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VOL. 105, NO. 37, APRIL 1, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS Planters EMC grant to help pay for Hwy. 25 signage Most travelers don’t even know what they’re missing. Drivers flow up and down U.S. Highway 25 day and night and don’t realize they’re just blocks away from some of Millen’s most prized jewels. Downtown Development Au thority (DDA) director Art Johnson and downtown busi ness owners aim to change that trend. Local merchants want motorists who pass by Millen to know what lies beyond the four- lane. So. they are working to gether to install signs on U.S. Highway 25 at either end of town to promote downtown Millen and its merchants. “There are so many people that travel on the highway and think that is Millen,” Johnson said. “They don’t realize there is a town over here with a main street and shops. Our purpose for putting the signs out there is to direct people to downtown. Our merchants really need this.” A variety of shops grace the sidewalks on Cotton Avenue and surrounding streets, includ ing florists, gift shops, antique stores, a gourmet bakery, res taurants and even an old-fash ioned soda shop. Planters Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) recently awarded the Millen DDA a $2,850 grant through the Opera tion Round Up program to help pay for the signage along High way 25. “By getting the Planters grant, it makes it more afford able for the businesses,” Johnson said, noting that the Millen-Jenkins County Cham ber of Commerce and DDA will pitch in as well. Aside from directing traffic to downtown, the signs will in clude a small advertisement for each of the businesses there. Johnson hopes to have the signs in place in the coming months. Planters EMC’s Operation Round Up program awards grants every three months to local organizations that work to better their communities. Mem bers of Planters EMC provide the money for the program by Art Johnson reviews plans for U.S. Highway 25 signage with Joseph Kirkland, owner of K & K Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Shop on Cotton Avenue. (Photo contributed) rounding their electric bills up Applications for the next to the nearest dollar and donat- round of grants are now being ing the difference through the accepted and must be turned in grants. More than $23,000 in by Friday, April 10. funding was provided for area For more information, visit civic and educational projects in www.plantersemc.com or call the latest round of awards. (478) 982-4722. JCHS Army JROTC wins state Championship The Jenkins County Army JROTC Precision Drill Team marched into history Saturday, March 21, by capturing three first place trophies at the Georgia Army State Drill Team Champi onships, each trophy represent ing an event State Champion ship. “The War Eagle Drill Team continues to defy all the normal roads to success, which routinely takes many years of develop ment, to build a core of experi enced varsity team members. The talent that resides in the Corps of Cadets at Jenkins County seems to be endless with the success the Raider Team had at both the state and national level rolling over to the Drill Team, as well. The little school that would has become the little school that could and out performed the best of the best from all classifications throughout Georgia. All 35 schools participating in the championship meet were either one of the 10 Area Champions or in the top three/four in their respective regions that earned a berth in the Championship Meet,” commented Col. Kenneth Wade. Jenkins County won the State Championship in the Regulation Unarmed Squad, Male/Mixed Division with Ra’Shon Brady, Tay Taylor, Jared Hackworth, Anthony Ricks, Chris Hillis, Lewis Williams and Andres Jeronimo making up the team. The State Championship for Regulation Armed Squad, Male/ Mixed was won by the same team members with Jerome Tay lor marching in place of Chris Hillis. The Regulation Armed Squad, Female Division State Championship goes to Brianna Joiner, Latoria Wimberly, Cassandra Lake, Keondra Kelly, Ladeisha Simpkins, Brittany McKinney and Courtney Johnson. Jenkins County also placed second in Regulation Un armed Platoon with the members of the three above State Cham pion team members. In addition, to the first and second place fin ishes, the War Eagles captured fourth in Regulation Armed Pla toon and Jerome Taylor finished seventh overall in individual competition. Cadets Paul Salter, Trevon Sanders and Willie Watson round out this years State Champion War Eagles. Members of the Jenkins County High School JROTC team shown are, from left, first row: Keondra Kelly, Cassandra Lake, Brianna Joiner, Brittany McKinney, Tay Taylor, Anthony Ricks, Trevon Sanders and Willie Watson; and second row: Jared Hackworth, Chris Hillis, Paul Salter, Latoria Wimberly, Courtney Johnson, Ladeshia Simpkins, Ra’Shon Brady, Jerome Taylor, Lewis Williams and Andres Jeronimo. (Photo contributed) This photo shows an officer from the Savannah River Site and her canine partner conducting a search of lockers at Jenkins County High School. (Photo contributed) No drugs found at JCHS, JCMS Jenkins County High School and Jenkins County Middle School were both given the “all clear” for drugs and other con traband following a March 25 search of the facilities by law en forcement. Conducting the search were officers of the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Millen Police Department. They were assisted by deputies and personnel of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia De partment of Natural Resources and Department of Energy Po lice at Savannah River Site. Jenkins County Sheriff Robert Oglesby said the search was unannounced and included classrooms, lockers and the parking areas. Students were removed from the classrooms and the rooms were searched by K-9’s. Lockers, common areas of the schools and parking areas were also searched utilizing the K- 9’s. Sheriff Oglesby commented, “The deputies who handle the K-9’s, as well as the animals; are specially trained in conducting school searches for drugs, weapons and explosives. The students and staff were completely safe during the search. We received 100 percent cooperation from the staff and students, and the op eration went very smoothly. No chugs, weapons or contraband were located within the schools.” BI-LO files Chapter 11 By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor BI-LO, one of the area’s largest grocery store chains, filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week in South Carolina federal court, just before two loans for $360 million matured. The action allows the 215 stores throughout South Caro lina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee to remain open as BI-LO reorganizes its debt in bankruptcy court. In a press release, Michael Byars, president and CEO of BI- LO, said, “In a normal credit environment we would have ex pected to refinance the maturing term loan on reasonable terns in the ordinary course of business. Unfortunately, the current credit environment is very challenging. After extensive discussions with our lenders and careful consideration of all available alternatives, we determined that in order to maintain business operations and customer service without interruption while we address this debt maturity, a court-supervised restructuring is appropriate.” "Throughout this process, our doors will remain open and our commitment to our customers will not change,” Byars said. During this period, the company plans to fund operations through its cash on hand and cash generated from operations. The company has also received a commitment for a $100 mil lion debtor-in-possession facility arranged by GE Capital. Upon court approval, the financing will be used to support the company’s operational cash flow to meet its normal business obligations. Local Store Manager Buddy Saxon confirmed that it is “busi ness as usual” at the local grocery store which employs 39 per sons. Local businesses honored at chamber “Gala” By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Local businesses were the honorees at the Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce “Gala” held Thursday, March 26, at the old Pal Theatre on Cotton Avenue. Business owners recognized for “Saving Historic Millen” were Harold Moore, John Ell Hendley and Angie Lane. Businesses honored for “New Construction/Renovation” were: Thompson’s Comer, Edenfield’s Feed and Seed, Schwonke’s BP Station, Karen Johnson, Papa’s Pizza, Rounds Fishing Hole, Clubhouse Investments and McTeer Tire Company. Recognition for '"Facade and Landscape Improvements” was given to Jenkins County Farm Bureau, Hubert Reeves III, Dr. Deborah Makerson, Dwelle In surance Agency, B & J Beauty Shop and James A. Kirkland Mortuary. Those honored for "Consis tently Attractive Displays” were Kellwood Manufacturing, The Charm Barn, Sisters Gifts and Collectibles, Cindy’s Restaurant on Cotton and The Flower Cot tage. “New Retail Businesses” rec ognized were K & K Antiques & Old Fashioned Soda Shop, El egant Sweets, New and Used Bargain Store, Stitches Sew Simple, Sweet Memory’s pho tography shop, Mary Lee’s Place, Race Tech, One Body Fit ness Center, Yesteryear’s Fine Used Furniture and Rounds Fishing Hole. Cavalier Home Builders was honored in the “Industry” cat egory. Dr. Wayne Ates, comedian, provided entertainment, and re freshments were provided by lo cal restaurants and food ven dors. From left, are Harold Moore, Gailyn Thompson, Dr. Deborah Makerson, James “Roundhead” Jackson, Beth Dwelle, Linda Jackson, Joyce Kirkland, Dr. Joey Kirkland, Hubert Reeves III, Dobbie Gay and Vanessa Parker. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)