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VOL. 116 NO. 45 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 * 750
City names code enforcement officer
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
During its monthly meeting Tues
day, May 2, City Manager Jeff Brant
ley said the city hired a code enforce
ment officer, Bryan Budget, a Millen
native and business owner.
“He started Friday,” Brantley said.
Budget, a former Marine, owns a
roofing company and serves the com
munity as a backup school bus driver.
He will be taking training for this new
position.
Council approved allowing the
CSRARegional Commission to write
an application for a Community De
velopment Block Grant (CDBG) for
infrastructure and housing improve
ments on the north side of Winthrope
Ave.
Brantley said the city will not know
if the $1.2 million grant is approved
until October.
Council continued its discussion
regarding raising utility fees.
“The cost of water testing has
gone up,” Brantley said. After a brief
discussion about the possible benefit
to have an in-house employee who
could provide the testing over the
continued use of a contractor, Coun
cilman Darrell Clifton said he would
like the council to review all the city’s
expenses.
“Look at everything across the
board,” he said. “We need to look at
everything.”
“My concern is that 37 percent
of our residents are below the pov
erty line; and, this affects them,” said
Councilman Dr. Giovanni Shumake.
Mayor King Rocker said, “This af
fects everybody.”
After more discussion, Councilman
Ed Fuller suggested tabling the issue
and holding a work session. Clifton
said the council needs a list of every
thing that brings in revenue to the city.
Rocker said they would look at
the issue next month and call a work
session.
Utnmeps etnitomiced
B9Q Boogie Grand Champion winner - Hunnin’ Lovirs
Tin annum BBQ Bwgia, tponuM by ih*
JanMns County Chamber of Cmhiihihh^m halt)
ait the JtnUn* County Recreation Complex an
Saturday. * cook-off contest was held end
numanua vendors ware on hand to about off their
Winners In the cook-off we re; Grand Champion-
HunnliT twins- $1 d 0Mgrand prt»; Chicken - let
Place - Butt Naked BBQ - Luke Morrta, 2nd Mace
- Hunnln' Loulnt - Brandon IteEJwean, and 3rd
Place - Papa Robte BBQ - Rob Oops* Pork - 1at
Place - Beer and Bonaa - Chad Buaby h 2nd
Place - Road Kill Grill - George Saxon, and Sad
Place - Hunnin 1 Lnvlna - Brandon McEluean;
Rlbe-1 at Place- Bryant Brother RBQ,2nd Place
- Baer and Bona* - Chad Buaby, and 3rd Place
- Hunnln' Lwins - Biandon McEtaan; Sauce -
1*1 Place - Bryant Brother BBC, 2nd Plena -
Butt naked BBQ - Luka llorrie, and 3rd Plane -
Up In Brook* - Richard Stidona; and Geeaart - let
Piece - Sera Jo Britt, 2nd Place - Sara Jo Brtu,
and 3rd Place - Helen Taylor
WHO ends pandemic - effects Unger
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The World Health Organization
(WHO) reported last week that Co-
vid-19 is no longer a global public
health emergency, and the U.S. is
set to end its Covid declaration on
Thursday of this week. But, for many
people their experiences over the past
three years are something they will
never forget.
Annelle Dickey had the distinction
of being the first person in Jenkins
County to have tested positive for Co
vid-19 at the onset of the pandemic in
January, 2020. Within a few days, her
husband, Melvin also tested positive.
“It all started when Melvin had
to go to a hospital in Augusta for a
procedure. We were in the crowded
waiting room for awhile before they
took him back. And, that is the only
place we had been. So, we know
that is where we picked it up,” Mrs.
Dickey said.
Mr. Dickey was hospitalized for
several days with the virus while Mrs.
Melvin and Annelle Dicke
Dickey was in bed at home.
They didn’t go anywhere, they said,
relying upon their three daughters to
bring them whatever they needed.
And, after they had recovered, they
still remained at home.
Today, the Dickeys still mostly stay
home, not from fear of Covid, but due
to other health issues that limit their
Susan Myers holds a photo of her
self and husband, Tommy Myers.
mobility. Mrs. Dickey,
a talented artist, stays SEE
busy creating beauti- PANDEMIC,
ful paintings, and Mr. 3
Sheriff’s deputies involved
in vehicle/foot chase
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Deputies of the Jenkins County
Sheriff’s Office were involved in a
brief vehicle and foot chase April 20
that resulted in the arrest of Zy’kece
Alford, 17.
The incident began when a deputy
attempted to initiate a traffic stop on
a red Ford Crown Victoria driven by
Alford which was being operated
without a proper tag. The vehicle led
deputies on the chase before becom
ing stuck. At this point the driver ex
ited and fled, initiating a foot pursuit.
Alford was apprehended in the area
of East Winthrope Avenue and B&T
Fresh Market. He was identified and
transported to the Jenkins County Jail
without incident.
Alford is charged with the follow
ing: fleeing or attempting to elude
police officer; (misdemeanor) ob
struction of an officer; failure to stop
Zy-kece Alford
at stop sign, three counts; failure to
drive within single lane/maintain lane;
reckless driving; child restraint, three
counts; failure to register vehicle/no
tag; no insurance; improper left turn
and no driver’s license.
Area law enforcement
officers pass range test
Jenkins County Deputies Gerald Graham and Sterling Boyett manipulate a
reload drill during the pistol qualification course.
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Sgt. Tony Taylor, a training officer
with the Millen Police Department,
put area law enforcement officers
through their paces when conducting
an annual test April 25 and April 26.
The test allowed officers to demon
strate their ability to hre a variety of
weapons.
Jenkins County Sheriff Robert
Oglesby said there was a twist to the
qualifying test this time. “They had
turning targets this time. That’s dif
ferent,” he said.
“We go to Screven County,” Taylor
said, adding Screven County’s sher
iff’s office received a grant to buy
the system.
“It puts a little more stress on the
course; and, that’s what we’re look
ing for.”
The qualification process is required
every year by the Peace Officer Stan
dards and Training Council (POST).
“Officers from the following agen
cies, Millen Police Department, Jen
kins County Sheriff’s Office, Screven
County Sheriff’s Office, Sylvania Po
lice Department, Hiltonia Police De
partment, Sardis Police Department,
Twin City Police Officers, Midville
Police Department and Newington
Police Department took part in the
yearly event. Officers were afforded
the opportunity to qualify with service
weapons, back-up weapons, patrol
rifles, shotguns as well as shooting
in low light conditions,” Taylor said.
“Everybody from the Jenkins
County Sheriff’s Office qualified and
passed,” Oglesby said. “We didn’t
have any problems.”
In all, approximately 80 officers
were qualified with their various
weapons.