Baldwin County Year In Review
INSIDE THIS ISSUE! FOUR FULL PAGES PACKED FULL OF INFORMATION!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Volume 12, Issue 49 • 10 pages • 1 section
136 South Wayne Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
“It’s Good News For BALDWIN COUNTY” • Pick up ONE BALDWIN BULLETIN and be good on local news for 7 MORE DAYS!
WHAT ’ S GOING ON IN ...
Blockbuster Video closing
LARGE APARTMENT
COMPLEX PLANNED
FOR D OLES AREA
The City’s Planning and
Zoning Commission will
hold a public hearing at
5:15 p.m. on Monday,
January 23 at City Hall to
hear requests to rezone
three different parcels in
the Doles Blvd. neighborhood off N. Jefferson Street.
The three property owners are requesting that their
properties be rezoned from
Single Family Residential
(SFR2) to Multi-Family
Residential (MR2). If the
rezoning is approved by
P&Z and ratified by the City
Council, the properties then
will be sold to a developer
who plans to build a 123unit apartment complex on
the 13.67-acre parcel.
The properties under
consideration
include:
• 351-A Doles Blvd.,
owned by Marguerite Bell.
• 361 Doles Blvd.,
owned by Marguerite G.
King and Camille G. Land
• 335 Milledge Avenue,
owned by Randy Smith.
In recent years the
neighborhood has becom e
a favored location for real
estate investors, as single
family homes in the area
have been converted into
rental properties, many to
college
students.
By Pam Beer
[email protected]
It's a sign of the times.
Blockbuster video customers are
being greeted this week by a multitude of “Liquidation Sale” signs at
the N. Columbia Street location.
Nine different signs could be seen on
the store's windows and doors this
week, proclaiming that the entire
contents of the store to be on sale.
According to a store employee
who answered the phone on
Wednesday, the local Blockbuster
store is indeed shutting its doors for
good and they anticipate a
February final closing date.
Currently shoppers can find a liquidation sale in effect on videos and
other items in the store.
The Blockbuster building at 1909
N. Columbia was built in 1996.
According to Courthouse records,
the property, which houses other
businesses as well, most recently was
assessed as being worth $921,000.
The closure doesn't really
come as a surprise. Although
Dish Network paid $320 million in
April for Blockbuster as part of a
Please see
Blockbuster
page 8
THE TRUE MEANING OF THE HOLIDAYS
8
Classifieds
8
Crossword, Sudoku
2
In Memoriam
9
Weather
2
Apparently, cupcakes
aren’t just for small
children anymore.
Numerous cupcake shops have
opened around
suburban Atlanta
Please see
Cakes
page 8
Man sent
to prison
By Christian McKearney
A Milledgeville man was
sentenced to four years
behind bars following a drunken high-speed chase along Ga.
49 earlier this year.
Rodriguez Antonio Dixon,
Dixon
30, was sentenced in Superior
Court earlier this month following a plea negotiation. Dixon is accused of reaching speeds in
excess of 100 miles per hour while running from
law enforcement officers in a green Chevrolet
Blazer. The chase culminated several miles into
Jones County, when Dixon reportedly pulled off
onto a side road and “exited the Blazer and
scrambled over the hood of a patrol car... while
carrying a Bud Light beer in his left hand.”
The incident reportedly began when Dixon
spotted a roadblock near the National Guard
Armory and made a quick right onto Lake Drive.
The end came in Jones County after Dixon reportedly bailed from his vehicle, beer in hand, and led
deputies on a short foot chase before falling over
in a six-foot embankment.
Photos by Pam Beer
Christmas presents crowd under the tree at Crockett’s Restaurant, owned by Allen and Frances
Crocket (inset), as the Lake Sinclair Hens and Roosters used the restaurant last week for a
Christmas party for veterans from the Georgia War Veterans Home.
Hens and Roostersthrow a party
Veterans from the Georgia War Veterans Home got a special Christmas treat last week,
thanks to some local hens and roosters with giving hearts.
The Lake Sinclair Hens, 28 strong, threw a Christmas party at Crockett’s Restaurant for
the veterans, continuing a tradition they started several years ago of doing something special for the veterans during the holidays. Joined by the Roosters, numbering roughly 20,
the women decorated Crockett’s with holiday cheer and provided lunch with all the trimmings – and a healthy number of Christmas presents, too.
Frances Crockett, co-owner of Crockett’s, is a Hen and a long-time supporter of local veterans,
hosting them to a free meal on the last Thursday of each month. Veteran artwork often adorns the
restaurant’s walls. Crockett said that the women bought hats, gloves, blankets, reading lamps,
candy, word puzzles, pens, eyeglass cases, socks, hankies, shirts and more for the veterans’ gift bags.
As the festivities progressed last Thursday, the restaurant was alive with the sound of jingling bells, laughter, and Christmas carols. Ashley Hall and Eavan Davis, granddaughters of
Please see
Wr
Service
Bail Bonding
Title Pawn
Interim police chief named
[email protected]
[email protected]
24 Heocukrer
Dray Swicord
named top
cop at MPD
By Christian McKearney
By Pam Beer
Holidays
page 8
Lottery
[email protected]
[email protected]
BUS TECHNOLOGY
INDEX
By Christian McKearney
High-speed chase equals 4 years
COLLEGE USES NEW
In an effort to help students with their commute,
Georgia
College
is
installing Nextbus technology on its shuttle buses.
Through display signs at
shuttle stops, riders will be
able to know exactly when
the next bus will be arriving. Riders can also access
the NextBus website to find
out where a bus is driving
at
any
given
time.
In addition, Georgia
College will also be able
to use the display boards
to convey weather information or other important
university information.
Another feature is that
Georgia College can access
data to determine if the
shuttles are operating
appropriately.
The
NextBus reporting tools can
see if busses are running on
time, and if the routes are
efficient.
Cupcake shop to
open on Jefferson
Dray Swicord, a 26-year veteran with the
Milledgeville Police Department, was named
interim police chief earlier this week.
Swicord replaces Woodrow Blue, who begins
his new job as police chief with the East Point
Police Department on Jan. 2. Blue had been chief
at the local police department since 2002.
Swicord actually was hired by thenMilledgeville Police Chief Bill Massee in 1986.
Swicord began as a patrol officer before working
his way up to chief of detectives several years ago.
“Obviously, I am very honored and look forward
to working very closely with the community,”
Swicord told The Baldwin Bulletin on Wednesday.
Milledgeville City Manager Barry Jarrett
made the decision. A timetable on naming a permanent police chief has not been finalized.
P.O. BOX 967, 800 N. JEFFERSON ST.
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA 31061
INANCING AVAILAB
LE
LES & F
SAwww.BeckhamsAutos.com
(478) 452-1909
Community Calendar
Page 2
Thursday, December 29
6:30 p.m. - Northside Baptist
Church, 1001 N. Jefferson St., holds
“Celebrate Recovery” ministry for
the disease of addiction. Call 4526648 for information.
7 p.m. - Old Capitol Cloggers,
Baldwin County Rec. Center. Call
478-968-7697 for more information.
Saturday, December 31
New Year’s Eve
8 p.m. - The Fun Factory holds
an All-Night Skating Party for
kids, from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. Hors
d’oeuvres, favors, midnight celebration. Visit www.gafunfactory.com
or call 453-2000 for more information.
Sunday, January 1
Happy New Year!
Monday, January 2
All non-emergency City and County
departments will be closed.
10 a.m. - Flannery O'Connor's home,
Andalusia, is open to the public. Call
454-4029 for information.
Noon - Harriet’s Closet, a free cancer resource center, is relocated
next door to Ga. Cancer Specialists
at ORMC and open until 4 p.m.
6 p.m. - GreySheeters Anonymous,
an offshoot of Overeaters
Anonymous, meets at First Baptist
Church on S. Liberty St. Call 4541720 for information.
Retirement holds Lunch & Learn at
Milledgeville Country Club. Guest
speaker: Gregg Kaufman, M.Div. No
reservations necessary. Lunch:
$13.00.
Saturday, January 7
10 a.m. - Flannery O'Connor's
home, Andalusia, is open to the
public. Call 454-4029 for information.
Monday, January 9
10 a.m. - Flannery O'Connor's
home, Andalusia, is open to the
public. Call 454-4029 for information.
Noon - Harriet’s Closet, a free cancer resource center, is relocated
next door to Ga. Cancer Specialists
at ORMC and open until 4 p.m.
6 p.m. - GreySheeters Anonymous,
an offshoot of Overeaters
Anonymous, meets at First Baptist
Church on S. Liberty St. Meetings
are free, donations accepted. Call
454-1720 for information.
7:30 p.m. - Oconee River Buskers
Square Dance Club, Baldwin County
Rec. Center. Call 452-8035 for
information.
Tuesday, January 3
10 a.m. - Flannery O'Connor's home,
Andalusia, is open to the public. Call
454-4029 for information.
6:30 p.m. - Old Capitol Car Club
meets at IHOP at Wal-Mart. Dinner
followed by meeting at 7:30. 478453-0295 for information.
6:30 p.m. - American Legion
Auxiliary Post 523 meeting. Call
452-6041 for information.
6:30 p.m. - City Council meeting,
City Hall.
7 p.m. - Old Capitol Cloggers,
Baldwin County Rec. Center. 478968-7697 for more information.
Friday, January 6
11:15 a.m. - Learning in
Executive Editor
CEO
DuBose
Porter
Editor
Pam Beer
[email protected]
Layout Manager/
Senior Writer
Chris McKearney
[email protected]
Sales Representative
Chris McKearney
Dianne
Williams
[email protected]
[email protected]
Advertising Design
Beth Howell
Editorial Consultant
Ginger Carter Miller
[email protected]
Distribution Manager
Jonathan Jackson
Office Manager
Lynn Chapman
[email protected]
Sat
12/30
67/44
Sunny. Highs in the
upper 60s and lows
in the mid 40s.
Sunrise Sunset
7:36 AM 5:35 PM
Area Cities
City
Albany
Athens
Atlanta
Augusta
Bainbridge
Brunswick
Cartersville
Chattanooga,TN
Columbus
Cordele
N
A
Sun
12/31
Hi
70
63
61
65
73
69
60
53
68
69
67/41
Abundant sunshine.
Highs in the upper
60s and lows in the
low 40s.
Sunrise Sunset
7:36 AM 5:36 PM
Lo Cond.
47 mst sunny
40 mst sunny
40 mst sunny
46 mst sunny
49 pt sunny
45 mst sunny
40 mst sunny
37 pt sunny
41 sunny
44 mst sunny
Mon
1/1
1/2
68/41
Times of sun and
clouds. Highs in the
upper 60s and lows
in the low 40s.
Sunrise Sunset
7:36 AM 5:37 PM
City
Dalton
Dillard
Dublin
Duluth
Gainesville
Helen
Lagrange
Macon
Marietta
Milledgeville
Hi
58
59
67
61
58
60
66
67
61
67
Georgia At A Glance
Tue
1/3
57/31
Atlanta
61/40
49/36
Few showers. Highs Partly cloudy. Highs
in the upper 50s and in the upper 40s and
lows in the low 30s. lows in the mid 30s.
Sunrise Sunset
7:36 AM 5:38 PM
Lo Cond.
38 pt sunny
36 mst sunny
41 mst sunny
38 mst sunny
41 mst sunny
38 mst sunny
39 sunny
42 sunny
38 mst sunny
44 sunny
Macon
67/42
Sunrise Sunset
7:36 AM 5:38 PM
City
Hi
Peachtree City 65
Perry
68
Rome
61
Savannah
68
St. Simons Island67
Statesboro
68
Thomasville
72
Valdosta
72
Warner Robins 67
Waycross
71
Lo Cond.
37 mst sunny
42 sunny
38 mst sunny
47 mst sunny
49 mst sunny
42 mst sunny
48 mst sunny
48 mst sunny
39 sunny
45 mst sunny
TAKE
Moon Phases
Augusta
65/46
Milledgeville
67/44
Savannah
68/47
First
Jan 1
Full
Jan 9
Last
Jan 16
UV Index
Fri
12/30 3 Moderate
Sat 12/31 3 Moderate
Sun
Mon
Valdosta
72/48
A
New
Dec 24
Tue
1/1 3 Moderate
1/2 3 Moderate
1/3 3 Moderate
The UV Index is measured on a 0-11
number scale, with a higher UV Index
showing the need for greater skin pro11
tection. 0
Ci i
A MINUTE
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A legal matter you hoped could finally be settled could
breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact.
be a pesky problem for a while, until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You're eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Partnerships -- personal or professional -- which began
dropped in your lap. But you'd be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So be warned.
through.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You're almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or that persistent problem that has caused you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satistwo, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide imporHOROSCOPES faction.
tant answers.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Favorable changes continue to
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved
about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert. in what you're doing.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could
its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special.
answer some questions you've wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into be strong.
moving before you're ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Stay on your new course despite so-called well-meaning efforts
act.
to discourage you. Rely on your deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what's right for you.
TO
Wednesday, January 11
1 p.m. - Falun Gong exercise class
in Central City Park picnic area at
no charge. Suitable for all ages
and all physical conditions. Call
453-4241 for information.
Thursday, January 12
Noon - Rotary Club of Milledgeville
meeting, Milledgeville Country Club.
6:30 p.m. - Northside Baptist
Church, 1001 N. Jefferson St., holds
“Celebrate Recovery” ministry for
the disease of addiction. Call 4526648 for information.
7 p.m. - Old Capitol Cloggers,
Baldwin County Rec. Center. Call
478-968-7697 for more information.
THE BALDWIN
BULLETIN
Publisher
Griffin Lovett
Fri
5:30 p.m. - Baldwin County School
Board meeting, BOE offices, ABC
Drive.
6 p.m. - Diabetes support group
meeting, ORMC's Park Tower
Education Center. 478-454-3705 for
information.
Thursday, January 5
6:30 p.m. - Northside Baptist
Church, 1001 N. Jefferson St., holds
“Celebrate Recovery” ministry for
the disease of addiction. Call 4526648 for information.
Local 5-Day Forecast
Tuesday, January 10
10 a.m. - Flannery O'Connor's
home, Andalusia, is open to the
public. Call 454-4029 for information.
7:30 p.m. - Oconee River Buskers
Square Dance Club, Baldwin County
Rec. Center. Call 452-8035 for
information.
Wednesday, January 4
1 p.m. - Falun Gong exercise class
in Central City Park picnic area at
no charge. Suitable for all ages
and all physical conditions. Call
453-4241 for information.
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
ADVERTISE IN
THE BALDWIN BULLETIN,
The Baldwin Bulletin USPS No. 845576 is published
weekly by The Herald Publishing Company, 115 S.
Jefferson St., Dublin, GA. Subscription rates: $20.00 per
year. Periodical postage paid at Milledgeville, GA.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to: The Baldwin
Bulletin, 136 S. Wayne St., Milledgeville, GA 31061
452-1777.
TO THE EDITOR
Baldwin County Fire Rescue thanks community for toy drive response
To the Editor:
Baldwin County Fire
Rescue would like to thank
the Baldwin County community for another successful toy drive. With the help
of the community we were
able to help provide a
Merry Christmas for over
200 kids. All of the toys
collected went to local kids
and the toys were distributed by Angela Brown
(shown with me, at right)
and staff at DFACS
(Department of Family and
Children Services.)
This toy drive is a way
for us to give back to the
community that has always
been supportive of us. Even
though saving lives and
protecting property is our
top priority, we are here as
a department to serve the
community in other ways
like this toy drive.
We look forward to
doing this again next year,
and also would like to
thank the local businesses
that let us have a drop box
in their place of business.
Troy Reynolds
Assistant Fire Chief
Baldwin County Fire Rescue
136 S. Wayne Street
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
(478) 452-1777
Fax (478) 452-8464
www.thebaldwinbulletin.com
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Publishing Company. The Baldwin Bulletin
neither guarantees nor assumes any liability
whatsoever for advertising claims or products.
The Baldwin Bulletin reserves the right to edit
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Letters to the editor are welcomed and
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the right to edit for libelous content and length.
Mail them to The Baldwin Bulletin. 136
S. Wayne Street, Milledgeville, GA 31061 or
email to [email protected].
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ILLEDGEVILLE, IN
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Special to The Baldwin Bulletin
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INJURY OR ILLNESS?
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MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA 31061
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Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Page 3
Sherri’s
Corner
SHERRI
PRESTWOOD
Having never intended to
reach an age where my initial “S” actually represented “sedentary,” still it happened without fanfare.
My life is fairly busy,
though much of my working
time is spent in front of my
computer, Maxine. Since
“sedentary” includes a lot of
sitting time, well, I qualify.
I bring this up because
the week before Christmas,
the day of, and the day
after proved to me that I
indeed needed to be out
and about more.
A few weeks back, Worth
and Sue were talking about
a store in town. When I
made the remark that I didn’t know this business had
even come to town, Sue
smiled and said, “You have
to get out more to see these
things. But, before that you
have to get out of the blue
chair.” We laughed, and
that was that.
Sue decided all her siblings/half-siblings/step-siblings needed to have a gettogether for Christmas,
including parents, for various and valid reasons. After
a myriad of phone calls and
comparison of available
times, a restaurant was chosen in Macon. A week later,
because of another’s schedule, it was necessary to
change to a restaurant,
same chain, but in
McDonough.
Worth, who makes snide
remarks about “Driving
Miss Delia,” suggested the
two of us ride with J.R. and
Sue because none of the
grandchildren were going.
Which we did.
It was a wonderful night,
the ride was good - it was
nice to have a man do the
driving for a change (showing my older generation
side, am I?), the food was
wonderful, and it was good
to see people I only see at
funerals and weddings.
The next day, youngest
son, his wife, and three children came for dinner and
spent the night. I cooked
most of the day, because it
takes longer now, and when
the old folks had gone home
and/or gone to bed, the three
children and I stayed up late.
After watching part of a TV
show, this is the order in
which we conked out: 3:47
am, 3:56 am, 4:30 am, and
5:30 am. You guess which.
They left the next day in
the afternoon, and I did
some sho-nuff sitting, then.
It was a good, good three
days.
After supper that
Tuesday night, some of us
were still at the table, and I
tuned out the conversation
to listen to what most of the
world calls noise. It was
three little people, Zeke,
Lily Beth, and Bradley, running back and forth, back
and forth, and . . .
The world may call it
what they want, but I
looked at Suzanne and
remarked that it was music
to me.
After church Christmas
day I came home and put
dinner on the table. It was
not a full-fledged holiday
dinner; actually it was
something like
“Thanksmas” because it
consisted of dressing, ham,
and collards left from
November 24. We added to,
but it was easy.
Still, Sunday night I
showed every day of my
age. I went to bed at 11:30,
after sleeping in that blue
chair for two hours, and
slept till 11:00 the next
morning.
Never had “sedentary”
felt so good.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
ASK AN
OLD TIMER/
BLUE HAIR
SPONSORED BY:
CHILDRE CHEVROLET
Bobby Mercer
Jane Waldhauer
Still cutting hair at Mercer’s Barber Shop
and Zipper
Well, I quit smoking a long time ago. I’ve
already scratched that one off. I don’t really
have very many resolutions this year. I’m not
saying that New Year’s resolutions aren’t
important. It’s important to better yourself
and people need to do whatever they need
to do to become better and healthier people. And that’s the truth, buddy!
Fielding Whipple
Pictured with grandchildren Jackson Brooks
Taylor and Josie Payton Taylor
I’m going to try and quit cussing. I never
cussed until I went to work at (Central State
Hospital) years ago. We didn’t really cuss at
the patients, but we’d cuss at each other
and cuss whenever we had to fill out all
those awful charts that we always had to
do. I’m also going to try and quit complaining about being broke all the time.
To be honest, I don’t really make New Year’s
resolutions, mainly because I always forget
what I resolved to do. But, I would like to
get a little more sleep during this next year.
I have a bad habit of staying up and watching the late shows and football games.
– Compiled by Christian McKearney
Lower-income apartment complex set for Heritage Road
By Pam Beer
[email protected]
A new 72-unit apartment development across from Milledgeville Mall
got the green light from the
Department of Community Affairs last
month, and residents in the neighborhood near the water tower on Dunlap
Road are breathing a sigh of relief.
Heritage Vista Apartments was the
victor in the competition for State
housing tax credits, besting the application submitted by the developers of
Rollingwood Place Apartments, a proposed 80-unit development off Dunlap
Road behind New Vision Church. Both
developments received a letter of support from the County, and
Rollingwood Place received City support as well, since it would have been
located within the City limits.
Residents in the neighborhood adjacent to New Vision Church were vehemently opposed to Rollingwood Place,
citing concerns over increased crime,
traffic and noise they believed the
development would bring to their area.
The State offers a limited number
of tax credits each year, and companies competing for these credits submit applications. The applications
receive points for meeting various criteria, including receiving support
from local government.
Although Rollingwood Place’s score
of 58 beat Heritage Vista’s 57,
Heritage was awarded the tax credits.
A spokesperson with DCA’s Office
of Affordable Housing said that
Heritage had something special that
gave them the edge.
“Heritage Vista also had HOME
funds, which tipped the balance,” the
spokesperson said. “We give a preference to those applications that also
use our funding.”
DCA’s
HOME
Investment
Partnership Program, created by the
National Affordable Housing Act of
1990, provides funds to state and local
governments to support affordable
housing initiatives.
Both companies had said that they
would seek tenants who made no more
than 60 percent of the median income
for Baldwin County. Interim County
Manager Ralph McMullen said that
would equate to a household income
of roughly $27,000-$28,000.
Heritage Vista Apartments will be
located roughly a quarter of a mile
from Wal Mart, and just one-tenth of a
mile off N. Columbia Street. Located
on approximately 15 acres, the development will sit east of Rocket Roller
Rink and Quality Inn, and south of
Middle Georgia Pediatrics.
CHAPLINWOOD HONORS EMPLOYEES
Chaplinwood Health
& Rehab recently
held their annual
Christmas luncheon
for their nursing
staff. Pictured are
some of their nurses
along with their
Director of Nursing,
Debbie McCrary and
Administrator, Keith
Austin.
Log Cabin church kicking off new year with movie night
By Pam Beer
[email protected]
Northridge
Christian
Church will kick off the New
Year by hosting its first
Family Movie Night Out. This
will be the first Family Movie
Night Northridge has presented, but with the church’s new
youth building under construction, church leaders are
hopeful this will be a frequent
activity within the community.
The film offered for the
inaugural viewing is Soul
Surfer, a triumphant true-life
tale of a young surfer who lost
her arm in a shark attack, but
through faith and courage
returned to the waves as a
champion. It inspires viewers
of all ages and opens up conversations about the power of
faith, hope and God’s love.
“Soul Surfer is a great
movie - it’s about overcoming
adversity,” said Northridge
Lead Pastor Mike Waers.
Families are encouraged to
attend this inspiring movie. It
is suggested that moviegoers
should plan to arrive at 6:30
p.m. to get a good seat and the
movie will begin a 7 p.m. in
the
Worship
Center.
Admission is free and snacks
will be provided.
“It’s a family friendly event
to reach the community with a
positive message and a
Christian environment,” said
Northridge
Connections
Pastor Craig Portwood.
Northridge
Christian
Church is located at 321 Log
Cabin Road. For more information
contact
Craig
Portwood at 452-1125.
EBM
Lock & Key
Residential • Commercial • Automotive
Keys made for most
makes and models.
Transponders &
High Security Keys cut.
Eric Mullis
451-0600
Page 4
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Baldwin County Year In Review
JOBS/ECONOMY
CRIME/PUNISHMENT
GOVT./EDUCATION
say that 2011 was less devastating than 2009 and
Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.
Jobs, or lack thereof, continued to be a huge 2010. At the same time, however, it will be a long
story in Baldwin County in 2011. An estimated time before Baldwin County returns to its pre4,000 people in Baldwin County have lost their recession job levels, if ever.
job during the last 36 months, according to
Department of Labor figures.
The demise of Central State Hospital conIn 2011, however, Baldwin County did not
leak jobs nearly as badly as previous years. In tinued in 2011.
As of November, there were 118 mentally
fact, Baldwin County actually added a few
hundred jobs in 2011, according to the retarded clients living at Central State
Department of Labor. In November 2011, Hospital. Within the next few years, that
roughly 15,700 people in Baldwin County had number eventually will reach zero. At
at least one job, which compares to 15,470 in least 500 jobs at Central State will
be eliminated in the
November 2010.
process. Two buildIn early May, Gov. Nathan Deal
ings – the Boland
visited Triumph Aerostructures
Building and Allen
(previously Vought) to celebrate an
Building – will close
expansion at the local plant on Ga.
Numbers as of
down
completely,
22. On that day, it was announced
November 2011,
while
numerous
supthat more than 250 jobs would be
courtesy of Georgia
port
staff
employees
at
added at Triumph in the next twoDepartment of
Central
State
also
will
lose
and-a-half
years.
Triumph’s
Behavioral Health.
their jobs. The state of Georgia
Milledgeville plant will carry out
currently is receiving 150 federal
work packages awarded to Vought
Medicaid waivers per year designatby the Boeing Company in 2009 for
ed for moving mentally retarded
the 777 and the 787 Dreamliner.
–numberofsupportstaff
clients from hospital settings to
The facility makes a variety of
employeesatCentralState,
group homes. In other words, mencomposite parts for the 787
whichincludesnurses,house- tally retarded clients are being
Dreamliner, including longerons
keepers,administrators,food moved out of state hospitals at a rate
and stringers. Triumph later
of 150 per year. The math does not
expanded from 622,000-square feet
serviceworkersandmore.
look good for Central State employto roughly 660,000-square feet. The
ees in the Boland and Allen buildMilledgeville facility began in
ings. With the state moving clients
1975 as Grumman Aerospace
out of hospitals at a rate of 150 per
before switching its name to
– number of clients at
Northrop Grumman, then Vought,
Central EastCentral Regional year, all mentally retarded clients
should be gone from state hospitals
and ultimately Triumph.
Hospital in Augusta, making
within 40-something months. In other
In October, a dazzling new
it the largestmental
words, the Boland Building will be
93,000-square-foot Kroger grohospital in Georgia.
shut down by 2015 at the latest, while
cery store opened near the corner
the Allen Building should be boarded
of US 441 and Log Cabin Road.
up well before that.
The new Kroger is decidedly
Central State already has been
more upscale and expansive than
impacted.
In September 2010,
the old Kroger, giving Baldwin
–numberofclientsat
according to state records, there
County residents a grocery shopCentralState,makingitthe
were 186 mentally retarded clients
ping experience that previously
second-largestmental
at Central State. In September
was not available. A total of 22
hospitalinGeorgia.
2011, however, there were 130,
full-time employees and 226 partwhich basically means that 56 mentime employees were tasked to
tally retarded clients were moved
run the new Kroger, which was
out of Central State in a span of 12
roughly 80 more than the previ– employees working in the
months.
ous Kroger on N. Columbia
Cook
forensics
building
However, despite the fact that 56
Street.
(not DD, jobs appear safe)
mentally retarded clients moved
Meanwhile, a new private
out of Central State in 12 months,
prison opened in south Baldwin
the number of employees at Central
County in mid December.
State has remained relatively staRiverbend Correctional Facility,
At last count, 257 employees
located on Laying Farm Road
–employeesworkinginthe ble.
worked in the Boland Building, a
between Midway Elementary and
CraigNursingCenter
number that does not include many
the Central State Hospital fishing
housekeepers and food service
pond, eventually will staff more
(notDD,jobsappearsafe)
providers. Meanwhile, 132 employthan 300 workers and the average
ees work in the nearby Allen
compensation for a Riverbend
Building, although the building
employee with be roughly $36,600
reportedly is on its last leg. At last
per year (including salary and bene– employeesworkingin the
count, a mere 19 mentally retarded
fits).
BolandBuilding, whichis the clients remained at Allen.
The new Kroger and the new
By 2015, only two large buildings
prison certainly were welcomed
main DDfacility atCSH
at Central State likely will remain –
additions. At the same time, howev- (jobseventually will be gone)
the Cook Building and the Craig
er, they illustrated the desperate
Building. The Cook Building, which
nature of Baldwin County’s employhouses forensic/criminally insane
ment crisis. Amazingly, more than
clients, appears safe for the long-term
11,000 people applied for jobs at
–numberofemployeesinthe future. The Craig Building, meanthe new prison, although only 300
AllenBuilding(jobswillbe
while, quite possibly could be privawere hired. At Kroger, meanwhile,
goneinafewyears)
tized in the coming years, which
more than 900 people interviewed
would mean that its employees would
for roughly 100 jobs.
Ten percent fewer people living in no longer be considered “state employees.”
Baldwin County have a job today when compared to five years ago, which compares to
three percent statewide. In other words,
Baldwin County has lost jobs at three times
the rate of the rest of Georgia during the last
News travels fast in a small town, while
five years.
rumors travel even faster.
In 2008, an estimated 19,500 people living in
Perhaps the biggest rumor floating around
Baldwin County had at least one job. In 2011, Baldwin County in 2011 revolved around the
that number was 15,000-something. It’s safe to old Rheem Manufacturing plant on Roberson
Central State’s slow fade
CentralStateHospital:
“Bythenumbers”
776
579
491
308
305
257
132
Rheem/Tranere-opening
rumors refuse to die
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1670 N. Jefferson St., Milledgeville
SPORTS
Mill Road. According to the rumor, Trane Inc.
– which is one of Rheem’s main competitors –
plans on buying the old Rheem building and
re-hiring former Rheem employees.
Unfortunately, however, the rumor turned
out to be nothing more than a rumor and it is
totally untrue.
“The rumor sort of has taken on a life of its
own. It sort of goes in cycles. It will die down
for a few months and then start up again,” said
Angie Gheesling, executive director of the
Milledgeville
Baldwin/County
Development Authority. “But,
there is no truth to any of it.”
Although she is not 100 percent certain, Gheesling has a
theory about how the rumor
began. Shortly after Rheem rant, moved from N. Columbia Street to the
closed in late 2009, Trane Cornbread Cafe property on Garrett Way.
placed an employment ad on
Monster.com, a leading employment website. According to the ad,
Apparently, nothing lasts forever. Harold
Trane was seeking “people interested in a Goodrich, who had been a downtown merchant
technician position” in the Milledgeville area. for the last 65 years, retired in 2011. Goodrich
However, the employment ad was brief and sold his business – Harrold’s Formal Wear – to
did not specify how many technicians were Michael and Danielle Fields, a young couple
needed.
with a photography and framing business on
“Trane, as it turns out, was looking for one nearby Wayne Street. The business came up
on-call technician to make service calls in this for sale after Goodrich was was diagnosed
area. That was it,” Gheesling said.
with pancreatic cancer in the summer.
Gheesling added that rumors of
By no means was the news all bad
problems at Rheem’s new Mexico facaround downtown Milledgeville, howtory also are not true.
ever. First Friday, designed to bring
“From talking to all of Rheem’s corincreased foot traffic downtown,
porate people in Atlanta, Rheem is
made its debut in February. The
very excited about (the Mexico facilievent was an instant success and conty,” she said.
tinued to draw consistent crowds
According to Gheesling, the cost of
throughout the year.
employing a Rheem employee in
Fields
Also a success was the downtown
Mexico (salary, benefits, etc.) is roughFarmer’s Market near the corner of
ly $18 per hour less than employing a Rheem Jefferson and Hancock streets. First Friday
employee at the old Milledgeville plant.
and the downtown Farmer’s Market are both
the brainchilds of Milledgeville MainStreet, a
program funded by the Milledgeville city govAs always, there was plenty of movement ernment.
along the US 441/N. Columbia Street business
Downtown businessman Frank Pendergast
corridor in 2011.
stayed busy in 2011, rehabbing a pair of old
One of 441’s oldest and most colorful busi- buildings on Hancock Street – the Grapevine
nesses closed last summer, as Bobby Scoggins’ Antiques building and the Prestwood
Qwik Stop shut its doors near the lake. The Graphics building. Planned for both build2900 block of US 441 actually was a two-lane ings is a combination of retail space and
country road when Bobby Scoggins first apartment units. Yoforia, a frozen yogurt
opened his gas station in 1973. In the begin- shop, is set to open inside the Prestwood
ning, Scoggins’ Qwik Stop actually was one building in early 2012. Pendergast is renovatpart gas station, one part general store, selling ing the Grapevine building thanks to a halfmailboxes, beer, fire logs, potatoes, roofing million dollar grant from the Georgia
nails, cane poles and crickets. Increased com- Department of Community Affairs.
petition eventually got the best of the Kwik
Stop. In the ’70s, the Kwik Stop was “the last
store between the lake and town.” Nowadays,
After more than 20 years, the Fall Line
there are four other convenience stores in the
Freeway finally began to take shape in
immediate area, as well as a Dollar General.
“It was wonderful while it lasted,” said Baldwin County. The Department of
Transportation bought up numerous pieces of
Shelby Scoggins, “but nothing lasts forever.
Also closing this year was Sylvia’s Grille, a land along the Toomsboro Highway in prepapopular Italian restaurant in the Wal-Mart ration for construction. Construction is expected to begin in 2016.
shopping center.
When finished, the road will cross into
But 2011 was a good year for local fast food
fans. Opening this year on N. Columbia Street Baldwin County near Jesse Scott Road and
were a Krystal and Little Caesars, as well as a eventually meet up with Ga. 112 (Toomsboro
Highway) near the new veterans cemetery.
revamped Taco Bell.
Aside from Kroger, the biggest business to The road then will continue towards the
open on 441 this year was TJ Maxx, which Oconee River and a new river bridge will be
opened a 27,000-square-foot store in late sum- built on a piece of property currently owned
mer. T.J. Maxx stores typically feature design- by local man Joe Roberts. The bridge origier brands, although the prices are discounted nally was scheduled to be 2,000 feet long
(roughly the length of six football fields),
fairly dramatically.
Meanwhile, some northside businesses which is due to flood plains and lowlands.
were on the move in 2011. Fitness Plus, the DOT contractors eventually hope to shorten
oldest active gym in Baldwin County, moved the scale of the bridge, however. From there,
from the old McGaw building off of N. the Fall Line Freeway will cross the river and
Columbia Street to the old Forstman building enter Washington County nine miles later. In
off of Ga. 22. The new space is roughly 52,000 the process, the road will cross Stembridge
square feet, more than three times the size of Road and Butler Road, as well as several
Fitness Plus’ old location in the Columbia other smaller roads. The freeway then will
Center shopping center (old McGaw building). meet up with Ga. 24 and eventually the
Also, El Tequila, a popular Mexican restau- Sandersville bypass.
Downtown doings
The 441 shuffle
Fall Line Freeway finally?
Stay with the Home Team!
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Page 5
Baldwin County Year In Review
JOBS/ECONOMY
CRIME/PUNISHMENT
Somehow, there was only one er, they spotted Brown standing on
murder in Milledgeville/Baldwin the side of the road. Brown hopped
in the back seat of the Mazda and
County during 2011.
It wasn’t due to a lack of opportu- the vehicle turned around and headnities, however. Local cops actually ed in the opposite direction. Within
responded to several dozen “shots a hundred feet or so, two shots rang
fired” calls in 2011, a few of which out from the back seat, killing
left victims hospitalized with fairly Waters instantly.
“It appears that there’s a strong
serious injuries. When it was all said
and done, however, the local District possibility that the whole thing was
Attorney’s office only handled one planned. We don’t believe that
(Brown) just happened to be standhomicide case this calendar year.
That case involved a 73-year-old ing on the side of the road when
man and his stepdaughter. Ashleigh (Waters and Ricks) drove by,” said
Elaine Ricks, 23, and boyfriend Capt. Brad King with the Baldwin
Andre Brown, 36, were arrested in County Sheriff’s Office.
October and accused of killing Ricks’
stepfather – Mandle “MC” Waters.
Each was indicted on one count of
murder, felony murder and armed
robbery.
Blame it on the economy. Blame it
Waters was retired from Shaw on Americans’ materialistic nature.
Industries, the now-closed flooring But, for whatever reasons, property
factory on the south side of crimes were on the rise around
Milledgeville. Waters was not Baldwin County in 2011.
Ashleigh Ricks’ biological father, but
Break-ins, burglaries, thefts and
Waters basically served faithfully as entering autos continued to plague
Rick’s father since she was a little the community. Apparently, the
girl. Waters married Ricks’ mother – District Attorney’s Office has taken
Rose Waters – in 1990.
notice. According to courthouse doc“This was a child that he raised uments, at least two dozen Baldwin
from a baby and she killed him,” said County men have been sent off to
Lynn Anderson during an interview prison in 2011 following burglary
with WMAZ Channel 13 in Macon. convictions. District Attorney Fred
Anderson is Ricks’ half sister. Bright says burglaries “have been a
“Ashleigh is a very troubled
point of emphasis lately”
child. It started back when
around the D.A.’s office.
she was a teenager. She
“We take a tough stance
stayed in trouble in school.
towards burglaries in this
She's been in and out of jail
county. We probably prosein several different counties
cute burglaries stiffer than
for several different things."
the state-wide average,” he
Ricks and Andre Brown
said. “Having your home browere in the process of movken into is a terrible feeling.
ing in together around the
After it happens, you’re
Ricks
time of Mandle Charley
home never feels quite the
Waters’ murder. The couple
same again and it never quite
had been together for roughfeels as safe,” he said. “It’s
ly two weeks and apparently
something that we take very
grew close in a short amount
seriously in this office.”
of time. Three days prior to
Here is an abbreviated list
the murder, the couple had
of convicted burglars who
signed a lease agreement at
have received prison time so
151 Moore Street, which is
far this year:
the first mobile home in
• Donald Lee “Tuffy
Brown
“the bottom half” of
Freeman
Finnegan’s Branch trailer park,
• Deonte Marquil Butts
located between Central State
• Walter Lee Fraley
Hospital and Irwinton Road. On the
• Charles C. Peeler, Jr.
morning of the murder, Ricks had
• Thaddius Bernard Hall
visited Waters’ home on Pine
• Tyree Deshon Havior
Avenue, located off of the Vinson
• Demarcus Braddy
Highway near Southside school.
• Alton Jerome Waller
Shortly after 1 p.m., detectives
• Lynwood Clarence Bonner
believe that Waters agreed to give
• Randall Bernard Wilson
Ricks a ride back to her new home
• Johnny Lee Palm
in Finnegan’s Branch. Waters drove
• Akeem Antron Glenn
his Mazda 323 through the Central
• Timothy Paul Hatchett
State Hospital campus before mak• Timothy George Kittle
ing a left onto Kemp Avenue, which
• Benjamin Douglas Horton
is the small street behind the Binion
• Keith Bernard Easley
Building that leads into Finnegan’s
• Ronkeith Terrell Holt
Branch. Before Waters and Ricks
• Darryl Alvin
reached Finnegan’s Branch, howev• David Terrico Simmons
Burglars sent off too
prison in high numbers
277-4527
• Antonio Demarcus Ford
• Marion Eston Kelley
• Jamarie Donte Brown
• Ventarus Lidel Grant
• Krishun Markeith Williams
• Timothy Ivester McClendon
• Phillip Daniel Shurtliff
• Otis Lee Webb
• Dustin Curtis Kent
• Gabriel Louis Lamar, Jr.
• Antonio Demonte Williams
• Edward Jerome Broadus, Jr.
SPORTS
and the raid apparently had very little impact on the problem.
ArrestmadeinPatelmurder
Nearly two years to the day after
the Lina’s Food Store murder, an
arrest was finally made in the case.
Jarvis Reeves, 25, was arrested in
mid July and later indicted on one
count each murder, felony murder
and criminal attempt to commit
armed robbery.
Reeves is accused of murdering
Danny Patel, 51, who was gunned
down around 9 p.m. on July 15, 2009
during an apparent armed robbery
If there’s one man in Baldwin
attempt. The incident took place
County who can’t stand electronic
inside Patel’s store – Lina Food
gaming machines, it’s Sheriff Bill
Store – located on Irwinton Road
Massee.
near the bypass intersection.
Massee was front-and-center
Reeves actually was already
last winter following a raid on local
behind bars when he was arrested
stores accused of operating illegal
for the Patel murder. Reeves curgambling operations. During the
rently is serving 17 years at Hancock
raid, the Georgia Bureau of
State Prison for armed robbery and
Investigation and the Baldwin
aggravated assault stemming from
County Sheriff’s Office served wartwo other cases.
rants on eight different local
“We never looked at this as a cold
stores. A total of 47 video poker
case,” said Massee. “This has been
machines were confiscated, loaded
active the whole time.”
onto moving vans and transported
Massee said that Reeves was
to the Sheriff’s Office garage.
almost immediately the priRoughly $125,000 in cash
mary suspect. The sheriff
was recovered in the
said that canvassing the
machines, according to
neighborhood for informainvestigators, which avertion within an hour of the
ages out to more than
shooting gave investigators a
$2,600 per machine.
starting point.
“We are serious about
Apparently, however, the
this and we are serious
case will not qualify for the
about making sure that this
death penalty.
Reeves
problem is addressed. If we
“The punishment we’re
have to take measures outside of
seeking is the maximum allowed by
undercover investigations, whether
law, which in this case is life imprisit’s getting the FBI involved, we’ll do
onment without the possibility of
that, said Massee at the time.
parole,” District Attorney Fred
“People are pumping their entire
Bright said.
savings into these machines and
Danny Patel was especially popudestroying their lives and their famlar among his customers and others
ilies. Some of the numbers are fairly
along Irwinton Road. In the hours
staggering and shocking to us.
that followed the July 2009 shooting,
Through someone we consider a reliresidents of the area began pulling
able source, we discovered that one
up to the scene and forming a line of
store typically was doing between
cars that stretched well down the
$10,000– $12,000 a month (in sales).
road. Some people cried, while othThere are other stores that we
ers stood in disbelief. By the followbelieve were doing much better.”
ing afternoon, a makeshift vigil was
Apparently,
however,
the
set up in front of Lina's and a steady
rewards outweigh the risks for
stream of old friends and customers
store owners with electronic gamconsoled each other.
ing machines. More than a dozen
arrests were made during the raid
last winter. In the end, however,
most of the defendants pleaded to
low-level probation, while several
At the end of April, Baldwin
of the defendants had their charges County Sheriff Bill Massee knew he
dropped altogether.
had a problem. The Baldwin County
In the months that followed the jail, which will hold about 316
raid, machines began re-appearing inmates, was holding 308. Because
in many stores around Baldwin the jail was built in pods in order to
County and the gambling picked classify inmates according to type of
right back up. By the end of 2011, crime and by sex, there was little
Baldwin County’s electronic gam- space left. For example, inmates who
bling addiction was as bad as ever, have been accused of (or convicted
Video gambling picks
right back up after raid
Overcrowding becomes
an issue at county jail
Alex Wright, 1976-2011
of) committing a violent crime cannot be housed with inmates serving
time for a misdemeanor. Twelve
females were sleeping on the floor
because there were too many male
inmates to reserve two pods for
females.
“I’ve said before that we didn’t
build what we needed – we built
what we could afford,” Massee said,
referring to the jail that was opened
in February 2009 because of a federal mandate issued due to overcrowding at the old jail. The jail project
cost more than $14 million in Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
(SPLOST) money.
“The day we moved in (the new
jail, we had 280 people in custody,
including 90 being boarded out at
the Hall County jail,” Massee said.
Death
remains unsolved
One suspicious death remained
unsolved in 2011. Alex Terrell
Wright, 35, died following a horrific
hit-and-run accident on Pine Avenue,
located off of the Vinson Highway in
Hardwick.
The accident happened during
the middle of the night and very little information came into detectives.
Investigators eventually ruled out
the possibility that Wright was
struck by someone with whom he
was previously familiar.
Anyone with any information is
asked to call the Milledgeville Police
Department Tip Line at 414-4413.
Duplex City murderers
have
their
day
in
court
The man identified as the trigger
man in the murder of Craig Adams II
received a life sentence after pleading guilty in Baldwin County
Superior Court in August. Tavius
Bowden, 21, of Haddock pleaded
guilty to felony murder and burglary
in the 2010 Duplex City shooting
death.
Two other suspects also pleaded
guilty. Zedarius Walker, 20,
received 25 years behind bars,
while Artavius Norman, 24, got 16
years in prison.
Remember to set your alarm
ULTRA FORCE SECURITY
system everytime you leave your house. Call Steve Avant at 478-454-6526
TIP SE
OF CU
TH RIT
EW Y
EE
K:
1405 W. Moore St. • Dublin
GOVT./EDUCATION
Page 6
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Baldwin County Year In Review
JOBS/ECONOMY
Even though 2011 marked the
year that the topic of City-County
unification seemed to gain some
official headway, widely divergent
paths were common for both governments. Plummeting real estate
values, dropping by as much as 25
percent in some neighborhoods,
caused a shortfall in tax revenues
and helped to continue the money
woes the County has been experiencing for the past several years and the end apparently isn’t in
sight. The City seemed less affected,
offering employee raises and holiday bonuses while the County continued to freeze salaries and any
discretional
spending,
and
decreased the benefits any new
employees hired as of Jan. 1, 2012
would receive.
Meanwhile, it was more difficult
to figure out just how hard hit the
school board was with the decrease
in tax revenues, since a funding
shortfall was taken in stride without
raising taxes.
Let’s
talk taxes
County Commissioner
Bubba
Williams County tried to enlist the
support of the rest of the commissioners when he called for a zero
percent cap on the assessed value of
homestead properties for tax purposes. As in previous years,
Williams’ tax reform efforts were
unsuccessful. However, in April a
town hall meeting was held to discuss the pros and cons of the zero
percent cap. Williams said he hoped
that the proposition could be put on
the ballot during the 2012 legislative session.
The voters trickled to the polls in
March, with just under 6.9 percent
of the registered voters weighing in
on an extension of the Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
(SPLOST). The tax is projected to
raise between $30 million - $45 million over six years, to be split by the
city and the county.
The County decided to raise
taxes for the first time in several
years when the commissioners
voted 3-2 to raise the millage rate
for property taxes by .14 mills to a
rate of 8.78 mills. The increase was
considered necessary because the
county was facing an approximate
$240,000 revenue shortfall for fiscal
year 2011, resulting from a decrease
in the property tax digest. The tax
increase, which equates to slightly
less than $5.00 per year on a
$100,000 house, was not sufficient
to recoup the total revenue shortage, and County staffers found ways
to cut additional funds from the
2011 budget.
Meanwhile, for FY 2012, County
Finance Director Linda Zarkowsky
said that the 2012 general fund
budget of $18,546,050 is based on
projected revenue, and is almost
$500,000 less than the FY 2011
budget.
In contrast, the City Council
Photo by Pam Beer
County Commissioner Bubba Williams
spoke to the audience during a town
hall meeting where the pros and cons of
a zero percent tax cap were discussed.
CRIME/PUNISHMENT
voted to keep its millage rate
unchanged for 2012. Included in the
budget is increased pay for City
employees, who will receive a two
percent raise across the board.
Neither government’s budget
seemed to include additional funding for Oconee Regional Medical
Center, despite hospital CEO Jean
Aycock’s meeting with City and
County leaders to ask for financial
support for the hospital’s “current
financial challenges.” She said that
ORMC is facing challenges including a weakened local and state
economy, an increased indigent
(charity) population, lower reimbursement from government agencies (Medicare and Medicaid) and
insurance companies, unfunded
mandates (the new Georgia State
hospital tax) and healthcare reform.
The hospital is facing multi-million
losses for 2011.
The school board voted to keep
its millage rate unchanged even
though it expected a $463,000 shortfall in property tax revenues for
2012. The school board voted to
fund the shortfall through contributions from the General Fund, which
has a balance of approximately $4.4
million.
Speaking
of voting
Voters will be receiving new
precinct cards in the mail before
the June 2012 primary as the U.S.
Department of Justice announced
this month that it has approved new
boundaries caused by redistricting
after the 2010 census.
Hello
and good bye
The year saw the addition of several new faces at City Hall, the
courthouse and local schools, and
the departure of several well-known
public servants.
In January, Jason Kidd joined the
county staff as Baldwin County’s
water sewer director, and Brian
Wood signed on as County engineer
in August. On the City side, Mike
Couch stepped into the role of City
planner.
Milledgeville
Police
Chief
Woodrow Blue said goodbye to
Milledgeville in December when he
accepted a job as East Point’s Chief
of Police. Baldwin County Fire
Chief Tommy Smith retired in
December after 38 years in the fire
service, 30 of those with Baldwin
County. Neither man’s replacement
has been named.
Over at the Chamber of
Commerce, meanwhile, longtime
CEO Tara Peters resigned and April
Bragg was hired for the job.
Georgia College president Dr.
Dorothy Leland resigned this summer to become chancellor at the
University of California-Merced.
While the search for her replacement continues, Dr. Stas Preczewski
was tapped to serve as interim president.
The Georgia College Foundation
scored a coup of sorts when
Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal,
joined the Foundation board. A GC
alumna, Deal brought hubby Gov.
Nathan Deal to town later in the
year while visiting the city and taking care of some Foundation business.
Over at John Milledge Academy,
Headmaster Larry Prestridge called
it a day, retiring after 30 years of
service to the school. Mark Hopkins
stepped up from assistant headmaster to fill the headmaster position.
Prestridge’s last official day was
June 1.
In January, Jon Jackson was
named school board chair. New
school board members included Dr.
Gloria Wicker, who defeated incumbent Wilbur Manson, and Wes
Cummings, who bested incumbent
Jeff McAfee. Later in the year,
school
board
member
Ray
Markwalter resigned abruptly from
the school board, citing health concerns. Several people expressed
interest in filling the seat, but City
Planner Mike Couch was selected
by the board to take over until the
election.
Antonio Ingram took the helm at
GOVT./EDUCATION
SPORTS
to either put a separate meter for
each tenant on the road right-of-way
or to have one master meter.
County staffers also are changing
out older meters in order to get
more accurate readings, which is
causing some customers to receive
higher bills than they’re accustomed to. Coupled with a new
County policy to not carry over old
water account balances and a move
to enforce late fee and cutoff policies, some County residents grumbled loudly about water issues as
2011 drew to a close.
Pictured is the Oconee River Greenway.
Midway Elementary when former
principal Carol Goings moved to the
Central Office, and Dr. Runee
Sallad took over as principal of
Early College.
Building
blocks
Central
Georgia
Technical
College wowed the local community
when it began construction on a
brand-new, 72,000 square foot
Health and Sciences Building. The
new building will house six degree
programs, and was financed with
$17.5 million in bond money. CGTC
leaders hope to hold the first classes
in the new building in Jan. 2013.
A decision by Baldwin County
school board members perplexed
many citizens when the end result
would up costing citizens more than
$200,000 in SPLOST money.
The school board voted in March
to rebid part of the Baldwin High
School renovations. The board voted
to rebid the part of the contract that
deals with renovations for the special education area, along with the
cafeteria, despite warnings from the
general contractor that prices were
almost guaranteed to come back
higher. And they did.
Road projects continued in 2011.
Curbs and gutters were installed in
several city neighborhoods to
address storm water drainage
issues. The city also replaced street
signs with grant proceeds.
The completion of Streetscape
Phase II, funded by federal stimulus money, took place
in 2011. The $679,000
project focused on
infrastructure
and
cosmetic
improvements on two blocks
of Wayne Street downtown. Some community members had
voiced criticism over
the removal of three
large oak trees during
the project.
The project’s completion was slowed by
the need to correct
problems that arose
from the construction,
including issues with the brick
pavers that divide and line the sections of sidewalk concrete.
Georgia College entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding
with the City which stated that the
City would provide “design, oversight and installation of new traffic
control measures, roadway improvements, and West Campus Drive
entrance
improvements”
in
exchange for GCSU providing
$350,000 for the costs involved in
the project. Not included, however,
is a traffic light.
The City joined forces with
Georgia College in developing a
strategy to re-purpose the Central
State campus. City Planner Mike
Couch took the helm of the creation
of the Central State Hospital Reuse
Initiative, where local leaders
would ask the State to turn over
control of some of the CSH campus,
which would be refurbished and
marketed to private entities. One
vision is the creation of a Center of
Excellence for Rural Health Care
Delivery, and city and education
leaders visited Washington, D.C. to
pitch the project. The City also
hired a D.C. lobbying firm to help
them with their efforts.
In the County, meanwhile, the
Harrisburg neighborhood received
a Community Development Block
Grant to continue sanitary sewer
replacements on Belfair Road. The
commissioners also voted to close a
portion of Stiles Road, a dirt road
that had caused environmental concerns. The road had served as a
shortcut between Stiles Cemetery
Road and Lumpkin Road.
There was much talk about
future projects, including a traffic
light at Milledgeville Mall, and an
extension of E. Greene Street to act
as the entrance to the Oconee River
Greenway. Citizens will go to the
polls in 2012 to cast their votes on a
referendum about a new SPLOST
for transportation projects. As part
of an 11-county region, Baldwin’s
projects to be included on next
year’s referendum were identified,
and include the long-proposed
northern bypass extension, some
airport improvement projects,
money for the Fall Line Freeway,
improvements and resurfacing of
Blandy Road, and new vans for the
county’s transit program.
There’s court, and
then
there’s court
Sheriff Bill Massee issued a plea
for help in May, faced with a jail
filled to capacity and a slow-moving
court calendar. Massee wrote a letter about the issue and sent it to the
Baldwin County Superior Court
judges, the District Attorney’s
office, State Court Judge Allen
Thrower, and Solicitor General
Maxine Blackwell.
Probation officers, the DA’s office
and law enforcement looked at the
list of prisoners in jail
to see if any could be
offered bond, or if
plea
agreements
could be reached.
“We want something
to be clear: violent
offenders and recidivists need to be
locked up,” District
Attorney Fred Bright
said. “We’re targeting
non-violent offenders
such as those in jail
for child support or
probation violations.
We have to deal with
the economic reality.”
Baldwin
County
received a three-year, $1.2 million
grant to create a drug court/mental
health court. “It is my hope, and the
goal of the grant, that we will be
able to break a cycle of individuals
coming and going from one period
of incarceration to another,” said
Superior Court Judge Hulane
George. Individuals who successfully complete either of the courts are
eligible to have their arrests
expunged from their records.
Water,watereverywhere
Water issues confronted Baldwin
County during 2011. The commissioners voted to approve a water
rate hike designed to make Baldwin
County eligible for a $5 million lowinterest loan. The commissioners
voted 4-1 to approve the rate hike
which will install incremental water
rate changes over the next two
years.
The $5.2 million low-interest loan
($500,000 of which is excused from
repayment), will be used for water
storage and line improvements,
which include the construction of
four new elevated water tanks and
three booster stations.
Meanwhile, County officials took
steps to keep track of water usage
that previously went unmonitored,
and implemented several service
changes. Landlords of multi-family
developments, including of mobile
home parks, will be given the option
TheInterim
County
takes over
County Manager Ralph
McMullen
announced
in
November that the County would
take over as the fiscal and managing agents for the football, soccer,
and baseball/ softball programs at
the recreation department which
were being managed and overseen by volunteer boards. All
funds will remain in County
hands and any necessary purchasing will be done through County
procedures and vendors. Areas
the County will control will
include registration, scheduling,
purchasing, issuing equipment,
uniforms, and paying and soliciting scorekeepers.
Members of the volunteer
boards voiced their displeasure at
the County’s decision. Although
they made several suggestions to
the Board of Commissioners, it is
unclear whether any modifications to the County’s decision will
be made.
Ch-ch-changes
Both the City and the County
implemented changes in the way
they do business, setting up some
new rules while changing others.
The City unveiled a new comprehensive Cemetery ordinance,
overhauling a document that hadn’t seen many changes in decades.
Among other issues, the new rules
allow for the construction of private cemeteries inside the city
limits.
The City also overhauled its ordinances dealing with who can live
where downtown. Once taboo, there
can now actually be ground-floor
residential space in the Central
Business District downtown, within
certain guidelines. The first to take
advantage of the new rules is business owner Frank Pendergast, who
is
converting
the
old
Belk/Grapevine Antiques building
into apartments on all four floors
(including the basement), with
some retail space on the ground
floor.
Meanwhile, the County implemented some rules that lay out the
procedures for how people can talk
to the commissioners during
County Commission meetings. Now
citizens can sign up before each
meeting to address agenda and
non-agenda items. Not many people have taken advantage of the
system yet, though.
This
and that
Faye Smith was selected as chair
and Emily Davis was chosen as vice
chair of the Baldwin County Board
of Commissioners. The position of
County manager continued to be
filled on an interim basis by former
assistant county manager Ralph
McMullen.
Down the street at City Hall,
meanwhile, Councilwoman Denese
Shinholster from District 3 was chosen to serve as mayor pro-tem.
Admitting he had a problem with
alcohol, District 4 councilman
Phillip Joiner voluntarily spent
time at a residential treatment
facility in January after violating
the terms of his probation for a
2010 DUI.
BHS band director Clint Raburn
was named county teacher of the
year, while Superintendent Geneva
Braziel’s employment contract was
renewed through 2014.
Georgia Military College Junior
College became prep school for the
U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Page 7
Baldwin County Year In Review
JOBS/ECONOMY
The year in sports was
highlighted by plenty of big
wins, tough losses and memorable moments.
More importantly, however,
plenty of young people
around Baldwin County
learned valuable life lessons
through the medium of sports.
No more basketball
forIt Baldwin,
Wilco
wasn’t always pretty,
however.
Baldwin
High
and
Wilkinson County High postponed their basketball rivalry
for the second time in recent
memory following a chaotic
incident during the middle of
a game. The decision to cancel the games certainly was
costly for the Baldwin County
school system. A BHS/Wilco
basketball game at
Braves Gym is capable of holding
more than 2,000
fans and tickets
are $7 apiece. By
the time you add
in concession stand
revenues, the school
system likely lost between
$15,000–$20,000 by not playing Wilkinson County.
An altercation erupted at
Wilkinson’s gym during the
BHS/Wilco matchup in late
January. Several Baldwin
Bravette basketball players
began arguing with several
Wilkinson County Lady
Warriors players near a concession stand following their
game. The argument actually
began during the third quarter of the boys’ game, more
than an hour after the girls’
game had ended. The argument continued to escalate
and a large crowd began to
circle the girls, thus creating
relative chaos throughout
The Palace, which is the
name given to Wilkinson
County’s home gym. Some
people supposedly heard
gunshots, which added to the
commotion and sent people
running. By that point, the
rest of the boys’ game was
cancelled and everyone was
asked to leave the building.
A
rematch
between
Baldwin and Wilkinson was
scheduled for the following
Saturday
night
in
Milledgeville. Those games
were cancelled, however, and
Baldwin and Wilco also chose
not to play anymore during
the 2011-2012 season.
This is the second time in
recent memory that the rivalry has been cancelled. In
2006, Baldwin star player
Martavius Adams transferred to Wilkinson County,
which created a deep rift
between the two programs.
Baldwin and Wilco then did
not play each other at any
point during the next two
years.
The rivalry actually can be
traced back to the days of segregation, when the old Boddie
High in Milledgeville would
square off with Calhoun
Consolidated, which was the
black high school in Wilkinson
County. Believe it or not, many
of the games in those days were
played on an outdoor dirt court
in Irwinton.
It’s not immediately clear
if the rivalry will be renewed
next season. At this point,
however, all bets are off.
CRIME/PUNISHMENT
Coach J.T. Wall experienced
great success, leading the
Trojans to a 5-0 start for only
the second time in program
history. Nearly 50 students at
JMA came out for the football
team this season, as JMA
fielded the biggest team that
it’s ever had. Wall, a JMA
alum and former starting fullback on the University of
Georgia’s
2002
SEC
Championship team, certainly has JMA pointed in the
right direction.
Baldwin High once again
finished the season ranked in
the top 10. By the Braves’
own high standards, however,
2011 was a very disappointing
season. Baldwin was knocked
out in the first round of the
state playoffs by lightlyregarded Monroe High out of
Albany. Players, fans and
coaches left the stadium
in disbelief, as the
lights were turned
out at Braves Field
for the final time.
Despite the fact
that the Braves finished 8-3 and 7-1 in
the region, something
was missing this season and
things never seemed to click.
Some of the Braves’ players
lacked discipline and a sense
of accountability, issues that
must be fixed if the Braves
plan on bouncing back in
2012.
Georgia Military College
Prep finished 7-3, which was
the school’s first winning
record since 2001. However,
GMC competed in a nonregion schedule, meaning
that the Dawgs were able to
hand-pick lesser opponents
with lesser ability. Soon,
GMC’s administrators must
decide whether or not to
return to a traditional region
schedule, where traditional
powerhouses such as Lincoln
County and Wilkinson County
likely would await.
JCThe
Dawgs
stumble
Georgia Military
College JC football team suffered its worst season in many
years, finishing 6-4 and losing
by double digits to Navarro,
Snow, Grand Rapids and
Lackawanna.
The football program was
hit with funding cuts and
scholarship reductions in
2011, which may have resulted in the sub-par season.
Bobcats
pounce
Georgia College continued
to be one of the top overall
athletics program in Division
II. The baseball team spent
several weeks ranked number
one in the country, two golfers
were named All-Americans
and the soccer team had its
best season ever.
Perhaps most impressive,
however, the Lady Bobcats
basketball team won the
Peach Belt Conference championship and made a deep
run in the NCAA national
tournament. Not bad for firstyear Head Coach Maurice
Smith, who became the rookie coach in conference history
to lead his team to the conference title. Smith certainly
had big shoes to fill, replacing
longtime Head Coach John
Carrick, who was a fixture on
the Lady Bobcats’ sidelines
for nearly 30 years. Carrick is
now coaching Lakeview
Academy in Hall County.
Prep football teams
heat
up the fall
AnotherBaldwinguy
For the first time in 20something years, all three makesittotheNFL
local high school football
Several Baldwin County
teams had winning years during the same season.
At
John
Milledge
Academy, first-year Head
natives drew nice-sized paychecks in the NFL in 2011. In
November, Maurice Hurt
became
the
fifth-ever
GOVT./EDUCATION
STATE CHAMPS!
A pair of Baldwin County youth softball teams won state
championships in July, dominating the competition and
bringing the trophy back to Milledgeville. Pictured above are
the 15-and-under Dixie Youth League state champs from
Baldwin County. In the picture below, meanwhile, are the
10-and-under Dixie Youth state champions from Milledgeville.
Baldwin County man to
appear in an NFL regular-season game. Hurt, a 2005
Baldwin High grad, is a rookie out of Florida who was the
Washington Redskins’ seventh-round pick from last
April’s draft. Hurt – the son of
Sparrow and Carolyn Hurt –
began the season on the
Redskins’ practice squad after
failing to make the final cut
during
training
camp.
Following a rash of injuries to
SPORTS
and suspensions of other players, however, Hurt was called
up from the practice squad in
mid-October and has made
several starts at offensive
guard since then.
Meanwhile, Leroy Hill had
a very nice bounceback season
with
the
Seattle
Seahawks. Hill, who turned
29 in September, currently
ranks
fourth
on
the
Seahawks’ roster defense
with 85 tackles and four
sacks. For the first half of
2011, Hill’s future with the
Seahwawks’
organization
appeared very uncertain. In
August, however, Hill signed a
one-year deal with the team
with a base salary of $2.15 million. The contract includes
performance bonuses, however, and Hill could theoretically
make more than $5 million
this season, based on his play.
Hill is in his seventh year
with the Seahawks, which
drafted him out of Clemson in
the third round of the 2005
NFL Draft. The Seahawks
signed Hill to a lucrative, sixyear, $36 million dollar contract in May 2009. Hill, however, then was involved in
several off-the-field incidents, which basically
allowed the Seahawks to
tear up the contract.
Injuries also played a part,
as Hill missed the entire
2010 season with a torn
achilles tendon.
The 2011 season basically was an audition for Hill
He will be an unrestricted
free agent after the sea-
son, assuming that Seattle
doesn’t lock him up to a longterm contract at some point in
the next few months.
Lunsford finds his
bearings
at
GMC
James Lunsford apparently is finding his stride at
Georgia Military College
Prep. Lunsford and the
Bulldog basketball team are
6-3 this season, including a
78-15 victory over Glascock
County earlier this month.
The Dawgs are vastly
improved thanks to several
transfers. Last season, which
was Lunsford’s first at GMC,
the Dawgs finished 3-23,
including a 95-27 loss to
region
rival
Wilkinson
County. Lunsford previously
coached at Baldwin High
until 2001, winning more
than 400 games and winning
a state title.
Leroy
Hill
Page 8
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Crime Time
Detectives investigating armed robbery at 49 Flash; break-ins reported around the county
Baldwin Sheriff
• An armed robbery was
reported at the Flash Foods
across from Baldwin High
School on Dec. 22.
According to investigators,
a black male dressed in all
black burst into the store, ran
behind the counter and put a
glock pistol to the head of a
cashier. The armed robber
then left with a small amount
of cash. It’s not immediately
clear if the robber left the
scene on foot or jumped in a
car. Surveillance footage was
inconclusive and no witnesses
were inside the store or in the
parking lot.
Anyone with any informa-
tion is asked to call the
Baldwin County Sheriff’s
Office at 445-4891.
dent at the Flash store in the
3000 block of N. Columbia
Street.
Ginger An Murdock, 37,
was arrested on shoplifting
charges following an inci-
Break-ins, thefts and/or
entering autos were reported
at 259 County Line Church
Cash 3 doubles drought finally over
Cakes
From page 1
in recent years, while the show Cupcake Wars
has become a hit on the Food Network.
Hoping to capitalize on the new-found popularity of cupcakes, one local woman has
decided to open a shop of her own. Doodle’s
Cupcake Bakery will be located at 140 N.
Jefferson Street beside the Catholic church.
The building previously was home to Tara’s
Tea Thyme.
“I have always loved to bake and loved to
make people happy. Cupcakes are all the rage
right now, so it only made sense,” said business owner Keith Grant, who hopes to open by
mid January.
Holidays
Cash 3 this year, which is
slightly below normal.
The record for most doubles in a single year is 14,
which has happened twice
since the Georgia Lottery’s
inception in 1992.
Doodle’s Cupcake Bakery initially will be
open one day a week.
“We’ll be open from noon until 6 o’clock on
Tuesdays to start with,” said Grant. “But, special
orders and catering will be a big part of our business from day one. You can call us and we’ll try
to accommodate people any day of the week.”
Doodle’s also will specialize in doodle
cakes, which are six-inch specialty cakes.
Doodle, by the way, was the nickname of
Keith’s father. Doodle Donnelly was a popular
figure around Milledgeville and his family
ran Donnelly’s Flower Shop for many years.
“My father would be very proud,” said
Keith. “He loved anything sweet and anything
with chocolate in it.
For more information, call Grant at 478288-0854.
Blockbuster
From page 1
From page 1
two of the Hens, circulated among the
tables serenading the veterans with
Christmas cheer.
The Hens said they look forward to
throwing the party for the veterans every
year.
“It means so much to us, to do this,”
said Hens member Nancy Barnes. “It’s
good for your heart.”
bankruptcy auction, the chain has continued
to see more store closures. Blockbuster's
assets included roughly 1,700 stores at the
time of the auction, and Dish executives said
at that time that up to 200 stores might be
closed. However, an internet search this week
turned up news of a multitude of new
Blockbuster closings across the country,
which does not bode well for the company's
For rent
APARTMENT FOR RENT
2 bedrooms, 1bath, full kitchen, with
washer & dryer included. 3 blocks from
campus. Free WiFi.
$750/mo. plus utilities.
Call Jennifer at (404) 375-3827.
FOR RENT
3BR, 2BA at 109 Cranford Drive.
Call (478) 456-0598.
Property for sale
Employment
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Lincare, leading national respiratory
company seeks results driven Sales
Representative. Create working relationships with MDs, nurses, social workers and articulate our excellent patient
care with attentive listening skills.
Competitive Base + un-cappedcommission. Drug-free workplace. EOE.
Please fax resume to 478-751-2331
or email to [email protected]
DRIVERS
Paid Vacation! Competitive Pay.
Benefits, Rider Program. DryBulk/LongHaul.
6 mos OTR, CDL-A w/Hazmat, 21 yoa.
Frank: 855-777-WSTL (9785)
Services
ATTENTION
TRAPPERS
& HUNTERS
We are now paying
cash for FURS!
Bobcat, Otter, Fox, Raccoon
POWELL FUR COMPANY
478-697-2233
Pets lost/found
FOUND DOGS
2 dogs - a black male and a black and
white female - have been found in the
Fox Hill Road/Hwy 49 area. The dogs,
both wearing pronged training collars,
appear to be 2-3 years old and are very
friendly. They both appear to have a
good amount of Labrador blood.
Call Meldra Pancelli at 452-5431 if you
know who these dogs belong to.
Automotive
Wilkinson
USED CARS, LLC
2003 Toyota Camry LE
86k miles, 4 dr, 4 cyl
2009 Toyota Corolla LE
60k miles, 4 dr, auto
2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S
84k miles, 4 cyl, auto
2009 Ford Focus SE
59k miles, 4 dr, all power
2006 Ford Fusion SEL
V-6, auto, air
2010 Chevrolet Impala LT
one owner, V-6, all power
2002 Jeep Liberty Limited
leather, V-6, all power
2003 Ford Sport Trac
V-6, auto, bed cover
2005 GMC Yukon SLT
3rd seat, V-8, leather
2005 Chevrolet Tahoe LT
3rd seat, V-8, leather
410 North Wayne Street
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
(478) 452-1913
GEORGIA LOTTERY RECAP
HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE H
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE
The combination 2-2-2
was drawn in the Cash 3 on
the day after Christmas, creating a total payday of $4.5
million
for
players
statewide.
Prior to that, nearly three
months had passed since the
last double was drawn.
A total of seven doubles
have been selected in the
– Christian McKearney
B
BAGS
AGS & B
BOXES
OXES O
OF
F
A
APPLES
PPLES A
AND
ND O
ORANGES
RANGES
S
WEET
SWEET
T
TATERS
ATERS
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
from our family
to yours!
S
SWEET
WEET H
HOLIDAY
OLIDAY T
TREATS
REATS
•Fruit Cakes
•Cluster Raisins
•Pecans & Walnuts
•Sugar Cane
mixed or not
1499
$
box
W
WITH
ITH C
CANDY
ANDY & N
NUTS
UTS
mixed or not
W
WEE A
ALSO
LSO H
HAVE
AVE FFRESH
RESH H
HENS,
ENS, H
HAMS,
AMS, & O
OYSTERS!
YSTERS!
1765 Vinson Highway
OPEN 7 DAYS Mon-Fri 5am-8:30pm CLOSED
Sun 5am-8pm
A WEEK!
CHRISTMAS
452-7259
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE
By Christian McKearney
[email protected]
Road, 1884 Vinson Highway
Lot 9, 109 Meadow Road, 103
Lake Drive, Pierce’s trailer
park on the Gordon Highway
and 200 Locust Court.
HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE HMERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHNNIE McDADE H
Play responsibly! You can’t LOSE if you don’t play.
CASH 3 RECAP
12-28
12-27
12-27
12-26
12-26
12-25
12-25
12-24
Midday
Midday
Evening
Midday
Evening
Midday
Evening
Midday
553
827
931
644
222
798
864
939
1,011
1,816
2,974
984
12,656
2,520
1,167
948
$172,910
$176,235
$264,015
$164,885
12-24
12-23
12-23
12-22
Evening
Midday
Evening
Midday
026
886
578
528
1,690
1,932
3,357
3,043
$141,370
$337,775
$332,415
$324,655
$4,526,975
$218,815
$119,205
$162,225
future.
Stand-alone video rental stores are
slowly going the way of the dinosaur as
other businesses are staking larger and
larger footholds in the video rental industry. Redbox, whose movie-rental kiosks
are spreading like wildfire, offers video
rentals for just $1.00, less than half the
price of most Blockbuster in-store rentals.
Internet-based companies such as Netflix, a
subscription service that allows members to
receive movies through the mail and via the
Internet, are claiming a larger market share.
The five most recent doubles: 2-2-2 on
Dec. 26, 7-7-7 on Oct. 2, 3-3-3 on Sept. 10,
0-0-0 on Aug. 22 and 8-88 on July 5.
Hulu.com is becoming wildly popular as it
offers movies and television shows that can be
viewed on the computer.
And it is rumored that Verizon
Communication is in talks to combine with
Redbox for an online-video service that could
rival Netflix for market share.
All of these contributed to the toppling of
once-mighty Blockbuster. However, there are
no signs of ill health at Milledgeville's
remaining video stores - Video Warehouse on
N. Columbia Street and Video Bazaar on S.
Elbert Street.
Thursday, December 29, 2011/THE BALDWIN BULLETIN/Milledgeville, GA
Page 9
IN MEMORIAM
Ruby Nell Baker
Ruby Nell Glover Baker,
age 81, passed away Friday,
December 23, 2011.
She is survived by her
daughter, Suzanne Walton of
Sandersville; sisters Martha
Mosley of Sandersville and
Willia Davis of Charleston;
brother Olin of Tennille; and
special son Edwin Hurst.
Williams Funeral Home &
Crematory has charge of the
arrangements. Services will
be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday,
January 14, 2012 at the
Davisboro Baptist Church.
Barbara Brooks
Barbara Brooks, age 50,
passed
away
Monday,
December 26, 2011.
Slater’s Funeral Home, Inc.
has charge of the arrangements.
Grace Benton Callaway
Grace Benton Callaway,
age 79, passed away Monday,
December 26, 2011.
She is survived by her husband, Roy Callaway, Jr. of
Milledgeville;
daughter
Crystal Jackson of Sparta; and
son Garry D. Callaway of
Arizona.
Williams Funeral Home
& Crematory has charge of
the arrangements, which
are private.
Roy Cameron, Jr.
Roy Cameron, Jr., age 77,
passed
away
Sunday,
December 25, 2011.
Williams Funeral Home &
Crematory has charge of the
arrangements. Services will
be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday,
December 29, at Georgia
Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Donald Dexter Franks
Donald Dexter Franks, age
69, passed away Monday,
December 26, 2011.
He is survived by his wife,
Clearine Johnson Franks of
Sylva, NC; daughters Lynn
Fox of Franklin, NC and
Connie Thomas of Toomsboro,
GA; brothers Weldon Franks
and Eldon Franks of Sylva,
NC,; and sisters Ruth Hyatt of
Sandersville and Martha
Southerland of Franklin, NC.
Moores Funeral Home has
charge of the arrangements.
Services will be held at 2:00
p.m. Saturday, December 31,
at Zion Hill Baptist Church in
Sylva, NC.
John William Griffith
John William Griffith, age
57, passed away Monday,
December 26, 2011.
Williams Funeral Home &
Crematory has charge of the
arrangements.
Mary Nell Grimsley
Mary
Nell
Brooks
Grimsley, age 73, passed away
Thursday, December 22, 2011.
She is survived by her
daughters, Mary E. Phillips of
Milledgeville and Joyce A.
Eley of Griffin; sons William
H. Grimsley and Kenneth R.
Grimsley of Toomsboro,
Horace Grimsley of McIntyre,
and Winston Grimsley of
Milledgeville;
sisters
Claudette
Dubay
of
Milledgeville, Gertrude Lewis
of Sparta, and Jeanette
Williamson of Forsyth; and
brother Jimmy Brooks of
Eatonton.
Williams Funeral Home &
Crematory had charge of the
arrangements. Services were
held Saturday, December 24
in Williams Funeral Home
Chapel with burial following
at Emmanuel Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Carolyn S. Hodges
Madden, Jr., age 67, passed away
Saturday, December 24, 2011.
He is survived by his wife,
Julie Badger Madden of
Milledgeville; son Bramlett
Anthony Madden, III of
Milledgeville; and daughters
Dena
Colson
of
Statesboro, Lori Madden
and Leslie Faulkner
of
Milledgeville.
Moores Funeral Home had
charge of the arrangements.
Services were held Monday,
December 26, at the chapel of
Moores Funeral Home with
burial following at Baldwin
Memorial Gardens.
Carolyn S. Hodges, age 69,
passed
away
Tuesday
December 20, 2011.
She is survived by her husband, Willie Hodges, Sr.; children Valerie Harper and
Willie
Hodges,
Jr.
of
Milledgeville; sister Bertha
M. Simmons of Milledgeville;
and brother Terry Simmons of
Milledgeville.
Peoples Funeral Home had
charge of the arrangements.
Services were held Saturday,
December 24, at Gum Hill
Baptist Church, with interment following at the church
cemetery.
Thomas Alton Moore
recently passed away.
He is survived by his sister
Virginia Flowers and brother
Edward Moore.
Memorial services will be
held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec.
28 at Georgia Veterans
Memorial Cemetery on the
Toomsboro Highway.
Bramlett Anthony
Madden, Jr.
Elizabeth Gayle
Simmons
Bramlett Anthony “Buddy”
Thomas Alton Moore
Elizabeth Gayle Simmons,
age 48, passed away Wednesday,
December 21, 2011.
She is survived by her son,
Ryan
Simmons
of
Milledgeville; and sister
Dianne Poole of Eatonton.
Moores Funeral Home had
charge of the arrangements.
Services were held Friday,
December 23, at West View
Cemetery.
Jane Hayes Smith
Jane Hayes Smith, age 82,
passed away Wednesday,
December 21, 2011.
She is survived by her
daughter, Laura T. Smith of
Milledgeville; son Andrew M.
Smith of New York, NY; and
sister Betty H. Dean of
Fairfax, VA.
Moores Funeral Home had
charge of the arrangements,
which were private.
Mary Smith
Mary Smith, age 89, passed
away Friday, December 23,
2011.
Slater’s Funeral Home,
Inc. has charge of the
arrangements.
VOTING NEWS
BaldwinCounty’s movetonewCongressionaldistrictnowfinal
Baldwin officially becomes part of the 10th district
more than 120 years that a that he still considers
Republican will represent President Obama “to be a
[email protected]
Baldwin County in the United Marxist,” but was adamant
about the fact that he never
Baldwin County is official- States Congress.
Broun, first elected in compared President Obama
ly moving to a new
2005, has become one of the to Adolph Hitler, the leader
Congressional district.
The U.S. Department of most outspoken and contro- of Nazi Germany.
“That never happened.
members
of
Justice earlier this week versial
approved the congressional Congress. By most accounts, That never happened,” said
and legislative maps passed Paul Broun has been an Broun. “That’s been someinto law this summer by the effective and influential thing that’s been reported in
state of Georgia, according to congressmen during his four the press and it’s totally
a press release from Gov. years in D.C. However, incorrect.”
Broun offered a clarificaBroun perhaps is best
Nathan Deal’s office.
Baldwin County voters will known for several comments tion on the situation, saying
that the whole incithat followed
now make the switch
dent
centered
the
2008
from the 12th District
around a 2008 interpresidential
to the 10th District
view with Associated
election.
beginning in 2012.
Press reporter Ben
Broun made
Many Democrats conEvans.
national
tended
that
“The Associated
headlines in
Republicans drew the
Press reporter, Ben
late
2008
new maps in an effort
Evans, called me
after comparto
make
more
about a comment I
i
n
g
“Republican friendly
Obama
Broun
had made in 2008. I
Presidentdistricts,” thus giving
themselves a better chance of Elect Barack Obama’s politi- did a speech in Augusta
being re-elected. Republicans, cal philosophies to commu- where I said that we had just
a
Marxist
China
and
Nazi elected
meanwhile, argue that the nist
Democrats did the same thing Germany. In fact, the web- President...I was asked about
for more than a hundred years site Wikipedia still has a the comment by the reporter,
while they controlled the sub-headline under its Paul Ben Evans. I said that thenBroun
entry
titled President-Elect Obama had
General Assembly.
Baldwin County’s new Comparisons of Barack given a speech in Colorado
Congressman is Paul Broun, Obama to Hitler and where he said that we could
no longer depend on upon the
Jr., a Republican from Athens. Marxists.
Broun did not shy away military for national security
Broun has a strong support
system and is a heavy favorite from the subject during a and that we needed a nationvisit to The Baldwin Bulletin al police force – one that was
to win re-election in 2012.
This will be the first time in in September. Broun said just as strong, just as wellBy Christian McKearney
funded. I’m still concerned
about that comment. What I
told Ben Evans is that, historically, when we see an authoritarian take over governance
of a country, they do two
things: they institute gun control and get guns out of the
hands of the citizenry, and
they institute a national
police force. Then Ben Evans
asked me where that’s happened and I said, ‘Well, it’s
happened in Communist
China, the Soviet Union and
Nazi Germany,’” said Broun.
“Then, Ben Evans jumped in
and said, ‘So, you’re comparing Barack Obama to Adolph
Hitler! You’re comparing
Barack Obama to Adolph
Hitler!’ And I said, ‘No, I am
not comparing Barack Obama
to Adolph Hiter. You are.’ It’s
simply something that never
happened.”
However, Broun said that
he remains concerned with
“President Obama’s socialist
and Marxist tendencies.”
“President Obama wrote in
his book that he leaned on his
Marxist professors in college.
President Obama still associates with people who are
openly socialist,” Bounn said.
“This
president
totally
believes that our government
should head towards the types
of socialist governments that
you see in northern Europe –
Denmark and Sweden.
“This president believes
in redistribution of wealth. I
am very concerned.”
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