Highlights of 2009 from the files of The Millen News are as follows:

Henry Young is named EMT of the year by his coworkers.

James Henry is reappointed chairman of the Jenkins County Board of Commissioners, and Tommy Lane is named vicechairman.

Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE) Vice-Chairman Roderick Campbell is recognized for 15 years of service by the Georgia School Board Association.

Clarence and Lucille Overstreet are credited with saving the life of Rhesa Reeves when they pull him from his burning home.

Carroll Gay and Roderick Campbell are reappointed chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Jenkins County BOE.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated in Millen and Jenkins County with a parade through downtown Millen and various other activities.

Jenkins County Elementary School (JCES) is recognized as a Georgia Title I Distinguished School for 2008-2009.

A missing child, Trace Williams, is found unharmed after wandering from his Rabitsch Road home.

Chester Joyner is named STAR student at Jenkins County High School (JCHS) and he selects Dr. Ivis DeLoach as STAR teacher.

Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center (JCFEC) hosts a ‘Lunch and Learn’ event.

Gov. Sonny Perdue signs HB 143 that funds Homeowner Tax Relief Grant for 2008.

Jenkins County Commissioners determine that there will be no change in the due date for property taxes.

JCHS is among 80 schools in the state that have earned the Advanced Placement Honor School designation.

Robert Jenkins is appointed to the Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Council.

Melissa Williams is named Jenkins County School Superintendent.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #2776 adopted a section of Highway 17 By-pass as a community project.

Jenkins County Farm Bureau and Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce sponsor annual legislative breakfast.

Jenkins County Development Authority receives $99,000 check from USDA Rural Development to construct an entrance to the Entrepreneur Park located off Georgia Hwy. 21.

County continues to rank first in unemployment statewide.

Winners in the Miss Jenkins County School Pageant are Camry Meeks, JCES; Brittany Johnson, JCHS; and Kayla Kirkland, Jenkins County Middle School (JCMS).

City of Millen Cotton Avenue TE-grant project goes to bidding.

County voters approve renewal of the one-cent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in a Special Election.

JCHS and JCMS are given the “all-clear” for drugs and other contraband following a March search of the facilities.

Planters Electric Membership Corporation awards $2,850 grant to the Millen Downtown Development Authority, through its Operation Round Up program, to help pay for signage along U.S. Highway 25 promoting downtown Millen.

JCHS Army JROTC wins state championship.

BI-LO files Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Jenkins County school system receives approximately $976,000 in emergency educational funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

JCHS Georgia Certificate of Merit Scholars named as follows: Fetima Jordan, Jessica Head, Dag Gay, Latranese Sapp and Jena Branch.

Tashe McClain signs letter of intent to play college basketball with Middle Georgia College in Cochran.

The City of Millen begins upgrades to its waste water treatment facility through a $3.16 million project that is funded through the USDA grant/loan program.

Jenkins County 4-H’ers Lavonte Lovett and Krista Gay serves as Pages at the State Capitol.

Millen Better Hometown sponsors Keep Jenkins Beautiful Day.

Work on Elba Express pipeline through Jenkins County begins.

City accepts TE-grant bid on Cotton Avenue from Ellis Woods in the amount of approximately $600,000.

Citi-Trends closes Millen store.

Annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society is held locally.

Sheila Marie Boone and Chester Joyner are named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the JCHS Class of 2009.

VFW Post #2776 host a dedication program for the War Memorial placed by the group on the lawn of the Jenkins County Courthouse.

The Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia honored R.M. “Bubba” Small, utility superintendent for the City of Millen, with the 2009 Billy Hersey Sr. award. The City of Millen’s utility department is also recognized for marketing excellence.

Jenkins County passes Anthrax Exercise with flying colors.

Jenkins County school systems names Teachers of the Year as follows: Kristy Wallace, JCES; Loretta Fleming, JCMS; and Jean Gay, JCHS.

BOE announces that its 2010 budget will not require a tax increase.

Mandy Underwood, JCFEC executive director, completes Georgia Academy for Economic Development training.

Cavalier Homes, Inc. announces that it has agreed to be bought by Southern Energy Homes, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Homes.

Buckhead-Fort Lawton Camp of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans holds dedication ceremony for its recently installed commemorative marker at the UDC monument on the lawn of the Jenkins County Courthouse. The marker is placed in recognition of the monument’s 100th anniversary.

Work begins on TE-grant project on Cotton Avenue.

Jenkins County reaches Certified Work Ready Community status.

Jenkins County Development Authority assumes operation of Bo Ginn Aquarium.

Hundreds of local residents are listed as owners of unclaimed property by the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Unit.

JCES and JCMS meet AYP requirements.

Repair work to the Jenkins County Courthouse begins.

The VFW of the United States announced that Byron Scogins has achieved “All American” status as a post commander.

An early morning house fire claims the life of Martha Ransom.

Cavalier Home Builders announces closure of local mobile home plant resulting in the loss of 104 full time jobs.

Bubba Small retires as City of Millen Utility Superintendent after 36 years of service.

James Henry is named chairman of the Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission, formerly known as the Regional Development Center.

Matthew Rocker signs golf scholarship with Abraham Baldwin College.

Jenkins County receives $10,800 Georgia Heritage Grant for the purpose of preparing a historic structure report.

Participating as Planters EMC delegates on the 2009 Washington Youth Tour are Taylor Meadows, Ansley Hickman and Rachel Welch.

Jean Gay is named systemwide Teacher of the Year.

Plans for the possible location of a private prison by the Corrections Corporation of America in Jenkins County are announced by the Jenkins County Development Authority. Plans for the possible location of a hospice hospital in Millen are also announced.

JCHS is named regional Governor’s Cup winner.

City of Millen receives $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for sewer improvements in the “Knox Homes” and Old Sylvania Road area of the city.

Food Lion bids to buy BI-LO stores.

Shelby Burke is named JCHS Homecoming Queen.

City applies for $200,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to fund the clean up of the Soc station property.

Tragedy is averted when a Jenkins County school bus catches fire as it takes children home. All are evacuated safely.

JROTC Raiders win state championship.

Walter Thomas, Ward #1; Jane Johnson, Ward #2; and James Ford, Ward #3, are elected to Millen City Council.

Jenkins County Health Department announces receipt of H1N1 vaccine.

JCES is named Title 1 Distinguished School for 2009-2010.

The JCHS JROTC Male Mixed Raider Team takes two national titles.

JCHS wins Region 3A One Act Play competition.

City and county each receive new fire trucks through grants.

Charles Anfield is recognized by the BOE for his efforts in safely evacuating students from a school bus that caught fire.

Alvin Burke is named EMT of the year.

Barbara Mobley retires from FSA office.

Lillie Delores Lee is killed in two vehicle accident on Ga. Hwy. 121.

The North Jenkins County volunteer firefighters award the 2009 Firefighter of the Year to firefighter Debra Perryman.