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Dragons
wrestling
hosts Burnt
Mtn. Classic
Page 2B
Jasper Fire stoked
about new training
simulator
Page 6A
Vukwi fmalf Bmmh
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Billy Beer VW makes pit stop in Jasper
I'M SERIOUS
ABOUT
MV BEER"
Rick Perry, left, was assistant manager of the famous Billy Carter gas station in Plains, Ga. during Jimmy Carter's
presidency. The "Billy Beer " logo and signature were hand painted by Falls City Brewing Company at the height ofBilly
Carter’s fame. Perry is pictured with Vintage VW, Inc. owner Rick Laukka who said restoration should take a couple
months before the Beetle is taken from the Jasper garage to the Billy Carter Museum.
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
For people who lived through the
Billy Beer era, “ice cold” was arguably
the only time a can of the Billy Carter-
endorsed libation was drinkable.
But just above Carter’s signature on
the bottom of the can, emblazoned with
what is now an iconic red, orange and
blue logo, Billy argues otherwise, “I
had this brewed up just for me. I think
it’s the best I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve
tasted a lot. I think you’ll like it, too.”
Richard Perry worked as assistant
manager in Carter’s gas station in
Plains, Ga. for nearly four years (the
same four years his brother Jimmy
Carter served as president) and Perry
said while it’s true Billy picked out the
Billy Beer flavor from a lineup he tested
at the Falls City Brewing Company -
taste was secondary in everyday life.
“Yeah, it got better when it was cold,
but honestly back then taste wasn’t all
See Billy Beer, Page 13A
UGA Extension office move a ‘win-win’
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
It doesn’t quite have the “cool” factor of the historic Jasper
Depot, but the Pickens County UGA Cooperative Extension
Office’s new home comes with ample parking, outdoor light
ing and plenty of legroom inside and out.
“It’s going to be perfect,” extension 4-H agent Jessica
Sarten said of their move to the Chamber of Commerce build
ing in Lee Newton Park. “We hate to leave the depot because
of the history, but we are more than excited. It’s going to be
a good environment and should help immensely with recruit
ing efforts.”
Beginning February 3 the extension office will operate out
of the community room in the chamber building, which in
the past has been rented out to private parties or organiza
tions. The storage rooms off the large main room will serve
as offices for extension agents.
Sarten said the new space makes it possible to operate as
a kind of one-stop-shop, allowing the extension office to con
veniently hold summer day camps, banquets, parent meet
ings, Master Gardener’s programs and other events from the
same space - and, Sarten hopes, it will bolster participation
in the 4-H program.
“I think if new parents came into the depot they’d wonder
why the building was falling apart and wonder if we couldn’t
keep up with that, how could we take care of their kid,” she
said. “The depot didn’t have outdoor lighting for events and
I didn’t feel comfortable letting kids run around after events
or meetings at night. Now we’re going to have the park and
plenty of parking and see Move, Page 15A
Development
authority
increases debt
to save jobs
products primarily for restaurants
across the country, received the “Small
Business Rock Stars” award from a
state economic developers’ group.
Less than a year later, the company
went into bankruptcy.
The company, which started in a
small building on Fairview Road in the
early 2000s, was employing some
where between 50 to 70 employees
when they entered bankruptcy pro
ceedings.
They had relocated to the old H.D.
Lee plant in October 2012 through a
taxpayer-backed bond for more than $ 1
million through the Pickens County In-
See Business , Page 13A
“We decided the risk
was worth the jobs,”
says Development
Authority Chair
Tom Lindsey
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
In September 2013, Restaurant In
teriors, a Jasper company producing
solid surface counter-tops and other
Haygood named STAR
student at Pickens High
2015 STAR Student Andrew Haygood with
selected STAR Teacher Michael Oubre.
Going to the banquet?
Reservations are required.
When: March 5 @7 p.m.
Where: Chattahoochee Tech
Cost: $22 per person
For reservations, email:
pickensstar@etcm ail. com
Submitted by Reeder
Burch
Andrew Haygood has
been named the 2015 STAR
Student of Pickens High
School. The announcement is
made by the Optimist Club of
Jasper, local sponsor for the
Pickens STAR program.
Haygood is the son of Jen
nifer Haygood of Jasper. He
has selected Mr. Michael
Oubre as his STAR Teacher.
The PAGE Student Teacher
Achievement Recognition (STAR) pro
gram, now in its 57th year, is sponsored
by the Professional Association of
Georgia Educators (PAGE) Founda
tion, the Georgia Chamber of Com
merce and the Georgia Department of
Education. Since its inception, the
STAR program has honored more than
25,000 students and the teachers they
See STAR, Page 15A
New Ford dealership wants to be part of community
“I’d rather help make
a deal than lose
a customer”
says manager
By Christie Pool
Staff writer
christie@pickensprogress.com
The general manager at Shottenkirk
Ford may be one of the only new faces
at the dealership, formerly Vemie Jones
Ford, but he plans to be more aggressive
in making deals happen as the new auto
dealership joins the Pickens community.
“We want to be a part of the commu
nity,” said Jamie Mundth, general man
ager for Shottenkirk Ford. “One of the
changes we’re making is being more ag
gressive in making deals. I’d rather help
make a deal than lose a customer.”
Vemie Jones Ford, founded in 1969,
See Shottenkirk, Page 13A
For decades the local Ford dealership was run by the Jones family - first Vemie then his children Jim Sr. and Mary Bryant. Jim Jr. joined the ranks later. In De
cember, Greg Shottenkirk purchased the dealership from the family. The veteran staff, pictured above, is joined by new general manager Jamie Mundth, far right.
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Obituaries - Page 11A
Bernice Burgess Dottie Mae Hughes Timothy Cloud
Caroline Roberts Elise Kistler
Part of this newspaper is made up of
recycled newsprint and is recyclable.
1 6 3
o
