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Vol. 143, No. 50 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, January 31,2024 - $1.00
Girard man busted for “grown man” crime
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
Girard resident Antonio Brigham,
38, told deputies he got caught doing
grown man stuff and now he’s going
to do grown man time.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office
executed a narcotics search warrant
at Brigham’s residence Wednesday,
January 24. When deputies entered
the home through the unlocked
front door, Brigham was found in
the master bathroom attempting to
flush a bag of methamphetamine
down the toilet.
A search of the home yielded 649.5
grams of methamphetamine, 50.5
grams of cocaine, 230 oxycodone
pills and 107.6 grams of marijuana.
The BCSO also confiscated $552
and Brigham’s 2001 Chevrolet 1500
pickup truck.
Brigham’s girlfriend and two
juveniles were home during the drug
bust. Brigham stated his girlfriend
didn’t have any knowledge about
the narcotics, although the illegal
substances were found in their
shared bedroom.
Brigham was charged with
trafficking methamphetamine,
trafficking cocaine, possession
of Oxycodone with the intent
to distribute and possession of
marijuana with the intent to
distribute.
At right, Antonio Brigham
BCHS: Ethan Coalson and Deirdre Roberson
EBA: Hannah Posey and Karen Reeves
Academic excellence
rewarded
STAR students/teachers named
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition
(STAR) program has announced recipients for area
schools for the 2023-2024 school year.
Seniors receiving the prestigious honor include
Burke County High School’s Ethan Coalson, Edmund
Burke Academy’s Hannah Posey and Faith Christian
Academy’s Holt Sapp. The group, along with their
parents and their STAR teachers, will be recognized
during the annual awards ceremony, hosted by the
Waynesboro Exchange Club, on Monday, Feb. 5.
During this time, the district STAR student will be
announced.
In order to be selected for the STAR student award,
recipients must meet certain criteria. These students
not only hold the highest SAT (Scholastic
Assessment Test) at their respective SEE
schools, but they must also be academically STAR,
performing in the top 10 percent of their g
class.
FCA: Holt Sapp and Ginger Rogers
2023 - A Year In Review - Part Five
Compiled by
Roy F. Chalker Jr.
DEC. 6
The EBA Spartans captured the
school’s first ever football state
title after defeating the Gatewood
Gators 16-10 at Mercer University.
Gatewood’s 10-points was the team’s
second fewest scored all season, as
they entered the contest averaging
over 30-points per game. Although
there were few explosive offensive
plays from either team during the
matchup, Spartan fans were thrilled
by how well the team’s defense
stepped up multiple times to secure
the historical win.
A spokesperson for famed civil
rights attorney Benjamin Crump
confirmed he is representing the
Walker family regarding the death
of Freddie Walker.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office
was dispatched to a residence on
Bailey Road July 27 after the Burke
County EMA reported difficulty with
a combative person. Walker’s family
was attempting to transport him to
a hospital for a mental evaluation.
During the incident, he was tased
by Deputy Tyler May four times
in approximately 2 minutes and 20
seconds.
James Chick Jones won the
Waynesboro mayoral position in a
close race. Jones received 52.5% or
378 of the 720 ballots cast.
Ashley Roberts marked her 30th
anniversary at the helm of the Burke
County Chamber last week, a role
she’s never regretted taking on all
those years ago.
Obituaries
included Elizabeth
Banks Knight,
Elma Earline
SEE
REVIEW,
5
Man accused of rape and
kidnapping walks free
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The District Attorney’s Office will
not prosecute 22-year-old Ismael
Patricio Aquirre after he was accused
of holding his ex-girlfriend hostage
at the Liberty Inn Motel in December
2022.
Aquirre was arrested, charged and
indicted on charges of rape, battery,
kidnapping, false imprisonment and
aggravated assault after Maria Lidia
Romera told a Spanish-speaking
registered nurse (RN) over the phone
that she was being held against
her will. The telephone exchange
took place at Burke Health after
Aguirre sought medical treatment
for Romera. At the time, she reported
she was forced to work and to
have sex with Aguirre. Desperate
for help, she faked a pregnancy in
an attempt to stop Aguirre from
beating and strangling her, she stated.
Romera also told Waynesboro Police
Department officers that Aguirre said
he would contact his family and have
them kill her mother and daughters if
she didn’t do as he requested.
However, according to an order
hied January 4, 2024, the District
Attorney’s Office lost contact with
Romera until November 2023.
Contact was re-established, but
during a formal in-person interview,
Romera changed her statement
in a substantial and
material fashion.
During the interview,
she effectively negated
SEE
ACCUSED,
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111
X
CO
City Administrator Sherrell Russ (front) led a work session meeting Friday,
February 19 that ran smoothly and without argument. Mayor Linda Wilkes
(back) gave an update on the city’s second well.
Keysville to raise water fees
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Keysville City Administrator
Sherrell Russ led an organized work
session February 19 during which the
councilmembers and mayor agreed
about the need to increase water fees.
Councilman Harold Right
reminded those present that the
city was supposed to raise the fees
every two years, in accordance with
a GEMA loan acquired years ago.
“We really do need to go up on it,”
he commented. “I don’t like higher
prices but we have to do what we
have to do.”
Russ also pointed to inflated costs
of materials used to repair water
leaks. Although a $2.14 increase
is on the table, Russ is working
with the Georgia Rural Water
Association to determine what the
non-profit organization recommends
for an increased
SEE
amount. Keysville
residents have not KEYSVILLE,
experienced an 3