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The True Citizen, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 — Page 13
Meet Burke County’s
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Sardis Breast Cancer Walk
A crowd of people participated in The Reduce Your Risk Breast Cancer Walk November 13
at 9 a.m. at the SGA Elementary School, Sardis.
Pandemic encouraged
renewed interest in sports
Coronavirus enabled area
families to try out activities
they had not participated in
post-pandemic.
Resourcefulness of the part
of the Recreation Department,
kept the county entity go
ing. They continued to offer
quilting craft classes once the
height of the pandemic passed.
The classes were held in a more
controlled environment.
“Once the critical point
passed, we tried to open back
up with restrictions like clean
ing and social distancing,”
Director Rolene Rowell said.
Pop-up sports gave area
children the chance to try out a
new game without committing
to a season. It prompted a huge
response.
“We were forced to program
in a different way and think
outside-of-the-box,” she said.
“We went from doing the in
door day camps to doing the
summer camps in a box. The
staff allowed children to take
a week-long box of activities,
delivered to them via bus. It al
lowed the department to reach
people who had never engaged
in activities at the center before
the pandemic. It turned out to
be an unexpected benefit .The
soccer field was the first activ
ity the department reopened on
a large scale. A typical season
includes 70-80 kids. Spring
saw 175 children desperate to
get out of the house.
“You can tell that by the way
that people responded when
they were allowed to go back
out,’’Rowell said. “Our facili
ties are packed out. All of our
programs are full. People were
so ready.”
Rowell believes prior to
Coronavirus, people took pas
times like team sports for
granted. Isolated for long pe
riods of time though, people
were far more interested in
getting involved in sports once
the virus began to subside.
“The people who come out
here now see the value of
recreation,” she said .“I know
sometimes people don’t really
tend to see that value until like
Community steps
up to help with well
An area resident will have
water again just in time for the
holiday season.
Several people have stepped
forward anonymously and vol
unteered to donate the funds
necessary for senior resident
Julia Lakes to have a new well
dug on her property.
After six months of living
without water, 75-year-old Ju
lia went to acting Mayor James
Chick Jones for help. After her
story went public, members of
the community did not hesitate
to help.
Jones said the estimated
$4500 needed to contract a
well-drilling company is now
available and he is speaking
to companies regarding esti
mates.
“She should have water by
next week,” he said.
Standing (L-R): Wanda Parrish, BCMS Principal; Adrienne Saulsberry, Assistant Principal of
Instruction; Alfonzo Williams, Burke County Sheriff; Dr. LaToscha Evans, Assistant Superin
tendent of Teaching and Learning; Dr. Angela Williams, BCPS Superintendent. Seated (L-R):
Crislynn Evans, Altoria Habersham, Jamya Price, Quentin Terry, Jr., and Kaitlyn Young.
Students “Reach” for the stars
This year, five Burke County
Middle School eighth graders
were each awarded a scholar
ship
during a special signing cer
emony on November 3, 2021,
as a part of Georgia’s REACH
Program.
Beginning now, in 8th grade
and through high school, these
students will be paired with
a mentor and an academic
coach. They must maintain
good grades, behavior, and
attendance. Each student who
completes the program require
ments will receive $2,500 per
year to be used towards the
cost of attendance at a four or
two-year institution in Georgia.
The public-private scholar
ship program, launched by
Gov. Nathan Deal in 2012, of
fers needs-based scholarships
that give students the financial
support and motivation to fin
ish high school and college.
Many of the state’s major
universities, such as University
of Georgia and Georgia Tech,
will match the grant should
those students enroll there. A
handful of universities, like
Mercer University, will double
the scholarship’s value for
scholars who enroll.
Recipients are selected by
a committee of community
members, based on a combina
tion of academic performance
and financial need. The pro
gram is sponsored by Peach
State Federal Credit Union,
Herff Jones, and Oglethorpe
Power.
Shawn Merzlak
Criminal Division
Reid Sanders
Vic Hawk
Chace Hawk
the past year when you didn’t
have the ability to go and play
and do things with your fam
ily. I think that has shown how
essential recreation is. That is
one good thing that has come
out of the pandemic.”
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Capt. Kelly Chavous - Burke County EMA Office
Capt. Kelly Chavous began his career
with Burke County Emergency
Management Agency in June 2004,
received his initial firefighter training in
2004 and his initial medic training in 2005.
To further his medic training, Chavous
attended Augusta Technical College,
where he completed his paramedic
degree in 2008. Chavous is a member of
the GSAR (GA Search & Rescue) Team
Taskforce 3. He is currently stationed on
shift 3 at Burke County EMA
headquarters.
Chavous resides in his hometown of
Grovetown with his wife, Andrea, and
daughter, Julie. He is an avid
outdoorsman and enjoys spending time
with his family and listening to 80s music.
We appreciate your service to Burke
County Capt. Chavous!
Investigator Rita Palmer - Waynesboro Police Deptartment
Rita Palmer graduated from the
Augusta Tech Police Academy in 2012
and had worked for the Waynesboro
Police Department for approximately
seven years. She is currently an
investigator. In addition to her
employment at the WPD, Palmer has
also worked at the Sardis PD and at
Richmond County probation.
Originally from Alliance, Ohio, she
moved to Burke County in 2003 and still
resides here.
Palmer said she loves the brain
stimulation that she gets when working
cases and helping people when they
truly want to be helped. "Even if I make
a difference in one person’s life, then I
did my job.”
Thank you Investigator Rita Palmer for
your service!!
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