Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 108, NO. 13, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Museum at Magnolia in planning stage
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Plans to convert the Group
Shelter #1 building at Magno
lia Springs State Park into a
museum are underway. The
museum will permanently
house Civil War artifacts dis
covered in 2010 at the site of
Fort Lawton, a former Civil
War prison camp.
David Clark, Chief of Engi
neering and Construction, De
partment of Natural Resources,
said last week that he antici
pates having a design for the
project by late October. The
construction work will be
openly bid in early November
with a contract awarded before
the end of the year.
“The actual work should start
around the first of the year and
is expected to be completed in
eight months or less,” said Mr.
Clark.
The project will be funded
through a $500,000
OneGeorgia grant awarded the
Jenkins County Development
Authority.
The artifacts were discovered
by a Georgia Southern Univer
sity (GSU) archaeology team
and are currently housed at the
GSU museum. The team, led
by GSU anthropology profes
sor Sue Moore and graduate
student Kevin Chapman, was
working to locate the stockade
wall. In addition to locating
parts of the wall, the team dis
covered numerous personal ar
tifacts left behind by soldiers
imprisoned or stationed there.
The discovery made news
headlines around the world and
has been called “the most pris
tine discovery in recent years”
that will yield new insight into
the lives of those who fought
in the Civil War. Items origi
nally recovered include: bul
lets, coins, eating utensils, a
tourniquet buckle, a small brass
picture frame, a pocket knife,
a hatchet head, nails and a
small clay pipe with a soldier’s
teeth marks on the stem. More
recent discoveries include a
ring, a corps badge, keys to fur- Due to its extremely fragile chaeological excavations and
niture and doors, suspender nature, the dig site remains research will continue for
buckles and a pocket knife. closed to the public and ar- years.
Group shelter #1 at Magnolia Spring State Park will be converted into a museum to
permanently house Civil War artifacts discovered at the site of Fort Lawton. (Staff
photo by Deborah Bennett)
Drought dries up crop yields
By Wade Parker
County Extension Coordinator
Many fanners will be glad to
see 2011 go away. While some
areas of the county received some
relief in the form of scattered
showers, the majority of the county
started off dry and ended dry. It is
fair to say that 30% of our non-
irrigated cotton crop had to be re
planted, due to poor soil moisture
and excessive heat. Ourpeanut crop
started off pretty good and actu
ally did well until the month of
August. August is a critical month
of peanut pod-fill and we received
virtually no rain in August or the
first half of September. The rain
last week was the most
measureable precipitation regis
tered in weeks.
Cotton and peanuts are the main
agricultural row crops in Jenkins
County. In 2010, cotton and pea
nuts had a Farm Gate value of 7.5
million and 3.2 million dollars
respectively. Many of these dol
lars stay in the community and are
used to pay for parts, fertilizer,
chemicals and many other agricul
tural inputs. We will be lucky this
year if our Farm Gate value
reaches 30% of the preceding dol
lar figures.
Georgia is known not only for
producing high quantities of pea
nuts but also quality. Farmers must
produce high quality peanuts
(SEG I) in order to receive top
dollar. However, in years such as
this one, peanuts that don’t fill out
are more prone to insect damage
and will have weak vines. These
conditions will cause peanuts to be
a lower grade (SEG II, III). These
wlower grade peanuts will not re
ceive the top dollar and will be
discounted. All initial reports are
the non-inigated peanuts are grad
ing SEG II and III. Prices for
lower grading peanuts have been
historically high this year, due to
an increase in peanut oil demand
and a low supply of kernels. This
will help offset some losses. Farm
ers are not the only ones hurt by
low yields. Local peanut buying
points, area gins, and grain buy
ing facilities will also see a reduc
tion in volume.
When discussing these crop
problems with local farmer
Rayburn Johnson, he commented,
“This is one of the top three worst
years I have experienced since I
started farming in 1985.” He con
tinued, "I remember 1990 being a
disaster, but I think this surpasses
that.”
When asked if his crop insur
ance wouldhelp, he said, "My crop
yields will be just high enough that
my insurance payment will be dra
matically reduced.”
Farmers collect crop insurance
when theh actual yields are below
an average of theh historical yield.
Each commodity is separate.
Jenkins County’s cotton crop
will also be dramatically reduced
but will do slightly better than
peanuts. When local cotton farmer
Don Burke was asked to comment
on his cotton crop, he replied,
“The cotton that was planted prior
to May 15 will do a little better,
but cotton after this date will likely
yield far less.”
He also commented, “Cotton
after May 15 will suffer at least a
65% loss.”
As a crop undergoes stress dur
ing the season, the degree of crop
damage will be determined by the
stage of crop growth when the
stress occurred. The cotton planted
before May 15 had better grow
ing conditions when it was in its
reproductive stage, therefore, al
lowing the yield to be higher.
Many fields that were planted af
ter May 15 did not get a cotton
Rayburn Johnson holds some of his peanuts awaiting
harvest. This same field yielded over 4,000 lbs. per acre
the last time they were planted. He estimates the field
will yield only 1,300 lbs. per acre. These peanuts had
only three inches of total rainfall since they were planted.
(Photos by Wade Parker)
The yield potential of this non-irrigated cotton field is 200
lbs. per acre, compared to 750 lbs. per acre in a normal
year. The drought and heat are the culprits of this massive
yield reduction. This field had to be replanted due to poor
plant emergence.
stand and had to be replanted. The fected crop yields but our rivers,
replanted cotton never got a chance streams, wells and ponds have also
to thrive due to hot and dry con- suffered. Our biggest hope is that
ditions. we have a wet winter to recharge
Not only has the drought af- our bodies of waters and wells.
Two arrested
on theft charges
The Jenkins County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from
the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, has arrested two men in
connection with five thefts of
metal products from a West
Old Savannah Road business.
Frederick Tyrone Lambry,
34, of Lincoln Avenue,
Wadley, and Quarmel
Antwon Knight, 24, of
Washington Street, Bartow,
are both charged with five
counts of theft by taking, five
counts of criminal trespass
and one count of burglary.
Both were incarcerated on the charges pending bond.
The thefts occurred June through September. The arrests were
made utilizing information and evidence gathered at the scene by
deputies, concerned citizens and the victim and family. A small
portion of the stolen property has been recovered.
Sheriff Robert Oglesby commented, “This case goes to show
what can happen when concerned citizens and good law enforce
ment come together toward a common goal. A lot of information
was received from citizens and a lot of man hours expended by
the deputies on these cases. The cooperation between our depu
ties, the Jefferson and Emanuel counties sheriff’s offices was very
instrumental in solving these crimes and arresting these crimi
nals.”
w » » «
IMI
1
V *
QUARMEL FREDERICK
ANTWON TYRONE
KNIGHT LAMBRY
Fair-on-the Square
slated for Saturday
Celebrate with Millen 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday at the
38th annual Fair-on-the-Square on the Jenkins County Court
house Square.
View the Fair parade at 10 a.m. Browse the authentic crafts
and commercial collectibles. Enjoy the variety of local enter
tainment and sample a wide choice of home cooked foods. Visit
the Azalea Garden Club’s flower show in the Jenkins County
Memorial Library. View the many vintage vehicles in the Clas
sic Car Cruise-In. Children will have plenty of rides and games
for entertainment.
For parade information call Cindy Linder at (478) 982-3274.
For information on other events call Art Johnson at (478) 982-
5595.
JCHS prepares for Homecoming
Jenkins County High School
announced its 2011 Homecom
ing Court this week. Represen
tatives for the Freshman Class
are Dona Gay and Jenifer Sand
ers. Dona is the daughter of Don
and Evelyn Gay. Jenifer is the
daughter of John Sanders and
Patricia Sanders. Sophomore
Class representatives are Justice
Deloach and Nicole Wilson. Jus
tice is the daughter of Larry and
Laurie Deloach. Nicole is the
daughter of Lindy Wilson and
Kytrena Wilson. Junior Class
Representatives are Jenny Tay
lor and Chelsea Wright. Jenny
is the daughter of Butch and
Deborah Taylor. Chelsea is
daughter of Dexter Wright and
Erica Lewis.
The five Senior representa
tives vying for the crown of
Homecoming Queen are Sara
Burke, Shae Burke, Sara
Jenkins, Britney Jones and
Whitney Jones. Sara Burke is
the daughter of Don and Lisa
Burke. Shae Burke is the daugh
ter of Butch and Kelly Burke.
Sara Jenkins is the daughter of
Kenton and Jeana Jenkins.
Britney Jones and her twin sis
ter Whitney Jones are the
daughters of George and
Tabetha Davis.
The 2011 JCHS Homecoming
Week kicked off Monday, Sept.
26, with many fun activities and
culminates 7:30 p.m., Friday,
Sept. 30 with the homecoming
game against Johnson County.
The Homecoming ceremony
will take place during halftime
of the game where one of the
senior representatives will be
- See Homecoming, page 4
a DflflD5 33333 E
Members of Jenkins County High School’s Homecoming Court are, from left, sitting:
Senior Representatives - Whitney Jones, Sara Jenkins, Britney Jones, Sara Burke
and Shae Burke and standing: Nicole Wilson, Justice Deloach, Jenny Taylor, Chelsea
Wright, Dona Gay and Jenifer Sanders. (Photo contributed)
e ivere here Yesterday, We are here today
& We will be here Tomorrow!
We Are Jenkins County Dealer
AN AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
