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Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A
PHOTOS BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
Above, grand marshall Joy Walker arrives on the courthouse square wearing
her Captain’s uniform. She was the first femaile pilot for Delta Airlines and
is very active in the Pike County community, especially through the Kiwanis
Club and Lions Club. At right, Hayden and Annelaine Loyd enjoy the snow in
downtown Zebulon which was provided by the Chamber of Commerce.
Holly Jolly Christmas parade, market bring snow, smiles to town
Far left, everyone enjoyed the snow!
At left, Jep Thomas rode in a PCFD
firetrucks. Above, even the Grinch
was feeling the love. At right, James
Taylor hugs Santa at the bookstore.
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOORNAL REPORTER
Santa Claus reads a letter given to him by a local child during
last year’s Lighting of Concord celebration.
LETTERS: Share Christmas wishes, trends
FROM PAGE ONE
Blakely Houston of
Savannah Tatham’s first
grade class wrote, “I wish
1 could come see you.
The only thing I want
for Christmas is for my
family to be happy.”
Charlee Key asked for
Mimi to get better and
for Gigi and Marlies to
heal.
Austyn Clower of
Meghan Lee’s fifth grade
class wrote, “This year
for Christmas 1 would like
for everybody to be kind
to one another and get to
know Jesus.”
There were only a
couple requests for snow,
way fewer than previous
years, including from
Charli Drew in Katie
Gossett’s third grade
class who wrote, “For
this Christmas, could
you make it snow on
Christmas day? My little
brother, Finn, has never
seen snow, I’m the only
one that has seen it.
Thank you.”
There were many
letters from students
that mentioned the Elf
on the Shelf, including
Kamrynn Bryan of Nan
Sands’ second grade
class who wrote, “My
elf, Snowflake got into
my mom’s ingredients!
Please, don’t be mad at
her” and second grader
Sadie Deason who wrote,
“The elf was drinking
syrup again. She has
been wasting toilet
paper.” Second grader
Lawson Brooks wrote,
“You are not going to
believe what my elf did!
He put toilet paper on
the Christmas tree and
took the ornaments off
the tree!”
Mackenzie Fletcher of
Gabby Thurston’s second
grade class who wrote,
“My elf, Bash has been
naughty, but please don’t
be mad at him. 1 think it’s
funny!”
Raegan Fulghum of
Katie Gossett’s third
grade class wrote, “Can 1
please keep my elf pets? 1
love them so much. 1 will
take care of them.”
Second grader
Bridgett Conwell wrote,
“Can you give me a
different elf? Mine isn’t
doing his job.”
There were many
questions about Santa
and the North Pole,
including from Carmen
Ramirez who asked,
“What is your favorite
Christmas song and
how old are you? How is
Rudolph doing?”
Bryson Baker of
Rachel Jenkins’ second
grade class wrote, “Santa,
you’re cool and 1 like
your beard and your hat
and your belt and your
shoes.”
There were many
children who said they
were good - or not
good - followed by their
Christmas requests.
Fourth grader Abigail
Shriver wrote, “1 am nine
years old. Am 1 on the
nice list? Write back to
answer.”
First grader Tanner
Hardy wrote, “I wish to
go to the North Pole and
have a snowball fight
to prove you’re real”
and first grader Jude
Wheeless wrote, “Thank
you for my elf! Will you
please bring me and
my brother a PS5? 1 still
believe in your magic!”
Commissioners
hear update on
$1 million grant
Pike commissioners held a
public hearing and heard a report
on the Community Development
Block Grant approval during their
Nov. 28 meeting.
“On Oct. 25, Pike County was
awarded a $1 million grant to
complete street and drainage
improvements on Tanyard Road.
The design is anticipated to be
complete by July and construction
is expected to begin by October
2024,” said CDBG grant writer
Carol Southard. “The work is pretty
extensive and is going to take a
while to complete. It will be an
inconvenience but when finished,
it will be so much better for the
people of the county and will
eradicate the flooding and make
the area safer for travel.”
It was noted that Carol did a
great job with the application,
including actively looking for
citizens to take and submit photos
of the Tanyard Road problems for
the application.
Commissioners authorized
chairman Briar Johnson to sign a
statement of general conditions,
statement of special conditions,
statement of of revisions, adopt the
language access plan, sign certified
assurances and approved three
authorized signatories to sign the
drawdown request form in addition
to the chairman.
Advertising grows businesses,
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Pike County Journal Reporter www.pikecountygeorgia.com
jennifer@pikecountygeorgia.com
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
Above left, public works director Todd Goolsby congratulates Wesley Bunn on five years with the county. Above center, chief appraiser Greg
Hobbs thanks Emily Morris on her 10 years with the county. Above right, Pike extension agent Brooklyn Wassell honors Penny Cosper for
reaching her 10-year milestone of service to Pike County. Below right, Goolsby recogtnizes Brandi Kennedy for five years of service to the county.
Employees honored for service at commission meeting
Commissioners recognized four
employees for reaching milestones of
service with the county at their Dec. 12
meeting, including Penny Cosper of the
extension office, Emily Morris of the tax
assessors office and Brandi Kennedy
and Wesley Bunn of public works.
PENNY COSPER
County manager Brandon Rogers
said anyone with kids in the school
system knows about Penny’s visits to
the school and the students often wish
she would visit even more often. She
has served the county for 10 years.
“She embodies what it means to be
a 4-H member and she is the rock for
our office,” said Pike extension agent
Brooklyn Wassel. “She has taught me
and other office administrators how to
do 4-H and everything that means. We
are so thankful for everything she does
for us and for the community.”
EMILY MORRIS
County manager Rogers said Emily
started working with the county in the
tax commissioners office but recently
decided to move to the tax assessors
office. She has worked for the county
for the past 10 years.
“A little over two years ago, the
assessors office was struggling and
we just couldn’t catch a break,” said
Greg Hobbs. “Emily was the break we
needed and the county needed. I’m
glad she came to work with us. She can
handle anything - deed splits, property
transfers, CUVA applications, you name
it!”
BRANDI KENNEDY
County manager Rogers said Brandi
has been with public works for five
years and thanked her for helping in
the commissioners office as well more
recently.
“We appreciate you stepping up to
help out because we are short handed,”
he said.
Public works director Todd Goolsby
said Brandi is the face of the office.
“She is usually the first contact with
a county employee for citizens and she
does a great job,” he said. “She’s tough
and she takes care of business.”
WESLEY BUNN
County manager Rogers noted that
Wesley has worked with public works
for five years.
“He has been a great asset to the
county over the years,” he said.
Public works director Goolsby said
Wesley runs equipment efficiently and
gets the job done.
“He does a fine job and he makes it
happen,” said Goolsby.