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Vol. 141, No. 30 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 -$1.00
Facing up to
Gough’s challenges
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Editor’s note: This is part 1 of a
3-part series examining the chal
lenges the Gough community must
tackle in order to overcome its
stunted growth.
Tackling Gough’s issues requires
more than just the willingness to
change and grow.
The Gough Improvement Associa
tion is in the process of obtaining a
501 (c) (3) status so that its members
have better access to funds that will
assist in restoring and rebuilding the
community. They are anticipating
that will give them the credentials
they need to obtain funding to help
solve a portion of the issues Gough
faces.
“The biggest challenge we are
finding is the zoning,” Secretary
Manessa Stokes said last month.
“The way the parcels are already di
vided here. A lot of the homeowners
only have quarter acre and half acre
lots and you need at least an acre to
build on.”
An acre of land is deemed the
minimum amount allowable for a
septic, well, absorption field and
replacement absorption field, ac
cording to Environmental Health
Specialist Stephen Murray.
He said if he gets a call for a new
residence in Gough, he is mandated
to let people know they have to have
an acre of land in order for a well and
septic system to meet the County’s
distance requirements.
“The county has an ordinance that
you have to have an acre,” he said.
“That is part of the deal.”
The county’s Land Development
Code has adopted the state septic
tank rules by reference. The County
Code will allow for development on
non-conforming lots but requires ap
proval from the Health Department
for septic tanks. Making an excep
tion of the ordinance in Gough is
a possibility but only if the Health
Department will approve it based on
the state regulations. What prevents
the county from putting in a well in
Gough so that each small parcel only
needs a septic, is the cost of the well
and treatment system, according to
County Manager Merv Waldrop.
“A county system will require
treatment of the water & testing. It
will also require metering and billing
for the use of water. All this costs
money and will have to have enough
customers willing to buy water from
the county to make the
system viable,” he said. SEE
When the county QOUGH
looked at Keysville, they ’
Vr. Voyles
celebrates
<wtw
birthday
Dr. Walter Voyles received a very special
visit for his 99th birthday. The first-sixth
grade children’s Sunday school classes
of First Baptist Church, Waynesboro
stopped by to help the doctor celebrate.
Pictured above, are, from left, front row:
Asa Murray, Aiden Olver, Sammy Lever,
Graham Olver, Nora Coursey, Wren Wil
liams, Emree Williams, Josie Coursey,
Betsy Murray, Hailey Hardeman, Austin
Hardeman and Rett Hardeman; and
back row: Gail Voyles, Ruby Mack, Dr.
Voyles, Made Doyen, Garrett Doyen and
Susannah Murray. Pictured at right, Dr.
and Mrs. Voyles display an arrangement
from Velma Bragg.
Bringing out the best at BCPS
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A small group of Burke County
Public Schools faculty discussed
the unexpected positive impact the
pandemic brought to the educational
system September 13.
Kenesha Reddick is the reigning
District Teacher of the Year and also
holds the position of Instructional
Technology Coach at the middle
school.
“Coming out of the
RPPQ
pandemic,” she said 1
making quotes with her 8
BCPS educators spoke about the unexpected positive effects of the
pandemic September 13. (left to right) Kenesha Reddick, Jami Walden,
Wanda Parrish and James Epp.
Lane qualifies to run for
Board of Education seat
From Staff Reports
A father of three students in the
public school system has announced
his candidacy for the District 5 seat
on the Burke County Board of Edu
cation.
Guy “Franklin” Lane Jr. qualified
this week for the special election that
will determine who fills the seat left
vacant by late veteran BOE chairman
John M. “Johnny” Jenkins.
Lane, a reactor operator with no
previous political experience, said
he decided to run after being ap
proached by several residents in
District 5 encouraging him to serve.
“I obviously have a vested interest
in my children’s education,” he said,
referring to his own three children
attending Waynesboro Primary and
Blakeney Elementary schools. “I
believe in the importance of Burke
County Public Schools offering all
students excellence in education,
vocational and athletic programs. I
also understand the significance of
the BOE as one of the county’s larg
est employers and how critical the
school system is to our community’s
economic development.”
In addition, Lane pointed out
the importance of the BOE, which
receives the largest share of county
property taxes, when it comes to
SPOOKY STORY CONTEST
NOW UNDERWAY
It’s time for local students to tell us their tales of terror.
This week, The True Citizen will begin accepting submissions for our an
nual Spooky Story Contest, open to fifth and sixth grade
students enrolled in either public, private or home
school in Burke County.
We are looking for creative, original stories.
They should have a great plot and be frightening
enough to make us lose sleep at night! Students
should avoid graphic violence and plots found in
movies and books, such as killer clowns or super
spooky dolls.
Stories can be entered one of two ways: mail or
bring them to our office, located at 629 Shadrack St. in
Waynesboro (there is a dropbox beside the door) or email submissions to
tmecitizennews@live.com. Entries must be typed and should be no more than
500 words. Handwritten entries will not be accepted. They must also include
the author’s first and last name, grade, the teacher’s first and last name and the
school the child attends. If these guidelines are not followed, the submission
will be ineligible for the contest.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, Oct. 14, by 5 p.m. Finalists’
stories will mn in our Halloween edition on Oct. 27 and will be posted online
for our readers to vote on.
The winner will receive a pizza party for the whole class, compliments of
Papa’s Pizza to Go.
Guy “Franklin” Lane Jr
spending tax dollars wisely.
While a newcomer to politics,
Lane has been involved in the com
munity for the past decade, from
coaching youth ball teams to serving
on the Wimberly House Ministries
Board of Directors. He devotes much
of his time serving on the Board of
Tmstees at the Waynesboro United
Methodist Church as well.
“These experiences g^
have taught me how to
find common ground, LANE,
work effectively with oth- 3
ers that may have a dif-
VACCINE
310 ECrl
Coronavirus COVID-19
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