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2A ®Ijt l)eralti <©a??ttf Tuesday, May 24,2022 RACHEL McDANIEL / THE herald gazette Local leaders were honored at the 38th annual Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Celebration held May 19, including (front row l-r) Outstanding Citizen of the Year Niall Mathieson, Volunteer of the Year James W. Butler, Heathcare Hero Sherry Farr, Businessperson of the Year Cory McCook (back row l-r) Career Woman of the Year Dr. Chanda Thompson, Lamar County High School STAR teacher Jewel Filipovich, STAR student Katelyn Grace McCook, the Britton Cauthen Firefighter of the Year award winner William Reeder, countywide and St. George’s Episcopal STAR student William Mulder and STAR teacher Patricia Hill, Career Woman of the Year Kellie Lively Mercer and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Corporal Sharima Price. Community award winners named; Niall Mathieson is Outstanding Citizen The 38th annual Cham ber of Commerce Com munity Awards Celebra tion was held May 19 as local leaders received ac colades for their efforts in the community. Master of ceremonies Ryran Traylor congratulated all those who were nominat ed as well as the winners for making Barnesville- Lamar County such a wonderful community. This year there were two winners for the Ca reer Woman of the Year award, including local veterinarian Dr. Chanda Thompson and Lamar County Family Connec tion Collaborative execu tive director Kellie Lively Mercer. Chanda graduated from Lamar County High School then attended Gordon State College, Auburn University and Tuskegee Veterinary School of Medicine before returning to her hometown to open a mo bile veterinary service. She recently opened a 12,000 square foot facility and employs six full time staff and two part time associate veterinarians. Kellie Lively Mercer manages the Lamar County Family Connec tions group to ensure that everyone in the com munity has the resources they need for success. She is also involved with many groups in the com munity and helps with local events each year. Three local STAR students and the teach ers they selected to honor were recognized at the event, including countywide STAR stu dent William Mulder of St. George’s Episcopal School. He selected Patricia Hill as his STAR teacher. Lamar County Schools STAR student Katelyn Grace McCook selected third time STAR teacher recipient Jewel Filipovich to be honored. Rock Springs Christian Academy STAR student Arthur Edward Burnes selected Delainer Jones as his STAR teacher. The Law Enforce ment Officer of the Year award was presented to Corporal Sharima Price of the Barnesville Police Department. She was ap pointed as administrator for Barnesville Municipal Court in 2020 and works with people of all ages in the community well. Her co-workers say she is an inspiration to them and anyone she comes in contact with on the job. The winner of the Brit ton Cauthen Firefighter of the Year award is William Reeder who was thanked for his service in the community and his courage in facing difficult situations. The Volunteer of the Year Award was present ed to James W. Butler for his contribution to many notable local groups and services, including the Ramps of Love, the LCFCC, Lamar County 4-H, Otis W. Butler Youth Foundation, Parent to Parent of Georgia and many others. The Healthcare Hero award was presented to Sherry Farr for her years of service at the Lamar County Health Depart ment and for arranging services for those in need in the community. The Businessperson of the Year award was pre sented to Cory McCook who is owner of both Carpet Cure and Middle GA Rug Spa. His nomina tion stated that he al ways strives for better in himself, his business, his employees and all those he works with on the job and in the community. He has coordinated the Illumination in Ceremony in Barnesville and has been worship leader at his church since 2007 and worked with youth there as well. The Outstanding Citi zen award was presented to Niall Mathieson for his many contributions to the community. He is ac tive in many community charities, including the Ramps of Love project for which he drives as far as West Virginia or Florida to track down supplies that are afford able and necessary. His most recent project is Rebuild Lamar through which he and others repair holes in roofs and floors of local homes at no cost to those in need of help. In his acceptance speech, he asked for all the other nominees to stand and be recognized and said Lamar County is the real winner for having such wonderful citizens in the community. THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER Steve and Marjorie Harvey buy The Rock Ranch Television personality Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie closed on the long-discussed purchase of The Rock Ranch from the Cathy family Friday. They are pictured at a town hall meeting in Thomaston the following morning. The Harveys plan to use the property for their youth pro grams during the summer and allow the community to use it at other times of the year. More on this in the 5.31.22 print edition of The Herald Gazette. URMC COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic CLOSED FRIDAY, MAY 27 FOR MEMORIAL DAY