Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Volume 132 Number 35
Jasper, Georgia
Local News Published Weekly
Christmas Shoes singer
joins Jasper Middle concert
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff writer
areinhardt@piekensprogress.com
Billy Goodwin, voice of the popular “The
Christmas Shoes” song and member of the
GRAMMY-nominated Christian band NewSong,
made the holidays a little brighter for Jasper Mid
dle School chorus students this year. Goodwin’s
grandson is a member of the JMS chorus, and the
veteran musician joined in on their holiday con
cert to perform a rendition of “The Christmas
Shoes.”
JMS Chorus Director Allison Priest said the
opportunity arose when her student Sawyer
Goodwin asked her if she liked the song.
“I told him it was one of my favorites,” she
said. “He casually mentioned his grandpa sang it.
I thought he was pulling my leg. I was very sur
prised that Sawyer was related to the man that
sings one of the most moving Christmas songs in
the world. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for
my students to meet someone who pursued their
dreams in the music industry.”
Goodwin took time to speak with the
Progress about the story behind “The Christmas
Shoes,” his own Christmas traditions, and advice
he would give budding musicians.
What’s your connection to Pickens County?
Do you visit often?
My wife and I grew up in Alabama and moved
to Valdosta, Ga. in 1977. We then moved to Ac-
worth in 1984 and in 2004 we moved to Chero
kee County [and have] a Ball Ground address.
My oldest son Will is pastor at Oak Leaf Church
in downtown Canton and he moved his family to
Pickens County several years ago.
Since that time, two of his children have been
attending Pickens County schools and are in
volved with activities at their schools. My oldest
grandson Ean plays basketball on the Pickens
High School Dragons. My wife and I go to his
games as much as possible.
Sawyer loves music and I was excited that he
got involved with the chorus program at Jasper
Middle School. When he asked if I would sing
“The Christmas Shoes” with his chorus, I was so
ready to do it. My other grandson Spencer attends
See Goodwin on 2A
Pictured at right: Billy Goodwin with
grandson Sawyer Goodwin and JMS
Chorus Director Allison Priest.
Billy Goodwin of NewSong made a cameo at the Jasper Middle School Chorus concert Dec. 11
to perform “The Christmas Shoes, ” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary
Chart NewSong is a contemporary Christian band that has 20 No. 1 hits on the Christian charts,
and is a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Jasper Middle School / Photos
Kids Kash makes Christmas a little brighter
Angela Reinhardt / Photo
North Georgia Family Partners Executive Director June Ash and volunteers set out hundreds of toys at
First Christian Church of Jasper as part of their Kids Kash program.
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff writer
areinhardt@piekensprogress.com
Mid-afternoon Dec. 12, volun
teers with North Georgia Family
Partners (formerly Prevent Child
Abuse Pickens), were setting out the
last of the toys in what would be a
colorful and striking display.
Giant stuffed animals lined one
wall. Tables were filled with every
thing from blocks to toy trucks, Mr.
Potato Heads, play pianos, and more.
Items were arranged by age group
for children ages 1 through 5. There
were even some non-toy items like
diapers and strollers, coats, and
clothing.
Over the next two days, said ex
ecutive director June Ash, parents
enrolled in their Kids Kash program
would come in to “shop” for their
children for Christmas. Ash said the
program is made possible by the do
nations of three local businesses -
QSR, Our Lady of the Mountains
Catholic Church, and the Pickens
County Board of Realtors, which
give a total of $8,000.
This is the 20th year North Geor
gia Family Partners has held the pro
gram.
“Parents build up their money all
year for meeting goals and partici
pating in events, and get to come
spend it here,” said Ash, noting that
between 50 and 60 families benefit
from the program this year.
Volunteers price the toys, usually
a little lower than retail, and parents
come in groups of five and are as
sisted on their shopping spree.
“It’s something everyone looks
forward to every year, and some
thing positive in the community,”
she said.
Ash thanked donors for making
the program possible.
Leam more about North Georgia
Family Partners at www.pcapick-
ens.org.
Inside:
Special services,
concerts, a Live
Nativity, see
what area
churches and
groups are
offering for
Christmas
week—inside
this edition
School board
recognizes
athletes
Page 7A
Georgia
Power rate
hike approved
Page 10 A
Obituaries - 10A
Economic
development
director
finalist
announced
Press Release from
The Chason Group
A joint
committee of
City of Jasper
and Pickens
County leaders
has announced
a finalist in
their search for
an economic
development
professional.
Green B.
Suttles III will
be presented
for approval to
The Development Authority of
Pickens County, Mayor and City
Council of Jasper and the Pickens
County Board of Commissioners
See Suttles on 2A
Green B.
Suttles III
Community efforts underway to
provide new Nativity for town
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
The absence of a Nativity scene
on the courthouse did not go un-no-
ticed by many during the downtown
Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Social media posts began appear
ing seeking answers on the where
abouts of the town’s Nativity and
why it wasn’t up.
In a convoluted mix of informal
agreements: the county government
provides the tree (which is erected,
will be removed and stored by a pri
vate contractor); the sleigh where
Santa poses for pictures is stored in
the county public works area but is
set up by the Jasper Merchants As
sociation, who also takes the lead in
organizing the annual Night of
Lights Christmas celebration and
other decorations. The city of Jasper
provides the Christmas banners on
the light poles downtown and the
lights on the wooden bridge and at
the water sculpture park.
Paul Poore, a former leader of the
merchants group, explained in a
Donations are sought to purchase this Nativity for the town’s holiday
displays. Organizers say that it will likely become a 2020 project.
Facebook post that in either 2011 or
2012, the merchants took over dec
orating duties for the parade, except
for the Nativity and tree which the
county handled. But he said there
were legal issues with the county
having the Nativity so they circum
vented problems by using the mer
chants in later years.
However, Commission Chair
Rob Jones, who has held the top spot
See Nativity on 2A
• Arthur Coleman
• Walter Camp
Index
Editorial 4A
Letters to the editor . ,5A
Obituaries 10A
People 3B
Church 4B
Kids 5B
Legals 6-7B
Classifieds 8-9B
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