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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.