Highlights of 2006 announced
By Deborah Bennett

As the year 2006 draws to a close, The Millen News has selected what it considers to be the top story of the year – the announcement by Jockey International officials that the company was permanently eliminating sewing operations at the local plant, resulting in the loss of over 200 jobs.

Other highlights of 2006 are as follows.

Thomson Company water tower is demolished as site of former company is cleared.

James Henry and J.C. Douglas are reappointed Jenkins County Board of Commissioners chairman and vice-chairman, respectively.

Hayward Cordy resigns as Jenkins County School Superintendent.

Southern Natural Gas Company plans new pipeline through Jenkins County.

Fire destroys proposed mental health group home site on Bramblewood Drive.

Commissioners plan to relocate polling places in Districts #3 and #5.

Coach James Ford retires as Jenkins County High School’s (JCHS) boys basketball coach after 20 years and 250 wins.

Rebekah-Jane Newton Daniel and Donna Kennedy are selected as Jenkins County’s STAR student and teacher, respectively.

Jenkins County Recreation Department is host to U.S. Junior Olympic Skills event.

Twenty-four apply for school superintendent position.

Matthew Daniel Sheffield pleads guilty to fatal fire charges in which one child died and another was severely injured.

Oak Hill Baptist Church Youth Minister Brad Weiser dies in skiing accident.

Vandy Mack Daniels is charged in armed robbery of Quick Stop convenience store.

Jerome Young pleads guilty in 2004 murder of Martina Herrington.

Chuck Lane receives firefighter Medal of Valor in attempt to locate a missing child.

Ed Fuller and Ken Delay of Eagle Pharmacy are named “Business Persons of the Year” during chamber of commerce annual banquet.

Emory Lee Bell is charged in Bay Station robbery.

Joan Blackwood is named Jenkins County School Superintendent.

Steven Harley is murdered during an incident that occurred at his Hiltonia Road residence.

BOE accepts bid on new JCHS gymnasium.

SFC Ronnie Perryman receives two military commendations for service rendered in Iraq.

Richard Dean Sherrod Jr. dies of a self-inflicted wound when Millen Police Department attempts to serve warrant.

Newly-formed South Jenkins Volunteer Fire Department holds grand opening.

Tracy Harley and Rico Walker are arrested for the murder of Steven Harley.

South Carolina murder suspect Ann Baxley Smith is captured in Jenkins County.

Nathan Saxon and Rebekah Daniel are named valedictorian and salutatorian of JCHS, respectively.

Harold Roach resigns as JCHS principal.

Recipients of the Robert Williams “Athletes of the Year” award and $500 scholarships are announced as Megan Lever and Austin Steed.

Annette Cobb, Susan Becton and Racheal Johnson are named local “Teachers of the Year.” Johnson is named system-wide “Teacher of the Year.”

Dr. Judy Holton is named High Performance Principal by Gov. Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox.

Dianne McNeely is named JCHS principal.

Kayla Wygal is named Jenkins County Recreation Department director.

Red Cross seeks to form Disaster Action Team in Jenkins County.

Tracy Harley and Rico Walker plead “not guilty” to charges of murdering Steven Harley.

Millen Optimist Club sponsors Political Forum.

Anna Burgess is named as Jenkins County’s new 4-H Program Director.

Gov. Sonny Perdue visits Jenkins County at Hanging Rocks Plantation.

Jenkins County Hospital announces plans to build new emergency room.

Demetrice Rashod Moore of Millen is found guilty of raping an Atlanta-area woman near the Georgia Southern University campus.

Christine Stripling is named JCHS graduation coach.

Jenkins County Board of Education approved bond cancellation.

Jenkins County Airport is scheduled for improvements with funds derived from a $631,579 federal grant administered through the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Construction on TE grant projects for downtown area of Millen is delayed.

North Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department is awarded $156,750 grant through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters.

Millen implements steps to become Entrepreneur Friendly.

The Jenkins County Board of Education makes plans to sell former Primary School located across from the Millen United Methodist Church.

Jenkins County Commissioners begin planning for new Emergency Medical Services building.

Jenkins County Development Authority purchases property for third industrial park in county.

Snow falls on Millen Nov. 21.

Twenty-two rail cars of a Norfolk Southern train are derailed near the Scarboro railroad crossing on State Route 17 with no injuries.