The True Citizen

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An Egg-cellent Day for a Hunt!

The Men’s Unity Group hosted a community Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19, bringing fun and fellowship for local families.

City lowers Ritz Instrument building permit fee

MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com

The Waynesboro City Council kicked off Georgia Cities Week and approved a permit fee reduction for Ritz Instrument Transformers at the regular monthly meeting Monday, April 21. This week marks The Georgia Municipal Association’s Georgia Cities Week, a week dedicated to connecting communities with city resources and educating the public...

Local dealership closes and changes owners

ROY F. CHALKER JR.
rchalker@bellsouth.net

The Waynesboro Jeep-Chrysler dealership has been temporarily closed after being sold to the Paul Thigpen Automotive Group. Thigpen also owns the local Ford dealership. Beth Grant, former owner, said Tuesday that national economic conditions had deteriorated over the past several months, including higher interest rates and the uncertainty of President...

Waynesboro Community Art and Cultural Festival and Georgia Cities Week festivities are coming to downtown

DON LIVELY

This continues a series of articles that will feature shops, restaurants and other businesses, as well as upcoming events, in Downtown Waynesboro. A brand-new event is coming to Downtown Waynesboro. The Waynesboro Community Art and Cultural Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26th, from 10AM until 3PM, on Liberty...

News

BCPS Pre-K Registration is now open

April 22, 2025

Pre-K Registration for Burke County Public Schools is set for April 21 – May 2, 2025. Your child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 to be eligible for registration. Parents/ guardians have the option to register their child in person or online. If you prefer...

Alba Oak Energy Storage hosts open house

MARGARET ANNE BROGAN
thetruecitizen.margaret@gmail.com | April 22, 2025

Burke County residents had the opportunity to learn about the Alba Oak Energy Storage project during an open house hosted at Venue 720 Tuesday, April 15. The Alba Oak Energy Storage project is NextEra Energy Resources' proposed battery energy storage project to store energy solar power from the White Oak...

If I Were Mayor …

April 22, 2025

The Waynesboro City Council honored winners of “If I Were Mayor” essay writing contest at the regular city council meeting Monday, April 21. From Left to Right: Mayor James “Chick” Jones, 1st place winner Savanna Lewis, 3rd place winner Rylan Chance, 2nd place winner Kinslee Marie Tobias, Waynesboro Youth Council...

FEMA housing resource fair is Saturday

April 22, 2025

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sponsoring a housing resource fair here Saturday, April 26. The all day event will take place at the Burke County Office Park beginning at 9 a.m. and going until 5 p.m. FEMA is bringing together local, state, and federal organizations to help Helene...

Fireworks show seeks donations

April 22, 2025

The Waynesboro Downtown Development Authority will once again sponsor the annual Mad Anthony’s Big Boom Fireworks Extravaganza. The show will take place on Thursday evening, July 3rd, at the Burke County Recreation Department. The event is entirely paid for by donations from businesses, civic groups or individuals. According to DDA...

Sports

Dominance on the diamond

TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | April 22, 2025

Edmund Burke Academy's Baseball Team is back on track. After what some would consider a hiccup lost to Thomas Jefferson Academy just before spring break, the Spartans returned to action in a big way. They defeated region foe, Augusta Prep, in two games while not allowing a single run and...

EBA Tennis Teams have strong showing at region tourney

TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | April 22, 2025

Edmund Burke Academy’s tennis teams had six members advance to the state tournament after a successful showing in the GIAA 4-AA region tournament last week in Waynesboro. Charlie Gentry and Andrew Cates were crowned doubles champions after battling through a grueling match against Augusta Prep and clinching the title in...

Lady Spartans seek school’s first region track title

TRES BRAGG
tbtruecitizen@gmail.com | April 22, 2025

They took state last season, but this year they’re chasing even more. After avenging their secondplace regional finish to Brentwood School by overtaking them to win the state title last year, the Lady Spartans are determined to make more school history tomorrow (Thursday.) The Edmund Burke Academy Girls’ Track Team...

Hood breaks school record in discus throw

April 22, 2025

Edmund Burke Academy Junior Matthew Hood broke the 24-yearold school discus throw record last week at Augusta Prep. The multisport athlete set the new mark at 132’1”. The previous record of 129’5” was set by Justin Dixon back in 2001. Full results from last week’s meet were not provided by...

Bears win four straight to finish the regular season

BRANNON BRADDOCK
Jbraddo4@gmail.com | April 22, 2025

The Bears baseball team ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak, beating Laney, Butler, and Screven County last week. In their last twelve games, they are 10-2. They finished the regular season with a 16-10 record and a 10-0 record in their region. Last Tuesday, they welcomed Laney...

Editorial

Political Cartoon

April 22, 2025

LOOKING BACK

April 22, 2025

20 YEARS AGO – APRIL 27, 2005 The Waynesboro Historic Preservation Commission turned down a request from the First Baptist Church to move two historic homes and demolish a third. Rev. Al Wright told the group the church needed the space for building expansion as well as parking. The Burke...

THE KEY

Don Lively | April 22, 2025

When I was a child growing up in this neck of the woods, I knew a girl who was terrified of chickens. Having myself on more than one occasion been chased around the yard by a flogging rooster when I had been guilty of no transgression against him, I understood...

Obituaries

Edward McNair

April 22, 2025

Mr. Edward McNair, 85, of Hephzibah, Georgia, was born March 13, 1940. He entered into rest on April 8, 2025. Family visitation will be held Friday, April 25, 2025 at 12:00 P.M.-1:00 P.M. and public visitation will be held at 5:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M. at Phinazee & Son Funeral Home,...

Freddie Bernard Williams

April 22, 2025

Mr. Freddie Bernard Williams, 78, of Hephzibah, Georgia, was born February 28, 1947. He entered into rest on April 19, 2025. Family visitation will be held Friday, April 25, 2025 from 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. and public visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Phinazee & Son Funeral Home,...

Johnny Mack “Gator” Mims, Sr.

April 22, 2025

Mr. Johnny Mack “Gator” Mims, Sr., 70, of Waynesboro, Georgia, was born August 26, 1954. He entered into rest on April 18, 2025. Family visitation will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. and public visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Phinazee & Son...

Mary Lee Atwell-Golden

April 22, 2025

Ms. Mary Lee Atwell-Golden, age 79 of Waynesboro, Ga entered into eternal rest on Friday April 18, 2025. Celebration of Life for Ms. Golden will be held on Saturday April 26, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at Noah's Ark Baptist Church 4466 GA Hwy 80 West Waynesboro, Ga. Interment will be in...

Judson Cunningham, Jr.

April 22, 2025

Mr. Judson Cunningham, Jr., age 85 of Waynesboro, Ga entered into eternal rest on Wednesday April 16, 2025. Celebration of Life for Mr. Cunningham will be held on Saturday April 26, 2025 , 2:30 p.m. at Watkinsville Baptist Church 1681 Hwy 24 West Waynesboro, Ga. Interment will be in the...

For The Record

Owners of vast swaths of housing stock targeted

TY TAGAMI
Capitol Beat News Service | April 22, 2025

Out-of-state investors own tens of thousands of houses in Georgia, and lawmakers tried to limit the number due to concerns about decaying properties and diminished options for would be homeowners. A bill that sought to cap each big owner at 2,000 properties didn’t get far after constitutional concerns were raised....

WPD BLOTTER

April 22, 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, APRIL 14TH *An officer was dispatched to Dollar general in regard to possible...

BURKE EMA REPORT

April 22, 2025

The Burke County Emergency Management Agency responded to 108 patients’ calls during the week ending April 20. Of those, 70 resulted in transports, including 41 to Augusta hospitals. Thirty one of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 39 were non-emergent. The agency also answered 27 fire calls during...

Burke Happenings

What’s Next?

April 22, 2025

BCPS Pre-K Registration is Now Open Pre-K Registration for Burke County Public Schools is set for April 21 – May 2, 2025. Your child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 to be eligible for registration. Parents/ guardians have the option to register their child in...

Church News

April 22, 2025

Family & Friends Day Third Chapel Baptist Church will hold its Family & Friends Day program 1 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at Thompson Bridge Baptist Church, 2965 7 Oaks Road, Waynesboro, due to the renovations at Third Chapel Baptist Church. There will not be a morning service. Pastor Clary Dishmond...

Special Sections

Burke County FFA 2025

February 18, 2025

Magic of Christmas 2024

December 23, 2024

Back To School 2024

July 30, 2024

Class Of 2024 Graduation E-Edition

May 14, 2024

National FFA Week 2024 E-Edition

March 6, 2024

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