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Vol. 143, No. 28 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - $1.00
Sheriffs diminishing transparency paints one-sided story
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Sheriff’s Of
fice announced a new open records
policy August 25, as the agency
progressively moves toward dis
seminating only what information
they choose to release.
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams told
radio host Austin Rhodes August 11
that his agency was cooperative with
providing information to The True
Citizen. However, shortly thereafter
the BCSO stopped providing weekly
mugshots and incident reports, two
items the department has willingly
delivered by email for years. It is
not uncommon for law enforcement
agencies to provide incident reports
to media outlets via email on behalf
of transparency. In fact, The True
Citizen automatically receives re
ports from Columbia County Sheriff
Clay Whittle’s agency every week.
Several recent inquiries emailed
to BCSO Public Relations Director
Clarrissa Allen have gone unan
swered. Vague press releases are
emailed to media outlets stating no
further information is available. The
Sheriff posts one-sided, prerecorded
interviews on social media, prevent
ing journalists from asking questions
and limiting who can comment.
Recordings on a YouTube channel,
purported to be transparent table
talks, further prevent journalists
from asking questions and viewers
to comment.
Beginning Monday, August 28
the BCSO has implemented an open
records policy that makes it more
difficult to obtain records subject to
open records laws.
Is the Sheriff’s Office violating the
Georgia Open Records Act?
The BCSO now states open record
requests may only be submitted
through the agency’s website or in
person by submitting an open re
cords request form.
However, according to the Opens
Records Act, a written request for
open records is not required by law.
Additionally, Georgia law states a
law enforcement agency may require
that all written requests be submitted
to a designated person. If the agency
elects to use such a designee, the
agency must make the designation in
writing and provide it upon request.
The agency must also prominently
identify the designee on their web
site, and notify the legal organ of
the county of the designee’s identity.
The BCSO website declares there
is a record manager but doesn’t name
the person and The True Citizen,
Burke County’s legal organ, has not
been notified of their identity.
According to an August 25 BCSO
press release, “the records manager”
will reply to the requestor within
three business days, advising if the
records requested are available and if
there is a cost to produce them. How
ever, the Open Records Act states
when records are readily available
and subject to public access, they
must be provided immediately.
“In no event shall this time exceed
three business days,” the law states.
State law says the records custodi
an must permit inspection and copy
ing of existing records covered under
the Georgia
Open Re-
cords Act. If OPEN RECORDS,
they are not 8
This year’s bird dog T-shirt was designed by local artist Kris Lovett, left, and Nan Palmer Lynch, at right,
donated the bird dog statue which Lovett also painted.
Bird dog shirts designed by local artist on sale now
The hunt continues.
Bird dog breast cancer aware
ness T-shirts have emerged with
their newest design, and the pur
pose to help raise money to fight
cancer remains steadfast.
It’s a 15-year tradition, and
Gina Richardson, County Nurse
Manager, says it’s one that shows
just how much our community
and local businesses have stepped
up to make a difference and make
sure Burke County residents
get the healthcare they need.
Through this support, the B. La
mar Murray Public Health Center
has been able to provide mam
mography and cervical screen
ings to underprivileged women
and assist in fundraising for the
Burke County Health Foundation
(BCHF) - which provides care in
various forms.
This year’s T-shirts have once
again been designed by a local
artist, who not only put paint to
paper but also brought to life a
bird dog statue that now resides
at the health department.
Kris Lovett recalls the day
Richardson called to ask her
to paint the bird dog. “I imme
diately envisioned the down
town mural in Waynesboro,”
Lovett says. “I love all
the colors the artist used
and thought I could do gQ^p
something similar for
the T-shirt design. This ®
Meetings explain
curbside trash service
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Ryland Environmental Managing
Partner James Lanier presented an
informational meeting August 22
designed to give county residents
a clearer vision of what they can
expect once Ryland Environmental
begins curbside trash services.
Each home, except Waynesboro
residents, should receive a 96- gallon
polycart in the next few weeks. Ry
land personnel will place carts, ap
proximately four feet from the road,
where they recommend residents
have them on trash pick-up day. They
will be picking up around the county
hve-days-per-week, however each
residence will be serviced once each
week. The poly carts will be delivered
with a color- coded explanation for
what day of the week the residence
will be serviced.
Homeowners will not be charged
for the first poly cart; however ad
ditional polycarts can be obtained
from Ryland Environmental for a
charge of $10 per month.
For residents who have a lengthy
driveway, Lanier suggested they
hook the polycart up to a trailer hitch,
golf cart or ATV to pull it back-and-
forth. However, Ryland will be
happy to pick up garbage closer to
the homes with longer driveways, if
the garbage trucks can safely turn
around.
Elderly residents and people suf
fering medical conditions that inhibit
their ability to tote their garbage to
the main road, should provide Coun
ty Manager Merv Waldrop with a
doctor’s note. Ryland Environmental
will travel up the drive way, for no
additional fee, to pick up the garbage
after the county provides them with
a list of exempt residents.
Ryland estimates that curbside
trash service will commence Oc
tober 1.
Lanier will hold the next informa
tional meeting at the Sardis Annex
Building September 5 at 7 p.m. Other
meetings include; Vidette City Hall
September 6 at 7 p.m., Keysville
City Hall September 7 at 7 p.m.,The
Midville Community House Sep
tember 12 at 6: 30 p.m. and Girard
Community Building September 14
at 7 p.m.
A recorded version of the Waynes
boro meeting is posted on The True
Citizen’s Facebook page.
Ryland Managing Partner James Lanier presented an informational meet
ing August 22 at the historic courthouse in Waynesboro.
Local veterinarian mauled by pit bull mix
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Dr. Emily Martin of Springwood
Veterinary Clinic is recovering from
surgery after a pit bull mix named
Dozer attacked her at the office
August 17.
Springwood staff said they were
attempting to sedate the dog when
his muzzle came off, enabling him
to attack Martin. The dog latched
onto her arm and pulled her down to
the ground, according to an incident
report. A staff member punched and
kicked the dog to get him off Martin.
Dozer released Martin’s arm but
went after other personnel, causing
them to jump onto tables.
One employee ran into a storage
area to escape the vicious animal.
The dog attacked Martin again,
brutally biting her upper thighs and
shaking them while dragging her
backwards. First responders and
Burke County Animal Services ar
rived at Springwood to find Dozer
in the back of the clinic yard tangled
up in a leash. Growling, Dozer was
looped with a ketch pole and placed
in a county vehicle.
Martin required surgery to repair
torn tendons to the arm. She suffered
lacerations to her head and legs as
well.
Dozer’s owner, Pamela Farrow,
informed animal services this is not
the first time the dog has acted out.
Last March, he attacked someone
visiting his residence.
Martin’s case has been sent to the
Magistrate Court for evaluation.
Dozer was at the Springwood clinic
for eye surgery. After the incident,
he was quarantined and evaluated
for rabies. Office Manager Crystal
Lesley said Martin is eager to re
cover and return to work. She said
the support Martin has received from
the community has been humbling
and amazing.
Dr. Emily Martin is known for her
passion for pets.
In an August 24 Facebook post,
Martin said doctors have restricted
movement of her arm for six weeks.