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VOL. 105, NO. 46, JUNE 3, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS County is ready! Jenkins By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor They came prepared to stay 72 hours if necessary. Jenkins Countians, however, had them packing up and heading home after only one and a half hours! “Jenkins County is ready!” That was the message health of ficials issued after Saturday’s Anthrax Exercise, sponsored by the Jenkins County Health De partment and East Central Health District. The exercise was held to test the ability of the county to re spond to a bio-terriost’s distri bution of Anthrax spores in the community with preparations by local emergency response agen cies occurring for several weeks. On Saturday, Jenkins Countians showed up in record numbers at the Jenkins County High School dispensing site to blast the goal of 180 drive- through participants receiving “mock” medicine over a 72- hour period. Within the first 15 minutes of the exercise, 161 par ticipants had been serviced. At the end of the first hour, 776 had driven through the line and vol unteers began packing up, de lighted with the turnout. “We printed 500 forms, and we ran out,” commented one volunteer. Health officials expressed their immense appreciation for the public’s participation, noting that without that support, the exercise would not have been successful. “The people came out in record numbers, and we ex ceeded the goal,” said Emmitt Walker, Public Relations Infor mation coordinator, East Central Health District. Volunteers are shown preparing to pack up after 776 Jenkins Countians participated in Saturday’s Anthrax Exercise, sponsored by the Jenkins County Health Department and East Central Health District. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) RIBBON CUTTING Members of the Jenkins County Hospital Authority are shown during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly upgraded Radiology Department at the hospital. From left, are John Roy Clifton, Bobbye Cobb, Ed Wilson, JCH Chief Executive Officer Pete Mills, Cong. John Barrow, Bobby Dailey, Howard Elmore and Dr. Kyle Gay. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Hospital upgrades Radiology Department By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor The Radiology Department at Jenkins County Hospital (JCH) has been upgraded, thanks to a $266,000 HRSA federal grant. During a ribbon-cutting cer emony held Wednesday, May 27, JCH Chief Executive Of ficer/Administrator Pete Mills Jr. expressed appreciation to Congressman John Barrow for his assistance in securing the grant for the hospital, stating that he was "instrumental” in the process. Mr. Mills explained that the new equipment made the Radi ology Department “completely filmless” and allowed the hos pital to electronically transmit x-rays to Chatham Radiology to be read by a radiologist. “We no longer have to wait for someone to come here to read them,” said Mr. Mills. The new equipment consists of a Shimadzu mobile art por table x-ray machine as well as a digital and dicom General Electric radiology and fluoros copy room. In addition to mak ing the Radiology Department “filmless”, the new equipment allows all images to be sent to the PACS server system to be stored. JCH also expects to receive an additional $188,000 HRSA grant to be used for refurbish ing of some of the patients’ rooms and the purchase of IV pumps and other needed equip ment. Mr. Mills noted that these items were things that the hos pital would not be able to afford without grant assistance, and, again, expressed appreciation to Cong. Barrow for his interest in JCH. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, invited guests en joyed a luncheon in the JCH cafeteria, prepared by hospital dietary staff. Memorial Day service draws large crowd By Deborah Bennett Millen News editor A large crowd gathered Me morial Day on the lawn of the Jenkins County Courthouse to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The event was hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (VFW) #2776 as a dedica tion service for the Memorial War Monument recently erected by the organization on the court house lawn. In opening remarks, VFW Post Commander Byron Scogins said, “We are all present to honor those brave men listed on this Jenkins County War Memorial Monu ment. These heroes found some thing to believe in greater than themselves. They were faithful to their proud heritage, upheld the tradition of honor, and left a legacy of valor.” Gen. Carlton W. Fulford Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, (Ret), a Millen native, was the guest speaker for the occasion. Gen. Fulford served as Direc tor of the African Center for Strategic Studies, a Department of Defense regional center, from 2003-2006. He retired form the Marines in 2003 after serving as Deputy Commander of the U.S. European Command, a position that included extensive work on U.S.-Africa relations. He pres ently consults with U.S. govern ment and other private organi zations on security matters. Gen. Fulford spoke admirably of those who lost their lives de fending their country and of all who are now serving in the U.S. military. Other dignitaries making re marks included Mayor King Rocker, State Senator J.B. Powell, State Representative Jon Burns, Nancy Bobbitt of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s of fice and Cong. John Barrow. VFW members and other local program participants included Dr. Maurice Crowder, Leroy and Ann Clayton, Ray Garvin, Bennie Hall, Lewis Williams, Infiniti Jones, Elbert Burke, Ed Arita, William Gunn, Don Leonard, Pam Dwight and Joe Sasser. The names of those honored were read as follows: World War I - Frank Burke, Daniel W. Hendley, Grover McGlohorn and Albert Parker; World War II - Charles E. Anderson, Robert M. Anderson, James Bargeron, Charles E. Becton, Oliver R. Chance, Ralph Chance, G. O. Cowart, Jessee Godbee, Frank H. Goodwin, Willis B. Hall, George H. Hendricks, G.D. Jackson Jr., Ben F. Johnson, Billy K. Jones, Harry Joyner, John F. Lane, Earnest B. Lanier, W.W. Lanier, H. L. Mitchell, Dennis R. Neal, Clarance Rosser Jr., Willie J. Williams and Obie D. Willis; Korea - Robert Adams and Thomas Lane Jr.; and Vietnam - Willie L. Love, Robert L. Mosley, Clyde E. Saxon, Michael R. Waters and Jack Weaver. The Millen Woman’s Club provided refreshments follow ing the event. From left, Benny Hall, representing the families of those listed on the Memorial War Monument, is escorted by VFW member Ray Garvin as he places a wreath in honor of his father, Willis B. Hall, who was killed in World War II. (Photo contributed) MPD arrests two on drug charges A fight at Edenfield Apartments on Toole Court Friday, May 22, led to the arrests of two local men on drug charges. Arrested were Jeffery Vaughn, 24, of Hart Av enue, and Jerome Swan, 28, of 3686 West Old Savannah Road. Both suspects have been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, loitering and obstructing law enforcement officers. Swan is also under investigation of stolen credit cards that were in his possession at the time of arrest. At approximately 10:30 p.m. May 22, officers with the Millen Police Department were called to the apartment complex for a fight in progress. Upon arrival two black males fled on foot. Officers gave chase and apprehended Vaughn. Swan was apprehended on Winthrope Avenue in the parking lot of the Jenkins County Hospital. JEFFERY JEROME VAUGHN SWAN Kidnapping suspect caught in Jenkins County CALVIN COOLIDGE TAYLOR By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor A Screven County man wanted by Burke County law enforcement for kidnapping and a variety of other charges was apprehended in Jenkins County Tues- i i day. May 26. Calvin Coolidge Taylor, 26, of Waters Station Road, Sylvania, was charged by the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Department with theft by taking of a firearm and en tering an auto after the department re ceived a report that a firearm had been stolen from a vehicle on Highway 17 North. Lt. Matthew Williams of the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Department, while en route to the scene, spotted a man riding a bicycle on the roadway and attempted to approach him. The suspect threw the bicycle down and ran into a wooded area. Assistance was sought from the K-9 unit of the Geor gia State Prison, the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Divi sion in Thomson and Georgia State Patrol Post 21 in Sylvania which responded with ground troopers and a helicopter. Other assisting agencies were Millen Police and Fire Departments, Department of Natural Resources, Jenkins County Emergency Management and citizen vol unteers. At approximately 3:30 p.m., a citizen spotted the sus pect and called the sheriff’s office. Deputies responded and took the suspect into custody without incident. The stolen weapon was also recovered. After arresting Taylor, it was discovered that he was wanted by the Burke County Sheriff’s Office for charges stemming from a May 25 incident and an earlier May 26 incident involving his ex-wife who resides in Midville. Taylor faces Burke County charges of kidnapping, ag gravated assault, possession of a knife during the com mission of a crime, burglary and obstruction of an of ficer. He is being held in the Jenkins County Jail pending bond on local charges and transport to Burke County to answer charges there.