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PAGE 10A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 11.2021
Continued From 1A
Dobbs
on the local government to
provide health, safety and
well-being of the commu
nity;
“And whereas any en
deavors of the community ei
ther succeed or fail because
of the people involved;
“And whereas it appears
that Roy Dobbs entered serv
ice to the citizens of Pickens
County on January 2, 1991
and continued his career
working as the Pickens
County Tax Assessor;
“And whereas it is proper
and fitting to recognize an in
dividual who had made Pick
ens County a better place to
live and work by such dili
gent and faithful service, now
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
It’s hard to recall any
other retail establishment in
Jasper offering spells, spirit
boards or re-decorated
mounted deer heads with
flowers and crystals. And
certainly none spring to mind
that have Tarot-card readers
on staff.
So with Valentine’s Day
approaching, a trip to Raven
& Bear on the backstreet (26
S. East Street) of downtown
seemed warranted last Thurs
day.
Jax Rohrbach, who owns
the store along with husband
Jay, say they are open to peo
ple from all walks of life and
religions, including those
who already know how to
perform a good cleansing
candle spell and know
whether you should rub a
Jade crystal to help your
stock portfolio as well as
those, like this editor, who
weren’t familiar with any of
their services or offerings.
To help decide on the nu
merous crystals, spells, can
dles, sprays and incense, the
owners suggest starting with
a Tarot reading to narrow
down your choices.
Lead Tarot reader Andrew
Kyle, a Pickens native, said
the cards weren’t going to an
swer my particular query, as
they offer no insight on
Chiefs versus Bucs in the
Super Bowl. But Kyle, who
makes a fine non-threatening
spokesman for metaphysical
endeavors, explained, that his
Tarot readings suit the indi
vidual. Some, he said, may
take on a spiritual nature,
while others are more like
therapy or give a peek into
your own subconscious.
For those utterly unfamil
iar with the cards, they have
been around since the mid-
15th century in Europe but
were only used to play games
until the late 18th century
when they began to be used
for divination.
Discussing Tarot, which
he has been studying on his
own since a teenager, Kyle
referenced famed psychiatrist
Carl Jung and sounded more
a self-help guru than a witch,
which, by the way, he is. But
a Wiccan, “definitely no
devil here,” he said. “It’s
about the natural magic that
is inside all of us.”
for be it resolved that Roy G.
Dobbs be and is commended
for 30 years of faithful and
diligent service to the citizens
of Pickens County.”
Dobbs’ wife and daughter
were in attendance. Commis
sioner Becky Denney
thanked Dobbs for his serv
ice and friendship.
Meeting time changed
Commissioners voted to
move their regular meeting
time from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
New commission chair Kris
Stancil wants to move the
time back to try an accom
modate people who work and
who want to attend the meet
ing, but also keep it early
enough that it is not a hinder-
ance for employees required
to attend.
He said people may come
with specific questions for
the cards but many just want
a general check-in. He offers
daily readings via a phone
call or e-mail which have
been popular with people
staying in.
“Some times it’s very
therapeutic just letting people
speak [about what the cards
are showing them],” he said.
“I have had people cry and
laugh with joy. I think they
take a little comfort in know
ing that the universe is
watching out for them. Some
times we all feel alone, but
we are not.”
Jax Rohrbach, who owns
Raven & Bear holds out a
handful of jade crystals
which are supposed to bring
abundance, not necessarily
financial wealth.
The board will reevaluate
the time after a few months.
Numerous appointments
made
•Lesa Thomason was
reappointed as County Clerk.
•Karen Wheeler was reap
pointed as Deputy County
Clerk.
•Phil Landrum was reap
pointed as County Attorney.
•Maurice (Toddy) Hen
drix and Harold Hensley
were reappointed to the Pick
ens Planning & Zoning Com
mission.
•Karen Benson was ap
pointed to the Pickens Plan
ning Commission to replace
outgoing chair Bill Cagle,
who resigned after serving
many years in that role.
•John Luke Weaver was
Kyle stresses that nothing
he reveals during a reading
“is set in stone. We all control
our own destiny and can
make changes.”
When asked to explain a
little on the spiritual side,
both the owner and the Tarot
reader stress that the shop
and offerings are open to all
religions. Kyle views the
spiritual side as being similar
to the “old mountain women
who practiced folk magic.”
They also reference the
Greek/Roman Gods such as
Aphrodite and Hercules.
For anyone curious, they
offer a friendly, “the only
dumb question is one you
don’t ask,” atmosphere in the
shop. They didn’t laugh or
roll their eyes regarding my
question of the crystals,
which offer protection or
wealth/abundance or many
other qualities, but, you don’t
have to do anything to turn
them on. No rituals or shak
ing them or putting them in
your shoe. Just take it home
and let the magic flow.
For a place called Bear
and Raven, you might be sur
prised to find that it’s “not a
scary store. Our walls are
painted blue and yellow. We
are the most bubbly store in
town. We’re campy and fun,”
said Kyle. “We’re more like
a Bettlejuice (1988 film)
vibe.”
Ms. Rohrbach said the
idea to open here evolved
from a growing online busi
ness selling custom made
spirit boards which she
stocks in all sizes and designs
(these boards are often called
Ouija boards, but technically
that denotes one particular
company’s offerings).
Rohrbach is a retail fan as
she prefers a connection with
the customers for the boards.
“I want to hear their stories,”
she said. “Not just get the
order and ship them some
thing.”
The Canton resident was
looking for space and found
the one in Jasper, where they
have been well-received by
shoppers so far. Most of the
customers are new to the
types of products she sells,
appointed to the Industrial
Development Authority to
fill the unexpired term of
Charles Finley, who stepped
down from his position after
serving many years.
•W.A. (Red) Meaders,
Don Martin, Ron Barnes,
Bart Connelly and Bill Cagle
were reappointed to the
Board of Appeals.
•Donna Enis, Jess Walker,
and Brian Cleghom were
reappointed to the Recreation
Board.
•Ed Wood, Don Boggus,
Jerry Edwards and David
Johnson were reappointed to
the Airport Authority Board.
Other news from the
meeting:
•Becky Denney was ap
pointed vice chair of the
but they have been curious
and willing to listen, she said.
So, with Valentine’s Day
coming, it seemed they might
need to advertise a special for
love potions and they do
carry them. However, it turns
out their offerings are about
“self love.” Rohrbach said
it’s about “inviting love into
your life” and “affirming
yourself with self love.”
Kyle adds, “There is noth
ing we can do that will help
you get Jeff in accounting to
notice you.”
Future plans at Raven &
Bear include adding more
products, particularly meta
physical books and hosting
classes, including one com
ing soon on “candle dress-
Pickens Board of Commis
sioners.
•Commissioners approved
a rezoning request to change
11 acres on Four Mile
Church Road from Agricul
tural to Rural Residential.
Applicant is Larry Ray.
•Commissioners approved
rezoning a 10-acre parcel on
Smith Drive in Fairmount
from Agricultural to Rural
Residential. Applicants are
Michael Bray on behalf of
Stephanie Hunter.
•Commissioners approved
a Conditional Use request for
a telecommunications satel
lite dish at 1250 Old Talking
Rock Highway. Applicants
are Via Sat on behalf of Bran
don and Jamie Stone.
ing” - preparing candles with
herbs and other decorations
for spells.
The store is open Tues-
Sat: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. They can
be contacted for readings at
ravenandbearl3@gmail.com.
Readings start at $30 for 15
minutes.
Continued From 1A
Bums
Birdhouse Man’ Floyd
Reed has been a staple at
our market for many,
many years.”
There were numerous
comments from market
regulars who remembered
Reed’s kindness and
artistry.
Pickens Fire Marshal
Shane Callahan cautioned
against the dangers of
using gasoline to start a
fire, and added that it is not
recommended to bum in
barrels.
“You never, ever want
to add an accelerant to a
fire,” said Callahan. Gaso
line is highly volatile and
fumes can ignite and ex
plode and become a fire
ball. The fire can also
follow the vapors back to
the source such as a gas
canister in a person’s hand.
Bum barrels are also
not recommended, and the
fire marshal urges people
to bum in the open air. He
said items being burned in
the barrel are highly com
pressed/contained, and can
hold fumes that create
more dangerous situations.
Continued From 1A
Shooting
ultimately transported to
an area hospital for treat
ment.”
A family member
posted on Facebook that
Childers was in the ICU at
Kennestone Hospital
where he was being treated
for a blood clot in his
lungs. She asked people to
keep him and their family
in their prayers.
The GBI determined
that the weapon Childers
was armed with was a
PFM16 C02 powered BB
pistol. This BB gun looks
very similar to a standard
handgun.
Once the GBI investi
gation is complete, the
case will be provided to
the Appalachian Judicial
Circuit District Attorney
for review.
This is the 7th officer
involved shooting that the
GBI has been requested to
investigate in 2021.
Jax Rohrbach and Andrew Kyle with one of the “upcy-
cled” mounted animals they sell, purely as art - nothing
metaphysical with them.
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47 Mountainside Village Parkway, in Jasper
Raven & Bear spiritual shop
brings new kind of business to town
The crystal table at the shop has the perfect stone for whatever is ailing you or you desire, but be aware that the one
helping find love promotes self love and won’t help one bit at Valentine’s Day.