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THURSDAY. JANUARY 22. 2015 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 9A
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Letters to the Editor
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Dear Editor:
I am not a member of the
“Pickens Seniors for Change”
group but I find it offensive to
see them attacked as being self
ish and wanting to evade taxes.
What they want is the same re
spect and consideration given
seniors in many counties across
Georgia and the nation. They
want a break on educational
property tax. If anyone really
does not understand how that
works, just look at Cherokee
County.
Of course working families
would pay more during their
working years but they will ben
efit when they become seniors.
It might be harder on the work
ing poor but think how hard it is
on the non-working poor? I’m
sure I am not the only person to
know of a struggling senior fam
ily or widow on Social Security.
One can argue against a tax break
on other grounds but don’t stoop
to attacking the character of
those who want what many other
seniors in Georgia already get.
As for the “inconsiderate” ad
submitted by “Pickens Seniors
for Change,” I think it makes
perfect sense. We all know that
we live in a county with a high
percentage of seniors. One way
of reducing that percentage is for
seniors to stop at Cherokee
County when looking for a new
home. Let working families
move in and buy houses in Pick
ens. Not only would this help
lower the senior population in
Pickens County, it would save
those seniors staying in Chero
kee a boat load of money. That
sure looks like a win-win propo
sition to me! Or, perhaps there is
a way to start small on a property
tax break for seniors and increase
it as the county grows and in
creases its tax base.
Let me address an issue not
mentioned. I know there are sen
iors out there that prepared well
for their retirement years. I know
many of you don’t mind paying
higher taxes. If your conscience
won’t let you accept a property
tax break, write a check to your
favorite charity or give it back to
the school board.
A1 Rothe
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the State Bar of
Georgia, I would like to offer
congratulations to Appalachian
Judicial Circuit Superior Court
Judge Amanda H. Mercier on her
reappointment by Gov. Nathan
Deal as a new member of the
State Commission on Family Vi
olence.
All Georgians will benefit
from Judge Mercier’s continued
service on the commission,
which works with communities
and systems across the state to
provide leadership in strengthen
ing Georgia’s families by ending
family violence.
Judge Mercier’s acceptance
of this post is evidence of her
continued dedication to serving
the public and the justice sys
tem. We wish her well in this
new capacity of statewide lead
ership.
Sincerely,
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker
President, State Bar of Georgia
Dear Editor:
The Nelson City Council held
a work session on January 20.
After receiving the agenda, I no
ticed the Public Comment item
was omitted from the agenda. I
questioned the city clerk who in
formed me that the mayor in
sisted that it be left off. An
inquiry to the city attorney con
firmed that the council had
amended the Charter to include a
Public Comment at all meetings
of the city council in 2012.
I was thoroughly surprised
that the mayor, as a former mag
istrate judge, was not aware of
this. After all, this requirement is
part of the Georgia state Sun
shine law. The Mayor, Larry Ray,
has a track record in Nelson of
claiming ignorance of the law as
it pertains to running the city. I
question how long the citizens of
Nelson will allow this farce to
continue. He is already over a
year into his term. When are we
going to see a mayor that knows
what he is suppose to do? Is he
going to continue to blame pre
vious councils and previous em
ployees for his incompetence?
When is the mayor going to step
up and accept responsibility for
his role in the City of Nelson?
As an example, the mayor has
refused to propose and adopt a
resolution establishing the Capi
tal Improvement Budget for
2014 and 2015. It is a require
ment of the Nelson City Charter
that this be done annually. I have
personally told him this on sev
eral occasions, yet it has not been
done. I have volunteered to help
him on any issues, however he
has refused any help.
Rumors fly in Nelson. The fact
that we have a chief executive
that is spending the taxpayer’s
money as he sees fit is question
able. A valid claim that certain
items have been over-spent, and
other items have had money
spent that has not been approved
by the Council is troubling. He
treats Nelson as his personal
courtroom, where he is sover
eign. Larry Ray uses his “Santa
Claus” demeanor to hide the fact
that he has a dictator attitude.
Wake up Nelson!
Duane Cronic
Letters Welcomed
“Letters to the Editor ” is an
important public forum in the
community and the Progress
welcomes and encourages these
letters. Letters concerning any
matter of general local interest
will be considered for publica
tion. Letters addressing issues
will be accepted but not those
expressing a personal grievance
directed toward another individ
ual. Letters UNDER 400
WORDS are preferred. All let
ters MUST BE SIGNED with
address and phone number
given where the author can be
reached to verify information.
Opinions expressed in letters
and signed columns are those of
the author and do not necessar
ily represent the views held by
the Progress.
Jasper Rotary Club
Former LAPD Deputy Chief
“Are police warriors or guardians?” asks Reiter at Rotary
Dr. Carl McCurdy and Pat Thuman chat with Former Deputy LAPD Chief Lou Reiter fol
lowing his comments on the recent Ferguson, Mo., incidents and trends in law enforcement.
“Every 20 to 25 years or so
law enforcement goes through a
introspection which betters the
agencies and their communities,”
infonned Lou Reiter, retired of
ficer and police consultant. He
has been active in law enforce
ment for 50 years.
Reiter believes one of the
problems in the recent Ferguson,
Mo., incidents was that the po
lice force did not match the eth
nic ratio of the population it
served. “Law enforcement needs
to build social capital within their
communities which means get
ting out of their cars and interact
ing with the population,” added
the consultant.
Also, observed the former
deputy chief, “Civil disrest oc
curs when people feel they do
not have a way to voice their
concerns or address grievances.
It is my personal opinion that po
lice departments today look
more like warriors than
guardians of the peace,” pro
fessed the Big Canoe resident.
Lou cited various problems
with law enforcement over the
years such as having to buy po
lice positions in the 1930s, not
being prepared for the civil rights
protest of the 1960s and use of
force in the 1990s. Reiter com
plemented the Pickens sheriff’s
department upon their handling
of a recent shooting death. He
added, “Only about 2% of arrests
uses force”
The Rotary Club of Jasper
meets at noon each Wednesday at
Chattahoochee Tech for lunch,
fellowship and service to the
Jasper community and world.
The gatherings are open to the
community.
Visit www.jaspergarotary.org
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given of a hearing to be held at 6:00 PM,
January 28, 2015 before the Planning Commission of the
City of Jasper, Georgia at City Hall. The purpose of the
hearing is to discuss a request by Michelle Parks to have
parcel JA13-092 of .96 cumulative acres, Re-Zoned in the
City of Jasper as R-l Residential. This Parcel is located at
74 Georgianna Street. The recommendation of the Planning
Commission will be brought before the City Council at 6:00
PM, February 2, 2015.
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High speed chase ends with arrest
By Dan Pool, editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
A high speed started Saturday night after a Ga.
State Trooper tried to stop a truck for running a stop
sign and ended up covering much of north Pickens,
coming through downtown Jasper before ending at
Parker Road.
Tim Nichols, commander of the state patrol post
here, said the chase lasted 14 minutes and ranged
from Antioch Road in Talking to Parker Road. He
said specific speeds weren’t noted, but it was noted
as a high rate of speed.
The chase ended on Parker Road as Robert
Mewbom, 19, tried to turn in to his own residence.
At the turn, he struck one of the pursuing state pa
trol cars doing some damage. No injuries were re
ported and the patrol car was not disabled.
Nichols said Mewbom was charged with 12
counts of traffic violations including running nu
merous stop signs, fleeing and suspected DUI.
Nichols said the driving of the 19-year-old was
“extremely reckless.” In addition to the speed, he
was in the wrong lane for a good bit of the time,
Nichols said. A 16-year-old female also in the ve
hicle had driven the truck from Acworth but was
letting the 19-year-old drive at the time of the
chase.
Nichols said GSP officers will review the chase
from the dash cameras. He said all chases are re
viewed as a standard protocol.
Casual Classics concerts welcomes Riverside Chamber Players
The Casual Classics Concert
Series is pleased to welcome
Riverside Chamber Players back
for another wonderful concert,
February 2 at 7 p.m. It will be at
the Fellowship Presbyterian
Church 389 Bent Tree Drive in
Jasper.
Everyone is invited to come
and enjoy an evening of enjoy
able music and entertainment.
This is a free concert brought to
you by the Casual Classics Con
cert Series and hosted by Fellow
ship Presbyterian Church.
The Riverside Chamber Play
ers debuted in 2003 in Roswell in
a chinch near the Chattahoochee
River, thus the name. Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra cellist Joel
Dallow wanted to make chamber
music geographically accessible
to his family, students and
friends in the northern suburbs of
Atlanta. Expanding to include
concerts in Jasper and other areas
around Atlanta, Riverside Cham
ber Players have become well
known for inventive program-
Riverside Chamber Players
ming and sensitive playing, as tains music by Atlanta composer
well as a time for discussion and and bassist, Michael Kurth.
questions. Their latest CD con-
67 Mark Whitfield Dr. • Jasper, GA 30143
706-253-3334
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TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ORDER YOUR GFC TREE
SEEDLINGS FOR THIS PLANTING SEASON
As cold temperatures move into Pickens County, the time to plant trees is here. Trees
should be planted in the winter while they are still dormant instead of the spring,
when their sap levels are rising. Changes can put stress on trees which can lead to
their failure to survive, moving and planting trees December through February is the
best time in Georgia and time is running out to order low-cost seedlings from the
Georgia Forestry Commission.
A lot of people are unaware that the GFC grows and stocks a wide variety of hard
wood and pine seedlings. Our selection includes lots of trees that are perfect for home
landscapes, and if neighbors or a homeowner association get together to place an
order, the savings can be even more significant.
Some of the ornamental selections offered by the GFC are river birch, dogwood,
cedar, several types of oak, maple, crepe and wax myrtles and fruit trees. As few as
ten seedlings of the same species may be ordered at a time. GFC seedling sales begin
in July each year with deliveries beginning the first week of December and ending in
February. In addition to these smaller homeowner packages, the GFC offers 3rd gen
eration pines for large scale reforestation projects spanning thousands of acres.
It’s really easy to go to our website and find everything you need. There’s a com
plete list of species and prices, along with ordering information, planting directions
and much more.
To see the seedling selection and their descriptions, visit the Georgia Forestry Com
mission website at Ga Trees. ora/Reforestation. Pickens County residents may also
contact the local office of the GFC to order seedlings and get questions answered at
706-692-4801.
Superheroes wanted
The 201 Relay for Life kickoff will be held at the AEMC Dean Center on January
24. The event will begin at noon and go until 2. There will be a free BBQ lunch and
games as well as information about cancer and the ACS. Come dressed as your fa
vorite Superhero and show your support. Hope to see you there.