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PAGE 2A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. OCTOBER 1.2020
Urgently needed care comes to Jasper
By Larry Cavender
Contributing Writer
For those area residents
needing urgent care, there is
now another option rather
than going to the hospital
emergency room. Pickens
Urgent Care and Primary
Care is now open at 744
Noah Drive in Jasper.
The doors to the facility
opened on September 3rd,
and many residents have al
ready discovered the excel
lent care by the providers at
the new urgent care clinic.
Those practitioners include
three full-time providers, in
cluding Doctor Gustavo
Vasquez, Doctor Ingle
Owens, and Nurse-Practi
tioner Daniel Dean.
If those names sound fa
miliar, it may be because all
three have been residents of
the community for quite
some time and in some cases,
for up to two decades. All the
providers have been practic
ing in Pickens County in as
sociation with Piedmont
Mountainside Hospital for
several years.
Because of their close
working relationship with
Piedmont, Pickens Urgent
Care and Primary Care is in
the process of becoming af
filiated with Piedmont
Health, and according to
Practitioner Daniel Dean,
Nurse Practitioner Daniel Dean is one of three full-time providers at the new urgent
care clinic. Others include Doctor Gustavo Vasquez and Doctor Ingle Owens. All three
have been residents of the community for quite some time and have been practicing in
Pickens County in association with Piedmont Mountainside Hospital for several years.
that affiliation should be fi
nalized "very soon."
Of the new facility, Dean
also said, "Our goal is to
serve our community a little
bit better." He added, "In
stead of spending $1,500 at
the emergency room, you can
see us for only a couple of
hundred."
The urgent care clinic has
dot] PICKENS
Urgent Care & Primary Care
Pictured here is the reception area of the new urgent
care facility that just recently opened in Jasper. The urgent
care clinic is open seven days a week, from 9 a. m. until 7
p. m. Monday through Saturday andfrom noon until 6p.m.
on Sundays.
five exam rooms, an x-ray
room, and an infusion room.
Their care extends from chil
dren to the elderly and in
cludes lab work and x-rays.
Of special importance to
local residents during the
Coronavirus Pandemic, they
provide COVID screening,
including the Rapid Antigen
test, the Rapid Anti-body test,
and the PCR gold standard
test. They will also soon be
offering antibody infusions.
Also offered is drive-through
COVID screening. Even if
you are vacationing, Tele
health/Telemedicine/Televisit
where you can access doctors
on your phone, laptop or PC
is another service Pickens
Urgent Care and Primary
Care provides.
Most insurance is ac
cepted, but noting that the
new urgent care facility is
currently a "work in
progress," Dean says that
once the Piedmont Health af
filiation is approved, almost
all insurance plans will be ac
cepted.
Community Responds: Thoughts on
Jasper’s tax hike proposal
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
The city of Jasper has pro
posed property tax increase
from 4.345 mils to 6.78 mils,
or a 56.04 percent over the
rollback rate. Council and
city leaders say expenses
have outpaced revenues over
the years, which has created
a shortfall. One council
member said people who
have been vocal and support
ive of the need for change in
the city will likely support
the increase, but was not sure
what general taxpayers will
say. We asked our Facebook
followers their thoughts
about the proposed increase.
Read all comments on our
Facebook page.
Carrie Simmons Roland
- I’m all for new things and
change, but commercial own
ers within the city don’t have
a vote or say unless we live
in the city as well. However,
the appraisals have increased
on commercial property al
ready increasing our taxes,
and from the business side
everyone’s budget is suffer
ing, not just the city’s. Our
small businesses can only
support so much extra during
this difficult year - last thing
we need are more empty
buildings in the city.
Greg Moore - The city
has been underfunded for
quite some time. This recali
bration has been long over
due. Is it the best timing?
When is raising taxes any
time good? Hopefully, this
will allow the county seat to
play catch up and provide
services necessary for a com
munity that has stagnated.
Gary Marsicek - What a
terrible time to do something
like this.
Charles Rau - Sharpen
your pencils, city of Jasper.
John William Phares -1
think it’s crazy in the middle
of a pandemic and crazy
[with the] uncertainty of
economy.... terrible timing.
Vickie Painter -1 believe
that 56 percent is an ex
tremely high jump. I realize
the price of everything has
gone up, but 56 percent is
just way too much. I haven’t
seen any change in the city to
warrant this kind of hike.
Maybe someone needs to be
checking into some grants in
stead of holding property
owners liable.
Cody Helms - The public
needs to know the budget so
we can feel ensured that our
NOW HIRING
City of McCaysville, Georgia is now accepting
resumes for Part Time Police Officer positions.
Must be Georgia Peace Officer and standard
training certified (POST) with one year experi
ence. Must be able to work variable shifts.
Submit your resume to:
City of McCaysville
Attn: Nancy Godfrey
P.O. Box 6
McCaysville, GA 30555
706-492-4921
Successful candidates will undergo a back
ground check and drug screening.
Walk-ins are welcome and
no appointment is necessary.
They are open seven days a
week, from 9 a.m. until 7
p.m. Monday through Satur
day and from noon until 6 p.
m. on Sundays. They are lo
cated at 744 Noah Drive,
Suites 108 and 109, in the
Jasper Mountain Highlands
retail shopping area just off
Highway 515, North. Their
phone number is 706 692-
0119.
'ZfacC'l ctt&Ucttet-cet-
and Healing Center
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10-2, Friday 10-1:30
CLOSED Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
1924 Hwy. 53 W., Jasper
706-253-1200
Full Service (drive out available)
Parts & Accessories
2015
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210TRS
Terrain travel
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This is a bunk house. Equipped with total new elec
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■ 2003 Winnebago Brave Class A Motorhome
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• 2016 Sandpiper 5th Wheel Trailer
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tax funds are going towards
worthy things before we sign
up for higher taxes.
Layla Patterson - Is the
tax hike to pay for the free
WiFi at the green space on
Main Street?
Aaron Mashburn
Growth is coming to Jasper.
You can spend now to pre
pare and be ahead of the
growth, or you can do noth
ing, allow critical infrastruc
tures to fall behind the
growth and pay for it later.
For everyone who wants to
protect our small town envi
ronment, being prepared to
guide growth and stay ahead
of demand for services is the
only option.
Marty Sellers - Must be
nice to sit around a table and
decide what people will pay
to live in their homes during
a pandemic while many are
behind on mortgage and hurt
ing for food to feed their fam
ilies. Many are out of work at
no fault of their own. What
growth has Jasper had that
warrants an increase of taxes
to my home? Not sure where
the expenses go but I haven't
seen any growth in west
Jasper area, just businesses
closing. No reason for my
property tax to increase. This
should wait till next year
when the economy is trend
ing up.
Richard P. Nightly - Ap
parently, a LOT of people in
the city of Jasper would
rather vote with woodchip-
pers than endure a 56 percent
tax hike.
Maria Boling - Seven
months into an international
pandemic where people are
standing in bread lines and
record numbers are dying
and you want to raise their
taxes dramatically? Have you
lost your mind? Cut spending
instead!
We are your American Legion!
We are dedicated to:
❖ Veterans
• Emergency assistance for homeless Veterans.
• Benefits counseling so that Veterans get what they earned.
• Fellowship for Veterans-We have served our country so we understand
what they are feeling.
❖ Community
• College scholarships for Pickens County Veterans
• College scholarships for a Pickens High School student each year.
• Youth Sports Sponsorship for 5 teams and 50 baseball players.
• Sponsorship of Scouting at the Senior and Cub levels.
❖ Patriotism
• Dedicated to the preservation of our country, its symbols and its values
• Participation in community events and presentation of our flag.
• Instructing in flag etiquette and proper disposal of worn flags
❖ Remembering the Cost of Freedom
• We know the cost because we helped to pay the bill.
•All gave some. Some gave all.
We know a thing or two, because we have seen a thing or two.
%ui l ' vvV
Contact your
American Legion Post:
j? American Legion Post 149
P.O. Box 477
Jasper, GA 30143
706-253-1715 alpost149@gmail.com
www.americanlegion149.com
Donations are tax deductible.
Area’s Best Business Review
Presented By: Metro News ©2020 All Rights Reserved. l-918-234-'7768
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do what smart shoppers do...make WAL-MART your one-stop shopping headquarters for the best prod
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