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PAGE 8A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 5. 2015
Historians brave cold in Ball Ground
Dr. Rebecca Ray shows off the new Historic Ball Ground Handbag to past president, Lucille Rich.
By Larry Cavender
Progress contributor
Despite cold temperatures and
persistent sickness, a fair number
of enthusiastic members of the
Ball Ground Historical Society
showed up for their first meeting
of the year on Tuesday, January
27.
After calling the meeting to
order and making welcoming
statements, President Tim
Cavender invited the past presi
dent, Lucille Rich, to do the in
vocation. Then followed the
Pledge of Allegiance and ap
proval of the last meeting’s min
utes before the group settled in
for their night’s work.
In her report, Treasurer Elaine
Gay reported deposits totalling
over $ 1,700 were made to the so
ciety’s funds since the last meet
ing, including $690 made from
the sale of calendars and Christ
mas ornaments and $275 in ven
dors fees from the early
December March of the Toys Pa
rade. Ms. Gay stated the society's
balance at present stands at
$4,854.39.
Several committee chair re
ports were not given because of
sickness related absences, in
cluding Membership Chair Beth
Ingram, Hospitality Chair, Mark
Vecchione, and Public Relations
Chair, Pam Cavender. However,
Fundraising Chair Nancy Mad
den reported on the success of
the calendar and Christmas orna
ment sales.
Dr. Rebecca Ray was then
called upon to report on the
newest fundraising project which
is the sale of historic Ball Ground
handbags. Presenting the proto
type to the members, Dr. Ray
pointed out that on one side of
the handbag are pictures of the
old Ball Ground Elementary
School and gym, the old Citi
zen’s Bank and city hall build
ings and both the First Baptist
and old Methodist churches. On
the reverse side are photos of the
Depot, Miss Mary’s Five and
Dime Store and the Thomason
Villa Farmer’s Hotel, which were
all demolished years before. The
Community Cemetery, Roberts
House and Wheeler House are
also pictured on that same side of
the handbag. The members who
were present expressed their ap
proval of the handbags which
will be on sale for $25.
The most discussed topic of
the evening followed President
Cavender’s suggestion of a reso
lution supporting the preserva
tion of the old Canton High
School building. The Cherokee
County Historical Society and
the Cherokee County Board of
Education are at odds over the
proposed demolition of the his
toric early 20th century structure
to make room for new construc
tion. A passionate discussion fol
lowed with Nancy Madden
disagreeing with the resolution.
Ms. Madden, who has been
researching the topic, said the
cost of making the old structure
usable was excessive. She stated
that the cost of the restoration,
which includes the removal of
asbestos and mold, might exceed
the construction costs of a new
structure by as much as fifty per
cent. It was noted the building
which contains the auditorium
has been restored and will escape
demolition.
Dr. Rebecca Ray, a former
member of the Cherokee County
Board of Commissioners, agreed
and said she believed, consider
ing the cost to the taxpayer, the
board of education made the
right decision although she
would like to see the old building
saved.
Past president Lucille Rich
noted that the old Canton High
School was of interest to the cit
izens of Ball Ground as well as
all residents of the county be
cause students county-wide used
to attend the high school and ex
pressed her concern over the loss
of the historic building.
Reaching no concensus on the
issue, President Cavender sug
gested tabling the resolution rmtil
the February meeting after more
research could be conducted.
The membership voted with no
opposition to tabling the resolu
tion.
Cavender announced that the
February speaker would be Karla
Duckett Weaver of the Ball
Ground Main Street Association.
Her group will be the primary
sponsor of this year’s Heritage
Days celebration to be held in the
spring.
Before adjourning the meet
ing, President Cavender thanked
everyone who volunteered their
help in making the March of
Toys Parade a success noting that
between four to five thousand
people lined the streets to view
the parade.
The February meeting of the
historical society will be at 7
p.m. at the Ball Ground City Hall
on Tuesday, February 24.
Between the Bookends
By Emma Ingle, Pickens Co. Librarian
Reinhardt University
professor resigns after
sexual battery charges
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
A Reinhardt University pro
fessor has resigned after accu
sations of sexual misconduct
were brought on by a former
student.
Michael David Gregory, 67,
Jasper, was arrested on Tues
day, Jan. 27 by the Cherokee
County Sheriff’s Office and
charged with a single count of
Sexual Battery. He was re
leased the same day on a
$1,500 bond.
Administrators at Reinhardt
received results of the sheriff’s
investigation in December prior
to formal charges being pressed
in January. The investigation
regarded the complaint, filed by
a former student on November
21, 2014, which alleged Gre
gory had “inappropriate con
tact” with the student.
Gregory resigned from his
position as associate professor
of music following review of
the investigation by Reinhardt
administrators. Gregory was
employed by the university for
nine years.
Reinhardt spokesperson
Marcia White has released the
following statement:
“Reinhardt University is
committed to its values, and
Michal David Gregory
policies are in place which sup
port appropriate and healthy in
teractions between students,
faculty and staff. All necessary
steps have been and will be fol
lowed in a timely manner to
protect those relationships.”
Small ads
produce
big results
Progress classifieds
706-253-2457
Hair services for the whole family! Operated by a
grandmother/granddaughter team. Please come try us out
sometime. We are located at 737 South Main Street in Jasper
(across from Oenson Heating and Air and Roland Tire).
READing Paws
with Abby
Abby, the library’s Reading
Paws dog, helps children gain
confidence as she listens pa
tiently while children read to her.
If you would like for your child
to have this experience, all that
you need to do is sign up for the
Monday, February 16, visit with
Abby at 3:30 p.m. Abby is a
friendly, furry and non-judgmen-
tal listener who loves to have
children read their favorite book
to her. A session is 10-15 minutes
for ages 6 and up. Registration
has begun. For more information
please contact the Pickens
County Library at 706-692-5411.
Library Yarners
Come join the weekly cro
chet/knitting/yarn-enthusiast
meetings, Tuesday, February 10,
at 10 a.m. and/or 5 p.m. The Li
brary Yarners is led by a former
library staff-member (you may
attend either, or both meetings).
All fiber-artists are welcome (re
gardless of skill level)!
Story Time
The youngest folks are invited
to join Miss Brooke for Lapsit
Story Time on Wednesday; Feb-
ruaryll, at 10:30 a.m. Lapsit
Story Time is designed for chil
dren ages 1-3. Family Story Time
is also on February 4 at 3. The
theme is Hugs and Kisses. Story
time includes a craft project. All
ages are invited.
Free AARP
Tax-Aide
Thursday, February 12, from
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., certified
AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will
help prepare federal tax returns
free to taxpayers with low and
moderate income, with special
attention to those 60 and older.
For more information please
contact the Pickens County Li
brary at 706-692-5411.
Introduction to the
Library’s Catalog
Do you want to look for
books using the library’s online
card catalog, but you’re not sure
how to do it? Sign up for this
class, Monday, February 16, at
10 a.m. to learn how!
This class will show you how
to search for materials through
out the library system and place
items on hold. Before attending,
please make sure that your li
brary card is up-to-date and that
you have a library PIN number.
Registration is required and is
open.
Auto Repair
Reference Center
Auto Repair Reference Center
(ARRC) is the most comprehen
sive collection of automobile re
pair reference information and
contains repair and maintenance
information on most major man
ufacturers of domestic and im
ported vehicles. New repair
procedures, TSBs and updates
are added to the product on a reg
ular basis. All of the content in
ARRC has been created by ASE
certified technicians. You
will find this great database on
the library’s home page,
www.sequoyahregionallibrary.
org. Look for Reference Tools
and with your library card, click
on Auto Repair.
Good Samaritan
needs volunteers
Good Samaritan Health
and Wellness Center needs
volunteers. We always need
doctors, dentists, pharmacists,
lab techs, nurses and others
with medical experience. And
we always need help with
greeter escorts, making ap
pointments, phone calls, of
fice work, medical records
and social services. To find
out more please call 706-253-
4673 or e-mail: volunteer
@goodsamhwc.org
www.edwardjones.com
Your Children Have
Everything They Could Ask For.
Does That Include Life Insurance?
One of the most important things you can give your
children is a life insurance policy for yourself. At Edward
Jones, we meet with you face to face, so we can get to
know you and your entire financial picture. That way, we
can help find the life insurance policy that best suits
your family's unique needs.
Because all the toys in the world aren’t worth as much to
your children as ensuring you’ll always be there for them.
To learn about the wide range of life insurance
products we offer, contact your local Edward Jones
financial advisor.
Edward Jones operates as an insurance producer in California, New
Mexico, and Massachusetts through the following subsidiaries,
respectively: Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.,
Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C., and Edward
Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
This literature is intended to promote and assist in the sale of life insurance
or annuities. Talk with me about the various insurance and annuity products
offered through Edward Jones.
Clyde L Cody
Financial Advisor
744 Noah Dr Suite 103
Jasper, GA 30143
706-692-0793
Edwardjones
MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING
INS-1945C-A-AD
RESPONSE TO
“WARNING”
IN JANUARY 22 and 29, 2015, EDITIONS OF THE PROGRESS
SOCIETY: “A highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community
living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and national identity for its mem
bers.”
PICKET: Both a noun and a verb referring to carrying a sign (a picket) outside of a business
or organization’s headquarters as a form of protest. Apparently the “WARNING” author
does not know the difference between picket and boycott.
BOYCOTT: To combine in abstaining from or preventing dealings with as a tool of intimida
tion and coercion.
COERCION: Use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance. The “WARNING” seems to
be an attempt to coerce our county commissioners into acceding to the demands of a small
band of people who appear to not want to be part of society.
OLIGARCHY: “A form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or a
dominant class or clique.” Might the attempt by a few to coerce our county commissioners
into exempting all people who are 65+ from property tax be the first step in creating an oli
garchy in our county?
GROWTH IN INCOME FOR ALL AGE BRACKETS: Based on the data in the graph below,
it is primarily younger people (under age 65) who are not seeing growth in their income that
is comparable to or exceeds the income growth for those over 65, as a whole. Many of our
young working citizens are no doubt earning minimum wage or occupy low-wage jobs, with
little or no annual increase in their pay. They in particular would suffer from an increase in
their property tax necessitated by an exemption for those who are 65+.
THE TOP LINE ON THE GRAPH PERTAINS TO THOSE WHO ARE 65+.
Median Real Household Income Growth By Age Bracket
15 to 24 Years 25 to 34 Years 35 to 44 Years ^—45 to 54 Years 55 to 64 Years 65 Years and Over
Age of Head of Household
Income Chained in 2013 Dollars
Recessions highlighted in gray
WHY EXEMPT THOSE WHO ARE 65+? A tax exemption for all age groups based on
household income would make sense; however, no justification is provided in the
“WARNING” for exempting citizens who are 65+ based solely on age.
MESSAGE TO THOSE LOOKING FOR A RETIREMENT LOCATION: Be assured that the
Pickens Seniors for Change do not speak for all of us. Many of us object to exempting
those over 65 from paying property tax, except in cases of hardship, thereby shifting the re
sulting revenue deficit to younger people. In other words we believe in supporting SOCIETY.
Please visit our beautiful county and take a look at all that we have to offer.
SENIOR FOR SOCIETY
fullofvinegar813@gmail.com