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www.MyMCR.net • Vol. 51 • No. 38
Reporter
Warning: This
newspaper has not
been certified by
President Biden’s
Disinformation
Governance Board
4 Sections, 24 Pages • Wednesday • Sept. 21,2022 • $2.00
INSIDE »»
Meet the
Homecoming
court at MP
SEE PAGE 2-3C
Media Fest
winners
named
SEE PAGE 4B
NEW SUBSCRIBERS
OF THE WEEK
Brad Richcreek
Timothy Puzder
Amanda Bailey
Camille Dungan
City of Culloden
DEATHS »>6A
Robert Redding
Walter Shockley
Annette Smith
Woman dead in 'horrific accident'
Monroe County fire chief
Matt Jackson said they still
haven’t determined the
cause of a tragic fire that
killed a Forsyth woman on
Wednesday, Sept. 14.
JoAnne Turner, 63, called
911 to report a porch fire
at her Sutton Road home
just before 11 a.m. She had
been recovering from hip
surgery following a fall at
home a few weeks ago, said
Jackson, and was in the
bathroom at the time of the
fire. He said she had been
mobile with a walker lately
as part of her rehab but was
still very limited..
Dispatchers lost con
tact with Turner. Monroe
County EMS and Forsyth
firefighters arrived within
about 4 minutes of the call
and found her. But they
were unable to resuscitate
her.
Jackson said family mem
bers did smoke cigarettes
on the porch but said they
are looking at a couple of
possible causes.
Turner’s daughter Ash
ley Wimberly wrote on
Facebook that it’s an awful
tragedy.
“She did everything
she could to give herself
the best chance of sur
vival,” said Wimberly. “She
wanted to live. It was a
horrific accident with tragic
results.”
She said her mother was
dearly loved.
“My mother was the
sweetest woman you’ve
ever met,” wrote Wimberly.
“She didn’t have a mean
bone in her body and she
never missed an opportu
nity to tell you she loved
you. She was a great friend
and confidante. She will be
missed greatly:”
Turner’s funeral was held
on Monday.
Family members grieve as Monroe County firefighters try to rescue JoAnne Turner last Wed.
BOE OKs ‘Woke Brothers, Woke Sisters’
But at least 3 board members
ready to rescind agreement after
anti-U.S., pro-LGBT training exposed
By Diane Glidewell and Will Davis
Monroe County’s school board may re-think last Tues
day’s decision to let Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) work
with youth in the school system after learning it requires
all volunteers and employees to take controversial training
that denigrates American history and celebrates alternate
sexuality.
The Board of Education voted 6-1 to approve an agree
ment allowing Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of
Georgia into the schools at its Sept. 13 meeting. Only
board member Greg Head voted against the agreement
See WOKE Page5A
Get Involved Enroll a Child Programs
About Us
Careers Contact Us
9
■
OUR JUSTICE, EQUITY. DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUS
It’s not enough to say we are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We have to work intentionally and diligently to bring
about change in our organization and our communities. To ignite the potential of all young people, we have to ensure all young people
have the opportunity to have a strong mentoring relationship in their lives. We are actively working to promote justice, equity,
diversity, and inclusion throughout our organization, and there are several initiatives that illustrate this commitment.
LGBIQ
In 2016, we launched our LGBTQ Youth Mentoring Enhancement Initiative, funded by the Altria Group. This
initiative was research-based, thoughtful, and deliberate. It was designed to ensure not just that LGBTQ youth
and mentors would be accepted or tolerated within Big Brothers Big Sisters, but that they would be affirmed,
understood, and celebrated. The initiative began as a pilot program with five local agencies. A year later, we
expanded it to 20 agencies. Now, we've included our whole network in the program, which includes training
opportunities, inclusive policies and procedures, and specific focus on anti-bullying, self-advocacy, and identity
exploration.
The website for Big Brothers Big Sisters covers its focus on "Justice, Equity, Diversity and
Inclusion, including that it celebrates LBGT identities.
MONROE COUNTY JUSTICE
Two get prison for fighting MoCo deputies
See videos of disputes with Monroe County deputies at our website www.mymcr.net
6 DfifiD5 ^llb
Kroger, CVS
fi
8 *0 4879 16264
3
Publix, Dollar General, Circle K
A Warner
Robins man was
sentenced to 15
Ajauntis Bell makes a run for it as deputies try to grab
him during a traffic stop in 2019. A deputy required
stitches and Bell was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
(Video courtesy Monroe County District Attorney)
years m prison
on Thursday for
fighting with
Monroe County
deputies, send
ing one of them
to the hospital,
during a 2019
traffic stop.
A Monroe
County jury
took about 3
hours to find
Ajuantis Bell
guilty of aggra
vated battery, obstruction and pos
session of marijuana with intent to
distribute after a 2-day trial. Judge
Tommy Wilson sentenced him to
15 years in prison with another 10
years on probation. As he sentenced
him, Wilson said he didn’t under
stand why people think it’s OK to
treat law enforcement that way
Monroe County Cpl. Thomas
Haskins stopped Bell on 1-75 on
April 7,2019 for following too
closely. Deputies
found 11 ounces
of marijuana in
the car and Bell
ran. Deputies
gave chase but
Bell scuffled with
them, striking
Haskins in the BELL
head with his
elbow. Deputies
See FIGHT Page 6A
A North
Carolina
woman was
sentenced
to 5 years in
prison on
Thursday,
Sept. 15 for
injuring two
Monroe
County depu
ties in a tussle
during a 2020
traffic stop
Judge
Tommy
Wilson sen
tenced Ayesha
Hawkins, 31, of North Carolina to
5 years in prison plus 3 more years
of probation on Thursday. A jury
found her guilty around 9 p.m.
after a day-long trial.
Hawkins was a passenger in a
Cadillac stopped on 1-75 south on
July 11,2020. Sgt. Willie Brown
arrested the driver, Taril Andrew
John Taylor, 29, of Henderson,
N.C., for not having his license.
As he was being arrested,
Ayesha Hawkins records Forsyth officer Kevin Powell
during a traffic stop in 2020. Deputies were injured try
ing to arrest her after she refused to cooperate. (Video
courtesy Monroe County District Attorney)
Hawkins ap
proached depu
ties pointing her
phone’s camera
phone at them
and Brown
asked her to
get back in the
vehicle. She said
she didn’t have
to. She was told
HAWKINS
See PRISON Page 6A
