Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

We Lave VOL. 117 NO. 21 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, November 22, 2023 • 750 Commissioners get an update on landfill DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor Ben Wall, owner of Atlantic Waste Services, gave the Jenkins County Commissioners an update during their Nov. 14th meeting on issues at the county landfill that his company manages. Mr. Wall said the recent odor issues that have resulted in complaints from local citizens were created by a few employees not doing their jobs cor rectly. He indicated he has dismissed the employees, hired new ones, and now has a new manager at the landfill, Mr. Bonner Jones. He reported that the state’s Envi ronmental Protection Division had visited the landfill to investigate the odor issue, and he is hopeful that it will soon be brought under control. “We want to be good neighbors We want to have an open dialogue with the community and citizens, and we’re sorry this happened,” Mr. Wall said. Tina Burke, Jenkins County Tax Commissioner, presented plans for renovations to her office for review. The costs of the project are estimated to be around $13,000. SEE She also indicated that LANDFILL she needs an additional ^ employee in her office Family Turkey Projeci Jenkins County Elementary School students have been preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday with their creative artwork. Levi Harrell, a first grade student, is shown with his Thanksgiving turkey. Absentee ballots available now for Dec 5th Runoff election DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor Absentee ballots are going out this week in the City of Millen’s Dec. 5th General Runoff Election to name a Mayor. Candidates are incumbent A. King Rocker and former City Councilman Giovanni R. Shumake. The last day registrars may accept an application for an absentee ballot by mail is November 27th. The last day registrars may accept a voted absentee ballot is 7 p.m. on December 5th. The last day registrars may mail an absentee ballot is November 27 th. Early processing of these ballots will be conducted in the Jenkins County Probate Court and Jenkins County Registrar’s Office at the Jenkins County Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Nov. 27th and Dec. 4th. A drop box for Absentee Mail-Out ballots will be established at the Superintendent responds to football game harassment Paul Hearn issued the following statement on Monday. “This past Friday night our Jenkins County War Eagles traveled to Dooly County for the second round of the GHS A football playoffs. Our football team and fans were subjected to treatment that no person should ever have to experience anywhere. As the superintendent, I want to assure you that we as a school system have been in communication with GHSA and the State Board of Education to address our multiple serious concerns. I received a response from GHSA this morning and their compliance officer is actively working on this incident. My ultimate goal SEE is to make certain HARASSMENT, that no other school y is ever subjected to DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor Tensions were high at last Friday night’s football game in Dooly County on and off the held. The Jenkins County High School varsity football team and fans traveled to Dooly County for the second round of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state playoffs. Eagles fans and football players were subjected to very harassing behavior from Dooly County fans. Once incident turned violent when a Dooly County security guard physically accosted an Eagles’ fan seated in the stands on the Eagles’ side of the held. In response to the incidents, Jenkins County School Superintendent John Information about obtaining an ABSENTEE BALLOT ★ ★★ ★★ ★ 1 " 1 office at the Jenkins County Board of Registrars in Jenkins County Courthouse, 611E. Winthrope Avenue. The drop box will be available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Nov. 27- Dec. 1. The drop box will be closed when advance voting is not being conducted at this location. The computation and canvassing of ballots in the General Runoff Election will take place in the office of Election Superintendent Wanda Burke located in the Jenkins County Probate Court at the Jenkins County Courthouse on Dec. 6th beginning at 9 a.m. Emory Lewis — thankful and prayerful DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor As Thanksgiving approaches Emory Lewis, 50, is counting his blessings and praying for one more. Emory is thankful for the blessings of family, friends, the kindness of strangers, and most of all for the “gospel of Jesus Christ that saved me”. The blessing he is humbly praying for is that of the return of his eye sight. Emory has lost sight in both of his eyes due to very thick cataracts that may have caused damage to his eyes beneath. He is scheduled to have surgery to remove the cataract on his left eye on Nov. 27th. His doctor will decide when the eye has healed if anything more can be done. He will have surgery on his right at a later date. “It’s like trying to look through a glass of milk,” Emory said. “All I can see is white.” Emory compares his life’s situation to that of the Apostle Paul who was stricken blind on the road to Damascus and became totally dependent upon others to help him. He says that like Paul, he has been running from the Lord’s calling on his life. The Lord stopped Paul in his tracks and Emory said He has done the same for him. “I have not been a good person, but I have felt the Lord’s calling since I was a child. I would follow Him for awhile, and, then I would run back into the wilderness like the Israelites. But, now that I am blind, all I can do is sit and listen to the Lord,” he said. “He has me where He wants me.” Emory lost the sight in his right eye two years ago and in his left eye completely two months ago. Prior to his blindness he earned a living working as a forklift service mechanic at various companies in Florida, Savannah, and Statesboro. He moved to Millen in 2022 after being laid-off from his job in Statesboro. For awhile he was able to find mechanic jobs around town, but that came to an end when he suddenly lost the sight in his right eye. Emory has also suffered other great losses, the death of his mother, sister, and grandmother within a two week span in 2020. But, just as the Lord sent Ananias to help LEWIS, Paul, He also sent others 7 From left, Buford Williams and Emory Lewis