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VOL. 116 NO. 42 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 * 750
Millen man faces
felony sex charges
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
On Wednesday, April 12, officers
of the Millen Police Department and
deputies of the Jenkins County Sher
iff’s Office arrested Marcus Brown
Sr., 37, of Millen on an outstanding
warrant from Richmond County.
The warrant charged Brown with
three counts of sexual exploitation of
children, a felony under Georgia law.
Brown was transported to the Jen
kins County Jail awaiting pick up
by the Richmond County Sheriff’s
Office.
In a report from Richmond County,
Brown has been accused of enticing a
14-year-old female to send him three
sexual videos.
The victim said Brown initiated
the relationship with her a couple of
years ago and she had been sending
him videos of her either in lingerie
or fully naked. The juvenile said she
had asked Brown to send her money
to continue sending him videos.
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Bob Russell, associate band
director at Jenkins County High
School, and members of the
school’s band gathered Saturday,
April 15, at the parking lot at
B&T’s Fresh Food Market and
performed for the public to gar
ner donations to help the band.
Russell, who also teaches 10th
grade geometry at the school,
said the band is raising funds for
this fall’s marching music.
“The band always needs mon
ey,” Russell said.
Besides music for the march
ing season, the band needs mon
ey for its spring trip, traveling
to and from away games and
competitions.
The Board of Education pro
vided a box truck to help anytime
the band travels. Previously, a
van had to be rented to transport
equipment.
A grant has been applied for
and they are anticipating it
will be awarded. Additionally,
Russell said sponsors would be
welcome. He said he plans future
fundraisers soon, including a
yard sale.
Breon Williams, a 10th grade band student, plays his saxophone dur
ing a fundraiser for the Jenkins County High School band Saturday,
April 15, in Millen.
School superintendent retires
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Tara Cooper, Jenkins County
School Board Superintendent since
2011, announced her retirement ef
fective June 30.
“I have loved working for my
hometown, and am so proud of all of
the progress we have made in the last
twelve years,” she said in a statement
she released last week.
Progress was shown in the gradua
tion rate last year which was 82 per
cent, the highest in the last 15 years.
The graduation rate was 68 percent
when Cooper began as superintendent
and she has worked closely with the
board members and administrators
to make graduating a priority for all
Jenkins County students.
“The work there is not done; but,
we have made significant progress,”
Cooper said the biggest challenge
she faced when first becoming super
intendent was learning about school
finance and implementing what she
learned to be a good fiscal manager
of the school system’s funds.
“We are in a good place now, and
are constantly looking for ways to
save money in any area, so we can
use all we can for student success,”
she said, adding she is most proud of
the new school that was built during
her tenure.
“My two boys are in high school
and middle school, so I'll definitely be
Tara Cooper
involved - just as a parent. I'm excited
about having that perspective.”
Cooper has been married to her
husband, Cary, for 28 years.
“We have two boys, Pace, 15, and
Luke, 12, and two dogs, Cyrus and
Charlie. I support as many school
sports/events as I can and spend any
free/me time with a good book,” she
said.
“I have never lived anywhere but
Millen. I worked in Burke County
for 17 years before taking over the
superintendency here in 2011.”
Cooper doesn’t have plans for her
retirement yet.
“I'll take a little time off, then find
something to work on part time,” she
said.
Cap and Gown pictures will be from 8 a.m.
to 11 a.m Thursday, April 20th. No appoint
ment is needed. Order forms are available
in the JCHS office.
School board to name new superintendent
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Tara Cooper, Jenkins County
Board of Education Superintendent,
officially announced her retirement
this month; although, Mary Young,
the board’s chairman, said Monday
the board had been aware of Coo
per’s plans since last year.
“We as a board hate to see her
leave,” Young said, adding, “That
speaks volumes right there that we
hate to see her leave. I had hoped
she would stay at least a couple more
years.”
The board will be hiring from
within rather than from outside the
county’s school system, according
to Young.
“A lot of schools use the Georgia
School Board Association and get
them to do a search. We’re fortunate
that we don’t have to go through that
process,” Young said.
“She’s accomplished so much,
so many things,” Young said about
Cooper.
The graduation rates have im
proved; and, the low wealth grant the
school system received are two things
Young credits to Cooper.
“She is very much a hands-on per
son. She works well with staff. All of
the students know her.”
Young said the projects that be
gan under Cooper’s leadership will
continue.
“And they will be accomplished,”
she said.
Cooper’s retirement will be effec
tive June 30.
She became superintendent in 2011
and said she has loved working for her
hometown.
The chairman said the board will
be making an official announcement
naming the new superintendent in a
few weeks.
