Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 11.2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
From a Horseman s Per
spective
As Winston Churchill so
perfectly put it, “There’s
something about the outside
of a horse that is good for the
inside of a man” and boy, this
quote is so incredibly true. I
think most would agree. I’ve
been fortunate enough to
spend every single day of life
with horses and do it as my
profession. I’ve recently been
approached by several people
asking for my professional
opinion regarding the horse
that has been seen in several
various places in the commu
nity and what affect this
would have, if any on the
horse. Based on my experi
ence, there is a number of
things that can and should be
concerning.
People are guilty of an
thropomorphism when it
comes to any relationship
with animals, especially
horses. What this means is,
people tend to attribute
human characteristics, emo
tions and behaviors to the
horse. This can lead to an in
accurate understanding of the
horse’s biological innate na
ture. Their innate nature
makes them nomadic her
bound foraging creatures and
this is what they need to sur
vive. So, in layman’s terms,
they need a social setting
with other horses, room to
roam and plenty of forage
(hay/grass).
As in the case with the be
fore-mentioned horse, he is
not in any type of normal
conducive environment.
Under these circumstances,
many different things can
begin to happen that may not
always be obvious to the
human eye. They can appear
to have a normal body score
(a numerical score used to
evaluate the amount of fat on
a horse’s body) but can pos
sibly be battling gastric ul
cers. Gastric ulcers are a
result of stress from living in
a less than normal environ
ment and/or lack of adequate
forage. Under normal cir
cumstances, horses graze 18
to 20 hours out of a 24 hour
day. This is needed to allow
the digestive system to neu
tralize the acids in the stom
ach. Stress, both
environmental and physical,
can also increase the likeli
hood of gastric ulcers. Bat
tling gastric ulcers will take a
toll both mentally and physi
cally. In my profession, we
see this often. The only way
to get a definitive diagnosis is
to have a vet scope the ani
mal in question.
Another physical condi
tion brought on by stress and
lack of consistent diet (fre
quently changing types of
feed and hay) is colic. The
term colic can encompass all
forms of gastrointestinal con
ditions which cause pain as
well as other causes of ab
dominal pain not involving
the gastrointestinal tract.
Most commonly its colonic.
One of the ways to prevent
colic is to have a consistent
diet that does not change in
content or proportion. Horses
have an extremely sensitive
digestive system and some
thing as minor as a change in
barometric pressure can onset
colic. Secondary to colic,
some horses also develop
laminitis and founder.
Other than the physical
concerns, there are psycho
logical concerns as well, a
horse living under abnormal
and inconsistent conditions
could develop a term used in
the horse world called
‘Learned Helplessness.’ This
is a condition in which the
animal shuts down mentally
and behaviorally and enters a
state of depression. They can
appear to be docile, laid back
and nonreactive. The horse
will appear as if he has con
formed to his surroundings
but quite the contrary. They
can suddenly “wake up” and
be overly reactive without
having any stimulus and no
prior warning. This is when a
horse can be most dangerous.
To have the happiest,
healthiest equine partner, you
must always ask yourself,
“What’s in it for the horse?”
Carl Bledsoe
Bledsoe trains all breeds
of horses specializing in
gaited breeds. He was the
gaited clinician at the Horse
World Expo in Harrisburg,
PA in February 2020 and will
also be performing at the
Georgia Horse Fair in April
2021.
To the Editor:
I finally went to Walmart
here in Jasper after six
months. I was double masked
as my infectious disease doc
tor requested, wore gloves.
When I got to Walmart I was
greeted by a sign saying that
masks were required. Once
inside, it was like playing
dodge ball avoiding the per
sons not wearing masks - at
my estimate at least one-third
of the persons in the building.
Also, these people were
clearly not practicing social
distancing. I asked a Wal
mart employee who acted
like so what. No wonder
Covid is running rampant in
Pickens.
Thom Wentworth
To the Editor:
For generations, we’ve
been told that money is
power. It’s an axiom that con
tinues to drive our politics.
Despite being able to vote for
our elected officials, once
they reach public office,
they’re all too often swayed
by lobbyists and big money
interests. Instead of repre
senting the people, lawmak
ers spend the majority of
their time fundraising, rely
ing on large donors and hold
ing court with corporations.
That can change, but only
if Congress passes the For the
People Act.
The For the People Act is
a bold anti-corruption and
democracy reform bill that
would strengthen our democ
racy by reducing the influ
ence of big money in our
politics. It would enact limits
on donations from lobbyists
and increase the power of
campaign contributions from
everyday Americans by cre
ating a small-dollar donor
matching program.
These changes would
open up new opportunities
for different kinds of candi
dates to run for office — can
didates that come directly
from our communities and
understand the problems we
face. Instead of being be
holden to the donors and lob
byists with the fattest wallets,
our elected officials will be
working for the people.
Without this type of bold
democracy reform, our polit
ical system will never be
tndy democratic or fully rep
resentative and our govern
ment will continue to work
only for the privileged few.
It’s past time to build a better
system for all Americans --
which is why I’m urging
Congress to pass the For the
People Act.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Brooks
To the Editor:
The “wind” of change is
blowing through the United
States of America and it is
coming from the sewer plant
that is overflowing in Wash
ington, D.C.
Richard Marsh
To the Editor:
Majority Rules?
If little errors in the begin
ning lead to great errors in
the end, what do big errors at
the beginning do? The an
swer to this seemingly silly
question is not a trivial an
swer.
One of the big ideas that is
flat wrong is the notion that
"The majority rides". That
assertion is exactly how to
create constant conflict in
any group of people.
Try it some time with say
a church deacon board that is
split 6 to 5. Apply it to a pub
lic board like a school board
that makes its decisions on a
3 to 2 split. Or how about in
our national life where the
Senate is split 51 to 50.
Peace , harmony, and
goodwill never ever follow
when "The majority rides".
The real world idea that
works is to try and negotiate
some sort of compromise
which brings something like
a 4/5ths majority before you
ever try to bring about
needed change.
It is often better to stay
where you are than make a
change that is going to take
force to bring the other side
to compliance. My experi
ence is that people on the
other side of any issue never
ever give up and they will
continue to oppose what the
majority has forced. If the
minority is not part of the
change, they will not support
it.
Years ago there was pro
fessor named Fisher who as
serted that you should always
consider the outcome of not
reaching a negotiated agree
ment. He called that consid
ering the Best Alternative to
A Negotiated Agreement.
BATNA. The ride of BATNA
says that if the Congress
passes a series of laws on a
razor thin majority our na
tional life is going to be an
endless series of protracted
conflicts and that those
changes will be yanked about
as the other side comes to
power.
If you want to establish
some lasting and supported
change to the current status
of anything , you must have
something that is a lot better
than a simple majority or the
change is never ever going to
last or be effective.
The idea that "The Simple
Majority Can Rule" is a
dumb idea.
Gary Pichon
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 aeeepted 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.
Called Board Meeting
Pickens Co. Board of Education
Central Office
100 D.B. Carroll St., Jasper, GA 30143
The Pickens County Board of Education will
meet on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 5:00
p.m. for a called board meeting and will follow
the governor's guidelines for groups of people
gathering.
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Executive Session
IV. Approval of Executive Session Minutes
V. Adjourn
Rotary recognizes Todd Payne for vocational
excellence and community service
Todd Payne, president/CEO ofAmicalola EMC, receives
Rotary’s local W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence
Award for his vocational professionalism and community
service. Rotary President, Max Caylor, presented the award
and has nominated Mr. Payne for the District Award.
Submitted by
Jasper Rotary
Amicalola EMC President
and CEO Todd Payne was
presented one of Rotary’s top
local awards last week for his
vocational excellence and
community service. The W.
Lee Arrendale Vocational Ex
cellence Award is named rec
ognizing Arrendale’s “ethical
standards” in the poultry
business and using his occu
pation as an opportunity to
serve the community. He was
a member of the Rotary Club
of Habersham County.
“Todd Payne is a for
ward-thinking person who
cares about the people the co-
Progress
Article
Archive
pickensprogress.com
operative serves,” stated
Dennis Chastain,
president/CEO, of Georgia
EMC. His recommendation
letter added,” Payne lives out
the seventh cooperative prin
ciple of concern for the com
munity.” Amicalola EMC is a
not-for-profit electric coop
erative serving portions of
ten North Georgia counties in
50,000 locations.
Chastain noted Payne’s
work of over two years estab
lishing a partnership with
ETC to provide 6,000 rural
community members with
high-speed internet that was
desperately needed. The
Georgia EMC President CEO
noted that internet service did
not have a profit margin for
EMC’s but Payne saw an op
portunity to better serve
members in Cherokee, Daw
son, Lumpkin and Pickens
Counties.
Payne, a Rotarian, and his
dad, Bob, a charter member,
helped Rotary distribute
goods from a Dollar General
Store surplus trailer last July.
He cleared a covered truck
bay, set up fans, provided
water and allowed some
EMC’s employees to help
unload the goods. Family
Connection and Rotary
worked from Monday morn
ing to Friday afternoon dis
tributing “free stuff’ to
eleven non-profits and three
churches.
Also, in July, Payne and
EMC began the first of four
USD A food truck deliveries
which has helped Rotary pro
vided over 50,000 meals to
area residents in the Housing
Authority, CARES and many
non-profits. One of those
loads (550) boxes went only
to the Talking Rock area. In
addition, Payne and EMC
also has delivered 35,000
meals to Ellijay through the
Gilmer Rotary Club.
“I am humbled to receive
the award but the credit goes
to our employees for their
commitment to serve our
members,” said Payne in ac
cepting the prestigious
award. Rotary President Max
Caylor noted Payne’s usual
response of “sure” when
asked if he could help with
project.
Statewide, Payne is on the
board of the Georgia Energy
Cooperative and is on the fi
nance committee. In 2020 he
became a board member of
Sowega Power which is a gas
turbine generation unit in Ba-
conton.
Payne is known in the
community through his board
membership at the Chamber
of Commerce, treasurer of
the Pickens County Develop
ment Authority and partici
pates in advisory councils of
United Community Bank and
Chattahoochee Tech. Also, he
serves on development au
thorities in Bartow and
Gilmer.
The 15-year Amicalola
EMC veteran, Payne became
CEO in 2015. He is married
to the former Sherry Smith
and they have a daughter,
Bailey, and son, Ty. Todd is
the son of Bob and Mary
Ellen Payne of Jasper.
Payne was asked if he and
Amicalola could help with a
fifth USDA Rotary food
truck on February 23rd and
he responded, “Sure.”
Regular Board meeting
February 11, 6:00 p.m.
Pickens Board of Education
100 D.B. Carroll St., Jasper, GA
The Pickens County Board of Education will meet
on Thursday, February 11 at 6:00 pm for their reg
ular monthly board meeting and will follow the gov
ernor’s guidelines for groups of peoplegathering.
I. Call to Order
II. Invocation
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Public Participation
VI. Community Recognition (Destini Shope,
Director of Public Engagement)
VII. Superintendent Reports
A. Financial Update (Amy Smith, Chief Financial
Officer)
B. Operations and Construction (Stacy Gilleland,
Chief Operations Officer)
VIII. Action Items
A. Approval of Financial Reports
B. Approval of Personnel
C. Approval to Purchase Buses
D. Approval of Minutes
E. Approval of Surplus
IX. Board Comments
X. Adjourn
PICKENS
RECYCLING
CENTER
by the Ni/tn/tbers
Top Products Collected in January 2021
Trash Bags (Small) received
13,552 bags
Trash Bags (Large) received
1,000 bags
Mattress received
86 mattress
Tires received
125 tires
Large furniture received
48 pieces of furniture
TVs received
19