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Joe Morgan named teacher of the year
Harmony Elementary School
media specialist Joe Morgan was
named the 2023 Pickens County
Schools Teacher of the Year at a cer
emony on Monday night.
Morgan, a 20 year teaching vet
eran, told the Progress on Tuesday
morning that he was very humbled
by the honor.
“It is a very honoring and hum
bling experience to have your col
leagues choose you for something
like this,” Morgan said. “To have all
the students and teachers reach out
to me with kind words and com
ments. There’s nothing any better
than that when you’re in this profes
sion. That means the world.”
Morgan began his career at Hill
City Elementary, moving to Har
mony Elementary School when it
opened in 2006. For years he taught
fourth grade and is now the media
specialist at Harmony.
“Kids check out books with me
Front left: Harmony Principal Marla Callahan and Joe Morgan, Hill City Principal Jennifer Halko and
Georgia Allen, Tate Principal Stephanie Hall and Krista Newton; Interim Supt. Dr. Janet Goodman, Randy
Marler and JMS Principal Cory Thompson; and Amanda Thrasher, PJHS Principal Dr. Chad Flatt, teacher
Sarah Bauer, PHS Asst. Principal Dr. Wendy Arnold.
every week and I read with them but
I also do research and technology
with them that’s library oriented.”
Morgan said he sees every kid in
the school for an hour each week,
“so it keeps me busy.”
“It is fun and very rewarding to
get to work with them,” he said.
Morgan cited both his mom, a ca
reer elementary school teacher, and
his dad, as his inspiration to pursue
education as a career. His mother,
Sharon Morgan Flowers, retired in
2020.
“She was a first grade teacher for
many years, also teaching kinder
garten and third grade. We are a fam
ily full of educators. My sister is a
first grade teacher in Fairmount and
her husband is a teacher at Red Bud
Middle School in Gordon County.
My dad worked very hard as a
chicken farmer and pushed us to
continue 3 ee j 0 p Teachers on 10A
Memorial Day
Ceremony
Sunrise Memorial
Gardens
May 29th
at 10 a.m.
Keynote Speaker
Mayor Steve
Lawrence
Young Marines of
Metro Atlanta -
Color Guard
Sponsored by Marine
Corps League Det. #1280
From Georgia's
Currahee
Mountain to
Germany's
Eagle's Nest
North Georgia's and
Nelson’s contributions to
the elite 101st Airborne,
The Screaming Eagles
Sgt. Bobby Young of Nelson was
sening with the 101st Division
when he was killed in action the re
sult of "small arms fire." Because
of evolving tactics in the Vietnam
Conflict the "Screaming Eagles"
were no longer paratroopers, but
instead were transported into com
bat in Huey helicopters like the one
pictured with Young. (Photo cour
tesy of the Young Family.)
By Larry Cavender
Contributing Writer
There are many American mili
tary units that have become leg
endary, almost mythical. However,
of the 89 divisions which fought in
the European Theater of Operations,
none are more celebrated and
revered than the 101st Airborne,
"The Screaming Eagles."
The 101st fought in many of the
most significant battles of the Sec
ond World War, and in April of 1945
the Supreme Allied Commander,
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, per
sonally awarded the Screaming Ea
gles the Presidential Distinguished
Unit Citation, the first ever to be is
sued to an entire division. Less than
three years earlier, the genesis of the
101st began in a remote area of the
North Georgia mountains, located
less than 80 miles as the crow flies
due east of Jasper, Ga.
Camp Toccoa, named after the
nearby North Georgia town, was es
tablished shortly after the United
States entered the Second World War
See Screaming Eagles on 11A
Art Walk returns with a colorful bang
The first ArtWalk Jasper of the year proved to be
the most successful yet, with a sizable crowd and fun
additions for spring.
Attendees for the May 19 event visited juried
artists in over 20 businesses along Main Street while
Caleb Wilkie & The Privateers performed at the
courthouse and other musicians played on South
Main Street and near The Old Jail
Popular new additions were the colorful maypole
where participants danced in groups, and live totem
pole carving by the Kirby-Quinton Cabin. The crowd
was entertained by surprise visits from a mime and
clown who performed on the street.
Businesses reported strong foot traffic and sales.
“Lots of traffic, lots of people and people were
genuinely excitedjust going from shop to shop, ” said
Honeysuckle Florist owner Brian Rittenberry.
“There were several locals but a lot of people were
from out of town. It was absolutely a great night. ”
Art Walk Jasper Director Angela Reinhardt said
the crowd included more people from out of town
and more young attendees than previous events.
ArtWalk returns on September 22 and October 27.
See more photos from ArtWalk on page 8A.
Fingers crossed: $1M grant sought for Perrow Park
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
While funding is not set in stone for the long-
awaited Perrow Park project, Jasper leaders are hope
ful they will receive a $1 million grant to spur the
development along.
The project will bring a terraced amphitheater, rest
rooms and other amenities to the comer of Main Street
and Spring Street, currently home to a green space and
picnic tables.
Jasper Assistant City Manager Kim Goldener gave
an update to Jasper’s Downtown Development Au
thority at their Monday, May 22 meeting. Goldener
has said in the past that it’s not a matter of if but when,
and that the ARC grant would hasten the project’s
timeline.
The city submitted their application to Appalachian
Regional Commission on April 14.
“The disappointing part is that it may be September
before we hear anything on this package,” she said,
noting that the application goes through several layers
of review including both state and federal and “it just
takes a while.”
In the meantime the city has been told they can
begin the environmental review process.
Applications, maps, and other documents are sent
to state and federal agencies for their review including
Georgia Department of Transport, Georgia Depart
ment of Natural Resources, Army Corps of Engineers,
tribal agencies, and Georgia’s Historic Preservation
Agency. Those entities have 60 days to review and
provide comment.
“Hopefully, we will receive minimal or no com
ments back,” she See Perrow Park on 10A
Youth Leaders complete 8-month chamber course
Congratulations to the Youth Leadership Pickens Class of2023. The participants completed an
8-month class where they were introduced to multiple facets of our community. The Pickens County
Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center is very proud of our 2023 Youth Leadership Pickens Class.
(L-R)Pickens County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center Board Chair Kay Lawrence, Grant
Hooker, Aidett Mathisen, Nathan Johnson, Sam Streicher, Lilli Tippetts, Charlie Gibbons, Jenna
Poole, Sydney Spinks, Reece Wheeling, Katilyn Hamrick, Eleina Bryant, Paige Elwarner, and Pick
ens County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center President & CEO Amberle Godfrey.
Music History
See Sunday
Concert of
Civil War
music at
Old Jail
Page 2A
Home/Garden
Precautions
around home
can reduce
wildfire
threats
Page 4B
Obituaries 9A
• William
Blackwell Jr.
• Harry Chambers
• Anthony
Chiavarini Jr.
• Jenny England
• Joyce Johnson
• Ruby Matthews
• Marcus Millwood
• Donald Perry Sr.
• Roderic Shea
• Christopher
Thompson
Contact Us
94 North Main Street
Jasper, Ga. 30143
706-253-2457
pickensprogress.com
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