Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 106, NO. 12, OCTOBER 7, 2009
LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY
MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
At town meeting
Prison, hospice hospital announced
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Those attending the Oct. 1
town meeting came expecting a
job fair, but left with something
more than employment informa
tion - hope for a brighter future.
The annual event, sponsored by
the Jenkins County Family En
richment Center (JCFEC), drew
a standing-room-only crowd to
the Jenkins County Agriculture
Center, with Nan Searles of
JCFEC setting the stage for two
important announcements.
“I believe that better days are
just ahead for us. I believe we
are on the brink of restoration,”
she said of the community’s cur
rent economic climate in wel
coming remarks.
Searles described the commu
nity as "the little town that could”
and then introduced Mabel
Jenkins, chairman of the Jenkins
County Development Authority
(JCDA).
Jenkins reported that Doctor’s
Hospice of Georgia, Inc. had a
signed a Letter of Intent with the
JCDA to purchase a parcel of
land in the industrial park for
construction of a hospice hospi
tal. The organization is currently
building state-of-the-art facilities
around Georgia. The local facil
ity will represent a $2.5 million
investment and will employ 50-
60 people.
She also announced that the
bidding process had begun for
the location of a 1,000 bed prison
in Jenkins County by the Correc
tions Corporation of America
(CCA). The facility could even
tually be expanded to a 2,500
bed facility, she said.
“We need the support of the
citizens to help secure this bid
(for prisoners). I feel this will be
the salvation of our economic
situation,” Jenkins commented.
She then introduced Jerry
Lankford, CCA senior director of
business development, who also
asked for community support of
the project. Attendees were en
couraged to sign cards of sup
port, made available at the meet
ing, which would be taken by
local leaders to officials in At
lanta.
“We are very excited about the
opportunity to come into Jenkins
County. This company can come
in and provide good paying ca
reers and a good tax base,” com
mented Lankford.
He noted that a public meet
ing would be held at a later date
to present information concern
ing the CCA and answer ques
tions from the public.
Another point of interest was
presented by Elbe Daniel of
Georgia Power/Plant Vogtle who
spoke on the projects currently
underway at the nuclear facility
advertisement that would go in
20 business journals across the
nation. He also presented a
$10,000 check to JCFEC in rec
ognition of the organization’s
effort in assisting citizens with
skills improvement. (See related
article on page 2).
The 2009 Volunteer of the
Year award was presented by
Carroll Gay to Barbara Bowers,
posthumously. It was accepted
Jerry Lankford, Corrections
Corporation of America,
speaks to those at town
meeting concerning his
company’s bid to build a
1,000 bed prison in Jenkins
County.
Members of the family of the late Barbara Bowers accept
the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award from Carroll Gay.
From left, are Jody Bowers, Kyla Mincey and Nan Bowers.
(Staff photos by Deborah Bennett)
in Burke County. He noted that
approximately 1,700 positions
would need to be filled as the
project progressed. In connec
tion with this, representatives
from The Shaw Group and Mor
gan Company were also present.
Leslie Clements and Latasha
Hawkins with the Georgia De
partment of Labor spoke on ser
vices available to local citizens
through their agency and encour
aged those searching for jobs to
go back to school and improve
their training and skills.
Fred McConnel, Governor’s
Office of Workforce Develop
ment, praised Jenkins County for
becoming one of Georgia’s 12
counties that have achieved the
Work Ready Community status.
He announced that anyone who
had earned a Work Ready cer
tificate since Sept. 1, 2008 was
eligible for a $50 or $ 100 VISA
card.
McConnel noted that the 12
counties that had received the
Work Ready Community desig
nation would be featured in an
by family members.
Other businesses and organi
zations represented included:
Southeastern Technical College,
Georgia Southern University,
U.S. Army Reserve, CWR-
Jenkins, Millen Better Home
town, Queensborough Bank,
U.S. Census Bureau, One-Stop/
WIA, Wal-Mart and the Millen-
Jenkins County Chamber of
Commerce.
TOWN
HALL
MEETING
Monday, October 12th, at
7 p.m.
High School Gym
Sponsored by: The City
of Millen
Jenkins
County Commissioners
Jenkins County Develop
ment Authority
PURPOSE
Discuss Prospect of
Prison for Jenkins County
Crowd turns out for fair
The annual Fair-on-the-Square, sponsored by Millen Better Hometown, was attended by a large crowd Saturday. The
fair was relocated this year to the Jenkins County Elementary School due to construction taking place at the Jenkins
County Courthouse. See additional photos on page 9. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)
JCHS announces 2009 Homecoming Court
Jenkins County High School
(JCHS) announced its 2009
Homecoming Court this week.
Representatives for the Freshman
class are Kayla Kirkland and
Jonquette Sanders. Kayla is the
daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lisa
Kirkland. Jonquette is the daugh
ter John and Patricia Sanders.
Sophomore representatives arc
Sara Burke and Shae Burke. Sara
is the daughter of Don and Lisa
Burke. Shae is the daughter of
Butch and Kelly Burke.
Junior class representatives arc
Whitley Clark and Krista Gay.
Whitley is the daughter of Midge
and Krystal Chance and Flint and
Susanne Clark. Krista is the
daughter of Ricky and Lisa
Frawley.
Senior class representatives are
Jena Branch, Shelby Burke, Jes
sica Head, Rhonda Lovett and
Mikesha Williams. Jena is the
daughter of Gene Branch and
Dawn Parker. Shelby is the
daughter of Butch and Kelly
Burke. Jessica is the daughter of
Mike and Anette Head. Rhonda
Lovett is the daughter of Bobby
and Alishia Lovett and Tamia
Lovett. Mikesha is the daughter
of Michael Williams and Sonja
McNeely.
The 2009 JCHS Homecoming
Week kicked off Monday, Oct. 5,
with many fun activities and cul
minates at 7:30 pm, Friday, Oct.
9, with the homecoming game
against the Johnson County Tro
jans. The homecoming ceremony
will take place during halftime of
the game when one of the senior
representatives will be named the
2009 JCHS Homecoming Queen.
This year’s homecoming theme
is "We’re Ready and We’ll Rock
You.”
The student council has desig
nated a dress up day for each day
of the week. Homerooms will
decorate banners to hang around
the football field to show their
school spirit. The homecoming
committee will sponsor a parade
at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Oct. 8. The
parade will start at JCHS and pro-
ceed down Gray Street to
Winthrope Avenue to Masonic
Avenue, left on Barney Avenue the Grand Marshal,
and arrive back at the high school. After the parade the cheerlead-
Jean Gay, Jenkins County ers will sponsor a community pep
Teacher of the Year, will serve as rally at the football field.
Members of the Jenkins County High School
Homecoming Court are, from left, first row: Shae Burke,
Sara Burke, Kayla Kirkland, Jonquette Sanders, Whitley
Clark and Krista Gay; and second row: Shelby Burke,
Jena Branch, Mikesha Williams, Jessica Head and
Rhonda Lovett. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)
Early voting in city
election underway
Early voting for the Nov. 3 City of Millen General Election,
Ward #1, began Tuesday, Oct. 6, and will continue through
Friday, Oct. 30, at the Jenkins County Courthouse.
Candidates for the city council seat in Ward #1 are incum
bent Walter Thomas and Walter Herrington.
Candidates for council seats in Ward #2, Jane Johnson, and
Ward #3, James Ford, are unopposed. Therefore, there will be
no election in these wards.
Anyone who was registered to vote as of Oct. 5 may vote in
this election.
On Election Day, all voting will take place at the City of
Millen Municipal Building (city hall).
Grand Jury indicts 23
The Jenkins County Grand Jury convened in September and
handed down the following indictments and accusations
Jerome Swan, possession/manufacture/distribution of mari
juana and obstruction of law enforcement officers-misdemeanor.
Jeffrey Martin Vaughn, possession/manufacture/distribution
of marijuana and obstruction of law enforcement officers-misde
meanor.
Timothy Levert Young, armed robbery, two counts of aggra
vated assault and burglary.
Hosley Marquis Harris, receipt/possession/transfer of firearm
by convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a
pistol without a license.
Alton Marcella Williams, burglary.
Eugene Jerome Cowan, burglary.
Laura Ann Royal, burglary.
Latrell Shayvon Gaines, theft by receiving stolen property and
possession/manufacture/ distribution of marijuana.
Calvin Cooledge Taylor, entering auto and theft by taking.
Jirell Jones, burglary.
Jeffrey Calvin Ball, aggravated assault.
Lakindra Gross, criminal damage to property in the second
degree.
Derrick Anthony Grier, aggravated assault, terroristic threats
and acts and receipt, possession or transfer of firearm by con
victed felon.
Jeffrey Calvin Ball, aggravated assault and criminal damage
to property in the first degree.
Dennis Allen McBride, aggravated stalking.
Teresa Pedroza, fraud in obtaining public assistance, food
stamps.
Alfred Allen Ferguson, theft by taking.
Joshua Scott Blackstone, two counts of theft by taking.
Charles Michael Claxton, two counts of theft by taking.
Kadarine Markey Roberts, possession of cocaine with intent
to distribute, possession of marijuana-less than an ounce and giv
ing false name, address, birth date to law enforcement officer.
Catrina Denise Wright, possession of cocaine with intent to
distribute and possession of marijuana-less than an ounce.
Connie Trawick Richardson, receipt, possession or transfer
of firearm by convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon and
possession of marijuana-less than an ounce.
Antonio Maurice Wadley, possession of cocaine with intent
to distribute, possession/manufacture/distribution of marijuana,
obstruction of law enforcement officers and failure to stop for
stop sign.