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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!!
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Vol. 143, No. 33 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - $1.00
No 2023
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Some Keysville residents are won
dering why their city isn’t holding
elections this year.
Recently, a couple of people
contacted the Burke County Elec
tions office expressing confusion
about when Keysville city council
positions are up for reelection. How
ever, the Board of Elections doesn’t
elections raises red flag for Keysville
handle Keysville elections and
doesn’t maintain records on them. As
part of normal procedure, Elections
Supervisor Angie Parrish recently
notified a liaison of the Secretary of
State’s Office, Angela Davenport,
that Keysville was not holding any
elections this year.
That’s a red flag considering that
according to the Georgia Municipal
Association (GMA), general mu
nicipal elections take place on the
Tuesday following the first Monday
in November in each odd-numbered
year. Parrish said municipalities
typically stagger their elections so
that everyone is not running at once.
In that regard, part of Keysville’s
panel should be up for reelection in
November 2023 while the rest of the
members should be up
r occ
for reelection in 2025.
Since the city’s charter KEYSVILLE,
specifies that each term 7
City Council elections in Keysville conflict with state election laws.
Councilwomen Kathy Couch (second from left) and Sharon Neely (fourth
from left) are both currently serving their 7th year on seats that should
have expired three years ago.
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elected m
Imnecomim mem
Zaylie Baker was crowned
as Edmund Burke Academy's
2023 homecoming queen at the
school’s football game Friday
night.
Zaylie is the 17 year old daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Baker
of Keysville. She attends Oasis
Church of Hephzibah.
Zaylie has played softball
basketball and tennis since her
freshman year and also cheered
her sophomore year. As a fresh
man she was named honorable
mention all region basketball,
and as a sophomore, she was
named top scorer, best defensive
player, all region and all state.
Zaylie has been a member of
the varsity track team for two
years. She was a member of the
science club in 10th grade and a
member of the Spanish club.
Zaylie is a three year member
of the Interact club and a two-
year member of the future educa
tors of Georgia and the yearbook
staff serving as the business man-
Zaylie Baker, shown here with her father, Paul Baker, is the
new Homecoming Queen at Edmund Burke Academy.
ager. Zaylie is a member of the
Fellowship of Christian students,
the Beta Club serving as treasurer
her senior year, and the student
council serving as secretary.
Zaylie has been the class sec
retary for the past two years. She
plans to attend Georgia Southern
University to pursue a Bachelor
of Science degree with the goal
of becoming a pediatric physi
cian’s assistant.
Local candidates weigh
in on their bids for office
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Editor’s Note: This is the final
installment on a series of interviews
involving candidates running for
local public offices.
Sardis has six candidates vying for
three City Council positions.
Wendy Sirmons
This is the first time Wendy Sir
mons has run for a political office.
She believes that she can bring a
fresh perspective to the panel.
She would like to see more city
beautification and animal control
efforts. She would also like to see
the city’s ongoing water issues rem
edied. Wendy said she is a person
who makes decisions by contemplat
ing what the “right” thing is to do.
She is open minded and willing to
receive input from citizens.
Wendy moved to Sardis 17 years
ago when her husband Steve was
appointed pastor of Sardis Method
ist Church.
“It’s a very friendly town, welcom
ing,” she said. “People are willing
to help. Sardis has a small town feel
that gives you a family vibe.”
Leroy Lane
Leroy Lane is an incumbent can
didate who has served on the panel
for two years. He said he learned a
lot during the two years and wishes
to continue with projects that are in
the works. That’s what makes him a
great candidate, his commitment to
seeing things through, he said.
Leroy said after brown water is
sues for years, he believes the city
is close to resolving the problem.
He is also looking forward to future
renovations on the old school and
envisions more activities for the
youths and senior residents.
“I would like to see Sardis beau
tified,” he said. “Our buildings
downtown, I would like to see them
worked on and remodeled to make
our city more outstanding than what
it is right now.”
Leroy said it’s important to have a
city council that works well together
and makes an effort to get along.
Arthur Freeman
Arthur Freeman is an incumbent
candidate who has served on the
panel for nearly 10 years. He is the
oldest council member on the current
panel. He believes his experience
makes him a great candidate.
“We still have a whole lot that
needs to be done,” Arthur said of his
reason to run again.
He is excited about the upcoming
park improvements funded by grant
money. He also pointed to new water
meters as recent city improvements.
However, he recognizes the need
for more speed bumps and more
economic development.
Grady Dixon
Grady Dixon SEE
is an incumbent CANDIDATES,
candidate who 2
MPD hits a wall in armed
robbery investigation
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Midville Police Department
has no leads into who robbed a resi
dent of hundreds of dollars while he
checked his mail.
Sureshkumar Patel,41, was stand
ing at his mailbox on Alice Street
September 16 around 9: 45 p.m.
when a man wearing black clothes
and a ski mask came up behind him
and allegedly pushed a gun into his
back. The robber demanded Patel
give him money, and after frisking
Patel took approximately $550 from
his pocket. Afterward, the masked
man pushed him to the ground and
left. Patel said it was too dark outside
to clearly see the alleged firearm or
the vehicle the assailant left in as he
drove toward Jenkins County. Patel
stated he noticed a dark-colored se
dan parked in the neighborhood for
a couple days prior to the incident
but didn’t think much of it.
According to Chief Clayton Green
the MPD considers the case to be
closed, unless they receive new
information. Anyone with infor
mation should contact the MPD at
478-589-7511.
Laurie Dickey-Billings is
BCPS Teacher of the Year
Laurie Dickey-Billings, a dedicat
ed Kindergarten teacher at Waynes
boro Primary School, proudly holds
the title of Burke County Public
Schools 2023 District Teacher of
the Year.
Billings’ journey in education is
marked by a commitment to con
tinuous improvement and a genuine
passion for teaching. Her educa
tional background is impressive.
She earned her Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree in Mass Media with a
Broadcast Journalism Minor, along
with certifications in Speech Com
munication/Public Relations and
Print and Broadcast Writ-
ccp
ing from Valdosta State
University. Her pursuit TOTY,
of knowledge continued 10
During halftime Friday night, Laurie Dickey-Billings, BCPS Teacher of the
Year, was escorted by former student, I’Mena Gillette.