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VOL. 114, NO. 27 January 6, 2021 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Chance retires after years of dedicated service
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Gail Chance sits quietly
behind her clean desk waiting
anxiously for our interview.
Despite her previous tenure
at The Millen News, she is
uncomfortable talking with
the press. “I prefer to be in the
background,” she explains as
we begin the interview.
Gail’s last day at the court
house was Dec. 31. She be
gan working with the Jenkins
County Probate Court seven
teen years ago, Judge Wanda
Burke in fact, gave her the job.
“After I left the newspaper I
went to work out of town but
everytime a secretarial job
would come open in Millen, I
applied. I wanted to be closer
to home.” Her diligence paid
off because Judge Burke hired
her and the two have never
looked back.
“I could not imagine having
anybody else by my side,”
Judge Wanda Burke states, “I
have relied upon her more than
even she realizes. Her dedica
tion has made the department
run smoother.”
A Jenkins County native,
Gail is the daughter of Nira
and Byron Chance. She has
two children and three grand
children. She received a de
gree in office technology from
Ogeechee Technical College.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2018
and out of work over five
months Gail made a promise
she would retire at the age
of 66. “The Lord has blessed
me,” she says. Having turned
66 in October, Gail made good
on her promise to herself. “I
wanted to retire when I could
still enjoy it.”
“My job has been easier
because I work with such a
great person. Judge Burke has
been an exceptional boss,”
Gail compliments. “Anybody
would be fortunate to work
with her.” Gail, as does Judge
Burke, wears two hats in their
positions. Judge Burke is also
the election super-
intendant. “I real- b
ly enjoy working CHANCE,
the elections, it’s 3
After 17 years of dedicated service to the Probate Court, Gail
Chance retired Dec. 31. “I plan to catch up on my reading,
travel, and piddle in my yard.” Photo by J. Brady.
Covid Vaccines Arrive
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Last week saw the arrival of
the first Covid vaccines in the
county as health care workers
and first responders began
rolling up their sleeves for the
first 100 doses delivered to
Eagle Pharmacy. “We began
vaccinating early last week,”
explains Ken DeLay, owner
and registered pharmacist
with Eagle Pharmacy.
Health care workers at the
Optim Medical Center and
the Jenkins County Medi
cal Center were also offered
the vaccination. The long
awaited Covid-19 vaccine
comes on the heels of a year
fraught with the rapid spread
of the virus.
Jenkins County has had
a cummulative total over
540 covid-19 cases and 34
confirmed deaths. Of those
having been tested in the
past two weeks, 30% have
tested positive. In the state
of Georgia, 77,860 cases have
been diagnosed in the past
two weeks. This is informa
tion available to the public
from the Georgia Department
of Health.
In conjunction with Eagle
Pharmacy, JCMC received
200 vaccines late last week.
“We vaccinated 10 employees
Friday, Jan. 1 and have anoth
er 30 employ
ees scheduled SEE
this week,” An- VACCINES,
toine Poythress, 2
Shumake
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Makes A Difference
“The proverbial batton has been passed,” founder of the
Concerned Citizens Group, Giovanni Shumake explains.
Photo contributed.
When Giovanni Shumake
returned to his hometown he
never dreamed it would be to
found a concerned citizens
group. But become an activist
he has. Blight in Millen has
long been a problem and
resources have been taxed to
complete all of the necessary
inspections required to keep
property owners in compliance
with local ordinances. That is
where the Concerned Citizens
Group comes in.
However, the group is not
just concerned with cleaning
up the community, “we are
concerned about the whole
community and we have a
myriad of concerns,” founder
Giovanni Shumake explains.
Addressing blight is just one
of their projects.
“Poverty is not always to
blame for blight. It’s more
apathy and mindset,” Giovanni
further explains. He uses an
example of a property owner
who told him in no uncertain
terms, “my property is no one’s
concern,” to which Giovanni
agrees, to a certain extent.
“If you live within the city
limits, your property is the
concern of everyone living in
the community,” he added.
Giovanni is a Millen
native and attended Liberty
University, as a doctorate of
Ministry. He lived several
years in the Atlanta area. The
Concerned Citizens Group
has secured resources that
will aid citizens in the clean
up of their property at little
to no cost.
“We are pleased the city
manager is working so
diligently to address these
issues with us.” City leaders
work closely with the group
to ensure the proper resources
are there to rely on. Abandoned
vehicles are breeding grounds
for pestilence and disease and
there are ordinances in place
that make blight within the city
limits of Millen against the
law. Property owners could be
fined and even jailed for these
offenses.
Giovanni realizes that the
problem did not occur overnight
and the solution won’t either.
“We also challenge our local
churches, civic organizations
and school groups to adopt a
neighborhood to
help them clean SEE
up. We are the SHUMAKE,
next generation 3
Swearing in ceremonies at court house
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Judge Wanda Burke was
busy last week with swearing
in ceremonies. Newly elected
officials as well as incumbents
took the oath of office. In years
past the ceremony has been
done with all the officials at
one time but in the observance
of Covid restrictions, each
official received personal
attention from Judge Burke.
TOP RIGHT PHOTO:
Incumbent Hiller Spann is
sworn in for another term
as County Commissioner
of District 4. Commissioner
Spann first took the oath
of office in 2012. Photo
contributed.
SECOND RIGHT PHOTO:
Jonathan Powell is sworn
in on the courthouse steps
for his term as County
Commissioner of District
3. Photo contributed.
NEXT RIGHT PHOTO:
Henry Young is sworn in
for his term as Jenkins
County Coroner. Photo
contributed.
NEXT RIGHT PHOTO:
Judge Wanda Burke is
sworn in for another term
as Jenkins County Pro
bate Court Judge. Photo
contributed.
NEXT RIGHT PHOTO:
Cynthia McNeely is sworn
in on the courthouse steps.
Photo contributed.
