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Watch out for
our kids and
have a safe
summer!
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Vol. 143, No. 15 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, May 31,2023 - $1.00
Upcoming Freaknik Bash prompts high alert
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
An approved Juneteenth festival
to take place on Woodslands Road
in Waynesboro turned out to actually
be a “Freaknik Bash”.
Waynesboro City Manager Valerie
Kirkland said she and the Council
were misled by applicant Melissa
Brayboy, owner of Scramblerz
Coffee Bar in Midville. Brayboy
never informed Waynesboro city
officials the event was an adult-
only party. According to an event
proposal signed by property owner
Jacquelyne Telgren, the festival was
to consist of music, water games,
vendors and a cool-down station.
Last month, Telgren approached
the Council asking for the approval
of Brayboy’s application for what
the city understood would be a
family-oriented Juneteenth festival.
Instead, a circulated flyer presents
a less-than-wholesome image of
what is to take place. Councilwoman
Vickey Bates warned the panel that
the event is associated with drug use
and prostitution.
Representatives from both the
Waynesboro Police Department and
the Burke County Sheriff’s Office
will attend a meeting with Brayboy
Wednesday, May 31 to discuss se
curity concerns. WPD
Investigator Angela
Collins promised that
with the first sign of
FREAKNIK,
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Councilwoman Vickey Bates waved a copy of the “Freaknik Bash” flyer
while she warned the event is not a positive occurrence.
American Legion Post 120 hosted a Memorial Day Service at the American Legion Building in
Waynesboro May 29. The service included the Post 120 Honor Guard firing a rifle salute.
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County Manager heads
DABC director search
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
The quest to find a passionate De
velopment Authority director who
has what it takes to make a difference
is underway.
After the recent termination of
Jonathan Lupo’s employment,
County Manager Merv Waldrop ap
proached the Development Author
ity Board with a suggestion that he
recruit potential candidates.
“I told them that I would get them
three top quality candidates,” he said.
Waldrop will post the vacancy
on state-wide and local job boards.
However, he intends to engage in
footwork, personally seeking out
top-notch candidates.
“I’ve not zeroed in on anybody
yet,” he said. “There are some local
candidates as well as some around
the state. I want to get them three
candidates that I will be happy with
and know will do a great job for
Burke County.”
The DABC Board has struggled to
find a director to fill the position long
term. Former Directors Jessica Hood
and Molly Olson filled g^
the role approximately
rr J DABC
two years. Jonathan Lupo ’
was terminated after ap- 3
Two arrested during Sardis
incident involving a handgun
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
Two people were arrested in Sardis
May 24 after one of them pointed a
gun in front of law enforcement.
Daniel Lee Muns, Laci Muns and
Hannah Fortner were engaged in
a loud verbal altercation when the
Burke County Sheriff’s Office’s dep
uty arrived. Initially, Daniel stated
the officer needed to leave since it
was a family situation, according to
the incident report. During the argu
ment, Daniel pulled out a handgun
from his right pocket, holding it in
the air before pointing it at Laci.
“I unholstered my BCSO issued
Clock 17 and gave (Daniel) multiple
commands to drop the gun but he
refused,” the deputy wrote. Instead,
Daniel cursed the officer and then
turned away from him and walked
to the backyard. Daniel returned
a few minutes later unarmed after
discarding the gun in an unknown
location. However, a search of the
area resulted in the recovery of a
Heritage Barkeep revolver.
Sardis Police Chief Scotti Sanford
arrived on scene and Daniel was
taken into custody. Hannah Fortner
stated that while holding her child in
her left arm, Laci grabbed her by her
hair and struck her three times in the
right side of her face with a closed
fist. Hannah had visible injuries that
corroborated her story, the deputy
stated.
Daniel was charged with obstruc
tion and for pointing a firearm. Laci
was charged with battery and 3rd
degree cruelty to children.
Retired judge’s runoff water delays spa opening
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The opening of Wild Roots Salon
has been postponed possibly six
months due to an ongoing dispute
with Liberty Street neighbors.
“We have put our blood, sweat and
tears into this place and I feel like I
owe my customers and the city an
explanation on why I am not going
to be able to open (on time),” Heather
Gilmer told The True Citizen.
An In RemNuisance Abatement
Complaint filed in Municipal Court
on behalf of the City of Waynesboro,
November 2022, lists retired Su
perior Court Judge Carl C. Brown
Jr., Bettianne Hart and Dalline G,
Brownas co-owners of the building
next door. According to the com
plaint, the Browns’ Liberty Street
building was deemed unfit for hu
man habitation or for commercial,
industrial or business use. The roof
was found by a building inspector
to contain substantial holes collaps
ing inward, and leaking water into
the surrounding buildings when it
rained. The City of Waynesboro re
quested the demolition of the build
ing. However, the parties ultimately
agreed to roof repairs instead. It was
understood by City officials that the
building will be utilized as a legal
office in the future, according to
Mayor Bill Tinley.
During the roof repair process, a
plastic pipe attached to the down
spout was left aiming at Gilmer’s
building. When it rained, the water,
reaching up to 8-inches deep, seeped
down the length of her building caus
ing thousands of dollars worth of
damage to the interior of the spa. The
water damage required Gilmer to
dismantle rooms that were finished
in anticipation of a Spring opening.
She estimated a third of her building
was affected by the water runoff. A
trench needs to be dug to ensure that
runoff water will not flood Gilmer’s
building again.
“This has set us back to square
one. It could be months before we
are able to get where we
were before the flood
happened,” Gilmer said gp^
and estimated the issue
has cost her an additional
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This hose aimed runoff water toward Heather Gilmer’s building.