Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 - Wednesday, November 8, 2023
The Millen News
themillennews.com
Getting to know
with
COMPILED BY
TARA SASSER
Meet Mary Alice Kirkland.
Mrs. Kirkland is a third grade
teacher at Jenkins County
Elementary. She was born and
raised in Millen and is a 2010
graduate from Jenkins County
High School
She began college at Georgia
Southern University where she
got her Bachelor’s degree in
Early Childhood Education,
graduating from GSU in 2015.
She then received her Master’s
in Elementary Education from
Valdosta State University in
2021. Earlier this year she
studied earned her Specialist
in Advanced Educational
Studies degree with a major
in Elementary education.
Mrs. Kirkland lives in Millen
with her husband, Tyler, and
two boys Walker, six, and
Ryder, three.
“They keep me on my toes,
but are the best part of my life”
says Mary Alice.
Mrs. Kirkland, now in her
ninth year of teaching, decided
on her career at a very young
age. Her inspiration came when
she saw how one of her closest
friend’s hardships at home
affected her at school. The love
and support from her teachers
ended up being her friend’s
saving grace. Mrs. Kirkland’s
parents were also supportive of
she and her friend, encouraging
them both to be the best version
of themselves. She says her
goal is to be the light in the
darkness for everyone she
meets!.
Mrs. Kirkland said the best
part of her job is “watching
the light bulb turn on in her
students’ brains”. She loves
seeing the “aha” moment when
a student makes a connection
and understands a concept.
A LITTLE ABOUT HER:
What is your favorite song
or genre of music?
“I like a plethora of music.
Country is probably my
favorite, though!
How do you show kindness
to others? “I show kindness
with acts of service. There are
very few things that make me
happier than putting a smile on
another human’s face. I don’t
do it for human gratification,
though. I do it for the glory of
God and I want to bless others
in the way that God has blessed
me.”
Who is your hero and why?
“My parents, Rudine
and Sandy Becton, are my
heroes. Throughout my life,
they have stood by my side
with unconditional love and
forgiveness. They have shown
me mercy and been my biggest
fans, no matter what. They
are the best examples of how
a Christian should be and go
above and beyond for my little
family.”
our school faculty
Mary Alice Kirkland
Mary Alice Kirkland, third grade teacher at Jenkins County Elementary School, is shown with
her husband, Tyler, and their children, Walker and Ryder.
What is your favorite meal?
“My favorite is crab legs
and potatoes boiled with lots
of Cajun seasonings.”
Do you have any talents?
“I have always enjoyed
writing, and I am pretty good
at it, too.”
How do you spend your
time off?
“I enjoy traveling, hunting,
fishing, swimming, and
cooking with my family. We
love being near any body of
water. In my time off I love
to travel with my husband
and boys or cuddled up on the
couch reading books and just
being with them.
Do you have a quote or
something you would like to
share with people?
“My daddy has always
motivated me with the quote:
‘Life’s battles don’t always
go to the stronger or faster
man. But sooner or later, the
man who wins is the man who
thinks he can.’ I live by “give
it to God and go to bed”.
Community responds after Midville home burns
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A Midville couple was
devastated by a house fire
Monday that took with it nearly
everything they owned.
The home was occupied by
42-year-old Kristin Molina
and 58-year-old Johnny
Banner. The inferno resulted
in extensive damage. They did
not have rental insurance.
Fortunately, they were not
home when flames engulfed the
structure. However, they were
at an Augusta hospital because
Kristin was experiencing chest
pains. A neighbor called and
informed her house was up in
flames. Kristin’s pet guinea pig
had recently given birth and all
14 were killed in the fire, along
with a dog.
According to Burke
County EMA Director Steven
Mathews, first responders
were notified around 9 p.m. of
the fire. The Midville Police
Department also responded to
the incident. When firefighters
arrived, the flames were
showing through the windows
and roof. The house required
significantly more flow than is
normally needed to extinguish
a house fire due to the amount
of fire fueled by fat lighter.
“You see that a lot in old
houses that are built with pine
lumber,”Mathews stated. “That
stuff is hard to extinguish.”
Firefighters gained control of
the blaze in about two hours.
However, units remained on
scene cooling hotspots.
No injuries were incurred
onsite and the cause remains
under investigation.
Kristin was still shaken and
overwhelmed with emotion
Tuesday morning. On top
of everything else, she is
diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian
cancer and throat cancer.
“The whole roof over our
bed where we lay our heads
fell in,” she said sobbing and
cried even harder when she
talked about the loss of her
pets. “We lost everything. We
have nowhere else to go. We
don’t even have clothes.”
However, once the initial
shock of the situation wore off,
she began to see light at the
end of the tunnel. Luckily, the
couple purchased a camper just
months before the incident. It
wasn’t on the property because
they had no way to pull the 5th
wheel. As the first day after the
fire progressed, members of
the community stepped up to
assist in stabilizing the couple’s
situation. A representative from
the Red Cross met with the
couple to assist with amenities.
An unknown Midville citizen
took Kristin to the store and
Pineland Telephone opens
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Pineland Telephone
Cooperative of Metter
announced this week that is
has opened its Elam service
are for broad band service.
The Elam area shows 638
available addresses with 268
pre-registered for service.
Those who have pre
registered should have received
an e-mail to complete their
order. Postcards have also been
mailed to every address with a
mail receptacle in the zone with
delivery of the postcards to
residences expected next week.
A Pineland spokesperson said
that the cooperative is planning
for 8-10 weeks of construction,
with the possibility of some
addresses being connected in
a shorter period of time.
For more information on
how to register for broad band
service, if you have not already
done so, online go to www.
pineland.net or call 800-247-
1268.
purchased some clothes. Lori
Vaughn Dye of Magnolia
Baptist Church in Perkins
rushed to the couple’s aid with
food, clothes and personal
products. Wimberly House
Ministries offered clothes and
put the couple up for a night in
a local motel. The True Citizen/
The Millen News paid for a
second night and arranged for
a local RV lot to rent to them.
The Sisters Offering Service
(SOS) contacted Kristin to
see how they could help.
Midville Resident Michael
Claxton volunteered to move
the couple’s camper.
Anyone willing to donate
clothes, food or personal items
should contact Lori Vaughn
Dye at 706-871-8183.
Burke County EMA was on the scene of this Midville home fire for approximately four hours
Monday, November 7.
EMA Director said the damage to the house resulted in a
total loss.
Elam area for broad band
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SPOT LIGHT
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