Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 Closeout Models* mtiQUBsshuh^ 'Specially marked mattresses. See store for details. UPGRADE TO A LUXURIOUS NIGHT'S SLEEP WITH 1 2, 24, 36 OR 48 MONTHS SPECIAL FINANCING! /com fort MONTHS* minimum $599 purchase UPGRADE TO AN ADJUSTABLE BASE: MONTHS* Hybrid Applause Firm / Plush $108 /mo $1229 Queen Set Price $65 more /com fort - Sleep System by Serta' F-300 $104 /mo $2499 Queen Set Price /comfort' Sleep System by Serta* Savant CF / Plush $167 /mo $1999 Queen Set Price $64 more /comfort’ Sleep System by Serta* F-500 $ 125 /m0 $2999 Queen Set Price minimum $2499 purchase UPGRADE TO AN ADJUSTABLE BASE: MONTHS* F-300 $QQ/mo $4774 Queen Set Price 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 $110 /mo $5274 Queen Set Price INCLUDES PREMIUM ADJUSTABLE B ASE t£ St 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