Let the music, the memories and the Margaritaville spirit live on with A1A
From Staff Reports
Once upon a time in the vibrant world of Trop Rock and Coastal Americana music, there emerged a band that would forever change the landscape of the genre. This band, known as A1A – The Official Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show, was destined to become a legend in its own right....
Williams seeks help from Gov. Kemp on funding issues
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net
Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams is asking Gov. Brian Kemp to intervene in resolving funding issues with the Board of Commissioners. The BOC recently voted to table funding for inmate housing costs and declined to allocate school speed camera funds toward the purchase of a dunking tank for community events,...
WPD makes arrest, still seeking suspect
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com
The Waynesboro Police Department has arrested a man after he allegedly fired a weapon at his child and girlfriend. Jamari Rashad Abrams, 22, was arrested on Monday, March 17 in relation to the Sunday morning incident at Magnolia Apartments. Officers say they found a total of four shell casings at...
Keysville thanks those providing Storm Helene recovery support
JAMES NEELY
Like many other small towns and communities in Burke County, the City of Keysville and the residents will never be the same after the devastation inflicted by Storm Helene. The storm caused widespread devastation and damage across the area. With heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds, homes, businesses and agricuture...
Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau & Georgia EMC donate ag books to local libraries
March 25, 2025
The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) are jointly promoting agricultural literacy by donating copies of the children’s book “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” to nearly 400 libraries in the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS). The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and Georgia...
Burke County Cloverleaf DPA Participants
SAVANNAH KENNEDY
County Extension Educator | March 25, 2025
4-H is helping students face their fears and become good public speakers. Public speaking is a skill that can be used in every walk of life. From job interviews to teaching, and customer service to civic club presentations, everyone has to speak in public at some point. 4-H prepares students...
Tort reform gains final passage in General Assembly
DAVE WILLIAMS
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service | March 25, 2025
A tort reform bill Republican Gov. Brian Kemp made his top priority for this year’s legislative session gained final passage in the General Assembly Friday.The Georgia Senate’s GOP majority voted 34-21 to agree to changes the state House of Representatives made to the bill, sending it to Kemp’s desk for...
Impostor scammers target consumers and businesses
KELVIN COLLINS
Better Business Bureau | March 25, 2025
Buying an automobile or heavy equipment of any kind is a major purchase. Don’t let scam groups fool you into handing over your cash. Since 2022, Better Business Bureau (BBB) received over 200 reports of consumers attempting to purchase a vehicle or other heavy equipment online, only to run into...
Legislature passes two tax relief bills
DAVE WILLIAMS TY TAGAMI
Capitol Beat News Service | March 25, 2025
Georgia taxpayers will pay a little less after Gov. Brian Kemp signs two tax relief measures following their approval March 20 by the state Senate. “The final passage of these two measures today brings us one step closer to eliminating the state income tax, while providing tax relief for Georgia...
Early season polls place Spartans in top spot
TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | March 25, 2025
The first rankings of the season are out, and the Spartans are at the top. The first-place ranking came after Edmund Burke picked up another big win against Brentwood School last Thursday in Sandersville, this time by double digits. The 16-2 victory put the Spartans at 7-1 for the season...
Riggs breaks school record in discus throw
March 25, 2025
Another Edmund Burke Academy track and field record has been broken courtesy of senior Addison Riggs. Riggs beat the record previously held by Morgan Clark from 2021. Clark recorded a throw of 103’. Riggs threw the discus 106’10” last Wednesday at home during the first meet Edmund Burke has ever...
BCHS esports wins big in Madden, NBA 2K, and Super Smash Bros
BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | March 25, 2025
As this article releases, there are only two weeks left in the esports regular season. Burke County currently has four teams ranked inside of the top twenty in their respective brackets. Those teams are Zadin Richardson (Madden), Josh Frazier (NBA 2K), Jose Leon, Chase Marshall, and Jeremy Jones (Super Smash...
Spartan golfers finish fourth in latest tournament
March 25, 2025
Edmund Burke Academy’s Golf Team participated in the TaylorMade Invitational last Saturday at the Waynesboro Country Club and finished fourth out of sixteen teams. The Spartans shot 322 as a team. Senior Owen Redd was the low scorer for Edmund Burke shooting a round of 73. Wyatt Carey was six...
Edmund Burke Boy’s Track Team defeats Thomas Jefferson Academy
TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | March 25, 2025
Last week, Edmund Burke Academy hosted its’ first track and field meet in school history, and the Spartans defeated Thomas Jefferson Academy’s Jaguars 86-40. Of the seventeen events, Edmund Burke took home first place in eleven of them. Matthew Hood, Ryan Reddick, and Lukas Reindl each won first in two...
THAT HOLE
Don Lively | March 25, 2025
Isn’t it odd how things can just pop into your mind, out of nowhere, memories from decades before. It might be something that’s triggered by a word spoken or a sight observed, but other times there’s no rhyme nor reason for the thought. Like a little hole in the floor...
THE BELGIAN LACE
Ronda Rich | March 25, 2025
Merri Grace was one of my best, college friends. Together, we went everywhere. She lived on campus but I was too poor for such grandeur. I lived at home and drove to school. It was much like high school except we could skip class without our mothers being notified. Merri...
Barbara L. Oberdorf
March 25, 2025
Barbara L. Oberdorf passed away on March 23, 2025 at the age of 83 at Hernando-Pasco Hospice in New Port Richey, FL. She was born on November 14, 1941 in Bridgeton, N.J. Her surviving children are Kathy Johnson of Waynesboro, Ga; Linda Cooper of Waynesboro, Ga; and Sharon (Joe) Miller...

Beatrice Lovett
March 25, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mrs. Beatrice Lovett, 92, of Hephzibah, GA, who entered into eternal rest on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date. Phinazee and Son Funeral Home is in charge of the...

Richard Melvin Rogers
March 18, 2025
Richard Melvin Rogers, 78, entered into rest Saturday, March 8, 2025. He was born in Millen to the late Edna and Guy Melvin Rogers. He was a veteran of the US Army, having served in the Vietnam War. He owned/operated several stores in South Carolina and other various places. Richard...

Harry Mario O’Connor
March 18, 2025
Harry Mario O’Connor, 79, entered into rest Tuesday, March 11, 2025. He was born in Cuba and has been a longtime resident of Burke County. He loved animals and gardening. Harry was an outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was well known locally for his musical talents and was...

William Brooks Rumph, Sr.
March 11, 2025
William Brooks Rumph, Sr., aged 90 years young, of Waynesboro, Georgia, passed away on March 4, 2025, after a long struggle with dementia. He was born on December 17, 1934, in Marion County, Georgia to Lewis David Rumph and Nannie Mae Greene. Brooks is predeceased by his wife of 53...
WPD BLOTTER
March 25, 2025
Please note that the selection of incidents contained within the blotter does not include all calls received by the department during this period. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MONDAY, MARCH 17TH * An officer was dispatched to Woodland Terrace Apartments in regard...
Lawmakers vote ban cell phones in some public schools
TY TAGAMI
Capitol Beat News Service | March 25, 2025
Children and adolescents won’t be able to use personal cell phones in public schools starting next fall after the General Assembly overwhelmingly supported banning the devices in elementary and middle schools. House Bill 340 passed the Georgia Senate Tuesday 54-2 after the state House of Representatives passed it with strong...
BURKE EMA REPORT
March 25, 2025
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency responded to 107 patients’ calls during the week ending March 23. Of those, 73 resulted in transports, including 51 to Augusta hospitals. Thirty five of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 38 were non-emergent. The agency also answered 19 fire calls during...
What’s Next?
March 18, 2025
FFA’s Annual Plant Sale Get ready for spring! The Burke County Middle School and High School FFA’s annual plant sale kicks off Monday, March 24th (weather permitting) at 3:45 p.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. The sale continues Tuesday, March 25th, through Friday, March 28th, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00...
Church News
March 25, 2025
OUR POLICY This section is a complimentary service for Burke County churches hosting free public services. We will run your church news for two weeks. Church bake sales, yard sales, out-of-county events or events with an admission fee may be included for $10 per week, paid in advance. Email announcements...
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