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Vol. 142, No. 25 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, August 10, 2022 - $1.00
NRC authorizes Unit 3 operation
Georgia Power announced an
historic milestone in the completion
of Plant Vogtle Unit 3 Wednesday,
August 3.
A Nuclear Regulatory Commis
sion (NRC) finding was confirmed
in an official letter received by
Southern Nuclear that signified that
the new unit has been constructed
and will be operated in conformance
with the Combined License and
NRC regulations. No further NRC
findings are necessary in order for
Southern Nuclear to load fuel or be
gin the startup sequence for the new
unit, according to a Georgia Power
press release.
“Today’s finding by the NRC helps
ensure we have met our commit
ment to building Vogtle 3 & 4 with
the highest safety and quality stan
dards,” said Chris Womack, CEO
of Georgia Power. “These new units
remain a strong long-term investment
for this state, and, once operating,
are expected to provide customers
with a reliable and resilient, clean,
emission-free source of energy for
the next 60 to 80 years. That’s why
we’ve been so commit
ted to getting this project SEE
done right - it’s about VOGTLE,
serving our customers 3
At the end of their workout Thursday, August 4th, the BCHS
football team held a short private ceremony to honor the late
Coach Dan Wiggins. Coach Wiggins meant a lot to the com
munity of Waynesboro and the Burke County school system.
According to head football coach Eric Parker, Coach Wiggins,
“was a huge part of our football family.” For years, Coach Wig
gins served as the radio announcer for the Bears, making sure that
all Burke County football fans still had a “Friday night lights”
experience regardless of whether or not they attended the game.
Each week, Coach Wiggins used a fiery passion
to describe each game play by play. SEE
Parker continued saying, “Coach Wiggins' WIGGINS,
dedication was appreciated and we wanted to 12
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Tinley to be city's next mayor
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The City of Waynesboro has a
new mayor who is passionate about
tackling dilapidated housing.
Bill Tinley stepped down from
his council position and is the only
person who qualified as a candidate
in the Waynesboro mayoral race.
Since he is the only candidate, there
is no need for an official election,
said Board of Elections Director
Beau Gunn. Tinley will likely be
sworn in during the next city coun
cil meeting, August 15, finishing
out former mayor Greg Carswell’s
term which ends December 2023.
Tinley’s vacant seat on the council is
up for grabs and will be included on
the November ballot. Acting mayor
James Chick Jones said he did not
qualify because he did not wish to
run against Tinley. He will remain
on the city council as vice mayor.
After 30 consecutive years on
the council (1992-2022) Tinley felt
that he wanted to give more to the
city. He wants to act as a catalyst to
manifesting vision in the community.
“We have a lot of potential to
make our community a better place,”
Tinley said. “One of the problems
that we have had in the past is that
the people who had a vision didn’t
Bill Tinley
have the money and the people who
had the money didn’t have the vision
and we haven’t been able to get them
together.”
Tinley feels strongly that the
partnership with UGA’s Archway
program will assist the city council
members in gaining a better under
standing of what Waynesboro needs
and what problem areas exist. He is
also hopeful that PROPEL (Plan
ning Rural Opportunities
for Prosperity and Eco- SEE
nomic Leadership) will TINLEY
make a difference. The 12
BULLETIN
According to news reports, investigators discovered what they
believe to be human remains buried in a pond off Highway 56
N. The pond was drained and searched in connection with the
disappearance of Simon Powell, who disappeared in 12016. The
remains were sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for further
analysis and possible identification.
So far, two people have been arrested in the murder investiga
tion. 38-year-old Stacey Lynn Welch and 39-year-old Mitchell
Lanell Lambert have both been charged with murder, kidnapping
and armed robbery. Two others, Randall Johnson and Crystal
Simmons, are being questioned in the case.
Clearing up the
BOE broadband
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Superintendent Angela Williams
wants to set the record straight.
In a July 7 email to Chairwoman
Terri Lodge Kelly, Williams asked
the Board of Commissioners to clar
ify misinformation that suggests the
Board of Education initially pledged
$14 million to help remedy the
county’s broadband issue but later
decreased the amount to $3 million.
The email references an article in
The True Citizen in which Commis
sioner Art Lively is quoted as saying,
“"You all need to lean on your school
board a little heavier. They have
taken what started out at $14 million
down to $11 million and now it's at
$3 million."
However, Williams said after
County Manager Merv Waldrop
approached her about a possible
broadband partnership in May 2021,
the item was placed on the BOE’s
June 8,2021, agenda. After looking
at their American Rescue Plan (ARP)
budget, it was determined that $3
million would be committed to the
broadband project. She is not sure
where the $11-14 million rumors
originated.
“I'm sure you can understand my
concern with information, seemingly
questioning the integrity and trust of
the BOE to do what it says it will,
being shared with the public,” Wil
liams said to Kelly in the email.” I
am not certain of the source of the
misinformation; however, I am ask
ing to have the record corrected and
that further claims of this nature not
be made.”
Whether the BOE actually contrib
utes the $3 million may ultimately
be left up to the county. In a June
15, 2022 email Williams informed
Waldrop that the deadline to allocate
those funds is September 2023.
“Currently, the funds are still
available.” Williams said. “We were
asked to hold off until the county
receives notification regarding ad
ditional grant funds. According to
Merv, that is expected in or before
October.”
Waldrop explained how the mix-
up might have occurred. “We have
been working on getting broadband
rumors
internet run throughout the county
for over two years. It became abun
dantly clear during COVID how
far behind, we are in terms of high
speed access for businesses, students
and employees who needed to work
from home.”
In response, the county con
tacted broadband service provid
ers in the area to get estimates on
the cost to build the infrastructure
needed. The esti
mate in late 2020 SEE
was at $20 million BROADBAND,
to serve the en-