Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 29. 2016 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A
Marines deliver on Christmas morning
Submitted by Pickens
Toys for Tots
Before dawn on Christmas
morning Marines assembled
with friends of Toys for Tots
to accomplish their final mis
sion of the holidays. A family
was chosen to receive a bevy
of toys and food. This was a
fitting conclusion to the 2016
toy drive that began before
November.
The entourage was es
corted by Lt. Kevin Mize of
the Jasper Police and Sgt.
Eric Tallent of the Georgia
State Patrol. The Marines
were honored to be the guest
of Andrew Pike and his five
children, Blake 9, Emiley 7,
Abby 4, Bentley 4 and Jaxton
3. Showing up at first light,
the children were thrilled at
the arrival of Santa Claus and
all of his helpers. Not sure
what to make of the scene,
they were at first shy.
However, the assortment
of wrapped gifts and bicycles
soon had them responding as
kids do on Christmas morn
ing.
This was the highlight of
the Toys for Tots campaign.
This years’ Toys for Tots ef
forts served 2067 local chil
dren with 8091 toys. Toys for
Tots Coordinator Richard
Wilson commented that this
was the 10th year the
Marines have been providing
this service for our locality.
“The response from busi
nesses and individuals in the
area was the best ever.” He
went on to say, “Unfortu
nately, the demand by fami
lies for this assistance also
has increased.”
Wilson went on to say that
Toys for Tots is not solely a
function of the local Marines,
but rather they provide an en
vironment for the whole
community to participate,
and participate they did. This
was directed by Wilson and
Amy Brannon who put in
many 12+ hour days, with the
assistance of many.
Several businesses went
over and above such as
Roland Tire who at their ex
pense hosted a Jeep drive in
which a significant amount
of toys and money was col
lected. The Atlantic Coast
Conservancy made a gener
ous donation that ensured the
success of this years’ efforts.
The Georgia State Patrol flew
one of their helicopters onto
the Walmart parking lot
which resulted in a signifi
cant amount of donations.
Numerous individuals
would approach the Marines
who were out harvesting col
lection boxes and ask if they
could hand over money for
the children. While it is ap
parent that thousands of chil
dren benefitted, those who
participated feel that they got
the best reward from their in
volvement. Plans for the
2017 are already underway.
Parenting Expert o ffers advice
Don’t let “important”
children feel entitled
By John Rosemond
Copyright 2016, John K. Rosemond
I recently asked a married
couple who have three kids,
none of whom are yet teens,
“Who are the most important
people in your family?”
Like all good moms and
dads of this brave new mil
lennium, they answered,
“Our kids!”
“Why?” I then asked.
“What is it about your kids
that gives them that status?”
And like all good moms and
dads of this brave new mil
lennium, they couldn’t an
swer the question other than
to fumble with appeals to
emotion.
So, I answered the ques
tion for them: “There is no
reasonable thing that gives
your children that status.” I
went on to point out that
many if not most of the prob
lems they’re having with
their kids—typical stuff,
these days—are the result of
treating their children as if
they, their marriage, and their
family exist because of the
kids when it is, in fact, the
other way around. Their kids
exist because of them and
their marriage and thrive be
cause they have created a sta
ble family.
Furthermore, without
them, their kids wouldn’t eat
well, have the nice clothing
they wear, live in the nice
home in which they live,
enjoy the great vacations
they enjoy, and so on. Instead
of lives that are relatively
carefree (despite the drama to
the contrary that they occa
sionally manufacture), their
children would be living
lives full of worry and want.
This issue is really the
heart of the matter. People
my age know it’s the heart of
the matter because when we
were kids it was clear to us
that our parents were the
most important people in our
families. And that, right
there, is why we respected
our parents and that, right
there, is why we looked up to
adults in general. Yes, Vir
ginia, once upon a time in the
United States of America,
children were second-class
citizens, to their advantage.
It was also clear to us—I
speak, of course, in general
terms, albeit accurate—that
our parents’ marriages were
more important to them than
their relationships with us.
Therefore, we did not sleep
in their beds or interrupt their
conversations. The family
meal, at home, was regarded
as more important than after
school activities. Mom and
Dad talked more—a lot
more—with one another than
they talked with you. For
lack of pedestals, we emanci
pated earlier and much more
successfully than have chil
dren since.
The most important per
son in an army is the general.
The most important person in
a corporation is the CEO.
The most important person in
a classroom is the teacher.
And the most important per
son in a family are the par
ents.
The most important thing
about children is the need to
prepare them properly for re
sponsible citizenship. The
primary objective should not
be raising a straight-A stu
dent who excels at three
sports, earns a spot on the
Olympic swim team, goes to
an A-list university and be
comes a prominent brain sur
geon. The primary objective
is to raise a child such that
community and culture are
strengthened.
“Our child is the most im
portant person in our family”
is the first step toward raising
a child who feels entitled.
You don’t want that. Un
beknownst to your child, he
doesn’t need that. And nei
ther does America.
[Family psychologist
John Rosemond: johnrose-
mond.com, parentguru.com.]
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Not ice is hereby given of a hearing to be held on the 9 th day of
January, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pickens County Commis
sioner's Meeting Room before the Planning Commission of
Pickens County, Georgia. The purpose of the hearing is to dis
cuss a request by Rock Creek Manor Properties, Inc., to have
parcel 065-072 of 4.37 acres rezoned from Industrial (I) to
Highway Business (HB) for the purpose of constructing a 12
unit senior living apartment building. The property is located
at Jasper, Georgia. The recommendation of the PlanningCom-
mission will be brought before the Board of Commissioners on
January 19,2017, at 530 p.m. Rz-n-16-1214
ATTENTION
PICKENS COUNTY
REGISTERED VOTERS
According to Georgia Law, Art. IX, subsection II,
Para. I, if we can get 20% of the registered voters
of Pickens County to sign a petition, (at least 4,040
signatures) we, as a group, can put the senior tax
exemption on the ballot ourselves, without
depending on our local politicians to do it. Go to our
website, pickensseniorsforchange.com to sign the
petition.
Pickens Seniors for Change
pickensseniors@windstream.net
Pickensseniorsforchange.com
Crisis Network closing Ellijay thrift store
The North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network
(NGMCN) is consolidating its thrift store operations and
will be closing their Ellijay store at the end of January.
Sales reductions begin at 80 percent off all Christmas mer
chandise and 50 percent off everything else in the store the
week of December 25 and drop each week thereafter.
All proceeds from the sales go to support the work of
the NGMCN.
Volunteers are needed to help during the sale days. If
you or your organization would like to volunteer, please
call the store at 706-635-3608.
The NGMCN serves battered women and men, sexual
assault survivors, and their children in Pickens, Gilmer and
Fannin Counties by providing emergency shelter, legal and
medical advocacy, counseling and more. For additional in
formation about services, call 706-635-8400.
Year End
MATTRESS SAVINGS
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mtiQUBsshuh^
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minimum $599 purchase
UPGRADE TO AN
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Hybrid Applause
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$1229 Queen Set Price
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Sleep System by Serta'
F-300
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Savant CF / Plush
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Sleep System by Serta*
F-500
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minimum $2499 purchase
UPGRADE TO AN
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F-300
$QQ/mo
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BLACK'
Katarina Pillow Top
$101 /mo
$4849 Queen Set Price
minimum $3699 purchase
INCLUDES PREMIUM ADJUSTABLE BASE
MONTHS*
minimum $4899 purchase
< $eauiyrest
BLACK'
Natasha Pillow Top
$1 QQ/mo
$5249 Queen Set Price
Serta
F-500
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INCLUDES PREMIUM ADJUSTABLE B
ASE t£
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1 1 0% L0W PRICE GUARANTEE
Within 30 days of purchase if you find the indentical products and services from a
dealer within our trading area, just bring or mail us written or advertised proof of the lower price and we'll
refund 110% of the difference!
North Carolina:
Franklin 828-349-1999
Sylva 828-586-1199
SLEEP USA Murphy 828-837-9909
■ * www.sleepusamattress.com |J serta
|y | Q Y@SS Monc| ay - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Sunday: Closed
*With approved credit. Other financing options available. See store for details.
Georgia:
Blairsville 706-745-0827
Ellijay 706-276-3031
Jasper 706-301-9125