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PAGE 2A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. APRIL 29. 2004
What we need is another holiday
It’s time to celebrate — something
Every year only two states in the country offi
cially celebrate the battles of Lexington and Con
cord of April 19, 1775, which sparked the war that
gave us our independence.
Just another work day for the rest of us, Patri
ot’s Day in Massachusetts and Maine is a state
holiday, meaning most employees have the day off
and students from kindergarten to college get a
day’s break from class.
On most calendars, Patriot’s Day is not even
marked, reducing it to one of the 52 most dreadful
days of the year for those who participate in full
time employment — Monday.
In Massachusetts, the holiday is celebrated on
the third Monday in April. Even
though the government and most
businesses outside of tourism and
hospitality lock their doors, it is one
of the liveliest days of the year.
It is the same day as the annual
running of the Boston Marathon.
employers give all their employees at least four
weeks paid vacation every year. In the U.S. there
is no paid vacation law. Most bosses choose to
give their workers only two weeks per year.
The French have an envious 35-hour work
week.
The Spanish have their afternoon siesta every
day, during which time they close up shop,
reopening in the evening.
In Asian nations workers get a customary hour
for lunch followed by another hour for a nap.
Wouldn’t it be great if at one o’clock every day,
everyone in the office or at the job site pulled out
their sleeping mat and took a little rest, just like in
kindergarten? They do across much
Wouldn’t it be of China and Southeast Asia.
Some medical experts would
great IJ at one argue that our work performance
o ’clock every day, would im P rovc , and in fact the na P-
. 1 y ping Chinese are not far behind us
everyone in the in total productivity and global mar-
There is always a sold-out Red Sox piffjpp pi*- sit flip ' <ct share.
baseball game. This year there was 77 J Our state could start by following
even a professional hockey game. Site pulled OUt the example of Massachusetts and
Everyone is out and about, fl,pj r clpprijn o mnt Maine, not necessarily with Patriot’s
watching the race, sitting in the tty trig Day, ^ with some work-free holi-
park, having a picnic, attending a
party or just strolling around. There
are even parades and reenactments
commemorating the midnight ride
of Paul Revere and the shot heard
‘round the world.
In other words, everyone in Massachusetts on
Patriot’s Day relishes a rare opportunity to take it
easy on a work-free Monday, while the rest of us
consider ourselves lucky if we just make it
through the day.
For once, as some would say, our northern
friends have got something right. Celebrating an
important part of American culture shows that res
idents of these two states recognize that some
things are simply more important than working all
the time.
Studies confirm that Americans work more than
citizens of other developed nations. Naturally that
is why we are one of the most productive coun
tries on the planet. But moderation is important
even with a hard working attitude.
Wouldn’t it be fun to just have fun every once
in a while?
Most European countries have a law that makes
and took a little
rest, just like in
kindergarten?
day that recognizes part of our cul
tural heritage.
Why not have a Monday in
August, a month short of holidays
anyway, in honor of the cave men,
the last generation who could afford
taking sitting around for granted?
If Americans worked less, we would have more
time to spend with our friends and families. We
would be able to exercise more in an age where
obesity is one of the leading causes of death.
Stress levels would likely drop dramatically as we
spent less time repeating the required occupational
routine, and more time doing the things we actual
ly enjoy.
There is truth in the saying that all work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy.
Of course we should be proud of our country’s
reputation as a global economic leader, and under
stand that constant work is what gave us that dis
tinction but there comes a time to say enough is
enough.
It’s high time someone said “down with Mon
days.” Let’s celebrate — something.
Tell us what you think via the internet: the progress online message board
www.pickensprogress.com
or e-mail a Letter to the Editor at news@pickensprogress.com. All Letters must have a valid e-mail
address and a full name. The name will be published
Reflections
By Elaine Jordan
Paving Over Paradise
“The Times They Are A
Changin’” is probably more true
today than it was 40 years ago
when folk singer Bob Dylan first
sang those words in his distinctive
nasal whine in the 1960s.
To get an idea of what I’m talk
ing about, just get in your car and
take a leisurely drive north or south
on the 515 four-lane that winds
through Pickens, Gilmer and Fan
nin counties.
What you see should astound
you — or dismay you — because the
rampant building boom is every
where. Growth — businesses, fast-
food chains, auto dealerships, hous
es, hospitals, super stores, mobile
home parks and more have all
sprouted like mushrooms after a
warm summer rain.
To anyone who moved to these
mountains to get away from it all
elsewhere, I’m sorry to say “All”
has found us and moved here too.
And like it or not, it can only get
worse.
In the 20th century folks were
warmed not to “make a mountain
out of a molehill.”
Perhaps in this 21st century
mankind will become proficient at
“making mole hills out of moun
tains.” Give several men large
earth-moving machines and a cou
ple months’ time and they can bull
doze, dynamite and truck away any
size mountain.
The flat land that is left then
becomes high priced real estate
where a giant shopping center can
be built almost over night.
Case in point is the Highlands
Shopping Center just south of Elli-
jay. Two years ago a pretty, wood
ed scenic mountain reposed there
as one drove north on the four-lane
from Pickens County. Tree huggers
shuddered when loggers went in to
cut and trucked off the largest
trees.
Then huge yellow machines
descended, chewed up the moun
tain and spit it into dump trucks.
Soon a barren flat wasteland
emerged. Drive past there today
and you’ll see a Super Wal-Mart,
Lowes, Goody’s, Wendy’s, Captain
D’s, Zaxbys and other buildings
squatting where once the mountain
stood. Yet to come is a sprawling
car dealership, 10 screen movie
theatre, motels, Applebee’s, Ruby
Tuesdays, more stores and who
knows what else.
Soon Jasper’s four-lane will be
bordered by a Home Depot,
Kroger, more fast-food places and
many other new buildings too. And
the same story is being played out
in Fannin County as well as in
other once scenic counties to the
north.
Growth will come -- it’s
inevitable. But one can’t help but
wonder -- how long will it be
before our mountains are all hauled
away, our trees cut down and the
breathtaking scenery we all love so
much be just a memory?
And how long will it be before
we look just like everywhere else,
USA?
Yup, the times they are a chang
ing’. They’re paving over Paradise
— and I don’t like it much at all.
iPtcfeeng Count? progress
(USPS 431-820)
Published by Pickens County Progress, Inc.
94 North Main St. P.O. Box 67 Jasper, GA 30143
(706) 253-2457 FAX (706) 253-9738
JOHN R. POOL DAN POOL
Publisher Editor
WILLIAM E. POOL
Managing Editor
Published each Thursday at Jasper, Pickens County, Georgia. Entered at
the Post Office at Jasper, Georgia 30143 as Meal Matter of Second Class.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE PICKENS COUNTY
PROGRESS, P. O. Box 67, Jasper, GA 30143.
One Year’s Subscription: $16.05 in Pickens County and in Gilmer,
Cherokee, Dawson and Gordon Counties. $23.54 in all other Georgia
counties; $28.89 out of state.
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CUJUAC
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
"That's the trouble with new parents ...
all they want to talk about is their latest additions!"
Southern Party of Georgia candidate Crane
announces campaign for state senate
Mike Crane is pleased to
announce his candidacy for State
Senate District 51 as a candidate of
the Southern Party of Georgia.
In today’s world, our govern
ment at federal, State and local lev
els has lost many of the principles
of our Founding Fathers. The goal
of the Southern Party is to offer a
real choice to voters, one that is
based upon returning to the princi
ples upon which our great nation
was founded.
All too often, a small number
decide important issues and the
influence of special interest groups
takes preference over the citizens.
One of our Founding Fathers
wrote about this many years ago:
“The issue today is the same as it
has been throughout all history,
whether man shall be allowed to
govern himself or be ruled by a
small elite. ” - Thomas Jefferson
Here in Georgia we face this
same issue; and what Thomas Jef
ferson described as an "elite" is
embodied in the politically correct,
overly greedy corporations espe
cially the large Atlanta corpora
tions and the interaction of these
two with various State agencies,
commissions, boards and associa
tions. Let me ask, "How
many regular working citizens do
you see on these governing associ
ations?"
Political correctness is running
amok in Georgia, and is contrary to
the desires and interests of the citi
zens in our district. Our country
was founded on the principle of
being a Christian nation that would
practice religious tolerance. A
nation that would practice “limited
government.”
Southern Heritage is also one of
the foundations upon which Ameri
can Liberty was built; Jefferson,
Washington, Henry, Madison, Mar
shall, Randolph, Mason, the list of
Southern Men goes on and on.
Politically correct attacks on
Southern Heritage must end. It is
impossible to understand our
Founding Principles without an
understanding of Southern Her
itage. The immediate test for Geor
gia is a Fair Vote on the State Flag
and the referendum in November
on the natural union of a Man and a
Woman in marriage. I strongly sup
port both our Christian and South
ern Heritage.
The unholy influence of corpo
rations on our State government is
not in the interests of either our
District or Georgia. Development
results in repeated property tax
assessment increases so that you
pay for your neighbor’s profit.
Taxes paid by all Georgians
are not distributed evenly across
our State, especially in the area of
jobs which are concentrated in
Atlanta. Regional Commis
sions have proposed policies that
would lay claim on our District’s
water and road funds. Your future
tax dollars have been used as collat
eral for the new Atlanta
water/sewage facilities. I am
opposed to this influence and will
work diligently for its elimination
and a Fair treatment of the 51st
District and all Georgians.
The 51st District is Blessed in
this campaign. My opponents are
all candidates of high quality and
integrity and I commend them for
offering for public service. It is my
goal in this campaign to provide not
just criticisms but solutions for the
issues - solutions that are based
upon our Founding Principles. If
you believe that we are losing these
Principles and are concerned, I
hope you will give my candidacy
your consideration.
I was born in Chattanooga and
live in Morganton, in Fannin Coun
ty. My family roots date back to the
1830s in the Hanging Dog and
Murphy sections of North Carolina.
I am married to the former Pamela
S. Clark and have three grown chil
dren and eight grandchildren. Pam
& I worship at Morganton Baptist
Church and are active members.
Please feel free to contact me;
toll-free: 877-903-0996: 706-374-
2640 (in Fannin County): by email:
mikecrane@tds.net or
http:// w w w.ElectMikeCrane .org
NORTH STAR
EQUESTRIAN
CENTER ^
Boarding, Training, Lessons
Indoor Arena, Access to Mountain Trails
Mobile: (404) 861-4425 Home: (770) 893-3869
Stable: (770) 893-4575
www.northstarequestrian.com
673 Long Swamp Church Rd. • Jasper, GA
Jasper Middle School 6th Grade
Beginning Band Try-Outs
All 5th Grade students interested in playingn the band
next year at Jasper Middle School needs to attend a
registration meeting to be scheduled for band class
during the 2003-2004 school year at the JMS
Bandroom. At this meeting the students will select
their instrument for beginning study, and Mr. Smith will
discuss the band program with the parents. Please
drop by for a brief meeting during any of the times
posted.
Jasper Middle School Bandroom
Monday, May 3, 2004
3:30 - 7:00
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
3:30 - 6:00
If you have any questions or cannot make it to the
meeting feel free to call JMS at (706) 253-1769.
APPALACHIAN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
ANNOUNCEMENT
JUVENILE COURT JUDGE POSITION
The Appalachian Judicial Circuit announces a vacancy for the position
of Juvenile court Judge.
Minimum Qualifications: Applicant attorneys must satisfy statutory and
constitutional requirements as set forth for a judge of the Juvenile Court and be
in good standing with the State and Circuit Bar Associations.
Interested persons may obtain an application from Tara Gibson, Judge
Weaver’s secretary. The application with resume attached must be received by
Judge Weaver by June 30. 2004
Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2004