Veterans at the Library held its weekly meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 19, at the Franklin Memorial Library. Sixty-one people were in attendance, presided by Chairman Johnny Tapley. Beta Sigma Phi members Darlene Canady and Lisa Parham provided a breakfast of sausage biscuits with jelly, sausage rolls, pastries, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, and orange juice, apple juice and coffee. After veteran Emory Fennell’s prayer and pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag, Chairman Johnny asked Councilman Julian Sconyers to introduce retiring Police Chief Randy Ellison. Chairman Johnny then presented a check from Veterans at the Library for $500 for the Swainsboro Police Department’s “Shop with a Cop” program for Christmas. The donation came from the profits of the recent Veterans Cup golf tournament. Johnny also presented Police Chief Randy with a police car and a Lamborghini, which were signed by all of the veterans at today’s breakfast. Two new veterans were in attendance this morning, Alisha Belle Sturgis and Rick Dell Bivens. Sturgis is a U.S. Army veteran and served from February 2015 to February 2023. She was stationed in Orlando, FL and deployed to Kuwait. Sturgis served in the 143rd ESC in HHC. The highest rank she attained 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 AFB, TX, Scott AFB, IN, Spangdalem AFB Germany, and MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. Library Director Windy Ward then presented a weekly donation from All the Fixins to veterans by donating a doughnut each week to a “Veteran of the Library” who has a birthday beginning August 26. Chairman Johnny then asked Terry Reynolds, director of the local Wounded Warriors Organization, to provide information about the upcoming 13th Annual Sportsmen’s Banquet and Auction to be held on Thursday evening, October 10, 2024, at 5 p.m. at Beaver Creek Plantation, 3698 Hwy. 80 East, Twin City. Advance tickets are required and can be obtained by calling 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 includes socializing, a prime rib dinner, and silent and live auctions. All proceeds go directly to the local Wounded Warriors chapter, a 501 C3 nonprofit in Georgia that gives wounded veterans and their families the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.