Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 - Wednesday, November 1,2023
The Millen News
themillennews.com
Shots fired near schools result in brief lock down
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Jenkins County Schools and
the preschool at Millen Unit
ed Methodist Church locked
down briefly Oct. 26th around
lunchtime.
Millen Police Department
Chief Dwayne Herrington said
the lock down occurred when
a Millen Police Department
officer who was at the Jenkins
County Schools heard shots
fired in an adjacent neighbor
hood. The schools were called
and advised to lock down as
law enforcement investigated
the incident.
It was confirmed that shots
were fired, but no suspects
were located. The lock down
was lifted when it was deter
mined there was no danger
to students and staff at the
schools, Chief Herrington said.
Jenkins County School Su
perintendent John Paul Hearn
released the following state
ment concerning the incident.
“Earlier today, the Jenkins
County School System had
to implement lock down pro
cedures due to an incident in
an adjoining neighborhood.
Notification about the incident
was sent through our SwiftK12
notification system. Law en
forcement arrived on the scene
quickly, and after their inves
tigation, they determined the
incident was isolated to the
adjoining neighborhood. At no
time were any of our students
or staff members in danger.”
“We have many safety mea
sures in place to ensure your
children are safe. In the event
of a lock down, we immedi
ately lock all exterior doors and
restrict anyone from entering
or exiting the building until
law enforcement instructs us it
is safe. The safest place during
a lockdown event is inside our
school. We have a full-time
school resource officer housed
on campus and a close working
relationship with the Millen
Police Department and the Jen
kins County Sheriff’s Depart
ment. Both agencies responded
quickly to the incident and sent
additional support to secure our
school. We are grateful for their
support and our relationship
with them.”
“Thank you for entrusting us
with your children each day.
The safety and well-being of
our students is my top priority.”
Law enforcement officers are shown at Jenkins County Schools
when a lock down was called Oct. 26th due to an incident in
an adjacent neighborhood.
Squirrels are the most common cause of power outages
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Randy Hill is the manager
of membership services at
Planters Electric Membership
Corporation.
He said the mischievous ro
dents run across the lines caus
ing a loud popping noise. How
ever, it is not the approximately
$2,000 transformer they cause
to blow, but instead a $5 fuse.
Still, the power is out and it
requires an experienced line
man to restore the electricity.
It takes employees about nine
years to gain enough knowl
edge to work in a journeyman
line position. However, once
a person achieves the posi
tion, they are part of an elite
group of people trained in an
industry that is in high demand
throughout the world. Certified
linemen are the only people in
Georgia with the credentials to
fix what a squirrel has broken.
“Our new meters are digital
meters and we pretty much
know when it goes out,” Hill
explained. “We still ask you
to call and let us know, but
typically we know immediately
when your power is out.”
Restoring the power requires
that the lineman re-fuse the
transformer with a ride up in a
bucket truck and with the use
of an extended stick.
Planters EMC performed
high voltage demonstrations
during the Wagon Barn’s an
nual Fall Festival Saturday,
October 28. Hill’s demonstra
tion showcased electricity at
120 volts and at 7,200 volts.
The demonstration also in
cluded what happens when a
tree touches a line.
Hill warned people not to cut
trees off lines themselves. Ad
ditionally, drivers who hit pow
er poles are advised to stay in
their vehicles until help arrives.
If a person steps out of the car
and touches the vehicle and the
ground at the same time, they
can become the conductor for
electricity. When there is fire or
arching, Hill advised to exit the
vehicle on the opposite end of
the car from where the line is
touching. However, he recom
mended that passengers and
drivers jump out of the car to
avoid touching the vehicle and
the ground at the same time.
Humans do not have to make
contact with a power line to get
burned. Hill recommended that
people never get closer than 10
feet from a downed line.
Linemen dress in flame re
tardant apparel. Although the
clothes may lack comfort, they
help protect them from injuries
associated with arch flash.
Their gloves are designed to
withstand different levels of
voltage and are tested every
few months.
“This electric business is
overall a very safe industry
but it can be a hazardous job
and very dangerous,” Hill said.
“But if you work safely, you
wifi go home every night.”
The demonstration included
a reminder that during extend
ed storm outages, people who
are using generators to provide
temporary electricity should
unplug their appliances and run
extension cords to them. Resi
dents should plug straight into
the generator outside, instead
of rigging the extension cord
so that the generator is plugged
into the home. has taken the lives of many Zittrouer “It is extremely dan-
“You are putting primary linemen in the United States,” gerous for us.”
voltage out on the line, which said Safety Coordinator Ross
Randy Hill of Planters Electric Membership Corporation performed high voltage demonstra
tions during the Wagon Barn’s annual Fall Festival Saturday, October 28.
VOTE FOR EXPERIENCE, HONESTY AND DEDICATION!
FE-TECTKIN FC KER
MAYOR OF MILLEN - CITY OF MILLEN NOV 7TH
GENERAL ELECTION
(EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY NOW!)
EXPERIENCE
• I have served 13 years as a member of Millen City Council.
• In 20 years of service as Mayor of Millen, the experince I have gained is immeasurable.
• As Mayor, I serve as a member of Jenkins County Development Authority board.
• I am a past member of the Transportation Investment Act Round Table.
• I currently serve as District representative on the Transportation Investment Act 5-member board.
• I have made many statewide connections that open doors.
• I am a local business owner - Rocker Supply.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• As a member of the Jenkins County Development Authority, I worked with others to guide this community through the 2008
devastating loss of ALL of our industrial employers.Today, we have our industries back - Jenkins Correctional Center, Southern
Nature Products, Georgia One, Scotbilt Homes, Griffin Warehouse, Roto Polymers, Ml Metals, Z-Tech, Rethunk Junk, Ozark
Materials, and U.S. Silica, 920 Cattle & Company.
• Working on the Transportation Investment Act Round Table and as a District Representative on ^Transportation Investment Act board
has enabled me to help our district, Millen, and Jenkins County by bringing to them over $15 million in projects and $11 million in cash to use for projects, maintenance or
salaries.
*When casting your vote for Mayor, I humbly ask thatyou sincerely consider how important
knowledge and experience is in order for our city to continue to move forward!
*“The only sounce of knowledge is experience - Albert Einstein"
Vote for “
EXF
>ER
IEN
CE”
I Vi
ite fi
ir I
Kir
igR
ocl
cer!