Veterans donate to ‘Shop with a Cop’

The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting at the Franklin Memorial Library Monday, August 19, at 9 a.m. With Chair Johnny Tapley presiding, they had 61 in attendance. Beta Sigma Phi members, Darlene Canady and Lisa Parham, provided breakfast consisting of sausage biscuits with jelly, pigs in a blanket, pastries, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, along with orange juice, apple juice and coffee. After the prayer by Veteran Emory Fennell and the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag, Chair Johnny asked Councilman Julian Sconyers to introduce retiring Chief Randy Ellison. Chair Johnny then presented a check from the Veterans at the Library for $500 to be used for the Swainsboro Police Departments ‘Shop with a Cop’ program at Christmas. The donation came from the profits from the recent Veterans Cup Golf Tournament. Johnny also presented Chief Randy with a police car and Lamborghini car that was signed by all the veterans at this morning’s breakfast. Two new veterans attended this morning, Alisha Belle Sturgis and Rick Dell Bivens. Sturgis is a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from February 2015 to February 2023. She was stationed in Orlando, FL and was deployed to Kuwait. Sturgis served in the 143rd ESC in HHC. The highest rank she obtained was E-5. Veteran Bivens served in the U.S. Air Force from April 8, 1980, to April 9, 1988. He was stationed in Lackland, TX, Sheppard A.F.B., TX, Scott A.F.B., IN, Spangdalem A.F.B. Germany and MacDill A.F.B., Tampa, FL. Library Director Windy Ward then presented to the Veterans a donation continuous each week by All the Fixins donating a donut each week to a “Veteran at the Library” who has a birthday starting August 26. Chair Johnny then asked Terry Reynolds, director of the local Wounded Warriors Organization, to update about the upcoming 13th Annual Sportsman’s Banquet and Auction that will be held at Beaver Creek Plantation, 3698 Hwy. 80 East, Twin City, Thursday night, October 10, 2024, at 5 p.m. Advance tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting Terry Reynolds at 478-494-3758, Richard Driggers at 912-290-1108, Nick Kraus at 912-687-6781 or Kurt Anderson at 678-614-0593. This event will include social time, prime rib meal, with silent and live auction items. All the proceeds go directly to the local Wounded Warriors group which is a Georgia Non-profit 501 C3 organization that gives opportunity to Wounded Veterans and their family to enjoy the great outdoors.

‘);