Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 141, No. 34 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - $1.00
Standoff
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Sherriff’s
Office’s Special Response Team
and negotiators responded to a bar
ricaded subject incident Monday at
20 Magnolia Acres Drive.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., BCSO
deputies and investigators arrived on
the scene in an attempt to arrest
26-year-old Nakie Hankerson. Han-
kerson had outstanding warrants for
his arrest stemming from a shooting
incident that occurred August 31 in
Waynesboro. The charges included
at Magnolia Acres ends peacefully
aggravated assault, possession of a
firearm during the commission of
a crime and possession of a firearm
by a convicted felon or first offender,
according to an official BCSO state
ment provided by Captain Randall
Norman.
“Investigators learned from indi
viduals in the area that Hankerson
had previously made threats of
violence against law enforcement,
made indications that he was armed
and would not willingly comply with
orders of law enforcement or go back
to jail. As investigators approached
the residence, a female subject
emerged and was safely removed
from the area. After confirming Han
kerson was inside of the residence,
BCSO deputies and investigators
began calling out for Hankerson to
come out peacefully.
Officers learned there was an
other female subject still inside of
the residence and was unfamiliar
with her status,” Norman said in the
statement.
Additional BCSO deputies,
Waynesboro Police
Officers and Investiga- SEE
tors responded to the STANDOFF,
scene to assist. Unable 7 a
Twenty-six-year-old Nakie Hankerson was arrested October 11 after more
than 3 hours of negotiations.
—WALDEN NAMED —
BCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR
She said she has to keep check
ing to make sure they really said
her name, but the announcement
during halftime at the Bears’
football game Friday night was
loud and clear: The 2022 Dis
trict Teacher of the Year is Jami
Walden.
With 17 years under her belt
in first, second and fifth grade
classrooms, Walden, currently
a first grade teacher at Waynes
boro Primary School, was still
shocked and humbled to receive
the county’s top teacher nod.
“I don’t feel like I do any of this
alone,” she said, giving kudos to
her educator peers, support staff
and administration. “To know that I
was chosen out of a large team of the
best leaves me feeling completely
in awe. I thank God for the gifts
and talents he has given me, and I
pray that all I do with it completely
honors him.”
Walden, who earned a bachelor’s
degree in early childhood education
and a specialist degree in instruction
and curriculum from Augusta State
University, stepped out on the foot
ball held escorted by WPS Principal
Sam Adkins and in the company of
four other teachers chosen by their
coworkers to represent each of the
county’s public schools: Amy Stew
art of SGAElementary; Darcy Kelly
of Burke County Middle; Nancy
Dobson of Blakeney Elementary;
and Tasha Brihm of Burke County
High. (See group photo page 10A.)
In an era where teaching has
taken on virtual form and faced
numerous challenges during the
COVID-19 pandemic, Walden re
mains thankful for the opportunity
to shape young minds.
“I have always felt that teaching
is a calling, not a job, but given
the circumstances and the last
two years we have taught through,
things definitely feel
a little different,” she
said. “This has magni- T0TY,
bed my feeling that I 10A
NewDDA chairwoman looks
forward to Archway impact
From Staff Reports
The Development Authority
gained a new chairwoman and is
losing its executive director.
The board elected Lindsai Gentry
as chairwoman last month, replac
ing Preston Conner who notified
the county that he was relocating to
Florida. Tuesday, the board called
a special meeting after Executive
Director Molly Olson gave notice of
her resignation effective November
2. Olson has accepted another posi
tion out-of-state.
Gentry asked County Manager
Merv Waldrop for his advice on
how to proceed with the selection
of a new director. Using a consulting
firm takes a lot of the work off of the
board, he said. The disadvantage is
that the board will rely on the firm
to decide what the county’s needs
are and aim the search based on that
conclusion.
Olson weighed in on her experi
ence with getting hired through a
consulting firm. She cited a positive
experience in obtaining employment
in that manner.
Suzanne Sharkey pointed out the
competitiveness of the current job
market. Recruiters often reach out
to senior managers, making them
aware of open positions and urging
them to switch jobs.
“That is what you have to do in
this market,” Waldrop commented
and mentioned there is a shortage
of younger people experienced in se
nior management positions. “Baby
boomers are retiring.”
Gentry estimated that it would take
the board at least six months to fill
the position. In the meantime, Office
Manager Stephanie Folker will take
on added responsibilities with extra
compensation.
Olson issued the following state
ment October 12: “I have greatly en
joyed working with the Development
Authority team and our regional
partners. I see so much opportunity
for growth in the community and
believe it is poised for success. Over
the last few years, we have worked
strategically on initiatives that have
positioned Burke as a community
that is ready for growth and devel
opment.
I have a great deal of respect for
the Development Authority board
and have appreciated the opportunity
to work with a community as great as
Burke. While I am sad to be leaving
such an incredible team, I know that
the community’s future is bright.”
While the DDA board may have
some difficulty finding Olson’s re
placement, Gentry said that as the
chairperson she is looking forward
to the new partnership with UGA’s
Archway program.
“I think it’s a good opportunity to
get involved and mesh well, so that
we get an exponential amount of
impact,” she said.
Molly Olson turned in her resignation to the Development Authority. Her
last day as director is November 2.
Moving forward: Hospital is first in area to offer advanced 3D imaging
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Burke Medical Center performed
its first orthopedic surgeries, marking
a significant milestone for the
community and the medical facility.
Additional orthopedic cases have
been scheduled, including total joint
replacements and spinal fusions,
according to CEO Mike Hester.
“We are very appreciative of the
trust the community has placed
in our physicians, our staff and
our medical center,” Hester said,
noting that the first procedures were
performed on residents of Burke
County. “Our mission is to deliver
the highest quality care and patient
experience possible for our patients
and community.”
Providing surgery locally is not
only an important service, but it will
help ensure Burke Medical Center’s
financial viability and growth.
“It is amazing that surgeries of this
complexity can be performed at our
facility,” Hester said. “This will have
a substantial economic impact on
our county. We have already added
a dozen more jobs and will add
additional over the coming months.
All this would not be possible
without the support of the Burke
County Hospital Authority, county
officials, community members, local
physicians and staff.”
In addition to a strong primary
care presence and the availability of
orthopedic specialists, the hospital’s
plans also include making cardiology
and pain management services
available by establishing orthopedic
and cardiology clinics at the end of
this month.
Hester said that SEE
serving the local HOSPITAL,
community means 1QA
Pictured is a surgical navigation system by Stryker with a Ziehm 3D mo
bile C-arm. The C-arm machine is a fluoroscopy system. Fluoroscopy is a
method providing real-time X-ray imaging, which is particularly useful for
guiding various diagnostic and interventional procedures.
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