Newspaper Page Text
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BVTiON
i BIBLE
SCHOOL.
AM V
Looking for something that
will have a positive impact
on your child’s life?
Take them to
Vacation Bible School!
Our county has multiple VBS going on
throughout the summer.
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Vol. 142, No. 16 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - $1.00
County, sheriff fight over $425,000
BEN ROBERTS
benroberts@bellsouth.net
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has
taken his budget fight with the Burke
County Commission to a new level
by refusing to turn over $425,000 in
grant funds given to his department
last year.
Instead, those funds have flowed
in and out of accounts controlled
by Williams himself since last fall,
with no public oversight or account
ing. Commissioners have asked the
sheriff to turn over those funds so the
county can budget them to the Burke
County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO)
and properly account for their use.
As of this week, Williams has so far
refused.
A May 31 letter to Williams from
the commissioners stated the board
had “received the opinion that
these funds should have been...run
through the appropriation process...
like other revenues to the County.
Based on this advice we...respect
fully request that you turn over
$425,000 in grant funds...without
delay.” That letter was signed by all
the commissioners except Lucious
Abrams.
In his response to
Chairman Terri Lodge COUNTY,
Kelly, Williams stated 13
(I to r) Burke County residents Rooster Simmons and Richard Newsome, VASO and Patriot Guard Rider
Karrie Boomer and Burke County Veteran Randy Sellers volunteered to get the camper ready for occupancy.
—Help on the—
HOME FRONT
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
ATikTok campaign successfully
raised $16,000 for an RV that will
serve as home to a veteran.
Karrie Boomer is a Veteran Ad
vocate Service Officer (VASO),
assisting a homeless veteran in
Richmond County. She was con
tacted by Soldiers Solutions, a
made-in-America apparel com
pany located in Connecticut and
owned and operated by veterans
and patriots, asking for a referral
for a veteran in need. She gave
Founder Frank Quagliano her cli
ent’s name.
“He proceeded to do a TikTok
campaign to raise money to pur
chase an RV for a homeless vet,”
Boomer said of Quagliano who,
according to Boomer, has raised
more than $40,000 for veterans
over the last six months. Qua-
gliano will assist in bringing the
Richmond County veteran to his
new home at Bob’s RV Park on
Story Mill Road. The veteran will
receive the keys to the RV during
a surprise Help on the Homefront
(HOTH) presentation Thursday,
June 9 at 10 a.m. HOTH is an
outreach program of Patriot Guard
Riders which assists military he
roes and their families.
A joint effort of volunteers
worked to make a difference in the
veteran’s life. Boomer is a member
of the Patriot Guard Riders, an
organization of volunteers who set
out to ensure dignity and respect at
memorial services honoring fallen
veterans and first responders. She
personally paid the first month’s
lot rent. Another Patriot
Guard Rider towed the
camper from Atlanta to
Story Mill Road. Three
Burke County residents,
Rooster Simmons, Rich
ard Newsome and Veteran
Randy Sellers volunteered
to repair some roof leaks
and power wash the out
side of the RV. More do
nations helped furnish the
camper as well.
“I have been coming on a daily
basis and cleaning,” Boomer said.
The veteran is free to move the
camper however; Bob’s RV Park
was his first choice of where to
live.
RV Park Owner Bob Manches
ter, an 89-year-old Korean War vet
eran who served in the Air Force,
says he is currently renting lots
to four other veterans. He said he
was excited to learn the Richmond
County Veteran desired to move to
his RV park.
“ I’m happy to help any veteran
I can help,” Manchester said.
This camper will be presented to a Richmond
County Veteran Thursday June 9 at 10 a.m.
Sardis Police Chief Scotti Sanford says his department tends to issue a cita
tion the first time someone is caught with less than an ounce of marijuana,
however the second time they will be arrested on the misdemeanor charge.
Speaking bluntly about hemp
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A joint discussion with local law
enforcement points to a movement
toward decriminalizing possession
of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Possession of less than an ounce
remains a misdemeanor charge in
the state, punishable by up to a year
in jail. However, the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation is making it harder
for deputies to held test for THC. In
the past, they offered a Marijuana
Examiners Course.
Clayton Green was certified while
employed by the Jenkins County
Sheriff’s Office before assuming the
role of Midville’s Police Chief. He
said the class instructed law enforce
ment officers on g^
how to identify and
certify the pres- MARIJUANA,
enceofTHC. 12
Starting a new business
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Burke County Chamber of Com
merce Director Ashley Roberts says
there is a lot more to starting a busi
ness than people often realize.
The chamber teamed up with the
UGA Small Business Development
Center May 13 to conduct a seminar
sponsored by Georgia Power on
starting a business in Burke County.
Rick McMurtrey of the Small Busi
ness Development Center said he is
seeing an increase in entrepreneur-
ship since the pandemic struck.
“I think a lot of people repriori
tized what they want to do with their
lives,” he said.
People contemplating going into
business should ask themselves if
there is a new need that has been
recently created that they can fill.
They should also consider whether
they can excel at what they are think
ing about pursuing. In light of labor
shortages, people should consider
whether they have the expertise to
get the job done, or will they need
skilled employees? They also need
to consider how they will finance
the venture.
Starting a business begins with
developing a strong business plan.
McMurtrey said the Small Business
Development Center assists potential
business owners by looking over
their business plans and making
suggestions that help secure bank fi
nancing. They also discuss financial
projections and marketing strategy.
When looking for financing, Mc
Murtrey suggests checking with
local banks first. A local institu
tion may offer a commercial loan,
eliminating the need for Small Busi
ness Administration
(SBA) backing. SEE
“When there is an BUSINESS,
SBA guarantee on 12
Senior Center reopens its doors
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Senior Center
re-opened its doors to area residents
who are glad to be back.
A ribbon cutting ceremony May
31 marked the end of 27 months of
improvised services while the center
strived to overcome the pandemic
and completed extensive renova
tions. Forty-seven seniors showed up
June 1, the day the center reopened,
according to Director Kimberly
Mathis.
The new-and-improved center
boasts a covered walk-in, allowing
seniors to enter the building without
exposure to inclement weather. A
pool table, exercise equipment and
a microwave no longer have to share
a room, now that the center gained
2000 sq. ft.
An expanded congregate area
boasts additional seating and is
equipped with a TV. The center also
now hosts a ceramics room and a
separate craft area. Mathis is allow
ing seniors to gradually re-acquaint
themselves with the center, but next
month programming kicks off in
full force.
“One of the things I am really
excited about is our computer lab,”
Mathis said and pointed out that
beginning next month the center will
offer 6-weeks of 1-hour instructional
classes 3 days per week that involve
basic computer
operation, Mi- SEE
crosoft Word and SENIOR CENTER,
emailing. ”We «
(I to r) Johnny Roundtree and Ben Eady shoot pool June 2 at the Burke
County Senior Center.