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THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 12. 2015 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 7A
Mardi Gras in the Mountains Saturday
“Can you feel the love tonight” Valentine evening
By Max Caylor
“Jasper is going to feel valen
tine love Saturday night, Febru
ary 14, as we coronate the 2015
King and Queen of Mardi Gras
in the Mountains,” stated Gina
Pendley, the event chairperson.
“We have a few tickets left for
our valentine community party
and they may be purchased on
line at mardigrasinthemoun-
tains.com or calling
706-253-4100,” added Pendley.
Mardi Gras in the Mountains
unites four counties raising funds
to make people’s lives better.
Georgia Mountain Hospice, The
Knights of Columbus from Elli-
jay and Jasper and the Rotary
Club of Jasper are the organizers
and all proceeds go to their re
spective services.
Each of the neighboring four
counties have their own King
and Queen nominees and
whomever raises the most votes
in dollar contributions becomes
the new King and Queen. The
2015 nominees are: Jack Short
and Margy Lohman from Pick
ens; Dave Richey and Chris Hice
Waldman of Gilmer; John and
Sandy Lipkowitz representing
Dawson; and Tim Cavendar and
Diana Goodman portraying
Cherokee.
The fun gala will be catered
by Madeline’s of Jasper and the
dancing and listening entertain
ment provided by Banks and
Shane. Dr. Carl McCurdy will be
assisting with special music and
Bay Cagle will lift romantic spir
its with her solo of “Can You
Feel The Love Tonight.”
Judge Allen Wigington will
be the Master of Ceremonies and
Alvin Stewart Photography will
be at the gala making profes
sional photographic memories of
the valentine and Mardi Gras
event. The Chattahoochee Tech
nical College is the venue for the
fun evening from 6:30-11.
Dr. Carl McCurdy, Bay Cagle and Allen Wigington are get
ting a “gumbo” head start for Mardi Gras in the Mountains
on this coming Valentine’s Saturday night in Jasper. Mc
Curdy and Cagle will be performing and Wigington will be
the Master of Ceremonies.
Three-tour soldier speaks to Rotary Club
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“Muscle memory is most important in combat, ”
Army Staff Sargent Brandon Skolnick of Special Opera
tions Command shares his combat helmet and belt with Ro
tary’ 6910 District Governor Bill Strickland at last week’s
gathering. Skolnick’s war is defending freedom and Strick
land is helping to lead Rotary; International’s effort to erad
icate worldwide polio.
By Max Caylor
“I have always wanted to be a
soldier,” proudly spoke Army
Staff Sargent Brandon Skolnick
speaking at Rotary. “I was 18
when we invaded Iraq I knew it
was the time for me to enlist,”
added the three tour vet serving
in Afghanistan (2) and Iraq (1).
The still younger soldier is a
student at Kennesaw State ma
joring in International Affairs
along with becoming a certified
mediator. The Staff Sargent is
now in the reserves but can be
called to active duty to Fort
Bragg in the Special Operations
Command of the 5/108th Train
ing Brigade as an instructor.
Psychological Operations is
his area of service. “In my tours
we spent a lot of time shaking
hands, kissing babies and visiting
hospitals. We wanted to connect
with the local population and let
them know we were here to help.
Our relationship was more than
combat,” added the wise soldier.
Skolnick, whose family im
migrated from Russia, explained
how the psychological mission
was to isolate the enemy from
the population and establish pos
itive personal relationships with
the people. “We taught the sol
diers how to connect with the
population to establish trust,”
added the Skolnick.
“Once we get past our cul
tures and political rhetoric, and
that is sometimes difficult, I
Approximately 19,000 chickens killed
in Cherokee County blaze
Cherokee Fire press release
Cherokee County Fire and
Emergency Services and the
Canton Fire Department re
sponded to a structure fire at 826
Sam Nelson Road Monday.
Firefighters arrived on the scene
to see heavy flames and smoke
coming from a chicken house
and began a defensive attack.
The 400 foot long structure con
tained approximately 19,000
chickens at the time of the fire.
The structure and the majority of
the chickens were a complete
loss. Firefighters were able to get
the fire under control at approxi
mately 10:21.
No injuries were reported and
Sam Nelson Road was blocked
until the clean-up operation was
complete. The cause of the fire is
currently under investigation.
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Skolnick
found most of humanity have the
same common values. They put
their families first, have devout
faith, work hard, are humble and
want self-determination free
from government involvement,”
he observed.
“My Army training helped to
increase my success as a solider.
One’s muscle memory to act and
not think but to do as you were
taught is most important in com
bat,” stated the vet.
Skolnick is from Marietta, a
graduate of North Cobb and is
married and they are expecting
their first child. He is available to
speak to local groups. Asked if
he had seen the movie American
Sniper he said, “I don’t think I
am ready because the war is still
very close.”
The Rotary Club of Jasper meets
each Wednesday at noon for
lunch, fellowship and service to
the local community and the
world. The meetings are open to
the community and to learn more
about Rotary visit jaspergaro-
tary.org
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