Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, January 21,2021
Volume 133 Number 40
Jasper, Georgia
22 pages in two sections
Published Weekly
Awards
Boys & Girls
Clubs name youth
of the month
Page 10B
Obituaries - 8-9A
• Dennis McLaughlin
• Diane Jones
• Don Harris
• Donald Lodge
• Evelyn Jordan
• Gertrude Kilpatrick
• Jeanene Moore
• Jody Cagle
• Joe Eller
• Judy Keener
• Lana Barrett
• Marie Collins
• Peggy Cagle
• Sandra Weaver
• Ted Lambert
Crossword
Page 3A
Contact Us
94 North Main Street
Jasper, Ga. 30143
706-253-2457
www.pickensprogress.com
Open for business during
these hours: Mon-Thurs,
9-5, and Fri, 9-4:30
Swapping superintendents
enrages parents, public
COVID-19
vaccine
appointments
booking
rapidly
North Ga. Health
district receiving
38,000 calls an hour
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@piekensprogress.com
It’s been more than a week
since members of the general pop
ulation 65 and over became eligi
ble to get a COVID-19
vaccination, and more locations in
Pickens County have now re
ceived supply.
In addition to the Pickens
County Health Department and
Good Samaritan Health & Well
ness Center, Bell’s Family Phar
macy in Tate and Ingles grocery
store in Jasper are now making ap
pointments and administering vac
cinations - but those appointments
are filling up quickly at all vacci
nation sites and some places have
lengthy waiting lists or are booked
solid for weeks.
Bell Family Pharmacy has
around 2,500 people on their wait
ing list.
“We’re having people call us
from out of town, from places like
Fulton County, because we will
actually pick up the phone here,”
said Katie Bell, owner and phar
macist. “People can’t get through
with the health departments.”
Bell has ordered 1,500 doses in
total, but has only received 100 so
far. They administered 50 on
Thursday and 50 on Friday of last
week.
“When we get supply we will
be able to administer 150 a day,”
Bell said. “We can start making
appointments once we know a
shipping date, but at this point it’s
a frustrating waiting game.”
Bell’s Family Pharmacy and
other vaccine sites place orders
with the Department of Public
Health on Wednesdays, which are
forwarded to the Centers for Dis
ease Control for approval.
Providers find out the following
Monday how much vaccine ship
ment they will be sent that week.
Bell was told not to submit any
more orders until the 1,500 doses
she has requested have been filled.
“The orders come in fast when
you’re approved - we had our last
shipment arrive by Tuesday after
the Monday we found out we’d re
ceive them,” she said. “We will
See Vaccines on 11A
Inside:
PHS wrestlers
head to first state
playoffs in
15 years
Page 1B
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
While not explicitly terminating
Pickens Superintendent Dr. Rick
Townsend, the school board has
voted three to two to authorize their
attorney to “negotiate to modify” his
contract. They then voted to name
Tony Young interim superintendent.
Board Chair Sue Finley, along
with Steve Smith and Aaron Hol
land, were in favor of making the
change at the top; Tucker Green and
Tommy Gartrell opposed the
change.
The changing of superintendents,
yet again, did not sit well with the
public and 50-60 people turned out
to oppose the decision at the Mon
day, January 18th meeting. The
vocal group created enough concern
that a contingent of backup deputies
from the sheriff’s office arrived and
were stationed around the room with
deputies eventually closing the doors
to push out members of the public
who did not get seats in the socially-
distanced board meeting room.
This marks the fourth superin
tendent to leave their position before
their contract expired in the past
decade starting with Ben Desper
(2011-2013), then Lula Mae Perry
The school board voted (3-2) to make Tony Young, in vest at right, the interim superintendent, at a meeting
Monday. They voted by the same margin to negotiate to “modify” the contract of Dr. Rick Townsend, who had
been serving as superintendent. Townsend’s empty chair is at far left.
(2013-2016), Carlton Wilson (2017- eluded “termination of superinten- of an interim superintendent, making
2019), and now Townsend. dent’s contract,” but the vote taken it clear Townsend was out as the top
The status of Dr. Townsend’s em- was to modify his contract. How- man - even without a vote to specif-
ployment was not clear when the ever, the only other item of business ically remove him.
meeting ended. The agenda had in- on the agenda was the appointment g ee supt. on 11A
American Legion organizes
100th birthday celebration
Damon Howell / Photo
WWII Veteran Lucile Griffith McMullen kindly accepted a little party Monday morning, complete with ice
cream cake and a quilt made from the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.
By Jim Brescia and Suellen Reitz
American Legion Post 149
COVID-19 has forced us to alter
our lives in so many ways. It is
doubtful that things will ever be
“normal” again. But some things are
too important to allow them to yield
to the pandemic. Celebrating some
one’s 100th birthday is something
that is worthy of a creative solution
that allows us to celebrate without
ignoring the restrictions imposed
upon us to curtail the spread of the
disease.
American Legion Post 149 here
in Pickens County joined forces with
the Daughters of the American Rev
olution Sequoyah Chapter to honor
Alice Lucile Griffith McMullen
(Miss Lucile to those who know and
love her) on her 100th birthday. Lu
cile was sworn into the Army as a
second lieutenant on January 31,
1945 and has been a member of Post
149 for 13 years.
Lucile was raised in Whitestone
and graduated from Pickens High
class of 1940. She received her RN
See 100 on 11A
Wife of former commissioner dies
She had attended many county
events with Rob during the 16 years
he served as the top county official
before leaving office on December
31,2020.
Commissioner Jones said in his
final interview that he was anxious
to spend more time around the house
with his wife and they planned to
travel in their RV.
Pickens County government re
leased the following regarding Mrs.
Jones’ death,
“Ecclesiastes 3 tells us to every
thing there is a season. In Verse 4,
the writer describes there is a time to
weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance;
Unfortunately for our community
and the men and women of Pickens
County government, we are experi
encing a time to weep and mourn.
We have lost a dear friend, a terrific
companion, and the epitome of
Grace in the death of Mrs. Diane
Jones.
Diane lived her life in the care of
others throughout Pickens County
and served like a rock beside her
husband Rob, during his 16 years at
the helm of the Board of Commis
sioners.
Not only did she stand firmly be
side her husband, she served as
“mom” to many employees during
this time.
As our hearts are broken for the
great loss they have experienced we
are asking that everyone lift up Rob,
Sonia, Chad, and the Jones and Mul-
linax families in your prayers during
the coming days.”
The post on the county’s Face-
book page was widely shared and
many offered comments of support
and grief.
Her full obituary appears on Page
9A.
Diane Jones, the wife of Rob
Jones, died Jan. 12th of COVID is
sues.
Former Commissioner Rob
Jones and his wife Diane.