Cleveland City Councilman CJ McDonald, Jeremy McClure, Specialist John Sovine, Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner, Council members Nan Bowen and Annie Sutton – Photo Dean Dyer
(Cleveland)- The Cleveland City Council took time Tuesday night to honor an employee of the City of Cleveland Fire Department and a Military Police Officer Specialist John Sovine.
Sovine, a graduate of White County High School, began his military career in 2015 as a member of the 178th Military Police Company. He served in numerous capacities including including providing law enforcement assistance during rioting in Atlanta in 2021. In 2023 Specialist Sovine was deployed to Kuwait for a couple of different operations there.
He returned to the United States on July 30th, 2024, and resumed his duties as a Cleveland firefighter on August 20th of this year.
Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner read from the proclamation said, “Now it, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council members of the city of Cleveland recognize the outstanding service of Specialist John A. Sovine has provided and continues to provide the citizens of Cleveland and the citizens of the United States of America given under the hand and seal by proclamation of the mayor and city council of the City of Cleveland, Georgia this third day of September 2024.”
The city council also approved a proclamation honoring National Recovery Month. This proclamation will be officially presented during the special celebration with the Georgia Recovers Bus Tour event at Freedom Park in Cleveland on September 11, from 6-8 PM.
I remember John as a 9th grade student at White County Ninth Grade Academy. I could see potential in him even when he couldn’t necessarily see it in himself. I also remember fussing at him when he was in trouble. I am very proud to see the young man he has become. He is a credit to our community. Congratulation, John. Good job!!!