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Page 12 — Wednesday, January 6, 2021, The True Citizen
Year-end review Continued from 2
Lively
Continued from 4
limit us to just the state of
Georgia,” she said, adding that
the search for a new chief can
now reach nationwide.
Obituaries included Leola
Butler Armstrong and Imogene
Jones.
October 28
Though there will be more
masks than usual this year, the
tradition of Trick or Treat on
Liberty Street will go on.
The event, sponsored
by DOOR (the Downtown
Organization of Retailers)
is this Friday, Oct. 30, from
3-5 p.m. in Downtown
Waynesboro.
DOOR cochair and event
organizer Lindsey Beazley
Keller promises a fun and safe
time, even though the spookiest
part has been canceled this
year.
“Due to COVID, we aren’t
able to offer our haunted
hayride,” she said, noting
the ride, sponsored by J & B
Tractor and featuring “Uncle
Homer” and his tales of terror,
is a downtown favorite for
children. “We have to keep
social distancing practices in
place.”
Obituaries included Richard
“Rick” Michael Ford, Josh
Jeffrey Mobley, Virginia
Knight, Johnnie Mae “Julia”
Holloway, William Meredith
May, Jr., Elizabeth Jones
and James Boholor “Jimmy”
Rowell, III.
November 4
With 16 precincts reporting
and approximately 1,000
absentee ballots left to count,
there are few clear winners in
the general election.
Locally, County Commission
District 1 and District 3
incumbents, Lucious Abrams
and Evans Martin, respectively,
look to have large enough
margins to declare victory.
Abrams garnered 1,139 votes
(57.26 percent) to challenger
Rodney Braswell, who had
42.74 percent with 850 votes,
and Martin had 64.90 percent
(1,368 votes) to George
Wimberly’s 740 votes (35.10
percent).
A total of 359 early voters
chose Braswell while 329
went with Abrams, and of the
absentee ballots counted so
far, 62 were for Braswell while
that number quadrupled for
Abrams, who had 332. Martin
and Wimberly had similar
absentee numbers, 134 to 176,
respectively, but 690 early
voters came out for Martin
while Wimberly had 326.
Incumbent Clerk of Superior
Court Radeta Smith also
had a large margin over her
competitor Karen Ellison,
claiming 54.60 percent (5,384)
of the votes to Ellison’s 45.40
percent (4,477). Early voters
picked Ellison 2,399 to Smith’s
2(219, but as seemed to be the
trend for most Democrats,
the absentee numbers nearly
quadrupled with Smith earning
1,514 to Ellison’s 365.
The race for probate judge
was close, with incumbent
Republican Rex Myers earning
50.48 percent (4,980 votes)
over Democrat Ashley Moore
Jr.’s 49.52 percent (4,885).
Moore had 1,433 absentee
votes compared to Myers’
456. In early voting, Myers
had 2,693 while Moore picked
up 1,926.
Obituaries included Jones
Milledge “Scrap” Gresham,
Elnoro Moody Jenkins, Agnes
Thomas Stokes and William
Edward Mack Gordon.
November 11
On Saturday, Joe Biden was
declared the 46th President of
the United States of America,
following several days
of anticipation while vote
counting continued. Biden
won both the electoral college
(290-214) and popular vote; his
76,405,737 votes (50.8 percent)
broke the record for the most
ever cast for a presidential
candidate. Incumbent Donald
Trump received 47.5 percent
(71,494,613 votes). In addition
to Biden’s record breaking
results, his running mate
and current vice president
elect Kamala Harris will
be the first female, the first
African American, the first
Asian American and the first
Caribbean American to hold
the post in the history of the
United States.
Obituaries included James
I. Gatliff, Carl M. Bargeron,
Rose Miles Kent, Juwannecia
Shanekia Buxton, Sammie
Moten, Sr. and Dennis Adams.
November 18
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 bre 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.”
Obituaries included Jonathan
“Clay” Walden, Lucille Mells
Ervin, Timothy Donald Smith,
Iris “Gail” Redd Oglesby,
Willie Lee Rountree and
Denise R. Scott.
November 25
After a tumultuous season
due to injuries and a national
health crisis, Edmund Burke
Academy came out of its
regular season of football as
the region champions.
The Spartans (5-6,2-1) won
the Backyard Battle Friday
night against long time region
rival Briarwood Academy,
clinching the title with a 30-14
victory over the Buccaneers and
earning another coveted week
of football practice during the
Thanksgiving break. Things
didn’t look good for Edmund
Burke going into halftime as
they trailed Briarwood, who
was undefeated in region play,
7-6. But they found a spark in
the locker room and came back
to dominate.
Obituaries included Shirley
Jean Godbee Crews and Danny
E. Flakes.
December 2
One of the community’s most
treasured events continues this
Friday evening with some
alterations to make it COVID-
friendly.
The traditional Victorian
stroll of carolers and crafts
for kids are two of the biggest
casualties in this year’s
Christmas on Liberty Square,
followed by the train rides and
cookies with Mrs. Claus, but
now more than ever, according
to event organizer and DOOR
co-chair Lindsey Beazley
Keller, we need to remember
what Christmas is all about.
“This event is a time to
spend with family, to see old
friends and share a cup of hot
chocolate or a meal at one of
our local restaurants,” Keller
said. “While it may not look
the same, the spirit behind it is
stronger than ever, and we all
need some good cheer.”
Despite the changes and
stricter guidelines in light
of the pandemic, nearly two
dozen vendors will be on site
with everything from chili
fries and boiled peanuts to
handcrafted ornaments, toys
and pens.
Obituaries included Robert
“Bob Bums, Martha Jo “Marty”
Waters Brantley, Joe Norris
Kelly, Elizabeth Coleman-
Jones and Warren Harden.
December 9
Burke County has a new
Emergency Management
Agency Director.
Interim Director Chief
Steven Mathews was appointed
to the position during Tuesday
night’s regular commission
meeting at the recommendation
of county administrator Merv
Waldrop. Commissioner Evans
Martin made the motion,
which was seconded by
Lucious Abrams and passed
unanimously. Mathews, who
became interim director after
the retirement of Chief Rusty
Sanders, is no stranger to the
county or the job; he’s been
employed at Burke County
EMA for the past 32 years and
was, according to Waldrop,
the most qualified of the 14
candidates who applied for the
position.
Obituaries included Frances
Tanham Speer.
CONTINUED ON
PAGE 13
I can only assume their de
light was genuine. What else
could they say?
Finally, I lived through 2020
without getting Covid 19,
which was supposed to be so
contagious trillions of us were
supposed to die.
Thank you, Lord, that "they"
got a lot wrong and that 99
percent of us survived.
Comfort the families of those
who didn't.
And while I'm thanking
you, Lord, thank you for the
past year and all the lessons it
brought.
And thank you that it's gone.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A petition has been filed with the Burke County Planning Commission,
requesting a variance of the Burke County Land Development Code
for this property. 805 McManus Rd. Hephizbah GA. (Map-Parcel
: 062-0261. A public hearing will be held at The Burke County Court
House, located at 602 North Liberty St. Waynesboro GA. 30830 on
01/26/2021 at 7:00 p.m. If approved, the variance would allow for a
reduced setback from 500ft to 25ft for the enlargement of an exist
ing mining operation. All those in favor of or objecting to this petition
should be present to voice their support or objection.
For more information call:
Burke County Planning Commission
(706)554-8758
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A petition for zoning amendment has been filed with the Burke County
Board of Zoning Appeals, requesting the zoning a portion of this prop
erty: 845 Corley Rd. Blythe GA (Map-Parcel: 053-003At be changed
from zone R1 to zone Al, for the purpose of combining this par
cel with parcel 053-003. A public hearing will be held at The Burke
County Court House, located at 602 North Liberty St. Waynesboro
GA. 30830 on 01/26/2021 at 7:00 p.m. All those in favor of or object
ing to this petition should be present to voice their support or objection.
For more information call:
Burke County Planning Commission
(706)554-8758
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A petition for zoning amendment has been filed with the Burke County
Board of Zoning Appeals, requesting the zoning a portion of this prop
erty: 805 McManus Rd. Henhizbah GA. (Man-Parcel: 062-0261 be
changed from zone Al to zone 12, for the purpose of enlarging an ex
isting mining operation. A public hearing will be held at The Burke
County Court House, located at 602 North Liberty St. Waynesboro
GA. 30830 on 01/26/2021 at 7:00 p.m. All those in favor of or object
ing to this petition should be present to voice their support or objection.
For more information call:
Burke County Planning Commission
(706)554-8758
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