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VOL. 108, NO. 15, OCTOBER 12, 2011 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Alex Bragg and Trevor Weathersby of Deer Creek Taxidermy are shown with a bear from the North Georgia
Mountains that they recently mounted. (Staff photos by Deborah Bennett)
Local man turns hobby into business
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Taxidermy - the word may
sound like an accounting term
to someone unfamiliar with
hunting and fishing, but avid
outdoorsmen know that it is an
art form, a way of preserving
their most prized trophies.
For Alex Bragg, owner of Deer
Creek Taxidermy, the hobby-
turned-occupation is way of
earning a living. The business is
now in its twelfth year with Alex
working full time and employ
ing his grandson, Trevor
Weathersby, part time, to keep
up with the demands of his cus
tomers.
Learning the trade of mount
ing wild animals bagged by hunt
ers has taken Alex to several
schools in his quest to become a
certified, state licensed and fed
eral licensed taxidermist.
“Taxidermy gets it name from
the fact that you are ‘taxing’ the
skin around a form, putting it
where it needs to go,” explained
Alex.
The process involves "flesh
ing” the skin and freezing it un
til the “form” arrives. When that
occurs, the skin is then mounted
on the form, dried and cosmetic
work completed. The amount of
time involved from start to fin
ish is different for each type of
animal.
Alex and Trevor have
mounted everything from rattle
snakes, deer, fish and squirrels
to a mountain lion, bear and
Zebra.
“So far this year, we have
mounted 163 deer, 74 ducks, 30
fish, 20 fox squirrels, two rattle
snakes and that’s just a part of
the year’s business,” said Alex.
His shop bcai's witness to his
claim with one entire wall cov
ered with deer mounts, waiting
to be picked up by their owners.
And the 2011-2012 deer season
does not open until Sept. 22.
While Alex may not consider
himself an “artist” his work is
certainly a “work of art” to all
who bring him their prized tro
phies for preservation.
Local star
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Jenkins County High School
senior Jonathan Taylor has been
selected to play in the 2012 Un
der Armour All-American High
School game on Jan. 5, 2012 at
Tropicana Field in St. Peters
burg, Fla. The game will be tele
vised on ESPN.
Representatives from Ameri
can Family Insurance, sponsor
of the game, presented Jonathan
with an honorary jersey at JCHS
on Oct.7 during a selection tour.
In his remarks, Jonathan ex
pressed gratitude to his coaches,
team members and family for
their support. JCHS Coach
Chuck Sanders predicted a bright
future for Jonathan and congratu
lated him on his achievements.
American Family Insurance
also set up a display in the school
lunchroom promoting their Teen
Safe Driver Program, had a
crashed car outside the school
for students to view and set up a
to play in All-American game
tent at Friday night’s football
game to allow students the op
portunity to sign the Teen
Driver Pledge.
The events were part of
American Family Insurance’s
efforts to raise awareness around
teen driving safety and recog
nize the student athletes, as well
as the coaches, families and com
munities who have helped make
these players’ dreams a reality.
Jonathan has given a non
binding verbal pledge to play
football at the University of
Georgia upon graduation. He
has been named to Tom
Lemming’s Top 100 players for
2012 and is rated No. 1 in Geor
gia in the UGASports.com Top
75 Post- Spring rankings. He is
a 4-star recruit according to
Rivals.com. Scout.com also
rates him a 4-star recruit and the
No. 9 defensive tackle in the
country.
Jonathan is the son of Laura
Taylor and Johnny Richardson.
Jonathan Taylor accepts his honorary jersey for his selection
as a participant in the 2012 Under Armour All-American High
School game to be played Jan. 5,2012 at Tropicana Field in
St. Petersburg, Fla. The presentation was made last Friday
at JCHS. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)
Suspects sought in
Cash Now robbery
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Two black males are being sought in the Wednesday, Oct.
5, robbery of the Cash Now convenience store on East
Winthrope Avenue.
Millen Police Chief Dwayne Herrington said two armed,
black males entered the store around 9:15 a.m. wearing masks
and took an undisclosed amount of cash.
Video footage from the store is currently being reviewed
and a break in the case in expected very soon. Chief Herrington
said.
Man arrested
in drug raid
A Millen man is facing several drug-related charges as the
result of an Oct. 3 drag raid by the Jenkins County Sheriff’s
Barney Abel “Eric” Wright, 33, 304 Dukes
Avenue, has been charged with possession of
cocaine with intent to distribute, possession
of marijuana with intent to distribute and pa
role violation. His arrest came when a quan
tity of cocaine and marijuana was seized dur
ing a search of the residence by law enforce
ment.
The search warrant was executed by Sher
iff Robert Oglesby and deputies of the Jenkins
County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Millen
Police Department (MPD) Chief Dwayne
Herrington, officers of the MPD and Geor
gia State Patrol Troopers.
Sheriff Oglesby commended all involved in the investiga
tion.
"This outcome is what will happen when we enjoy good
professional law enforcement by our investigating officers and
cooperation between agencies. I am proud of all of our law
enforcement and the job that they do for the citizens of Jenkins
County,” he said.
Wright is being held at the Jenkins County Jail, pending
Parole Board and Superior Court dispositions in his cases.
Eric Wright
was arrested
during the
raid.
Shown with items confiscated during an Oct. 3 drug
raid at a Dukes Avenue residence are, from left,
Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Wesley
Aaron and Sheriff Robert Oglesby. (Photos contributed)
Shae Burke crowned Homecoming Queen
Shae Burke, daughter of
Butch and Kelly Burke, has
been crowned the 2011
Jenkins County High School
(JCHS) Homecoming Queen.
Shae is a member of Beta
Club, Chess Club, Interact,
Yearbook, FBLA and the
Jenkins County Hero-Leader
ship and Wellness Council.
She is a JCHS Spirit cheer
leader, member of the Track
Team and competes with the
Cheer South All Star Team of
Statesboro. Shae is a 5-year
Rotary Scholar and a member
of the Super Eagle Club. She
is a member of Millen Make
a Difference and is active in
the Millen Baptist Church
youth group. Shae has re
ceived several awards includ
ing Heart of a Champion in
2009, Best all around 2009,
Best Sprinter 09 and 10 and
the Academic Excellence
Award in 10. Shae was es
corted by her father Butch
Burke.
Shae’s future plans are to at
tend the University of Geor
gia and join the UGA Cheer
Squad. She will major in
Physical Therapy. Shae was
crowned by Zandra Lake, the
2010 JCHS Homecoming
Queen. Zandra is the daugh
ter of Lotis Reed and the late
Bobby Harden. Zandra is a
freshman at Shorter Univer
sity attending on a track
scholarship where is pursuing
a degree in biology pre-med.
a naana aaaaa e
AN AMERICAN
today
& We will be here Tomorrow!
We Are Jenkins County Dealer
REVOLUTION
