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VOL. 105, NO. 33, MARCH 4, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS Williams named School Superintendent By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Interim School Superintendent Melissa Williams will officially head the local school system as Superintendent, effective March 1. Her employment was ap proved by the Jenkins County Boai'd of Education (BOE) dur ing a called meeting Friday, Feb. 27. Mrs. Williams was signed to a 2-year contract with an annual salary of $104,000. The vote, however, was not unanimous. BOE Chairman Carroll Gay, Vice-Chairman Roderick Campbell, and board members Roy Cook and Irene Drummer all voted in favor while board member Freddie Brinson opposed. Mr. Brinson said that his oppo sition was not directed at Mrs. Williams personally. He stated that he felt the application pro cess should have been opened to everyone and that the school su perintendent should reside in Jenkins County. The BOE previously an nounced in a Feb. 4 called meet ing that Mrs. Williams was the candidate under consideration for the School Superintendent posi tion. The chairman and vice- chairman were authorized to en ter contact negotiations with her with the understanding that final action would take place at a later meeting. Mrs. Williams resides in Metter with husband, Stevie and one son, Tyler, who is a student at Geor gia Southwestern. She came to the Jenkins County school system in July 2006 as Director of In structional Services and has held the Interim School Superinten dent position since Oct. 1, 2008. She was educated in the public schools of Candler County before entering Georgia Southern Uni versity in Statesboro, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Business Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Her 25 years of ex periences include that of a Title I reading/ math classroom teacher at Reidsville High School in Tattnall County for one year, a business education teacher at Metter High School for 17 years and six years at the Candler County BOE where she was the program supervisor for technol ogy, vocational and personnel. “I am truly humbled to be given this opportunity to be of service to this school system and com munity. It is a pleasure to work with such dedicated, professional and caring folks. I have come to love this community and look forward to working together to see good things happen in our school,” Mrs. Williams said. VFW Post adopts a highway By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Members of Veterans of For eign Wars (VFW) Post #2776 are putting their civic pride to work and are challenging other local organizations and indi viduals to do the same. The local post recently adopted a section of Highway 17 By-pass as a community project. Club members have taken on the responsibility of picking up litter along the high way. “I would like for folks to know that the VFW are not only mutually supportive of each other, but very much ori ented toward improving the community. We served our country, and now we are pre pared to contribute to this com munity,” said Byron Scogins, local VFW commander. “VFW members have volun teered to pick up trash along this one mile stretch every two weeks as a part of “Keep Millen Clean Campaign and challenge all other civic orga nizations to do the same,” he added. “The Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce is very appreciative of the Millen VFW for adopting the Hwy. 17 area. This is an example and a challenge to all civic groups to do the same and let’s all make Millen and Jenkins County a cleaner looking town for our children and grandchildren. We need to make Jenkins County a place of which we can be proud,” commented Paula Herrington, chamber executive director. Other community leaders also commended VFW mem bers for their initiative and ex pressed hope that their chal lenge will be accepted by other organizations. VFW Post #2776 has adopted a section of the Highway 17 By-pass for litter control. Shown during a ribbon-cutting ceremony are, from left, Ed Arita, VFW; King Rocker, City of Millen mayor; Paula Herrington, Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce executive director; Casey Johnson, Jesse Guthrie, Leroy Clayton, William Gunn, Don Leonard and Larry Thompson, VFW members; Byron Scogins, VFW Commander; Pam Dwight, Jenkins County Commissioner; James Henry, Jenkins County Commission Chairman; Ray Garvin, VFW; Dana Edenfield, VFW; and Clay Boulineau, City of Millen. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Economy was hot topic at breakfast By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor The economy - national, state, and local - was a major topic of discussion at Saturday’s Legislative Breakfast held at Krystal’s Taste of Kountry. The event, sponsored annually by Jenkins County Farm Bureau and Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce, gave local citizens an opportunity to meet with legislators and dis cuss issues. Legislators in atten dance were Congressman John Barrow, State Senator J.B. Powell and State Representative Jon Burns. Cong. Barrow opened his re marks with an overview of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package, stating that it featured three major compo nents: tax cuts for lower/middle class families, state aid and cre ating jobs through public enter prise. “We can’t fix our other prob lems if we can’t fix the economy... It is not a perfect bill but what is important is what it does,” he said. Rep. Burns commented that he was “guardedly optimistic” about the stimulus package. “We don’t want to start pro grams that we can’t fund in the future,” he said. Regarding the state budget, he said, “There are going to be some painful cuts. You’re go ing to feel it across the state.” On the local level. Rep. Bums commented, “I don’t think there is a stone left unturned that we haven’t investigated to bring good things back to this county.” Sen. J.B. Powell called atten tion to recent changes made in the rules and regulations gov erning the processing of pea nuts, noting that the peanut in dustry played a major role in the state’s economy. He also explained his support of the “Georgia Power Bill” which would allow the com pany to initiate a rate increase in the near future rather than waiting until construction at Plant Vogtle was completed. Doing so would move the project forward, Sen. Powell said. On the local level. Sen. Powell noted that there were some things “in the works”, and he expressed hope that Jenkins County would see economic improvement. During a question and answer session, Cong. Barrow ad dressed the issue of a national sales tax. “I like the idea of it, but the problem is that you can not shift the tax burden from one tax base to another without some paying more and some paying less,” he said. The congressman explained that the nation’s tax base was presently based on “income.” A national sales tax would shift it to a “spending” base. “And when times get tough, people stop spending,” he said. Educational issues discussed included school vouchers, the need for local spending flexibil ity and unfunded state man dates. Cong. John Barrow addressed a group of local citizens at the annual Legislative Breakfast held Saturday. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) BOE honors students By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Recognition of students’ achievements was a top priority at the Monday, Feb. 23, meeting of the Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE) with Interim School Superintendent Mel issa Williams commending students and their coaches/advi sors. Tashe McClain was recognized for achieving 1,000 points during her basketball career. Spelling Bee winners present and honored were Clintrondra Reynolds, Donnie Gay, Laura Hart, Jennifer Sanders and Daniela Hernandez. Jenkins County Middle School FBLA competitors present and honored were Donald Pennington, Frank Hagins and Jenny Taylor. In other business. Superintendent Williams brought BOE members up-to-date on a new program being implemented at Jenkins County Elementary School (JCES). The “Grab ‘n’ Go Breakfast” program would provide students with another op tion for breakfast, and, hopefully, increase participation in the school’s breakfast program, she said. If successful at JCES, the program could be implemented at Jenkins County High School and Jenkins County Middle School as well. Other actions taken by the BOE included the following. • Approved a school calendar selected by school personnel; • Approved several fund-raising activities for school clubs and organizations; • Approved the resignation of bus driver Angela Joiner and school custodian Frank Mack; • Approved the addition of Jerry Messex to the substitute teacher list; and • Established a called meeting for Feb.27 to consider the school superintendent’s position. Tashe McClain, center, was recognized during the BOE meeting for achieving 1,000 points in her basketball career. Shown with her are Interim School Superintendent Melissa Williams and coach Randy Cooper. (Staff photos by Deborah Bennett) Superintendent Williams recognized Spelling Bee finalists. From left, are, first row: Clintronda Reynolds and Donnie Gay; and second row: Superintendent Williams, Laura Hart and Jennifer Sanders. Not pictured: Destiny Mosley, Justice Deloach and Byron Williams. Jenkins County Middle School FBLA competitors shown are, from left, Donald Pennington, Frank Hagins, Jenny Taylor, Pam Luke-advisorand Superintendent Williams. Spelling Bee finalist Daniela Hernandez, left, was also recognized by Superintendent Williams.