Newspaper Page Text
o
CM
't
o
CM
CM
Vol. 141, No. 37 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 3, 2021 - $1.00
Nine indicted for drug trafficking
Eight men and one woman, includ
ing four from Waynesboro, have
been named in a newly unsealed
federal indictment for taking part in
a major drug trafficking conspiracy
that funneled cocaine and other
drugs from Atlanta to the Waynes
boro area.
The indictment in USA v. Rhaney
et al, dubbed Operation Washout,
represents a significant, coordinated
attack on narcotics distribution in
Burke, Richmond, Screven and
McDuffie counties and other parts
of the Southern District, said David
H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for
the Southern District of Georgia in
an October 29 press release.
The primary charge in the indict
ment, Conspiracy to Possess with
Intent to Distribute and to Distrib
ute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and
Marijuana, carries a statutory penalty
upon conviction of up to 20 years in
federal prison, along with substantial
financial penalties, followed by a
period of supervised release. There
is no parole in the federal system.
“Close collaboration between
local, state and federal law enforce
ment partners has yielded tremen
dous success in identifying and
shutting down these operations that
funnel poison into our communi
ties,” Estes said. “We will continue
to relentlessly pursue and hold ac
countable those who would endanger
our citizens through drug trafficking
and its related pathologies.”
The federally charged defendants
all are in custody and are receiving
initial appearances in U.S. District
Court. They include:
Chadric Antonio Rhaney, a/k/a
“Chad,” 41, of Atlanta, charged with
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to
Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine,
Crack Cocaine, and Marijuana; and
NO PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Joseph Lee
Ellison Jr
Nathaniel
Golden
Richard
Sears Adams
Christopher
Thomas Mobley,
five counts of Unlawful Use of a
Communication Facility, a charge
related to the use of cell phones to
facilitate the conspiracy;
Joseph Lee Ellison
Jr., a/k/a “Peanut,” 38,
of Waynesboro, charged
with Conspiracy to Pos-
SEE
DRUGS,
7
Captain Richard Henry, commander of the Waynesboro-based 202nd Ordnance Company, stands before
his Soldiers during a departure ceremony at Burke County High School Oct. 16, 2021.
202nd Ordnance Company deploys
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Families and friends of the Georgia Army Na
tional Guard’s 202nd Ordnance Company gathered at
Burke County High School October 16 for a farewell
ceremony heralding the unit’s upcoming overseas
deployment.
The Citizen Soldiers of the 202nd joined more
than 500 Georgia National Guard Soldiers and Air
men presently deployed to five geographic combatant
commands across the globe.
“Today we not only honor the Soldiers of the 202nd
Ordnance Company, but we honor fathers, mothers,
sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends, and employ
ers,” said Lt. Col. Trevis McCullough, commander of
the 265th Chemical Battalion addressing the Soldiers
and family members. “Know that you are a vital part
of our team and our ability to execute this mission
rests in your commitment.”
In addition to McCullough, several key leaders of
the Ga. National Guard gathered to witness the de
parture including Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, Georgia’s
Adjutant General; Brig. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, com
mander of the Ga. ARNG and Col. Shane Strickland,
commander of the 201st Regional Support Group. In
addition, several state and community leaders wit
nessed the departure ceremony, including Bill Tinley
of the Waynesboro City Council who commanded the
Georgia National Guard unit in Waynesboro when it
was designated Battery C, 1st Battalion, 214th Field
Artillery.
The soldiers of the 202nd are capable of eliminat
ing explosive hazards such as improvised explosive
devices. To become an explosives ordnance disposal
specialist, soldiers must complete nearly one year
of specialized training covering chemistry, robotics
and methods used to detect and neutralize explosive
threats. For the deployment, the 202nd completed an
aggressive pre-mobilization schedule.
“The 202nd conducted 65 days of EOD operations
training for deployment,” said Strickland. “They
worked with the EOD National Guard community
across six states and seven different units during their
train up to help cross training and fully certified three
new team leaders in six months.”
Since its organization in 1987 under the 78th Troop
Command, the 202nd has built a robust training and
mission resume. In 1990, personnel of the 202nd were
placed on alert and mobilized to Fort Drum, New York,
in support of Operation Desert Storm. The unit served
on active duty at Fort Drum until May 20,1991.
In March 1999, the 202nd conducted a two-week
overseas mission to Panama where it helped clear
unexploded ammunition from small-arms and artil
lery ranges.
In December 2002, the 202nd entered federal ser
vice for Operation Noble Eagle and served on active
duty through June 15,2004 in support of security op
erations in the United States. Upon its demobilization
at Fort Bragg and subsequent return to Georgia, the
202nd relocated from Forest Park to Marietta.
When the 78th TC received the Region IV Home
land Response Force mission assignment in 2010, the
202nd capabilities augmented the mission of saving
lives in the event of a domestic terrorist or natural
emergency. The 202nd participated in a series of
exercise beginning with a joint exercise at Naval Air
Station Jacksonville, Florida, in Feb. 2010. The unit
mobilized to Afghanistan in 2011, where its skillset
helped protect coalition forces and Afghan civilians
from the threat of unexploded IEDs and mines. A 2013
reorganization of the Georgia National Guard resulted
in the transfer of the 202nd from the 78th TC to the
Marietta-based 201st Regional Sup
port Group. In March 2019,the202nd SE E
was assigned to the 265th Chemical DEPLOYMENT,
Battalion, part of the 201st RSG. 13
Lane, McBride, Williams win;
Sardis voters elect new mayor
From Staff Reports
In an election that had two weeks
of advanced voting, including two
full Saturdays, less than 20 percent
of qualified voters participated.
A total of 1,061 registered voters
of the 5,487 who could vote in the
particular races showed up, whether
early or on Election Day, to choose
representatives for the county school
system and City of Waynesboro. The
unopposed bid for city council’s
Ward 1, Post 4, held by Richard
Byne, garnered a larger turn out of
voters (29.25 percent) than any of
the other races.
Maurice McBride edged by former
councilman Herman Brown with 11
votes for the Ward 2, Post 5 seat,
currently held by Alberta Anderson.
McBride had a total of 93 votes, to
Brown’s 82. Only 12.45 percent of
voters participated: 99 on Election
Day; 54 during in-person early vot
ing; and 22 by absentee ballot.
Willie Roy Williams held on to his
Ward 3, Post 6 seat with 129 votes
to HerMonica Bennett’s 47, with
15.73 percent of voters participating.
He garnered 41 votes on Tuesday,
24 in advance and 64 in absentee
compared to Bennett’s 21, 14 and
12, respectively.
In the special election for Burke
County Board of Education District
5, Franklin Lane had 67 percent of
the vote to claim the seat formerly
held by the late BOE chairman
Johnny Jenkins. He had 500 total
votes, including 249 on Tuesday, 234
in advance and 17 absentee, while
his opponent Darrell Smith had 245
votes, with 176 on Election Day, 48
early and 21 absentee. A total of 748
(22.94 percent) of the district’s 3,261
registered voters cast ballots.
Waynesboro residents also voted
yes to packaged sales of distilled
spirits within the city. With 18.40
percent casting ballots, a total of 395
voted yes (169 on Tuesday, 138 early
and 88 absentee) while 248 were op
posed (131 on Election Day, 99 early
and 18 absentee).
In the Sardis mayoral race, can
didate Roger Lane beat incumbent
Carol Edmunds with 161 votes to
her 58 votes. Rolene Oliver retained
her council seat with 152 votes. Terry
Winston also won the city council
race with 108 votes. Leroy Lane won
the special election with 112 votes to
fill the seat vacated by Roger Lane.
The other council candidates had
the following votes: Angela Allen,
42; Jonathan Cates, 53; Ralph Odom,
82; and Wade Herndon, 31.
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
This weekend is the time to “fall
back.”
Though many begrudge Daylight
Saving Time, the conclusion of the
annual period does offer an extra
hour of sleep on Sunday, Nov. 7, as
Daylight Saving Time officially ends
and the United States reverts back to
Standard Time at 2 a.m.
Robert Parrish, Fire Chief of the
Waynesboro Fire Department, says
this is the best time to ensure safety
measures within the home.
“We can’t stress enough how
important fire safety is, especially
making sure the batteries in smoke
detectors are replaced on a regular
basis,” he said, adding that using the
cycle of Daylight Saving Time is an
opportunity to create a schedule for
changing out those batteries. “Make
it a habit. Something as small as
replacing a battery really can save
someone’s life.”
While smoke alarm batteries
should be replaced at least once a
year, Parrish recommends testing the
detectors monthly. “Making sure that
they are working properly increases
DON’T FORGET TO
FALL BACK
your chances of survival,” he said,
reminding the public that detectors
that are 10 years or more old should
be replaced. “Be sure to have a plan
in place should the unexpected occur.
Everyone in the household needs to
know what to do should the smoke
alarm go off.”
330 US HWY. 25 NORTH, WAYNESBORO ■ 706-554-2114 - www.mizellford.com