Newspaper Page Text
o
04
^3*
■'3-
O
04
OJ
Vol. 141, No. 33 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, October 6,2021 - $1.00
City denies reported embezzlement accusations
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net
City of Waynesboro officials are
saying that “no theft or wrongdoing
has occurred” after Augusta radio
talk show host Austin Rhodes al
leged on Oct. 1 that an employee
is suspected of embezzling over
$120,000.
In a Facebook post, Rhodes said
that even though elected officials
are aware of the allegation, they
are “refusing to call in the GBI to
investigate.”
In a statement issued Monday, City
Manager Valerie Kirkland said that
the city “is aware of the accusations
made against the Municipal Court
concerning the collection of fines”
and that the city is conducting an
internal investigation and reviewing
the court’s financial records.
Recently the city announced it
would no longer accept cash for
municipal court fines. There was no
explanation for the change in policy.
Kirkland said the city will con
tinue the investigation and “will
update as needed.”
HH
Ruby Barefield poses for a photo in front of the birthday cake decorated in her favorite color, lavender 03
(Front, left to right) sons James, Ralph, Ruby, and daughters Lynn and Susan. Back, left to right) son
Randy and daughter Mary
Ruby Barefield turned
100 years old October 2
Susan Jones (left) traveled from Texas to celebrate the 100th
birthday of her mother Ruby Barefield (right).
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The life-long resident of Burke
County grew up in Girard. She
worked at The True Citizen for 40
years, until the age of 96, in the
job shop printing services.
Ruby is the mother of 10 chil
dren, four of whom she has
outlived. She is a grandmother
to 21 grandchildren, 42 great
grandchildren and 13 great-
great-grandchildren. Herhusband
Woodrow Barefield passed away
in 1976.
The thoughtful, soft-spoken
woman has witnessed a lot of
changes over the last century.
She recalls pulling water up from
a well. Technology has changed
the way people communicate
over the years. Ruby remembers
walking from house to house in
order to talk to people she knew.
“Now we have the telephone,”
she said.
There are societal changes that
Ruby feels have taken a turn for
the worse over the decades. People
have become more insincere over
the years. In contrast, Ruby is
about as sincere as it gets. Her
daughter Susan traveled from
Texas for the afternoon potluck
birthday celebration, attended by
approximately 35 people. She and
her husband Bob talked about the
attributes that define her mother’s
personality. Bob piped in that she
is the best mother-in-law that a
person could have.
He admires her ®^E
genuine character BAREFIELD,
and compassion for 2A
Several qualify for
city council races
From Staff Reports
Two political newcomers, a previ
ous councilman and two incumbents
have qualified to run in the Nov.
2 general election for the City of
Waynesboro.
Longtime councilman Richard
“Dick” Byne qualified for Ward 1,
Post 4 and runs unopposed for the
seat.
Alberta Anderson, who currently
serves Ward 2, Post 5, did not seek
re-election. Voters will choose be
tween two familiar faces: former vice
mayor Herman Brown and Waynes
boro native Maurice McBride.
Brown, 63, served the city under
the leadership of the late mayor
Pauline Jenkins.
A graduate of SGA High School,
Brown went on to earn an associ
ate degree in data processing from
Phillips Junior College in Augusta.
He retired from the United States
Army and is a member and deacon
of Thompson Bridge Baptist Church.
He has four adult daughters, 10
grandchildren and one great grand
child.
McBride, 45, also known to many
as Doc McBreezy, is a recording
artist and children’s book author.
A member of Burke County High
School’s Class of 1994, the former
Bear earned his bachelor’s degree in
business information management
from DeVry University. He also
holds MBAs in management and
marketing from AIU in Atlanta and
earned his PhD in business/organi
zational management from Capella
University. Currently a business
Richard “Dick”
Byne
Herman Brown
Maurice
McBride
Willie “LeRoy”
Williams
owner and pro
fessor at Paine
College, Mc
Bride is a new
comer to the po
litical arena but
has served on the
board of direc
tors for a number
of organizations
across the state.
He is the son of
Dr. Vickie McBride and the grandson
of Thomas and Mattie Lee McBride.
Incumbent for Ward 3, Post 6,
Willie “LeRoy” Williams, has also
sought re-elec
tion. He is being ®EE
challenged by CITY COUNCIL,
HerMonica Giv- 3A
HerMonica
Givens Bennett
Emotions run
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Political controversy erupted last
week in Sardis.
The City Council is hosting a pre
election town hall for the first time
October 10. After the announcement
of the event, Co-Pastor Loretta Elli
son Jones of the Gospel Explosions
Word Ministry posted on Facebook
September 28 that a previous town
hall meeting September 21 qualified
as the city’s first official pre-election
town hall event.
“Everyone can be great in their
own right, but there is only ONE Dr.
Loretta Ellison Jones,” the post read
and she later added, “Sardis statistics
are below poverty levels and the fo
cus should be more on bettering the
city than a political circus.”
high in Sardis
The October 10 event is the first
official forum ever sponsored by
the city.
The following candidates have
qualified for the November election:
Mayor - Carol Edmonds (Incum
bent) and Roger Lane; city council
- Jonathan Cates, Wade Herndon,
Angela Allen, Rolene Oliver (Incum
bent) and Terry Winston.
Councilwoman Rolene Oliver
and Mayoral candidate Roger Lane
were the only two candidates who at
tended the church’s town hall event,
according to Jones’ Facebook post
that includes the itinerary. Even so,
Oliver said she thought the meeting
was helpful and encouraging to citi
zens who attended.
“The city’s meet-the-
candidates (event) will SARDIS,
give the community the 8A
Get Your
COVID-19 VACCINE
Brought to you by
V\
CVS • B. LAMAR MURRAY PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
CLARK BRUG CG. • MEBICAL SPECIALIST
WALGREENS* WALMART
330 US HWY. 25 NORTH, WAYNESBORO - 706-554-2114 - www.mizellford.com