Newspaper Page Text
And They’re
Enthusiastic Crowd
Cheers On The Ducks •
THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007 • VOLUME 120 NUMBER 11 • JASPER, GEORGIA • 500
Briefly ...
Courthouse
Security
Tightened
An X-ray machine and
metal detector have been
installed at the Pickens
Courthouse. The new
security measures are in
response to state regula
tions that require
increased scrutiny of all
people entering a court
house. So if you’re head
ed to the courtroom, don’t
bring along your favorite
Case pocket knife or even
your knitting needles. If it
sets off the machine, it’s
confiscated. Page 3A
Property Tax
Is Forum Topic
The local League of
Women Voters is hosting
a property tax forum
Saturday with emphasis
on current Pickens sen
iors’ school tax exemption
and the pros and cons of
possible changes to that
exemption. Page 7A
Appalachian
i o . r.u n .i i; it 11> p i
You Can Learn
Something New
Appalachian Tech
announces its Continuing
Education schedule for
summer. Covering topics
ranging from computers
to self defense, some
courses offer residents an
opportunity for personal
enrichment while others
focus on career
advancement. Page 7A
The Contests Begin
Along with offering
homegrown produce,
local gar
deners are
also com
peting for
bragging
rights at the
Jasper
Farmers’
Market.
The Big Ole Tomato and
Longest Homegrown
Squash contests are now
underway. Page 3B
Weather
By WILLIAM DILBECK
HI
LOW
RAIN
Tuesday
85
68
.35
Wednesday
80
64
.34
Thursday
81
64
.00
Friday
78
66
.00
Saturday
77
67
.00
Sunday
81
67
.00
Monday
83
67
.67
Deaths
Sara Gifford
Elsbeth Mountien
Robert Albrecht
Herbert Thacker, Sr.
Laura Graham
Eloise Childers
Bessie Mulkey
Kim Kelley
Mr. E.D. “Josh” Fitts
Lolete Little
OBITUARIES . ..See Page 10A
Visit Us
On The Web
www.pickensprogres s .com
The Progress is
printed in part on
recycled newsprint
and is recyclable
Dress code too restrictive, parents tell school board
All schools make AYP designation
By Christie Pool
Speaking out against the new dress
code they say is too restrictive on kids, a
handful of parents attended Thursday
night’s school board meeting hoping to
see some changes. Many of those parents
left disgruntled when, following the
meeting, none of the board members
made any comments about their con
cerns.
After months of discussion about what
is acceptable dress for local students, the
board recently passed new rules regard
ing dress in grades 6-12. The new dress
code says shirts and blouses must be top
hemmed and cover the upper torso (no
bare midriffs). T-shirts are allowed only
if they have no writing or drawings on
them and dresses, shirts, shorts and sko-
rts must be knee length when standing.
The new policy states shoes must be
worn and no baggy pants are allowed.
At a previous meeting. Board
Chairman John Trammell said on visits to
the high school he noticed numerous stu
dents walking around without shoes.
One parent, Patricia Boutwell, said
she felt the newly revised dress code is
too strict. Boutwell also voiced concern
that the dress code will be a financial
hardship on her since she typically buys
her son’s clothes so they will last two
years.
“I have to send my son to college in a
few years and I have to save everything I
can,” Boutwell said. “I buy my son’s
clothes so they will last a couple of years.
The only thing I can’t do that with are his
shoes. Some of his shirts say
Abercrombie, Hollister, but some are Old
Navy and some say nothing. Requiring
them to wear clothes with a collar is too
restrictive.”
Boutwell also said blacklisting cargo
pants and shorts because they could har
bor weapons or drugs was not the way to
prevent contraband items from entering
the schools.
Other parents agreed.
Greg Owens said the board should
focus on students who break the rules and
attempt to bring unwanted items into the
school instead of punishing everyone.
“We want our kids to see school as a
positive thing and have tried to show our
children (a respect) for school,” Owens
said. “It saddens us to know we cannot
support the dress code. The board is say
ing that by prohibiting cargo pants they
Continued on page 4A
Tammy Poole pleads not guilty to murder
By Michael Moore
Talking Rock resident
Tammy Poole pleaded not guilty
to the murder of her late hus
band, Robert Michael Poole, in
Pickens County Superior Court
Friday.
Tammy Poole is charged
with two counts of murder, pos
session of a firearm during the
commission of a crime, false
statement, terroristic threats,
simple battery, and felon in pos
session of a firearm. She plead
ed not guilty to all seven counts
at her arraignment.
Michael Poole was killed in
April by a .22 caliber gunshot
wound to the head.
Tammy Poole was arrested in
late June, following the comple
tion of a Georgia Bureau of
Investigation (GBI) medical
examiner report. According to
local law enforcement officials,
that report indicated the hus
band’s wound was not self-
inflicted.
Among those present in the
courtroom for Tammy Poole’s
arraignment Friday were several
members of Michael Poole’s
family.
Some were dressed in tee-
shirts printed and designed in
Poole’s honor. On the front of
the shirts was a smiling portrait
of Mr. Poole, with the words,
“In Loving Memory, R. Michael
Michael Poole’s family wore tee-shirts specially made in
his memory at a hearing for his former wife and accused
killer, Tammy Poole, Friday. Pictured are (l-r) Emily Poole,
mother; Christine Weaver, sister; Callie Poole, 11-year-old
daughter; Brittany Barnett, niece; Jesse Poole, 17-year-old
daughter; and Teresa Patterson, cousin of Michael Poole.
Poole, May 4, 1968 - April 22,
2007.” On back, the shirts said,
“You are greatly missed by
those who love you.”
After the arraignment Mr.
Poole’s cousin, Teresa
Patterson, said the tee-shirts
were a memorial to the victim.
“We are not going to forget
about what happened, and we
don’t want to let everybody else
forget about it,” said Patterson.
Weaver lauds local government,
outlines water challenge
as he announces for reelection
By Jeff Warren
Jasper Mayor John Weaver
chose a regular local meeting of
the American Legion to official
ly throw his hat in the ring for
the mayoral election this fall.
"I am seeking reelection," he
told Legionnaires gathered at
the county library Tuesday
evening, July 10. In a speech
delivered early in the meeting,
Weaver praised the value of city
governments generally and
specified water as Jasper city
government's current major
challenge.
“I think the mayor-council
form of government is the best
form of government,” Weaver
said. “Cities provide magnified
services.”
Local problems most need
local solutions, he said, and
communities can hardly expect
county government to make
good on all their needs in close
detail.
"The county commissioner
does not have time to worry
about the sidewalks in Tate,"
Weaver said. "And if he did, Hill
City would want sidewalks too."
"I don't think any city should
ever give up its charter," Weaver
added. "I think Tate should
apply for a charter tomorrow
and fix those sidewalks."
"City governments are the
economic engines of all the
counties in the state," Weaver
continued. And continued
growth is a necessity, he main
tains.
Weaver speculated that
among ancient Romans were
probably some satisfied with
their piece of the pie who called
for an end to empire building.
But to end growth is to stagnate
the economy, he said.
"Let me tell you now,"
Weaver addressed the
Legionnaires, "you stop the
growth, and all the wars you
gentlemen fought would have
Continued on page 4A
Summer meeting
changes
Due to summer vacation,
holidays and other commit
ments both the Jasper City
Council and County
Commissioner have changed
their July meetings.
The Jasper council did not
meet the first week of the
month as normal due to the hol
iday. They re-scheduled their
meeting for July 23rd at 6 p.m.
at city hall.
The county commissioner
has cancelled his July meeting,
normally held on the fourth
Friday of the month. The com
missioner will be out of town
that day.
Commissioner Rob Jones
will next conduct formal busi
ness on August 17. The meeting
was moved up one week ahead
of the normal meeting date, due
to other commitments. The
meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the
administrative conference
room.
Two fatal
accidents
in past week
Cove Road
accident
claims one
A Jasper woman was killed
in an auto accident on Cove
Road last Thursday, July 12.
Judith Walker, 64 years old,
was pronounced dead at the
scene of the two-car collision,
according to Corporal Barrett of
the Georgia State Patrol.
Walker was the front seat
passenger of an Acura RSX that
was traveling southbound on
Cove Road when it struck a
Ford Windstar minivan going
the opposite direction, said
Barrett, who responded to the
accident around 10 a.m.
Walker’s husband Robert
Walker was driving the Acura.
Barrett said the minivan
crossed the center line of Cove
Road and collided head-on with
the Acura.
The GSP corporal said nei
ther driver was cited for traffic
violations, but charges are pos
sible pending the completion of
an investigation to be conducted
by the GSP’s Special Collision
Reconstruction Team (SCRT).
Crash on wet road
takes state patrol
officer’s life
Georgia State Patrol officer
Michael Bradley Torbett, age 38
of Lafayette, was killed in a sin
gle-car collision in Pickens
County Monday afternoon
while traveling to work.
According to state patrol
media spokesperson Senior
Continued on page 4A
Damon Howell / Photo
A rUCkuS OU stage at Li y l Abll€F—Abner Yokum (patched overalls) finds himself torn between wannabe
wives Daisy Mae Scraggs (legs) and Appassionato Von Climax (blue satin) during Dogpatch’s annual Sadie Hawkins Day
free-for-all where females get to choose their man (if’n they can chase one down and catch him). The rollicking play rides
again Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Pickens High Auditorium. Read all about it and see more photos on page 12B.
