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THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10. 2020 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
Continued From 1A
City crew marble movers - (l-r) Terry Howard, Eddie Chastain, Adam Howard, Lonnie Waters, Ryan Ledbetter and
Blake Gorth with the statue carved many years ago by Bill Sunderland now on display in the Chamber of Commerce
lobby.
Statue
It took a steady hand and a strong strap to move the marble carving from its base at the
Old Jail December 2.
Luckily, the crew had no
difficulties relocating the
carving of a small boy with a
hammer and chisel and a dog
from the historic site on Main
Street to the Chamber lobby
at Lee Newton Park.
The statue was carved by
Bill Sunderland, a Georgia
artist, who died in 2017.
According to an obituary
at Legacy.com, ‘‘[Sunder
land] created well over 2,000
works of art on a wide variety
of subjects, inspired most
often by his love of children
and animals. His works are
displayed from Georgia to
Maryland to Scotland and
have received numerous
awards and accolades.”
Sunderland also carved
"Learning is Fun" which sits
at the library in Jasper. He
carved it from a 22-ton block
of marble while an artist in
residence at the marble oper
ation in Tate, now operated as
Polycor.
The Pickens Historical
Society is in a year-long ren
ovation of the Old Jail into a
functional historic site and
while the statue is very nice,
the marble child did not fit
into any theme of jail history.
In preparing to move the
statue, a representative of the
Sunderland family said it was
unclear to them why the
statue was inside the Old Jail
in the first place. Their
records indicated that statue
was left at Polycor by Sun
derland.
The historical society ex
pressed their gratitude to the
Sunderland family for the
sculpture being made avail
able for the public to view in
this county - a great represen
tation of our local stone used
in art.
The historical society and
chamber both thank the City
of Jasper for handling the re
location.
Amberle Godfrey, director
of the chamber, said they
were excited to have a large
work in locally-mined mar
ble on display.
The statue fits well there
and is a great way to show
our mining heritage to visi
tors, she said.
The Old Jail is open for
tours every Saturday from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m. with a
knowledgeable guide on
hand. Tours are $5 for adults;
free for kids.
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor and Fellow
Georgians:
We understand there are
people in this country who
have plans for us—eliminate
the filibuster, create at least
two more states (D.C. and
Puerto Rico), pack the courts,
eliminate the electoral col
lege—a monstrous idea, a di
abolical plan. The only
question that occurs to me is
“What kind of people are you
who would deliberately dis
enfranchise at least half of
your fellow countrymen in
order to gain total power over
us?” This unthinkable action
would reinstate slavery in our
country. For what is a person,
who has no say in his life, but
a slave to a totalitarian over-
lord?
Georgia, it is now up to
us. On January 5 we must
cast a ballot for either Perdue
or Loeffler, maybe the most
important ballot of our lives.
And may God bless our
beautiful land with His Sav
ing Grace.
Jean Curran
Jasper, GA
To the Editor:
Let’s get out the vote.
Please do not sit on the couch
and watch these two democ
rat radicals turn over the
United States into a socialis
tic country. If you thought the
Presidential election was im
portant, this one is even more
critical now.
Our votes will count the
RNC has 100s of lawyers
stationed at voting places to
assure a fair election. As you
are no doubt aware of what
will happen if the extreme
left takes over: packing the
supreme court. Adding two
more liberal entities like
Washington, DC, Porto Rico
and even American Samoa.
Taking away our choice
for health insurance. Don’t
pass this important election.
Our forefathers would roll
over in their graves if we
allow this to happen. Think
of the many wars we fought
and won to defend our free
dom and our liberty. Don’t let
that happen.
President-elect Biden has
already begun to yield to his
left wing radicals in some of
his appointments. These two
radicals running against Sen
ator David Purdue and Sena
tor Kelly Loeffler want to
empty the prisons and tear
down the border wall with
Mexico. Make citizens of il
legal aliens and more. Surely
you don’t want this to hap
pen. Remember Schumer
and Pelosi they are conserva
tive compared to these two
challengers to our senators.
Georgia is an unique posi
tion, we can save our country
from the radical dictators.
You see what Democrat gov
ernors and mayors are doing
to their economy. Being a pa
triot like most citizens in
Pickens County will get out
the vote.
C. Ray Smith
Veteran
To the Editor:
In 68 years of my life,
have I seen my country under
attack from within by those
that claim to love America. A
number of us feel that the
election was rigged. Not all
Democrats are bad but some
at the top are pushing for so
cialism. Why I do not know.
If you are a Democrat, vote
to cross over at least till the
party can come back as they
were a few years ago before
they became so progressive.
I love America and I have
voted for Democrats in the
past, but as long as they push
progressive ideals I’ll never
vote for one again. My
grandkids need to grow up in
the America I grew up in. So
rive a free 3 montl
gift subscription
when you subscribe
to the Progress!
Share the news with a friend.
Subscribe or Renew and we will let
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scription to anyone in this county
who doesn’t already get the paper.
Take up this offer by calling
the Progress office at 706-253-2457
94 North Main Street • Jasper, GA 30143
many died for our freedom
and now they are trying to
take it away. You want to be
mad, be mad at China and the
Democrats for the pandemic.
They are using it against
Trump and to control us.
Trump has done all he can to
help. Do not believe the lies.
If you watch CNN, CBS,
ABC you are not seeing the
whole truth.
Our votes need to be se
cure for the upcoming senate
race just in case Biden stole
the race for president. Get
out and vote for Kelly Loef
fler and David Perdue. Don’t
let the Progressives take
over. How long will free stuff
last? Just until the rich can
move their money out of the
country. What would you do?
If you had money. No jobs,
no good, fighting in the
streets, these will be a bad
place. A vaccine is coming,
you owe it all to Trump and
the Republicans because the
Democrats would drag their
fee and block the vaccine be
cause this pandemic helps
them to use it against Repub
licans.
Please get out and vote for
Loeffler and Perdue.
Jack Jarrett
Letters Welcomed
“Letters to the Editor ” is an
important public forum in the
community and the Progress
welcomes and encourages these
letters. Letters addressing issues
will be accepted but not those
expressing a personal grievance
directed toward another individ
ual. Letters OVER 400 WORDS
in length will not be considered
for publication. All letters must
have a full name with address, e-
mail and phone number given
where the author can be reached
to verify information.
The contact information is
never published.
Letters may be e-mailed to
news@pickensprogress.com.
Call 706-253-2457 to discuss
this further.
Veterans to hold wreath
ceremony Dec. 17th
Pickens County citizens
and veterans are invited to
the fourth annual Christmas
wreath placement at the
Pickens County Veterans
Memorial Park (PCVMP).
By placing this Christmas
wreath, we are honoring our
veteran’s past and current.
Why We Do It?
We understand we have
Veterans Day in the fall and
Memorial Day in the spring,
but our service members
sacrifice their time and
safety every single day of
the year to preserve our
freedoms.
In many homes, there is
an empty seat for one who is
serving or one who made
the ultimate sacrifice for our
country. There is no better
time to express our appreci
ation than during the hustle
and bustle of the holiday
season. We hope you will
join us on Thursday, De
cember 17, at 12:30 p.m. at
the Veterans Memorial Park.
Also, during this holiday
season, we encourage plac
ing appropriate holiday dec
orations. Please be
respectful of the memorial
PCVMP will remove any
inappropriate decorations at
the memorial. All decora
tions will be removed by
January 4, 2021.
We now have 833 Bricks
of Honor at the Veterans
Memorial Park.
The Bricks of Honor are
honoring Veterans. A vet
eran does not need to be a
citizen of Pickens County to
be honored at this Veterans
Memorial Park. To honor
these Veterans currently
serving or served a Brick of
Honor may be donated in
the name of a loved one or
directly to a Veteran. The
Brick of Honor is for all reg
ular services members of
the military, National
Guard, and Reservist.
How do I donate a Brick
of Honor or purchase a Vet
erans Memorial T-Shirt?
You will find applica
tions for Bricks of Honor
and T-Shirts at the memo
rial, or our web site at
www.pickensvetmemorial.c
om. You can contact us at
706-253-0501 or email
pickensvetmemorial@gmail
.com. Donations for Bricks
of Honor are $125 each and
T-Shirts are $20.
Also, we have a Flag
Box at the veteran’s memo
rial. We have collected over
600 flags for disposal. If
you wish to dispose of your
flag properly bring it to the
memorial and place it in this
dignified box. The Sons and
Legion Riders of the Amer
ican Legion with the Boys
Scouts of American will
take these old flags and dis
pose of them by giving them
a proper burial.
PCVMP is a non-profit,
tax-exempt, 501 © (3), and
donations are tax-de
ductible.
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706-301-9148
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1623 East Church Street • Jasper, Georgia 30143
NEW DRIVER EDUCATION
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Registration/Assessments
Monday & Thursdays 11 am to 7pm
All Classes meet Georgia State Requirements
CLASSES FORMING NOW
www.SouthCherokee.coin 706-692-1632 or 770-928-3679
School Board meeting
The Pickens County Board of Education will
meet on Thursday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m. for
the regular monthly board meeting and will follow
the governor’s guidelines for groups of people
gathering.
I. Call to Order
II. Invocation
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Recognition (Destini Shope, Director of
Public Engagement)
VI. School Safety & Communication System
(Patrick Shea, Chief Technology Officer &
Stacy Gilleland, Chief Operations Officer)
VII. Superintendent Reports
A. Financial Update (Amy Smith, Chief Financial
Officer)
B. Operations and Construction (Stacy Gilleland,
Chief Operations Of cer)
C. Pickens High Graduation Rate (Chris Wallace,
Pickens High School Principal)
D. College & Career Academy Update (Dr. Rick
Townsend, Superintendent)
E. COVID Guidance Update (Jill Liberatore,
Chief Accountability Of cer)
F. Pickens Virtual Academy Presentation (Anita
Walker, Director of Curriculum and School
lmprovement& Dr. Rick Townsend, Supt.)
VIII. Action Items
A. Approval of Financial Reports
B. Approval of Personnel
C. Approval of 2021-2022 Pickens County
School System Calendar
D. Approval of January 2021 Regular Board
Meeting Date
E. Approval of School Safety & Communication
System
F. Approval of Change Order #1 at Pickens High
School Tennis Courts
G. Approval of MOU with Capella University
H. Approval of Minutes
I. Approval of Surplus
IX. Board Comments
X. Adjourn