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An Independent
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Independent
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Thursday, September 21, 2023 | Volume 136 Number 23 | Jasper, Georgia | 20 pages, 2 sections | Published Weekly | $1.00
County park needs are many;
funds, space remain limited
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
With building a house, people get
excited picking out wall colors and
finishing touches, no one likes to
hear about septic systems, under
ground power and foundations. At a
joint meeting Wednesday, the county
commissioners and Parks and Recre
ation Advisory Board realized that
also applies to parks.
In a long, and wide-ranging dis
cussion, commissioners and recre
ation board members, along with
parks personnel, discussed how the
public is expecting amenities like
pickleball courts, improved ball
fields and a new swimming pool.
But as Brian Jones, the director of
parks and recreation, said, the two
biggest issues they face every year
are parking and bathrooms. Another
top need is a maintenance building.
Currently equipment like mowers
is spread out in different buildings,
including the concession stand,
where maintenance supplies are
stored alongside food and drinks.
Discussion ranged to the long de
sire by some to see a new park for
the west end of the county. It was ac
knowledged that the current single
park for the county was judged inad
equate in size and shape for the
growing population.
In addition to budgeting, space at
Roper Park must be tightly watched.
The property for Roper Park was do
nated by the Roper family and once
served as an airport with its long nar
row shape. The shape makes it im
possible to locate modem field
designs with central concession and
bathroom areas.
Commission Chair Kris Stancil
said his basic plan is allocate
SPLOST funds for short terms proj
ects between now and 2026 and then
look at the addressing recreation sig
nificantly more with the next
SPLOST.
Stancil said they are projecting
roughly $2 million in SPLOST funds
that can be spent on recreation over
the next two to two-and-half years.
But this is based on sales tax revenue
and could vary. In 2026 the county
can put another sales tax referendum
before voters, where they could re
quest additional Hinds for recreation.
However, Stancil said he wants to
see the county develop a specific
master plan before then.
All three commissioners - Kris
Stancil, Josh Tippens and Josh
Tatum - attended with county clerk
Lesa Thompson, recreation depart
ment director Brian Jones and assis
tant Seth Boyd. Members of the
See Parks on 11A
Suspected electrical fire followed
“perfect production day ” at Bodacious Foods
Photos/City of Jasper Fire and Angela Reinhardt
Fire crews battle a blaze at Bodacious Food Company Thursday. Owner Cathy Cunningham, top left, said the building went up
quickly because of flammable cardboard displays that were inside in stacks. She is shown with employee Ashley Taylor.
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
Mid-moming Tuesday, Bodacious Food Company owner Cathy Cun
ningham was taking a short walk to alleviate stress, but the woman who
just a few days before had lost her business’ building to a fire was surpris
ingly positive.
“I’m an optimist and a glass half-full kind of person,” Cunningham
said, “and a lot of times it’s running over. It was running over this week
end. I’m so blessed with family and with this community.”
Bodacious Food Company manufactures the popular Mama Geral
dine’s Cheese Straws and other products, which are distributed in 13 states
by way of Kroger, Food Lion, Ingles, and other retailers. Cunningham
built the facility in 1998 and expanded in the early 2000s. The building is
nearly 15,000 sq. feet in total.
The structure fire occurred at the Gennett Drive location in Jasper. It
was Thursday, Sept. 14 at approximately 6:28 See Bodacious on 11A
Foothills IGA
honored for “21 years
of exemplary service”
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
Last week longtime owners of
the Foothills IGA were presented
with the “Spirit of IGA” Award by
IGA CEO John Ross, who spoke
about the store’s exceptional service
over the years and the impact the
local grocer has had in the commu
nity.
The presentation, made to owners
Jeff and Sandy Downing, was held
Friday, Sept. 15. After over two
decades at the Marble Hill location,
the Downings have announced their
retirement.
An IGA press release states,
“This accolade celebrates the gro
cery store's remarkable dedication to
providing exemplary customer serv
ice, high-quality food, and active
community engagement during its
21 years of operation. The award
also recognizes the significant con
tributions of the Downings, who re
cently retired after leaving an
indelible mark on their community.”
Ross said outside of the positive
impact the Downings have had in
the area, the store has had a major
impact on him as well under the
their leadership.
“My first day on the job, actually
even before I went to work here was
in this very store,” he said. “I came
to see this [it] on my journey to fig
ure out if IGA was the gig I
wanted...you walk into a modem
and well-run store like this that’s
connected to the community; highly
respected by all your customers.. ..I
left...and called my wife and said
this is the business for me.”
After six years with the company,
the local IGA is still his favorite of
the 6,500 locations.
“I’m honored to receive
this..award,” Downing said. “I’m re
ceiving it on behalf of the present
employees and former employees...
It’s been an honor to be a part of the
IGA family.”
Downing became an independent
grocer in the late 1990s and opened
the IGA in 2002.
Foothills IGA maintained the
IGA Five Star Status since its incep
tion. In 2015, the store and its
owner, Jeff Downing, achieved in
ternational recognition when they
were named the IGA International
Retailer of the Year.
“Downing's influence extended
far beyond his store's aisles,” the re-
Photos/Angela Reinhardt
Sandy and Jeff Downing with IGA CEO John Ross, right, who was
highly complimentary of the local store’s accomplishments under their
leadership.
lease states. Downing has served in
community leadership roles with
various organizations, including the
Rotary Club, Pickens County Cham
ber of Commerce, Hope House, and
the Good Samaritan Health & Well
ness Center, and in 2014 was Pick
ens County Citizen of the Year.
He has also been chairman of the
Georgia Food Industry Association
and was the recipient of their Legacy
Award in 2015.
Sandy Downing, Jeffs wife,
“played a crucial role in the store's
success, retiring from her career as
a registered nurse when the family
opened the store to establish the flo
ral and gift shop within Foothills
IGA, enhancing the store's offerings
and providing a unique shopping ex
perience. Since its opening in Janu
ary 2002, Foothills IGA has
continually expanded and evolved
under the Downings' leadership,
with regular reinvestment and reno
vations to ensure it remains a com
munity cornerstone. They have been
See Spirit of IGA on 11A
Mother says
go-kart gift
shows there
are still good
people
Page 12A
ArtWalk
Jasper
Returns
Fri. Sept. 22
Page 12A
Law & Order
Fraud, stolen
vehicle and more
from the
Sheriff’s Beat
Page 5A
Obituaries 10A
• Claudia Buckner
• Verna Hill
• Thomas Johnson
• Mary Ledbetter
• Roy Royal
$1.00 per copy
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