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THURSDAY. MAY 14. 2020 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 9A
Family Oriented
LOOK TO US FOR YOUR
BASIC PHONE SERVICE
TDS Telecom offers the following local exchange
telecommunications services to all customers
throughout its serving area:
- Voice grade access to the public
switched network;
- Local exchange service;
- Dual tone multi-freguency signal;
- Single party service;
- Access to emergency service;
- Access to operator services;
- Access to interexchange service;
- Access to directory assistance; and
- Toll blocking without charge to qualified low
income customers.
Below are the monthly rates for local exchange service:
Residential Business
Exchange Monthly Rate’ 1
Nelson & Marble Hills $21.50
Big Canoe $22.80
Monthly Rate’*
$46.00
$36.00
Monthly discounts are available to residential
customers meeting certain low income criteria.
For more information, contact TDS Telecom
toll-free at 1 -888-CALL-TDS.
*The above rates do not include charges for long distance, operator services, Directory
Assistance, 911 emergency seivice, optional local calling plans, mandatory local
mileage or zone charges, residential touch calling service, or other state and federal
taxes/surcharges. 202152GANB/4-20/12286
Talking Rock seeks
GDOT input on
Main St.
The Talking Rock Council will ask the state trans
portation department for advice to improve traffic
safety along Main Street (Hwy. 136) with cars pulling
out from the side-roads.
Tater Patch cautiously
prepares for summer play
By Ralph O. Dennis
Contributing writer
The Talking Rock town
council held a very effi
cient virtual Zoom meet
ing last week discussing
traffic safety concerns
along their Main Street.
According to com
ments at the meeting, on
Main Street (Highway
136), as motorists come to
the intersection of Talonah
Street and Main Street if
cars are parked in front of
the businesses it can block
the visibility of drivers.
Discussion indicated this
causes a dangerous situa
tion when the driver is try
ing to turn on Main going
in either direction.
The council looked at
several options including
new routing of traffic and
even erecting a fence
along Main Street.
After some discussion,
it was decided that Mayor
Randy Banks would con
tact the Ga. Department of
Transportation and seek
their advice. All council
members agreed that it can
be a dangerous intersec
tion.
In other
business:
• The council held a
brief discussion on the
walkways in the town
park. They voted to re
place the two leading from
the playground back to the
parking lot with a concrete
walkway. They also de
cided that if funds were
available, to put a fence
between the walkway
closet to the stream and the
stream itself.
• The council decided
to replace the flowers in
the barrels on Main Street.
• Approval was given to
the town clerk for the dis
posal of certain records
that have exceeded the re
quired time for the town to
maintain them.
• The council decided
to reopen the park and to
also open the restrooms
because of the number of
children visiting the park.
The June council meet
ing will be an in-person
meeting in the council
chambers in town hall.
By Nan Nawrocki
Tater Patch Players
Tater Patch Players, like so
many of our friends here in
Pickens, has been diligently
practicing social distancing, as
we cancelled rehearsals, work
days, meetings and other ac
tivities.
However, the light is begin
ning to show on the horizon
and we are, once again, getting
ready to put on a play. The
play, Showtime at First Bap
tist, by Ron Osborne, was cho
sen last year. We had no idea
what a foresight that choice
was.
The play revolves around a
small church in the backwoods
somewhere. In the first play of
this series, we met the women
of the community and learned
how their lives, from World
War II into the Vietnam era
wove together.
Showtime at First Baptist,
starts a few hours after the
church's 100th Anniversary
covered-dish dinner. A light
ning bolt strikes the steeple,
burning the sanctuary and
leaving only the fellowship
hall standing. This play is
stand-alone story. You need
not have seen the first one to
appreciate these characters
and how they deal with a huge
crisis.
The women of the commu
nity come together to figure
out it all out. Not how or why
this happened, but look to for
ward and create a way to work
together to rescue the heart of
their community. They do it
with love, ingenuity and an
amazing amount of laughter
and fun.
And that is how all our
friends and our Tater Patch
family are going forward now,
coming out of this horrible
spring we've all endured. The
cast was chosen in February.
As soon the virus began to
shut things down, the director,
Stan O'Kelley, asked the cast
of six women to take their
scripts home and start learning
their parts on their own. He
was secure in the faith that the
show WOULD go on. He just
didn't know when. Work on
the set ground to a halt as our
theater went dark and the stage
crew and volunteers sheltered
at home.
Now, we at Tater Patch
have, hopefully, found the new
"when". We have gotten per
mission from the publisher of
the play to put the show on the
stage on July 17, 18, 19, 24,
25, 26,31 and August 1 and 2.
Of course, we realize the
health climate could change
things again, but we are going
forward right now and plan
ning on having scenery fin
ished and lights on for opening
night. Not only that, but we
will have new seats installed
in our theater by then for your
comfort.
We are rehearsing again.
We will be painting the
scenery soon, of course with
proper social distancing. We
will be choosing costumes and
props. A crew will be remov
ing the tired old seats in prepa
ration for our "make over."
We give thanks to the
members of our community
who have contributed to our
survival during this time. We
would still welcome donations
from those who can.
Visit the website at
www.taterpatchplayers.org/do
nate to contribute. Even when
there is no income from plays,
the utilities, insurance, mort
gage and all that still must be
paid.
We have decided to cancel
children's workshops and
youth production this year,
out of caution, though we will
miss those happy faces and the
hum of kids' voices working
on lines, costumes, and
scenery.
We hope you will be join
ing us in July in our super
clean and very happy theater
to see our show, Showtime at
First Baptist. As the charac
ters rebuild their church fam
ily and community after their
troubles, we will be rebuild
ing ours for you, our Tater
Patch Family.
The Pickens Animal Shelter Needs Your Help
If you are an animal lover who wants the best for the Pickens County Animal Shelter
please vote for Kris Stancil for Pickens County Commission Chair on June 9th or on your
absentee ballot. Kris is the best candidate to move our County and our Animal Shelter into
the future in a safe, unified direction with support for both staff and volunteers. He was
kind enough to listen to my story about Lola, a big black dog brought into the shelter last
year after her owner had died at home. Lola wasn't adapting well to being locked in our
noisy shelter and was shy and uncomfortable being leashed. I was called in to help.
I have video proof of Lola's personality. Taken on my second visit, the videos show her eat
ing out of my hand, giving kisses, and asking to be petted. I had no idea that would be our
last day together. Arriving at the shelter the next Tuesday I was told by staff that I was
not allowed to see her and that sweet Lola was to be put down per instructions from the
current Commission Chair Rob Jones.
As a credentialed Canine Professional, my assessment was that Lola wasn't dangerous and
I didn't see any obvious health conditions. These are the only reasons that current Com
missioner Rob Jones frequently advertises as causes for euthanasia at the shelter. I even
tried to appeal a dangerous dog classification but was thwarted at every turn. Jones still
vehemently states that he has no breed ban but I have my suspicions. Once Lola's videos
went public I felt Jones block any efforts of volunteers trying to help her find a new home.
Many animals have been put to death per orders from Rob Jones over the years. It's
time we stop his carnage!
Kris Stancil is a better choice for County Commission Chair. We have talked about his sup
port of our Animal Shelter. I have seen him in leadership roles in our county government
and observed how his communication skills focus on listening and treating people with
the respect they deserve.
As a Certified Public Manager with common sense, Emergency Management and Executive
Leadership Training, and himself a volunteer in other county activities, I believe that
Kris Stancil is highly qualified to manage our county. For the sake of Lola and other an
imals killed at our shelter as well as for the support of shelter staff and volunteers alike,
please vote Kris Stancil, County Commission Chair on June 9th.
Ethically yours,
Linda Ross
Fear Free® Elite Certified Professional
Doggone Safe Dog Bite Safety Educator
General Member of Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP)
Supporting Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)
Supporting Member of The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)