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Set your eloeks back! Daylight Savings Time ends 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5th i d laoltfor.our Inserts inside VOL. 117 NO. 18 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 • 750 Wanted Millen man caught in Burke County DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor A Millen man wanted by the Millen Police Department (MPD), Kadarine Roberts, was captured Oct. 24th in Burke County by the Burke County’s Sheriff Office’s Special Response Team (SRT). MPD Chief Dwayne Herrington said that Roberts is wanted by the MPD in connection with their inves tigation of a shooting that occurred on Hendrix Street on June 1st. In this incident, a residence was riddled with gunfire, resulting in a 14-year-old being struck and sustaining non-life threatening injury. In connection with the Hendrix Street shooting, Roberts was indicted by a Jenkins County Grand Jury in September for Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Crime, and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act. Roberts’ capture came when Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputies re sponded to a call of a woman being held against her will in the 1300 block of Clark’s Place Road in Burke Coun ty. Upon arrival at the scene, deputies found the victim in the vehicle with the complainant. They were waiting down the road from the incident’s location. The victim told deputies that Kadarine Roberts held her against her will and hit her with a firearm while she was inside the residence. It was reported that Roberts only let her go because the complainant was in the driveway of the home, and said she would call the police if the victim was not allowed to come outside. The Burke County emergency medical services were called to the scene to treat the victim who was transported to an Augusta hospital. Deputies at- QFF tempted to contact occ Roberts at the home CAPTURED, with no response, 3 Kadarine Roberts Su/l'6, out. (et'6, Mitt City, a 3-year-cld Shift Tiu. takes the wheel with owner Tara Sasser. He is ready to ride in a pair of red sunglasses. Oiiy wears them all the time when they are out and about! Possible arson at Jenkins County Courthouse DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor The Millen Fire Department responded to a call at the Jenkins County Courthouse around 12:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30th. Millen Fire Chief Dwayne Herrington reported that the fire occurred in mechanical room located outside the courthouse and appeared to be deliberately set. There was no damage to the courthouse building. “It appears to be a case of arson, but the incident is still under investigation,” Herrington said. This is not the first time the courthouse has fallen victim to a fire. The first court house was completed in March, 1908 and burned Jan. 5,1910. The present structure, essentially identical to the first, was rebuilt within the following two years. Anyone with any information on Monday’s incident is asked to contact Chief Herrinton at 278-982-2750. BOE holds moment of silence for Patricia Sapp DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor The Jenkins County Board of Education held its regular meeting Oct. 23rd at the central office. Upon convening, a moment of silence was held for school employee Patricia Sapp who passed away earlier this month. Sapp was employed with the school system for 36 years as a bus driver. Funeral services for Sapp were held at the Jenkins County High School Performance Gymnasium. In other business, Superintendent Dr. John Paul Hearn presented a report on the school’s finances. As of Sept. 30th, the General Fund balance was reported to be $4,223,958.23; Capital projects, $5,014,274.89; Debt Service, $1,367,230.83; School Food Service, $674,594.01; Jenkins County High School (JCHS), $67,207.08; and Jenkins County Middle School (JCMS), $11,188.84. The July balance for Jenkins County Elementary School was reported at $46,065.07. Financials for following months are not yet available. Dr. Hearn reported that school enrollment was 1,147. This included 568 students at JCES; 251 students at JCMS; and 328 students at JCHS. BOE members adjourned for an executive session and upon re entering the open meeting took the following actions: approved the employment of Kaitlin Yurista as the Program Manager for School Food Service; approved Adazia Mobley as a substitute Technical Assistant for School Food Service; approved Allyshia Taylor as a paraprofessional, contingent upon a satisfactory background check and proper certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission; approved Eason Waters as a part-time Maintenance Assistant; and accepted the resignations of Joey Jackson and Kassi Johnson. Patricia Sapp Educators talk “Title I” DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor The annual Title I meeting hosted by the Jenkins County School System (JCSS) drew a large crowd of parents, students, educators, and community members to the school’s cafeteria on Oct. 26th. Kimberly Dasher, Federal Program Director for the Jenkins County School System, welcomed those present and explained the Title I program. “Title I is a program that provides federal funds through the Georgia Department of Education to local educational agencies and public schools with high numbers or percentages of children in poverty. These funds help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards set forth by the state,” she said. Dasher noted that to successfully administer the program, the participation and cooperation of family members is crucial. “It takes family members being involved as well as educators. It is a team effort,” she said. All three schools in Jenkins County are Title I schools. The system received over $900,000 in Title I funds this school year. The funds are used to provide instructional support for our students that includes salaries for five Kindergarten paraprofessionals, an Art and Technology teacher at the JCES, Media Center paraprofessional, a School Improvement Specialist at JCES and JCMS/ HS, an Intervention Specialist at JCMS/ HS, an instructional paraprofessional at the JCMS, the purchase of instructional supplies for teachers and students, educational software for students, technology equipment such as Chromebooks, interactive panels, and teacher laptops, library books for all students to check out, and funds are used to ensure staff and teachers are provided ongoing professional SEE learning. TITLE I, A Parent and Family 3 Kimberly Dasher, Federal Program Director for the Jenkins County School System, addresses those attending the annual Title I meeting of the school system.