Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, March 24, 2021, The True Citizen
Local woman tests
traditional expectations
Burke County High School graduate Kristin Sheppard performs
deenergized component testing March 12 at Plant Vogtle.
El Toro Taqueria opened its brand new location in Waynesboro complete with a large dining
area with handcrafted booths and bright murals as part of its recent expansion. Owners Juan and
Julie Vasquez turned what started as a food truck and then a takeout-only facility into a thriv
ing restaurant business that also now has a location in Grovetown. The ribbon cutting and grand
opening were held Tuesday afternoon as the Chamber helped the pair celebrate, along with city
and county officials, community leaders, friends and family. El Toro Taqueria is located at 1008
North Liberty Street in Waynesboro.
Published author has local ties
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Logo credit: By J.
Howard Miller - U.S.
National Archives
and Records Ad
ministration, Public
Domain, commons,
wikimedia.
Editor’s note: In 1987, the
United States Congress des
ignated March as Women’s
History Month after the Na
tional Women’s History Project
petitioned for the expansion
of the week-long observance.
Women’s History Month is a
time to reflect on the historical
contributions of women and to
highlight achievements in the
modern age. The women of
Burke County continue to over
come stereotypical barriers as
they step into roles tradition
ally associated with men.
A Burke County High School
graduate is plugging into the
benefits of working in a male-
dominated industry.
Waynesboro resident Kristin
Sheppard works as an electri
cian at Plant Vogtle Units 3 &
4 through IBEW Local Union
1579.
Construction was not always
where she set her sights. She
attended the University of
Phoenix and earned a Bachelor
of Science degree in healthcare
administration. She didn’t go
to work in the medical field,
but in 2015 joined a 5-year
electrician apprenticeship in
stead.
Her grandfather Bill Ham
mett was an electrician and
influenced her decision to work
in the construction industry.
“I saw the benefits and the
lifestyle he was able to live
based on the work that he was
able to do,” she said. “So, I fol
lowed in his footsteps.”
Sheppard tests instruments at
the nuclear power facility. She
identifies components as part
of the Start-Up process.
“So, we make sure the com
ponent is wired like it is sup
posed to be, we do tests to
make sure it will perform as
expected so when start up does
occur, there are no faults or
any issues with that particular
device,” Sheppard said.
The most challenging part
of entering the electrician ca
reer as a female was juggling
school and work with her
homelife. She is married and
has two children.
Now that she is established,
she sometimes senses pres
sure to work twice as hard as
her male co-workers to earn
their respect, she said. Once
she proves she’s capable of
doing the work she feels more
appreciated. As a female, she
believes she brings a balanced
perspective to the table.
“Diversity in itself and hav
ing different opinions on dif
ferent things can bring up new
ideas,” she said.“So overall
diversity as a total helps the
company grow.”
It was the apprenticeship
and the hands-on training that
allowed her to excel in her job.
She recommends the same path
to younger females who have
an interest in a career working
in electricity.
“It’s not easy, you are going
to get dirty,” she said. “If it’s
something they actually want
to do, I know they can do it.”
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Paige McLemore’s book
teaches forgiveness in the wake
of tragedy after her sister was
brutally murdered.
McLemore is the grand
daughter of life-long Burke
County residents Rabun and
Alma Scott. Her sister is
Waynesboro resident Angel
Avery, married to Wayne Co
chran.
In 1988, the Scott’s 19-year-
old granddaughter, Lee, was
shot at an Augusta business
where she was employed.
“After her murder, I was
lost,” McLemore said of her
sister. “Obviously hurt and
devastated, and that devasta
tion turned to anger.”
Lor about 25 years she tried
to find a way to deal with the
grief. It was through God’s
Word that she found the com
fort she needed to resolve the
inner conflict, she said. Even
tually, she came to forgive the
man who shot her sister.
“Linally, after a few years
with wrestling with what I
should do, I forgave myself
for a lot of past mistakes and
regrets like we all have,” she
said. “After I forgave myself, I
had this new freedom to really
think about what God wanted
me to do with my life.”
McLemore found that speak
ing about her new found free
dom, stemming from grace,
gave her a sense of purpose.
Her pastor encouraged her to
make a video that shared her
testimony. It received more
than 80,000 views on Lace-
book.
“It took off from there,”
McLemore said added that she
spent the next three years writ
ing a book about her spiritual
journey. She also began speak
ing at area churches.
Remembering Lee: The No
blest Revenge is to Lorgive,
was published in January. It is
available through her website
paigemclemore.com and from
Amazon.
Lirst United Methodist
Church, 802 North Liberty
St., Waynesboro, will be host
ing McLemore
April 2 at 10 a.m. There is no
charge to attend.
McLemore is a principal at
Augusta Christian Schools.
She is also a member of the
leadership team of Lirst Bap
tist Church of North Augusta,
S.C. where she serves as both
a teacher and a disciple group
leader.
Dining room open!
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