The News-Reporter

05/28/2026

Page A5 of this week’s Washington News-Reporter has a glaring snafu consisting of a blank spot that was reserved for coverage of the Washington Square Memorial Day Observance. Since the observance was held at 11am Monday, and our deadline to submit to our printer is shortly after lunch, we held the spot open until the event could be submitted, and added to the paper before printing. Unfortunately, it was printed without the last minute addition. Please find attached the correct page including the event.

05/20/2026

MAY 19 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS: 100% OF WILKES PRECINCTS REPORTING
(WILKES COUNTY, Ga.) — Wilkes County voters cast 2,144 ballots in the May 19 primary election for a turnout rate of 34.17% among the county’s 6,274 registered voters, according to unofficial and incomplete election results.

Incumbent Sam Moore received 1,000 votes in the Republican primary for Wilkes County Commission chairman. Democrat Charles Jackson received 270 votes in the Commission District 3 race, while Republican Ed Holton received 332 votes in District 4.

Wilkes County Board of Education races also appeared on the ballot. Horace Jordon received 420 votes in District 1 and David Chatin received 487 votes in District 2.

Wilkes County voters approved continuation of the 1% Educational Sales Tax. The measure received 2,094 total votes, with 1,318 voting yes and 776 voting no.

05/01/2026

BIG SECTION I-285 CLOSED BOTH DIRECTIONS ALL WEEKEND
read the full story: https://www.thejournalmessenger.com/2026/05/01/big-section-of-i-285-both-directions-closed-all-weekend/

04/09/2026

BIDDING OPEN FOR WASHINGTON WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
INVITATION TO BID

COMPETITIVE COST SEALED BIDS
Sealed bids for construction of the S. Pecan St. Water System Improvements for the City
of Washington/Wilkes County will be received until May 6, 2026 at 2:00PM local time.
Bids must be submitted electronically through QuestCDN.com. No paper submissions will
be accepted. Base Cost of all Bids shall be published to the QuestCDN website no later than
30 minutes after the closing time. Any bid received after said time and date will not be
considered by the Owner. No bid may be withdrawn after the closing time for the receipt
of bids for a period of sixty (60) days except as specifically may be provided in the
Instructions to Bidders and/or by State law.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Work to be completed shall consist of furnishing all labor and equipment to install
approximately 3,900 LF of 6" and 2" PVC/DIP water main including, but not limited
to fire hydrants, valves, driveway replacement, earthwork, grassing,soil erosion and
sedimentation control measures, and appurtenances necessary to provide a complete
installation. The Owner will provide materials for this Contract.
Time allotted for completion of work is 150 consecutive calendar days. All Work shall be
completed in accordance with the plans and specifications. The Work will be awarded in
one (1) Contract.
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
Complete digital specifications and contract documents are available at
www.QuestCDN.com. Bidders may view the digital plan documents for free by entering
the Quest project number 10129750 on the website’s project search page. Bidders can
download the digital documents for a fee of $100.00 payable through the website. Bids
must be submitted electronically at QuestCDN.com. There will be an additional $42.00
submittal fee. Please contact QuestCDN customer support at 952-233-1632 or
[email protected] for assistance in membership registration, downloading and working
with digital project information. All other questions may be directed to the issuing office,
Carter & Sloope, Inc., Watkinsville, GA, 706-769-4119. All other questions may be
directed via email to Patricia Rice at [email protected].
FUNDING SOURCES
Funding is to be provided by local funds. No Federal requirements apply such as BABA
or Davis-Bacon.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, including without limitation, the rights to
reject any or all nonconforming, nonresponsive, unbalanced or conditional Bids and to reject
the Bid of any Bidder if Owner believes that it would not be in the best interest of the
Project to make an award to that Bidder, whether because the Bid is not responsive or the
Bidder is unqualified or of doubtful financial ability or fails to meet any other pertinent
standard or criteria established by the Owner.

04/09/2026

CITY OF WASHINGTON
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Monday, April 13, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m.
Edward Pope Conference Center
48B Lexington Avenue
Washington, GA 30673

I. Call to Order by Mayor Bruce Bailey
II. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
III. Consideration of Ethics Complaint – Angela Novelli
IV. Approval of March 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting Minutes
V. Approval of Meeting Agenda
VI. Committee/Board/Authority Reports Review
a. Included in Packets
VII. City Attorney Discussion/Action Items:
a. Present the Derelict Property Ordinance to be voted on.
b. Present an Ordinance to amend the Code of Ethics to be voted on. (5)
c. Under Article 2-231(b)-Add wording that says while in the public view, to be voted on.
d. Ordinance change for additional language to address social media and public address as
part of the Decorum, under which members can be fined $150.00 by the mayor and
council to be voted on.
VIII. City Administrator Topics:
IX. Mayor Discussion/Action Topics:
X. Council Discussion Topics:
a. Councilwoman Susan Branan: (1.) Brief report on Home Buyer Seminar for residents.
Thank you to Crystal Martin for coordinating this seminar.
b. Councilman Calvin Wiggs: (1.) Update on the charter review process.
c. Councilman Newton Gunter: (1) The Negativity of Social Media
d. Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey: (1.) Updates – Habitat for Humanity/YMCA/Town
Hall Meeting. (2.) Why wasn’t the city awarded any of the most recent water grants?
(3.) Wall Street on Whitehall, Food Giveaway (4.) Give all city employees the Good
Friday holiday.

XI. Public Forum to Address Council (Sign up. Limit comments to 3 minutes.)

01/09/2026

WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR MONDAY, JAN12
CITY OF WASHINGTON
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Monday, January 12, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m.
Edward Pope Conference Center
48B Lexington Avenue
Washington, GA 30673

I. Call to Order by Mayor Bruce Bailey
II. Invocation
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Oath of Office:
a. Judge Charping to issue the Oath of Office for Councilwoman Susan Branan
b. Judge Edward Anderson to issue the Oath of Office for Councilman Larry Hill
c. Judge Edward Anderson to issue the Oath of Office for Councilman Calvin J. Wiggs, III
V. Approval of December 08, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
VI. Approval of Meeting Agenda:
VII. Committee/Board/Authority Reports Review
a. Included in Packets
VIII. City Administrator Topics:
Recommendation to appoint Adam Nelson as City Attorney
Recommendation to appoint Douglas Kidd as Municipal Court Judge
IX. Major Discussion Topics:
a. Remediate the process of contacting the City Attorney.
X. Mayor Action Topics:
a. Recommend approval of Boards, Commissions & Authorities appointees.
b. Motion to approve Committee members: Animal Shelter: Councilman Larry Hill (District
1 even years 2 odd years), Electric: Councilman Calvin J. Wiggs, Cemetery Committee:
Councilman Larry Hill, Fire/Rescue: Councilman Calvin J. Wiggs/David Fisher, Housing
Authority Resident: Ms. Chelya Silva, Parks and Recreation: Councilman Calvin J.
Wiggs/Councilwoman Susan Branan, Health Department: Councilman David Fisher,
Connections: Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey/Councilwoman Susan Branan

XI. Council Discussion Topics:
a. Councilman Newton Gunter – Discussion on Districts (My observation of the past 2
years)
b. Councilman Larry Hill – A full update on city funding spent on the Andrew Drive project,
updates on the contractor, and progress, etc.
c. Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey – Limit the City Administrator from spending more
than $10,000 without council approval and performing due diligence. Examples:

Christmas Tree, Andrew Drive Project, Wesley Project (Due diligence/Lack of
Judgement)
d. Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey – Updates from City Administrator: 1. Boys/Girls Club
or YMCA 2. Habitat for Humanity 3. Water: Did we apply for the grants that were due in
December? Why isn’t the Water notice on brightly colored paper as requested? 4.
Strategic Planning Session Request last month 5. Andrew Drive Project 6. Final Copy of
the Budget
e. Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey – Updates to Citizens: 1. Whitehall on Wall Street 2.
New Ethics Policy
f. Councilman Calvin J. Wiggs – Councilmembers be given cell phones so that the city can
have oversight and easy access.

XII. Council Action Topics:
a. Councilman David Fisher – Ethics ordinance: Abolish the current ethics ordinance and
implement the one previously presented by the City Attorney
b. Councilman Larry Hill – A Motion to reinstate allocated 2026 funding for WCCP and 4E
Youth organization.
c. Councilman Larry Hill – A motion to hear Ms. Amethyst Wesley and Ms. Roxanne Cobb& #39;s
ethics complaints.
d. Councilman Larry Hill – A motion that the city repair all fencing as needed on Rusher
Street.
e. Councilman Calvin J. Wiggs – A motion to give councilmembers cell phones so that the
city can have oversight and easy access.

XIII. Executive Session regarding personnel, litigation, or real estate matters if needed.
a. Councilman Newton Gunter - 1 litigation
XIV. Public Forum to Address Council (Sign up. Limit comments to 3 minutes.)
XV. Return to Regular Session and any votes that may be needed from Executive Session
XVI. Adjournment

12/10/2025

12/04/2025

CITY OF WASHINGTON
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Monday, December 8, 2025 @ 6:00 PM
Edward B. Pope Conference Center

I. Call to Order by Mayor Bailey
II. Invocation
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Approval of November 10, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes
Approval of November 14, 2025, Budget Work Session Meeting
V. Approval of Meeting Agenda
VI. Citizens& #39; Comments: Limit to 3 minutes
VII. Committee/Board/Authority Reports Review:

a. Included in Packets
VIII. City Attorney Discussion/Action Items:

a. Tabled Item from last meeting: An Ordinance to amend the Code of Ethics (3)

IX. City Administrator Discussion/Action Item
1. Approval of 2026 Budget
X. Mayor Discussion Items/Action Items
XI. Council Members’ Discussion Items:
1. Councilwoman Kimberly J. Rainey:
a. Budget questions and non-negotiables
b. Update from City Administrator: Boys/Girl Club or YMCA, Habitat for Humanity (I am
working with John Barnett for the Wall Street on Whitehall project.)
c. Strategic Planning Session: Since we have so much unethical behavior and disrespect
for the citizens, I would like to see the city focus on what we were elected to do. I am
proposing a strategic planning session for January 2026. We have too many issues to
deal with other than the foolishness I’ve seen since I was elected. We need a five-year
plan that will keep us focused. I would like the council, three staff members, three
citizens from District One, and three from District Two to be included in this strategic
planning session. NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS. Each council member will
select one person to represent the citizens.
2. Councilman Nathaniel Cullars, Sr.:
a. 2026 Budget: 1. Fire Department 2. Animal Shelter 3. Public Safety 4. Senior Center 5.
Historic Properties 6. Cost of living or raises
b. City Administrator Resign or be Fired – Lack of knowledge of doing the job – Executive
Session
c. Disorderly Conduct Joshua D. Stokes – Executive Session
3. Councilman Larry Hill:
a. The URA and city-owned property at Gordon Street, the city and URA should be having
more discussions regarding development to benefit the City of Washington.
b. The library and animal shelter, all departments, and funding groups are required to give
reports. I think we also need council representatives on these boards—council members
from District 1 and District 2.
XII. Council Members& #39; Action Items:
1. Councilman Nathaniel Cullars, Sr.:
a. Motion to terminate the City Administrator for lack of job performance and knowledge to
do his job
b. Motion to terminate Joshua D. Stokes for disorderly conduct against a city official

XIII. Executive Session regarding personnel, litigation, or real estate matters. (If needed).
XIV. Return to Regular Session and any votes that may be needed from Executive Session

11/22/2025

Area High School Football Roundup
By Editor | November 22, 2025 |

Lincoln Red Devils 56-0 over Hawkinsville Red Devils
Devils remain undefeated and advance to next round

Washington-Wilkes Tigers fall to Bowdon Red Devils 24-54
Tigers ends season in 2nd round of State Playoffs

11/10/2025

VETERANS DAY EVENT SET FOR WASHINGTON SQUARE 11AM TUESDAY

Veterans Day event Tuesday on Washington Square By Editor | November 10, 2025 | 0 November 11 Veterans Day observance set for the Square – Gyvonne Pinkston (WASHINGTON, Ga) – Details for the Washington-Wilkes annual Veterans Day observance, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, beginning at 11 a....