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PAGE 8A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MAY 20. 2021
American Legion Post commander honored
American Legion Post Commander Jim Brescia was recently presented a plaque of appreciation from several members
during their weekly lunch outing. The presenter, Bob Reitz, stated that the two years of leadership from Brescia was ex
emplary and far and above expectations. Elections for new officers will take place at the next meeting on June 14. If
you are a veteran and interested in joining the Legion please go to www.americanlegionl49.com for more information.
Members of the post take pride in their work of assisting other veterans, helping to educate the public on the importance
of patriotism and giving back to the community.
Georgia to cut off federal COVID-19
unemployment benefits
Jasper Tire supports
veterans group
Mark Bryant, seen here with Jim Brescia, com
mander of American Legion Post 149 in Pickens County,
has worked at the Jasper Tire Company for 42 years. He
welcomed the installation of a donation box as part of
Post 149's local merchants fund drive. John Chivington
is the owner of Jasper Tire Company and a veteran him
self.
The funds raised in this program are all spent locally
to help veterans in need, offer scholarships, sponsor chil
dren 'v sports and support Scout programs. Look for the
patriotically decorated donation boxes when you shop in
local stores.
Call 706-253-1715 or email to alpostl49@gmail.com
to enroll your business in the program. Support the busi
nesses that support our local veterans.
By Dave Williams and
Beau Evans
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Georgia is
joining a growing number of
Republican-led states in cut
ting off federal unemploy
ment benefits to incentivize
out-of-work employees to re
turn to their jobs.
Gov. Brian Kemp said in
an interview with Fox News
Thursday that the Georgia
Department of Labor will
stop issuing $300 weekly
checks to jobless workers ef
fective June 26.
The governor’s remarks
came three days after a coali
tion of statewide business or
ganizations spearheaded by
the Georgia Chamber of
Sons of the
American
Legion meeting
The Sons of the American
Legion (Squadron 149) meet
the last Thursday of every
month at 5 p.m. at 111 Air
port Business Ct., Jasper, GA
30143.
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it straight?
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Commerce released an op-ed
complaining companies can’t
find workers for a growing
list of job openings because
unemployed Georgians are
receiving more in state and
federal jobless benefits than
they could earn by going
back to work.
‘‘It is hurting our produc
tivity not only in Georgia but
across the country,” Kemp
said. “We’ve got to get more
people into the workforce.”
Kemp and state Commis
sioner of Labor Mark Butler
have been working on a plan
to address the issue since a
meeting on Monday.
“It is critical for us to sup
port our economy and local
businesses by providing solu
tions to the roadblocks many
Georgians have faced when
returning to work,” Butler
said Thursday in a prepared
statement.
“Right now, the state has a
historic number of jobs listed
on Employ Georgia. We are
seeing some of the highest
pay scales with enhanced
benefits and signing
bonuses.”
But worker advocates
panned the move to end the
higher benefit amount Thurs
day, saying it is untrue that
the extra $300 each month
has kept many jobless Geor
gians from seeking new em
ployment.
Thousands of Georgians
have already returned to
work since the start of the
pandemic last year, contrary
to Kemp’s claim that too
many workers are still sitting
on the sidelines, said Ray
Khalfani, a research associate
for the nonprofit Georgia
Budget and Policy Institute
(GBPI).
Even so, Khalfani stressed
many Georgians are still
struggling to find new jobs or
return to their old ones after
the pandemic battered the job
market and killed many serv
ice-focused businesses, par
ticularly for low-income and
predominantly Black com
munities in the state.
“Although some jobs are
returning, that doesn’t mean
everybody who wants to re
turn to work can,” Khalfani
said at a news conference.
Among them is Elizabeth
Knight, a Savannah resident
who has received unemploy
ment benefits since being fur
loughed from her job as an
employment specialist since
November 2020. Knight said
she has struggled to find new
work in her career field while
also caring for her young son.
“This unemployment is
giving me a little bit of time
trying to find out what’s my
direction,” Knight said.
Beyond ignoring difficul
ties for many people trying to
find new work, GBPI’s Khal
fani also warned Kemp’s de
cision to end the extra benefit
could drive more Georgians
into poverty and depress con
sumer spending that was bol
stered by the increased
federal benefit.
“When you pull that floor
from people who need time
MEMORIAL DAY
SERVICE
In honor of our deceased veterans, a Memorial Day Service
will take place Monday, May 31,2021 at the Sunrise Memorial
Gardens Cemetery, located at 364 East Church Street in Jasper.
This year's tribute is hosted by the Marine Corps League,
North Georgia Mountains Detachment 1280.
Please arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.
In recognizing honored guests, please call 770-316-9616 and
let me know if you are attending.
Semper Fi,
PDD Bill Craig, Commandant, Marine Corps League Detach
ment 1280
to be able to get back to the
workforce, that’s something
that’s going to hurt a lot of
Georgians, hundreds of thou
sands,” Khalfani said.
The $1.9 trillion coron-
avirus relief package the
president signed into law last
month extends the $300
weekly unemployment
checks into September.
Responding to complaints
that the checks are encourag
ing virus-wary Americans
not to return to work, Biden
said this week that anyone
who refuses to take a suitable
job will lose their unemploy
ment benefits.
At least a dozen states
with Republican governors
have moved to cut off the
federal benefits, including
South Carolina, Alabama and
Tennessee.
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Attention Veterans!
We are your American Legion!
We are dedicated to:
♦ Veterans
• Emergency assistance for homeless Veterans.
• Coordinating with Home Depot for Veteran related projects.
• Benefits counseling so that Veterans get what they earned.
• Fellowship for Veterans-We have served our country so we understand
what you are feeling.
• Monthly meetings, weekly lunches, participation in community events
throughout the year.
❖ Community
• College scholarships for Pickens County Veterans.
• Scholarships for two high school students each year.
• Youth Sports Sponsorship for 5 teams and 50 baseball players.
• Sponsorship of Scouting at the Senior and Cub levels.
♦ Patriotism
• Dedicated to the preservation of our country, its symbols
and its values.
• Participation in community events and presentation of our flag.
• Instructing in flag etiquette and proper disposal of worn flags.
♦ Remembering the Cost of Freedom
• You know the cost because you helped to pay the bill.
• All gave some. Some gave all.
We know a thing or two, because we have seen a thing or two.
Contact your
American Legion Post:
American Legion Post 149
P.O. Box 477
Jasper, GA 30143
706-253-1715 alpostl 49@gmail.com
www.americanlegion149.com
Donations are tax deductible.