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VOL. 116 NO. 47 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, May 24 2023 * 750
Sheriff recovers stolen AT Vs
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Jenkins County Sheriff Robert
Oglesby last week announced the
recovery of three stolen vehicles.
Chief Deputy Wesley Aaron said
two Honda 4-wheelers and one
side-by-side vehicle were recovered
Thursday, May 18. The 4-wheelers
had been stolen from inside Jenkins
County while the side-by-side had
been stolen from the Atlanta area. The
East Point Police Department had re
leased information about the side-by-
side, alerting other law enforcement
agencies about the theft.
The 4-wheelers were found in
Emanuel County; and, the side-by-
side was found in Jefferson County.
“One of our citizens legitimately
bought the side-by-side,” Aaron
said, adding that if someone brings
a vehicle to the sheriff’s office, a
deputy will run the VIN (vehicle
identification number) to see if it’s
been reported stolen.
“Take it to the closest law enforce
ment office,” he said. “We have to be
in the presence of the vehicle. You
can’t just call us.”
Aaron said an arrest has been made
in this case but declined to identify
the suspect at this stage of the inves
tigation.
“There is a lot going on with this
case,” he said.
Aaron said the vehicles have report
edly been connected to local burglar
ies. Items that have been reported
stolen during these burglaries include
several firearms, miscellaneous tools,
coolers and hunting items.
“A lot was recovered,” he said.
The investigation is continuing; and
Aaron said charges in this case will
be felonies.
Two 4-wheelers that were recovered by the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office
are shown. A side-by-side was also recovered.
TCHS
Class of 2023
Wa. t0 graduate Friday
Tiie tradition continues! The Jenkins County High School
[JCHS) Class of 2023 assembled on the lawn of the Jenkins
County Courthouse on Tuesday for a class photo. The group
will assemble again for the last time 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, in
the school Performance Gym to receive their diplomas. Each
graduate received 2d tickets to give to family and friends.
Those attending the event must have a ticket to enter. Parking
is available across the street from the gym.
Police arrest burglar
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
On May 8, officers of the Mil
len Police Department (MPD)
responded to Foggy Field Road
in Millen to a reported break-in.
Sgt. Tony Taylor, an investiga
tor with MPD said that “Upon
arrival, officers discovered that
the victim was able to identify the
suspect as Kwmaine Shingleton,
a former boyfriend. With further
investigation, officers learned that
Shingleton entered forcibly through
a back window and attacked the
victim with her small child present.”
Warrants were issued charging
Shingleton with burglary in the
first degree; aggravated assault;
and, cruelty to children in the third
Kwmaine Shingleton
degree. He was arrested on May 9
and is incarcerated in the Jenkins
County Jail pending court action.
Millen man dies in
2-vehicle accident
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Timothy Lewis Johnson of Mil
len died from injuries received
in a 2-vehicle accident that oc
curred around 6:45 a.m. May
17 on U.S. Hwy. 25 North.
According to the Georgia State
Patrol accident report, Johnson,
driving a 1998 Ford Ranger, and
Valerie Marie Ramirez of Bruns
wick, driving a 2017 Chrysler 300
Limited, were both traveling south
on Hwy. 25 in the right-hand lane.
Ramirez was traveling behind John
son when the front of her vehicle
struck Johnson’s vehicle in the rear.
Following the initial impact,
Ramirez’s vehicle traveled to a final
uncontrolled rest in the left-hand
lane of the west fog line facing
south. Johnson’s vehicle traveled
off the roadway to the right before
it began to overturn. The vehicle
came to a final uncontrolled rest
on the driver’s side, facing west.
According to the report, Ramirez
stated that she was tired and went
out for a second. When she looked
up, there was a vehicle in front
of her and she could not stop.
ScotBilt Homes celebrates 386 days with no accidents
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
ScotBilt Homes in Millen has the
distinction of being the only plant
of Champion Homes’ 42 facilities
in the U.S. and Canada to ever have
achieved 386 days without any ac
cidents or injuries. In recognition
of this achievement, employees
at the local plant were treated to
a luncheon May 17 at the facility.
Company officials in attendance
included Tod Boone, Operations
Manager; Ryan Duke, Service Man
ager; Mike Godbee, Safety Director;
Chris Miller, Regional Vice-Pres
ident; Tom Shudden - Division of
Risk Management; Jimmy Johnson,
General Manager; and Ryan Boehn,
Vice-President Human Resources.
During their comments to employ
ees company officials praised them for
their efforts involving safety and stated
that their work had far reaching effects.
To emphasize this, Boehn, who
resides in Michigan, related how sev
eral times he was stopped in stores by
strangers who recognized the compa
ny logo on the hat that he was wearing.
“They would say, ‘I know that com
pany. I have a home made by them’,
and they begin to tell me how much
they enjoy their homes and how well
they are made,” he said. “So, you
see, you are making a difference.”
Tonia Davis is one of those em
ployees who have been a part of that
“making a difference.” Employed
at ScotBilt since December, 2017,
she started in the cabinet shop as
a supervisor. While the position
was a little unusual for a woman,
she said that her previous work
experience secured the job for her.
“I had worked building furniture for
aircrafts at a previous job,” she said.
Currently, Davis is a Qual
ity Control Manager, a posi
tion she takes very seriously.
“I am the last one in the home. I
do the final inspection before it is
locked down and goes out on the lot
for delivery. I feel that I have a re
sponsibility to make sure everything
is right with the home,” she said.
She also credited her fellow employ
ees with making her job easier by do
ing their best on their respective jobs.
ScotBilt Homes was founded in
2004 by Sam, Sherry, and Greg Scott.
The company began operations in
Millen in February, 2018 with 20
employees. It was purchased by
Champion Homes in March, 2021,
and currently has SEE
approximately 140 SCOTBUILT,
employees. Employ- ^
ment has been as high
Ryan Boehn, Vice President Hu
man Resources, is shown wearing
the company hat that is recognized
everywhere he goes.
Tonia Davis, Quality Control Man
ager, is responsible for putting the
final stamp of approval on ScotBilt
mobile homes.
