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VOL. 117 NO. 26 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 27, 2023 • 750
Congressman Rick Allen advocates for farmers
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
U.S. Congressman Rick Allen,
12th Congressional District, is ad
dressing issues that he feels are
critical to the next Farm Bill. The
2018 Farm Bill was extended for
an additional year while Congress
works to write and adopt a new one.
In an interview with The Millen
News last week, Rep. Allen spoke
of the importance of the Farm Bill
to not only agriculture interests but
the nation as a whole.
“If we don’t properly support the
Farm Bill, it could disrupt our food
security, and make us dependent
upon foreign countries. That is a
national security risk,” he warned.
Rep. Allen called attention to
the fact that 80% of the Farm Bill
is mandatory because it covers the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), formerly known
as Food Stamps, as well as a variety
of smaller nutrition programs to help
low-income Americans afford food
for their families.
“We are working on a nonpartisan
basis to address nutrition issues in the
Farm Bill,” he said.
Foreign competition is also an issue
the Congressman feels is a threat to
the nation’s food security.
“All of these foreign countries have
socialist governments. This means
they subsidize their own agriculture
programs and can make their products
cheaper,” Rep. Allen said.
To combat this, the U.S. has ne
gotiated trade agreements with oth
er countries, one of which is the
U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
(USMCA) which entered into force
on July 1,2020, replacing the North
American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA).
“We still have the most efficient
food supply chain in the world. Our
agriculture industries give us an
abundant food supply with which to
compete,” Congressman Allen said.
Earlier this month, Rep. Allen
addressed the House Agriculture
Committee’s Member Day Hearing
in Washington D.C.,
bringing these issues and
others to the attention of
those tasked with writ-
SEE
ALLEN,
2
Rep. Rick Allen is shown presenting his suggestions and concerns with
the Farm Bill during the House Agriculture Committee’s Member Meet in
Washington D.C. earlier this month.
Deputy
of the
Year
From left, Sheriff Robert Oglesby is shown
congratulating Deputy of the Year Refugio
Gudino as Chief Investigator Wesley Aaron
presents the award. The presentation was
made during the office Christmas party.
In
Appreciation
From left, Sheriff Robert Oglesby and
Chief Investigator Wesley Aaron are shown
with the plaques presented to them by
staff of the Sheriff’s Office.
JC MLK Jr. Committee
announces events for 2024
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The MLK Jr. Breakfast will be
held at 8 a.m. on Jan.6th at the First
Baptist Church. Tickets are $10 each.
The MLK Jr/Charles Beale Memo
rial Scholarship Banquet will be held
at 6 p.m. on Jan. 13th at the Jenkins
County Senior Citizens Center. Tick
ets are $25 each.
The guest speaker for the MLK
Jr. breakfast is Minister Marian S.
Jackson.
Ms. Jackson is a native of Burke
County, Georgia. She was educated
in the Burke County Public School
System. She is a 1984 graduate of
Waynesboro High School. She began
her career in public service in 1987
as a billing and collections clerk for
the City of Waynesboro. In 1996 she
transitioned to Burke County Board
of Commissioners as a personal
property appraiser for the Board of
Assessors. Ms. Jackson received
her Level 2 Appraisal recognition
and became the Property Records
and Mapping Coordinator. As an
appraiser, she had the opportunity
to work closely with the tax com
missioner’s office. Marian began to
notice practices that could be imple
mented in the tax commissioner’s
office to better serve the citizens of
Burke County. In 2012 she decided
to qualify and place her hat in the
race for Tax Commissioner. On July
31,2012, her heart’s desire was an
swered. She successfully ousted the
longtime Commissioner, winning 57
percent of the votes (Jackson 2,012
- Incumbent 1,518).
Marian S. Jackson, MLK Jr.
breakfast speaker
Shiamante’ Grimes, Scholarship
Banquet speaker
Marian married Allen Jackson
June 1,1985. Together they have two
daughters, Shelby and Devon. She has
one non-biological son, Tetric and
three grandchildren, Nyla, Tetric Jr,
Khalani.
Marian credits God EVENTS
for being who she is and
where she is. She realizes
Secretary Buttigieg announced $12 million grant
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete
Buttigieg traveled to Millen Friday,
Dec. 15th, to join state and local
leaders in highlighting a $12 million
federal grant to the Georgia Depart
ment of Transportation (GDOT).
The grant will fund the first stage
of a project aimed at resolving traf
fic disruptions caused by frequent
blockages at the rail crossing on the
Millen By-Pass. The grant is part of
a new $645 million investment in
18 rural communities as part of the
2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced last
week that the GDOT will provide
an additional $3 million in matching
funds for the effort.
“This is the culmination of well
over a year of work and close part
nership between local and state-level
leaders, as well as private partners
like Norfolk Southern Corporation, to
address this issue,” Gov. Kemp said.
Joining Secretary Buttigieg on the
program for the Millen event were
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, GDOT
Deputy Commissioner Brad Saxon,
City of Millen Mayor King Rocker,
and Jenkins County School Superin
tendent Dr. John Paul Hearn.
“The problem of blocked rail
crossings is not unique to Millen.
Small communities have historically
shouldered the burden of the supply
chain. Often big federal investments
pass smaller communities by, but not
this time. Under President Biden we
are pushing for rural communities,”
Secretary Buttigieg said.
“Blocked crossings are a threat to
emergency vehicles and law enforce
ment. It’s not just an inconvenience.
It’s a safety issue,” he said.
Secretary Buttigieg praised U.S.
Senators Ossoff and Raphael Warnock
for their efforts in bringing the issue
of blocked rail crossings in Millen to
his attention.
“I will be shocked if I don’t re
ceive more letters from
ccc
Senators Ossoff and
Warnock, more projects GRANT,
from the GDOT, and 3
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is shown speaking with Mary
Andrew during a program held Dec. 15th on the Millen By-Pass to announce
a $12 million grant award.
