motion to
approve the request, council member
Bill Tinley motioned to deny it and
that motion was seconded by Dick
Byne with the other four council
members voting in opposition.
Citizens close to the owners
indicated the pair had been bullied
by neighbors who did not approve of
the couple’s lifestyle while neighbors
claim they did not want potential
parties and weddings to disrupt the
peaceful street.
Gibbie addressed council prior
to the vote, asking them to search
within their hearts for the answer.
“With everything happening in the
world right now ... vote for what
is best for your community,” he
said. “When I
go to meet my
maker, I won’t
be taking that
property with
SEE
JONES AVENUE,
7A
COVID Corner
COUNTY REPORTS
As of Tuesday afternoon, the B. Lamar Murray Public Health Center
reported a cumulative total of 118 positive COVID-19 cases. Of those,
six have resulted in death.
Gina Richardson, county nurse manager, said there is currently just
one active case of the virus here.
The map on the Georgia Department of Public Health website shows
a slightly higher number of overall cases for Burke but is reflective of
duplicates within the system.
The state reports a total of 47,899 positives cases with 562,815 tested.
Of the positives, 1,818 were admitted to an intensive care unit, 8,302
hospitalized and 2.089 resulted in death.
706-554-2114 www.mizellford.com Waynesboro, Ga.