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The Advance IS ONLINE! Get all the local news and sports you need on your computer, smart phone or tablet. 95 $ Subscribe Now! 5 mo. Vol. 122 No. 22 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia May 27, 2020 In proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you. - Albert Jay Nock With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served In proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you. - Albert Jay Nock With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served News BYTES News BYTES Free COVID-19 Testing in Glenwood With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served In 1971, Congress designated the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, a national holiday to commemorate the men and women who died while serving their country in the military service. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 each year and is a day set aside to honor all men and women who served in the military during war or peace time. In 2017, the Lions Lyons Club created a project to honor the sacrifices of deceased Toombs County veterans who served our country in the Armed Forces. The Lyons Lions Club and its 60 members with help from students at Toombs County High and the Leo Club of Robert Toombs Academy and the City of Lyons construct- Please see Crosses page 2A News BYTES “Count Me In!” Census Events 24 Years of Service Free COVID-19 Testing in Glenwood The South Central Health District is sponsoring free drive-up COVID-19 testing in Glenwood on Monday, June 1, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. No referral is needed for the test. The test site is located at the Old Middle School, 503 S.W. Third Avenue, Glenwood. For more information, call 478-275-6570. Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party GBI Investigating in Alamo; No Arrests Made 24 Years of Service Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party Tegus? KEEPING PATRIOTISM AT THE FOREFRONT — Members of the Lyons Lions Club, the civic organization responsible for the memorial crosses and flags, pose in front of the street-long display on Victory Drive. L to R: Jason Hall, Club President, James Thompson, Jimmy “Spook” Alexander, Wayne Wheeler, Lucretia Nobles, Alysa Marsciano, Jill O’Neal and Darrell Nobles. “Count Me In!” Census Events The Montgomery County Commission, Montgomery County Library, Tri-County Family Connection and the Montgomery County Schools are partnering to 24 Years of Service By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party GBI Investigating in Alamo; No Arrests Made sponsor Census 2020 events in Montgomery County. For details, See page 3A. Tegus? By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com See Page 10A IN THIS ISSUE After almost a quarter century at her post as the Toombs County sheriff ’s secretary, it is hard for Johnnie Jean Branch to retire, but as she said, “When you get to be 77 years old, it is time to go home and rock on the front porch.” Johnnie was 52 years of age when Toombs County Sheriff Charles Durst hired her to work as a receptionist at the county jail. She soon ascended to the position of secretary, a job previously held by Billie Jones. Mrs. Jones had been secretary there for 40 years and she briefly returned from retirement to mentor Mrs. Branch. “I always called her ‘my teach,’ ” Johnnie shared. Johnnie chuckled when she related how she joined the sheriff ’s office. It was just after she had lost her job of 25 years at Lyons Manufacturing in Rosebud. The plant closed, and prior to that, Johnnie had worked at Oxford Shirt Company for 10 years. “My husband, Jack, knew the sheriff. I just happened to see him in the post office one day and told him I had lost my job when the plant closed. I asked him jokingly if he had anything I could do.” The next thing she knew, she was being interviewed Editorials...........................Page 4A Obituaries.........................Page 6A Your Mind On Line...........Page 9A Sports................................ Page 1B A Wheeler County man was shot and killed and two others injured in a shooting that occurred early Sunday, May 24, in Alamo. Ronestra Kotoya Williams, 42, of Alamo, died in an incident at #4 Bluebird Lane, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported in a press release. The GBI was called in shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday to assist the Alamo Police Department in probing the shooting that took place during a high school graduation party at which multiple individuals exchanged gunfire, the GBI stated in the release. As of press time, no arrests have been made. Michael Waddell, 26, of McRae, was wounded in the incident and is listed in critical condition. India Harris, 18, received a nonthreatening gunshot wound and is being treated for her injuries, the GBI reported. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the GBI’s Region 12 Eastman office at 478-374-6988 or the Alamo Police Department at 912-568-7153. www.theadvancenews. com BITTERSWEET — After 24 years of service, Johnnie Branch, above at her desk, is retiring from her position as secretary to the Toombs County Sheriff. She was hired by Sheriff Charles Durst in 1996 and has worked with Sheriff Alvie Kight, standing, above, for the past 22 years. Johnnie is looking forward to retirement but admits leaving her family at the sheriff’s office is bittersweet. Please see Branch page 3A The Advance IS ONLINE! Get all the local news and sports you need on your computer, smart phone or tablet. 95 $ Subscribe Now! 5 mo. Vol. 122 No. 22 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia May 27, 2020 In proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you. - Albert Jay Nock With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served In proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you. - Albert Jay Nock With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served News BYTES News BYTES Free COVID-19 Testing in Glenwood With Honor and Respect for Those Who Served In 1971, Congress designated the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, a national holiday to commemorate the men and women who died while serving their country in the military service. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 each year and is a day set aside to honor all men and women who served in the military during war or peace time. In 2017, the Lions Lyons Club created a project to honor the sacrifices of deceased Toombs County veterans who served our country in the Armed Forces. The Lyons Lions Club and its 60 members with help from students at Toombs County High and the Leo Club of Robert Toombs Academy and the City of Lyons construct- Please see Crosses page 2A News BYTES “Count Me In!” Census Events 24 Years of Service Free COVID-19 Testing in Glenwood The South Central Health District is sponsoring free drive-up COVID-19 testing in Glenwood on Monday, June 1, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. No referral is needed for the test. The test site is located at the Old Middle School, 503 S.W. Third Avenue, Glenwood. For more information, call 478-275-6570. Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party GBI Investigating in Alamo; No Arrests Made 24 Years of Service Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party Tegus? KEEPING PATRIOTISM AT THE FOREFRONT — Members of the Lyons Lions Club, the civic organization responsible for the memorial crosses and flags, pose in front of the street-long display on Victory Drive. L to R: Jason Hall, Club President, James Thompson, Jimmy “Spook” Alexander, Wayne Wheeler, Lucretia Nobles, Alysa Marsciano, Jill O’Neal and Darrell Nobles. “Count Me In!” Census Events The Montgomery County Commission, Montgomery County Library, Tri-County Family Connection and the Montgomery County Schools are partnering to 24 Years of Service By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com Shootout Erupts at Graduation Party GBI Investigating in Alamo; No Arrests Made sponsor Census 2020 events in Montgomery County. For details, See page 3A. Tegus? By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com See Page 10A IN THIS ISSUE After almost a quarter century at her post as the Toombs County sheriff ’s secretary, it is hard for Johnnie Jean Branch to retire, but as she said, “When you get to be 77 years old, it is time to go home and rock on the front porch.” Johnnie was 52 years of age when Toombs County Sheriff Charles Durst hired her to work as a receptionist at the county jail. She soon ascended to the position of secretary, a job previously held by Billie Jones. Mrs. Jones had been secretary there for 40 years and she briefly returned from retirement to mentor Mrs. Branch. “I always called her ‘my teach,’ ” Johnnie shared. Johnnie chuckled when she related how she joined the sheriff ’s office. It was just after she had lost her job of 25 years at Lyons Manufacturing in Rosebud. The plant closed, and prior to that, Johnnie had worked at Oxford Shirt Company for 10 years. “My husband, Jack, knew the sheriff. I just happened to see him in the post office one day and told him I had lost my job when the plant closed. I asked him jokingly if he had anything I could do.” The next thing she knew, she was being interviewed Editorials...........................Page 4A Obituaries.........................Page 6A Your Mind On Line...........Page 9A Sports................................ Page 1B A Wheeler County man was shot and killed and two others injured in a shooting that occurred early Sunday, May 24, in Alamo. Ronestra Kotoya Williams, 42, of Alamo, died in an incident at #4 Bluebird Lane, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported in a press release. The GBI was called in shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday to assist the Alamo Police Department in probing the shooting that took place during a high school graduation party at which multiple individuals exchanged gunfire, the GBI stated in the release. As of press time, no arrests have been made. Michael Waddell, 26, of McRae, was wounded in the incident and is listed in critical condition. India Harris, 18, received a nonthreatening gunshot wound and is being treated for her injuries, the GBI reported. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the GBI’s Region 12 Eastman office at 478-374-6988 or the Alamo Police Department at 912-568-7153. www.theadvancenews. com BITTERSWEET — After 24 years of service, Johnnie Branch, above at her desk, is retiring from her position as secretary to the Toombs County Sheriff. She was hired by Sheriff Charles Durst in 1996 and has worked with Sheriff Alvie Kight, standing, above, for the past 22 years. Johnnie is looking forward to retirement but admits leaving her family at the sheriff’s office is bittersweet. Please see Branch page 3A
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