Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 116 NO. 24
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 * 75 CENTS
Stephen Smith presents Debra Flakes with the excellence award from the Department of Behavioral Health
and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD).
Flakes honored with service award
Joe Brady
Millen News Editor
The Community Service Board
(CSB) of Middle Georgia recently
honored Debra Flakes for the
2022 Direct Service Profes
sional (DSP) spotlight. Debra is
a member of the Jenkins County
Residential Staff.
Flakes began her career with
Jenkins County Intellectual/
Developmental Disabilities (1/
DD) services in 2009. During
her tenure, Debra has become a
leader among her co-workers, a
cornerstone for her individuals,
and a stalwart in the residential
program for her supervisors.
Deciding to enter the field of
working with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and
becoming a DSP was an easy one
for Flakes, whose daughter has
I/DD challenges. Her love and
support provided for her daughter
throughout the entirety of her life
spills over into Debra’s work with
individuals she serves. One of
Flakes’ favorite things about her
work with this special population
is seeing individuals learn new
living skills and proving to oth
ers that they are capable of doing
things that others think that they
would be unable to do.
The world went though major
changes in the first part of 2020
due to the Covid-19 global pan
demic. The life of DSPs was no
different. Due to workforce short
ages, shelter in place mandates,
and the spread of a novel virus,
a difficult and taxing job only
became more stressful. Having
an outlet to deal with stress is im
portant. That outlet for Flakes is
spending time with her daughter
and her grandchildren. Flakes,
along with all other DSPs, have
learned quite a lot over the past 2
Vi years. Flakes cites the follow
ing as her biggest lesson learned,
“If you explain to individuals why
they must wear masks, why they
must avoid large crowds, they
understand better,” said Flakes.
“Debra Flakes and her DSP
counterparts are the true back
bone of our agency’s FDD pro
gram and the services we provide.
She is one of the CSB of Middle
Georgia’s faithful heroes who
ensures that our individuals re
ceive the highest care possible,
even during the most difficult of
circumstances. With lived expe
rience, an impeccable character,
and an unending work ethic and
through her dedicated service and
a heart for inspiring others who
experience FDD challenges, the
CSB of Middle Georgia is hon
ored to recommend Debra Flakes
for recognition through Georgia
Assocation of Community Ser
vice Boards and DBHDD for the
incredible work she navigates
in her role as a DSP,” remarks
Stephen Smith, deputy director
of FDD.
County blood donors
give 86 pints this year
JOE BRADY
Millen News Editor
If one pint of donated blood can
save 3 lives, then Jenkins County
should be proud of itself! This year
Sheppeard Community Blood Center
reports Jenkins County has donated
a total of 86 units of blood.
During the November blood drive,
17 units of blood was donated. All of
the blood donations through Shep
peard Community Blood Center
stays within the community. The next
blood drive will be held Tuesday,
Jan. 31 from 2-6 p.m. at the JCMC
parking lot.
Wolfinger Scholarship
surpasses expectations
JOE BRADY • Millen News Editor
The Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce Memorial Tree Lighting service
had a record 66 participants in this year’s program. Each year the Jenkins
County Chamber of Commerce asks for the community’s support in purchasing
either a light or a star on the town Christmas tree located on Cotton Avenue.
All of the money raised for this program is used to provide scholarships to
local high school seniors in memory of Nancy Wolfinger. This year, the total
scholarship is over $1500. Thank you to all participants!
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obLood
A LIGHT ON THE STAR:
In Memory of Taylor Frawley
In Honor of my grandchildren
In Memory of Taylor Frawley
In Memory of Taylor Frawley
In Memory of Nancy Wolfinger
In Memory of Mabel Jenkins
In Memory of Bobby Dwelle
In Memory of Jesse Bragg
In Memory of Danny Bennett
In Memory of Ivelyn Burke
In Memory of Cecil & Jean Skinner
In Memory of John Bowers
In Memory of Barbara Bowers
In Memory of Mark Bowers
In Memory of Brook Bowers
In Memory of Lewis Edward Jenkins
In Memory of Lorin & Edna Pierce
Diane Brown
Diane Brown
Annie Brown
Crisalyn Frawley, Sutton, TW
Leslie, Craig, Rylie Rowland
JC Chamber of Commerce
JC Chamber of Commerce
Angie Bragg, Kids & Grandkids
Lynne Bennett
Don and Lisa Burke
Don and Lisa Burke
Jody and Nan Bowers
Jody and Nan Bowers
Jody and Nan Bowers
Jody and Nan Bowers
Sybil Jenkins
Chris and Julie Chance
SEE
TREE,
7
County sees record
turnout for run off
JOE BRADY
Millen News Editor
By now, Georgians understand we
turned out in record numbers to make
our voices heard during the runoff
election. Jenkins County saw 51%
voter turnout during this Warnock/
Walker run off, numbers that are stag
gering considering run off’s typically
hold little interest for the voter. Of
100% of the precincts reporting, Her-
schel J. Walker received 1,647 of the
votes while the incumbent Raphael
Warnock garnered 874 votes.
There are 4,929 registered voters in
the county and 2,524 voters went to
the polls in this election.
Band receives lessons from Atlanta Orchestra
JIM MCBRIDE
Special Contributor
Last Tuesday, Dec. 6, Georgia
State Professor Brandyn Taylor vis
ited Jenkins County Middle-High
School as a clinician for saxophone
and clarinet players from Johnson
County, Portal, Swainsboro, and
Jenkins County Schools. “Instruc
tion covered all major aspects of
producing a sound to be enjoyed by
all audiences,” explained Prof. Taylor.
Additionally Taylor visited with
each student for private lessons that
made clear improvements in every
student. Students enjoyed the clinic
and asked when Professor Taylor
could return! In addition to a profes
sor of saxophone studies at Georgia
State University, he is also a first call
musician for the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra. His visit was sponsored
by Vandoren.
