Newspaper Page Text
WAYNESBOROJjEORGL
o
CM
't
O
CM
CM
Vol. 142, No. 37 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 2, 2022 - $1.00
Mincey gets life sentence for Fleming death
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net
The man responsible for the 2019
shooting death of Harry Fleming, Jr.
on Savannah Avenue in Waynesboro
has been brought to justice.
Cyrus Dion Mincey was convicted
by a Burke County Jury on October
19. The jury found Mincey guilty of
malice murder, felony murder and
two firearms charges. Judge John
Flythe sentenced him to life in prison
without the possibility of parole,
with an additional 10 years confine
ment for the weapons charges.
This case involved a setup of the
victim by his friend Antwan Tukes.
On the way back from their daily
walk to Delmac Minute Mart, the
victim was confronted by Cyrus
Mincey and his co-defendant Anto
nio Haynes.
The two men began chasing the
victim, who ran to a neighbor’s door
for help. While he was banging on
the door, Mr. Fleming was shot in
the head with a .380 caliber pistol.
Antwan Tukes remained at the
crime scene, refusing to leave his
dead friend. Cyrus Mincey and
Antonio Haynes fled to Grovetown
where they dumped the getaway
vehicle. The murder weapon was
never recovered.
For his role in the setup, Tukes
was sentenced to 20 years in prison
followed by 10 years on probation.
Antonio Haynes awaits trial for his
involvement.
Lead Counsel for the trial was As
sistant District Attorney Rex Myers,
who serves as the District Attorney’s
Burke County Resource Prosecutor.
For the first time in circuit history,
the District Attorney’s Office pro
vides a full-time prosecutor to serve
Burke County.
District Attorney Jared Williams
said, this change, made in January
of 2021, is meant to “provide the
highest level of access and service
to victims, law enforcement and the
community as a whole."
“We established the position of
Burke County Resource Prosecutor
to ensure the highest level of service
to the Burke County community,”
said Williams after the win. “ADA
Myers’ efforts in this trial are an ex
ample of the hard work being done
throughout the circuit to keep our
citizens safe,” he added.
#BEARSTRONG
BCHS head coach Parker recovering
BEN ROBERTS
benroberts@bellsouth.net
Things took a scary turn during
Monday’s Burke County game
against Wayne County when
Bears’ head coach, Eric Parker,
collapsed on the sideline in the
second quarter.
Trainers and medical person
nel immediately began to treat
Parker. Once stabilized, Parker
was transported to Wayne Memo
rial Hospital. He was responsive
when placed in the ambulance.
According to Burke County
Athletic Director, Wade March-
man, Parker was airlifted to St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah
for further observation.
Burke County Public Schools
released the following statement
on Tuesday morning:
“Burke County High School
football coach Eric Parker is re
covering in the hos
pital after collapsing §EE
on the field during p^RKER
the game in Wayne ^
County last night.
Sardis dedicates park to
history-making councilwoman
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Sardis Basketball Park was
officially named Sunday, October
30 during a ceremony to dedicate it
to Annie Fluellen, the first African
American woman to serve on the
Sardis City Council.
Serving three terms, 1990-1995,
Annie was also diligent about serv
ing on special committees involving
the city and Burke County. She
served on the Sardis Development
Authority in 1989. She was also
one of the delegates who traveled to
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1983 for
IL#
Annie Fluellen
the Rogers vs Lodge Case, which
involved voting discrimination in
the County.
Annie was bom October 31,1914
in Midville. At an early age, she
joined the Third Chapel Baptist
Church where she worked in vari
ous ministries including the position
of Mother of the Church, until her
health declined. Moving to Sardis
in 1944, she joined the First Baptist
Church of Sardis where she gained
a reputation of a community mother,
often providing meals for those who
were hungry and sewing clothes
for those in need. Annie served as
Sunday school teacher for 21 years.
She was also a member of the New
Marion Chapter #381 Order of the
Eastern Star.
Annie was married to Napoleon
Fluellen for 33 years, until his death
in 1976. Annie died at the age of 102
years old June 8,2017. Members of
her family were present during the
park dedication.
Mayor Roger Lane stands in between two members of Annie Fluellen’s
family.
BCSO makes big
bust in Girard
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Two Girard men are facing seri
ous charges after the Burke County
Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic
search warrant at their residence on
Claxton Road Wednesday, October
26.
Deputies found Joey Mobley in
the front yard standing near a car
containing seven clear plastic bags
of marijuana weighing a total of 42.2
grams. Deputies also found Mobley
with a plastic bag of crack cocaine,
a plastic bag containing 4.2 grams
of methamphetamine, a black Omni
AR .223 caliber pistol with scope and
sling and a 100-round dram maga
zine loaded with one in the chamber.
Credick Hilton, the target of the in
vestigation, was inside the residence.
A search of his bedroom resulted in
the confiscation of a black Glock
17, 9mm handgun with flashlight
and a fully loaded magazine with
one loaded in the chamber. Inside a
backpack, officers found 28.9 grams
of methamphetamine, 5.1 grams of
cocaine, 145.1 grams of marijuana,
packaged for resale, 10 prescrip
tion Hydroco-
done pills and
10 prescription
Tramadols.
Both men
were charged
with posses
sion of mari
juana with
intent to dis
tribute, posses- Joey Mobley
sion of cocaine
with intent to
distribute and
possession of a
firearm during
the commis
sion of a crime.
Mobley was
also charged
with posses
sion of meth
amphetamine Credick Hilton
with intent to
distribute. Additionally, Hilton was
charged with trafficking metham
phetamine, possession of schedule
IV controlled substance with intent
to distribute and possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon.
Archway shouts out
for public input
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Archway Partnership is
asking for more community input
as focus groups struggle to un
derstand what the residents need.
Community leaders and some
residents are meeting in focus
groups, addressing the issues of
housing, workforce development
and intergovernmental communi
cation. However, approximately
half way through the second year
and $140,000 into the partner
ship, little is happening beyond
brainstorming.
“The problem is, when you get
a group of people together and
you ask them what they want and
they don’t know,” said Suzanne
Sharkey, Chair of the executive
committee. “They think they
know and then they start talking
and it changes.”
There are intentions to have
UGA architectural students as
sist in developing a design for
the 6th Street Park, however
actually implementing the plans,
remains on hold while the City of
Waynesboro attempts to secure
the financing for renovations.
“We currently have a land
scape architecture graduate stu
dent working on two separate
plans for the park; one that will
incorporate a community/recre
ation building and another that
does not include the building.
With these two plans, the City
of Waynesboro can proceed with
one of their choosing, depending
on whether they are able to se
cure grant funding for the build
ing,” said Archway Professional
Aaron Redman.
Since the county has budgeted
funds toward the
new park out on
Hwy 24, UGA
students recently
SEE
ARCHWAY,
3