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Vol. 142, No. 10 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - $1.00
BCHS teacher arrested for improper sexual contact
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
On Tuesday March 29th, the
Burke County Sheriff’s Office was
alerted to an allegation of sexual as
sault that had occurred at the Burke
County High School during school
hours. The matter was turned over to
the Criminal Investigation Division.
The mother of a student advised
officers that an employee hugged
the student and tugged on her hair.
Additionally, the student alleged that
on March 25, the employee hugged
her from behind, causing his hands
to run across her breast area.
At the conclusion of the investiga
tion, April 27, Student Services Co
ordinator Scott Hooker was arrested
for Improper Sexual Contact by an
Employee (teacher), Sexual Battery,
and Simple Battery and booked into
the Burke County Detention Center.
Hooker is 40 years old and resides
in Augusta.
According to an April 28 article
published by MSN.com, this is not
the first allegation of misconduct
made against him. In 2017 while
he was employed by Evans High
School, a 16-year-old female alleged
he had touched her inappropriately.
Another alleged incident involved
intimidation of a 16-year-old female.
“The school district would never
knowingly compromise the safety
and well-being of students,” Super
intendent Dr. Angela Williams said
in a recent statement. “Once the com
plaint was hied, the employee was
immediately placed on administra
tive leave pending investigation and
is not currently working on campus.
We have cooperated fully with the
appropriate governmental agencies
in connection with this investigation
and will continue to do so. Any ad
ditional information will be released
by law enforcement.”
Judge Ashley Wright set Hooker’s
bond at $5,900.
Scott Hooker
Payton Palmer suffered multiple injuries as
a result of falling through a ceiling during a
2014 ice storm.
Payton Palmer during the high jump event.
Edmund Burke Academy student
Payton Palmer’s first place win in
DEFYING
THE
Odds
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Payton Palmer’s feat, placing
first in the State Champion high
jump competition is a testament
to her resilience in overcoming
personal tragedy.
In addition to the high jump,
the ninth-grade Edmund Burke
Academy student placed second
this year in the 400-meter dash.
She placed first last year in the
same eventas well, breaking the
all-time varsity school record
which had previously stood for
20 years. She was also part of the
4-girl 1600 relay team that broke
a 20-year school record.
Payton pulled off the extraor
dinary athletic accomplishments
in spite of the fact that her uncle
Greg Poteet passed away unex
pectedly just two weeks before
the State competition. And, amaz
ingly, Payton also overcame mul
tiple physical injuries in order to
succeed in her chosen sport.
During the ice storm of 2014,
7-year-old Payton was upstairs
when she fell through the ceiling
of her parents’ Jesse and Christy
Palmer’s home, landing on a re
frigerator and then a deep freezer.
The fall shattered Payton’s eye
socket, facial bones and her ribs.
She spent seven days in an inten
sive care unit.
“It was bad,” her dad said. “She
had a slight brain bleed as well.”
Payton en- g^
dured a long
healing pro- PALMER,
cess. The in-
the high jump and second place in
the 400-meter dash are a testament
to her determination.
Best friends Braelyn Reeves (I)
placed second and Payton Palmer
(r) placed first in the high jump event
during the GISA Double A State
track competition.
Two resign from
City of Vidette
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A May 1 letter signed by Rosemary
Baughman states her last day as
mayor is May 18.
“I have liked working for the
people for the last six years,” she
said in the letter. “I have done what
I could do for the city and its best
interest. I will miss those that I have
worked closely with.”
Baughman said due to health rea
sons, it is time to “slow down.”
She intends to officially publicly
announce her resignation at the City
Rosemary Baughman
Hall Wednesday,
May 4.
Councilman RESIGNATION,
Waylon White 3A
WPD seeks information
regarding death
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Waynesboro Police Depart
ment is asking anyone with infor
mation about the death of David
Michael Paulson to contact them.
Officers answered a call regard
ing an unresponsive male Thursday
April 28, and found 59-year-old
Paulson deceased beside the railroad
tracks near East 8th Street.
There are no apparent signs of foul
play. The cause of death at this time
is unknown. This case is still active
pending autopsy results. Anyone
who has any information related to
the death of Paulson please contact
Chief Investigator Angela Collins
of the WPD at 706-554-8022 or
706-554-8030. Callers can remain
anonymous.
City, county officials
start SPLOST talks
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A SPLOST meeting wrapped up
quickly as all in attendance agreed
to keep the formula currently used
to determine how the funds will be
divided.
“What we hope to accomplish
out of this evening’s meeting, is to
determine what percentage we will
use going forward with the next
SPLOST,” County Manager Merv
Waldrop said.
Representatives from
the Board of Commis
sioners and each of the
Burke County cities met
SEE
SPLOST
3A
ct. *Jesse
Stone
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
TO KEEP THE ONLY BURKE COUNTY JUDGE
ON THE BURKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT,
VOTE JUDGE
Jesse Stone on may 24™