Newspaper Page Text
June 20, 2024
Pickens County Progress
Page 9A
CASA volunteers sworn in
(L-R: Juvenile Court Judge Patricia A. King, CASA Volunteer John Lam-
berski, CASA Volunteer Marjory Walsh)
On Tuesday, June 11, 2024 Juvenile Court Judge Patricia A. King con
ducted a swearing-in ceremony for 2 new CASA Volunteers at the Gilmer
County Courthouse. If you are interested in becoming an advocate for an
abused or neglected child experiencing foster care in Fannin, Gilmer, or
Pickens county, please visit our website (www.appalachiancasa.com) or
contact Jason Turner with Appalachian CASA at 706-276-2272 or advoca-
cy@appalachiancasa. com.
College students achieve honors
Reinhardt announces graduates
Reinhardt University in Waleska announces their spring
graduates. Those from the local area included:
Graduates and their degrees :
• Chastain, Lauren Marie
• Chesser, Elizabeth Jean
• Christian, Alisa Julia
• Kendrick, Taylor Michael
• McClure, Christopher
• Neill, Ryan Patrick
• Vickers, Zachary
• Walker, Chloe Grace
BSN
Jasper, GA
BME
Fairmount, GA
BS
Jasper, GA
BS
Fairmount, GA
BHA
Jasper, GA
BS
Talking Rock,
BS
Jasper, GA
BSN
Talking Rock,
Affordable Health
Screenings Coming
to Jasper
Residents living in and
around the Jasper, Georgia
can learn about their risk
for cardiovascular disease,
osteoporosis, diabetes, and
other chronic, serious condi
tions with affordable screen
ings by Life Line Screening.
Pickens County Community
Center will host this commu
nity event on July 1. The site
is located at 1329 Camp Rd
in Jasper.
Screenings can check for:
The level of plaque build
up in your arteries, related to
risk for cardiovascular dis
ease, stroke and overall vas
cular health.
HDL and LDL Cholester
ol levels
Diabetes risk
Kidney and thyroid func
tion, and more
Screenings are affordable
and convenient. Free park
ing is also available.
Special package pricing
starts at $159, but consul
tants will work with you to
create a package that is right
for you based on your age
and risk factors. Call 1-877-
237-1287 or visit our web
site at www.lifelinescreen-
ing.com. Pre-registration is
required.
Pickens Senior
Center offers
Lunch & Activities
Seniors can visit the se
nior center Monday through
Friday for free lunch at 11
a.m. They are also invited to
attend daily for regular activ
ities. A half pint of 1% milk
is served with lunch.
The Pickens County Se
nior Center is located at 400
Stegall, Dr. Jasper. Open 8
a.m. - 1 p.m. 770-692-6133.
Honor Students at Reinhardt
Congratulations to Reinhardt Eagles earning the distinc
tion of recognition on the President’s List or Dean’s List for
the Spring 2024 semester! Reinhardt University proudly cel
ebrates these students’ commitment to academic excellence.
To earn President’s List honors, students must have com
pleted 12 hours during the semester, earning a GPA of 4.0,
with no incompletes.
To earn Dean’s List honors, students must have complet
ed 12 hours during the semester, earning a GPA of 3.50-3.99,
with no grade less than a B.
President’s List
• Donatto, Mickayla Nickole, Jasper, GA
• Fitts, Emma Grace, Jasper, GA
• Franklin, Rillie Alexa, Jasper, GA
• Kuyper, Levi Benjamin, Jasper, GA
Dean’s List
• Jones, Noah Alexander, Jasper, GA
• Lowe, Tucker Andrew, Talking Rock, GA
• Simpson, Brianna Dale, Jasper, GA
• Spinks, Sydney Dianne, Jasper, GA
Alabama Dean’s & President’s Lists
TUSCALOOSA, AL-Atotalof 13,103 students enrolled
during Spring Semester 2024 at The University of Alabama
were named to the dean’s list with an academic record of 3.5
(or above) or the president’s list with an academic record of
4.0 (all A’s). These driven students are making waves across
UA’s more than 70 undergraduate programs.
Local students include:
• Elisabeth Joseph of Ball Ground was named to the
Deans List.
• Lilly Carroll of Ball Ground was named to the Presi
dents List.
• Ansley Cheshire of Jasper was named to the Presidents
List.
• Juliana Brown of Jasper was named to the Presidents
List.
• Kacey Harris of Jasper was named to the Presidents List.
• Thomas Smith of Jasper was named to the Deans List.
Benefit for the Poole & Holden
families Saturday, June 22
Please join us as we come
together to support this fam
ily who lost loved ones,
their home, and all personal
belongings in a tragic house
fire who now need to rebuild
their lives.
The benefit will be held
at Rocco’s Pub on Saturday,
June 22nd.
Bike ride registration
will begin at 11 a.m. and
kick stands up at 12 p.m.
$20 per rider and $10 for a
passenger.
There will also be raf
fles, a 50/50 raffle and a live
band, cake auction, as well
as an auction/silent auction.
The event is sponsored by
Unshackled RC, Jasper, Ga.
For more information
contact Bryan Totherow at
706-669-9636.
Morris Family Reunion
Join us for the annual Morris Family Re
union that will be held at Amicalola Falls
State Park
Sunday, June 30th at 12 noon.
Adventist Food Pantry
The Adventist Food Pantry is held the
first lour Sundays of the month from 12-2
p.m. at Jasper Seventh-Day Adventist
Church, 600 Burnt Mountain Rd., just past
the library.
Appointments available upon request.
(706) 253-2782.
Transportation for veterans
The Fannin DAV Chapter 28 van trans
ports veterans to the Atlanta VA Medical
Center for free. The van’s first pickup is
at the Fannin County Veterans Conference
Center in Blue Ridge and stops in Ellijay,
Jasper, Canton and Woodstock.
Please call John Bailey at 706-851-5204
for transport and for more information. Vol
unteer van drivers are needed.
TOPS Weight Loss Support
Need weight loss support? Try TOPS
(Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Call Victoria
Champlin at 706-897-2376.
American Red Cross Blood
Drive
June 25, 1 p.m. at Pickens Library
The American Red Cross is scheduled to
hold a blood drive in the Community Room
1 - 6 p.m. Donors should schedule their ap
pointment directly with the Red Cross.
f Piedmont
1 w MOUNTAINSIDE
Let’s talk about women’s health.
Essential to a woman’s health is a healthy reproductive system. And when it comes to gynecologic health,
research has shown a positive outlook overall for cervical cancer in women for nearly five decades.
It’s encouraging to know the number of cases of cervical cancer has declined more than half since the
1970s largely due to preventative measures available to women such as pap smears and the human
papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine.
While cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, there are common signs that can indicate
an existing problem. Some patients describe strange pelvic pressure pain and abnormal bleeding between
cycles. Unfortunately, because cervical cancer is so asymptomatic and silent, it’s often not diagnosed until
it has become advanced.
A report released in January by the American Cancer Society shows that while there has been a decline
in cervical cancer cases overall, that trend has reversed for women aged 30^44 years. It reports that rates
increased by 1.7% per year from 2012 through 2019 in that age group. According to the ACS, cervical can
cer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the average age being 50.
The CDC reports that approximately 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the
U.S. and about 4,000 women die of this cancer. However, when diagnosed early, cervical cancer is one
of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.
One of the most important things you can do to prevent cervical cancer is to get a regular pap smear.The
United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends a pap smear every three years for women
ages 21 to 65, and more frequently for women who have an abnormal pap smear. Pap smears can be
performed at an OB GYN office, though some primary care physicians can also perform the exam.
Dr. Michael Lynch, Sr. of Piedmont Physicians Obstetrics and Gynecology Jasper says, “During the time of
getting your exam, your doctor can talk to you about symptoms you might be having or risks that you might
have that put you at risk for other female cancers like uterine cancer or ovarian cancer, which require other
tests. And if you've not visited a GYN in three years, at any age, you need to go and develop that individual
action plan. They’ll look at your reproductive history, and they’ll design a plan that fits you as far as cervical
cancer screening goes.”
Who should get the HPV vaccine?The HPV vaccine is another proactive way to help prevent cervical can
cer. The vaccine has been known to prevent more than 90% of HPV-attributable cancers and is available
to both females and males.
ACS data shows that rates of cervical cancer have dropped significantly in women in their 20s, who were
among the first to get the HPV vaccine when it became available in the mid-2000s.
The CDC recommends:
•Two doses of the HPV vaccine at ages 11 -12 at least six to 12 months apart. The vaccination
can be started as early as age 9.
•Children aged 9 through 14 years who have received two doses of HPV vaccine less than 5
months apart will need a third dose.
•Teens and young adults through age 26 years who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series
will need the HPV vaccination.
•If the HPV vaccine is taken after age 15, the CDC recommends three doses.
•Three doses for people aged 9 through 26 years who have weakened immune systems.
The HPV vaccine can be administered at Piedmont Urgent Care and Piedmont Primary Care practices. To
find a convenient location, visitwww.piedmont.org.
This summer, make your health a priority!
Kind regards,
rUMJO
Denise Ray, President & CEO
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
\ JroN Hue c(e$f of ^J enise 'Vmj, (yT(j
