Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 117 NO. 23 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 6, 2023 • 750
Millen man arrested on go-kart with stick of dynamite
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Candler County Sheriff’s deputies
encountered an unusual and unex
pected situation on Thanksgiving
Day, Nov. 23rd, when they stopped
Lee Lewis Librizzi, 44, of Millen as
he drove a go-kart on the roadway
in the vicinity of Rosemary Church
Road and Hwy. 121.
Librizzi was found to have in his
possession methamphetamine, fen-
tanyl, marijuana, a blasting cap, and
stick of dynamite. Why Librizzi had
the dynamite and where he got it re
mains under investigation.
“I do not know of any logical
reason why someone would be driv
ing a go-kart on the highway with
methamphetamine, fentanyl, and ex
plosives on board. That is a perilous
combination,” said Sheriff’s Captain
Justin Wells.
Librizzi was arrested and charged
with illegal drug offenses,possession
of an explosive device, and several
traffic violations.
The Georgia Bureau of Investiga
tion assisted with the case.
(Editor’s Note: The Metter Adver
tiser contributed information for this
article.)
May 1) e^KristmaSKeUiou^lit? doesn’t
perhapsBSans a little bit more.”
King Rocker re-elected Mayor
Incumbent Mayor King Rocker
is the winner in the City of Millen’s
Run-off Election to name a Mayor.
He faced former City Councilman
Giovanni Shumake who resigned his
seat to seek the seat of Mayor.
Rocker polled 411 votes. Shumake
received 392 votes. Rocker received
51.18% of the votes cast. Shumake
received 48.81%.
Eight hundred and three of the
city’s 1,752 registered voters cast
their ballots in this election. This
represents 45.93% of the registered
voters. Voting absentee ballots
were 475. Ballots cast at the poll on
Election Day were 269. Fifty-eight
voters cast their ballots by Absentee
Mail.
King Rocker
Local farmers weigh-in on
2018 Farm Bill extension
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
President Joe Biden signed a
resolution in November to prevent a
government shutdown. In conjunc
tion with that action, the President
also signed legislation that extends
the 2018 Farm Bill (Agriculture
Improvement Act) until September,
2024. The current Farm Bill expired
in September, 2023.
The action is significant. It will
keep commodity programs from
reverting to laws from the 1930s and
1940s.
The Farm Bill, administered by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the
single largest financial commitment
the government makes to U.S. food
and agriculture producers. The Farm
Bill chapters are called “titles” and
include commodities, conservation,
nutrition, credit, rural development,
research, extension and
related matters, forest
ry, energy, horticulture, FARM BILL
crop insurance, and mis- 7
City's Christmas lights on hold
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The Grinch was in town Saturday
for Christmas in Millen, but has ap
parently been working his evil deeds
long before arriving!
After a year-long effort working
with Georgia Power Company to
equip the light poles on
Winthrope and Cotton Avenues
in the City of Millen for Christmas
lights, the announcement was made
this week that the project cannot be
completed this year.
City Manager Jeff Brantley ex
plained that the city
needs to add a recep- SEE
tacle and a Weatherhead LIG HTS,
on each pole for the 2
DDA to host meeting on state tax credits program
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Business owners and prospective
business owners may be eligible for
state tax credits through the Rural
Zone Tax Credits program. The
program was created in 2017 as a
collaboration between the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs
and the Georgia Department of
Economic Development.
The Downtown Development
Authority (DDA) of Millen is
hosting an informational meeting at
5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13th, at Round’s
restaurant to discuss options available
to businesses and owners. Anyone
considering purchasing a building/
starting a new business, renovating
an existing building/business or is the
owner of a business that has recently
added two new full-time employees
is invited to attend and may be
eligible if the building/business is
located in the City of Millen’s Rural
Zone. The city’s Rural Zone includes
the downtown areas along Cotton
Avenue and Winthrope Avenue and
connecting streets.
The program offers three different
tax credits: Job Tax Credit, Investment
Tax Credit and Rehabilitation Tax
Credit. The Job Tax credit is for new
business owners who created at least
two new jobs, or an existing business
that hires at least two new employees.
The new employees must be full-time,
working 40 hours per week between
the two of them to qualify. The credit
is equal to $2,000 per new, full time
equivalent job per year, up to five
years and not to exceed $200,000 total
or $40,000 per year.
The Investment Tax Credit is for
investors who purchase a building
within the designated Rural Zone.
The credit is equivalent to 25% of
the purchase price, not to exceed
$125,000 total or $25,000 per year.
At least two new full-time equivalent
jobs must be created and maintained at
the property location to qualify.
The Rehabilitation Tax Credit is to
offset development costs associated
with the rehabilitation of property
located within a designated Rural
Zone. This credit is equivalent to
30% of the qualified rehabilitation
costs, not to exceed $150,000 total
or $50,000 per year. At least two new
full-time jobs must be maintained
at the property location to
qualify. SEE
“All Rural Zone tax DDA
credits require approval from 3
Official Rural Zone Map for City of Millen
(M Georgia" Department of /NLt-l
Community Affairs
Data Source: Shapefiles from city of Millen GIS, August 2021
Map Prepared by: Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 2021
Approved: January 2022
Expires: December 31st, 2026
