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VOL. 105, NO. 31, FEBRUARY 18, 2008 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS RIBBON CUTTINGS II It-T' J| jff\ tf.% nIL.:/. k— warn 1 ■■ d The Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Mary Lee’s restaurant located on U.S. Highway 25 South. Those shown participating are, from left, chamber director Pam Dwight, chamber president Steve Burke, Shunae Jeff, Sonya Bynes, Lamont Carey, Gary Williams-chef and Lee James Williams. Not pictured is owner Bishop Johnny Williams. The business specializes in barbecue, but has other items available as well. The hours of operation are 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon until 6 p.m. Sunday. (Photo contributed) Millen men arrested in nightclub shooting By Elizabeth Billips True Citizen Associate Editor Two Millen men have been arrested in connection with a shoot ing at a Screven County nightclub that left a Girard man dead. Brandon Lake. 24, of Millen was arrested for the murder, of Jermaine Milquell Scurry, 20, who was killed early Sunday morn ing after gunfire broke out inside the Space Ship Lounge off Burtons Ferry Highway near Sylvania. Byron Milton, 25, of Millen was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to Chris Hosey, special agent in charge of the Statesboro GBI office, two men from Millen have been jailed in connection with the death of Scurry, who graduated from Burke County High School last spring. Agent Hosey said he does not plan to release any details about the murder until the investigation is complete. Millen man arrested in robbery <TfrO FACTORY EFFH JH (Hr * n V JHB A ■ i " 1 J\ Jeffrey Ranaldo Cooper, 21, of 820 Mays Circle has been charged with armed robbery in connection with a Sunday, Feb. 8, incident that occurred at a 509 Palmer Row residence. Officers with the Millen Police Department (MPD) responded to a burglary in progress at approximately 4:09 a.m. at the residence and upon arrival, found that the offender had fled the scene. Occupants of the residence were held at gun point and robbed of $14. The female resident was able to escape and run to a neighbor’s house to call for help. The male resident was bound with zip ties before the offender left. Interviews with witnesses led to the arrest of Cooper, who is currently being held in the Jenkins County Jail. The case remains under investigation, and other arrests arc pending. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Millen Police Department at (478) 982-2750. Legislative Breakfast to be held Feb. 28 JEFFREY RANALDO COOPER The Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Race Tech II, 617 U.S. Highway 25 North. Participating were, from left, Matt Thompson, Dana Johnston, Lacy Carmack, Ashley and Melissa Trafficanti-owners and Josh Anderson. The business specializes in service/repairs on AT Vs, motorcycles, lawnmowers, boats and small engines; specialty painting; and collision repairs. It is open 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. (Photo contributed) Family Enrichment Center hosts ‘Lunch and Learn’ By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Information was served up, along with lunch, at a program hosted by the Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center (JCFEC) Feb. 10 for represen tatives from several organiza tions. The event took place at JCFEC’s Resource Center. Or ganizations represented were the Jenkins County Commis sioners, Millen City Council, Jenkins County Sheriff’s De partment and The Millen News. The past, present and future goals of JCFEC were outlined and the importance of com munity involvement and co operation was discussed by several employees of the or ganization. “We learn and evaluate the past, work on what is happen ing in the present and plan for the future,” said Julie Chance, JCFEC executive director. Chance then told a “monster story”, noting that identifying the “monster” was the key to developing strategy for deal ing with the problems faced by Jenkins County. Jenkins County’s monster hypothesis was explained as: a lack of education leads to a deficiency in skills that pre vents families from becoming educated, thriving and self- sufficient. Chance noted that much progress had been made to ward achieving the JCFEC goal and defeating the "mon ster”, but that much remained to be done. JCFEC coordinates a di verse network of local, state, regional and national partners who work together with the common goal of improving the lives of children and fami lies in Jenkins County. Some of the programs and services offered by JCFEC include: Parents and Teachers, CARE Management Services, Tru ancy Prevention, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Mentoring, WIA Youth Pro gram, B.L.A.S.T., Grad.Net, Parent Academy, Certified Work Ready Program and Dream Building Classes. Local JCFEC partners in clude: Jenkins County school system, Jenkins County De partment of Family and Chil dren Services, Jenkins County Health Department, Jenkins County Extension Service, Jenkins County Commission ers, Swainsboro Tech/Adult Literacy Program, Millen Po lice Department, Jenkins County Fire Department, civic organizations, Jenkins County Council of Churches, Corpo ration for National and Com munity Service-AmeriCorps; CSRA EOA Inc. Head Start, Millen-Jenkins County Cham ber of Commerce, Millen Make-a-Difference Ministry, Jenkins County Recreation Department, United Way of Jenkins County, Millen Woman’s Club, Jenkins County Sheriff Department, local businesses and individu als, local churches and Salva tion Army. For information on any of the JCFEC programs/services, call 982-8004. By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Eggs and issues will be on the menu of the annual Legislative Breakfast set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Krystal’s Taste of Kountry restaurant. The event is sponsored by the Jenkins County Farm Bureau and Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce. State Representative Jon Bums and State Senator J.B. Powell will be in attendance to discuss legislative matters and answer ques tions from local citizens. If scheduling permits, Cong. John Bar- row will also attend. Sen. Powell represents the counties of Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Richmond, Screven, Washington and Wilkinson. He serves on the following committees in the State Senate: Agriculture and Consumer Affairs; Interstate Cooperation; Natural Resources and the Environment - Ex-Officio; Science and Technology; and State Institutions and Property- Rep. Bums represents the counties of Jenkins, Screven and parts of Bulloch and Burke. His legislative services in the State House include membership on Transportation, Agriculture and Games, Fish and Parks Committees, the later of which he is secretary. Prior to his service with the Georgia House of Representatives, Rep. Bums was a Board Member for the Department of Transpor tation. For additional information, contact the chamber office at (478) 982-5595. REP. JON BURNS SEN. J.B. POWELL