VOL. 118 NO. 04 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, July 24, 2024 « 750
Gov. Kemp announces $10 million for overpass project
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The overpass project on the Millen
By-Pass is on the fast track to becom
ing a reality!
Gov. Brian Kemp announced on
Monday of this week that $10 mil
lion for the project is included in the
state’s Amended FY 2024 budget.
The project is part of a historic $1.5
billion funding for improvements in
transportation infrastructure across
the state. This funding will advance
transportation projects reviewed by
the State Transportation Board during
its monthly meeting.
“Over the last few years, we’ve wel
comed unprecedented job creation to
all regions of the Peach State, and this
funding will ensure our already reli
able infrastructure network can meet
the needs of that incredible growth....
In the months ahead, hardworking
Georgians will see further improve
ments to the roads and bridges they
drive each day,” commented Gov.
Kemp.
In December 2023 U.S. Transporta
tion Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled
to Millen and joined state and local
leaders in announcing a $12 million
federal grant to the Georgia Depart
ment of Transportation (GDOT) that
will fund the project’s first stage. The
grant is part of a new $645 million
investment in 18 rural communities
as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infra
structure Law.
It was also announced at that time
that the GDOT would provide an ad
ditional $3 million in matching funds
for the effort.
“Local leaders anticipate this ad
ditional $10 million, along with the
already allocated funding, will cover
the cost of the project,” said Mandy
Underwood, Executive Director, Jen
kins County Development Authority.
Delinquent property
tax sale is Aug. 6
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Property owners in the City of
Millen and Jenkins County with de
linquent property taxes will have their
properties sold at auction on August
6th if they fail to pay their taxes. The
sale will take place on the Jenkins
County Courthouse lawn beginning
at 10 a.m.
Jenkins County Tax Commissioner
Tina Burke said that as of Tuesday,
June 23, there are 17 properties in the
city and 32 properties in the county
listed for the sale. Property owners
may pay their delinquent taxes, in
cluding interest and penal
ties, up until the auction
begins Aug. 6th. SALE
Even if the properties ^
are sold on Aug. 6th the
Thursday, July 25
The Dairy Queen of Millen is participating in the Children’s Miracle
Network Hospitals Miracle (CMNH) Treat Day fundraiser on July 25. All
proceeds from the sale of Blizzards on this day will be donated to the
CMNH to benefit the Augusta Children’s Hospital. Numerous children
from Jenkins County are treated annually at the hospital. Shown during a
previous event with their Blizzards are Cierra Royal and Mackenzie
Coleman.
Stephen Thompson is the recipient of the WJBF television “Salute to Service”
award for his work with veterans.
Thompson receives WJBF
"Salute to Service” award
Stephen Thompson, a proud veteran
and founder of the United Veterans
of Millen (UVOM), was honored
last week with the WJBF Channel
6 “Salute to Service” award. It was
something Thompson said he never
expected to receive but he is very ap
preciative of the honor.
After graduating high school in
1988, Thompson joined the U.S. Navy
where served as a Gunners Mate after
completing boot camp and training.
He was eventually assigned to the
U.S .S. Reasoner and served nine years
in the Navy.
While in the Navy, Thompson said
he met people and forged relation
ships that changed his life. The event
that ignited his desire to help fellow
veterans occurred when he connected
with a group of veterans
who were walking all over
the country.
“They were walking to
SEE
AWARD,
2
Paul Anderson Youth Home Bike Ride stops at Magnolia Springs
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
Riders with the annual Paul Ander
son Youth Home (PAYH) Bike Ride
stopped at Magnolia Springs State
Park in Jenkins County on July 18,
and spent the night while on their ap
proximate 550-mile trek fundraiser.
Twelve riders set out on July 13 from
the home in Vidalia, and returned to
the home on July 19. Three young
men participated in the ride, along
with four staff members, and five
support staff followed.
The PAYH, a fully accredited
and licensed recovery program, of
fers troubled young men a second
chance. The ride celebrates one of
the most significant moments in the
63-year history of the organization.
In its founding year, 1961, Paul and
Glenda Anderson were striving to gain
attention to help launch their Chris
tian Home as an alternative to youth
incarceration, when Paul devised
an idea. He hopped on his bicycle
in Vidalia and headed for Omaha,
Nebraska, 1,200 miles away. As a
nationally famous athlete known for
his feats of strength, and work as an
Olympic goodwill ambassador in the
1950s, Paul’s ride generated media
attention and secured needed funds
for the home.
“I can still remem
ber Paul getting on his
bicycle and heading
for Omaha. It seemed
At right, are Danielle Hutcheson,
Jack, Jaxon, Michael, Molly
Farrow, David Sherrod, and
Mac Jordan during a stopover
at Magnolia Springs State Park
for the Paul Anderson Youth
Home Bike Ride.
SEE
BIKE RIDE,
11
