Pickens County progress. (Jasper, Ga.) 1899-current, October 05, 2023, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextAn Independent Newspaper for Independent People. Thursday, October 5, 2023 | Volume 136 Number 25 | Jasper, Georgia | 24 pages, 2 sections | Published Weekly | $1.00 Jasper gets $1 million grant for long-planned amphitheater Preliminary design plans for Perrow Park, developed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood. The park will be located on South Main Street in Jasper. By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@piekensprogress.com It’s not often that a city council meeting erupts into a round of ap plause, but after it was announced Jasper has been awarded a $ 1 million matching grant to build an amphithe ater and park in downtown Jasper, that very thing happened at the Oc tober meeting. The Perrow Park project, the seed of which was planted nearly a decade ago, will be located at the green space at the comer of Spring Street and South Main Street. The matching grant was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Com mission. The city of Jasper will pro vide $1.3 million in matching funds for Phase I, which will include an amphitheater, restrooms, and other features. Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (NWGRC) Executive Director Boyd Austin applauded city leaders for their efforts, and com mented on the impact a project like Perrow Park can have in a commu nity. He said Jasper leaders “ex- press[ed] foresight for their future” by pursuing the project. “Your dedication as a council and as a staff working with the engineers has gotten you to the point now where you received this $1 million award,” he said. “We see these types of requests quite often and we know from experience in other communi ties. . .these are the types of projects that draw people in. It enhances the quality of life in your community for your residents, but it also draws those tourists in that spend money locally and cause your downtown to thrive and builds your tax base and builds your name. You’re to be com mended.” He added that projects like Per row Park attract a work force and “help tie the whole economic bundle together. [People] have quality of life. They have a good job locally. They have access to the major mar kets of Atlanta and Chattanooga, but See Perrow Park on 11A Bethany-Salem Firefighters Training Groundbreaking for $13.6 million expansion held at local hospital A groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 27th, was attended by Piedmont officials and key members of the com munity. (L-R) Jasper City Council Member Sonny Proctor, M.D.; Jasper Mayor Steve Lawrence; Pickens Cham ber President Amberle Godfrey; Piedmont Mountainside Board Member Richard Hubbard; Piedmont Mountainside President <6 CEO Denise Ray; Piedmont CNO Michele Breitfelder; Piedmont Mountainside Board Member Jason Smith, Piedmont Mountainside Board Member Richard Hedelius, M.D.; Piedmont Moun tainside CFO Lindsay Gard; and Piedmont HR Anna Mareau. “Just Awesome” Marble F estival coming this weekend By Dan Pool Editor dpool@pickensprogress.com Not wanting to jinx it, but heading into this weekend’s annual Ga. Mar ble Festival, organizers expect the best weather they have had in several years with cool temps and no rain in the forecast. A stark difference from the previous years with heavy rains and threats of hurricane that actually didn’t hit but may have kept people from planning to attend. The festival is located in Lee Newton Park in Jasper and runs Sat urday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sun day 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There is also a parade in downtown Jasper at 10 a.m. and a road race at 8 a.m. Quarry tours are available but require ad vance registration as they tend to sell out quickly. See ad on Page 5A for more information or see georgiamar- blefestival.com “Just awesome,” is how Pickens Chamber Marble Festival & Tourism Director Michelle Kuriger See Marble Fest on 11A City of Jasper candidates to appear at Oct. 16th forum By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com The Pickens Progress will host a forum for candidates in Jasper’s mayoral and city council races. The public is invited to attend. The forum will be held on Mon day, Oct. 16th at 7 p.m. in the Pick ens County Administration Building. It will be on the lower level in the Pickens Room. The Progress will supply ques tions for candidates, and questions will also be taken from the floor. Candidates will have a time limit to respond. Candidates will also have the opportunity to give a brief intro duction and closing statement. The Pickens County Sheriff’s Of fice will provide security. All candidates have been invited to attend and participate in the forum and talk with voters after wards. City of Jasper voters are en couraged to attend as with three council positions and the mayor’s Construction on $15 million cancer treatment facility to begin in December By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com Piedmont Mountainside Hospital will increase its total bed number and expand intensive care and medical surgical capacity now that a $13.6 million expansion project is under way. The 11,000 sq. ft. expansion will increase the local hospital’s licensed bed capacity by 14, up to 76 licensed beds in total. Construction has begun, with the project expected to be completed by mid-2024. “This expansion furthers our pur pose to make a positive difference in every life we touch and demonstrates real change, impact and commit ments to our community,” Denise Ray, Piedmont Mountainside Presi dent & CEO, said in a public state ment. “It will enable us to provide even greater access to health care services for generations to come.” Ray later discussed more details about expansion of services. “The new unit expands our capac ity for intensive care patients as well as medical surgical patients,” she said. “Piedmont Mountainside cur- See Hospital Expansion 11A Kirk Raffield announces candidacy for Jasper mayor Page 7A Jim Looney seeks re-election to Jasper council Page 7A John Foust seeks re-election to Jasper council Page 8A Brandon Hannah runs unopposed for Jasper council seat Page 7A Obituaries 10A • Catherine Finn • Gene Jones Sr. • Cynthia Latimer • Barbara Price • Barbara Roper • Sandra Thomason • Lora Tilley $1.00 per copy See Forum on 11A 4 8 7 9 0 8 16 3

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Pickens County progress. (Jasper, Ga.) 1899-current, October 05, 2023, Image 1