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Vol. 140, No. 39 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - $1.00
Honoring veterans
Local veterans were honored in a special annual Veterans Day ceremony held at Edmund Burke Academy on Monday
morning. Staff and students filled the bleachers while the guests of honor spread out across the football field. They were
treated to live music, the reading of essays by contest winners and a giant poster put together by students and staff dis
playing their photos and dates and branch of service. The program is organized each year by Phyllis Jenkins.
Time-honored tradition continues
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
As folks are gearing up
for the holidays, we here at
The True Citizen are also
preparing something for this
joyful season — our 42nd
annual Magic of Christmas
special edition.
The tradition, which
began in 1978, serves as
one big Christmas card to
the community, featuring
page upon page of photos of
children living in or connected
to Burke County as well as
seasons greetings from local
businesses and individuals
who want to share in the
spreading of cheer. Photos are
captioned with the children’s
names and lists their parents
and grandparents. Readers
say they enjoy making the
connections and watching
the children grow up on the
pages.
We are currently accepting
photos of your children and
grandchildren (up to age 18)
for our upcoming Dec. 23
edition, and there are three
ways to submit photos.
1. Do it all online at www.
thetmecitizen.com. Click the
Magic of Christmas button,
complete the form and upload
your photo. You may call the
office at 706.554.2111 or stop
by the office at 629 Shadrack
St. in Waynesboro to make
your payment.
2. Complete the form on
the ad (see page 2B), attach
your photo and bring with
your payment to our office
or mail it to P.O. Box 948,
Waynesboro, GA 30830.
3. Email information
along with digital photo to
tmecitizenchristmas @ yahoo.
com. Be sure to include credit
card information or call/come
in to make the payment.
The cost is $6 per child
featured in the photo. Pictures
should be of good quality,
black and white or color and
no smaller than 2x3 inches.
The cutest, most creative
photos will be featured
in color and possibly on
the front cover of the
special section. Printed
photos may be picked up
after the holidays. The
deadline is Wednesday,
Nov. 25, at 4 p .m. Late
submissions will be
accepted until 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 2,
at a cost of $12 per
child.
Call the office with
additional questions
concerning the Magic of
Christmas section. We look
forward to seeing and sharing
your photos.
Commission curb’s
Waldrop’s authority
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
The Burke County Board of
Commissioners has decided
to take control back when it
comes to the hiring and bring
of county employees.
The decision came during
the board’s regular monthly
meeting last Tuesday, but to
the disappointment of many
in attendance. Just before
the start of the meeting,
an item to change county
manager Merv Waldrop
back to county administrator
was placed on the agenda.
When the board reached
that item, county attorney
Barry Fleming produced an
ordinance, explaining that
upon its approval, Waldrop’s
title would change as would
his ability to hire and fire
certain county employees.
Art Lively, who will join the
board in January as District 5
commissioner, questioned
the decision. “Did he do
something wrong? Did he hire
the wrong person? Fire the
right person?” Lively asked.
“Why was this added to the
agenda at the last minute?
Why all of a sudden?”
District 1 Commissioner
Lucious Abrams addressed
Lively. “This is not a
demotion. It’s not anything
negative about Merv,” he
said, adding that Waldrop
does a “good” job. “We want
more accountability for our
constituents ... We need that
full control.”
Lively continued his
round of questions about the
commissioners having issues
with Waldrop and then said
he was going to ask what
many were wondering. “Is
this an attempt to hire Mr.
Lewis Blanchard (for the
EMA Director position)?”
“No, it’s not,” Commissioner
Evans Martin offered. “We’ve
got bve candidates and he’s
not one of
ccc
them, but we
would like to COMMISSION,
have him as 8A
SGA goes virtual
for two weeks
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
COVID-19 may have shut
down another local school,
but officials say the decision
is out of an overabundance
of caution.
SGA Elementary School,
which houses grades pre-K
through bfth, transitioned to
virtual learning Thursday,
Nov. 12, for two weeks.
According to Burke County
Public Schools Public
Information Officer Amy J.
Nunnally, one teacher and
one student were diagnosed
with COVID-19. All 203
students who were attending
face-to-face learning made
the temporary transition.
In a letter sent home to S GA
families, superintendent Dr.
Angela Williams said the
school system “considers
the health and well-being
of our students, teachers,
and staff to be of the
utmost importance. It is
with that in mind that this
letter is being sent home
for your information. We
are committed to ensure the
safest environment for our
students and staff.”
The letter went on to say
that students will resume
face-to-face instruction
on Nov. 30, following
Thanksgiving break and that
if a child had direct contact
with a positive case, another
letter would be sent.
“We will continue to work
closely with local public
health officials to ensure the
proper recommendations
are followed to clean and
disinfect our school facility
and act in the best interest of
our students, teachers, and
staff,” Williams continued,
encouraging parents to
continue picking up meal
boxes from the school.
According to the school
system’s weekly COVID-19
report, released on Monday,
a total of four new cases
were reported amongst the
2,603 face-to-face students
as well as two
employees
from its staff
of 826.
SEE
SGA,
3A
Downtown Open House is Sunday
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Waynesboro’s very own
version of Black Friday is
happening this weekend,
except it’s on Sunday.
The Downtown
Development Authority
(DDA) will host its annual
Downtown Christmas Open
House on Sunday, Nov. 22,
from 1-5 p.m.
One of the most successful
shopping days of the year
locally, the event is a hit for
business owners and shoppers
alike who love the various
deals and super sales they
find in Waynesboro’s unique
storefront downtown.
“Our downtown is still
thriving, and in the times of
COVID-19, we are so proud
to be able to say that,” said
DDA Director Don Lively.
“Our business owners do a
wonderful job at staying in
touch with the community,
especially on social media,
but they love to see customers
face-to-face. We are
looking forward to having a
beautiful Sunday afternoon
in downtown Waynesboro
with safe and fun shopping
experiences for everyone.”
Following tradition, DDA
will have a free giveaway
for the first 100 shoppers
who complete punch card
requirements. This year, the
board will offer a canvas bag
emblazoned with “Historic
Downtown Waynesboro, Bird
Dog Capital of the World”
and of course, the signature
picture of a bird dog.
Check out The True
Citizen’s Facebook page this
week for live interviews with
business owners who will be
giving sneak peaks on some
of their favorite items.
“Each of our downtown
businesses is so special,
and boy do they step up for
this event every year. I’m
amazed at their creativity
and dedication. I hope our
community will continue to
support them and this event,”
Lively concluded.
F150XL
$32,940
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PRICES DEALER RETAINS REBATE PLUS DEALER FEE, THAT FEE, GA WARRANTY RIGHTS FIE, TITLE AND TAG FEES
706-554-2114 www.mizellford.com Waynesboro, Ga.