PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — On July 16, Pickens Community Thrift Store celebrated Christmas to fundraise for the county’s non-profit pet organizations. Jasper City Manager Sonia Jammes, Pickens County Sheriff Donnie Craig, and Public Safety Director Sloan Elrond all participated in a pie throwing event to raise money for Pickens pets. Pickens Community Thrift Store, located […]
Read More »Board considers Parents’ Bill of Rights, other policies
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education shared drafts of two policy revisions and two new policies at their latest meeting. One new policy would establish a parental bill of rights, while another provides regulation on “divisive concepts” and racial discrimination in schools. Policy Revisions Two policy revisions were shared at the […]
Read More »Board, staff stress end to pandemic-era free school meals
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education heard continued discussions about the school district’s nutrition services, including supply and cost issues affecting school meals. In a June board meeting School Nutrition Director Beth Thompson informed the board that pandemic-era free meals at Pickens County Schools would be coming to an end after […]
Read More »Jasper once again extends residential rezoning moratorium
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Jasper City Council once again extended a moratorium on residential rezonings during their July 11 meeting. The moratorium, first adopted in August of 2021, has now been extended three times. Resolution No. 2022-10, unanimously passed by the council, extends the moratorium on “all rezonings, rezoning applications received after the passage […]
Read More »City Council approves loan package for WPCP expansion
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Jasper City Council held a special called meeting on June 29, 2022 to approve a USDA Rural Development loan package that will allow the city to move forward with their Water Pollution Control Plant expansion project. During June’s council meeting, Assistant City Manager Kim Goldener explained that bids for the […]
Read More »Pandemic-era free meals ending at Pickens Schools
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education heard from Pickens County School System employees who discussed how the school district is tackling important issues. School Nutrition Director Beth Thompson spoke to the board about how the schools’ are handling shortage and cost-related problems. Notably, Thompson explained the end of automatic free meals, […]
Read More »City needs additional $11 million to complete Water Pollution Control Plant expansion
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — After receiving bids for the Water Pollution Control Plant expansion and sewerage system improvements project, the Jasper City Council approved the redistribution of ARPA funding and a reapplication for additional USDA funding. The unexpectedly high bids left the city over $11,000,000 short of the total funding necessary to complete the projects, […]
Read More »Fire Chief Prather recognizes new paramedics
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Commissioners met on May 19, 2022. At their meeting, Fire Chief Tim Prather was given the time to recognize two employees who recently received licenses to serve as paramedics. Chairman Stancil also gave a recognition to Pickens County sports teams, and the commissioners voted to fill […]
Read More »BOC proclaims April 24-30, 2022 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week
PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Pickens Board of Commissioners proclaimed April 24-30, 2022 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week, filled a vacancy on the planning commission, and administered an oath of office for newly hired Fire Chief Tim Prather during their April meeting. Because the board held only one meeting in April, Chairman Kris Stancil noted […]
Read More »Jasper Police Chief and Fire Chief Sworn In
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council oversaw the swearing in of Mathew Dawkins as Police Chief and John Sherrer III as Fire Chief during their April 4 meeting. The retirement of Fire Chief Steve Roper was also recognized by the council. Chiefs Sworn In Mathew Dawkins, previously Interim Police Chief, was sworn in as […]
Read More »Council approves Jasper Police and Fire Chief selections
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council held a work session on March 31. During the meeting the council discussed ordinance amendments, approved several purchases, and extended employment offers for Jasper Police and Fire Chief positions. After a nationwide search for Jasper’s next fire chief, the council unanimously voted to extend a conditional offer of […]
Read More »Pickens BOE recognized for School Board Appreciation Week
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens Board of Education met prior to School Board Appreciation week, where they received recognition from Director of Community Engagement Destini Shope on behalf of the community. The board also approved several purchases during the meeting. Shope spoke briefly in anticipation of School Board Appreciation Week, a statewide initiative named through a […]
Read More »City Council takes action on several projects
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council met on March 7 to discuss several 2022 events, approve bids for several projects, and to recognize an employee of the Jasper Police Department. City Projects The council continued discussions on the proposed downtown bathroom project. The council was provided with drawings of the bathrooms, but Councilman Sonny […]
Read More »Pickens Airport will receive over 1.7 million in grant funding
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens County Airport will receive up to $1,741,049.12 after the Board of Commissioners voted to authorize acceptance of grant funding. The board also approved a rental agreement with the intent to relocate the county’s Board of Elections office. Discussing the funding, Chairman Kris Stancil said, “The grant is from the Georgia Department […]
Read More »BOE approves agreements with ACEMAPP, UGA, Reinhardt
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education approved three agreements between the Pickens School District and the University of Georgia, Reinhardt University, and ACEMAPP, offered by the Michigan Health Council, respectively during their Feb. 10 meeting. “I’m excited to bring this agreement to the board for its approval, as this will open yet […]
Read More »Jasper City Council extends moratorium on residential rezoning
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council extended their moratorium on residential rezoning Monday evening. The moratorium, which will expire in June of this year, is the city’s latest move to tackle a growing concern over increased development in rural communities. Like many municipalities in the surrounding area, the City Council is already in the […]
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