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-Joe Brady
Millen News Editor
In a sign of the times, Jenkins
County Schools reopened this week
amid heightened security. The JCSS
received an emailed threat over
night on Thursday, November 4
and again on Monday, November 8.
In response to the threats, Superin
tendent Tara Cooper quickly placed
the schools on Level I lockdown
which eventually lead to the closure
of the schools admidst the contin
ued threats. Subsequent heightened,
threatening emails were issued
to the school system in the days
leading up to the forced closure.
Superintendent Cooper, in a state
ment said, “We at JCSS have
been working on a safety plan, so
that our staff, students, and par
ents are reassured that our school
is a safe environment whether the
threat source is identified or not.”
Local law enforcement have been
working tirelessly with the FBI,
GBI, and the Department of Home
land Security (DHS) to identify
the perpetrator. “We are narrowing
in on the guilty person. This type
of investigation takes time as sub
poenas are being issued and leads
followed up,” explains Millen Po
lice Chief Dwayne Herrington.
Teachers and staff had safety training
Monday of this week with students
returning to the classroom Tuesday.
Students returned to changes in
the security policy at the schools
as there was a law enforcement
prescence during drop off and dis
missal of students. Metal detec
tors were also used at each en
trance whether it be hand held
wands or pass through detection.
Students have also been instructed
to leave all book bags at home as
none will be allowed in the building.
The schools remain on Level I lock-
down until the perpetrator is stopped.
“Be rest assured, our schools are
the safest places in our county right
now. We will identify the sender of
the emails and they will be pros
ecuted to the fullest extent of the
law,” concludes Chief Herrington.
If you have any information that
may aid investigators please con
tact local law enforcement at 478-
982-2750, using the See Some
thing Send Something app or by
dialing the GA Information Sharing
Analysis Center at 404-561-8497".
Jenkins County cold case
to air Thursday on WJBF
Joe Brady
Millen News Editor
Jenkins County will once again be
in the spotlight this week as WJBF
airs a cold case segment Thursday af
ternoon at 5 p.m. Thirty-three years
ago on Sunday, February 14, 1988,
a local resident discovered the hu
man remains of 20-30 year old asian
female. It was reported the Jane Doe
was five feet five inches tall and
weighed approximately 140 pounds.
From The Millen News archives, the
female was discovered in a garbage
dumpster at the intersection of Kaiser
Road and Old Perkins Road. With no
leads, the case went unsolved and began
to fade from the local consciousness.
“Hopefully once our
viewers see the seg
ment, it will jog the
memory of someone out
there who knows this
woman. Someone saw
something that day that
will help solve the case.
Somewhere her family
is wondering where she
is,” explains Renetta Du
bose, host of the segment.
If you have any infor
mation please contact
the GBI at 912-871-1121
or by contacting the Jen
kins Sheriff’s Office at 478-982-4211.
The segment will air on WJBF News-
Channel 6 on Thursday,
November 18 at 5 p.m.
This is a composite
sketch of the victim that
was published in the
March 17, 1988 edition
of The Millen News.
According to forensics,
the female victim was
of Asian descent. She
was 5’5” tall, weighed
about 140 lbs and had
dark shoulder length
hair and pierced ears.
She had crowded front
upper teeth and a miss
ing right lower wisdom tooth, (photo
from The Millen News Archives)
DHS and local law
enforcement ask for
public’s help
-Joe Brady
Millen News Editor
The Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement are
asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspected school terrorist
that has shuttered Jenkins County Schools for a week. The DHS is
asking the public to access their See Something Send Something user
friendly app to report any suspicious activity or information pertinent to
this school situation.
A spokesperson with the DHS explained, “this app can be accessed on
your phone or personal computer. This is an anonymous tip line and can
be used to upload screenshots and photos directly to the authorities.”
The anonymous information is sent directly to the GA Information
Sharing Analysis Center or GISAC and from there, disseminated to
local authorities.
“Somebody knows something. The fastest way to catch this perpetrator
is with the public’s help,” Millen Police Chief Dwayne Herrington
explains. The public may also contact GISAC directly by dialing 404-
561-8497, callers may remain anonymous.
City named “rural
zone” and what that
means
-Joe Brady
Millen News Editor
Millen joins nine other Georgia cities recently designated as Rural Zones. The
program, a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Community Affairs
and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, was created in 2017.
Governor Brian Kemp explains, “this iniative provides tax credits to individuals
creating jobs and making qualifying investments within historic downtown areas
that have been designated as Rural Zones.” The designation lasts for five years,
and activities to begin earning tax credits within these 10 new Rural Zones begins
January 1, 2022.
Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce Director Mandy Underwood explains, “this program includes Georgia state income tax incentives which are utilized for
job creation activities, investment in downtown properties, and renovation of properties. The credits can be layered, but none are available without the job creation
element being present.”
What this means in short; if you are considering purchasing a building in downtown Millen, or interested in renovating your existing downtown commercial prop
erty and have created jobs, then you might be eligible for tax credits for your business. The Job Tax Credit is equivalent to $2,000 per year for each new full-time
equivalent job for up to 5 years. The Investment Credit is equivalent to 25% of the purchase price of a property within the designated Rural Zone (not to exceed
$125,000). The Rehabilitation Credit is equivalent to 30% of the qualified rehabilitation costs of a building located within a designated Rural Zone (not to exceed
$150,000). “We hope with this rural zone designation that our current local economic boom will continue. Now is the time to invest in Millen,” Mandy urges. For
more infomiation, please contact the Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce at 478-982-5595.
Official Ru ra I Zone Map for City of Millen
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Inside This
ISSUE
Library Story Time 2
Seniors Honor Vets 2
Cooking with Azure 3
Archives 3
Georgia Income Tax 3
Book Signing 3
Editor’s Desk 4
Eagle Notes 4
Pastor Brad 4
Camp Lawton 4
Obituaries 5
Church Directory 5
Booking Log 6
Chamber of Commerce 6
Tree Lighting 6
Calendar of Events 6
Sports 7
Delinquent Tax Notice.. 9 & 10
October Students of Month . 10
ones
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