Living in Burke County, USA
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
This is part 1 of a series of stories involving interviews with naturalized citizens who reside in Burke County. Mike Bickley and Tanis Mobley are two British natives (now Burke County residents) with very different stories. “Don’t ask me about the Royal family,” Mike said. “Americans can tell you about...
Sheriff addresses funding issues
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net
Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has pledged “greater accountability” in dealing with funding received in the form of funds from sources other than the county commission. The sheriff’s office has received considerable scrutiny and criticism in recent weeks over the creation of a private account for grant money received from...
Council approves 4th liquor store
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com
In a tense meeting Tuesday, the Waynesboro City Council approved two more liquor store applications, bringing the total number of businesses to sell distilled spirits in the Bird Dog Capital to four. Represented by attorney Matthew Wade Padgett, Yogi Swami filed an appeal after the council denied his application to...
Understanding the unprecedented housing market
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
“It’s really an interesting time in real estate because there is so much moving going on,” said Max Boswell, owner/broker at Mary Yelton Realty. The real estate markets vary across the country and even across the state. In spite of rising interest rates, Burke County’s housing market continues to be...
New BCPS program guarantees a job
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com | June 22, 2022
The Burke County EMA has partnered with the Board of Education to offer high school seniors the opportunity to begin a career upon graduation. Beginning with the new school year, seniors may now elect to enter a program designed to teach them the basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) portion of...
Playing games with the law
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com | June 22, 2022
The Waynesboro Police Department is asking for help in locating Jockelle Gaines. Gaines is wanted for forgery in the 1st degree after the WPD found videos of him purchasing money orders and then accompanying others while the altered payment orders are cashed for more than the amount for which they...
Cash needed for Mad Anthony’s Big Boom
June 22, 2022
The Downtown Development Authority's annual Mad Anthony's Big Boom Fireworks Extravaganza is less than two weeks away, Sunday evening, July 3rd, and donations are still needed to pay for the cost of the show. The cost of the event is $11,088. WANT TO HELP? To make a donation, send checks...
Waynesboro residents trash county idea
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com | June 22, 2022
As the Board of Commissioners contemplate what to do about trash, Waynesboro residents’ expressed satisfaction with the way the city handles their garbage. Residents were encouraged to speak up about whether the city should continue to hold off until the BOC decides to tackle the entire county’s trash or just...
County airport progresses with land acquisition
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com | June 22, 2022
ATM Partners, LP accepted Burke County’s offer to purchase a 50.21 acre parcel adjacent to the south end of the airport for $225,000. One of the stipulations in the purchase agreement includes a provision for an easement across the highway frontage and allowing the seller to harvest timber within 180...
LADY SPARTAN TRACK 2022:
MONIKA MOBLEY
Edmund Burke Academy Girls’ Track Coach | May 24, 2022
Back in March, I submitted an article to The True Citizen in which I predicted great things to come for Lady Spartan track! Boy, did those great things come! The following 15 girls made up the 2022 Lady Spartan Track Team: 8th graders Leila Eastmead and Emma Hirschauer; Freshmen Kensy...
Bears fall to Redan in “Elite 8” showdown
May 17, 2022
The Burke County Bears baseball team ended its season last week with two losses to Redan High School from DeKalb County. Both games were played Tuesday, May 10 with Redan winning game one 11-5 and Burke County dropping a 7-4 lead in the top of the fifth to lose game...
BCHS competes in State track tourney
Brannon Braddock
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | May 17, 2022
This past week, the BCHS track team sent participants to the AAA State Track Tournament in Carrollton. Many of the Bears had qualified qualified well enough to move on to state. The boys had a strong outing in the state tournament, with the team finishing 21st overall. Stephon Terrell finished...
BCHS athlete qualifies for state golf tournament
May 17, 2022
The Bears golf team rounded out their regular season play this past week. Annually, the BCHS golf team participates in the Area Golf Tournament which is hosted by Morgan County at Hard Labor Creek Golf Club. This year, both the girls and boys golf teams finished fourth out of eight...
LOOKING BACK
June 22, 2022
10 YEARS AGO – JUNE 27, 2012 A petition was being circulated to convince local officials to save the labor and delivery service at Burke Medical Center. Five mothers had delivered babies there that week, two of them giving birth to twins. A state investigator ruled that a fire which...
Bird Dog Politics
BEN ROBERTS
benroberts@bellsouth.net | June 22, 2022
While it can be hard to keep up, I will assume that by now most of you are aware of the ever-evolving situation that is Sheriff Alfonzo Williams’ questionable spending of socalled grant funds meant for use by his department. If not, I encourage you to climb out from under...
Don Lively
June 22, 2022
The digital thermometer/ clock was alternating between the temperature and the time as I sat idling in front of the bank building that it adorned. It was taunting me. Teasing me. Tempting me to get out and smash it to smithereens. 95 degrees. 1:51PM. 95 degrees. 1:51PM. 95 degrees. You’ve...

Isaac Jefferson Mulling
June 22, 2022
Isaac Jefferson Mulling, 63, passed away unexpectedly on June 16th, 2022. Graveside services were held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 20 at the Midville City Cemetery with Rev. Randy Carnley officiating. He is survived by his mother Ann O. Mulling Neal (Jim); two sons, Jeff Mulling Jr. of Kite, Ga....

Willie Alice Mills
June 22, 2022
Willie Alice Mills, 85, entered into rest on Friday, June 17, 2022. A daughter of the late Millard and Marian Parker, she was a member of Sardis Baptist Church and enjoyed genealogy, reading, and studying her Bible. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents,...

Kevin Michael Wolff
June 22, 2022
On the 16th of June, 2022, Kevin Michael Wolff, loving husband and father of five children, entered into eternal rest at the age of 92. Kevin was born on May 21, 1930 in San Diego, CA to H. Patrick and Margaret (Madge) Wolff. He graduated from Saint Augustine High School,...

Mary Willie Griffin Harper
June 22, 2022
Our beloved mother went to her heavenly home on June 14, 2022. Mary Willie Griffin Harper, 84, went to be with the Lord following a short illness. Born in Screven County, GA on October 16, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Willie Earl and Lillian Maud Davis Griffin....

Deloris Evans Parris
June 22, 2022
Mrs. Deloris Evans Parris, age 75, of Hephzibah, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, June 16 2022. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Windsor Spring Baptist Church, 3692 Windsor Spring Road, Hephzibah, GA 30815. Visitation for the immediate family will be held Friday,...

In Loving Memory of CARL WAYNE THAMES “Tater”
June 22, 2022
Come To Me God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you, and whispered, "Come To Me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay....
BURKE EMA REPORT
June 22, 2022
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency answered 102 patients’ calls during the week ending June 19. Of those, 73 resulted in transports, including 42 to Augusta hospitals. Twenty four of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 49 were non-emergent. The agency also responded to 38 fire calls during...
Homeland Security contacts the BCSO
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com | June 22, 2022
Twenty-three vials of a prohibited drug were seized from a home on Hwy 23 South after the Burke County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Department of Homeland Security. Special Agent Lopez notified the BCSO June 13 that several fertility-type drugs, prohibited by the FDA, were shipped from Istanbul, Turkey...
Burke Grand Jury returns true bills
June 22, 2022
Michael Cornelius Johnson: Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; window tint violation. Crystal Elaine Prescott: Possession of methamphetamine; driving on a suspended, cancelled, or revoked license. Jeffery Bernard Scott: Forgery the first degree (2 counts) Trexie Collins-Henry: Violation of street gang terrorism and prevention; possession of marijuana, less than...
WHAT’S NEXT
June 22, 2022
Saturday, June 25 The public is invited to a meet-and-greet of Midville's new Police Chief and staff from 4-6 p.m. at the Midville Community House. We're sorry! This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below or Subscribe today! Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password
Vacation Bible School
June 22, 2022
Join Rosemont Baptist Church for a "CROWIN"’ good time at Vacation Bible School as we "PLANT" seeds of God's wisdom June 20-22 from 5:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. On June 23 at 6 p.m., we will celebrate with a Family/Friends/Friendship Finale.” Our students and leaders will be up to their elbows...
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