Board of Commissioners opts out of HB 581
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com
The Burke County Board of Commissioners held three public hearings regarding the provisional cap imposed by HB581 before deciding to opt out. The last hearing was held on Monday, February 17 at 9 a.m. and the Board of Commissioners voted to opt out at the end of this meeting. The...
Giving from the heart
Sisters Offering Service (SOS) spoke to the JAM (Jesus and Me) kids from Green’s Cut Methodist to educate them about the homeless in our community. The JAM kids filled book bags with supplies for the homeless and presented them to the organization to distribute to the needy on Wednesday, Feb....
BOC denies BCSO separate purchasing policy
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com
The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted to deny the sheriff’s office request for a separate purchasing policy at the monthly meeting Tuesday, February 11. The request for a separate policy for BCSO was tabled during the last Board of Commissioners meeting, but the board voted unanimously to deny it...
Waynesboro City Council votes to Opt Out
MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com
The Waynesboro City Council voted to approve a resolution to opt out of the Homestead Exemption cap provision of H.B. 581 at the monthly meeting Monday, February 17. The city of Waynesboro held the required public hearings on February 6, 10, and 13 before voting to approve the resolution to...
Cates pleads guilty to federal gun charges
ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net | February 19, 2025
Waynesboro businessman Daniel Cates pled guilty in U.S. District Court last week to charges related to his arrest in 2024. In May 29, 2024 federal agents searched his home and business and found several dozen firearms which violated the terms of his probation. Cates appeared before Judge J. Randal Hall...
Burke County STAR Student
February 19, 2025
Rayce Durant was named STAR Student for Burke County at the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Waynesboro Exchange Club Tuesday, Feb. 11. Durant is shown here with his STAR Teacher, Danielle Pettit, a gifted program teacher at Waynesboro Primary School. Rayce is the son of Doctors Alan and Gina...
Burke County students earn All-State Chorus Honors
February 19, 2025
Two talented 8th-grade chorus students from Burke County Middle School, Seniyah Collins, and LaZerria Johnson, have earned a spot in the 2025 Georgia Music Teachers Association All- State Chorus! After successful auditions, they will travel to the University of Georgia in Athens this February with their director, Jennifer Wilson, to...
Georgia House may extend deadline for property tax break offer
DAVE WILLIAMS
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service | February 19, 2025
Georgia cities, counties and school districts are scrambling to meet a March 1 deadline for deciding whether to opt out of offering a property tax break the state’s voters approved last fall in a constitutional amendment. But legislation pending in the Georgia House of Representatives would extend that deadline by...
Statement from the Burke County Board of Commissioners
Waynesboro, Georgia
February 17, 2025 | February 19, 2025
The Burke County Board of Commissioners considered the process approved by voters under Amendment #1 on the November 2024 ballot, which aimed to limit increases in property values for those with homestead exemptions. Three public hearings were held to discuss the advisability of opting out of the new process. During...
Bears baseball is back
BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | February 19, 2025
Baseball season is finally here, and the Bears are back on the diamond. Under the supervision of second year coach, Tavis Cummings, the Bears are looking to have a good season in an all-new AA region behind a veteran pitching staff. They started their season last Friday after a series...
First round of boys basketball playoffs starts tonight
BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | February 19, 2025
After two hurtful losses at the end of the regular season, the boys’ basketball team for Burke County found themselves as the three seed in the region headed into the region tournament. They had a chance to redeem their losses with some strong wins versus tough region opponents. They began...
Esports begins its spring 2025 season
BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | February 19, 2025
Esports is the only sport in the GHSA to have two seasons in a school year. Last fall, the BCHS esports team took one of their teams to the state championship. While the Super Smash Bros team finished runner-up, it was still a major feat for the program and an...
Two Bears place in the state wrestling tournament
February 19, 2025
Both the Bears and Lady Bears wrestling teams traveled to the state tournament in Macon this year, and two wrestlers placed. For the boys, Skyler Brown finished in fourth place and for the girls, Shaylee Bachand finished in fifth place. This is Shaylee’s second year in a row placing in...
Edmund Burke Athletic Director Honored
February 19, 2025
Edmund Burke Academy Athletic Director, Andy Woodard, was recently awarded the GIAA-A Football Coach of the Year and the Georgia Athletic Coaches’ Association State Coach of the Year for 2024. Woodard coached the Spartans to a second straight football state title this season and finished the season with a 10-1...
LOOKING BACK
February 19, 2025
20 YEARS AGO – FEBRUARY 23, 2005 Waynesboro City Council was re-examining its alcohol ordinance in response to a request from a non-U.S. citizen. Dhanaraj Ramcharitar and his wife Mandy Mahadeo had recently purchased the Stop-N-Shop on East Sixth Street and were pleading with the panel to waive the requirement...
A SOLO DAY BACK WHEN
Don Lively | February 19, 2025
There were no “typical” days if you grew up on a farm in the Blessed South like I did. Back then farming required allhands on-deck most days of the year. I’ve often said that farming happens six days a week and on the seventh day you go to church and...
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Rickey Allen
February 19, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. Rickey Allen, 60, of Augusta, GA, who entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Born on August 24, 1964, Rickey’s spirit will be cherished by all who knew him. Family visitation will be held on Friday,...
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Derek Milo Young
February 19, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. Derek Milo Young, 52, of Midville, GA, who entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Born on January 15, 1973, Derek’s spirit will be cherished by all who knew him. Family visitation will be held on...
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Jermaine V. Habersham
February 19, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. Jermaine V. Habersham, 37, of Augusta, GA, who entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Born on February 24, 1987, Jermaine’s spirit will be cherished by all who knew him. Family visitation will be held on...
Augustus George Howard
February 19, 2025
Mr. Augustus George Howard of Atlanta, Ga. entered into eternal rest on February 9, 2025. Professional services entrusted to Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel. His celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 12 p.m. at Love Hill Baptist Church 389 Trout Street Midville, GA...
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Marvin Lee Jones
February 19, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mr. Marvin Lee Jones, 62, of Waynesboro, GA, who entered into eternal rest on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Born on November 25, 1962, Marvin’s spirit will be cherished by all who knew him. Family visitation will be held on...
Jurors drawn for Superior Court
February 19, 2025
Jurors have been drawn for the October 2024 term of Superior Court criminal and/or civil session with Judge Amanda N. Heath presiding. Jurors are to report at 9 a.m. Monday, February 24 to the Burke County Judicial Center. The list includes: Christopher Mason Winkler, Waynesboro; John Kenneth Cumbee, Keysville; Melissa...
Jurors drawn for Superior Court
February 19, 2025
Jurors have been drawn for the October 2024 term of Superior Court Criminal and/or Civil session with Judge John Flythe presiding. Jurors are to report at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 to the Burke County Judicial Center. The list includes: Tyler Ian Reece, Keysville; Ashley Joann Valdez, Waynesboro; Sage Jordan,...
BURKE EMA REPORT
February 19, 2025
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency responded to 11 patients’ calls during the week ending Feb. 16. Of those, 83 resulted in transports, including 50 to Augusta hospitals and 5 to other out-of-county hospitals. Thirty seven of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 46 were non-emergent. The agency...
What’s Next?
November 6, 2024
Thursday, Nov. 7 Burke County Retired Educators Association will meet at 3 p.m. at Burke County Senior Citizens Center. Guest speaker will be Probate Judge Ashley Moore Jr. Monday, Nov. 11 American Legion will honor all Veterans 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post 120, South Liberty St., Waynesboro. BCHS...
Church News
February 19, 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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