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NEW DISTRICT? State legislators are using 2020 Census data to create a new district map that may move Pike County from District 131 to 135. See page 2A PIKE COUNTY PHOTO BY WES PARTIN / PARTIN AERIAL JOURNAL REPORTER ONE DOLLAR www.pikecountygeorgia.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021 PIKE'S PEEK COVID-19 cases low Pike County had nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks according to the Georgia Depart ment of Public Health on Nov. 15. In the Pike school system, there were a total of four cases and five quaran tined as of Nov. 12. Pike County has had 50 deaths due to COVID-19, 20 probable deaths and 129 hospi talizations since the pandemic started. Thirty-four percent of Pike residents are fully vaccinated. To make an appointment for the vaccine at the health department, go to district4health.org or call 888-457-0186 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meansville gets $1.4 million water system loan The city of Means ville was recently awarded a $1,400,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWS- RF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors. The loan will finance replacing water main, hydrants and valves and install ing an automatic me ter reading (AMR) sys tem. The project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 0.86% interest on the 30-year loan. The city is eligible for princi pal forgiveness up to $560,000. Thankful and giving, family shares harvest BY RACHEL McDANIEL news@pikecountygeorgia.com Mary and Mark Nalls of Zebulon are going to cel ebrate Thanksgiving again this year by sharing their garden’s harvest with members of the commu nity at their home at 127 Gwyn Street in Zebulon. Their 55x70 foot garden has 17 rows of turnips and five rows of collards and it will be open from 7 a.m. to dark on Monday, Nov. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 23 for members of the community to come pick for their families for Thanksgiving. “We want people to come and get what they need - but not more than they can use for Thanks giving so everyone can have their share,” said Mark. “A lot of people have gifts and things they can do well and they don’t get to share it but this is something 1 can do and this is something 1 can share. When you see people out here picking and harvesting together and you see they are so happy, it makes your heart smile.” Mark has excelled at growing crops for years but didn’t know how much he enjoyed it until he was taking a horticul ture class in high school. “For one of my horticul ture classes, the project was to plant a home gar den and 1 did really good. 1 got an A for the project,” said Mark. “Being out in the garden brings me a lot of joy, it’s pleasing to me to till the ground, plant the seeds and tend them as they grow.” See HARVEST page 2A PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Mark and Mary Nalls are opening up their garden at 127 Gwyn Street in Zebulon to members of the community Nov. 22-23 to share their Thanksgiving harvest of turnips and collard greens. PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Teachers of the Year who were recently honored at the board of education meeting include (l-r) high school teacher Dr. Tammy Gillies, elementary school Program Challenge teacher Ashley Wright, NGA teacher and district Teacher of the Year Clayton Moon, middle school teacher Dawn Pickens and primary school teacher Sandy Brooks. Educators honored at Pike schools The Pike County school system Teachers of the Year were recently honored during the Nov. 9 board of education meeting. PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR Second grade teacher Sandy Brooks is the Pike County Primary School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 25 years and was a parapro- fessional for eight years. “She’s one of those people you can always count on to say and do the right thing every time,” said PCPS princi pal April Teal-Phagan. “She is definitely a team player and always put the needs of students and others ahead of her own. She has stepped up to take on roles that no one else want to do. She always states things in a positive way and and is a wealth of knowledge, ex pertise and experience. Here is what one of her students said about her, ‘When 1 met Mrs. Brooks for the first time, 1 knew 1 would learn a lot by her look. I’m so sad to leave school because she is my favorite teacher. 1 love Mrs. Brooks and 1 know she loves me. 1 would do anything for her.’” ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR Program Challenge teacher Ashley Wright is the Pike County Elemen tary School Teacher of the Year. “Ashley Wright rep resents the epitome of a Pike County educator - pouring countless hours into designing units of instruction so students have every opportunity to explore, experience and engage in the world around them,” said PCES principal Dr. Melissa Smith. “Her passion and zeal over the last year has resulted in a trans formation of our Program Challenge. The students in her program are en gaged in opportunities to develop the Portrait of a Graduate competencies through projects such as the Bird Relocation Station in which students designed safer nest ing habitats to relocate nesting birds from the walkways to other areas of the school campus. Last year, she embarked on a year-long River Literacy Project involving students taking a deep dive into the rivers of Georgia. Students were engaged in research, creating models and finally a float down the Flint. She is working to build a network of agen cies to develop an action plan and secure grant funds for an interdepen dent fruit and vegetable ecosystem in the garden area behind our school. These are just a few examples of the amazing works she facilitates in her classroom.” MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR Dawn Pickens has taught for a total of 22 years with 18 years of teaching in Pike and she is the Pike County Middle School Teacher of the Year. “She truly loves her job and her students - even the ones who are the most challenging - and they love her too. She has a killer work ethic and is a true team player,” said PCMS princi pal Mike Maddox. “She is the type of teacher all students want and deserve to have. She is loved by her family at PCMS and we salute you for all you do in the class room every single day.” Maddox said others describe her as ‘having a heart for everyone who crosses her path’ and ‘always having a smile on her face that’s infectious.’ See EDUCATORS page 3A Thanksgiving service planned for Nov. 23 Citizens from Pike and surrounding com munities are invited to join together and count their blessings at the annual Com munity Thanksgiving Celebration set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, 14550 Highway 19 north. “The Pike County Christian Ministerial Association cordially in vites you to our Annual Community Thanksgiv ing Celebration, where we will be gathering all together as one to worship, fellowship and give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings we enjoy,” said Ben Maxedon. Rev. A1 Shackl eford will bring the message and attire is casual. A love offering will be accepted. Oa e iX Lighting of Concord is Dec. 3; register online for visits with Santa Festivities for the Lighting of Concord will start at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 but Santa will arrive early and be on site from noon until 8:30 p.m. Register for a time to visit with Santa online at https://www. signupgenius.com/go/ 10C0F4BA4AF2AAAF- FC34-lighting. “The city of Concord invites you to the an nual Lighting of Concord. Gather around crackling fireboxes with friends old and new, enjoy pony rides for the children or eat tasty food served along Main Street,” said Concord deputy clerk Anita Neath. “Sing along with live entertain ment! Santa arrives early this year with visits by appointment only begin ning at noon and ending at 8:30 p.m. You only need one slot per child/ family. Santa’s photog rapher will be on site to capture that special mo ment with your child! To be courteous to all Santa’s visitors and keep things flowing, pictures with Santa will be lim ited to the professional photographers’ options of a digital photo (email) for $15 or a maximum of two photos taken by our photographer with your device.” The annual event usu ally includes the jingling of sleigh bells as local families bring out their horses and donkeys to take visitors on rides through Concord. PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL Everyone enjoys the Christmas spirit at the Lighting of Concord, including (l-r) Cami Kerce, Bailey Berner, Abbi Lowe and Declan Tenbrink at a previous celebration.