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See our
honor
roll of
business
Pages
11A-14A
Getting a Historical Perspective
on Monroe County Businesses
Inside
Juliette native murdered in North Ga.
Will city OK
streetscape?
Meeting set
for Monday
See page 6A
Sports
MP cheer
scholarship
named for
alumna
See Page B1
Deaths
Robert Lee Bowden
Kimberly Leigh Davis
Obituaries Page 6A
BY GINA HERRING
AND WILL DAVIS
Family and friends of
Kimberly Davis Burton laid
her body to rest Saturday. But
the search for her killer con
tinues.
Burton, a former Juliette
resident, was found murdered
in her Canton home on Jan.
19. Police say she was choked
and then beaten to death and
they believe her husband of
13 months, Rodney Burton, is
the one responsible. And now
police believe he has left the
country.
News of Burton’s death sent
shock waves to her friends
and former classmates around
Monroe County. Known back
then as Kim Davis, Burton
graduated form Mary Persons
High School in 1987. Friends
remember her as a likable girl
and a loyal friend. She was
even voted “most dependable”
her senior year.
“She was red-headed and
pretty cocky. She was a tough
one. But, she was also smart,”
says longtime friend Shane
Godfrey. Godfrey and Burton
dated after high school for six
years. They each eventually
married other people, but
have remained good friends
all these years. Burton and
Godfrey’s wife also became
close friends.
Godfrey said he knew
Burton was having marital
See MURDER page 5A
1987 yearbook
photo of a hap
py,dependable
Kim Davis
I WON WHAT?!? Jo Shipman expresses surprise after being named Citizen of the Year in Monroe County for 2008.
Shipman volunteers lots of time to local schools, and feeds Forsyth police officers every night. (Photo Gina Herring)
Way to go, Jo
Shipman is Citizen of Year
BY GINA HERRING
Jo Shipman has touched
many hearts and lives in
Monroe County over the years.
Her selfless contributions, tire
less commitment and flair for
helping anyone who needs her
made Shipman an obvious
choice for Monroe County’s
Citizen of the Year. Amid tears
of joy and surprise, Shipman
accepted her award Thursday
at the Forsyth-Monroe County
Chamber of Commerce’s annual
banquet.
“I can’t believe this,” Shipman
said. “I do what I can, but I
never, ever expected this.”
Known to many around town
as “Mamma Jo,” Shipman gives
to young, old and in between.
She gives freely of her time
and her heart and adds a spe
cial touch of love to everything
she does. Never seeking recog-
See SHIPMAN page 6A
County:
Rock
quarry
OK to
expand
BY WILL DAVIS
The Vulcan Rock quarry on Hwy. 87
in Monroe County won county
approval Tuesday for an expansion
that will allow it to continue operating
See QUARRY page 7A
FORSYTH FOODIE: Wayne & Terri Wetendorf,
owners of Grits, thank the audience Sunday
for their Foodie award for Best Atmosphere.
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A moment frozen in time
Locals brave
frigid temps to
witness history
BY GINA HERRING
It was freezing cold - nine
degrees. They had to walk
for miles and wait for hours,
but Rosemary Walker of
Forsyth said she wouldn't
have wanted to be anywhere
else in the world last
Tuesday. Walker and a group
of 20 Forsythians were
among the 2 million or so
who braved the elements to
witness history in person as
Barack Obama was sworn in
as the 44th president of the
United States on Jan. 20.
"It was an experience I will
never forget," said Walker.
See OBAMA page 7A
ALL BUNDLED UP: A group of Monroe County residents made the trek to Wash
ington D.C. to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama last week. Pictured are:
Rosemary Walker, Kawanna Jefferson, Desi Hansford, Denzil Hansford, Alexan
dre Evans, Rhonda Grier, Shemeki Wyche, Gfundria Houston, Mary Herring, An
nie Alexander, Doris Gant, Eddie and Rosalind Cash, Jewel Coleman, Gwendolyn
Bryant. Not pictured: Veronica Evans, Ann Hansford, and Myrtle Lowe.
Local
eateries
shine in
Foodies
BY WILL DAVIS
Monroe County is becoming a favorite
destination for fine dining in Middle
Georgia.
Local restaurants picked up three
Foodie awards Sunday night in the
Third Annual Readers Choice competi
tion among the Macon area's best inde
pendent restaurants.
Grits Cafe in Forsyth won two of
them, Best Atmosphere and Best Fine
Dining, beating out some of the finest
See FOODIES page 7A