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VOL. 116 NO. 39 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 * 750
School Superintendent addresses commissioners’E-SPLOST concerns
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
During the Monday meeting of the
Jenkins County Board of Education
(BOE) this week, School Superinten
dent Tara Cooper addressed concerns
expressed by the Jenkins County
Commissioners at their March 14th
meeting in reference to an E-SPLOST
resolution from the BOE. The com
missioners had expressed concerns
over the the resolution not being
submitted to them earlier than seven
days so that they could review and
discuss the matter.
The commissioners are required to
sign a resolution agreeing that should
the BOE’s E-SPLOST not raise suf
ficient funds to pay for the issuance
of bonds to cover school projects, the
commissioners would enact property
taxes to cover the difference. The
bond issuance was approved by local
voters in the 2022 November General
Election.
Mrs. Cooper said that it was cus
tomary for the attorneys of both
governing bodies to handle the cor
respondence regarding E-SPLOST
agreements.
“That’s the way it has always been
handled,” she said.
Mrs. Cooper produced copies of
e-mails on the matter that she said
were sent by BOE lawyers to the
commissioners’ attorney and copied
to her. The first e-mail was dated Feb
17th. A follow-up e-mail with final
pricing information was sent dated
Feb. 27th. The attorney was asked to
acknowledge receipt and share with
the commissioners. An acknowl
edgement was not received until the
Monday before the commissioners’
Tuesday meeting, she said.
“The resolution is a constitutional
requirement before closing, and we
don’t anticipate any problem with
payments. We are paying off the last
E-SPLOST early,” said Mrs. Cooper.
She added that she just wanted to
“clear up” the issue for BOE mem
bers.
In other business, Mrs. Cooper
reported on school enrollment, not
ing that last month’s enrollment was
1,134 students as compared to 1,130
students for this month. She, also, said
that she had looked back at enrollment
for the school system 10 years ago,
and it was 1,400 students.
“It’s going to take some businesses
coming in here to get it up,” she re
marked.
Mrs. Cooper called attention to
School Board Appreciation Week
March 13-17 and praised BOE mem
bers for their dedication to the welfare
of the school system’s children.
“We have made a lot of progress,
and we are thankful for g^
your cooperation and
all that you do. Your c 3rLU3 ’
dedication to moving 5
nized for its tenure of operation
in the community.
The presentation of awards
was conducted by previous win
ners Shana Brinson- Citizen of
the Year and Christa Walters,
Round’s - Business of the Year.
During her remarks, Chamber
Executive Director Mandy Un
derwood called attention to the
theme of the event, “All Roads
Lead to Millen.”
“All roads do lead to Millen,
a community of opportunity
because of the the heart and soul
of those who live here. I can see
the potential for our community
to grow because of its citizens,”
she remarked.
Prior to the awards ceremony,
those attending enjoyed a meal
and treats prepared by: Cafe
on Cotton, Brinson’s BBQ,
Amazin’ Grazin, Honey Speci
alities, Round’s on Winthrope,
Southern Peach Gourmet Pop
corn, Good Spirits, Sweets by
Stephanie and Honey’s Famous
Cheesecakes.
Entertainment was provided
by Dr. DJ.
Chamber Directors are: Pam
Brown, Shana Brinson, Jes
sica Suggs, Sherri Adams,
Clay Boulinea, Joe Brady, Lisa
Burke, Amber Cates, Breanna
Chance, Callie Dailey, Lisa
Dailey, Danielle Davis, Foye
Knight, Tamia Lovett, Jamie
Lowery, Lazar Oglesby, Christa
Walters, and Jessica Suggs.
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
A highlight of the annual
banquet of the Jenkins County
Chamber of Commerce held
March 23rd on Cotton Avenue
was the selection of “Citizen of
the Year” and “Business of the
Year”. The chamber’s mem
bers voted on nominees for the
awards.
This year’s “Citizen of the
Year” was Jessica Suggs, and
the “Business of the Year”
was The Charm Bam, owners
Macey Crews and Jessica Wil
son. Both award winners were
praised for their community
service and involvement. The
Charm Barn was, also, recog-
bu&inrM of itu’TTei
2033
The Charm Barn
Citizen o! the Year, Jessica Quggs, with husband, Bri
an Suggs, and sons, Bryn Suggs and Loden Suggs,
“Business of the Year” - The Charm Bam, Owners,
Macey Crews and Jessica Wilson.
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Rabid raccoon found
in Jenkins County
The Georgia Department of Public
Health announced on Tuesday of
this week that a rabid raccoon was
identified March 20th along Rogers
Extension in the Perkins area of Jen
kins County.
The raccoon was killed by a resi
dent after it attacked a pet dog. The
Jenkins County Health Department
Environmental Health Section was
notified and collected the raccoon.
The raccoon was sent Mach 21st to
the Georgia Public Health Laboratory
(GPHL) in Decatur for rabies testing.
Test results received March 22nd
from GPHL confirmed the raccoon
was positive for rabies. The dog was
current with its rabies vaccination
and is now under a 45-day observa
tion period.
The Jenkins County Health Depart
ment Environmental Health Section
recommends the following: Make
sure your dogs and cats are currently
vaccinated against rabies. Do not let
your pets roam free. They are more
likely to have contact with a rabid
wild animal. Avoid feeding your
animals outside. This draws stray
and wild animals to your doorstep.
Teach your children not to approach
wild animals and animals they do not
know.
The Jenkins County Health Depart
ment Environmental Health Section is
asking all residents to make sure pets
are vaccinated against rabies and to
avoid all contact with wild animals.
In addition, report any contact of
humans and domestic animals with
wild animals to Jenkins County
Health Department Environmental
Health Section office at 478-982-
2811.
For additional information on Ra
bies refer to these websites: U.S. Food
and Drug Administration- www.fda.
gov and Center for Disease Control
and Prevention www.cdc.govncidod/
dvrd/rabies
MPD charge two in car theft
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Two 13-year-old juveniles, male
and female, have been charged with
Theft by Taking (Motor Vehicle) by
the Millen Police Department (MPD).
The youths were taken into custody
and detained by the Department of
Juvenile Justice in connection with
an incident that occurred Saturday,
March 25th.
Officers of the MPD responded to
Neighbors Express on Hwy. 25 South
to investigate a report of a stolen ve
hicle. Upon arrival, officers learned
that the victim, traveling though Mil
len, had stopped at the convenience
store and gone inside. While inside,
the vehicle was taken from the park
ing lot. The victim was able to direct
officers in the direction the vehicle
was last seen traveling.
MPD officers quickly located the
vehicle, abandoned off of Park Street
with no apparent damages. Further
investigation, with assistance from
Neighbors Express staff, allowed
the suspects to be indentihed from
parking lot video. Both suspects were
located on North Gray Street and ap
prehended.
As the suspects are juveniles, their
names have been withheld.
Hometown coach becomes recreation director
CAROL McLEOD
Associate Editor
Millen native Wendell Clark has been
in the area as a high school teacher and
coach for several years, but has been
retired for four years.
Ready to take on a new job, he is now
the Jenkins County Recreation Director,
a position he assumed the first week in
March. He has made plans for softball
Opening Day, which will be Saturday,
April 1.
In baseball and softball, it’s a tradi
tional ceremonial honor for someone to
throw out the first pitch.
“No one’s ever done that here,” he said,
His choice for that honor in softball went
to Mandy Underwood, Jenkins County’s
executive director of the Chamber of
Commerce and of the Development Au
thority.
His choice to throw out the first pitch at
the baseball game is a hometown boy who
has done well for himself.
“Avery McAlpine is the only one in 70
years who used all his eligibility playing
baseball and graduated from college with a
business degree. Now he manages several
restaurants in Augusta,” Clark said.
“I like to try to do something that in
volves the community. We’re going to
change it up every year. This year, it’s the
firemen. Each fire department in the county
and city will bring at least a fire truck on
opening day,” he said.
Clark has coached and taught at a variety
of schools and in a variety of subjects, as
most coaches do.
Most recently, he has been the assistant
head coach at Jenkins County High School
where he also taught science, history and
physical education.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Edu
cation as well as a Master of Science in
Education.
Clark enjoys spending time with his
grandchildren as well as playing and
watching sports.
He is a member of Millen United Meth
odist Church.
“I love my Sunday school class,” he said.
“We’ve got a great group.”
He and his wife, Starr, have been “hap
pily married” for 39 years and live in
Waynesboro. Starr is a pharmacist and
operates Clark Drug. The couple has three
children; two sons, Zac, 33 and Spencer,
31; and, one daughter, Sydney, 25.
Wendell Clark