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Page IB - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, December 29, 2021 2021 saw events return, Pike growth JANUARY COVID-19 cases were above 100 as year started The number of COVID-19 cases in Pike shot up to 102 over the first two weeks of the year with 14 total deaths, seven probable deaths, 50 hospitalizations and a total of 674 cases since March 2020. The first vac cinations in Pike were offered only to medical and first responders just weeks before the start of 2021 and by the end of 2021, the vaccine was available to everyone and 6,763 Pike residents were fully vaccinated by Dec. 23 and 30% of citizens had at least one dose of the vaccine. There were 32 confirmed cases for the last two weeks as of Dec. 23 with a total of 1,940 confirmed cases, 52 deaths, 21 probable deaths and 140 hospital izations since the start of the pandemic in 2020. The magistrate and tag offices were closed due to COV1D in the second week of the year and the schools were shut down in September for a week. Claude Hollis was grand marshal for MLK parade Although there was no program following the an nual Martin Luther King Jr. parade, the celebration was still held with Claude Hollis serving as the grand marshal of the parade. He is a Zebulon city council member and has served the community and city in many ways, including more than 10 years as the Zebu- Ion public works director. NGA students write book about COVID-19 Students at the Ninth Grade Academy released their book for young students about COVID-19 titled, “Sanna-Tizer Disinfects the Substitute: The heroes’ journey of a teacher and her sec ond grade students.’ The stu dents wrote, illustrated and de signed the book as well as working to establish a budget for the book based on the size and color usage and marketing the book. The students and their book were featured on Atlanta news stations and raised money from the books’ sales to help local families affected by COVID-19. SPECIAL PHOTO District 131 Rep. Beth Camp (center) holds the Bible she was sworn in with on the Capitol steps with her daughter Meredith Camp (left) and husband Mark Camp (right). Beth Camp sworn in as Dist. 131 representative Pike’s Beth Camp was sworn in as the District 131 Representative at the Georgia Capitol on Jan. 11 when the state’s legislative session started. Due to CO VID-19 constraints, Beth’s husband Mark Camp was the only one allowed to be present as she was sworn in and her daughter Meredith was able to watch via television at the Capitol. Beth represents citizens in Pike, Lamar and Upson counties. Tom Morton served as attorney for 72 years At 98 years old, at torney Tom Morton was still active as an attorney, having practiced law for an incredible 72 years. He served nearly 30 years as an attorney for Pike County and several city governments in the county. He was also a leader in the community through several civic or ganizations including the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Pike County Historical So ciety and others. He was named the first ever Zebulon Citizen of the Year in 2017 and was instrumental in the creation of the Pike Firefighter’s Museum, Inc. He also helped establish the Good Citizenship Recognition and Award Program with the city of Zebulon in 2016. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 and in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1955 as a Captain. He was involved in five major campaigns, 29 engagements with the enemy and he earned eight Battle Stars for WWII while in the Navy and was the recipient of the Navy Ribbon of Commendation for Valor in the Battle of Okinawa, among many other commendations. He died at home on Dec. 9, 2021 at 99 years of age. Ralph McCrary named Zebulon Citizen of Year The city of Zebulon announced that Ralph Mc Crary was the 2020 Citizen of the Year. He has been employed with the city for 35 years, having worked in both the water/wastewater department and the pub lic works department. He was honored at the January council meeting with a key to the city and a Citizen of the Year proclamation noting his contributions to the city and community. FEBRUARY SPECIAL PHOTO Jason Brisendine (left) and other Pick Up Pike volunteers were among the many who worked together in 2021 to clean up litter along Pike County roadways. Pick Up Pike mobilized to clean up community A group of citizens joined Pick Up Pike founders and members during a Big Cleanup event as volunteers picked up trash along Reidsboro Road and along private property across Pike. The group focused on frequently- traveled roads where litter was prevalent such as County Farm Road and Williamson-Zebulon Road. The late Tom Morton (front) with his son Rob Morton and wife Sonya Morton. 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