Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, August 17, 2023 | Volume 136
Number 18 | Jasper, Georgia | 20 pages, 2 sections | Published Weekly | $1.00
Qualifying next week for city elections
in Jasper, Talking Rock & Nelson
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@piekensprogress.com
There are no county elections this
year, but several local municipal
elections on the ballot in November.
If you’re interested in throwing
your hat into the ring and live in the
city limits of one of the towns, qual
ifying for all elections is Monday,
Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 25
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the
Pickens County Elections Office at
3100 Camp Road, St. B.
Seats up for election and
qualifying fees listed below:
Jasper
Mayor
Seat currently held by Steve
Lawrence
Qualifying fee $180.
City Council
Post 3 - Seat currently held by
John Foust
Post 4 - Seat currently held by
Jim Looney
Post 5 - Seat currently held by Kirk
Raffield
Qualifying fee for all $90.
Nelson
Council seats
Three seats, currently held by
David Hamby, Nathan Hamby and
Kristeen MacNeill
Qualifying fee is $25.
Talking Rock
Mayor
Seat currently held by James
Bryant Jr. (Mayor Pro Tern)
Qualifying fee $ 1
City Council
Two council seats, currently held
by Mary Bregantini and
Linda Cagle.
Qualifying fee $ 1
Craddock
named
executive
director for
CARES food
pantry
Andy Craddock will bring more
than 20 years of non-profit experi
ence to CARES for Pickens County
as he assumes the executive direc
tor position.
Submitted by CARES
Andy Craddock has been named
the new executive director of
CARES for Pickens County, a non
profit organization that provides
food, family financial counseling
and other assistance to those in
need. Craddock comes to CARES
with more than 20 years of experi
ence in nonprofit management
through the Boys & Girls Club
Movement, Camp/Retreat ministry
and Consulting. Craddock worked
with CBRE and Cushman & Wake
field prior to his new role.
"I am honored to be joining
CARES at this time," said Crad
dock. "The organization has a long
history of providing critical services
to our community, and I am excited
to build on that foundation and con
tinue to serve Pickens County folks
in need."
As executive director, Craddock
will be responsible for working with
organization's board, continue to
build relationships with community
partners, and advocate for the needs
of those served by CARES.
"Andrew is a proven leader with
a deep commitment to our commu
nity," said CARES Board Chair
Chris Vanderwalt. "We are confident
that he will be a great asset to
CARES and help us continue to
make a difference in the lives of
those in need."
Growing up in Kentucky, Crad
dock moved to Georgia in 1984 and
is a graduate of Berry College. He
and his wife, Shari, have raised
seven children and have resided in
Pickens County for six years. He is
a member of the Berry College
Alumni Association Council as well
as a board member of Icthus Camp
ing Ministry.
CARES for Pickens County is a
nonprofit organization that provides
food and other assistance to those in
need. The organization serves up to
250 families per week with supple
mental food, counseling and emer
gency financial help. CARES is
funded by individual and corporate
donations, grants, and PCCRA.
For more information about
CARES for Pickens County, please
visit www.carespickens.org.
“A lot of concrete being poured”
on wastewater expansion project
Photo/Reeves Young
A drone shot of the City of Jasper Water Pollution Control Plant. Walls are being poured for a second
aeration basin, among other significant changes to the site at Montview Road.
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
Construction is in high gear at Jasper’s wastewater
treatment plant, which will double its treatment capac
ity after the expansion is complete.
The project has been coming down the pipeline for
many years, and identified by Jasper leaders as critical
to accommodate the city’s future needs. In June of
2021, the Progress reported that city officials consid
ered it crucial to get the wastewater expansion under
way as quickly as possible. In that article, Jasper’s
Water/Wastewater Direc- See wastewater on 10A
Student Milestones scores improve
91 new hires fill all teaching positions here
Dual enrollment,
staffing updates
presented at school
board meeting
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
Pickens County’s new superin
tendent reported some improve
ment in student performance on the
2022-2023 Georgia Milestones
scores, which were received at the
start of this school year.
Supt. Travis Thomas told the
board Pickens students’ scores in
creased in 11 of the 20 test areas in
the “Proficient Learner” and “Dis
tinguished Learner” levels. Those
are the top two levels students can
score on in each test. The bottom
two levels are “Beginning Learner”
and “Developing Learner.”
“This is very good,” Dr. Thomas
said. “One of our core beliefs is that
we strive for continuous improve
ment in student achievement, so
looking at last year’s data compared
this year’s data we’ve done that in
11 out of 20.”
Thomas presented the results at
the Pickens Board of Education
meeting on Thursday, August 10.
The 20 tests are either End-of-
Grade tests for grades 3-8 and End-
of-Course tests for high school
students.
Pickens ranked above the state
in 10 of those 20 test areas in the
Proficient Learner and Distin
guished Learner levels.
Parents will have access to their
Position
New Hires
Total
Employees
Teachers
53
302
Paraprofessionals
17
89
Transportation
8
77
Office Staff
1
39
Student Services
4
35
Food Service
1
34
Administration
7
29
Support Staff
1
19
Maintenance
0
8
Total
91
632
students Milestones scores very
soon through the Infinite Campus
Parent Portal. Pickens Schools Di
rector of Assessment, RTI, & Com
munity Engagement Destini Shope
said it could be as early as Friday,
Aug. 18, and if not by then shortly
thereafter.
To access scores on Infinite
Campus click the “more” button on
the homepage from the pulldown
menu, then select SLDS Portal.
Choose “performance.” Scroll
down to see your student's assess
ment results. They can be down
loaded and printed.
System and state results can be
accessed through the Georgia De
partment of Education website.
The Georgia Department of Ed
ucation voted in July to allow local
See School Board on 10A
Human Resources Department
New Hire Data
85.7% Retention
Chart/Pickens County School System
Pickens Schools HR Director Chris Parker gave an update about new hires in the system for 2023-2024.
This chart shows a breakdown of those employees.
Softball
team off
to strong
start
Non Profits
Scenes from
the Good
Sam
Jamboree
Page 12A
Law & Order
Harassing
texts, drugs
found, &
other weekly
cases Page 5A
Obituaries 9A
• William Bridwell
• Betty Ferrell
• Ryan Fitzgerald
• Stan House
• Lynn James
• Keith Moss
• Robert Ostuni
• Betty Silvers
• Robert West
Contact Us
94 North Main Street
Jasper, Ga. 30143
706-253-2457
pickensprogress.com
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