Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 143, No. 41 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 - $1.00
Officials discuss pros and cons of hiring grant
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
On the surface, one might think a
$711,117 COPS Hiring Grant sounds
too good to pass up, but County
Manager Merv Waldrop and As
sistant Manager Adam Flakes warn
the decision of whether to accept
the grant money requires deeper
analysis.
During the November 14 meeting,
the commissioners split on whether
to accept the money awarded to
the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
However, it is likely to come before
the panel again. If accepted, the grant
requires the BCSO to hire six new
deputies and retain them for four
years. The County would be obli
gated to match $237,039 for the hrst
three years of employment and then
foot the entire bill for the fourth year.
During the November meeting,
Commissioner Tommy Nix suggest
ed the county’s match could come
out of the BCSO FY 2024 budget.
He also suggested Sheriff Alfonzo
Williams might agree to keep the
department’s number of employees
to a maximum of 140. However,
as Waldrop pointed out recently,
the BCSO is no longer under the
county’s pay plan.
The BCSO and the county’s cur
rent arrangement presents a situation
atypical of most County/Sheriff
relationships. Simply put, in Burke
County the BOC gives the sheriff a
budgeted amount of money, but he
is free to hire who he wants and pays
them as he sees ht. Theoretically, he
should promote, give raises and hire
employees in a way that ensures he
stays within the budget allotted to his
department. However, the Sheriff has
gone overbudget nearly every year
since taking office in 2017.
“The primary problem with go
ing over budget the last few years is
adding more and more employees,”
Waldrop stated.
The Sheriff has expressed many
times publicly that the department
is struggling with retaining officers.
Possibly, the six new deputies hired
now could ht into the budget after
four years, rilling the vacancies of
some who have left. However, de
spite the Sheriff’s claims, the number
of personnel continues to grow. In
August 2021, the BCSO consisted
of 120 positions. Now, they have
close to 140. Hiring six more depu
ties would put the department over
Nix’s suggested maximum amount.
There’s another dilemma attached
to Nix’s recommendation. Flakes
pointed out that a funding source
must be determined for how the sher
iff’s office would pay the additional
$237,039 that is not accounted for
in the department’s current budget.
Additionally, the $237,039 does not
include other expenses attached to
the deputy positions, like overtime
and vehicles. Realistically, the
county would be looking at closer
to $500,000 to employ the six new
deputies even after the $700k grant,
Flakes estimated.
“They have to have SEE
tasers and body cam- GRANT
eras,” he pointed out. g
Additionally, the grant
EBASpariushuiito
Sleds Chompiomllp guns
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Excitement is brewing as a win
Friday, November 24, guaran
teed the Edmund Burke Acad
emy Spartans a spot in the State
Championship game this week.
The #1 ranked EBA defeated
#5 ranked Southwest Georgia
Academy 35-6 in the GIAA AA
State Semifinals at Rogers Field.
The win advances the Spartans to
play for the State Championship
at Mercer University Friday, De
cember 1 against the Gatewood
Gators from Eatonton.
During the semifinals game,
the Spartans overcame an early
6-0 deficit with a long offensive
drive that saw Grant Mobley find
Owen Redd for a 37- yard pass
completion resulting in a first
down and goal. Mobley scored
the first Spartan touchdown on a
4-yard run. The Spartans scored
on a short field on their next drive
when Matthew Hood intercepted
a Warrior pass and set up another
Mobley touchdown run from
nine yards out. The Spartans’
next score was set up on a 33-
yard catch by Maddox Lee who
jumped over a Warrior defender
to hall in the pass from Mobley.
Then, Mobley threw a short
touchdown pass from nine yards
out to Redd. The Spartans took
a 21-6 halftime lead. However,
the Spartans scored again early
in the third quarter. The final
Spartan touchdown came on a
Redd interception returned 50
yards for the score.
Many Spartans showcased
their talents in the playoff vic
tory. Mobley ran 20 times for 112
yards and three touchdowns, he
also completed seven passes on
nine attempts for 90 yards and
one touchdown. Ay den Phillips
rushed 10 times for 32 yards. Lee
had one catch for 33 yards. Aden
Hickman had one catch for five
yards and eight tackles. Redd had
five catches for 52 yards and one
touchdown. He also added 10
tackles, one fumble recovery and
two interceptions while returning
one for a touchdown.
Hood completed 13 tackles
and one interception. Bray den
Tindell made six tackles and two
touchbacks on kickoffs. Connor
Syms achieved eight tackles and
one tackle for a loss.
Kade McGill made
10 tackles. William EBA,
Gelderman had seven 9
Power outage affects
much of Waynesboro
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A worn-out insulator at the top of
a pole caused a disruption of electric
service the day before Thanksgiving
for many in Waynesboro
According to a Georgia Power
spokesperson, the power outage af
fected a total of 678 customers and
lasted about 75 minutes while crews
replaced the equipment. During the
process, Georgia Power isolated the
issue, bringing the number of af
fected customers down to 158 before
completing the repair and restoring
power to the remaining customers.
However, while the outage was
over for most people, KJs Market
still found part of their building
without power. Initially, only half
of the lights came on and only two
of the cash registers. The 12 large
motors that power the refrigerated
cases did not operate until about 10
p.m. Georgia Power had to return
and repair a power line behind the
grocery store, said Store Manager
John Marsh.
Despite the complication, the store
held up pretty well and was able to
put most of their products into the
freezers. The biggest effect the out
age had on the store was their sales.
“We couldn’t sell anything out of
the refrigerated cases because every
time the doors would open it would
warm up,” Marsh said.
RUNOFF FOR WAYNESBORO
MAYOR IS TUESDAY
Early voting for the Waynesboro mayor runoff election ends Decem
ber 1. Voters will choose between incumbent Bill Tinley or former
councilman James Chick Jones. Tuesday, December 5 is Election
Day. Voting will be held at the Burke County Office Park from 7 a.m.-
7 p.m. There will be no voting at the historic courthouse that day.
Outreach initiatives guarantee holiday feasts
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
Despite inflated food costs, Burke
Countians did not have to go without
Thanksgiving dinner.
Around the county, there were a
host of holiday options.
The Concerned Citizens of
Keysville gave away more than 50
turkeys and 10 hams November 19.
Probate Judge Ashley Moore and
Sheriff Candidate Lewis Blanchard
hosted a turkey giveaway Tuesday,
November 21 at the Waynesboro
Judicial Center. They handed out ap
proximately 250 turkeys and turkey
breasts. Councilwoman Vickey Bates
was on-hand to assist. Community
members contributed to the success
of the event by generously donating
gift cards. All monies for the event
came from the sponsors and those
who chose to provide a gift card.
"Today's event truly showcases
the incredible unity within our com
munity," remarked Lewis Blanchard.
"It's an honor to see the kindness
and compassion that exists within
Burke County. I extend my deepest
appreciation to everyone who lent
their support, making this initiative
possible."
The Burke County Sheriff’s Of
fice didn’t hold their annual turkey
giveaway this year. Instead, they
consulted with Burke County Public
Schools, the Department of Family
and Children Services, Department
of Juvenile Justice and the WATCH
Program, to identify families in need
of Thanksgiving services. The meals
were delivered to the families ’ homes
by BCSO Community Services. No
other information was available
from Public Information Officer
Clarissa Allen, however, a photo
on the agency’s Facebook page No
vember 22 showed the BCSO Com
munity Outreach Team giving away
25 Thanksgiving meals prepared by
Cracker Barrel restaurant.
Waynesboro First Methodist
Church offered the community a sit-
down dinner with an abundance of
food and dessert choices Thanksgiv
ing Day. Patrons were also allowed
to take home leftovers. Residents
who didn’t attend missed out on what
may have been the most flavorful,
moist dressing ever prepared.
SEE PHOTOS ON
PAGE 10