Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 117 NO. 24 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • 750
$12 million grant approved for blocked rail crossings
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
For years blocked rail crossings
in the City of Millen and on the
Millen By-Pass have created havoc
for local citizens, truckers, and those
traveling through the community.
The City of Millen, Jenkins County
Commissioners, and Jenkins County
Development Authority (JCDA) have
worked diligently to find solutions to
resolve the problem with disappoint
ing results.
A federal grant application filed
in September, 2022 by the Georgia
Department of Transportation for
construction of an overpass on the
Millen By-Pass was denied in June
of this year.
On Tuesday, however, the tide of re
jection turned. An announcement was
made by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and
Rev. Raphael Wamock, a member of
the Senate Commerce and Transporta
tion Committee, that Jenkins County
will receive $12 million in federal
funding that can be used to begin a
project that will help eliminate the
blockage of highways/rail crossings
when completed.
A press release from the Senators’
offices states, “This latest grant will
help alleviate stalled trains that hinder
mobility for families and students
and emergency services, promot
ing greater accessibility for all. The
project will implement three grade-
separated rail crossings in Millen,
one just north of the rail yard on
SR21/Millen By-pass
and two on SR67/East
Winthrope Avenue.” GRANT,
The $12 million in 3
It looks a lot like Christmas at Jenkins County Elementary School! Second grade
teacher, Lisa Richardson, is shown with Cole Lyles, Pre-School, and Drake Lyles,
2nd grade. The three elves are ready to give Santa a helping hand!
Millen PD undercover
operation leads to arrest
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
An undercover operation by the
Millen Police Department (MPD)
has led to the arrest of John E. Cor
tez, 38, of Augusta. He is charged
with Aggravated Child Molestation-
Criminal Attempt, Electronically
Furnishing Obscene Material to a
Minor-Criminal Attempt, Enticing a
Child for Indecent Purposes, Sexual
Exploitation of Children-Possession
of Child Pornography with Intent to
Distribute, Possession of Marijuana-
Less Than an Ounce, Possession
of Methamphetamine, and
Possession of Drug Related
Objects.
“The MPD undercover
SEE
MPD
3
John E. Cortez
Juvenile arrested for
threatening schools
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The Jenkins County Sheriff’s Of
fice announced on Monday that a
juvenile responsible for sending a
series of threats to the Jenkins County
School System has been identified
and arrested. The threats began Fri
day, Dec. 7th, and continued through
Monday morning, Dec. 11th.
Following the first threat on Friday,
security at the schools was increased
with law enforcement on the site
day and night. Following protocol,
the schools were also placed on soft
lockdown.
Early Monday morning, School
Superintendent, Dr. John Paul Hearn,
received another series of threatening
emails he reported to law enforce
ment. The decision was then made to
lockdown the schools by Dr. Hearn,
School Resource Officer Gerald
Green, Jenkins County Sheriff’s Of
fice Chief Deputy Wesley Aaron, and
the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Students arriving for school were
turned away, and those who had
arrived on school buses were trans
ported back to their homes.
Parents were notified via the school
system’s Swift K-12 messaging sys
tem, and Dr. Hearn reported that all
students were reunited with their fam
ilies by 9:30 a.m. Monday morning.
As the investigation continued, a
juvenile was identified as the person
responsible for making the threats,
and it was determined the individual
was not in any way
capable of carrying SEE
out those threats. LOCKDOWN,
Dr. Hearn released 3
Joel Carter Sr. sworn in as City Council member
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The first order of business at the
Dec. 5th Millen City Council meeting
was a swearing-in ceremony for
newly elected City Councilman Joel
Carter Sr. to fill the unexpired term for
the District #1 seat vacated by former
Councilman Giovanni Shumake.
Jenkins County Probate Judge Wanda
Burke administered the oath of office.
Moving on to other business, the
City Council approved a bid from
MMI Construction, LLC for $662,000
to stabilize the Kirkland Building
project. The building is located at the
intersection of Cotton Avenue and
Gray Street. Funding for the project
is provided through a $750,000
Rural Development Fund grant the
Downtown Development Authority
received in 2022 from the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs.
Work on the project is expected to
begin in January.
City Manager Jeff Brantley reported
that the city is the recipient of a
Norfolk Southern Public Safety Grant
for $54,000. The council approved
use of the funds for the purchase of a
dispatch radio system for $34,902.41
and a Millen Police Department server
for $ 18,978. He also reported that the
Thriving Community Grant through
Norfolk Southern has not yet been
approved.
“This will bring our IT department
up-to-date,” Brantley said.
During his financial report, Brantley
reported that the city has a year-to-
date balance of $115,000. He also
noted that $234,000 in 2023 property
taxes are still outstanding.
“But, it is not due yet,” he added.
The acquisition of Christmas
lights for Cotton and Winthrope
Avenues was discussed and tabled
due to conflicts with equipping the
light poles with necessary electrical
fixtures and ownership issues that
must be resolved. Brantley reported
that the Jenkins County Chamber of
Commerce is attempting to secure
Christmas fixtures for the decorative
poles on Cotton Avenue.
Issues with the collection of leaves
and limbs by All Green Services
were discussed. It was noted that the
company agreed to discount the city’s
December bill by $1,500.
The closeout of the city’s 2020
Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) was SEE
announced. The grant COUNCIL
was for $1 million with 5
Jenkins County Probate Judge Wanda Burke administers the oath of office
to City Councilman Joel Carter Sr.