City of Cedartown Year in Review 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021

INDUSTRY:

OLDCASTLE Finds home in

North business park

600 Local youth Take Part

Officer

ZENO Goes extra mile THREE-HUNDRED

EIGHTY

THOUSAND In grants Awarded

In rec sports

COMMUNITY Year in Review 2021.indd 1

COMES TOGETHER to build a playground 12/22/21 5:57 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORIES P. 6 -9 CONTINUING EDUCATION P. 10 NEWS AND CITY EVENTS P. 11 - 3 DEPARTMENT REPORTS P. 14 - 25 NOTEWORTHY EVENTS P. 26 - 29

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A MESSAGE FROM THE

CITY M NAGER On behalf of our elected officials and employees, I would like to welcome you to the City of Cedartown. Nearly 10,000 people call Cedartown their home -- and it’s a town as special as the people who live here.

With a historic Main Street that houses decades-old mom-and-pop shops that continue to flourish, to a business park that creates hundreds of local jobs and clean energy via a state-of- the-art solar farm, Cedartown is a perfect mix of modern progress meets quintessential “Small Town, USA.” It is the City of Cedartown’s mission to provide excellent, comprehensive services to our citizens and our businesses. Our residents and businesses are the heart of our community, and we aim to support them in any way possible. Additionally, we strive to provide ongoing stimulus for sustainable economic development and growth. We know that smart expansion paired with careful planning is the key to Cedartown’s future success.

Lastly, we will uphold these goals while ensuring that the taxpayers of our wonderful city recognize that their local government will maintain fiscal responsibility.

Serving as Cedartown City Manager is a responsibility that I take seriously. I consider it an honor to lead and serve alongside the great employees of the City of Cedartown and to work closely with our Board of Commissioners, ensuring that the absolute best decisions are made for the ultimate good of all our residents. If you live or work in our community, then you already know we are staffed by hard working, courteous individuals who work diligently to provide you with the highest level of service at all times.

Whether you are a resident or a visitor in our wonderful city, we hope you find Cedartown to be a perfect place to spend your time.

Explore our website to find out more about what Cedartown has to offer. We may be a small town, but we have a rich history, a growing number of local attractions and exciting plans and projects on our horizon. If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me using the information listed below. My door is always open for questions and comments.

Edward Guzman Cedartown City Manager eguzman@cedartowngeorgia.gov 770-748-3220 ext. 3039 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov

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ANDREW CARTER, CHAIR

MATT FOSTER, PRO TEM

2021 CITY COMMISSION DALE TUCK

JESSICA PAYTON

SAM BRANCH

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WE

ARE CED RTOWN

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Industry:

OLDCASTLE Finds home in

gotten tremendous support and couldn’t be happier.”

North business park

C

edartown was pleased to welcome Oldcastle APG into our family of industrial partners in 2021. A leading provider of outdoor living and building materials, Oldcastle acquired the 100,000 square foot speculative building that offers a picturesque view of Northwest Georgia’s Appalachian foothills in July 2021.

Larger than what they were originally looking for, Oldcastle decided it was too good of a property to pass up. “We were already looking in that area for property,” explained Manager Gary Hill. “It was a situation where we were going to build a greenfield project, basically building a facility in the middle of a pasture somewhere, but then we found this.”

THREE-HUNDRED

EIGHTY

THOUSAND In grants awarded

The City of Cedartown was awarded $387,000 in grant money for use in the 2021 fiscal year.

The largest of those grants was a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant in the amount of $345,000.

This grant will be used for continued renovations at the Goodyear Soccer Complex. These renovations consist of constructing three soccer fields (two youth sized, one regulation sized), lighting for existing and new fields, and adding a much-needed parking lot.

The Georgia Council for the Arts awarded a grant totaling $21,160 to the Cedartown Performing Arts Center. The grant was used to purchase special lighting that will enhance concerts and theatrical productions at the event center.

Many residents might not be aware that 90 percent of the mulch and soil that comes out of the Oldcastle operation is sent to Home Depots in the Atlanta area, Cedartown’s Home Depot included.

Already Oldcastle has committed to being a community partner, not just an industry. They recently donated 50 yards of black mulch to a recent playground build project. Not only did they donate, but they sent a team of 12 Oldcastle employees to help out with the building and spreading of the mulch.

“We are so happy to have a corporation like Oldcastle in our community,” said Cedartown City Manager Edward Guzman. “There are already so many fantastic industries here and to bring in a great company like Oldcastle into our family is just a great addition. We are looking forward to watching them grow and will assist them in any way possible.”

“

Our rec soccer program has already benefited from the use of the current fields and facilities at Goodyear, and we are excited to continue to develop this community asset with the assistance of this generous grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

-Commission Chair Andrew Carter

“

And it seems “this” is working quite wonderfully for the company and the community.

“It’s been incredibly welcoming,” Hill said. “It’s like we’ve not come in as a corporation. We’ve been treated like a local business, like we’ve been here all along. We’ve

Hill said Oldcastle is ramping up to get officially started on their second production line, and with that, comes more jobs.

Cedartown was also awarded a $15,000 KABOOM! playground grant. The grant helped fund the purchase of a new playground system for Bert Wood Park. The City is also in the process of adding swings in the play area. The grant allowed local residents, businesses and industry to come together and assemble the playground in one day. The official ribbon cutting for the new playground was held on November 13.

A $6,000 grant was awarded to the Cedartown Performing Arts Center in 2020 for the costs associated with the production of the Moana Jr. Summer Theater Camp However, the performance was postponed due to pandemic closures. Fast-forward to 2021, and Moana Jr. was able to be cast, produced and performed before a large hometown audience. The performance was the culmination of the two-week summer theater camp.

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J

uan was lonely. He had been a patient in the Floyd health system several times over the course of 2020 for evaluations.

His family knew something was wrong and desperately wanted help for him, but Juan’s situation was a complicated one.

Juan is deaf. He communicates only through American Sign Language and written notes in English. His family speaks only Spanish. The inability to communicate was taking its toll. When schools and churches closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the already isolated young man became further isolated.

Officer

ZENO Goes extra

MILE

His attempts to vent his frustrations or communicate his symptoms were not fully understood. And while an interpreter was provided to him for clinical visits while he was hospitalized, there were many hours during the day when Juan had no way to communicate or interact with others. He was alone, yet surrounded by people, until he met Alex Zeno.

Alex, who is an officer with the Cedartown Police Department, was working as a security guard and regularly checked on Juan as he rounded.

The more he observed him, the more he came to realize that one of Juan’s greatest needs was someone to communicate with. He understood how hard it must have been for him. He couldn’t see his friends. He was frustrated, alone.

Alex had an idea. He brought a paper bag and a soft-tipped marker and started a conversation. He wrote out questions, then gave the marker and bag to Juan to write his answers. The pair built a rapport.

They found commonalities in their appreciation for Avengers movies, and Alex helped Juan pass the time by playing tic-tac-toe. Soon the paper they were using became messy and full. And, writing questions and waiting for written answers takes a lot longer than the spoken or signed word, so Alex asked Juan to teach him to sign.

The paper the pair used quickly filled with crude drawings of hand gestures. Before long, Alex had learned the sign language alphabet along with signs for commonly used words. He used his new-found skill to connect Juan to his care team. When Alex was working his shift, Juan would ask him for help in securing a snack, something to drink or when he needed to go to the restroom.

One day, a member of Juan’s care team saw Alex signing with his patient and mentioned that he didn’t realize he knew sign language. The security guard quickly explained that he was not fluent. His skills, he told the nurse, consisted only of what Juan had taught him or what he had learned online. The pair had developed a temporary solution that allowed the two of them to communicate.

Joy Henslee was among those who saw Alex and Juan converse. Theirs was not a “point-to-what-Iwant-and-hope-you-can-understand-me deal,” she said. Alex and the patient were carrying on actual conversations. He cared so much about communicating with a patient that he was willing to jump multiple hurdles to do so. The teammates who witnessed his extraordinary, heartwarming compassion learned a valuable lesson from Alex that day, she said.

Alex’s patience, his knowledge of the importance of communication and his understanding of a teenager’s mind helped him to see that this patient needed much more than a watchful eye. Juan needed a bridge builder, someone who could traverse a communication gap and give him a voice when he previously had none.

Reprinted with permission from Floyd Medical Center Photo provided by Floyd Medical Center

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COMMUNITY C Comes together To build a playground

hildren in Cedartown and Polk County have a new space to climb, slide and swing thanks to a special grant and the dedication of some local residents.

A new playground structure was installed at Cedartown’s Bert Wood Park recently, with several community members and organizations answering the call to help with the build. The structure was purchased thanks in part to a special grant from KABOOM!, a national nonprofit that works to achieve playspace equity for kids.

The City of Cedartown put out a call for volunteers to assist with the installation of the new playground, which was purchased through BCI Burke and installed by PlaySouth Playground Creators.

Volunteers arrived at the park on the morning of Nov. 13 and got to work on the red, black and silver structure — the colors for Cedartown High School. Employees from Oldcastle APG were part of the group, and the company donated 50 yards of mulch for the play area.

Chick-fil-A donated free biscuits for volunteers and everyone from Cedartown city employees and city commissioners to local civic organizations and school groups helped get the playground built in a single day.

The City will be adding swings in the coming months. A special “thank you” goes to the Unified Brothers, City of Cedartown employees, Cedartown City Commissioners, Cedartown Junior Service League, Cedartown Middle School Skills USA, Cedartown Middle School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Cedartown Library and two totally awesome donations from Chick-Fil-A (free biscuits) and Oldcastle (free mulch)!

More photos on page 29 & 30

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Above: Volunteers gathered to celebrate the completion of the playground. Ava Harrison served as the official ribbon cutter. Below left: Commissioner Jessica Payton, City Manager Edward Guzman and Commissioner Matt Foster carry playground border to the structure site. Below right top: Cedartown Junior Service League member Brook Swan lifts a section of playground border. Below right bottom: The Unified Brothers did the majority of heavy lifting and construction of the structure. Left page: Cedartown Rec Director Jeff Hulsey and several volunteers level playground equipment before the concrete sets.

600 Local youth

Take Part In rec sports

Year in Review 2021.indd 9

2021 started off in the midst of the pandemic, but even with that basketball participation numbers were just over 100. Spring soccer saw a large increase in numbers -- that program grew to 148 children, which created 17 teams. Fifty girls signed up for softball, and in our fall sports programs, (soccer, football and cheer) we had over 300 participants. 2022 is shaping up to be a great year as over 100 youth have signed up to play basketball.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

Heather Mason completed her training as a Certified Human Resource Manager in February. The Certified Human Resource Manager Program (CHRMP) is sponsored by GLGPA in conjunction with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). The University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government administers each program.

The program, which is comprised of 13 classes, is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those responsible for the management and administration of human resources systems in local government in Georgia.

DERIC JONES

obtained Class III Wastewater Operator Certification

MATTHEW WRAY

renewed Wastewater Collections System Operator License and Water Distribution System Operator License.

KELVIN GARMON

renewed Wastewater Collections System Operator License and Water Distribution System Operator License.

RAMONA RUARK completed 31.5 hours of training on topics related to marketing, commercial gentrification, historic preservation, eCommerce, and hotel and motel tax.

KIRSTIE BUTLER obtained Class II Water License

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Cedartown City Clerk Mitzi Allen completed the Georgia Clerks Education Institute Certificate Program in February.

The certificate is a 101-hour program of classes developed in cooperation with the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the Georgia Municipal Clerks Association, and the Georgia County Clerks Association.

The classes are taught by Institute of Government instructional faculty and local government professionals. The curriculum begins with the 15-hour state-mandated training for new clerks and continues with topics relevant to clerks’ duties as well as professional development and management subjects.

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CONNECTION

STRONGER

WITH OUR CITIZENRY

Cedartown City Commissioner Jessica Payton was elected president of the Georgia Municipal Association’s District 1 during the association’s Annual Convention in Savannah on Aug. 8.

In this role, Payton will serve as a liaison between GMA and municipal officials in GMA’s District 1.

She will also attend GMAsponsored events, including the association’s annual convention, promote engagement in GMA activities and programs with other cities in the district, advocate for GMA’s legislative priorities, and share with GMA staff any needs and concerns of member cities in their district.

As the District 1 president, Payton will also serve on GMA Board of Directors.

She previously served as the district’s vice president in 2020 and was elected to the Cedartown City Commission in 2017. She recently qualified to serve a second term on the city commission and ran unopposed in the November general municipal election.

The app, named “my30125,” is available on both iPhone and Android systems. Once loaded to a mobile device, users can access current weather conditions, information regarding local governance and the City’s official online bill pay portal. In addition, users of the my30125 can report issues such as missed trash pick-up, potholes, water leaks and code violations.

The app features searchable categories that include local business listings, arts and entertainment venues, upcoming events, and dining options. Information on the City’s five public parks can also be found within the app, as well as Google directions to local facilities.

“We really wanted to bring the my30125 app to the public as a way to increase accessibility for our citizens and visitors,” said Oscar Guzman, director of Economic Development. “The app is one centralized location on your phone where you can see contact information for various departments, direct access to the official bill pay portal, and issue reporting capabilities.

The One Door Polk directory is listed along with various Polk County offices which will help folks find the appropriate local assistance quickly.”

“

We really wanted to bring the my30125 app to the public as a way to increase accessibility for our citizens and visitors.

-Oscar Guzman

The application affords everyone who downloads it complete and total anonymity, said Guzman. There is an option for residents using the app to create a profile so that reports can include contact information, but it is not required. There is no personal or identifying data collected that isn’t submitted by the end-user.

“

Payton elected District I president

The City of Cedartown Department of Economic Development and Tourism rolled out a new mobile app in the Spring of 2021 designed to streamline issue reporting, bill paying and information gathering.

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After 2020’s pandemic put the City’s events on hold, residents were more than ready to get outdoors and get back to life. From festivals and parades to rock concerts and art shows, this year offered something fun and free for everyone to enjoy.

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Thousands of residents and visitors took part in a variety of events in 2021. These include, from bottom left, clockwise: Peek Park Summer Concert Series, Trailhead Art Gallery, Lil Miss and Lil Mr Hunny Pot Pageant, Holloway Hunny Pot Festival, Boo Bash at Bert Wood Park and the annual Christmas Parade downtown.

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ADMINISTRATION City Administration staff began implementation/upgrading of our financial software. The install and training will be completed in early 2022.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM CEDARTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER With many large, indoor entertainment events postponed due to COVID, CPAC remained of service to the community by hosting both municipal court and superior court proceedings. CPAC offered a larger area for the court system to social distance, allowing those in attendance more room to spread out and multiple entrances and exits.

Summer saw a decrease in COVID-19 cases, and as a result, officials made the decision to host the annual summer theater camp in June. Disney’s Moana Jr was the featured performance and children were able to learn the nuts and bolts of the theater business.

In addition to the performance, children participated in crafts and other enrichment activities. This theater camp was made possible by a grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts.

CPAC hosted country music star Tracy Byrd in concert in April. Two big names coming up in 2022 include Joe Nichols and Mark Chestnutt.

CPAC was home to 200+ works of art during the annual 2021 “Night with Local Artists” Exhibit.

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE The City’s outdoor events were brought back in 2021 and organized through the PIO office. These included the Trailhead Art Gallery, the Peek Park Summer Concert Series, the Holloway Hunny Pot Festival and the Boo Bash and Bert Wood Park.

A total of 12 media releases were written and distributed.

In the social media realm, the City’s Facebook page has 10,000+ followers. An estimated 392,000 followers were impacted by our messaging during the year 2021.

TOP POST FOR 2021: We warned residents to stay away from storm-damaged areas during the March 25 storm. This storm brought down many trees in the Northview Cemetery, as well as other locations around town. This message reached 175,000 in less than 4 hours.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM CEDARTOWN WELCOME CENTER According to the electric counter at the main entrance, 4,348 individuals visited the Welcome Center. There were three months with no count because of a power outage that reset the counter.

Rudy Martinez of Rudy’s Taco’s was appointed to the DCA Board of Directors in March to fill the position left by Jennifer Hunton. Kristina Richardson, owner and resident of 411 and 413 Main Street, was appointed to the board to fill the vacant position left by Lynn Adams’ resignation.

The Downtown Cedartown Association provided a Fall selfie props with décor at the Holloway Park and the Cedartown High School Art Club provided the artwork on the props for the fall scene.

Façade Grant recipients are as follows: -Ronald Morris, owner of Cedar and Smoke Cigars at 110 Herbert Street, received a Façade Grant Check in the amount of $1,600.00 for the installa tion of double French doors on the east side façade which connects to the patio area.

-Kristina Richardson, owner of 413 Main Street, received a Façade Grant Check in the amount of $2,000.00 for the front façade cleaning, repair and repointing of brick.

-Kristina Richardson of Cedar Valley Company, located at 411 Main Street received a Façade Grant Check in the amount of $2000.00 for the cleaning of the front façade and replacement of wood with cedar cladding.

The Welcome Center served as an official rest stop for the BRAG/Bicycle Ride Across Georgia on Tuesday, June 8, from 7 a.m. -1 p.m.. According to BRAG Representatives, approximately 1000 bicyclist participated in this event.

An additional BRAG/Bicycle Ride Across Georgia came through Cedartown on Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with approximately 100 bicyclists.

The Scarecrow Contest received 25 entries and the first Gingerbread Man Contest began in December and the DCA received 19 entries.

New DCA/Downtown Cedartown Association Members: Destiny’s Hair Lounge, Cedar Valley Co.(Cedar Valley Chops), J&A Rental Properties, and Screen Printing on Main.

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PUBLIC SAFETY CEDARTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT Josh Fenley was named as the 2020 Cedartown Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year by the Cedartown Exchange Club.

The department purchased a new truck, a new self-contained breathing apparatus filling station and six new sets of firefighting gear.

Firefighters also conducted and participated in 16 hours of extracation training.

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PUBLIC SAFETY Jose Nevarez was promoted to Lieutenant for the Cedartown Fire Department.

CEDARTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT Officer Naomi Quiroz was named 2020 Cedartown Police Officer of the Year by the Cedartown Exchange Club.

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PUBLIC SAFETY Andre Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant to assume command of the newly formed Office of Professional Standards within the Police Department.

K-9 Bono joined the CPD Team this year. He is a multi-purpose police dog trained in tracking, apprehension, and drug detection. His partner is Sgt. Jon Zuker.

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PUBLIC SAFETY The Police Department began the process of implementing Photo Enforcement of School Safety Zones at Cedartown Middle and Cedartown High Schools. This program is expected to be active within the next few months.

Polk School District recognized Cedartown Police Officer Bryce Momon as School Resource Officer of the Year. Officer Momon serves at Cedartown Middle School.

Many of our officers, like Officer Winkles, helped with community events such as the Feed the Hungry campaign sponsored by one of Cedartown’s local churches.

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PUBLIC SAFETY Many properties have been demolished or greatly improved by the efforts of citizens and Cedartown Police Department Code Enforcement.

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PUBLIC WORKS STREET DEPARTMENT Our Street Department paved the following streets: Greenwood Avenue, Alpha Way, Pine Street, Frances Street, Cobb Street, South Philpot Street, Greenwood Cemetery and had North Park Boulevard striped.

A new sidewallk was poured at Bert Wood Park for the foot path leading to the football field.

We repaired sidewalks in following locations: South Estes Street, South Martiele Street, Robert L. Parks Boulevard and Marshall Street.

We replaced 42” diameter x 60’ long culvert pipe on Ninth Street.

A Ford f350 Econo van was purchased for the work detail crew.

Diagnostic computers for the mechanic were purchased.

Our department repaired 79 potholes.

Our boom trucks picked up 628 loads.

Our sweeper truck swept 235 loads of street debris.

Continued in our agreement with Polk County Sheriffs Office for a work detail for Street Department and Cemetery Department for cutting grass and cleaning right of ways and the Silver Comet Trail, as well as cutting grass and helping maintain city cemeteries, parks and buildings at $52,000 a year.

Replaced caution light at Cave Springs Street and Girard Avenue after storm damage for $7,591.93 Continued intergovernmental agreement with Polk County.

CEMETERY DEPARTMENT Our department purchased a F-150 truck.

A total of 104 graves were sold.

A total of 105 graves were opened.

We purchased four FS91R Weed eaters for $1074.36.

We purchased one new 20’’ push mower for $195.00.

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PUBLIC WORKS WATER MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT Assisted contractors on the York property sewer line and water line extension.

Purchased Surelock Allpro Locator.

Purchased a new computer for our office.

Repaired 16 water service leaks.

Repaired 33 water main leaks.

Unstopped 34 sewer services.

Unstopped 45 sewer mains.

Repaired eight sewer main and services.

Installed 2 ¾’’ meter splits for $1200.

Installed 2” water service for $3000.

Installed 4” sever service for $1800.

Purchased 192 ¾” Iperl meters to replace the ¾” SR-2 meters that have reached the end of their life span for $ 22,003.20.

Purchased 2 2” Omni meters to replace the 2” SR- meters as they expire for $3100.00.

Purchased 6” Omni meter and 6” dual check valve for North side Elementary School for $12,915.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT The Nathan Dean family sponsored a new gym sign on the entrance of the gym building.

The Recreation Department had the fence from fields 6 & 7 moved 200 feet inwards for girls softball and new score booths were built for each field.

The support beams were replaced at the bar-b-que pavilion at Peek Park.

The pavilion at Peek Park with new siding, new paint and ceilings fans.

In 2021, the rec department began hosting tournaments to bring in more revenue.

Our football helmets were sent off to be reconditioned.

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RECREATION DEPARTMENT Our Recreation Department merged offices with the senior building, new signage and flag pole renovations were made.

The outside of the Women’s Building at Big Spring Park was repainted.

The rec department held a benefit community kick ball tournament to raise money for the new playground at Bert Wood. $600 was raised.

An Opening Day Parade was held in March with much success.

Photos contributed by Jeremy Stewart

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WASTEWATER Finished construction on the workings of Clarifier No. 1 WWIS replaced weirs and baffles on Clarifier No. 1 Collected quotes for preventative maintenance on all lift stations for 2022 Added RACO alarm agent to the Wastewater Plant Replaced seals and bearings on the WalMart Lift Station Pump New digester blower construction should begin soon at the Wastewater Plant A new air unit was purchased for the Main Lift Station An upgrade plan (5-7 year outlook) is underway for Public Works Belt press polymer pump was reworked A new sludge pump for the belt press was ordered Transducers were replaced at the Main Lift Station The NPDES permit for Wastewater was renewed New chains were placed on pumps at the Cave Spring Lift Station The drive on aeration blower No. 2 was replaced Sludge pumps were replaced to the thickener The pump was reworked at the Main Lift Station Outside lights were repaired around the Wastewater Plant

WATER The lab sink was replaced with a stainless steel sink Turbidimeter sampling pumps were replaced The chlorine analyzer was replaced Pressure washed dome and driveway Installed new Life Proof floor in lab

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WATER SAMSARA SCADA system was installed and is now operational Replaced benchtop NTU machine with new portable NTU machine Replaced outdoor light on chemical room door with an LED light Replaced light bulbs in filter room with LED lights Replaced all three turbidimeters and upgraded turb controls to SC200

A new laptop was added to the control room Replaced security camera monitor with bigger screen television Removed tree growing through the Water Plant and repaired bricks Replaced high service motor No. 2

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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS HEAVY STORMS LEAVE PATH OF DESTRUCTION Several places in the City Limits of Cedartown were hit hard by storms on March 25, 2021. There was also damage in other areas of Polk County. So many people came out to assist in clean-up, including residents, church groups, local organizations and businesses and government employees.

Northview Cemetery sustained heavy damage from trees.

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Big Spring Park and Biggers Field were flooded by heavy rain.

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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS COACH ESCUE RODGERS NOW IN HALL OF FAME It’s was a long time coming ... local legendary Coach Escue Rodgers was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

A perennial winning coach of the Cedar Hill Panthers, Rodgers was inducted on May 22.

It is only fitting that the City of Cedartown declared May 22 as ESCUE RODGERS DAY in Cedartown!

Rodgers passed away in 1978, but his dedication to sports and teaching remain in the hearts of his students and community.

Dedicated members of the Cedar Hill Alumni Association were on hand during the May 10, 2021 City Commission meeting to celebrate and hear the proclamation read aloud.

The proclamation reads: WHEREAS, Coach Escue Rogers was a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Morris Brown College where he received a degree in teaching; and WHEREAS, Coach Rogers became the Head Coach and Athletic Director for Cedar Hill High School in Cedartown, Georgia where he coached football, basketball, and track for 24 years; and WHEREAS, His teams won 85 trophies in his 24 year career. He not only coached and impacted his students on the field but off the field as well believing that a good education was his obligation to provide to his students; and WHEREAS, Coach Rogers was named the Head Coach of the North Team during the time of segregation, and it was the first-ever Georgia Interscholastic Association All- Star Team; and WHEREAS, He was honored with many coaching and achievement awards before his death in 1978, including Coach of the Year from Fort Valley State in 1953, Morris Brown College Outstanding Coaching Achievement Award in 1956, and the Distinguished Coaching Award from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association in 1974.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Commission of the City of Cedartown does hereby proclaim May 22, 2021 as Coach Escue Rogers Day, in honor of Coach Escue Rogers’ dedication to his school, his students, and the community he served as he is inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

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OFFICER HENDERSON REFLECTS ON 15 YEARS OF SERVICE A career in law enforcement was once a dream of Officer Teress Henderson. With a few interesting twists and turns along the way, she tackled that goal. But after a rewarding 15 years in law enforcement, Officer Henderson has come full circle.

She’s living the dream of retirement.

She completed her law enforcement career on July 1, 2021 and was honored by the City, commissioners, and family with a reception and accolades at the monthly meeting of the commission.

Henderson reflects that the road to becoming a police officer took a little while, but with the right encouragement and a bit of television magic, she eventually pinned on her badge and hit the road on patrol. “You’ll probably laugh when I say this,” Henderson said with a chuckle, “But the 1980s television show “Policewoman” kinda inspired me to look in to a career as an officer.”

But as with most dreams, life decided to take a detour and Henderson ended up working as a young adult for the Polk School District. Then came babies and job security and before you know it, 14 years had passed. She decided to go back to school and thought accounting might be a good path, but the badge kept calling her name. “I changed direction and decided to go back for a degree in criminal justice. I had a friend that worked in law enforcement in Rome, they encouraged me to go for it, and I was added to the force there in 1995,” Henderson said.

From Rome, she eventually found her way back to Cedartown. She obviously did her time ‘keeping the peace’ but also had time to enjoy working with the Explorers Program. The program is designed for young people who are interested in careers in law enforcement. As she recalled some of her best policing moments, Henderson said her work with the Explorers was definitely one of the highlights.

She was credited at the City Commission meeting for one particular accomplishment that received a lot of publicity: state certification of the police department. She served as certification manager, while also holding the title of evidence custodian, through that painstaking process and though it was certainly a feather in her cap, Henderson said it pales in comparison to what she feels was her biggest accomplishment. “A lot of people will point to the certification and say that was the highlight, but for me, I feel my greatest achievement was being a good officer but also keeping my family as my main focus. I am so proud of my kids and where they are,” Henderson beamed.

So now that her police work is done, what is she looking forward to the most? It’s no surprise that spending time with her family tops the list. She’s already busying herself with keeping her two-year-old grandson for a while. When she’s not busy with him, she’ll be happy to go play in the dirt and pick up a paintbrush.

“Gardening is one of my hobbies and I enjoy painting,” she said. Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet are two of her favorites.

Henderson will now have an extra special place to sit and view her garden (and play with her grandkids) thanks to the City. On Monday, July 12, she was honored for her service and dedication and presented with a special handmade swing.

“We hate to lose an officer like her,” said City Manager Edward Guzman. “She was a fantastic officer and will certainly be missed.”

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A publication from the City of Cedartown ©2021 Public Information Office 201 E. Avenue Cedartown, Georgia 30125 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov Year in Review 2021.indd 32

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