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VOL. 116 NO. 46 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 • 750
Commissioners discuss broadband update
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Discussions are continuing on
bringing broadband internet service
to local citizens who were left out of
the county’s broad band project, said
Commissioner Hiller Spann during
the Jenkins County Commissioners’
May 9th meeting.
It was explained in a previous
meeting that approximately 475 lo
cal residents are included in a 2021
project of Windstream, a global in
ternet provider, to bring broadband to
193,000 locations in 18 states, includ
ing Georgia and Jenkins County.
Because residents in the area of
Green Fork Church, Needful Church
and Hiltonia Road to the county line
are included in Windstream’s project,
they are excluded from the county’s
2022 project with Planters Telephone
and Pineland Telephone. Windstream
later announced that the company will
not be putting cable in the ground in
Jenkins County until sometime in
2025. The county’s project is currently
underway.
Spann reported that discussions
with Windstream are continuing
and he expects an agreement will be
reached that will provide broadband
service to these residents through
Planters Telephone as a sub-contractor
for Windstream.
“That’s the good news,” Spann said.
“The bad news is that 25 houses in
the Perkins/Hiltonia Road area are
still not covered. But, we are going
to find some way to get it done. We
are closer to providing broadband to
everyone than we have ever been, and
we are not going to let 25 houses stop
it,” he added.
A decision on the matter is expected
within weeks, Spann said.
In other matters, Dwayne Her
rington reported that a property owner
on a private dirt road which extends
from the end of Johnson Road at
Herndon has asked for an address for
the property. The request presents an
issue, he said, because this road, along
with a second road that also extends
off Johnson Road, are both private
roads and are currently not named.
Herrington inquired as to how the
commissioners’ wanted him to handle
the matter. After some discussion, it
was decided that the road extending
from the end of Johnson Road will
become part of Johnson Road. The
second road will be named Rountree
Road.
In other action, the commissioners
approved a request for the county to
provide $1,217 annually toward the
senior judge retirement pay of Judge
John Turner. County Administrator
Grady Saxon reported that counties
in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit are
responsible for the retirement pay of
senior judges from the time of ap
pointment. Judge Turner was appoint
ed Jan. 1, 2017,
but no back pay SEE
is being sought, BROADBAND,
Saxon said. 3^
Jessica Suggs is Rotary
District “Rookie of the Year”
Jessica Suggs, president of the Millen Rotary Club, is District >920
"Rookie of Wie Year”. This award is presented to new Hotarians who
have made a significant impact within their first year as a Rotarian.
Suggs is also an active member of the Millen Woman's Club, Jenkins
County Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Millen. She was recently
named "Citizen of the Year" by the chamber board ot directors.
Lightning strikes home
The home of Charles and Haley Conway, 4345 Lewis Church Road, was struck by lightning during a
thunderstorm that swept through the county Friday, May 12th, creating a fire within the home. Sev
eral Jenkins County fire departments responded to the incident. The fire was extinguished but not
before the flames burned through the roof of the home. Severe water damage occurred throughout
the home. No injuries were reported.
Millen has new code
enforcement officer
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
The City of Millen has hired a new
code enforcement officer, Bryan Bud
get, a Millen native.
A former Marine, he owns a roof
ing business and serves the county’s
school system as a backup bus driver.
“I was born and raised in the roof
ing business,” he said, having learned
from his father who had a roofing
business of his own. Budget also has
a rental property business.
Bryan and his wife, Angeline, have
been married 24 years and have eight
children, four of whom are adopted.
Angeline is a fifth grade teacher at
Jenkins County Elementary School.
Looking back at raising his chil
dren, Budget said, “It was tough at
times; but, it was a lot of fun; never a
dull moment.”
The code enforcement position is
part time, a change that was made
within the past two years.
Bryan Budget
Millen City Manager Jeff Brant
ley said since the code enforcement
officer is not required to be POST
certified, the job allows Budget to
issue code violation citations but he
does not have arrest powers and will
not carry a weapon.
Derailed Norfolk Southern rail cars are shown near Winthrope Avenue rail
crossing.
Train derails with no injuries
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
A Norfolk Southern train derail
ment Thursday, May 9, occurred on
the track area on Winthrope Avenue
without involving the public roadway.
Jenkins County Emergency Man
agement Agency (EMA) Director
Grady Saxon said it was a partial
derailment.
“No (train) cars actually turned
over,” he said.
There were no injuries and no dis
ruption of public traffic.
LOOK FOR THE
2023 GRADUATION SPECIAL
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
OF THE MILLEN NEWS
