About Pickens County progress. (Jasper, Ga.) 1899-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2019)
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10. 2019 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: Considering recent events, I find myself pondering the question why do we tend to “jump on the bandwagon” meaning taking on an idea, political party or person, etc.? This phrase “jump on the bandwagon” began in 1855 from the book “The Life of P.T. Bamum” written by him self. Back then the Circus was known for their showy parades through town before they set up. The wagons car ried the elephants and other featured animals drawn by the exceptional horses pulling those wagons. These parades attracted villager’s attention and acted as an easy marketing ploy to get people to go to the circus. I am deeply disturbed by todays rabid need to jump on one bandwagon or another when we have the most ad vanced means available to find facts, check conspiracy theories and the like. The thought that our dedicated journalists locally and nation ally may have an ulterior mo tive may have some credibility on a very small scale but is not confirmed by far. The numbers of journal ists that have been murdered or gone missing in the past few years has risen exponen tially from previous years across the world. This is not an accident. There are grow ing forms of oligarchs in gov ernments that are trying to control the narrative. They will not be able to. This world can’t be fooled like we were in years past by foolish marketing tools like the “bandwagons” that drew us to the circus. The Circus these days are those intelli gent Americans who refuse to research the facts and jump on their political “Band wagon” for the sake of the Circus. Let us all take a breath and maybe even a step back before attacking one an other. And most importantly re member this is the neighbor who will bring your child home when lost, who will call the fire department when I see your house on fire and will come to your aid when you are unable. We are our best when we realize we work better together. Valerie Millar Non-Partisan resident who lives for love not fear or hate Dear Editor: The State Bar of Georgia congratulates Appalachian Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Brenda S. Weaver on her appointment by House Speaker David E. Ralston to serve as a member of the newly established Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Com mission. Created by legislation ap proved earlier this year by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp, the commission is charged with examining how the state government can improve access and de livery of behavioral health services across Georgia. The state has allocated $20 mil lion for local health depart ments to better treat mental health issues and has doubled funding for a successful pro gram in Georgia schools to help students in crisis. With her acceptance of this appointment, Judge Weaver demonstrates her on going commitment to serving the public and the justice sys tem. Her fellow State Bar of Georgia members wish her well in this new capacity of statewide leadership. Sincerely, Darrell Sutton President, State Bar of Georgia Letter policy • No letter should be longer than 450 words. • Limit is generally two let ters per person, per month. • All letters must have a recognized first and last name (pen names do not suffice). • Submit letters to news@pickensprogress.com or by mail at P.O. Box 67/Jasper, Ga. 30143. Please include contact information that we may use to verify identity of writer. It will not be published. • Deadline for current edi tion Monday at 5 p.m. • Questions? Call us at 706- 253-2457. p5 -.V' ri v hWj/j Y i m John Lunsford got a great photo of this mama bear and three cubs climbing a tree near his home on Northside Drive in Jasper, September 29. Lunsford said the bear family was spotted at several houses that week. adorn A FUNDRAISING COMPANY HUGE $6 SALE! Select from hundreds of name brand products for men, women and children. Our selection includes: ■ Fashion Jewelry • Watches • Rings ■ Pashminas • Reading Glasses • Sunglasses • Wallets • Tote Bags AND MORE!!! All "Classic Line" items are always only $6.00 We will also be featuring "Premier Show Specials" priced from $6.95 to $34.95. PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL in The Education Room TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15th 7AM - 5PM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th 7AM - 4PM [ This Sale Benefits: PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE AUXILIARY ] PAYROLL DEDUCTION PublllVV^fflmel Community Responds: Outdoor lighting We recently had a Progress reader, who moved here from Florida tell us, “Every night I make sure a couple of outside lights are blazing away. Having outside lights on at night was typical in south Florida. I’ve noticed that hardly anyone around here has outside lights on at night. Drive around Ivy Ridge, for example, and it's very dark. Is there some col lective understanding in this area that outside lights are not needed?” We asked our Facebook followers if they have outside lights going at night around their house and why or why not. Nearly 150 people re sponded. Here are some of them: [Follow us on Facebook where you can find all the re sponses to this question, and where we will post commu nity survey questions period ically]. Teresa Hopper Coggins - “Fight makes it easier for someone to sneak around your house and most times I’m not going to look out un less I hear something. Fight also makes it harder to see the beautiful sky.” Brittany Morgan - “I called and had the power company come install a light on a pole in my yard. It doesn’t cost that much each month and it makes me feel better being able to see in my yard.” Brenda Jackie Brown - “Yes I have my outside lights all the time. We had a bear next to my porch two nights ago.” Edith Head - “I'm from Florida. Not only were out side lights good but as soon as I got in my car or home, I locked the door behind me. I believed it was a safety ne cessity. I've been in Jasper for almost two years. I love it! I tell everyone it's like being back in the 50s! The people are wonderful. I feel safe here like I did growing up in central Florida in the 60s.” Ashley Andrews - “I live in Ivy Ridge and we like it dark thank you. I stay up pretty late after the kids are in bed and it is nice and peaceful.” Joanna Micha - “...We lived in a very dangerous neigh borhood when I was a child yet my mom made sure lights were out. She was a single mom and pinched pennies.” Brandon Wells - “I leave my lights off because I don’t want my neighbors (HOA) to see me peeing off of my porch.” Brian Rittenberry - “We leave pathway and accent lights on all night. They typ ically are from dusk to dawn. It helps for late night arrivals or to step out to let the dogs out! No bright porch or flood lights are left on though. Neighbors would get tired of that!” Erin Russell - “Absolutely not! My neighbor annoys the crap out of me blazing spot lights and messing up the night sky. He is the ONFY one on our mountain that does. He is a quarter mile away and if you look at google maps he lights up like a Roman candle!” LJ Burton - “NO OUT SIDE FIGHTS - it's light pol lution! I like to see the stars at night, but neighbors have HUGE glaring lights. Also, it upsets wild animals. And it makes it easy for criminals to see what they're doing when stealing your stuff.” i Erick I Erickson ; SHOW i | Tune into i ! Wisel03 ■ 102.7 FM or 1490 AM | I Live> Local and serving j Pickens County since 1972 j wyyzinfo@gmail.com i 706-692-4100 We invite the public to join the friends of Commission Chairman Robert Jones at his Campaign Kickoff Event Tuesday, October 15,2019 From 5-8pm where he r ll formally start his 2020 Re-Election Campaign “Rob's experience matters in preparing Pickens County to continue moving forward. This is your invitation to be a part of that movement.” The May 2020 Pickens County Commission Chairman elec tion will define the future of our community: take this important opportunity to meet Robert and discuss with him your con cerns, ideas and thoughts on the future of Pickens County. Mark your calendars: the Campaign Kickoff Event will be Tuesday, October 15,2019 from 5-8pm at The Conservancy, located at 80 South Main Street, Jasper. Light refreshments will be served.
