Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 106, NO. 2, JULY 29, 2009
LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY
MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Good Morning America!
The Millen News recently traveled to the set of Good Morning America (GMA) in New York City. Shown, from left are
Angie Lane, Teresa Ellison, GMA host Robin Roberts, Jennifer Oglesby and Haley Anderson. (Photo contributed)
Businesses asked to participate in work program
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Local businesses and organi
zations are currently being re
cruited to participate in a work
program funded with Federal
stimulus money that may soon
put 35 unemployed citizens
back to work temporarily. The
East Central Georgia Consor
tium (ECGC) is working with
the Jenkins County Commis
sioners and Millen-Jenkins
County Chamber of Commerce
to implement the program.
Funding is available to local
businesses and organizations for
employment of a low-income,
unskilled adult for a period of
90 days. Participants must agree
to work with a representative
from the ECGC to develop an
employee training plan before
the training start date. The
ECGC will pay the trainee di
rectly. pay the appropriate taxes
and provide worker’s compen
sation coverage and OSHA
training. The employer will be
asked to monitor the trainee’s
work performance and submit
an accurate time sheet for the
employee. Participants are un
der no obligation to hire the
trainee after the training period
ends.
Businesses may not fire a cur
rent employee to take advantage
of this offer. A business may cre
ate a job that would be of ben
efit to the business or organiza
tion and may request more than
one employee under the same
job description.
Businesses and organizations
who are interested in participat
ing in the program should con
tact Paula Herrington, executive
director, Millen-Jenkins County
Chamber of Commerce, at 982-
5595 or come by the chamber
office on Cotton Avenue.
Schools to open doors to students Aug. 3
The 2009-10 school year will
officially open for students on
Monday, Aug. 3, under the lead
ership of Jenkins County School
Superintendent Melissa Williams.
Superintendent Williams ad
ministers the work of the school
system under the direction of a 5-
member Board of Education as
follows: Carroll Gay, Chairman;
Roderick Campbell, Vice Chair
man; Freddie Brinson, Roy Cook
and Irene Drummer.
Central Office support person
nel are as follows: Marie Garvin,
Secretary to the Superintendent;
Burt Carter, Technologist Special
ist, Jake Sasser, Technologist Spe
cialist, Julie Chance, Federal Pro
grams Manager; Damita Bynes,
Academic Facilitator for Special
Education/Grades 6-12 Math,
Kimberly McMillan, Early Child
hood Academic Facilitator, Susan
Purvis, Academic Facilitator for
Grades 6-12 Language Arts,
Cindy Crawford, System Level
State Data Reporting Specialist;
Janet Fields, Business Manager;
Bessie Collins, Payroll Clerk;
Emma Whiters, Director of Spe
cial Services; Chris Hodges,
School Psychologist; Johnnie
Sherrod, Special Services Secre
tary; Debra Herrmann, Director of
Nutrition; Pattie McLeod, School
Food Service Secretary/Book
keeper; Larry Adams, Mainte
nance Supervisor and Joe
Hendley, Maintenance Assistant.
The Jenkins County educa
tional system is comprised of
three schools, Jenkins County El
ementary School (JCES) (PreK-
5), Jenkins County Middle School
(JCMS) (6-8) and Jenkins County
High School (JCHS) (9-12).
The JCES operates under the
direction of Jim Jarvis, Principal;
Cynthia McNeely, Assistant Prin
cipal (PreK-2); Deborah Foun
tain, Assistant Principal/Social
Worker (3-5); Jessica Reese and
Faye White, School Secretaries.
Certificated employees of Jenkins
County Elementary School are
Kim Alsup, Tony Baulos, Tabatha
Bennett, Jimmy Brannen, Angie
Brantley, Deirdre Brinson, Jancey
Brinson, Monica Brinson, Alisa
Burke, Brenda Burke, Shirley
Burke, Margaret Clifton, Melissa
Cobb, Carrie Cook, Randy Coo
per, Pam Dailey, Lynda Daniel,
Debbie Davis, Sheryl Dudley,
Donna English, Laurie Felix,
Patricia Fiye, Brittany Gay, Sylvia
Gay, Marcia Godbee, Ann
Hamilton, Laura Hart, Renee
Hearn, Patricia Henington, Mel
issa Hill, Eleanor Jackson, Bobby
James, Jeana Jenkins, Linda
Jenkins, Racheal Johnson, Jenni
fer Jones, Melinda Jones, Lisa
Kirkland, Kim Landing, Kristen
Murray. Marcia Newton, Teresa
Newton, Hillary Oliver, Michelle
Orvin, Ashley Powell, Janice
Reese, Cindy Rich, Katrina
Sherrod, Erika VanBuren, Jill
Wadley, Kristy Wallace, April
Wheeler, Anita Williams, Debbie
Williams and Shelby Williams.
Para-Professionals are Michelle
Brannen, Deanna Burke, Joydine
Burke, Tamaika Carrie, Wanda
Clifton, Jeannine Curl, Jacinda
Dixon, Theresa Ford, Julie
Gainey, Brenda Gay, Darcella
Harris, Angela Lee, Patricia
Milton, Kim Reynolds, Ernestine
Sanders, Deborah Taylor, Sarah
Thomas and Donnie Wadley.
Vivian Jenkins will serve as the
Prek Resource Coordinator.
Donna Saxon will be employed
full time as the school nurse. Cus
todians are Shirral Lewis, Donna
McClain, Barbara Parker, Minnie
Whitfield, Rosetta Whitfield and
Roger Williams.
Jenkins County School Food
Service (JCSFS) employees are
Allison Dann, Manager; Minnie
Ball, Mary Bragg, Letha Clark,
Mamie Clifton, Darlene Gay,
Dale Lowe, David Reese, Tina
Sammons and Diane Wasden.
The JCMS is staffed under the
direction of Nichole Moulton,
Principal; Randy Dailey, Assistant
Principal; Delane Davis, School
Secretary; and Carrie Foster, Re
ceptionist. Certificated employ
ees are as follows: Sandra Black,
Monica Broxton, Wayne Burke,
Rhonda Clark, Wendell Clark,
Shannon Clemens, Dinah Cobb,
Barbara Daniel, Michael Daniel,
Angela Deal, Jamar Dunnum,
Loretta Fleming, Carol Gaskin,
Nicole Green, Myra Halfacre,
John Paul Hearn, John Hodges,
Wendy Ivey, Pamela Luke, Nancy
Marsh, Kimberly Norris, Lyn
Rhodes, Charles Sanders and
Elouise Wright.
Rhonda Airfield, Jesse Cosby,
Patricia Hall, Jackie Lawton, and
Judith Taylor serve as Para-Pro-
fessionals. Michael McClain
serves as the school custodian.
JCHS is led by Dr. Joseph
Kirkland, Principal; Josh
Fleming, Assistant Principal;
Glynda Johnson, Registrar;
Vickie Cook and Joyce Lanier,
School Secretaires. Certificated
employees are: Terri Benson,
Donna Boone, Jennifer Brinson,
Lula Brown, Ashley Burch,
Jackie Burke, Annette Cobb,
Charles Conley, Cheryl Conley,
Kimberly Dasher, Nancy Deal,
Ivis Deloach, Cynthia Drake,
John Fitzner, Jean Gay, Jodi Grif
fin, Ruth Hearn, Sharon Holton,
Thomas Johnson, Lisa Jones,
Marsha Madray, Jean Marks,
Sandra Mason, Valen Miller,
Alfred Schneider, Linda Smith,
Matt Smith, Quinton Sweet, Hay
ward Thompson, Daniel Varner,
Kenneth Wade, Charley Waters,
Mark Whitt and Teresa
Wommack.
Para-Professionals are
Bernadine Cosby, Anthony
Dixon, Edna Golff, Shirley
Johnson. Tamia Lovett, and
Stacey Matthews. John Mobley
serves as the school custodian.
Pansy Gay will serve as school
nurse for the middle/high school
students.
JCSFS employees are Melissa
Bolton, Manager; Linda Brigdon,
Natalie Hall, Janice Morris,
Nelrose Reese, Betty Sue Royals,
Gloria Williams, Helen Wilson
and Annie Young.
The Transportation Department
operates under Talmadge Fries,
Transportation Coordinator, and
Eunice Tobie, Transportation As
sistant. Bus drivers are Andy
Allen, Joan Brown, Geneise
Carter, Floyd Chance, James
Ford, Rochelda Frison (Substi
tute), Rosa Holley, Susan Hooks,
Miriam Johnson (Bus Monitor),
Carletha Lee (Substitute), Tamia
Lovett, Janice Morris, Shirley
Newton (Substitute), Lotice Reed
(Substitute), Nelrose Reese, Joan
Reynolds, Matthew Roberson,
Patricia Sapp, Neltricia Simmons,
Walter Thomas, Sandra Wadley,
Wendy Waters, Jewell Williams,
Kenneth Williams and Lena
Young (Substitute).
The Jenkins County school sys
tem participates in the Partners in
Education Program that enhances
the relationship between the com
munity and school. Partners for
the 2009-10 school year are as fol
lows: Bethany Home Nursing
Center, BI-LO, The Cotton Gin,
Dairy Queen, Jenkins County
Farm Bureau, Georgia Power
Company, Huddle House of
Millen, K & K Antiques and Old
Fashion Soda Shop, Modern
Woodmen of America, Papa’s
Pizza To Go, Planters Electric
Membership Corporation,
Queensborough National Bank
and Trust, Regions Bank and Su
perior Alarm of Millen.
Parents are encouraged to be
actively engaged in the schools as
the new year begins.
“Your child’s success is our
success,” said Superintendent
Williams.
School system to
furlough teachers
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
The local school system joined many school districts across state
this week in approving the furlough of all staff members for three
days without pay during the 2009-2010 school year. The Jenkins
County Board of Education (BOE) approved the action during a
called meeting held Monday, July 27.
The BOE approved the furlough of staff for July 31, Oct. 23, and
Jan. 4, 2010.
Jenkins County School Superintendent Melissa Williams noted
that the furloughs were taken in response to additional cuts to the
school system’s budget by Gov. Sonny Perdue. The governor an
nounced last week more widespread cuts to state agencies and de
partments to deal with a $900 million shortfall. This is in addition to
the $241 million already cut from the state’s 2009-2010 education
budget and $430 million taken from schools last fiscal year.
During a July 21 news conference, Gov. Perdue said that lagging
income collections and decreased revenue collections had given
him little choice. The governor also noted that without federal stimu
lus monies received by the state, the cuts would have been more.
Previously, Superintendent Williams pointed out that the local
school system had incurred an additional increase in the local fan-
share withheld by the state in the amount of $ 180,847, for a total of
$ 1,106,729 withheld. Austerity reductions in the amount of $618,668
also impacted the 2009-2010 budget. Despite the reductions in state
funding, the Jenkins County BOE adopted an $11,256,419 budget
forFY 2009-2010, withoutre-
Open House to
questing additional local rev
enues.
“The Jenkins County BOE
is devoted to managing our
funds efficiently through this
continued economic down
turn the State is
experiencing. We are working
diligently to adjust our bud
get to reflect the 3 percent cut
just passed along to local sys
tems as well as doing all we
can to lessen the blow the 3-
day furlough will have on our
employees. We appreciate the
patience and understanding
our employees have shown as
we continue to stand together
in our commitment to provide
our children with the best edu
cational opportunities we pos
sibly can,” Superintendent
Williams said.
be held July 30
Due to action taken by Governor
Sonny Purdue this week whereby
additional cuts are made to the lo
cal school system’s budget, it is
necessary to furlough all staff mem
bers for three days during the 2009-
2010 school year. To implement this
plan without any interruption to stu
dent instruction, the Jenkins County
Board of Education has approved
furloughs for Friday, July 31, Friday,
October 23 and Monday, Jan. 4,
2010.
Thus, Open House will be
changed from Friday, July 31, to
Thursday, July 30, from 1-3 p.m. in
all schools.
For Bo Ginn Aquarium
Open house, Bass
tourney to be held Aug. 8
The Jenkins County Development Authority (JCDA) is sponsor
ing an Open House and Bass Tournament to benefit the Bo Ginn
Aquarium at Magnolia Springs State Park Saturday, Aug. 8.
The Bass Tournament gets underway at 6 a.m. and the Open
House activities begin at 7 p.m.
The tournament entry fee is $25, Admission to the aquarium is
free, but donations will be gladly accepted. Millen Better Home
town will provide refreshments.
“The JCDA is quite excited about the enthusiasm for the Bo Ginn
Aquarium. We are having a Bass Tournament to fill the bass winner’s
tank with the largest bass caught in the tournament and a plaque to
the credit of the fisherman who wins will be placed on it,” Mabel
Jenkins, chairman, JCDA, commented.
Bryan Clees, an award winning singer/songwriter will be the main
attraction for the evening. Clees is a Tampla, Fla. native who now
resides in Sylvania. Clees is scheduled to perform from 7-9 p.m.
“He has been taking the Southeast by storm lately with his ener
getic live shows, while having a chance to open up for some na
tional recording artists such as Kenny Chesney, Andy Griggs, Saw
yer Brown, Mark Wills, JoDee Messina and many more. Bryan’s
first full length album is scheduled to hit shelves soon. So bring
your lawn chairs, blankets or what makes you comfortable and
have a great time at the Bo Ginn Aquarium. You do not get a chance
often like this to enjoy a concert and the aquarium free with re
freshments,” Jenkins said.
There is no charge for parking if visitors enter on the Hatchery
Road. Those who desire to visit the park can just walk across the
bridge to gain access to the festivities.
Sales tax holiday begins
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
As school gets ready to open for a new year Monday, Aug. 3,
parents and students looking to buy items for school can take ad
vantage of the state’s 2009 Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday runs
Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 2.
Certain items purchased during this period will be exempt from
state sales tax. These items include articles of clothing, personal
computers and general school supplies.
The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear which
a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as
handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, jewehy, etc. are not exempt. A
single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or
related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $ 1,500,
the entire transaction is taxable. General school supplies purchased
with a sales price of $20 or less are also exempt.
The exemptions are intended for an individual’s personal use,
and exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses or pur
chased for resale.
For more information visit the Georgia Department of Revenue
at http://www.dor.ga.gov.