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Top stories, photos of 2014 Page 12A If you would like to subscribe call 706-253-2457 or fill out a form at pickensproaress.com Txrxrxn? rukn> fmt* tWm Bethany man critical after shootout By Dan Pool Editor dpool@pickensprogress.com Pickens sheriff officials say their investigation into why a well-liked Bethany Road me chanic shot at two deputies on Christmas Eve turned up no solid motive. Ned Womack, 47, remained in critical condition on Monday with wounds to the torso and head after being shot by Deputy Ryne Kirkland in an exchange of gunfire after the deputies re sponded to a domestic dispute call at his residence. “None,” said Captain Frank Reynolds when asked if there were motives on why he decided to shoot at the deputies. “There was nothing to indicate he had anything against law enforce ment officers. It may have spilled over from the domestic [call].” After the story was posted on line, comments indicated that Womack was a well-liked and honest mechanic. His shop, lo cated at his Bethany Road home, was closed frequently the past several weeks according to one regular customer. Online com ments indicated Womack had some health problems. Lynn Manous said Womack was like a big brother to her. He had been friends with her family for more than 40 years. “It’s not just uncharacteristic. It’s unfath omable,” she said of him shoot ing at a deputy. She said Womack was a well- rounded, good person who put family and friends first. She had never known of him to have a vi olent side or mental instability. Manous said two of Wom ack’s customers/friends both re called that he had received shots after stepping on something sharp about two weeks ago. She said he told them he was having trouble working since the shots as he was “shaky,” and had to lie down occasionally and he had just not “felt like himself.” Cpt. Reynolds said the shoot ing remains under review by both the local sheriff’s office and GBI. In fact, Reynolds noted that there was still a good bit of review to complete before they have any conclusions. Going over the incident on Monday, Reynolds gave a more See Shootout, Page 11A Pickens County Sheriff’s Office / PHOTO A deputy stands watch at a Bethany Road home Christmas Eve. The owner was shot after he first fired at deputies. Flu cases widespread but few complications with strain New Year’s Eve ball drop expected to draw large crowds By Dan Pool Editor dpool@pickensprogress.com The week of Christmas, flu was accounting for 20 to 30 per cent of all patients seen at the Piedmont Mountainside emer gency room with doctors seeing 10 to 12 people every shift with the aches, fevers and chills that accompany the virus. Friday Dr. Chris Atkins, the medical director of the emer gency department at Piedmont Mountainside, said the influenza virus is responsible for much of their business, with children being seen the most with the flu. See Flu, Page 11A Year in review Top 2014 stories January 30 Surprise Snow Strands Motorists - Beginning just after 9 a.m. Tuesday, January 28, and continuing throughout the day, the thickest snow Pickens had seen in 2014 blanketed the ground. DOT crews were out in full force salting main highways and bridges, but county emergency crews still worked numerous motor vehicle accidents throughout the day. At one point Cove Road was closed. ATV and dune buggy owners were seen making the most of the day on Main Street in Jasper midday. Feb. 20 Winter Storm Pax in late February was mostly uneventful in Pickens County Despite dire warnings from forecasters calling for a catastrophic storm of “historic proportions,” See Stories Page 12A Staff reports Organizers expect a large crowd to ring in the New Year at the downtown Jasper celebra tion Wednesday night, featuring a ball drop, fireworks and music. The first annual downtown New Year’s Eve ball drop drew more than 1,000 people last year. Planners are following the same model as last year and be lieve, with good weather, an even bigger crowd. “We have been getting a lot of calls about it from outside the area,” Mayor John Weaver said. “This is a unique event for this area. No one else hosts anything similar.” Weaver said it may appeal to people who want a festive and safe event to celebrate the changing of the year. Weaver said people are encouraged to have a good time and are wel come to “tailgate with RVs” parked on side streets in town. “But we will not tolerate a rowdy crowd,” he said. “This is a family-oriented event.” Even if the weather is cold, city officials encourage people to come out. “If they can do it in Times Square in New York, we can handle it here in Jasper, Georgia,” Weaver said. Fire Chief Steve Roper said, “It’s New Year’s Eve, not the 4th of July, it’s supposed to be cold.” According to early forecasts, the weather should be in the 30s that night but with very little chance of precipitation. Events kick off on the north end of Main Street at 7:30 p.m. Aerial maps of Pickens to be updated An aerial photograph of downtown Jasper taken from the Pickens County Tax Assessor’s QPUBLIC website, which makes mapping, land parcel and tax data available online. Following audit, 2013 tax digest accepted by state, Page 15A By Angela Reinhardt Staff writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com The Pickens Tax Assessor’s Office has plans to spend $17,000 updating aerial photog raphy used on mapping websites available to the general public. Pickens chief assessor Roy Dobbs, speaking at the Board of Assessors meeting on Thursday, Dec 18, said he has “confidence” in the update, which is part of the 2015 Georgia Mountains Re- See Maps Page 11A Obits - Page 7A Betty Tidwell Bernice Duncan Bobbie Stanfield Mildred Williams Don Pharr Jean Payne www.PickensProgress.com Hjj www.facebook.com/PickensProgress www.Twitter.com/PickensProgress Part of this newspaper is made up of recycled newsprint and is recyclable. 1 6 3 0