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THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 25. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3B
Church News - Continued
Free Box of Food
at Talking Rock
Baptist
A free box of food and
one $25 gift card to the first
40 age 65+ families. Drive
up only. No lunch.
At Talking Rock Baptist
Church, 429 Old Blairsville
Hwy., Talking Rock, Ga.
30175, on Thursday, March
4th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For more information call
706-253-7733 and leave
message.
Mountain Light
A UNITARIAN
Hprj) UNIVERSALIST
Xj&y CHURCH
An Accepting Community
with Open Hearts A Minds
2502 Tails Creek Rd.,
Hwy 282 W • Ellijay, GA
Dress: Casual
Sundays • Fellowship 10 a.m.
• Service 10:30 a.m.
www.mluuc.org
New times at
Adventist
Food Pantry
Adventist Community
Services Food Panty will be
held Wednesdays from 1-2
p.m. at Jasper Seventh-Day
Adventist Church, 600 Burnt
Mountain Road, just past the
library.
Women’s Bible
study starting
March 7th at
Jasper Methodist
All ladies are invited to a
seven-week Bible study on
Ephesians called “For His
Glory: by Marian Jordan
Ellis.
We will meet in-person,
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April
11,18 and 25 from 5 p.m. to
6:15 p.m. Each week, we will
watch a video and have a dis
cussion plus share some
yummy snacks and fellow
ship. We will meet in room
106 where we will social dis
tance and wear masks.
There will be some home
work during the week as we
delve in the wonderful book
of Ephesians and learn how
we are each God’s Master
piece. To sign up or if you
have questions, please con
tact Laura Smith at lauramc-
smith@gmail.com or Teal
Sanders at
tsanders@jasperamc.org.
We will need to order the
study workbooks by mid-
Febniary, so hope to hear
from you soon.
Continued: Minister’s Corner
until the first day on-the-job finally anives.
As you enter the workplace, your nerves are
all over the place, but you retain your com
posure. After meeting the manager, they lead
you to your workstation and let you know
that is where you will work.
While you sit down to take in all that you
have to learn so that you can do well, the
manager tells you to begin work and leaves
you. Since you don’t want to look like you’re
ill prepared, you try to appear calm, but fear
grips your heart. You ask yourself, “Isn’t any
one going to train me or at least instruct me
as to what I’m supposed to be doing?”
In desperation, you try to figure out what
to do, but how as no one has trained you? We
know that no company or organization is
going to hire someone off the street and not
train them to do their job.
As unrealistic as the principle of this story
may seem, it is played out over and over in
Christianity. After we come to faith in Christ,
we have so many unanswered questions. It is
here that frustration and discouragement can
begin to cause a person’s new walk of faith
to seem daunting, if not impossible. Perhaps
you’ve experienced these feelings in your
faith walk with the Lord. You wake up some
mornings with more questions than answers.
Our human tendency is to try to figure out
God and His plan for our life like the un
trained employee on their first day. If we
choose this route, it will cause us to experi
ence frustration, and occasionally we may
grow angry with the Lord. Have you gotten
exasperated with the Lord because you didn’t
know how you were supposed to move for
ward?
After we are saved, we must be willing to
accept that we are to walk by faith from that
moment forward. We cannot lean on our un
derstanding. No one can figure it all out when
it comes to walking and living by faith. Con
sequently, we must train ourselves to go to
the Lord as often as it is needed to receive di
vine instruction and wisdom to take our next
step.
Walking by faith has absolutely nothing to
do with trying to do it alone and hope for the
best. Instead, we are to look to the Lord so
that He can show us the way and give us un
derstanding when we feel confused. Remem
ber, God has given every believer His Holy
Spirit. One of the primary functions of God’s
Spirit is to make known to us God’s will for
our life and to help us complete it.
Has your walk of faith been less than ful
filling since becoming a Christian? Has frus
tration kept your passion for God subdued?
If so, begin today to seek the Holy Spirit for
wisdom, understanding, and guidance. It may
be difficult at first, since you’ve been accus
tomed to figuring it out, but you shouldn’t be
frustrated. If you make a misstep, don’t worry
as He will correct you. At least you’re mak
ing progress. Let God lead and you follow.
Asa Dockery is a resident of Ellijay, and
is a published author who has been writing
devotions for more than 11 years. Asa is also
the host of Keys to Kingdom Living Television
program.
4T\
This week in
- I
Sports History
A
M
by Ethan Swiech
February 21 -
February 2 7
February 21st:
On this day in 1999, Car
olina Hurricanes’ right
winger, Ray Sheppard, be
came the first player in NHL
history to have a 20-goal sea
son with six different fran
chises. Sheppard’s
accomplishment took place
during Carolina’s 4-1 victory
over the New York Islanders.
He scored his 20th at the
17:46 mark of the opening
period before adding an
empty netter to seal the deal
with 10 seconds remaining.
Sheppard’s previous 20-goal
campaigns came with the
Buffalo Sabres, New York
Rangers, Detroit Red Wings,
San Jose Sharks and Florida
Panthers.
February 22nd:
On this day in 1892,
Auburn and Alabama met in
the very first “Iron Bowl,”
which was played in front of
5,000 spectators at Birming
ham’s Lakeview Park.
Auburn won that initial con
test, 32-22, but Alabama
holds the overall series
record of 47-37-1. The last
meeting between these two
schools took place on No
vember 28, with the Tide
routing the Tigers, 42-13.
February 23rd:
On this day in 1985, Mon
treal Canadiens’ goaltender,
Patrick Roy, made his NHL
debut against the Quebec
Nordiques. Roy replaced be
leaguered starter, Doug
Soetaert, who surrendered
four goals in 11 shots. The
rookie played the entire third
period, making just two saves
while allowing zero goals.
Roy also earned the first of
his 551 victories during
Montreal’s 6-4 win over the
Nordiques.
February 24th:
On this day in 1980, just
two days after pulling off the
miracle of all miracles
against the Soviet Union, the
United States Olympic
Hockey Team captured the
gold medal. The Americans
came from behind twice be
fore defeating Finland, 4-2.
U.S. goals were scored by
Steve Christoff, Phil Ver-
chota, Rob McClanahan and
Mark Johnson, who got his
netter on a shorthanded situ
ation. Christoff and Johnson
each added an assist while
Dave Christian tallied two as
sists of his own.
February 25th:
On this day in 1994, for
mer New York Yankees’
shortstop, Phil Rizzuto, was
elected to the Baseball Hall
of Fame. Rizzuto spent his
entire 13-year career with the
Yankees in 1941 and 42 and
then again from 1946 until
1956. During that time, he
batted for a 0.273 average
with 38 home runs and 563
RBI’s. Rizzuto also won
seven World Series rings,
made five All-Star appear
ances and won the American
League’s Most Valuable
Player award in 1950. The
franchise honored Rizzuto
with two tributes on August
4, 1985, retiring his number
10 and making him a Monu
ment Park nominee.
February 26th:
On this day in 1989, the
Dallas Cowboys parted ways
with Tom Landry, who was
the only head coach the fran
chise had during its first 29
years of existence. Landry
led Dallas to 20 winning sea
sons, 18 postseason appear
ances, 16 campaigns of 10
wins or more, 13 division
championships, five NFC
crowns and two Super Bowl
titles. He compiled an overall
record of 270-178-6 in both
the regular season and play
offs while also winning
Coach of the Year awards in
1966 and 1975. Landry was
inducted into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 1990 and the
Cowboys’ Ring of Honor in
1993.
February 27th:
On this day in 1955, the
Boston Celtics and Milwau
kee Hawks set the NBA
record for the fewest com
bined points a game since the
establishment of the 24-sec
ond shot clock. Bob Cousy
and Bob Brannum each reg
istered 14 points while Bill
Sharman scored 11 during
the Celts’ 62-57 victory. Mil
waukee’s leading scorer was
Chuck Share, who posted a
game-high 19 points, while
Bob Pettit added 12 of his
own to the Hawks’ scoring
column.
Printing
Let the Pickens
Progress handle
any of your
printing needs,
from business
cards to flyers.
706-253-2457.
Continued from Page IB
Nettes are Region Champs
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The Nettes pose with the region bracket showing them going all the way.
gym, easily matching the home crowd. The
Nettes and Lady Bruins came out swinging,
trading buckets and hard fouls in the first
quarter with the Nettes taking the lead 17-
14. Stifling defense helped the Dragonettes
increase their lead to eight going into the
half 31-23.
Northwest did not give up and edged the
Nettes in the third quarter 9-8, slightly clos
ing the gap. The fourth quarter was sweet as
the Nettes sealed the game from the
freethrow line as NW attempted to find a
way back into the game.
The 56-42 win secured the first region
title for the Nettes since the 1999-2000 sea
son. The Nettes were led in scoring by Sen
iors Kealy Hillhouse and Cassidy Richards.
Sophomore Emma Gleason made some
keys plays on defense and added eight
points of her own. However, this win, this
championship, and this season was a team
effort with all 14 varsity players playing a
role.
Congrats to the 2020-2021 Nettes for
their success.
The Nettes faced Stephenson in the first
round of the state tournament on F ebruary
23rd at home. With a win, they will host the
second round of state on Friday, February
26th.
Rec. dept, baseball/softball
t-ball signups underway
County Recreation Direc
tor Brian Jones reported at
the latest commissioners
meeting that baseball/t-
ball/softball registration is
underway and will run
through the first of March.
Opening day is March 27,
tentatively.
“We’ve already had peo
ple register...so even with
the pandemic like it is peo
ple are still trying to get out,
have their kids play sports. It
still is a vital part of Pickens
County life.”
Jones reported pickleball
attendance has dropped off
since the pandemic num
bers. “It’s that 65 and older
crowd is not returning like
we thought it was going to.
It’s sporadic as far as pickle
ball goes, but the young peo
ple still seem to enjoy the
rec center,” he said.
Sports betting passes Georgia
House committee for second time
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Legislation
legalizing online sports bet
ting in Georgia cleared a
committee in the state House
of Representatives for a sec
ond time this week.
The biggest change in the
bill since its original airing
was an increase in the tax
companies licensed to run
sportsbooks in Georgia
would pay.
The substitute bill ap
proved Monday calls for a
20% tax, up from 14% in the
original measure. A sports
betting bill before the state
Senate calls for a tax rate of
16%.
Tennessee, which legal
ized online sports betting last
year, is already collecting
20% from sportsbook opera
tors, said Rep. Ron
Stephens, R-Savannah, the
committee’s chairman and
the bill’s chief sponsor.
Going from a 14% tax to
20% would yield another
$20 million a year in revenue
for education in Georgia, in
cluding the HOPE Scholar
ships program, Stephens
said.
Under House Bill 86, at
least six sportsbook opera
tors would be licensed by the
Georgia Lottery Corp. to run
online sportsbooks in Geor
gia, paying application fees
of $50,000 and annual li
censing fees of $900,000.
Rep. Becky Evans, D-At-
lanta, said she’d like to see
the legislation steer some of
the proceeds from sports bet
ting toward need-based
scholarships. HOPE bases its
scholarships on merit.
Stephens said Georgians
already are gambling on
sports, but the state can’t get
any tax revenue from it be
cause it’s being done ille
gally using offshore betting
sites.
Rep. Don Hogan, R-St.
Simons Island, said legaliz
ing sports betting in Georgia
won’t change that.
“Sports gambling that
goes on now will continue
going on offshore,” he said.
“We won’t have an effect on
that.”
The bill now moves to the
House Rules Committee to
schedule a floor vote.
Legalizing horse racing aired in
Georgia Senate committee
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Legalizing
pari-mutuel betting on horse
racing in Georgia would gen
erate commercial investment
and create jobs without using
tax dollars, state Sen. Brandon
Beach said last week.
Beach, R-Alpharetta,
pitched a proposed constitu
tional amendment calling for
a statewide referendum on
horse racing and a separate
bill specifying how the indus
try would operate in Georgia
at a hearing held by the Senate
Regulated Industries and Util
ities Committee.
Bringing horse racing to
Georgia would produce an
economic impact of more than
$1 billion a year, not only
from racetracks but from
breeding racehorses.
“When we first got into the
movie business, a lot of peo
ple thought we weren't going
The difference, Beach said,
is that horse racing can oper
ate in Georgia without state
subsidies like the large tax
credit the state has provided
for the past dozen years to lure
film and TV productions to
the Peach State.
“It's all private invest
ment,” he said. 'We're not
going to have any public in
vestment in this.”
The legislation calls for the
construction of up to three
mixed-use developments fea
turing a racetrack, hotels and
restaurants. The facilities also
could include convention
space, entertainment venues
and retail shopping.
One of the racetrack com
plexes would have to be lo
cated within 50 miles of
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta In
ternational Airport and require
an investment of at least $250
million. The other two facili
ties would be outside the
metro region and require a
smaller investment of at least
$125 million.
Portions of the betting pro
ceeds would go toward educa
tion, health care, rural
development and to efforts to
address problem gambling
and promote the horse racing
and breeding industries in
Georgia.
Horse racing would gener
ate revenue from three
sources: pari-mutuel betting
during at least 60 days of live
racing, betting on simulcast
races conducted at tracks in
other locations and betting on
historic racing machines, sim
ilar to slot machines, located
at the racetracks.
Beach said the historical
racing machines at tracks in
Kentucky generated $700 mil
lion in 2017 and nearly $1.4
billion in 2018.
“There's a lot of money in
these historical racing ma
chines,” he said.
The legislation drew criti
cism from representatives of
religious groups.
Mike Griffin of the Geor
gia Baptist Mission Board
said legalized gambling does
n't make economic sense. He
cited a study showing that
every $1 in gambling revenue
generates $3 in social costs in
cluding gambling addiction
and family bankruptcies.
Paul Smith of Citizen Im
pact, a network of pastors,
used a slippery-slope argu
ment.
“Once we get horse racing,
it's hard to argue we won't get
the next type of gambling,” he
said. “It will be difficult to do
one without the other.”
Opposition to legalized
gambling among church con
gregations has played a large
part in sinking past efforts in
the General Assembly to ap
prove casino gambling and
horse racing.
But Beach cited polls
showing strong support for le
galizing horse racing in Geor
gia.