Newspaper Page Text
angela
gary
Welcome to
the world,
Judd: Part 2
In the April 7, 1999, issue
of this newspaper, the head
line of my column was:
“Welcome to the world,
baby Judd.”
Eighteen years later. Judd
is graduating high school
and headed to Young Harris
College, where he will play
baseball and seek a degree
in pre-med with plans to be
a peditrician.
I am so proud of the young
man Judd has become. He
has many academic and
athletic accomplishments. I
am most proud of his faith
and the path he takes by
always putting God first.
My sister and I were
Banks County High School
last week where Judd, sur
rounded by family and
friends, made a commit
ment to attend Young Har
ris as part of the baseball
team. Then. Friday night,
my family joined the hun
dreds of people at Leop
ard Stadium watching the
seniors turn the tassel to
this chapter in their life and
begin another journey.
In honor of this special
time, I looked up that col
umn from 1999 when Judd
was born. Here it is:
Dear Judd.
You look so precious and
innocent curled up in the
fetal position in your crib.
You have a full head of
dark hair just like your par
ents. I'm not sure about
your eyes because they
are closed every time I see
you. Your mother assures
me they open up plenty of
times during the night.
Despite a love of chil
dren, I never wanted to
have a baby of my own. But
looking at your sweet face
and feeling your tiny fin
gers as they curl around one
of my fingers, I understand.
I understand what makes
a couple want to change
their lifestyle and welcome
a new arrival into the home.
Your mother has been a
friend of mine for as long
as I can remember. It was
actually my sister who first
brought Robin Fields into
our family. Robin was her
friend at first but now the
whole family calls her our
friend.
We have had lots of fun
over the years from when
we were teenagers and
went to the beach to soak
up the sun to more recent
years when a trip to the
mountains to shop is our
idea of a vacation.
Robin and Amanda have
both married now. Robin
was the first to have a baby
and we will all share these
new experiences with her.
We have all been filled
with excitement since we
first heard that Robin had
gone to the hospital. I had
to work late the night you
were born but I called the
hospital. Robin’s voice was
filled with excitement and
pride as she talked about
the delivery.
It wasn’t long before my
mother, sister and I crowd
ed around you to welcome
you to the world. As Aman
da and I cooed and made
baby noises over you, we
asked you to look up at
“Aunt Angie’’ and “Aunt
Amanda.’’ Robin may not
have any sisters but you
will have plenty of “aunts”
around to spoil you.
Continued on page 2C
The Jackson Herald
Friends
May 31, 2017
Do you have an idea
for a feature story?
Email Angela Gary at
AngieEditor@aol.com
or call 706-410-1022.
Section C
Recognized for 40 years of service
Elections Center named in honor of Ponchie Beck
BYANGELA GARY
The Jackson County Elections Office has been named in
honor of a man who has served the board of elections and
voter registration department for 40 years.
Ponchie Beck was recognized last week with a recep
tion in his honor with the new name of the office being
revealed.
“We are very blessed to have Ponchie as our leader.”
stated Lori Wurtz, supervisor of the county board of
elections and voter registration office. “Our gratitude has
grown beyond the parameters of mere words; it stems
from within our hearts. We love you Ponchie Beck, and
we are most certainly full of gratitude for you. It is a great
honor to rename our elections office to the Ponchie Beck
Elections Center.”
Wurtz added: “Ponchie is the ’constant’ piece of the
Elections Office. Every other piece has changed, some of
them several times. But for 40 years, Ponchie has been
the heart of this office. He always has a smile on his face,
a joke to share, and his well of knowledge runs deep. It
doesn’t matter what the topic is elections, cooking,
woodworking, gardening...he always answers our ques
tions. He is a man of great integrity, one who leads with
dignity and strength. He is not aggressive in his leader
ship; he doesn’t need to be.”
Beck was presented with a plaque of appreciation from
county manager Kevin Poe.
Ameika Pitts, who represented Brian Kemp and the
state elections office, presented Beck with an “Outstand
ing Georgia Citizen’s Award.”
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum also spoke and
shared some of her memories of Beck.
Prior to the reception, Beck was sworn in by Judge
David Motes to serve another four-year term on the board
of elections. Also sworn in were Peg Sheffield and Ther-
essa Tate.
Lori Wurtz is shown with a plaque that will be located in the county elections
office naming the space as the Ponchie Beck Elections Center.
STATE
RECOGNITION
Ameika Pitts, who rep
resented Brian Kemp
and the state elec
tions office, presented
Ponchie Beck with an
“Outstanding Georgia
Citizen’s Award.”
BOARD OF ELECTIONS SWEARING-IN
Judge David Motes swore in board of elections members to serve another
four-year term. Shown are: (L-R) Peg Sheffield, Ponchie Beck, Judge Motes
and Theressa Tate.
I 2,
COUNTY RECOGNITION
Ponchie Beck was presented with a plaque of
appreciation from county manager Kevin Poe.
Veteran gets home in Maysville through Gary Sinise Foundation
BY WESLEIGH SAGON
The Gary Sinise Foundation recently held a dedication
ceremony for a specially-adapted smart home built for
USMC Corporal Sean Adams, a Hall County Marine, who
was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, left a profound
effect on him so he enlisted in the Marines after graduat
ing from high school.
“There was not much offered getting out of high school,”
he said. “I love the culture of the Marines. I decided to join
to be a part of the war that started when I was a kid.”
In 2012. Adams was on a reconnaissance patrol in Hel-
mand Province, Afghanistan. The area was known to be
filled with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). While on
patrol, Adams spotted an indicator marking one nearby,
but was unaware of the IED two feet in front of him.
The blast took both of Adams’ legs above each knee,
injured his right and left hands as well as his right arm. He
also lost partial vision in his left eye.
Adams doesn’t consider himself a hero, as he stated the
true heroes are the service men who helped keep him alive
on the battlefield following his injury.
During the dedication ceremony. Adams once again
reunited with his fellow comrades, five years after the
incident took place.
Adams began his recovery at Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center. He said the things that kept him
pushing forward were his family, friends, and his brothers
overseas.
Adams had currently rented a house but the home was
not conducive to his capabilities.
“A few years ago, on Christmas Eve, I received a phone
call to apply for the home,” he said.
His new property and specially adapted smart home was
designed and built with his interests in mind. The home,
located on Marlow Road, Maysville, will allow Adams to
move forward with his life and focus on his ultimate goals:
To have a muscle car garage to work on his 1970 Chevelle
SS, to help other wounded veterans with similar passions
and to raise his family.
Adams’ smart home is a 3,000 plus square foot home
that sits on 67 acres and is controlled through an iPad. The
iPad controls the home lighting and many other features to
make life easier for Adams.
The home is also adapted with widened doors for easy
wheel chair access, a remote-controlled bed, handicap
accessible bath with a custom-made bench seat, and a
kitchen that features a touch screen stove among other
elements.
In the future, Adams plans to build a separate addition to
his home which will include a small ADA compliant cabin
to help other veterans in need.
Adams now makes arrangements to give motivational
speeches and works with those with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) in their road to recovery.
UNVEILING OF SMART HOME
Wounded hero USMC Corporal Sean Adams (Ret.) received a smart home through
the Gary Sinise Foundation. Adams’ smart home was recently unveiled during an open
house dedication ceremony. This house is located on Marlow Road, Maysville.
TOUCH SCREEN STOVE
Wounded hero USMC Corporal Sean Adams (Ret.) recently received a home
through the Gary Sinise Foundation. This home is specially adapted and is
controlled through an iPad. Here, Adams shows guests how to use his touch
screen stove during his open house event. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon