Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 107, NO. 13, OCTOBER 13, 2010 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Town Meeting stresses ‘community’
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Community involvement was
the theme of the annual town
meeting held Oct. 7 at the
Jenkins County Agriculture
Center. The event was spon
sored by the Jenkins County
Family Enrichment Center. Inc.
with entertainment provided by
“Mama Koku". storyteller.
In keeping with the theme.
“What you can do for your com
munity,” Mama Koku told sev
eral stories which centered on
“uplifting a community, work
ing together and accomplishing
great things.” She engaged the
audience by recruiting volun
teers to participate in her
storytelling. Each story pre
sented a “lesson” in a unique and
entertaining manner.
Following the entertainment,
JCFEC personnel presented a
program on “What you can do
for your community.” Door
prizes were given away, and re
freshments were provided.
Storyteller Mama Koku is
shown with Alexcia Lans
during the town meeting
held Oct. 7 at the Jenkins
County Agriculture Center.
See additional photos on
page 3. (Staff photo by
Deborah Bennett)
New business blooms in Millen
The Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a ribbon cutting ceremony for Vera’s Kitchen at the
new 741 N. Hwy. 25 location. Numerous friends and customers are shown gathered for the occasion. From left, front row: are
Paula Herrington, chamber executive director, and owners, Vera Baldwin and Rev. Harry Baldwin. The restaurant is open
for breakfast and lunch buffet daily, weekend delivery and short orders and all you can eat seafood buffet 6-10 p.m. Fridays.
The phone number is 982-0496. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)
SOC cleanup
is closer
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
The City of Millen is one step closer to beginning work on
cleaning up the old SOC station property on Withrope Avenue.
A legal advertisement in this week’s edition of The Millen News
requests “statements of qualification” from firms interested in the
project, which is funded by a $200,000 Environment Protection
Agency Brownfield grant awarded the city. The city’s share of the
cost, which may be labor, materials and services, is 20 percent or
$40,000.
The SOC station was previously operated as a gas station and
automobile repair shop. The major environmental concerns at the
site are from lead and petroleum leaks from three underground
storage tanks into the soil. The building also contains asbestos and
lead paint. However, it has been confirmed that the storage tanks
are now empty with no continuing releases or threats of release.
The City assumed ownership of the property from the estate of
the previous owner in February 2009 and entered the property into
the Georgia Brownfield program. Two site assessments have been
performed and a corrective action plan completed.
The master plan for renovation of the site includes public out
door seating and greenspace landscaping with trees, sidewalks,
benches and a bicycle rack. The city is also considering utilizing
part of the future building for nonprofit uses including a visitor’s
center or office space. The site may also be developed to include a
restaurant for the convenience of those attending court at the Jenkins
County Courthouse.
The project is expected to add $100,000-$ 130,000 to the city’s
tax base revenues over the next 10 years and create 12-14 perma
nent jobs.
Proposals from qualifying firms are due 2 p.m. Nov. 15.
Artifacts go on
display at GSU
Artifacts uncovered earlier this year at Camp Lawton, the site of
the Civil War’s largest prisoner camp, will go on display Sunday,
Oct. 10, at the Georgia Southern University (GSU) Museum.
The exhibit will be on display 2-5 p.m. Oct. 10 and then during
regular GSU Museum hours until May 1, 2011. The museum is
open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2-5 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed Monday and on Uni
versity holidays. Museum admission is $2 per person. GSU stu
dents with a valid I.D., museum members and children under three
years of age are admitted free of charge.
The artifacts, which include many priceless and unique finds,
were discovered by a GSU archaeology team excavating at Magno
lia Springs State Park in Millen. The team, led by University an
thropology professor Sue Moore, Ph.D. and graduate student Kevin
Chapman, was working to locate the stockade wall that surrounded
Camp Lawton during the Civil War. In addition to locating parts of
the wall, the team uncovered numerous personal artifacts left be
hind by soldiers who were imprisoned there or were stationed there
as part of the Confederate Army. News of the discovery made head
lines around the world when it was announced in August.
The artifacts, which include a tobacco pipe, tourniquet buckle
and photo frame, are very personal in nature. Researchers believe
many of the artifacts may have been left behind when Union pris
oners of war were awakened in the middle of the night by Confed
erate soldiers as the camp was evacuated in advance of Sherman’s
approaching army during his "March to the Sea.” Researchers were
stunned by the numerous finds at the Camp Lawton site, because
artifacts from most Civil War prison camps have been lost due to
farming, development and looting.
In addition to the artifacts, museum displays will also educate
visitors on the harsh realities of life at Camp Lawton, including a
display that shows the meager amount of food allotted to each
person at the camp.
Jenkins County Eagles celebrate Homecoming Friday
Jenkins County High School
(JCHS) announced its 2010
Homecoming Court this week.
Freshman Representatives are Jus
tice Deloach and Nicole Wilson.
Justice is the daughter of Laurie
and Larry Deloach. Nicole is the
daughter of Lindy Wilson and
Kytrena Wilson.
Representatives for the Sopho
more 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.
Junior representatives are Sara
Burke and Shae Burke. Sara is the
daughter of Don and Lisa Burke.
Shae is the daughter of Butch and
Kelly Burke.
Senior class representatives are
Krista Gay, Ay ana Walker, Zandra
Lake, Mackenzie Walker and
Teanna Taylor. Krista is the daugh
ter of Ricky and Lisa Frawley.
Ayana is the daughter of Pamela
and Leroy Luke and Richard and
Maria Brayboy. Zandra is the
daughter of Lotice Reed and the
late Bobby Harden. Mackenzie
Walker is the daughter of Bobby
and Christy Walker. Teanna is the
daughter of Darcella Russell and
Spencer Taylor.
The 2010 JCHS Homecoming
Week kicked off Monday, Oct. 11,
with many fun activities and cul
minates at 7:30 pm, Friday, Oct.
15, with the homecoming game
against the Portal Panthers. The
homecoming ceremony will take
place during halftime of the game
when one of the senior represen
tatives will be named the 2010
JCHS Homecoming Queen.
This year’s homecoming theme
is “The Real Blue and White.”
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. 14.
The parade will start on Cotton
Avenue and proceed to left on
Masonic Avenue, left on E.
Winthrope Avenue right on North
Gray Street and arrive back at the
high school. Monica Broxton,
Jenkins County Teacher of the
Year, will serve as the Grand Mar
shal. After the parade the cheer
leaders will sponsor a community
pep rally at the football field.
Members of the JCHS Homecoming Court are, from left, first row: Justice Deloach,
Jonquette Sanders, Sara Burke, Shae Burke, Kayla Kirkland and Nicole Wilson; and
second row: Ayana Walker, Krista Gay, Zandra Lake, Mackenzie Walker and Teanna
Taylor. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)