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THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2020 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 9A
Tropical Storm Zeta knocks out power across north Ga.
Staff Reports
While Zeta, a tropical
storm that ripped through the
area in the early morning
hours of Thursday, October
29th, didn’t produce any
major damage in Pickens
County, its path of downed
trees and powerlines was one
of the most widespread in re
cent years.
No injuries or damage to
buildings were reported to
the county’s emergency oper
ations, but more than 80
power poles were broken and
trees temporarily closed
roads and caused power woes
to many homes in Amicalola
EMC’s service areas across
parts of 10 different counties.
On Friday, October 30,
Amicalola EMC reported
more than 40,000 meters out
across their entire territory,
80 percent of their total cus
tomers. By Monday, working
long shifts and with outside
assistance they reported that
35,000 of those had been re
stored and estimated the rest
would be by mid-week.
A press release Monday
from the power company
stated, “350 outside crew
members are working up to
18-hour shifts. Crews are fol
lowing a proven, safe, me
thodical process for restoring
power. The power recovery
effort has already been long
and difficult, but we are pass
ing the stage in this restora
tion process, that allows us
the ability to get a large num
ber of meters restored from
one repair.”
The statement closed by
thanking customers for their
patience. “We know this is an
inconvenience to our mem
bers at a time when many are
already struggling from a dif
ficult year, but we are work
ing to restore all power as
soon as is safely possible.
We appreciate your under
standing and we thank you
for your continued patience.”
Photo/Christie Pool
Crews dear downed pines from Cove Road early Thursday morning.
Photo/Max Caylor
Area resident Steve McClure on
Upper Grandview Road Thursday
morning removing a downed tree.
Amicalola EMC and ETC partner to expand broadband
Joint Press Release
With the passage of rural
broadband legislation in
2019, Georgia Senate Bill 2
cleared the way for electric
cooperatives in the state, like
Amicalola EMC, to con
tribute to the expansion of
broadband. Providing broad
band to rural north Georgians
has been a priority of ETC’s
for many years, but many
challenges exist in making
the availability of broadband
service a reality in rural
areas. Amicalola EMC and
ETC have joined forces and
are pleased to announce a
partnership to bring greater
access to broadband to the
area served by both
providers.
The partnership will give
Amicalola EMC improved
communications between fa
cilities such as substations
and automated distribution
equipment and will improve
reliability to the consumers
served by them. ETC saw the
opportunity as a great chance
to expand their already sub
stantial footprint for broad
band service into new areas.
This project will include por
tions of Cherokee, Dawson,
Gilmer, Lumpkin and Pick
ens counties.
“ETC could not have a
better partner who under
stands the needs of commu
nities and the critical
importance of fast and reli
able broadband than in
AEMC. We have joined
forces before and are excited
to see the positive impact our
partnership will create. We
encourage residents in these
counties who have an interest
in internet services to visit
www.ETCFiber.com, an in
teractive website which al
lows consumers to register
their interest.” states Jason
Smith, COO of ETC.
Todd Payne, president &
CEO of Amicalola EMC says
“It is a win-win for our mem
bers. We know that a lack of
adequate internet access
places a hardship on rural
areas. We are excited about
working with ETC to help
bridge that broadband divide,
while at the same time im
proving reliability to our
members. We’ve worked on
joint projects for many years
and we are happy to partner
once again with a trusted and
reliable provider like ETC.”
Amicalola EMC is a not
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Jason Smith, chief operating officer of ETC and Todd Payne, CEO of Amicalola EMC announce a broadband ex
pansion partnership.
for profit electric cooperative
serving over 50,000 locations
in north Georgia in portions
of Bartow, Cherokee, Daw
son, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer,
Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray
and Pickens counties.
Founded in 1940, Amicalola
EMC has provided electricity
and related services to north
Georgia for 80 years.
Established in 1903 as El-
lijay Telephone Company
(ETC), today ETC is a diver
sified communications com
pany providing internet, tele
phone, cable television and
security services. ETC serves
residents and businesses in
North Georgia and Ten
nessee. ETC actively evalu
ates opportunities to expand
broadband in and around its
service area. Currently, ETC
has 2,708 miles of copper
lines, 2,010 miles of coax
cable and 652 miles of high
speed fiber.
Governor Kemp recognizes Rotary
Governor Brian Kemp issues a commendation for Rotary's humanitarian service in
local communities and the world. Receiving the prestigious document are Rotary District
Governor Steve Barnes from District 6920, Tina Fischlin of District 6910, Governor
Barnes, First Lady Deena Driskell from District 6900 and Jasper Rotarian and State Rep
resentative Rick Jasperse.
Submitted By
Jasper Rotary
Rotarian leaders from all
three Georgia districts met
last Thursday with Governor
Brian Kemp at the Capital
where he presented a com
mendation honoring Rotary’s
1.2 million members for their
community and international
humanitarian service.
Rotary district governors
Steve Barnes from 6920,
Tina Fischlin of 6910 and
First Lady from 6900 Deena
Driskell were present for the
prestigious event. Local Ro
tarian and State Representa
tive Rick Jasperse also
attended.
The Rotary Club of Jasper
was chartered in 1989 and
has made significant contri
butions to the Pickens Com
munity. Club members were
instrumental in establishing
Pickens Ferst Readers which
is a book program for chil
dren five years of age and
younger. In 1997, the club
built Hope House which is a
temporary emergency home
for neglected and abused
children through the Depart
ment of Family and Children
Services.
Another major contribu
tion to Jasper is a children’s
music park with 12 tuned in
struments which is handicap
accessible. In the same area
is a 10’ marble Peace Pole
containing the phrase “may
peace prevail on earth in
eight languages.” Other pro
grams include a school sys
tem thank you project,
donations to non-profits and
most recently distributing
free USDA food boxes.
The Rotary Club of Jasper
is a non-political and non-re
ligious organization open to
all service minded men and
women who want to better
their community, world and
themselves. The club meets
each Wednesday at noon at
Chattahoochee Tech for
lunch and friendship and is
open to the community. Go
to jaspergarotary.org for
more information.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12,2020
11:00 AM-2:00 PM
PICKENS COUNTY
DRIVE THRU FLU, PNEUMONIA & SHINGLES
O 0
SHOTS AVAILABLE AT THE O
PICKENS COUNTY CHAMBER
auO VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, JASPER, GA 30143
INFO@PICKENSCHAMBER.COM 706-692-5600
Most Insurances will offer $0 copays for flu shots
Patients 65+ medicare pays for Flu, and both pneumonia shots
Shingles can be given to anyone 50+
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