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THURSDAY. APRIL 7. 2022 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
Letters
tot/i& Editor
To the Editor:
Everybody Can Carry ?
A bunch of states have
been passing "constitutional
carry" laws including Geor
gia. That means that any
adult without some sort of
legal record can go about
with a pistol hidden on their
person. There is no require
ment for a special carry per
mit.
So why is this happen
ing? Why is there a need to
go armed everywhere for
self protection?
And if you believe the
data, why are so many
women arming up and
going to pistol shooting
schools. Those are really
interesting questions.
Some will say that the
crime data does not justify
this. Some think it is driven
by social media. Some say
it is the constant violence
of the movies and TVs.
My guess, unsubstanti
ated by any expert, is that
most people know the fed
eral judicial system has
failed them. The accumu
lative body of law decided
over by federal judges for
years now has prevented
local law enforcement from
incarcerating or killing the
repeat violent offenders
who pray upon the rest of us
daily. Repeat violent of
fenders are being turned
loose to do it again and
again. This is not a problem
of the policeman's making.
It is stupid judges, mostly
federal, who live in some
sort of fairy tale world.
In response, because
there does not seem to be
any other way, every citizen
is to become their own pro
tector. State legislators are
removing any impediment
of arming. Time will tell of
the wisdom of these steps.
My advice is that if you
are going to go about with
a pistol take some classes
from someone who knows
gun safety, knows how to
shoot and hit, and knows
the law with respect to the
use of deadly force. Prac
tice, practice is the key.
Learn to avoid those situa
tions where you may need
to shoot. Be aware and sus
picious in your surround
ings. Always have an
escape plan. Learn what to
say if you ever use that gun.
Please do not have acci
dental discharges. You may
hit the innocent or worse,
me.
Gary Pichon
To the Editor:
Your editorial in last
week's edition of The
Progress cut through the
ongoing publicity surround
ing the incident during the
Oscars presentation. You
said, "There was so much
wrong about that moment.
The way casual violence
was normalized Sunday
night by a collective na
tional audience will have
consequences that we can't
even fathom in the mo
ment."
I agree with the implica
tions for American society.
It is disturbing to think
about the further degrada
tion of civility as well as
safety in our communities.
Jennie Hobson
Letters welcomed -
No letter more than 450 words;
Send to news@pickensprogress.com
or Pickens Progress 94 N. Main,
Jasper, Ga. 30143; All letters must
have a full name that will be pub
lished, and contact info.
(Email Address or Phone Number),
which will not be published.
YOUNG LIFE
PICKENS COUNTY
SPORTING CLAY SHOOT
Friday, April 22, 2022
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2618 Garland Mountain Trail, Waleska. GA 30183
REGISTRATION FEES
• 4-memler Team Registration: $800.00
. Individual Registration: $200.00
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• One round of sporting clays: 100 targets over a multi-station course:
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• Breakfast biscuit & coffee
• BBQ lunch
• Entered to win fabulous raffle prizes!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
. Please bring a 12 or 20-gauge shotgun, eyewear and ear protection
• Guns, eyewear and ear protection are available for rent at Garland
Mountain Sporting Clays
REGISTER ; bit.lv/2022YLPickensCountvSnortineClavShDot
CONTACT Kate Meek
(706.S36.6949:
kate.haigrove@pickens.younglife.org)
Celebrate National Farm
Animals’ Day with
Candidate Meet & Greet
Come meet Josh Tatum,
candidate for Post 2
East Commision
on Saturday, April 9th,
2022 at the Jasper
Farmers’ Market from
9am-12pm. Stop by
and grab a sausage
ball or two, ask ques
tions and offer ideas.
Help Josh Keep Pickens Rural!
*More opportunities to talk with Josh at the market
will be scheduled. Follow him on his Facebook page
Josh Tatum for Commissioner District 2
Josh
Tatum
Commissioner Post 2
Keep Pickens Rural!
Jasper hires new fire, police chiefs
New Police Chief Matt Dawkins with his family at the Jasper Council meeting, (l-r) Mayor Steve Lawrence, council
members Sonny Proctor, Kirk Raffield, John Foust, Jessica and Matt Dawkins with children, council members Anne
Sneve and Jim Looney, City Manager Sonia Jammes.
Longtime assistant police chief Matt Dawkins is sworn
in Monday as police chief by Mayor Steve Lawrence in city
hall. His wife is holding the Bible for the ceremony.
New Fire Chief John Sheerer III, with his wife Dana
and children at the Jasper Council meeting Monday
night. Sheerer comes here from his current post as a Fire
fighter 2 in Crisp County.
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
In the work session Thurs
day the council officially
voted and announced both a
new police chief and a new
fire chief.
Matt Dawkins, the long
time assistant chief, was pro
moted to chief at the police
department. The council
hired John Sherrer III from
the Crisp County fire depart
ment as a new fire chief.
Council members noted
that they had a high number
of applicants. More than 35
people had been considered
for the posts including one
from Hawaii.
Council member Anne
Sneve said they had worked
hard to find the best person
for the job, in one case with a
person already here and in
one case bringing in a new
face.
Several council members
commented on the grueling
task of all the interviews with
both positions coming open
at the same time with the re
tirement of Greg Lovell as
police chief last year and
Steve Roper’s retirement as
fire chief this month.
Original press releases:
“The city of Jasper City
Council is pleased to an
nounce final negotiations for
a conditional offer of em
ployment with Mr. Mathew
Dawkins as the city of
Jasper’s next chief of police.
Mr. Dawkins was selected
after a nationwide recruit
ment and selected by city
council.
Mr. Dawkins is currently
the city of Jasper’s interim
chief of police. He has been
with the city of Jasper’s po
lice department for the last 14
years. As interim chief, since
October of 2021, he has ac
complished many new poli
cies and procedures and is
working towards having
Jasper Police Department in
a Statewide Certification Sta
tus. While here he will per
form the day-to-day
operations, work and direct
staff to continue development
and implementation of the
progression, vision and direc
tion for the city which has
been set, as well as focusing
on the city’s communication
with its citizens and more in-
depth training for our police
officers.
There were several
tremendously strong candi
dates for this position from
within the region and out;
however, I am confident that
Mr. Mathew Dawkins is a
great fit for the city of
Jasper’s police chief position.
Mr. Dawkins is a native from
our city and his father was
even the police chief years
ago. I have no doubt that Mr.
Dawkins has the ability,
knowledge, experience, and
drive to take Jasper Police
Department to the next level.
All the while working with
existing staff, council (pre
sent and future) and this com
munity in charting the course
for what Jasper has to offer to
the citizens and those moving
to our enchanting community
for years to come.
In conclusion, the city of
Jasper will enter into a 14-
day commencement period.
Mr. Dawkins’ first day could
be as early as the 15th of
April, 2022,” Mayor Steve
Lawrence.
Fire Chief
“The city of Jasper City
Council is pleased to an
nounce final negotiations for
a conditional offer of em
ployment with Mr. John
Sherrer III, as the city of
Jasper’s next fire chief. Mr.
Sherrer III was selected after
a nationwide recruitment and
selected by city council.
Mr. Sherrer currently
serves as a Firefighter 2 at
Crisp County and also as
captain for the Vienna (Vol
unteer) Fire Department.
While here he will perform
the day-to-day operations,
work and direct staff to con
tinue development and im
plementation of the
progression, vision and direc
tion for the city which has
been set, as well as focusing
on the city’s ISO and training
for our fire department.
There were several
tremendously strong candi
dates for this position from
within the region and out;
however, I am confident that
Mr. John Sherrer III is a great
fit for the city of Jasper’s fire
chief position. Mr. Sherrer’s
outgoing and approachable
personality coupled with the
extensive work experience in
the areas of management and
planning will assist existing
staff, council (present and fu
ture) and this community in
charting the course for what
Jasper has to offer to the citi
zens and those moving to our
enchanting community for
years to come.
In conclusion, the city of
Jasper will enter into a 14-
day commencement period.
Mr. Sherrer’s first day could
be as early as the 18th of
April, 2022,” said Mayor
Steve Lawrence.
TRADITION
TREE SERVICE
Jasper, GA
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Georgia Arborist Association Member
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C: 678-848-1751
H: 706-253-0122
Laujson Self Storage
Al Lawson
Office 706-253-1188
Cell 770-893-7221
1188 Talking Rock Rd
Jasper, GA 30143
allawson3@gmail.com
Speed Burger
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
=
Drive Thru, curbside and online
at MobileBytes Loyalty
Call-in Welcome 706-692-5136
Burgers
Hotdogs
Sandwiches
Corndogs
Salads
Chicken tenders
Sides
Fries
Onion Rings
Slaw
Mac-n-Cheese
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Plates
Hamburger Steak
Shrimp/Fish
Bar-BQ
Country-fried steak
Grilled/Fried
Chicken
(1/4 fry & 1/2 fry)
Chicken Tenders