Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - $1.00
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Vol. 141, No. 17 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Commissioners protest judicial funding
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Commissioner Lucious
Abrams and Chairwoman
Terri Kelly spoke out during
the June 8 meeting about
funding to be appropriated
to Columbia County after the
judicial split.
Abrams pointed out that up
to the split, Columbia County
had been part of the circuit for
150 years with no problems.
He insinuated the move to
split the counties was racially
motivated. He felt Columbia
County was rewarded by the
Senate Budget and Evaluation
Office which drafted the Con
ference Committee Substitute
toH.B. 81.
Abrams pointed out that the
state appropriated millions of
dollars toward the new Co
lumbia County circuit through
the amendment which was
supported by Burke County
attorney Barry Fleming.
Section 27.10 directs
$850,499 from the Augusta
Circuit to the newly created
Columbia County Circuit.
Kelly reiterated Abram’s
stance on funding the new
Columbia County circuit.
“We also need money, so
where is our money,” Kelly
asked. “We are concerned
about our citizens and our
financial situation in this re
arrangement of this judicial
circuit, we were pretty much
put out with no funding.”
Fleming showed no emo
tion while the commission
ers spoke. Commissioners
Tommy Nix, Art Fively and
Evans Martin did not com
ment.
The commissioners are
not the only ones who feel
harmed by the judicial split.
A lawsuit filed by attorney
Willie Saunders, April 28,
against Colum
bia, Burke and
Richmond Coun
ties along with
Governor Brian
SEE
FUNDING,
7
Fulton County Senior Judge Gail S. Tusan is presiding over
a lawsuit filed April 28 by attorney Willie Saunders, against
Columbia, Burke and Richmond Counties along with Gov
ernor Brian Kemp.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Carlton Holmes, Torrance Crumbley and Tori Crumbley at
Augusta Technical College in Waynesboro.
Local man honors
stepdadon Father ’sDay
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Burke County native Carl
ton Holmes will celebrate Fa
ther’s Day honoring the man
he credits with shaping him
into the person he is today.
When Carlton was 2 years
old, Torrance Crumbley as
sumed the role of stepdad.
“God allowed my dad, Tor
rance, to come into my life
and be the dad that I needed,”
Carlton said with conviction
in his voice.
Now 27 years old, Carlton
can’t say enough about the
positive impact his stepparent
had on him. He credits him
with leadership and guidance
that left a lasting impression.
Torrance taught him not to
just be a leader, but to be a
good leader. He equipped
Carlton with the insight to
walk away from what he
knew was wrong.
“He is a hard-working man
and a straight forward per
son,” Carlton said. “He al
ways told me what was right
and what was wrong. He
always gave me great advice.”
Torrance treated Carlton as
if he was his own.
“He always tried to make
sure me and my sister Tori
and his son Brandon stayed on
track,” Carlton said. “He was
always working and always
was a provider.”
Torrance offered Carlton
support when it came to
playing sports like football,
track and wrestling at Burke
County High
School. Some of
Carlton’s most
treasured mem
ories are going
to the gym with
him after football
practices. While
they worked out
together, Tor
rance offered
the youngster
inspiration and
encouragement to
excel on the field.
“He always motivated me
to work hard and strive for
greatness,” Carlton pointed
out.
Torrance impressed upon
his stepson the importance of
respect. It is something that
Carlton carries with him as an
Torrance Crumbley was there when Carlton
Holmes received an academic scholarship
from Paine College.
adult. He enabled the young
man to take pride in himself.
“He always used to say,
‘You don’t have to be the
smartest person in the world,
but a good appearance and a
good name gEE
will take
FATHER'S DAY
13
you a long
way in life,”
Sardis addresses
EPD sludge issue
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Georgia Environmental
Protection Division is moni
toring copper levels at the
Sardis wastewater treatment
plant.
The city is under a con
sent order to address non-
compliance and is working
under a corrective action
plan to reduce copper levels
in its wastewater, according
to Engineer Consultant John
McClellan.
“During normal site in
spections, the EPD has been
made aware of the current
sludge levels in the aeration
basin. Recent upgrades to
the wastewater treatment
plant converted the ‘treat
ment pond’ into an ‘aeration
basin,’” said Operator Jon
Tindall of Tindall Enterprises.
“Recently, due to excessive
copper concentrations in the
system, the EPD has made
suggestions that the sludge
be removed from the aeration
basin.”
The Department sent a let
ter dated May 4 asking the
city to remove the sludge
at a cost, that McClellan
said, ranges from $80,000 to
$100,000.
The issue is not with the
city’s well, but in the waste-
water pond. Drinking water
has separate levels that are
monitored. They are in com
pliance on the drinking water
side, McClellan said. Tindall
agreed that the well does not
have a copper issue.
McClellan said he does not
believe the volume of sludge
is high enough to demand its
removal.
In response to the EPD’s
request, the city sent a letter,
dated June 8, requesting the
division waive
the require-
ment to move SARDIS,
the sludge 14
Citizens encouraged to
weigh-in on RV issue
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Cathy Fowler first noticed
a variance sign in February
requesting a reduced roadway
right of way for an RV park on
the comer of Story Mill and
Winter Roads.
During the public hear
ing for the request, Feb. 23,
2021, the Burke County Plan
ning Commission met with
a packed house. Many in
attendance were residents of
the Big Bend Neighborhood,
which abuts the property for
which the variance was re
quested. Most attendees were
not in favor of an RV Park in
their area. The commission
tabled the issue.
Since then, the landowner
has withdrawn the variance
request.
In response to the citizens’
concerns, the commission
requested a 90-
day moratorium gEE
on commercial ^
and recreational ^
campgrounds.
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BURHOUNTYlANDl
DEvWIPMEN'HiSODE '
HAS ELEN REQUESTED j
FOR THIS W
PROPERfJI
AS FOLLOWS:
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This variance sign requesting a reduced roadway right of way
for an RV park on the corner of Story Mill and Winter Roads
in February sparked citizens’ interest.
DC
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APPRECIATIONlCASH
OFFER ENDS 7/6/21 - EXCLUDES BRONCO SPORT
330 US HWY. 25 NORTH, WAYNESBORO ■ 706-554-2114 - www.mizellford.com