Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. APRIL 15. 2021
A journey, ojjoy. Olid faithfulness
The Joy House celebrates 20 years
1 .... 1 H . ■ ,——,
> 1
nm\
^^1. . 1
j—| V "13 I
/ • i
p 1 p r
ml ;~T.-■ 1
H r j
(V- ! ' > * |
L 1
PgjfflP' jr
W
lit. a
fri
syj
'-£^1
V (1 ' -- c
i, J? r
HjfespO
[ 7; 'PB jr v-i
-
4A - W
™ -v • - - * l A
, r#rFf rlr^ - r
The Joy House has served nearly 200 teens since their inception in 2001.
Annual banquet
April 27 @ 6:30
at Sharptop Cove
By Steve Lowe
Executive Director
It was 20 years ago this
July, the first hurting teen
came through The Joy House
doors. These 20 years have
been an amazing journey of
joy and God’s faithfulness.
Our mission was birthed
from a heart to see God bring
hope and healing to broken
teens and their families, but
also to bring glory to God by
doing something so extraor
dinary that it could not be ex
plained apart from Him.
Nothing brings me greater
joy than for people to see the
changed lives, the financial
provisions, the beautiful
campus and say, ‘‘only God
can do that.” Let me share
about some of these 20 years
briefly.
Our heart for teens was
birthed through youth min-
Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclaimed
Pickens County Commission Chair Kris Stancil met with representatives from North
Georgia Mountain Crisis Network to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month
in the county. Pictured behind Stancil are Rachel Gustin, case manager; Kimberly O’Neal,
executive director; and Julia Gilliam, sexual assault victim advocate. The proclamation,
signed on Monday, reads, “Sexual Awareness Month is meant to encourage education and
discourse that leads to full, public competence in speaking out against sexual violence,
counteracting the reality that society remains largely uninformed with respect to issues of
sexual violence. ” The proclamation also states national statistics showing one in six
women and one in 33 men will be raped in their lifetime, and one in six boys and one in
four girls will experience sexual violence before the age of 18. The North Georgia Moun
tain Crisis Network can be reached by phone at (706) 632-8400.
Georgia tax revenues show modest March
increase after February spike
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Tax collec
tions in Georgia rose a mod
est 3.7% last month, as the
state Department of Revenue
accelerated the processing of
refunds following a delay in
February that sent tax rev
enues soaring.
The state brought in
nearly $1.9 billion in taxes in
March, an increase of almost
$67 million over March of
last year. Since the fiscal year
began last July, tax receipts
are up $1.55 billion over the
same nine-month period a
year ago.
Despite the overall in
crease in tax collections, in
dividual income taxes fell
4.1% last month, largely re
sulting from a 69.8% in
crease in refunds to taxpayers
only partially offset by a
much smaller increase of
32.7% in tax payments dur
ing the month.
Sales tax collections rose
a healthy 12.6% percent in
March compared to March
2020, a month that marked
the beginning of the lock-
down of Georgia’s economy
amid the outbreak of the
corona virus pandemic.
Corporate income taxes
were up by 21.6% last
month, as refunds issued by
the state fell by a huge 63.1%
while tax payments rose by
21.3%.
F ebruary marked an
anomaly in Georgia’s tax rev
enue outlook because the
state didn’t start processing
tax returns - and, thus, send
ing out refunds - until the
12th of the month based on
Internal Revenue Service
guidance.
South Cherokee/Jasper
Driver Improvement Clinic, Inc. #2102
1623 East Church Street • Jasper, Georgia 30143
NEW DRIVER EDUCATION
(30/6 Joshua’s Law)
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
(6 Hour Course)
DUI-RISK REDUCTION
(20 Hour Course)
Registration/Assessments
Monday & Thursdays 11 am to 7pm
All Classes meet Georgia State Requirements
CLASSES FORMING NOW
www.SouthCherokee.com 706-692-1632 or 770-928-3679
Lives and
istry in Talking Rock 1st
Baptist Church and the Pick
ens community. That in
cluded myself, my wife
Wendy, and Rick and Mary
Bell, who worked alongside
us. As we prayed, God con
firmed this call by bringing
us key partners such as Don
Boggus Jr., the late Don Rus
sell, and Judge Brenda
Weaver. In late 2000 we
stepped out in faith. The Lord
moved in some mighty ways
in many people’s hearts by
providing finances, building,
supplies, and sweat equity.
We opened taking our first
teen within seven months.
God did so many things in
those seven months it felt like
I was being dragged along by
the collar and trying to catch
up. It gave us great confirma
tion that He was leading the
way.
Our ultimate vision was to
have a campus with homes to
serve these teens; toward that
end, the Lord provided us
with the debt-free purchase
of the initial 28-acre campus
in 2005. In 2006 we launched
a $1.2 million dollar capital
campaign to build the first
two homes and infrastruc
ture. Much of the infrastruc
ture and first girl’s home was
completed at the end of 2007.
In January 2008, we moved
our entire operation to our
existing campus off Cove
Road. Our boy’s home was
completed in 2012. God’s
faithful hand of provision
was evident all the way as all
of this was completed debt-
free, and we continued to see
teen’s lives changed.
During 2011 the Lord
began opening another door
of opportunity. This was the
year I met my late friend
Garry Barber. He was an in
credibly gifted Christian
counselor, helping many in
our community. However, I
was concerned we would
lose him as a resource in our
community because of fund
ing. Through providence, the
Lord made it clear he wanted
to unite us together, and The
Joy House Counseling Cen
ter was bom. Since that time,
it has now grown to serve our
North Georgia community
here in Jasper, Woodstock,
and Ellijay.
Through our teen residen
tial program, we’ve served
almost 200 teens since our in
ception. Those teens have
come from 19 different coun-
Are We
Getting It
Straight?
If you spot a mistake,
call our editor at
706-253-2457
dpooKapickensprogress. com
ties in the last five years as
we’ve become a regional
ministry based here in Jasper.
Our Counseling Center has
continued to expand, and we
served 250+ different clients
during 2020.
Each year we host our an
nual banquet, which is com
ing up Tuesday, April 27th.
Part of this year’s banquet
will be celebrating our 20th
anniversary and God’s faith
fulness. Additionally, we’ll
be looking ahead to our new
development plans as we’ve
just completed a $1+ million
campaign. We hope some of
you will join us as guests for
this special evening. You can
find those details in the event
section of our website at the-
joyhouse.org. We remain
grateful to you and God for
His faithfulness.
100+ lob Openings
Industrial
* Warehouse *
Skilled and unskilled positions
Willing to train
Call or Text 770-953-6054
EMPLOYPARTNERS.COM
s*
EMPLOY
NOW
AN EMPLOY PARTNERS COMPANY
Now in Jasper! 106 Travelers Rest Rd, Ste D
Ambulance Service
Ambulance Drivers
in Jaser needed
No experience necessary,
training will be provided.
Must be 21 yrs old with
a clean driving record.
Call for more info, 770-660-0161
Skyline.ems.llc<g)gmail.com
1549 East Church St., Ste. D, Jasper, GA
Job Opportunity
Pickens County Governement has an
opening for full-time Finance Director
This position is responsible for the accurate account
ing of Pickens County’s financial records in conformance
with GAAP, budget development and implementation,
monitoring revenues and expenditures, providing timely
reporting to departments, managing and accounting for
Pickens County’s property and fixed assets and facilitat
ing the annual audit.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge and level of competency commonly asso
ciated with the completion of a baccalaureate degree in
a course of study related to the occupational field.
Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the di
verse objectives and functions of the subunits in the di
vision/department in order to direct and coordinate work
within the division/department, usually interpreted to re
quire three to five years of related experience.
Ability to be bonded.
All applicants must pass a
ground check.
pre-employment back-
For a full job description and to apply for this position, go
to our website:
https://pickenscountyga.gov/employment-opportunities/
Qualified candidates may submit a resume and ap
plication to applications@pickenscountvaa.aov
or in person at Pickens County Administrative Offices;
1266 E Church St., Jasper, GA 30143. Monday - Friday,
8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Salary commensurate with experience. Open until filled.
Pickens County is an Equal Opportunity
Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.
NA
Vat I MESSY
Bring (n This Rd
& Get
1/2 OFF Pork Plate
th the Purchase of a
Pork Plate
and
2 Drinks
(Not Valid With Other Specials)
l ihy,«m. w , 7w ^ s;7427
i-'..ps.-crr:
r 'w\
I SHANESR
\CK.C0M
TENDERS • WINGS • SALADS
CATERING • DINE IN OR TAKE OUT
706-635-RIBS (7427)
FAX 706-635-7429
289 Highland Crossing • East Ellijay, GA 30540
Across from Walmart