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Vol. 140, No. 20 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - $1.00
Commissioners match grant to hire more deputies
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
The Burke County Board
of Commissioners has voted
unanimously to match a federal
grant totaling more than half a
million dollars to create six new
positions at the sheriff’s office.
Last month, the Department
of Justice announced the Burke
County Sheriff’s Office was
one of 596 agencies across the
nation selected as a recipient of
the Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS Office) COPS
Hiring Program (CHP) and one of
just 11 in the state of Georgia. Of the
nearly $400 million in funds being
awarded to state, local and tribal law
enforcement agencies, BCSO will
receive $649,679 to assistant with
funding the salaries of six additional
deputies.
In a called meeting on July 1,
Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo
Williams asked the commissioners
for their support as the grant requires
a match from the county.
“The Department of Justice sees
that we are underfunded, and we are
desperately in need of this,” Williams
told the commission, explaining
that the additional officers will add
another person to each shift and help
with patrolling more efficiently and
in reducing response times, which
has been one of his goals since he
was first elected nearly four years
ago. “We need more personnel
during peak hours.”
BCSO Maj. Chester Huffman
stressed that the match required for
the grant is not $650,000 upfront
but would be stretched out over
the next four years. For the first
year, he explained, the grant covers
75 percent of salaries; the second
year, 50 percent; and the third, 25.
During the fourth year, the county is
responsible for funding 100 percent
of the cost and then may chose to
eliminate the positions after the
fourth year expires.
County manager Merv Waldrop
submitted a breakdown of what
the county would pay, factoring in
benefits and uniforms not covered
by the grant, for a grand total of
$688,010.32, which Huffman said
was a close estimate to his own
figures. Waldrop’s gEE
breakdown showed nPDimpc;
a total of $57,621.16 b ’
needed for 2021; 3A
Various fireworks shows lit up the skies across Burke County in celebration of the Fourth of July, like the Fireworks
Extravaganza that had 7-year-old Noah Oglesby mesmerized on Saturday. The show, organized by Britt Marchman,
takes place at the Waynesboro Country Club each year, overlooking the water while patriotic music plays in the
background. On Friday night, the Downtown Development Authority‘s annual Mad Anthony’s Big Boom Fireworks
Extravaganza was a big hit over at Jonathan Broxton Park. Though show-goers weren’t able to socialize as usual
due to the current coronavirus pandemic, citizens said they were thrilled to still even have a local show and gave
kudos to those who helped make it happen. The nearly $10,000 event was funded solely through donations provided
by local individuals and businesses. See 7A for pictures
COVID cases rising
here and nationally
DIANA ROYAL • jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Positive cases of the coronavirus continue to rise at alarming
rates across the U.S., and Burke County is not exempt from
the spikes; since Sunday, local health officials say the county
has tallied another 35 confirmed positives for a total of 171,
including seven deaths, since COVID-19 was first reported here.
Gina Richardson, county nurse manager at B. Lamar
Murray Public Health Center, says the new cases do not
indicate a cluster. In fact, the cases are wide spread, and they
predominately fall in the 20-60 age category.
Numbers at the Plant Vogtle Units 3&4 construction site
have increased as well. The last number provided from Georgia
Power included 45 active cases and nearly 300 total overall
since testing began. The company also announced the first
positive case at Units 1&2 over the weekend.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), people still asymptomatic for 10 days after testing
positive are most likely not contagious anymore. It is not
recommended that they get tested again as they could still test
positive for up to 45 days. Anyone in contact with someone
who tested positive should quarantine for 14 days after their
last exposure, regardless of being asymptomatic. The CDC
recommends that those exposed to a known case get tested on
day 10 of quarantine.
Richardson stressed the importance of wearing a mask. “They
do help,” she said, adding that they must be worn properly,
not below the nose, to be effective. “Please empathize to wear
masks. If you are tested, please isolate until your results are
received. We can only stop the spread together.”
Mask mandates are coming to colleges within the University
System of Georgia (USG).
All students, faculty, staff and visitors to the system’s 26
college and university campuses will be required to wear masks
beginning July 15, according to a statement released by USG
officials on Monday.
The policy says wearing masks is not a substitute for social
distancing, which will continue to be required where possible.
There are some exceptions to the policy, including inside “in
one’s own dorm room or suite, when alone in an enclosed office
or study room, or in campus outdoor settings where social
distancing requirements are met.” The policy continues on to
state that “anyone not using a face covering when required will
be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to
comply with the requirement may result in discipline through
the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students.”
Those suffering from one or more underlying documented
medical conditions are allowed to request an exemption from
the mask-wearing requirement. Conditions include asthma,
high blood pressure, obesity, pregnancy, serious heart disease
and type 2 diabetes.
Burke families to receive free boxes of produce
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Hundreds of families in Burke
County will be receiving hefty
boxes of fresh, free produce
thanks to the public school system
becoming part of a federal program.
Earlier this month, Burke County
Public Schools joined the Farmers
to Families Food Box Program,
which was birthed alongside
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue’s Coronavirus
Food Assistance Program. Donna
Martin, BCPS School Nutrition
Program Director, explained that
through this program, the USDA
partners with both regional and
local distributors whose workforce
has been significantly impacted by
the closure of restaurants, hotels
and other food service entities, to
purchase up to $3 billion in fresh
produce, dairy and meat products.
The program is currently providing
hundreds of millions of dollars each
month in fresh fruits and vegetables
and dairy and meat products to food
banks, community and faith-based
organizations and other nonprofits
across the country.
“This is an amazing opportunity
for our county,” Martin said. “It not
only helps the farmers, but
helps our community, too.”
Beginning today
(Wednesday), 720 boxes
of fruits and vegetables,
weighing in at 20 pounds
each, will be
distributed ^EE
to Burke FREE
families PRODUCE,
on a first 2A