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Thursday, March 3, 2022 | Volume 134 Number 46 | Jasper, Georgia | 24 pages, 2 sections | Published Weekly | $1.00 Prominent developer has big plans for the heart of Jasper By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com The lead developer of a large mixed-used project near Ingles in Jasper, who is also a lead developer of The Mill on Etowah in Canton, said they are progressing steadily through the pre-construction phase with the next step to be the land dis turbing permit. The project will encompass around 22 acres on parcels between Ingles and The Retreat at Jasper. Project plans call for 177 residential units, including 152 multi-family apartments and 25 townhomes, as well as between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The apartment units will be in three- story buildings. Price for the residential units are not finalized at this time, according to the developer. A PUD zoning for the proj ect was recommended by Jasper Planning & Zoning then granted final approval by Jasper City Council last year, prior to the residential moratorium being put in place. Lead developer Grant Schmeelk is also one of the lead developers for the popular “The Mill on Etowah” development in Canton, which is in part housed in a renovated denim factory. It includes Reformation Brewery, restaurants, retail shops, entertainment space and other ele ments. Schmeelk told the Progress, for the Jasper project their commer cial area will include some retail, professional, and medical spaces. He QPUBLIC/Map An area behind Ingles may be developed to include three-story apartments and commercial space. Airport hangar rental list acquired By Alex Goble Staff Writer On Feb. 14 the Pickens Progress received a copy of both the airport’s mas ter list for hangar rentals and the waitlist for said hangars after filing open records requests. The requests were made after several pilots ques tioned the list’s where abouts and the order leases were being as signed. There does not appear to be anyone who holds more than one of a single type of hangar outside of companies like Cherokee Flight Training, although See List on 10A Perrow building demolished for park project Alex Goble / Photo One of the white buildings in Perrow Park being taken down by city of Jasper crews on Tuesday. The second white building is planned to be demolished by Wednesday as part of the transformation of the area at the corner of South Main and Spring streets into a park that could include an amphitheater. The historic Perrow Cabin at the same site is not slated for immediate demolition, but its future is uncertain. Covid absent in Pickens schools Administrators have fingers crossed it will stay that way By Dan Pool Editor dpool@piekensprogress.com Early reports indicate that COVID cases in the Pickens schools went on winter break and haven’t returned - at least not yet. Now, school officials are hoping the virus will remain absent for the re mainder of the school year which ends in May. The school system re ported zero cases of COVID among students and staff on Monday and only a single case (staff member) Tuesday, after returning from winter break last week. Monday was the first day since the Omicron spike began in January where the schools reported zero cases. “Fingers crossed to the end of the year [May 27th],” said Superintend ent Tony Young. “I check See Absent on 11A Parents of daycare children still at whim of quarantine requirements * Me- 4 1 hm - Angela Reinhardt / Photo A pre-k class offour-and five-year olds at Country Kids have an end-of-the day snack before parent pick up. This Jasper daycare center, like others in the state, is still required to quarantine and contact trace, which puts parents and employees in a difficult spot. “Knock on wood, ” the center has gone two weeks without having to quarantine a class, the owner said. By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com Listening to Country Kids Owner Rhonda Mullins explain procedures they are required to follow for quaran tining is an exercise in mental acrobat ics. Day one of quarantine starts on this day. Here’s what happens when a child is exposed at school. Here’s what hap pens when a child is exposed at home. Here’s what happens when a child or teacher tests positive. Here’s how con tact tracing works. “Yes, it’s very confusing, like a puz zle” Mullins said as she pulled out her thick “COVID” file of Georgia Depart ment of Public Health guidelines and other COVID paperwork from the last two years. The daycare owner said “knock on wood” they have not had to quarantine a class in the last two weeks - and with COVID cases on the decline she hopes that trend continues - but unlike our local K-12 public schools, daycare cen ters are still required to quarantine and contact trace. Mullins and many exac- See Daycare on 11A noted they have worked well with the city of Jasper during the process, and that, “It was a natural move for us to come from Canton to Jasper.” Jasper Mayor Steve Lawrence is excited about the project, which he said, “Of all the developments we’ve had this one makes a lot of eco nomic sense for the city of Jasper.” Developers are working with the city to secure a land disturbing permit, and ground will be broken sometime after that. Election Campaigns Josh Tippens announces candidacy for Post 2 commission Page 3A Rick Jasperse seeks re-election Page 3A Obituaries - 6A • Anita Arnold • Ben Jones • Brenda Radford • Consuelo Hernandez • Ernie Green • Jane Goodwin • Jim Kraemer • Joyce Sparks • Keith Moseman • Stacy Gunn • Susan Spofford Contact Us 94 North Main Street Jasper, Ga. 30143 706-253-2457 www.pickensproaress.com Open for business during these hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-5, and Fri, 9-4:30 $1.00 per copy