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Vol. 142, No. 9 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - $1.00
Sheriff issues public apology
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Board of Commissioners met
with Sheriff Alfonzo Williams April
14 in a manner that greatly con
trasted with the intensity witnessed
since late last summer.
Williams began last week’s work
session by publicly apologizing to
County Manager Merv Waldrop.
“When I presented a while back to
the commission, I was pretty emo
tional about our plans and I referred
to Merv as clerk,” he said. “I did it
several times and it was intentional
because I was mad. It is in my char
acter to apologize if I ever offend
anybody. I am very sorry that I acted
out of character. It is not representa
tive of who my mother raised. It is
not what I should have done.”
Waldrop and Commissioner Lu-
cious Abrams were not present.
However, Williams pledged to
apologize to Merv privately as well.
Additionally, Williams presented the
panel with a “somewhat exhaustive
list” of concerns he desired the board
to address. Williams asked the panel
to explain the process by which the
county makes decisions regarding
the allocation of SPLOST funds.
He explained the BCSO’s need for
updated cameras, tasers, vehicles and
computers. He asked for the panel’s
direction on needing more space,
including his request for a training
center with an outdoor bring range.
He downgraded his request from the
50-acres he asked for previously, that
included room for growth.
“Really, what we need is a metal
building with a classroom big enough
to hold 60 peo
ple,” he said.
“And we need a
few acres.”
SEE
APOLOGY,
2
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams presented his concerns to the Burke County
Board of Commissioners April 14.
Suspect attempts to
tase BCSO deputy
Drake White
promises an
upbeat
performa
T\
♦I
\
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Drake White performs Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. during the Boss
Hog Cook-Off.
After recovering from a stroke,
country soul singer Drake White
promises Burke County a reviv-
alist-type show that will bring
inspiration.
“I had a pandemic of my own
before the pandemic came in,”
he said of the August 16, 2019
stroke caused by Arteriovenous
Malformation (AVM). Paralysis
on his left side required rehabilita
tion and seven brain surgeries in
order to walk and perform again.
“This show and this record are
dedicated to that resilience of the
human spirit.”
White said shows during the
last few months are different than
pre-pandemic times. People are
excited to get out and do things
again, after suffering from the loss
of loved ones and isolation.
“It’s really special seeing what
music does for people and how it
helps them get through it,” he said.
White performs Friday, May 13
at 7 p.m. during the Boss Hog Cook-
Off festival. His newest album, The
Optimystic was released March
11. Listeners can expect to hear his
Appalachian roots expressed in his
music. He grew up singing gospel
songs in the foothills of Northeast
Alabama. His inspirations include
Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall
Tucker Band. Bluegrass and soul
seep through his melodies.
“Everything my dad listened
to was just pumping through the
speakers,” he said. “It’s hard not to
be inbuenced by the Appalachian
Mountains when they are part of
your blood.”
White didn’t decide music was
his destiny, however, until after high
school and during his education at
Auburn University where he pursued
a degree in engineering.
“I’ve been a storyteller all my
life in some capacity,” he said and
pointed out that entertaining around
campfires evoked encouragement
to pursue his musical dreams. As
he began increasingly performing
in pubs, he began to feel a sense
of purpose. After graduating, he
moved to Nashville.
He says his personal struggle
and near-death experience give
him the authority to speak about
adapting and overcoming. His
single, “Hurts the Healing,” is
the heart of his new album. It is
inspired by going through rough
times and coming out on the other
side.
Burke Countians can expect
to have a good time and to get
involved in his performance. He
promises a good band and a good
time celebrating resilience through
the sounds of southern rock, soul,
country and funk.
“I am a bird dog man,” he said.
“See you in the Bird Dog Capital
of the World!”
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A Waynesboro man who violated
his misdemeanor probation terms
will face a judge on a felony charge
after he attempted to tase a BCSO
deputy and led officers on a pursuit
through the woods.
Deputy Dakota Clark stopped a
vehicle driven by Dominque Ric-
quez Hughes in a driveway on Old
Waynesboro Road April 5. Clark
had witnessed Hughes speeding and
turning around in two driveways
before the stop was initiated.
A check through the Georgia
Crime Information Center indicated
that Hughes was wanted on a pro
bation violation. Clark approached
Hughes who quickly became un
cooperative by backing up and
denying the warrant. According to
the official incident report, Clark
grabbed Hughes by the front of his
sweatshirt, advising him to cooper
ate and place his hands behind his
back. By removing his sweatshirt,
Hughes got loose and began running
away on foot.
“Using my Taser X2,1 deployed
one cartridge, striking Hughes in the
back,” Clark reported.
After falling to the ground, Hughes
continued to resist, disobeying ver
bal commands, resulting in the offi
cer stunning him two more times in
the lower back. During the struggle,
Hughes attempted to grab the of
ficer’s taser.
Clark bred the last cartridge out
in the open, thwarting any attempt
Hughes might make to tase the
officer. Hughes made it to his feet
with the taser in his right hand and
pointed it at Clark, threatening to
Dominque Ricquez Hughes
tase him. After realizing it was
empty, Hughes entered his vehicle
and drove away, prompting a pursuit
by several BCSO deputies.
Officers pursued Hughes in their
vehicles through the woods and
then back to Old Waynesboro Road,
before heading south toward Hwy
56 North. At the intersection of Hwy
56 and Cates Meade Road, Hughes
maneuvered into oncoming traffic,
almost colliding head on into a law
enforcement vehicle driven by Capt.
Jason Vinson. The pursuit continued
to East 7th Street and Stone Avenue
where Hughes bailed from the ve
hicle and was taken into custody by
several deputies.
Hughes was charged with ag
gravated assault, obstructing law
enforcement officers and removal
of a weapon from a public official.
Removal or attempted removal of
a weapon from a public official is a
felony punishable by imprisonment
for not less than one nor more than
five years or a fine of not more than
$ 10,000.00 or both.
Church serves free
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Hephzibah Mennonite Church
reaches out to the surrounding com
munity every year with a free dinner.
The purpose of the event is to in
troduce the church and its members
and to let people know they are wel
come to attend services. The menu
consists of items like pancakes and
biscuits and gravy, all of which are
donated through a collaboration of
the church and its members.
“We are serving breakfast for sup
per,” said Deacon Royal Barnhart.
“It’s a way to get to know people,
and it’s a way for people to know
who we are.”
This year’s dinner takes place
April 22 from 5-7 p.m. People are
welcome to attend and no reservation
is required. The church is located at
4248 Rheney Road.
According to their website, the
Mennonites are “plain people”
who believe the teachings of Jesus
and apostles are to be lived out in
a literal, yet humble way of life.
Being part of Jesus' kingdom keeps
them from being a part of earthly
kingdoms. This means they do not
involve themselves with warfare or
other activities of earthly nations.
pancakes
They believe the church is to consist
of volunteer members, who love and
serve each other. They believe the
church body should be kept pure
and holy through church discipline.
The Hephzibah Mennonite church
is part of the Pilgrim Mennonite
Conference. The conference consists
of a small group of churches within
the circle of Anabaptist doctrine and
of Old Mennonite tradition.
“If your goal is to serve Christ in
visible obedience, you may be sur
prised how easy it is to get to know
us, and to become a part of us,” the
church’s website states.