Community Profile 2014
Butts County LOCAL ATTRACTIONS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL SCHOOLS AND MORE!
2 r WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014
Butts County Community Profile
myjpa.com OFFICIAL LEGAL ORGAN OF BUTTS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF JACKSON
General Manager — J.K. Murphy Editor — Michael Davis Phone — 770-775-3107 129 S. Mulberry St., Jackson, Ga., 30233
INDEX County government .......................... Page 4 City government ............................... Page 6 School system .................................. Page 8 History of Butts County ..................... Page 9 Special events .................................Page 10 Climate ............................................Page 10 Senior Citizens Center .....................Page 11 Recreation .......................................Page 11 Sylvan Grove Hospital .....................Page 12 Public library ....................................Page 12 Destinations .....................................Page 13
Welcome to the Butts County Community Profile
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nside this special publication, you will find helpful information about local government, services, schools, community attractions and things to do. There are snapshots of various parts of the Butts County community that we think you will find interesting and informative. There is information on how to contact your elected representatives and a list of some of the local events that happen every year throughout the county. The Community Profile also includes a bit of the history of Butts County, in case you are curious about how it got its name or when each city was founded. The Community Profile is by no means all-inclusive, but we hope provides a glimpse into life in our community. We hope you keep it handy and use it as a resource to refer back to from time to time.
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT under a commission-administrator form of government, with the county commission responsible for the appointment of the administrator who oversees day-to-day operations. The county administrator is J. Michael Brewer. The county’s operating budget has generally been $17 million to $19 million annually over the past several years. The county also collects a voter-approved special purpose local option sales tax which goes toward capital purchases. In addition to passing the annual budget and millage rate, the Board of Commissioners deliberates and passes local ordinances that govern operations and policy and makes decisions on zoning requests within the unincorporated portions of the county. The board also regularly issues proclamations recognizing certain events and groups that bring
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Butts County Community Profile
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District 2 Rev. Robert L. Henderson Sr. rhenderson@ buttscounty.org Henderson was first elected County Commissioners in 2008 and District 1 took office in 2009. He owns G.S. “Gator” and operates a professional tree Hodges service and he is pastor of Rock ghodges@buttCreek Missionary Baptist Church scounty.org in Flovilla. He has completed Phone: 678-758- basic and advanced commissioner 5631 certification from the University Hodges was of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute first elected to the Butts Coun- of Government. ty Board of Commissioners in 2008 and took office in January District 3 2009. He works in management Mike Patterson for CSX Transportation and mpatterson@ was named to Georgia Trend buttscounty.org magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” Patterson was list in 2010. He is a graduate elected to the of the Georgia Academy for District 3 seat in Economic Development and 2010 and took is vice chairman of the board office in 2011. He owns a of the Georgia Environmental mortgage business in Jackson Finance Authority. See PAGE 5 positive notoriety to Butts County. Currently, the board is made up of two Democratic members and three Republican members.
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Butts County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners responsible for setting policy, setting the county’s budget and tax rate and other duties. Each member is elected from one of the five commission districts to serve a four-year term. The board’s chairman is selected from among the five members by his or her colleagues to serve a oneyear term that begins at the first meeting of the year each January. The board holds regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. and special-called meetings as needed. A workshop typically precedes each regular meeting at 5 p.m. The Board of Commissioners meets at the Butts County Administration Building at 625 West Third St., Jackson. The general information phone number is 770-7758200. Butts County operates
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT r'SPN 1BHF and other related enterprises. He is active in Georgia Right to Life and he and his wife Dottie are members of St. Mary, Mother of God Catholic Church in Jackson. District 4 Keith Douglas kdouglas@buttscounty.org Douglas was elected in a special election in 2009 and took office immediately. He is active in local 4-H programs and is a deacon at Zion Missionary Baptist Church. He has also completed advanced commissioner certification from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
District 5 Roger D. McDaniel rmcdaniel@ buttscounty.org
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McDaniel was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2008 and took office in 2009. He holds both basic and advanced commissioner certification from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He has been appointed by his colleagues on the board to serve as chairman Fire and Emergency in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is Medical Services employed by Georgia Power Co. Mike Wilson, chief and attends First Baptist Church in 154 Sylvan Drive, Jackson Jackson. 770-775-8212 (non-emergency) 911 Center The county government opSonia Sands, director erates a number of departments 625 West Third St., Jackson which provide services to Butts 770-775-8232 County citizens. Administration Community Development Includes: Management, budget, Includes Planning and Zon-
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Butts County Community Profile
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CITY GOVERNMENT Butts County’s three incorporated municipalities account for roughly a quarter of all of Butts County’s 23,361 residents. According to 2013 U.S. Census estimates, the City of Jackson’s population was 4,936, Flovilla’s was 677, and Jenkinsburg’s was 358. Jackson is the county seat and a hub of activity for business, government and civic life in Butts County. Flovilla and Jenkinsburg also have quaint downtown districts, parks and other unique features. CITY OF JACKSON The City of Jackson was founded in 1826 and boasts a central courthouse square, downtown business district and access to a number of state highways, several of which converge through the heart of the city along a main artery known as Third Street. The government is made up of a city council of five members each elected from their own
districts and a mayor elected atlarge. Each official is elected to a four-year term. The mayor is Kay Pippin. Theodore Patterson represents District 1, Lewis Sims represents District 2, Ricky “P-Nut” Johnson Jr. represents District 3, Don Cook represents District 4 and Beth S. Weaver represents District 5. The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the municipal court building located at 132 S. Mulberry St. City Hall is located at 134 S. Oak St. Phone: 770-775-7535. Visit: www.cityofjacksonga.com. The city operates a number of departments to serve the needs of the citizens. They include: Police Department Mike Riley is the chief of the Jackson Police Department, which is located at 135 S. Mulberry St. He oversees a staff of 13 sworn officers that includes
a k-9 unit and four additional communications officers. Riley began his tenure with the police department in 1993 after having begun his law enforcement career in 1979 at the Butts County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to general law and traffic enforcement the department offers a number of other services, including bank escorts for businesses in the city and welfare checks for senior citizens. The department’s non-emergency number is 770-775-7878.
vided by the fire department include providing smoke detectors upon request, a fire extinguisher instruction class for businesses, fire safety education, backup to Butts County EMS, inspections for new businesses required under the City of Jackson occupational tax license, annual fire inspections for businesses, construction plan review for new construction and burn permits. The fire department can be reached about these services and others on its non-emergency number at 770-775-8054.
Fire Department Harvey Norris is the chief of the City of Jackson Fire Department, which is located at 139 Holley St. In addition to fighting fires within the city, the Jackson Fire Department operates in portions of unincorporated Butts County through an agreement with the county government. Other services offered or pro-
Public Works The City of Jackson’s public works department, under superintendent Dawson Heath, includes vehicle maintenance and street operations. The department oversees maintenance on 36 cars and trucks, 25 large dump trucks, 32 tractors and pieces of construction equipment and 50 other See PAGE 7
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Butts County Community Profile
CITY GOVERNMENT r'SPN 1BHF pieces of specialized equipment. The department also has crews dedicated to curbside debris and trash pickup and to maintenance of city streets, storm drains, rights-of-way and other infrastructure. The crews also patch potholes, repave streets and repair and replace street signs. The Public Works Department is located at 211 Alabama Blvd. Call 770-775-3198. Electrical Department The City of Jackson has been operating an electric utility since 1907 and maintains 65 miles of power lines serving approximately 1,800 customers. The city receives the power it distributes from MEAG Power, a municipal power association with 49 Georgia member-cities. The electrical superintendent for Jackson is Chip Garrison. The department utilizes a fleet of vehicles that includes three
bucket trucks, one digger truck, one service truck and one trencher. The Electric Department is located at 235 Alabama Blvd. The phone number is 770775-3858. To establish electric service in the city, call City Hall at 770-775-7535.
Butts County’s smallest municipality but boasts a large concentration of local businesses, with more than 40 mostly located along the Ga. Highway 42 CITY OF FLOVILLA corridor, which serves as one The City of Flovilla is Butts of the main gateways into the County’s southern-most munici- county. pality. Jenkinsburg is governed by It is governed by a mayor and a council of five members and Water & Sewer five council members all elected a mayor which meets on the To contact the sewer plant, at-large in staggered terms. The second and fourth Mondays of call 770-775-8058. mayor is Scott Chewning. The each month at 7 p.m. at City For information about water council members are Catherine Hall, 211 Maple St. and sewer line maintenance, call Watson, Glorine Thurman, The mayor is David Nestor. 770-775-8055. Willie Morgan, Thomas “Son� Council members are Eddie Douglas and Lillian Cowell. Ford who serves as mayor pro Municipal Court The city operates a fire tem, Joye England, Susan BaraThe City of Jackson’s mudepartment, streets department, bas, Richard “Dickey� Weaver nicipal court also serves as the municipal well water distribuand Kenneth A. Rooks. municipal court for the cities of tion system and cemeteries. The City of Jenkinsburg Flovilla and Jenkinsburg. The City Council meets on maintains its own parks, city The municipal courthouse the third Monday of each month streets, sanitation and water is located at 132 S. Mulberry at 6 p.m. at City Hall, which is billing system, and supplies St. and court is in session on located at 308 Heard St. Call housing and equipment for the fourth Wednesday of each 770-775-5661. Butts County’s fire station lomonth unless otherwise posted. cated adjacent to City Hall. The municipal judge is CITY OF JENKINSBURG Call 770-775-4850 or visit Wilson Bush and the municipal The City of Jenkinsburg is www.cityofjenkinsburg.com.
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court clerk is Jeanette Riley. For information about tickets or court dates call the court clerk at 770-775-8030.
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Butts County Community Profile
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BUTTS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM The Butts County School System has entered the 21st century in terms of technology and opportunities for students, while also holding on to its small-town appeal. The school system has approximately 3,400 students and employs about 500 people, making it one of the largest employers in the county. Butts County’s school board members are Bobby Craven, who represents District 1, Ernest Battle representing District 2 and serving as chairman, Johnny Morris representing District 3 and serving as vice chairman, Clifford Marshall representing District 4 and Millard Daniel representing District 5. There are five schools in the Butts County School System: Daughtry Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, Stark Elementary School, Henderson Middle School and Jackson High School. Through the use of special purpose local option sales tax funds for education, the school system has invested more than $2 million since 2012 in technology, which includes new computer labs for schools, systemwide wireless access and increased Internet bandwidth. Jackson High School ordered Apple TVs and iPads purchased with E-SPLOST funds in 2014. In addition, Henderson Middle School also received iPads and musical instruments purchased with E-SPLOST funds during the 2013-14 school year. The Butts County Board of Education has also used ESPLOST funds to expand and renovate Jackson High School. In 2013, renovations were made to the interior of the school, and a new parking lot and driveway were added at the front. A 26,000-square-foot expansion wing was slated to open for the start of the 2014-15 school year. The expansion wing includes the school’s administrative offices and additional classrooms and labs. School Superintendent Robert “Buddy” Costley has said that future goals for E-SPLOST funds
There are approximately 3,400 students in the Butts County School System. (File Photo)
SCHOOL INFO Butts County Schools Central Office 181 N. Mulberry St. Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-504-2300 Superintendent Robert “Buddy” Costley Daughtry Elementary School 150 Shiloh Road Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-504-2356 Principal Sohmer McKibben Henderson Middle School 494 George Tate Drive Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-504-2310 Principal Renee Burgdorf
include adding a gymnasium, fine arts complex and career labs at Jackson High School by 2019. Academically, Jackson High School reported a 7-point increase in its graduation rate in 2013, with 74.5 percent of seniors graduating that year. Henderson Middle School now offers
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Jackson Elementary School 1105 Brownlee Road Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-775-9480 Principal Sheila Barlow Jackson High School 717 Harkness St. Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-504-2340 Principal Jay Homan Stark Elementary School 209 Stark Road Jackson, Ga. 30233 770-775-9470 Principal Derek Vander Ven
high school courses and inducted a record number of students into Beta Club during the 2013-14 school year. Jackson High School students can now take career-focused and Advanced Placement courses — from audio and video technology and film to AP Latin — online
Butts County Community Profile
through the Georgia Virtual School Program at www.gavirtualschool.org. The Butts County School System focuses on its youngest pupils, too. In less than a 12-month period, the school system went from offering one Georgia Lottery funded pre-kindergarten class at one elementary school to providing four pre-K classrooms at three elementary schools, with two at Stark Elementary School, one pre-K class at Jackson Elementary and one at Daughtry Elementary by the middle of the 2013-14 school year. Starting with the 2014-15 school year, the school system will expand its grant-funded Family Enrichment Center program to include a parent involvement coordinator at each elementary school to make home visits and to help children make the transition to kindergarten. The free program provides parents of newborns to 5-year-olds with support, programs and services that include developmental screenings, and play and learn groups.
HISTORY OF BUTTS COUNTY Butts County, which was created from parts of Henry and Monroe counties, became Georgia’s 64th county by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on Dec. 24, 1825. It was presented on Christmas Eve as a gift to Gov. George M. Troup. The county was named for Capt. Samuel Butts, who was an officer of the state militia. The three municipalities in Butts County are Flovilla, Jenkinsburg and Jackson, which is the county seat. Jackson, named for President Andrew Jackson, was incorporated as a town by an act of the General Assembly on Dec. 26, 1826. Flovilla developed first as a railroad station along the tracks of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad around 1882. At the time, Flovilla was called East Indian Springs. Since there was some confusion about the delivery of mail in the area, the General Assembly passed an
act in 1885 separating Flovilla from Indian Springs. It was in that year that Flovilla was incorporated into a town. Its name means “villa of flowers.� Jenkinsburg was named after the Jenkins family, who were early settlers of the area. In 1881, Mr. Jenkins deeded a piece of land to be used for building a railroad through the area. Jenkinsburg became a station along the route of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad in 1882 and in 1889 it was incorporated into a town. Butts County is an area rich in history. Located in the county is the nation’s oldest state park, Indian Springs State Park. The purported healing waters of Indian Springs, known for many years to the Creek Indians, were not discovered by white settlers until 1792. Indian Springs became a resort community in the 1830s due to the reputation of the famous sulfur water and started attract-
ing vacationers and revelers from around the country. In 1864, the village suffered greatly during Gen. Sherman’s March to the Sea, when many homes and businesses were burned. Many grand hotels and casinos were built around the springs in the decades that followed, and plenty of entertainment for young people. Today, the Indian Spring Hotel/Museum is the primary remnant of the area’s heydays. The sulfur spring still draws visitors daily who partake of the “healing waters� which flow at a rate of about one gallon per minute. North of Indian Springs is Jackson Lake. This 4,570-acre lake was created in 1911 when the Central Georgia Power Company completed a 128-foot-tall concrete dam at Lloyd Shoals. This was the largest lake in Georgia until after World War II. In a portion of southwester Butts County is High Falls Lake and state park. In the early 1800s, the High Falls site was a
prosperous town with a gristmill and electric powerhouse fed by the fall’s waters, whose ruins can still be seen today. The 650-acre lake is surrounded by a 1,050acre park. Geography Butts County is located in central Georgia. Interestingly, if a line is drawn from the geographic southeastern corner of the state diagonally across to the northwest corner, and another line is drawn from the northeast corner to the southwest corner of the state, the intersection of those lines is Butts County. It is approximately 55 miles south of Atlanta and 45 miles north of Macon. The county consists of approximately 187 square miles and is bordered by Henry, Newton, Jasper, Monroe, Lamar and Spalding counties. The geographic coordinates for the center of town in Jackson are: Latitude: 33.294829, Longitude: — 83.966894.
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Butts County Community Profile
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SPECIAL EVENTS The following is an example of the many annual events that take place in Butts County. FEBRUARY Arbor Day Several community garden clubs, in conjunction with each municipality, conduct tree-planting events in Jackson, Jenkinsburg and Flovilla each year. Contact the respective city halls for more details. STAR Student Banquet The annual Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) banquet is sponsored each year by the Exchange Club of Jackson to recognize the highest achieving student at Jackson High School and that student’s most influential teacher. MARCH Chamber of Commerce Banquet The Butts County Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet is a semi-formal dinner that serves as the organization’s annual business meeting, at which its new chairman is inducted for a one-year term. Members of the local community are also recognized through several awards, including Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Employee of the Year, Shining Light, and induction into the Butts County Hall of Fame. Call 770-775-4839 for details.
Parks and Recreation Volunteer Banquet The event is sponsored by the Butts County Department of Leisure Services to recognize outstanding volunteers and induct long-serving coaches and officials into the Hall of Fame. Call 770775-8228 for details. APRIL Bluebirds and Bluegrass Hosted by the Dauset Trails Nature Center, at 360 Mt. Vernon Church Road, Jackson, the Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival is a daylong celebration featuring bluegrass music, vendors, arts and crafts and artisan presentations. Call 770-775-6798 for details or visit www.dausettrails.com. Smokin Pork-N-Butts The annual Smokin Pork-N-Butts barbecue cooking contest is one of several on a circuit of competitionsanctioned events throughout Georgia and other states. It is has been hosted yearly by the Exchange Club of Jackson as a fundraising event since 2009. For more details, visit bbqnbutts.com. MAY Relay For Life The signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the Relay For Life is held in Butts County every spring, usually in May, at the Charlie Brown Track in Butts County’s Daughtry Park. The event raises funds to support the American Cancer Society’s re-
search and patient-support efforts. Fine Arts Festival Organized by the Jackson-Butts County Council for the Arts, the Fine Arts Festival marked its 18th year in 2014 and for the past several years it has been held on the lawn adjacent to Carmichael Insurance on the corner of Third Street and Dempsey Avenue in Jackson. Drawing artists who work in a variety of media, the show is an opportunity for residents and visitors to view and purchase sculptures, paintings, wood work, and other pieces and discuss the art with the creators behind it. JULY Fourth of July For more than 20 years the City of Jackson has presented a fireworks show to mark the nation’s birthday on the Fourth of July. Hosted at the Butts County Department of Leisure Services complex at Daughtry Park, the event known in 2014 as “Red, White and Boom!” drew thousands of visitors from Butts and surrounding counties. The event features live entertainment as well, including musical acts and activities for children. SEPTEMBER Native American Festival Hosted by the Butts County Historical Society at the Indian Spring Hotel/Museum, the annual Native American Festival and PowWow draws visitors interested
in the area’s history and traditions. The event brings together Native American dancers, drummers, craftsmen, vendors and others. Butts County Fair Hosted by the Exchange Club of Jackson, at the Butts County Fairgrounds, the fair includes five nights of rides, games, food, live music and local exhibits. OCTOBER Jackson Alive-The Family Festival Presented annually by the Butts County Chamber of Commerce, the event covers downtown Jackson with family-oriented events, activities, vendor booths and music. Call 770-775-4839. Halloween on Second Street Hosted each Oct. 31 by the Butts County Chamber of Commerce along Second Street in Jackson, the Halloween on Second Street event gives young trick-or-treaters a safe place to pick up candy and show off their costumes as they make their rounds at stores and at booths set up by community organizations. Call 770-775-4839. DECEMBER Christmas Parade Organized by the Butts County Chamber of Commerce, the annual Christmas parade draws thousands of spectators young and old to the square in Jackson to take in a stream of floats, cars, fire trucks and bands. Call 770-7754839 for more information.
CLIMATE Variance in the climate across north Georgia is largely a function of terrain. Most of the northern half of the state is made up of rolling hills with elevation ranging from about 400 feet across the midstate to generally between 800 and 1,100 feet across the rest of the area. The climate of this region is fairly uniform. A notable exception is in the northeast corner of the state occupied by the Appalachian Mountains. Although average elevation in the “Northeast Georgia Mountains” is
less than 2,000 feet, there are mountains that reach elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. The climate here differs significantly from the rest of north Georgia. Central Georgia Temperature - The area experiences all four seasons. Summers typically consist of long spells of warm and humid weather. Average afternoon high temperatures are in the lower 90s. Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 70 to 80 days. Overnight lows usually range from the upper 60s
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to lower 70s. Temperatures during winter months are more variable. Oftentimes, stretches of mild weather will alternate with cold spells. Winter high temperatures average in the mid 50s to lower 60s. Lows average in the mid 30s. Lows of 32 degrees or lower can be expected on 40 to 50 days. Spring and autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year. The average date of the first freeze is in mid-November. The average
Butts County Community Profile
date of the last freeze in the spring is in mid to late March. Precipitation - A measurable amount of rain falls on about 120 days each year, producing amounts averaging between 45 and 50 inches. As for snowfall, the average annual total is less than one inch. Averaging over many years, the driest months are September and October while the wettest month is March. Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months. In a typical year, thunder will be heard on 50 to 60 days.
SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER The Butts County Senior Citizens Center, a division of the Butts County Department of Leisure Services, offers county residents ages 50 and older a variety of programs and services — from blood pressure checks to Zumba Gold. The center provides a place for senior citizens to pursue mutual interests and opportunities to socialize with other seniors. Programs and services focus on adding to seniors’ quality of life and helping to support their independence, Butts County Senior Citizens Center Site Manager Chrissy Crabtree said. The center’s programs and services meet the nutritional, spiritual, physical and mental needs of senior citizens in Butts County. Every weekday throughout the year, seniors can eat breakfast and lunch free of charge at the Butts County Senior Citizens Center. The center also delivers free meals to homebound seniors in the county. The Butts County Senior Citizens Center offers cooking classes that include low-sodium, diabetic and noncook recipes for seniors to make at the center and at home. Beginner and intermediate computer classes are also offered at the center.
Dream Weavers knitting and crochet group and a billiards club. The knitting and crochet group and the billiards club are open to participants of all skill levels. The Butts County Senior Citizens Center offers year-round play and seasonal team competitions for Wii bowling. Bingo is also held every week at the center. Active adults can participate in the Butts County Senior Citizens Center field trips to local and distant destinations. Previous field trips have included a visit to Noah’s Ark in Locust Grove, Seniors make a diabetic-friendly dessert during a cooking class a fishing outing at Charlie Elliott held at the Butts County Senior Citizens Center. (File Photo) Wildlife Center in Mansfield, with Brightmoor Hospice. and a visit to an apple orchard in BUTTS COUNTY SENIOR To promote mental fitness, the North Georgia. CITIZENS CENTER Butts County Senior Citizens CenWith the exception of some field 580 Ernest Biles Drive ter offers Old Times Day, which trips and a few other social activiJackson, Ga. 30233 includes games and trivia, and ties, all programs and services pro770-775-8238 Brian Power Hour, which features vided by the Butts County Senior a different game or creative activ- Citizens Center are free of charge To promote physical fitness, ity each day of the week. for county residents ages 50 and the Butts County Senior Citizens Various clubs and groups for older. Some field trips require a Center offers classes that include seniors meet at the center, which payment to cover the purchase of aquatic aerobics, Zumba Gold and include a Bible study group, the meals and other expenses. resistance-band training. On the second Thursday of each month, blood pressure checks are provided for seniors at the center free of charge by nurses
RECREATION Butts County provides numerous recreational opportunities for children and adults alike. Through the county’s Department of Leisure Services, Butts County offers organized sports leagues, instructional camps, summer camps and numerous competition opportunities. Some camps are hosted in conjunction with staff and coaches from Jackson High School. Whether a child is interested in football, soccer, softball, baseball or basketball, there is an ageappropriate team for them to be a part of. The department also offers tumbling lessons, cheerleading and gymnastics. Numerous adult exercise classes like Zumba offer adults and active older adults an opportunity to stay in shape.
Inside the Butts County Community Center, an open gym also allows residents to play at their leisure during certain hours. The Charlie Brown Track inside the Daughtry Park recreation complex on Ernest Biles Drive in Jackson offers residents an area to walk or run. The Department of Leisure Services also offers facilities like ball fields and meeting rooms for rent. The Community Center is also the home of the Butts County Extension Service and 4-H program. For more information about recreation programs and sports, contact the Department of Leisure Services at 770-775-8228 or visit www.bcdls.org. For information about the Extension Service or 4-H, call 770-775-8209.
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Butts County Community Profile
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SYLVAN GROVE HOSPITAL Sylvan Grove Hospital opened on July 29, 1962 on the site of what had been a plantation first settled in 1817 by Williams Buttrill. The property that made up the Sylvan Grove Plantation had remained in the same family for generations, until 12 acres of land was deeded to the Butts County Hospital Authority by Annadawn Watson Edwards, Buttrill’s greatgreat-granddaughter. The hospital was initially operated by the authority, a board of volunteers that included community leaders with expertise in a variety of professions. But by the late 1990s, years after the advent of Medicaid and commercial insurance, the health care system had become much more specialized and fragmented, with hospitals like Sylvan Grove that offered general care being passed up in favor of facilities with vast expertise in certain types of procedures. Today, the hospital is operated under an agreement with Tenet Healthcare Corporation and is part
disability on their own,” he said. “This is a godsend for those types of patients.” The hospital also offers outpatient diagnostic tests, physical, occupational and speech therapy, occupational medicine and worker’s compensation services, respiratory therapy and a renown center for rehabilitation services. Ed Whitehouse said Sylvan Grove Sylvan Grove Hospital also puts SYLVAN GROVE HOSPITAL was designated a critical access on yearly community health fairs 1050 McDonough facility — a designation for under- and offers regular lectures and Road, Jackson served, rural areas. It is licensed seminars on healthcare topics. 770-775-7861 for 25 beds. The hospital also Whitehouse said the late-’90s began focusing on its sub-acute expansion of the emergency of its network of now nearly 80 or swing bed services for those department also helped redefine hospitals in a dozen states. recovering from surgeries and Sylvan Grove. Seeing about 1,000 Under the agreement Tenet injuries that require care outside patients per month, the emerpays rent to the hospital authority, of what might be found in a major gency department also touts an and the hospital authority agrees hospital setting. extremely low wait time, which to fund indigent care and mainWhitehouse said Sylvan Grove the hospital promotes on its web tain ownership of the building receives patients from a 50- to 60- site through a real-time clock and responsibility for any major mile radius from other hospitals, displaying current waits. capital costs. Every year, the Butts who average about a 10-day stay. Through initiatives of its bigCounty Board of Commissioners The hospital averages about 40 sister hospital, Spalding Regional issues a budget appropriation to swing bed patient admissions a Medical Center, and parent comthe authority, which goes toward month. “These are patients that pany, Tenet, Sylvan Grove has also indigent care costs. are really not strong enough to re- been on the cutting edge of elecIn 2001, Hospital Administrator cover from orthopedic surgery or tronic medical records systems.
JACKSON-BUTTS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY There’s more to the JacksonButts County Public Library than just books. The library offers a variety of services, programs and materials — from DVDs to Kindles and children’s programs to adult reading groups. All you need is a PINES — Public Information Network for Electronic Services — library card in good standing to check out items from any library in Georgia, including the Jackson-Butts County Pubic Library. The library has the usual reading fare of hardbound and softbound books for all ages. It also has audio books, including children’s books, that can be borrowed. For those who prefer to use or would like to try an e-book reader, the library has Kindles that can be checked out by patrons who are 18 years old or older. E-readers can be checked out for two weeks and renewed one time. Thousands of e-books are avail-
In April 2014 alone, more than 950 people used the library’s computers, Branch Manager 436 E College St. Donn Taylor said. Most people Jackson, Ga. 30233 use the computers to check their 770-775-7524 social media and email accounts, able to download from Amazon, and some use them to search for a the maker of Kindle, and from the job, he said. Georgia Download Destination “There’s not a day goes by that website — gadd.lib.overdrive. four or five people aren’t looking com — with a PINES card. The for a job,” Taylor said. Georgia Download Destination The state is working to increase website also offers audio books. Internet bandwidth and speed for DVDs of movies, including libraries across Georgia, including classics starring John Wayne and in Jackson. The free Wi-Fi service directed by Alfred Hitchcock, can available at the library is also exbe checked out at the Jacksonpected to improve, Taylor said. Butts County Public Library. The Jackson-Butts County Collections of magazines and Public Library houses the Georgia newspapers are available at the li- Room, a designated enclosed area brary to read. In addition to books, that has books written by Georvideos and periodicals, the library gia authors, and historical and offers a photocopier and comput- genealogical books and materials ers for public use. related to Butts County. Patrons can access the Internet The Butts County Genealogical and use Microsoft Word on the Society holds its monthly meetlibrary’s computers. ings at the library. In addition, the JACKSON-BUTTS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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library provides meeting space for meetings held by a Christian fiction reading group, a historical society book group and a Yu-GiOh! card teen group. “They are a pretty faithful, loyal group that meets here,” Taylor said, referring to the teens, who meet at the library every Saturday. The library provides weekly story time for preschoolers during the school year and a weekly children’s summer reading program. The summer program includes puppeteers, magicians, animals, storytellers and musicians. The summer program also offers evening workshops for children ages 10 and older. All children’s programs are free of charge to attend. The Jackson-Butts County Public Library is part of the Flint River Library System, and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is closed on Sunday.
DESTINATIONS DAUSET TRAILS NATURE CENTER 360 Mount Vernon Church Road Jackson, Ga. 30233 Phone: 770-775-6798 www.dausettrails.com Dauset Trails Nature Center draws tens of thousands of people to Butts County every year to enjoy and experience nature. The 1,400-acre nature center is the result of a dream and lifetime friendship between Hampton Daughtry and David Settles, who combined their property, money — and last names — to create Dauset Trails Nature Center. Dauset Trails has more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails with beginner-, intermediate- and advanced-level paths. Hiking and biking trails cross into Indian Springs State Park and wind along Sandy Creek. The nature center also has 10 miles of horse trails. The Animal Trail at Dauset Trails houses more than a dozen animals from bobcats to otters that have been rescued or rehabilitated and cannot be released into the wild. Animals can also be viewed in the Wonder Room located in
the visitor’s center. Farm animals can be found at the barnyard area that depicts a 19th century farm and includes a blacksmith shop, country store, cane syrup mill and cooking area, smoke house and barn. The barn is transformed into a frightening place during Halloween when it becomes The Barn — Terror at the Trails. A nominal fee is charged for admission to The Barn. The barnyard area at Dauset Trails is also the location for Syrup Day held in November. The annual event features a
tions, educational presentations and Junior Ranger youth summer camps. High Falls State Park High Falls State Park has more INDIAN SPRINGS STATE than 1,000 acres that stretch out PARK on both sides of High Falls Road 678 Lake Clark Road located in Jackson on the Monroe Flovilla, Ga. 30216 County border along the Towaliga 770-504-2277 River. The park’s waterfalls are located Butts County is one of the few between the 650-acre High Falls counties in Georgia with easy acLake, which has become a top cess to not one, but two state parks fishing destination in Georgia for — High Falls State Park and Indian catching hybrid bass and white Springs State Park. bass, and the Towaliga River. The High Falls and Indian Springs park also has a swimming pool state parks offer hiking trails, boat and pedal boat, canoe and kayak ramps, geocaching, miniature golf rentals. courses and playgrounds. The High Falls State Park is one of parks also have campsites for tents, only a handful of Georgia state trailers and RVs, as well as pioneer parks that has yurts to reserve for campgrounds. overnight stays. The park’s yurts Both parks provide year-round are made of wood and canvas, activities and programs that include sleep up to six people, and have a ranger-led hikes, holiday celebradeck, windows and electricity. HIGH FALLS STATE PARK 76 High Falls Park Drive Jackson, Ga. 30233 476-993-3053
syrup-making demonstration that includes each step of the process — from grinding the sugar cane with mule power to bottling the syrup. Other activities, such as blacksmithing demonstrations and bluegrass bands, have also been included on Syrup Day. Music is a big part of the annual Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival held at Dauset Trails every April. The event features bluegrass bands, and nature- and outdoor-themed vendors. The nature center also offers Movie Under the Stars that features a film shown outdoors after
dark. Theater concessions are sold during the movie. Dauset Trails has become a popular place to hold wedding ceremonies and receptions. The nature center provides a wedding package that includes its outdoor chapel that overlooks a lake, large pavilion and the atrium inside the visitor’s center. Although Dauset Trails includes two small lakes and a lotus pond, fishing is only allowed during youth summer camp and at the annual fishing rodeo when visitors can fish without a permit at the lake near the visitor’s center. The nature center also offers a children’s garden to explore, a gift shop and overnight camping for organized groups, such as Boy Scouts, churches and 4-H. Dauset Trails Nature Center is a popular destination in Butts County. It had more than 90,000 visitors in 2013 alone. Admission and parking at Dauset Trails are always free of charge. All events held at the nature center are also free of charge to attend, with the exception of the youth summer day camp and The Barn — Terror at the Trails.
Reminders of the former industrial and commercial uses of what is now High Falls State Park include a powerhouse and the remains of a grist mill. A historic 1-mile hike offered at the park allows hikers to view the inside of the powerhouse. Indian Springs State Park Indian Springs State Park covers more than 525 acres and is located in Flovilla. The park includes the 105-acre McIntosh Lake that is used for swimming, fishing and boating. The park is one of the oldest state parks in the United States and houses a historic cemetery that includes the final resting place for at least one Confederate soldier and dates back to the mid- to late 1880s. Centuries ago, the mineral water from the creek flowing through the park was thought by the Native Americans to have healing and medicinal properties.
Park visitors can still taste and bottle the mineral water, which is now available from a spigot located inside a spring house built in the 1930s by workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps. The stone pavilion at Indian Springs State Park is a popular location for weddings. The pavilion features two open rooms and a gourmet kitchen. The park staff fields more than a dozen calls a week from people planning weddings and has been known to book the pavilion every weekend for more than 12 months in advance. Indian Springs State Park has a new stone kiosk to welcome park visitors at its Ga. Highway 42 entrance. It has also added new pedal boats to rent on the lake. In addition, the park has 10 cottages to reserve for overnight stays, including two cottages that allow dogs.
An otter frolics during a summer day at Dauset Trails Nature Center. The otter is one of more than a dozen animals found on the Animal Trail. (File Photo)
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DESTINATIONS JACKSON LAKE
fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and picnicking. GeorJackson Lake is one of Butts gia Power’s Lloyd Shoals Park County’s most significant recreis located at 180 Dam Road and ational resources. is available for use year-round. With shoreline in Butts, Jasper It offers amenities like a picnic and Newton counties, the 4,750pavilion, boat-launching ramp, acre lake is owned by Georgia restroom, bank fishing and two Power, which also owns and fishing piers. Call 404-954-4044 operates the hydro-electric plant at for information. Lloyd Shoals Dam. The Lloyd Shoals power plant The lake has 135 miles of began generating electricity in shoreline and is popular for 1911 for the Central Georgia
Power Company, with the lake and power plant becoming Georgia Power property in 1928. The dam spans 1,070 feet across the Ocmulgee River. The lake is formed by waters from the Alcovy, Yellow and South rivers and Tussahaw and Bear creeks. Homes around the lake are popular as year-round residences as well as for weekend and summer getaways. Of the 2,200 lots around the lake, Georgia Power
owns 607 and has shoreline rights to the remaining 1,593, according to Georgia Power spokeswoman Carol Boatright. The active Jackson Lake Homeowners Association hosts several events throughout the year, including cleanup days, a Fourth of July boat parade and fishing tournaments. For information about the homeowners association, visit www.jlha.org.
THE VILLAGE AT INDIAN SPRINGS thevillageatindiansprings.com
made furnishings, grab-and-go sandwiches and sides, a selection of wines and other items that might be found in a convenience store, but with a Village at Indian Springs twist. The gardens of the Village at Indian Springs are planted in a number of styles, including a Japanese garden and traditional European-style rose garden. A significant addition to the Village at Indian Springs is a large amphitheater located on the back side of the Charlotte Weaver Rose Garden. The amphitheater, which hosted its first performance June 21, 2014, is finished to blend into the other rustic structures in the Village.
The Jackson-Butts County Council for the Arts operates the Arts Center in the Village at Indian Springs and hosts numerous workshops, classes and special events around the Village. The Arts Center also hosts gallery shows and provides local and regional artists with a place to display and sell their works. Other shops include a bike and outdoor equipment store, a candy shop, a clothing boutique and an antiques store. Other attractions in the nearby area include the Indian Spring Hotel/Museum, Indian Springs State Park and Dauset Trails Nature Center.
Nestled along Ga. Highway 42 in Flovilla, adjacent to Indian Springs State Park, the Village at Indian Springs is a
destination featuring boutique shops, gardens, an art gallery and cottages catering to travelers in town to visit the park or to stay for special events like weddings. In the Big Chief Store, items for sale include artistic hand-
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GOOD NEWS FOR OUR HOSPITAL. EVEN BETTER NEWS FOR YOU.
American Heart Association
Our 5th year of recog nition with qua lity achievem ent awards f rom the AHA .
Gold Plus Award - Heart failure American Stroke Association
Gold Plus Award - Stroke Spalding Regional is once again recognized for achievement in Get With The GuidelinesÂŽ-Heart Failure and Stroke programs created by the AHA/ ASA to help hospital teams consistently follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines for treating heart failure and stroke patients.
ZZZ VSDOGLQJUHJLRQDO FRP The AHA/ASA recognizes this hospital for achieving 85% or higher adherence to all Get with The Guidelines Stroke Performance Achievement indictors for consecutive 12 month intervals and 75% or higher compliance with 5 of 8 Stroke Quality Measures and at least 4 Heart Failure Quality Measures, to improve quality of patient care and outcomes. The AHA/ASA does not accredit or endorse the hospital listed.
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