Weekend storm rips through Burke County
Severe weather passed through the area Saturday night, June 7. The Burke County EMA received a dozen reports of fallen trees, but no damage to homes or buildings. This tree barely missed a house on Anthony Road in Waynesboro. A number of areas reported power outages of up to two...
Sheriff threatens arrest of county officials
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net
The long-running battle between Sheriff Alfonzo Williams and the Burke County Board of Commissioners has taken a new and unexpected turn. Williams has informed the commissioners that he intends to have them arrested. An incident report he issued outlines offenses including: • Violation of oath by a public officer. •...
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DON LIVELY
This continues a series of articles that will feature shops, restaurants and other businesses, as well as upcoming events, in Downtown Waynesboro. Steve Nix is a numismatist. The owner of Fleetwood Coins and Jewelry, in Downtown Waynesboro explained what a numismatist is, and he also explained how to pronounce the...
BOC votes against settling sheriff’s suit
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com
The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 against accepting a mediation settlement in the sheriff's sexual harassment lawsuit, Johnson v. Alfonzo Williams, during the monthly meeting Tuesday, June 10. County Attorney Adam Nelson explained that the board, as the insurance policy holder, is required to consent to...
Bears on the hunt for literacy
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com | June 11, 2025
A total of 275 families participated in the Bear Hunt Literacy Initiative, a readingfocused scavenger hunt geared toward Burke County Pre-K through 5th grade students and families from April 7 through May 12. Kay Knight, a kindergarten teacher at Waynesboro Primary School, brought the Bear Hunt Literacy Initiative to life....
Waynesboro residents express concerns about sewer project
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com | June 11, 2025
Waynesboro residents addressed their concerns with the ongoing sewer project at the Combined Beautification and Utilities Committee Meeting Monday, June 9. Several residents spoke to the utilities committee members about the lack of communication from the city, flooding during the recent rain, issues with sewer connections and the construction blocking...
New area code coming to southeastern Georgia
DAVE WILLIAMS
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service | June 11, 2025
Georgia will be getting an 11th area code soon, with the new 565 area code being added as an overlay to the existing 912 area code in the southeastern part of the state, the Georgia Public Service Commission announced Tuesday. Once new phone numbers for the 912 area code have...
Mad Anthony’s Big Boom Fireworks Extravaganza donation update
June 11, 2025
THIS WEEK'S FIREWORKS DONATIONS J&B Tractor Company $ 150Matthew Franklin $ 100 AMOUNT NEEDED: $12,805.80 AMOUNT RAISED TO DATE: $8300 To donate, or for questions or comments about the event, please email Don Lively at dlively@waynesboroga.com or donlively.dda@gmail.com, or call 706-554-8018.
Garden Club 2025 Smokey Bear Poster Contest Winners
June 11, 2025
The Millen Garden Club is honored to announce local winners in the 2025 Smokey Bear Poster Contest! Children from first through fifth grades are invited to participate in this annual drawing contest which features Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl conservation icons. Students demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic...
BCHS golf teams finish strong at state
BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | May 27, 2025
The Bears and Lady Bears traveled last week to Columbus, Georgia to compete in the GHSA state golf tournament. The tournament, held on May 19 and 20, was meant to showcase some of Georgia’s best golf teams, with only one being crowned as the winner. Both Burke County golf teams...
Walden signs with Reinhardt University
May 27, 2025
Aliyah Walden, standout on the Burke County High School volleyball team, signed to play volleyball at Reinhardt University last Wednesday. She has been a member of the volleyball team for the majority of her high school career, and was one of the pillars of the team during her junior and...
Season ends during semifinals for Spartans
May 27, 2025
They were just one game shy of playing for a state title. Edmund Burke Academy’s Baseball Team split the first two games of the semifinal series with Southwest Georgia last Friday before falling 16-6 in the elimination game the following day. The Spartans finished the season with a 18-6 overall...
Power hitting helps Spartans advance to FINAL FOUR
TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | May 20, 2025
A third game during the quarterfinals wasn’t necessary for Edmund Burke Academy’s Baseball Team. The Spartans defeated Heritage in back-to-back games last Friday at home which secured them a spot in the final four. Edmund Burke hit four homeruns during the two games and held the Hawks to just two...
Chancey chooses diamond over gridiron
May 14, 2025
Edmund Burke Academy senior Marc Owen Chancey was offered scholarships in both football and baseball but ultimately decided to further his baseball career as a Young Harris Mountain Lion. The 6’3” third baseman recorded a .441 batting average this year and hit five homeruns during the regular season. He also...
LOOKING BACK
June 11, 2025
20 YEARS AGO – JUNE 15, 2005 The City of Waynesboro was one of six Georgia communities chosen to receive a federal historic preservation grant. The $10,100 grant, along with $6,000 in local matching funds, would be used to complete a city-wide historic resources survey. Three contractors were working on...
DADDY’S DAY, DADDY’S WAY
Don Lively | June 11, 2025
I can still visualize Daddy, holding a six-foot hunk of 2 x 4, wading into a crowd. It’s a great story which I 'll get to in a bit, but first, let’s talk about Father’s Day. Did you know that Father’s Day has only been around for a little more...

Deana Keefer
June 11, 2025
Deana (Linda Dean) Keefer left us June 6, 2025, to meet her husband Ray Keefer and father, Hugh Miller Lively Sr. in Heaven. Deana was born August 27, 1950, in Burke County Georgia, to proud parents, Margaret L. (Hunter) and Hugh Miller Lively Sr. After her marriage to Ray, they...
Raymond R. Hudson
June 11, 2025
With heavy hearts, James A. & Rosemary P. Anderson, along with Louie “Bert” Hydrick announce the passing of our lifelong friend, Raymond Rodney Hudson, on Thursday, the 5th June 2025, at the age of 63. A native of Augusta and life-long animal lover, he graduated from Westside High School in...

Margaret Newton-Griffin
June 11, 2025
Mrs. Margaret Newton-Griffin, 76, of Waynesboro, GA, was born November 2, 1948. She entered into rest on June 6, 2025. Family visitation will be held Friday, June 13, 2025 from 10:00-11:00AM and public visitation will be held from 5:00PM- 7:00PM at Phinazee & Son Funeral Home, 404 West 8th Street,...

Rosa Lee Whighams
June 11, 2025
Mrs. Rosa Lee Whighams, 73, of Augusta, Georgia, was born June 28, 1951. She entered into rest on June 2, 2025. Family visitation will be held Friday, June 13, 2025 from 12:00PM-2:00PM and public visitation will be held from 5:00PM-7:00PM at Phinazee & Son Funeral Home, 404 West 8th Street,...

Leatha Young Sharpe
June 11, 2025
Mrs. Leatha Young Sharpe, 79, of Waynesboro, Georgia, was born March 25, 1946. She entered into rest on June 10, 2025. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Phinazee & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the services.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
June 11, 2025
Claudia Amelia Eastmead Brandon Lively Claudia Amelia Eastmead and Brandon Lively of Waynesboro have been named to the spring 2025 Dean’s List at Brewton- Parker College. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
Capitol Beat Weekly Digest
DAVE WILLIAMS and TY TAGAMI
Capitol Beat News Service | June 11, 2025
Here were some of the goings-on around the Georgia Capitol last week: Football coach Derek Dooley considering U.S. Senate run - Another football celebrity with ties to the University of Georgia could be headed for the state’s political big leagues, as former University of Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley weighs...
BURKE EMA REPORT
June 11, 2025
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency responded to 124 patients’ calls during the week ending June 8. Of those, 70 resulted in transports, including 44 to Augusta hospitals and four to other out-of-county hospitals. Forty of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 40 were non-emergent. The agency also...
BURKE COUNTY JAIL BOOKING JUNE 2 – 8
June 11, 2025
Larry Edward BarnesVirginia Ave., WaynesboroJune 8Entering automobile or other vehicle with intent to commit theftor felony Joquan Tiwan BennettEast 7th St., WaynesboroJune 5Probation violation; false imprisonment; simple battery; probation violation; weapon offense, terroristic threats and acts Charles Ian Ruslan BoydPine Needle Rd., HephzibahJune 3False imprisonment (FV); battery (FV) first offense,...
What’s Next?
May 20, 2025
The Little Mermaid Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. is playing at Burke County High School in the Burke County High School gym on Saturday, May 24th at 6:00 PM and Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 PM. The 60-minute musical, designed for junior performers, is based on the 2008 Broadway production...
CHURCH NEWS
June 11, 2025
Vacation Bible School Palmer Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3261 Old Waynesboro Road, Hephzibah, will continue its Vacation Bible School 6 p.m. nightly through June 12. Classes are available for all ages. The public is invited. Vacation Bible School 2025 Noah’s Ark Missionary Baptist Church will hold its Vacation Bible School...
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