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VOL. 114, NO. 30 January 27, 2021 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
County Hires
Tax Assessor
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Vicky Patrick is no stranger to the Tax
Assessor’s office. She worked over three
years in the Truetlen County Tax Assessor’s
office and moved to the Truetlen County Tax
Commissioner’s office last year. She left all of
that behind however to work closer to home.
Vicky started in her new job as Jenkins
County Tax Assessor, on December 28. She
is a native of Screven County and resides in
the Canoochee area with her husband Ashley,
a native of Emanuel County. The couple has
4 children and 1 grandchild.
“I really enjoy the diversity of my job,” Vicky
states, “and I couldn’t do my job efficiently
without the help of long term Jenkins County
Tax Assessor employee, Connie Ridings.”
Connie is a native of Jenkins County and has
worked with the assessor’s office over five
years as the Appraisal Clerk.
“My biggest goal is to stream line the office
in order to make it run more efficiently.” Vicky
believes in hard work and good customer
service. “I want to warn everybody that I am
a people person and I love to talk,” she laughs.
Vicky invites the residents of Jenkins County
to either call her office or drop by if they have
tax questions.
“I understand that taxes can be both daunting
and confusing. My office is here to make
Vicky started her job as Jenkins County Tax
Assessor on Dec. 28, 2020. Vicky hopes
to stream line the office to make it more
efficent. Appraisal Clerk, Connie Ridings
has worked in the office over 5 years.
Photo by Joe Brady.
them a little less so.” Vicky may be reached
at the Jenkins County Tax Assessor’s Office,
478-982-4939, Monday thru Friday from 8
a.m- 5p.m.
Stolen Phone Results In Sunset Inn Arrest
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
Officers with the Millen Police Department responded to a call
in reference to a stolen Iphone, Thursday, Jan. 14. The phone
was emitting a signal from a hotel room at the local Sunset Inn
on Highway 25 in Millen. Officers were able to pinpoint the
location of the phone to room 127.
“As our officers knocked on the door, occupants within the
room threw a firearm out of the rear window,” Chief Dwayne
Herrington, MPD Police Chief describes. Police detectives
secured a search warrant for the room around 11 p.m. During
the search, a host of firearms were located, narcotics, counterfeit
money, drug paraphernalia and a fugitive.
Devin Rashad Parker, 34 of 243 Palmer Row, Millen was
arrested and transported to the Jenkins County Jail. Parker
has been charged with possession of a firearm during the
commission of a crime, possession of drug related objects,
possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute,
possession of schedule II substance, possession of cocaine,
possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession
of a firearm by a convicted felon, forgery, and obstruction of
law enforcement officers.
Devin Rashad Parker of
Millen has been charged
with numerous counts
of drug possession with
intent to distribute and
firearm possession. Photo
contributed.
Late Afternoon Crash Sends Two To Hospital
Emergency crews received a late afternoon call on
Jan. 14, of a crash at the intersection of GA Highway
23 and West Old Savannah Road, near Brinson’s
BBQ. Thomas Montgomery, the Augusta driver of an
RV was traveling east on West Old Savannah Road
when he struck the late model Ford Explorer driven
by Charles Jones of Garfield.
“Mr. Montgomery failed to stop at the stop sign
at the intersection of West Old Savannah Road and
State Route 23. The RV struck the front of the Ford
Explorer, loosing control,” Sheriff Robert Oglesby
explains. The RV travelled across the southbound
lane and onto the shoulder, striking the stop sign and
fence before coming to rest in an adjacent held. Both
drivers were transported to the JCMC with non life
threatening injuries.
The driver of the RV had to be
extricated from the overturned
vehicle and transported to the
JCMC. Photo by Debbie Hearn.
Brush Fires Spark Concern
There have been a rash of
brush fires across the county
during the month of January.
High winds have been a
contributing factor in some of
these but several of the fires
were a direct result of vehicles
or discarded cigarettes. It is
important to mention that it is
a law in Georgia to secure a
bum permit before burning any
yard debris. Most wildfires are
caused either accidentally or
intentionally by people.
All outdoor burning of
natural vegetative materials
is considered open burning
and requires a burn permit.
Obtaining a burn permit
can be quickly obtained by
visiting the Georgia Forestry
Commission Website or by
calling 1-800-GA-Trees, that
is 1-800-428-7337.
Fires should not be initiated
before 8 a.m. and should
be completely extinguished
before dark. It is unlawful
to burn man made materials
such as tires, shingles, plastics,
lumber, or garbage. Pictured is
a brush fire from Jan 20 on Old
Fouisville Road. North Jenkins
VFD and Jenkins County Fire
Rescue responded. Photo by
Becky Reppert.
Middle School Boys Continue
Their Winning Streak
-Coach Brad ^
Tuesday night, January 19th
the Metter Middle School
Tigers came into Jenkins
County for a big regional
matchup that had playoff
implications. The first time
the two teams played, Metter
won the game by two points,
handing the Middle School
War Eagles their only loss of
the season. Players and coaches
alike knew that this was a big
game, and the War Eagles
needed this win. With fans not
allowed to be at the game, it
seemed eerily quiet as the big
game began.
From the opening tip, the
War Eagles Middle School
boys jumped out on top. The
team came in well prepared
and attacked on both ends
of the floor, shutting down
any momentum the Tigers
appeared to have. When the
first half was over, the War
Eagles had played their best
half of basketball all season
and took a twenty-point lead.
As the second half began,
Metter would not go away
easily. They came ready to
play and brought in a fight that
seemed to have vanished in
the first half. The War Eagle
offense and defense continued
to match the Tigers; however,
Metter was able cut the lead to
single digits late in the game. It
was a little too late for Metter
and the War Eagles would
finish out victorious!
The win brings the season
record for the Middle School
to 6-1. The Middle School War
Eagles will play at home on
Monday (1/25) and Wednesday
(1/27). The games will tip off
at approximately 5:30.
Fans will still not be allowed
at the games; however, the
games can be watched on
JCMHS Parent Connection
Facebook Page. After this week
of games that will be played,
the Middle School team will
then head to regional playoffs.
Look out for the announcement
of date, time, and location of
the Playoffs.
County To Conduct
Property Tax Assessments
By Joe Brady
Millen News editor
The Jenkins County Board
of Commissioners has voted
to conduct a Personal Property
Tax Assessment focusing on
commercial property. Letters
will be mailed in February
to those random businesses
asked to participate in the
assessment. “When we did the
county wide evaulation last
year, we decided to complete
the cycle and perform this
assessment. A personal
property assessment has never
been done.” Chairman Hiller
Spann explains.
Each year, local governments
across the country request
commercial property owners
to complete an income and
expense form. This form is
in turn submitted to the board
of assessors and is used to
determine the value of the
property in question. This
information is used to calculate
future property tax.
“ The company performing
the assessment, Traylor
Business Services, offered
the recommendation to focus
on the commercial property
since that is the area needing
the most attention.” Chairman
Spann says. Traylor Business
Services is based in Kennesaw,
GA.
Traylor Business Services
has been in business over 25
years and specializes in ad
valorem business personal
property auditing. “There will
be a sampling of businesses
to participate in the audit.”
County Administrator, Grady
Saxon further explains. The
county anticipates the cost of
performing this assessment to
be around $50k but Chairman
Spann stresses, “we won’t know
the total cost associated with the
assessment until Traylor selects
those commercial property
tax returns participating in the
assessment.”
Only the equipment and
materials that are not used in
the manufacturing process are
taxed each year on a business’
tax returns. “Taxpayers should
understand, this is in no way
a tax. This is a commercial
property review.” Summarizes
Administrator Saxon.
330 US HWY. 25 NORTH, WAYNESBORO - 706-554-2114 - www.mizellford.com
