On behalf of our elected officials and employees, I would like to welcome you to the City of Cedartown. More than 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-ofthe-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
FEATURES
KELVIN GARMON P. 6
GREG COOPER P. 10
AUSTIN TEMPLE P. 20
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
P. 16-27
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS
P. 28
2022 DEPARTMENT PHOTOS
P. 4
Cover: The City’s public works department worked late into the evening in August 2022 to repair an issue caused by a private contracting company.
Inside cover: The sunrise peeks over the Cedartown Water Plant and Big Spring.
Commissioners Matt Foster, Sam Branch and Jessica Payton were given the Oath of Office by Municipal Court Judge Andrew Roper. All three commissioners ran unopposed in the November 2021 Municipal Election.
In January 2023, Jessica Payton was named chair of the board and Sam Branch was named chair pro-tem.
It was January 18, 1984.
A gallon of gas cost just over a dollar, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” was the number one song on the radio, and a gallon of milk would cost you $1.16. It was also Kelvin Garmon’s first day on the job as a 19-year-old at the City of Cedartown. It was supposed to be a temporary thing.
Jump forward nearly four decades to January 2022. A new number one was on the charts, milk climbed to $3 per gallon and folks shelled out around $2 more for gas. But one thing didn’t change -- Kelvin Garmon continued working for the City of Cedartown.
Kelvin retired on Jan. 31, 2022 with 38 years of dedicated service to the city and its residents. Just like the price of milk, Kelvin’s duties have changed over the decades. He started out reading meters and working as part of the repair crew. After that, he moved to backhoe and machinery operations, then to water maintenance supervisor, finally being named as the city’s public works director, the title he retired with.
Born and raised in Cedartown, he’s spent most of his life here with the exception of a stint in Florida as a teen. Kelvin fudged a little on his age at the time and ended up working on the shrimp docks with his dad. Eventually, though, he made his way back to Cedartown and accepted a job that would see so many changes.
“The technology is what’s changed really,” Kelvin said. “It’s better and faster.” A prime example of that would be the addition of a pneumatic jackhammer -- something most residents don’t really think about, but can mean the difference between water and no water when you turn on your faucet. “It used to be that accessing a water main or line under Main Street would end up being 4 to 5 hours. Digging through with a regular jackhammer would take so much time and switching off of manpower. Nowadays digging through the same amount of asphalt takes one and a half hours, 2 hours at most. Of course I’ve seen a lot of personnel changes. I’ve seen the whole administration turn over a few times,” he chuckled. But what remained the same was work ethic and loyalty.
“The city has always been so good to me, and I did my best to be good to them. A superintendent is only as good as the people they manage, and I’ve managed some of the best and hardest workers during my career here.”
Kelvin’s role and the dedication of his crew often go unnoticed by the public. They are up and out before the sun rises and work long into the late hours of the evening, especially if there is an emergency.
“I remember the first year I was here, we had an ice and snow storm. One of the huge water mains burst.
We worked around the clock to fix it, slept and ate at the water plant until it was finished. It was up to us to make sure residents had water.”
The job of a public works director is an important one. So much rides on the day to day maintenance and operation of the systems that keep our city going. From controlling the flood gates and preventing major disaster to scheduled upkeep of the city’s 3.5 million gallons of water in storage tanks that rise high above the town. “I didn’t learn all of it in a day, that’s for sure,” Kelvin explains.
A lot of it’s intuition and anticipating potential problems before they become actual problems. We work for the city, and by city I mean our residents. We do what we can with what we have in
order to keep things running the right way.”
By the end of the day on January 31, Kelvin was thinking less about water infrastructure and upkeep and more about grandkids and family.
“I am a family guy. I have a son and two daughters and six grandkids that I plan on spending time with now,” he said with a firm conviction.
“How do you replace someone like Kelvin?,”said City Manager Edward Guzman.
As Kelvin Garmon brought his era to an end in January 2022, another era was just beginning Matthew Wray was selected in February 2022 to take over management of the City of Cedartown’s Public Works Department.
Matthew is a familiar face around City Hall and Cedartown. He’s worked in various capacities in the city’s public works department for almost seven years. A former Cedartown High School Bulldog (class of 2002), Matthew grew up in Cedartown.
He understands the importance of his role and the public works department as a whole, and is looking forward to keeping the City’s operations running smoothly.
“You don’t really. We will find an excellent and capable person to take over his duties, but our public works department will never be quite the same without him. We’re losing someone with 38 years of on the job experience and local knowledge. We appreciate the fantastic job that Kelvin has done over the years. We will certainly miss him but we wish him well in his retirement.”
The City honored Kelvin at the February 14 meeting of the Cedartown City Commission with a special recognition. A public reception was held prior to the 6 p.m. meeting.
Amy Orebaugh, City of Cedartown Chief Financial Officer, completed the Public Finance Leadership Academy in 2022.
Offered in partnership between the Institute of Government and GGFOA, the Public Finance Leadership Academy (PFLA) equips public sector financial management leaders with the knowledge they need to successfully manage the fiscal affairs and activities of a local government.
The six-month program focuses on leadership and financial skills for government leaders, going beyond the basics to discuss such concepts as personal and organizational integrity, self-awareness, change leadership, local, state and federal laws, strategic planning, internal control and the cycle of financial management, government accounting principles, preparing for the audit, and more.
The ink was still wet on Greg Cooper’s employment paperwork, but already he knew that this was “the” place.
“This is the place I will retire from,” he thought as he buckled up his duty belt and set out on a two, nearly three-decade stint with the Cedartown Police Department.
28 years later, Cooper saw that thought come full circle. He ended his law enforcement career in April 2022 and headed out to another beat called retirement.
It was an interesting series of life events and job changes that led Cooper from Coral Springs, Florida to Cedartown, Georgia. In Florida, Cooper took part in a youth law enforcement program, enjoyed it, and discovered he had a passion for law enforcement.
Later on in life, Cooper wound up as a patrol officer for Gwinnett County. And then he was introduced to Cedartown. It seems many good things happened for Cooper here. He was given a job at Murphy-Harpst Home working with at-risk youth. He started a youth camping program that taught kids how to cook on a campfire and pitch a tent. The youth, under Cooper’s
guidance, would travel to places like Cumberland Island, the Great Smoky Mountains and Mammoth Cave -- giving children an experience of a lifetime -and memories that are still talked about even today.
Cooper met his wife at Murphy-Harpst. She was serving as a nurse at the campus and the rest is, as they say, history. With marriage, and later, the birth of three children, Cooper’s focus began to shift and he sought out a different path that led him to the Cedartown Police Department.
“Chief John Dean hired me,” Cooper recalls. “And I told the City Manager back then, David Johnson, that I would retire from this place,” he said with a laugh. “I guess I made good on that.”
Law enforcement and youth is a theme that constantly pops into a conversation with Cooper. After all, it’s what gave him his start and so it comes as no surprise that he started the Cedartown Police Department’s Explorers program. The original Cedartown branch disbanded a few years ago, but not without guiding several youth, now adults, into their own successful careers in local law enforcement.
In 2021, the entire county adopted the Explorers Program, and it now includes all policing jurisdictions in the county. Cooper isn’t a bragger and tends to shrug off the spotlight, but you can catch a glimpse of satisfaction wash across his face when he talks about the Explorers.
As Cooper reflected on his years at the City PD, he feels that it’s grown into a department that emphasizes training and focuses on ways to be more efficient and responsive to the community. He’s seen the department take advantage of grants that have led to better officer protection as well as better technology.
“There’s a lot of knowledge-sharing in our department, and that’s a good thing in my opinion. Mentoring younger officers and having a hand in helping them grow and become better employees means that you become a stronger department,” Cooper said. “It’s a real team environment and I have been blessed to work here. I will miss it, and miss the people for sure, but it’s on to the next chapter, the next adventure.” The next chapter will hopefully find Cooper and his wife closer to family.
“We are excited for Greg and his retirement that will allow him to spend more time with his family,” said City Manager Edward Guzman. “At the same time we are sad he’s leaving our city family, but we wish him the absolute best. His dedication has been inspiring and we appreciate his service to the City of Cedartown.”
“It has been an immeasurable blessing to work daily with Greg,” said Police Chief Jamie Newsome. “He is not only 100 percent dependable in his official performance but he is a true gentleman and a friend. The Cedartown Police Department is a better agency and I am a better man because of Greg Cooper. I pray God’s blessings on his retirement.”
A public reception was held for Cooper on Monday, May 9, at Cedartown City Hall.
The original Cedartown Police Department Explorer Post disbanded several years ago. However, there was a strong push to reorganize the post, and so law enforcement from Polk County, as well as municipal agencies came together to create the Polk County Law Enforcement Explorers Post. Corporal Naomi Quiroz is the most active advisor from the Cedartown Police Department. The above photo was taken of the new Explorer Post at a recent banquet held at Petro’s Restaurant.
“I told the City Manager back then that I would retire from this place,” he said with a laugh. “I guess I made good on that.”
A new Law Enforcement Explorer Post is created
Appalachian Regional Commission Grant $750,000
This grant money will be used to assist in construction of the Lankford Corner Event Center in downtown Cedartown.
Private Grant $326,000
Part of this grant money was used to renovate the Women’s Building. The remaining money will help rebuild the Turner Street Community Center and help rebuild the Peek Park playground.
Polk County Quality of Life Fund $300,000
This funding will be used to help construct a new community center at Turner Street Park.
Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Grant $134,505
Grant funds will be used to rehab existing trail infrastructure, add additional signage, and provide for paving of the Martin Trailhead lot.
The City of Cedartown was recently designated as a rural zone. The designation is part of a collaborative program between the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
“We are looking forward to the continued growth of our historic downtown area,” said Oscar Guzman, director of economic development and tourism. “The rural zone designation and the tax credits that come along with it will further ignite the growth already occurring and
encourage property owners with vacant buildings to take their next step forward.”
Since its creation in 2017, this initiative provides tax credits to individuals creating jobs and making qualifying investments within historic downtown areas that have been designated as rural zones.
Each designation lasts for five years, and activities to begin earning tax credits within Cedartown’s Rural Zone began Jan. 1, 2023.
I’vevisitedCedartown somuchthisyear, it’s...shocking! (seewhatIdidthere)
$96,160
Ga. Council for the Arts Grant
Grant funds will be used to carry out a complete overhaul of the Cedartown Performing Arts Center stage system and provide new stage lighting.
Atlanta United Mini Pitch Grant$75,000
The grant will be used to construct a mini pitch soccer field at the Cedartown Boys and Girls Club.
T-Mobile Hometown Grant $49,174
The grant money will be used to construct a skate park at Goodyear Park.
Georgia RELeaf Program Grant $7,000
This money was used to purchase and replant 31 trees at Northview Cemetery. The previous trees were destroyed by straight line winds in 2021.
Read more about these grants on pages 13-16
The City of Cedartown will soon develop strategies and share information about the benefits to businesses and investors.
“This is a great designation for our Downtown Historic District of Cedartown,” explained Main Street Director Ramona Ruark. “The tax credits will help individual property owners who invest and renovate their downtown property as well as business owners who create jobs within the designated areas. We are looking forward to additional growth and investment into our downtown and the help that this will provide for business and property owners.”
The program includes the following Georgia state income tax incentives which are utilized for job-creation activities, investment in downtown properties, and renovation of properties.
The credits can be layered, but none are available without the job creation element being present.
The Job Tax Credit is equivalent to $2,000 per year for each new full-time equivalent job for up to five years. The Investment Credit is equivalent to 25 percent of the purchase price of a property within the designated Rural Zone (not to exceed $125,000).
The Rehabilitation Credit is equivalent to 30 percent of the qualified rehabilitation costs of a building located within a designated Rural Zone (not to exceed $150,000). The City would like to give a special thank you to Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Research Program & Leigh Hopkins for providing assistance with Cedartown’s strategic assessment plan.
The City of Cedartown was selected to receive a $750,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The grant money will be used to construct Lankford Corner at The Silver Comet – a thoughtfully designed, large-capacity indoor and outdoor event venue.
The building will be located on land that was donated by the late Jim and Jean Lankford, lifelong community champions and supporters of Downtown Cedartown. The land is situated across from the Cedartown Depot on South Main Street and runs parallel to The Silver Comet Trail.
“Lankford Corner at The Silver Comet is the centerpiece of the City of Cedartown’s effort to revitalize the southern section of Downtown Cedartown,” explained City Manager Edward Guzman. “This project will usher in a new era of daily activity for the southside of our city.”
Lankford Corner will foster economic growth through the generation of income, encouragement of downtown occupancy and will increase walkability in the downtown corridor. The facility will bridge the gap between the City’s downtown district and the scenic and well-traveled Silver Comet Trail. Lankford Corner will also serve as the home of the future Cedartown Farmer’s Market.
Programming for the event center will include moving existing events and festivals to the campus, allowing these already established events to grow. Business development classes and workshops will be held at the
facility, as well as corporate gatherings, civic meetings and the venue will serve as a staging area for national and statewide athletic events that promote use of the Silver Comet Trail.
With the capability of housing 300+ guests, Lankford Corner will boast large roll-up doors, creating a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor. The facility itself will carry a large footprint, however the entire Lankford Corner concept will encompass the entire 1-acre downtown location. A catering kitchen, reception area and restrooms are part of the overall design. Food truck parking, public parking and intentional and inviting rest areas are features of the outdoor area.
“I am thrilled that the City of Cedartown will be able to use this grant money for such a great project that will positively impact not only our downtown, but provide a space for the entire community to come together for special events,” said Cedartown City Commission Chair Andrew Carter.
“This project will completely transform a blighted, vacant parcel in the heart of downtown, and at the same time will leverage two of the community’s greatest local assets – Historic Downtown Cedartown and The Silver Comet Trail.”
Design aspects are being led by Rome-based CEVIAN Design Lab. The anticipated completion date is late 2024.
“It was definitely a 100-percent team effort on this grant, from the early beginnings to approval,” Guzman said. “I would like to thank City staff, the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Governor Brian Kemp. We’re excited to see what this project has in store for our community.”
The City of Cedartown was awarded $134,505 in grant funding from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trails Program.
The funds will be used to replace two bridges along the heavily-traveled 61.5 mile trail. Rehabilitation of existing trail infrastructure will also be included in the scope of work. The grant funding will provide additional signage along the trail and provide for paving of the Martin Trailhead parking lot as well.
The Silver Comet is a paved pedestrian rail-trail and travels through Cobb, Paulding, and Polk counties. This quiet, non-motorized trail is for walkers, hikers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, horses, dog walkers, and is mostly wheelchair accessible.
The existing Turner Street Community Center will be replaced in 2023 with an all new structure.
Designed by Rome-based architectural firm CEVIAN Design Lab, the new facility will have a much bigger footprint and include restrooms, storage, and a new kitchen. The kitchen will feature a roll-up window for ease of serving food and outdoor gathering space.
The proposed design would compliment the context of the neighborhood and create a large meeting space for events and gatherings.
Locally, the trail sees thousands of visitors annually.
“The Silver Comet Trail has not only provided our citizens with a place for recreational activities, but has brought thousands of visitors into our city throughout the years of its existence,” said Andrew Carter, Cedartown City Commission Chair.
“Many thanks to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Recreational Trails Program for providing this vital funding so that our community and visitors alike can enjoy this asset for years to come.”
The Recreational Trails Program seeks to support communities in developing recreational trails and trailrelated facilities for both nonmotorized & motorized outdoor recreation. RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund & represent an estimate of the motor fuel excise tax collected from off-highway recreational use. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducts biannual grant application cycles for RTP funds. The 14 awardees, including Cedartown, were selected from 33 project proposals requesting $5.2 million.
The historic Cedartown Woman’s Building received an interior and exterior makeover in 2022. The facility was built in 1935 of cobblestone and designed by Odis Clay Poundstone. It is of the Colonial Revival style. The building is used currently for social events and is available for rental by the general public. Donnie Jarrell’s display for the Holloway Hunny Pot Festival was the first event held inside the newly remodeled facility.
The Cedartown Performing Arts Center received a $75,000 grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts. The grant will fund a complete renovation of the stage system at the Cedartown Performing Arts Center.
The renovation will revamp the entire fly system of the performing arts center, ensuring many more years of safe operation. The structural stability of the system will be protected while adding additional safety features.
The completion of the stage renovation will give the Cedartown Performing Arts Center an increased capacity for backdrops, stage pieces, and equipment on
the stage system. This will allow the event venue to fulfill the needs of various touring professional acts that require the hanging space as well as add to the overall experience of school district and community theater performances.
With a seating capacity of 940, the Cedartown Performing Arts Center is the only performing arts center in Polk County capable of holding more than 500 people. The renovations also include training on operating new equipment and will maintain the appearance of the stage and existing structure.
The Cedartown Performing Arts Center was built in 1976. During its operation, the venue has brought
and continues to bring all forms of entertainment to the region.
From art galas, concerts, dramatic theatre and children’s summer camps to community presentations, events, and hosting school district productions, the Cedartown Performing Arts Center has been the cornerstone of entertainment and tourism in Polk County and surrounding areas for decades.
The Cultural Facilities grant supports the restoration or renovation of a building to be used for arts programming. As part of this year’s Cultural Facilities awards, 31 entities in 18 counties will receive $1.3 million in funding.
The Atlanta United Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has awarded a $75,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Georgia and the City of Cedartown. The grant was made possible by the GA 100 Initiative, a campaign aiming to create 100 mini-pitches across the state leading up to the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta.
The grant will be used to install a mini-pitch soccer field at the Boys and Girls Club of Cedartown. A mini-pitch field is ideal for urban areas. These small, customized, hard-court surfaces are perfectly suited for organized soccer programs and pick-up games. Mini-Pitches are surrounded by a rebound board system with integrated goals. They carry a much smaller footprint (60 x 104 feet) than regular pitch fields and creates more opportunity for ball contact and faster plays.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs has partnered with the City of Cedartown for approximately 20 years to serve hundreds of kids annually at our Cedartown Club,” said J.R. Davis, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia CEO. “With the help of the LISC grant and some matching funds from the City of Cedartown, we will now be able to construct a new mini-pitch soccer field for this community to have expanded access to physical fitness, and we’re grateful for the support to help our youth”
Once completed, the field will provide the Boys and Girls Club and the City of Cedartown with the ability to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local mini-pitch fields in the community. In addition, the field will create opportunities for education and recreation for youth served by the Boys and Girls Club, the surrounding neighborhood and the local school system.
The field should be installed by late spring 2023.
Kickflips and ollies will soon have a dedicated location to be performed in Cedartown after the city announced the addition of a skateboard park at Goodyear Park near the former Goodyear Plant site.
The project is being mostly funded through a Hometown Grant from mobile carrier T-Mobile in the amount of $49,174. Company representatives were on hand last Thursday afternoon to present the city with the grant and celebrate the announcement.
Jason Harris, owner of Harris Skate Shop on West Avenue in Cedartown, has talked to city officials recently about trying to build a skate park.
“This has been something that’s been a long time coming,” city commissioner Matt Foster said during the presentation. “This would not be possible at this point in time, had it not been for this wonderful
investment from our friends at T-Mobile,” Foster said. Harris worked with the city on the grant application, selecting specific hardware to be installed that includes two halfpipes at varying heights, skate benches, quarterpipes and wedges. It will be built on a 50-square-foot concrete pad to the east of the soccer fields.
“This is something I did as a child and it kept me out of a lot of trouble. I could have gone in a lot of different directions. This has allowed me to do something that I want to do and do something for my community,” Harris said before ending with his motto: “Don’t hate, go skate.”
Cedartown Director of Economic Development Oscar Guzman said the grant will fund the majority of the project and the total time of construction should take no more than two months from the start of grading and concrete installation.
The City of Cedartown was awarded $7,000 from the Georgia Tree Council and the Georgia Forestry Commission’s ReLeaf Program. The ReLeaf Program is a grant opportunity designed to help communities replant trees that have been damaged or destroyed through storms .
In 2021, straight line winds took out numerous large trees in the Northview Cemetery. The City applied for the ReLeaf grant and was selected as a recipient.
Since receiving the grant money, 31 trees have been replanted inside the cemetery. Tress that were planted include magnolias, crepe myrtles, evergreens and black gum.
This year, the Cedartown Performing Arts Center hosted five headliner shows which included JOE NICHOLS, MARK CHESNUTT, LORRIE MORGAN, NEAL MCCOY and JOHN BERRY. Those who attended shared positive reviews on social media.
In addition, CPAC hosted two local art galas, the annual summer arts theater camp for kids as well as numerous community shows and events.
The performing arts center continues to house municipal and superior court proceedings.
New Downtown Businesses in 2022
In September, the Downtown Cedartown Association Board presented Yuri Sosa and Nereida Barrientos of NY Properties a Façade Grant check in the amount of $2,000. Sosa and Barrientos are the owners of 415 and 417 Main Street -- the home of Sugarless Sweets and Eats. Both buildings were washed, caulked, and painted. Damaged wood was replaced and new doors and windows were installed. The DCA Façade Grant Program was created in 2010. To date, a total of $66,920 in Façade Grant Funds have been awarded to DCA Members located in the Historic Commercial District. In the photo are, front row, left to right: Alexander Segura-DCA Board Member, Kiela Beam-DCA Board Member, Yuri Sosa and Nereida Barrientos-owners of 415 and 417 Main Street and NY Properties, and Ramona Ruark- Main Street Manager. Second row, left to right: Oscar GuzmanDirector of Economic Development &Tourism and DCA Board Member, Dale TuckCity Commissioner and DCA Board Member, Juan Sosa, Armando Barrientos and Hal Floyd-DCA Board Member.
This year’s Holloway Hunny Pot Festival (above) was the largest since the event’s beginning in 2019. More than 500 people shopped and socialized at the festival that honors Cedartown native Sterling Holloway. The annual Downtown Cedartown Fall Festival (right) was a hit again in 2022. With over 70 vendors, this festival was one of the largest in recent history.
Polk County was selected as one of the first communities to take part in the CREATE cohort. The CREATE Program is a multi-year cohort program developed in partnership between Georgia Power Company, Main Street America, and the University of Georgia Office of Public Service and Outreach. CREATE is an acronym that means Cultivating Rural Entrepreneurs And Transforming Economies. The CREATE program provides technical assistance, seed capital, and guidance to help support and attract entrepreneurs and small businesses to participating communities. Investing in entrepreneurship is critical for job retention and creation in rural towns. As part of the tour along Main Street in Cedartown, CREATE participants visited Cedar Valley Chops, Sugarless Sweets & Eats and several other places of business, including Antiques on Main, owned by Richard Long. The cohort will be tasked with developing and implementing a targeted growth strategy for their local and regional economies. Later this year, communities will receive $5,000 in seed capital to kick-start their implementation efforts.
The Cedartown Fire Department added several new tools to their fleet in 2022. One of the tools (highlighted below in the photo) is a battery powered extrication tool.
This piece of equipment is used for cutting through metal and other materials in the event of a vehicle accident or fire.
The Cedartown Fire Safety Clowns, Fire Pup, and firefighters were allowed back in local elementary schools in 2022. Due to COVID, they were not able to visit in-person during 2020-2022. Members of the fire department visits schools in order to educate children on fire safety. A broad range of critical topics are covered during these visits including how to report a fire: 9-1-1, home fire safety, escaping a smoke-filled home; smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguisher awareness and burn prevention. Above: The fire clowns teach important fire safety to Cedartown children and Fire Pup is always popular. Below: Battalion Chief Barry Rogers gets down on the children’s level inside the department’s Surrey Fire Safety House. This group learned what do to and who to call in the case of a house fire.
equipment garments,
The Cedartown Fire Department received a custom Ford F450 squad truck in 2022. The truck was purchased by Polk County. Squad 10 is mainly used for medical calls, car wrecks but can be used for fire calls Squad 10 responds to all major medical calls in Cedartown and in Polk County. The unit is equipped with medical supplies, basic life support capabilities, AED, trauma dressings, splints and back boards. Rescue-wise, the truck houses hydraulic tools like the Jaws of Life, stabilization tools and airbags designed to lift vehicles or debris off of victims.
By Adelayda Vail, City of Cedartown student intern
They say our hard work always leaves an impact on those who follow us. And, as Austin Temple will tell you, his grandfather made an undeniable and incredible influence on his life.
His grandfather worked as one of the founding fathers of Polk County’s Volunteer Fire Department in 1970. Austin’s desire to assist people as well as his grandfather’s prior services, have been the primary reasons for his interest in his job as a firefighter. “My grandfather saved me,” Austin said. “He pulled up beside me one day in his truck and said you can end up struggling or you can decide to make a better life. I got in his truck and haven’t looked back.”
Austin Temple has continued in his grandfather’s footsteps and has provided his services for the City of Cedartown’s Fire Department for what will soon be four years. However, he has been affiliated with the fire department of Polk County for 13 years. In fact, Austin was selected as firefighter of the year for all of Polk County in 2022.
His role in the fire department consists of answering fire and EMS calls as a firefighter. Aside from his key priorities of helping with fires, he, along with his teammates, deal with many distinct challenges.
For a firefighter, “it’s a flip coin, some days it’s good, some days it’s bad.” Austin says. “I see things that human eyes probably shouldn’t see.” Regardless, he shows up for his shift and must be ready for what the day will bring. “it’s not that I have to erase it,” Austin explained. “But I have to be ready for that next call.”
Another part of Austin’s job which he enjoyed and got to help with this past year, was being a fire safety clown for elementary schools. Fire safety clowns put a lot of effort into dressing up and cracking jokes to our littlest residents. Not only do they get students to laugh, but they do so in a way that the children learn important information about fire prevention and fire safety.
When he’s not working, Austin spends all the time he can with his family. Whether it is riding motorcycles or listening to his youngest daughter say she will one day continue in his footsteps as a firefighter, he enjoys every minute he can.
Austin gets through every shift knowing he is performing the best he can and is motivated by his desire of leaving the service better than he found it. Employees like Austin, who show great commitment and enthusiasm to work, are all that our city needs to make a difference.
VERBAL WARNINGS: 107
WRITTEN WARNINGS: 216
ABATEMENT LETTERS: 167
CITATIONS: 39
BUSINESS LICENSE ISSUES: 70
NOTIFIED PUBLIC WORKS OF DUMPSITES: 16
CONFERENCES/MEETINGS WITH SUBJECTS: 11
REFERRED TO POLK CO. CODE ENFORCEMENT: 7
REFERRED TO MAGISTRATE OFFICE: 3
REFERRED TO CPD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: 2
REFERRED TO CPD PATROL: 2
REFERRED TO CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR: 2
DOGS REPORTED TO PC ANIMAL CONTROL: 9
GRAND TOTAL: 661
The Cedartown Police Department installed two speed radar signs in 2022.
One radar sign is solar powered and is more suitable for permanent placement, while the other radar sign is battery powered and can be moved from location to location.
School Zone speed cameras (Red Speed) were
also put into operation this year. Cameras began issuing warnings in August to coincide with the start of school.
After the 30-day warning period, the system began issuing citations. Cameras are located on East Avenue (Cedartown High School) and on the Cedartown Bypass at the middle school.
Craig Payton was promoted from captain of special operations to deputy chief in 2022. Payton has served the police department for 22 years. “I have full confidence that he will leave his mark on the command staff and the Cedartown Police Department will thrive with his addition as deputy chief,” said Chief Jamie Newsome.
Coppock
Brad Coppock took on a new role with the Cedartown Police Department in 2022. A former shift sergeant, Coppock now serves as captain of the uniform patrol division.
Chris Reed was named as captain of special operations after spending many years as a
detective. Corporal Kevin Young was moved into a detective sergeant position.
K9 Officer Christopher Barnes and partner, Nero. Nero was added to the force in 2022 and joins his fellow officers, Remi and Bono. Nero specializes in drug detection and criminal apprehension.
Deputy Chief Payton
Reed Young
Chief Jamie Newsome completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Command Course in Washington, D.C. in July 2022. Newsome was one of two Georgia chiefs selected for the course that took place July 10-16. In order to be chosen for the command course, participating chiefs must first receive a nomination from an FBI agent. Newsome took part in training led by top advisors, including a session on strategic leadership taught by Gen. John Kelly, retired Marine Corp four-star general and former White House chief of staff and Homeland Security secretary. Additional courses included information on officer wellness, police equipment, emotional intelligence, hostage rescue, and social media management, image management.
Newsome with Tim Dunham, assistant director of the FBI.
In January of 2022, the Cedartown Recreation Department rolled out initial ideas for the Dream League. The Dream League is a baseball league for special needs children kindergarten through 12th grade.
They held the first Dream League game in April 2022. Forty children from Cedartown and Rockmart participated in the league. The kids played baseball every Thursday in March and April.
The Dream League started their Fall season in September. Forty children registered, some returning from the Spring season and some were new players. They played every Thursday for six weeks. The season ended with a pizza party in the Nathan Dean gym where we had over 100 people celebrate Dream League players.
The Coca Cola Company has agreed to give back $2 per case ordered by the Cedartown Recreation Department for the next three years. All proceeds will go back into the department’s Dream League Fund.
“This program was created to give our community’s special needs children an opportunity to just be a kid. They get out there and play and they play on their level, no pressure. Everyone’s cheering.
The Dream League allows special needs parents to sit back and experience that magical feeling of seeing their child be part of a team and have a great time.”
Jeff Hulsey, Recreation Director organizer of the Cedartown Dream LeagueYouth soccer was held in the Spring and Fall seasons. In the Spring of 2022, 203 youth athletes participated in our soccer program. In the Fall season, 202 youth athletes participated in our soccer program.
Goodyear Park has made great progress towards becoming a completed soccer complex for the growing sport.
The goal is to have the complex completed for play by Spring of 2023.
Cedartown’s baseball program switched over from the Cedartown Youth Baseball board and was turned over to the Cedartown Recreation Department in 2022. The is the Recreation Department’s first time running baseball in many years.
The department decided to switch from “Dizzy Dean” to “Little League.” Around 230 youth baseball players participated in the regular Spring season. At the end of the regular season, an 8 and under team and a 10 and under team represented the department in the Little League and GRPA Allstar tournaments.
Recreation Department maintenance workers along with their lead man, Robert Torline, worked tirelessly in 2022 on manicuring all athletic fields. Sod was cut from part of what used to be the outfield of softball Field 6 and put on the base lines of all of the baseball fields.
The Coca Cola Company replaced scoreboard faces with their brand. Each field having a different Coca Cola drink theme. Dugouts are being painted with the matching theme.
FALL
2022 PARTICIPATION NUMBERS SOCCER- 202
City of Cedartown
Wastewater Plant Manager Tracy Marlow passed the Class I Wastewater Operator Exam in 2022.
Class I is the highest level of training and certification given in the field of wastewater management.
The exam is consists of 110 questions and must be completed in three hours’ time. Complicated mathematical procedures are included in the exam as well in-depth questions regarding correct wastewater treatment procedures.
Marlow was also certified in 2022 to conduct monthly water quality testing for the City of Cedartown, City of Cave Spring, City of Rockmart and the Polk County
In 2022, the Cedartown Wastewater Plant began a new campaign to bring awareness to an ongoing problem: the disposal of fat, oil or grease into the City’s sewer system.
The campaign, referred to as FOG, hopes to drastically reduce or eliminate all together the disposal of fats, oils and grease into the sewer system. These by-
products of cooking cause major issues with our sewer lines, lift stations and treatment plant.
Wastewater Plant Manager Tracy Marlow and Code Enforcement
J.P. Foster have started the process of visiting and educating local restaurants/food service businesses regarding the proper way to dispose of leftover fat, oils and grease.
Cedartown Wastewater employee Zack Porter passed the wastewater lab certification in 2022. As part of his duties, Porter conducts all lab work for the plant and provided the data needed to operate the plant on a daily basis.
Tracy Marlow
The digester blower was completed in 2022. This machine forces air into wastewater to hasten the solidification process.
Porter
The Cedartown Water Plant received the Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC commended the water plant and staff for providing high-quality water fluoridation for 12 consecutive months in 2021.
According to the CDC, the award recognized a high level of operator care and accomplishment.
The CDC’s support for water fluoridation is based on more than 75 years of experience and research to show that water fluoridation is safe and effective for promoting good oral health.
2022 saw the addition of several security features to the Cedartown Water Plant.
New keyless security door handles were added to the lab control room, chemical room and entry doors to the filter room.
A new door lock was added to the door leading to the spring and a new camera system was installed around the water plant.
-Put all lift stations on annual preventative maintenance
-Passed annual EPD inspection
-Received new belt press sludge pump
-Received two new motors for the Pine Street lift stations
-Pump repaired at Haney Lift station and two new motors installed
-New chains placed on drum screen and two new drives installed
-New flow meters installed
-New mower purchased
-Replaced variable frequency drive on No.2 high service pump
-Installed line reactor for high service pump No. 2
-Replaced fluoride pump, installed new lines from tank to effluent end of filters
-Work began on the new valve and actuator installation for water filters
On Saturday, July 2, a life size bronze statue of Cedartown coaching legend Escue Rodgers was presented to the public. His likeness is the latest to join the Polk County Sports Walk of Fame.
Rodgers had a tradition of winning. He nurtured success after success, cultivating an athletic program that yielded champions. Not just shiny gold and silver trophies, not just a lengthy line of wins in the column, but a legacy of determination and excellence.
For the most part, Rodgers and his athletes excelled without help. They did it without much recognition. They did it with very little equipment. Rodgers was head coach and athletic director at Cedar Hill High School from 1945 until the late 60s. “He was a beacon of light for us,” recalled Cedar Hill alumni Terry Nelson.
Nelson, class of 1959, played football from 8th grade through 12th grade under Rodgers’ leadership. “He was a beacon not only for athletics but also academics. Coach carried us places, gave us experiences we would have never had otherwise. He’d carry a carload to Atlanta to watch a game and showed us how to scout.” Nelson also said that he kept close tabs on his players, checking on them nightly to make sure they were home. “I remember going to the West Cinema. We’d leave from the theatre late at night and we’d see his car circling the parking lot,” he laughed. “We’d take off headed for home for sure. He was one of a kind.”
Football, basketball, track — the Cedar Hill High School Panthers came from a small school but had a big reputation for winning. In fact, Rodgers’ teams were so good, local schools often refused to play them. So instead, the Cedar Hill athletes were squared off against much larger schools in Atlanta. Even with a more formidable challenger, it wasn’t unusual for the Panthers to still bring home a win.
Nelson was part of the 1957 championship team, a win he will never forget. He said that Coach Rodgers was a skilled master of designing football plays, even though Rodgers himself had never played on a football team. “He used Coca-Cola bottles,” Nelson explained. “He’d take a case of 24 Cokes and position those bottles to show us plays and tell us positions.”
The man who loved to wear his ball cap was not only a coach, he was an encourager. He valued education just as much as a championship title — and there were many of those. The Cedar Hill Panthers were perennial winners under Rodgers’ leadership. They won 85 trophies in 24 years. The Panthers once held the record for most points scored in one season. During his tenure, Rodger ’s football teams won 45 football games, lost 18, and tied for four.
Cedar Hill won the State Championship B title in 1951 and finished second in 1952. They won the North Georgia title for four years (1951, 1953, 1955 and 1957). Making the playoffs became a regular occurrence under Rodgers’ leadership, and in 1954, the Cedar Hill Panthers won the Class B State Championship in football in a victory over Wayne County Training School of Jessup. Rodgers was selected as head coach for the North Team of the first Georgia Interscholastic Association All-Star Gem in Macon in 1950. He guided the Northern All-Stars to a 13-7 victory over the Southern All-Stars. He was also a coach for the East-West GIA All-Star Football game in 1962.
After integration in the late 1960s and the phase out of Cedar Hill High School in 1969, Rodgers attained a position at Cedartown High School as assistant coach under athletic director Jimmy Carter. Off the field, Rodgers was well-loved in the classroom. He taught math and was just as much the encourager to his kids in front of the chalkboard as he was to his kids in uniform. “He always told us grades first, then football and sports,” said Nelson, who played basketball and ran track as well.
And it was his students, The Cedar Hill High School Alumni Association, that put forth the herculean effort in having Rodgers recognized in his community for his accomplishments. They wanted his story told and recognized. They wanted his accomplishments celebrated by future generations. An application was submitted by the alumni association to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame; it was their wish to have Rodgers inducted. It took several attempts and five years, but on May 22, 2021, their wish came true: Escue Rodgers was officially inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. But they didn’t stop there.
Another success was earned by the group in July 2021, as $30,000 was raised and applied towards the creation of a bronze life-size statue of Coach Rodgers to be placed in the Polk County Sports
Walk of Fame. And in the winning tradition and determination of the Cedar Hill Panthers, the statue of their role model — a community coaching legend — was unveiled on July 2, 2022, at 11 a.m.
Rodgers will take his rightful place along with the six other bronze statues that are displayed along the Polk County Walk of Fame. These statues were unveiled in 2016 and include local athletic greats and Georgia Sports Hall of Famers Ray Beck, Edgar Chandler, Doug Sanders, Whitlow Wyatt, Doc Ayers and Jimmy Hightower.
Cedartown native and sculptor Julia Knight created the first set of statues and was honored to sculpt Rodgers as well. “This has been such a long-time coming,” Knight said. “We are really talking about an untold story here, the story of Escue Rodgers. When I began researching information and gathering photos before starting the sculpture, I realized that information, those photographs hardly exist. The only photos that seemingly exist are tiny and came from the school yearbook.” Because photos were scarce, Knight worked closely with the Cedar Hill Alumni Association to recreate his likeness.
Cedar Hill alumni Carolyn Gibbs (’65) worked closely with Knight in order to get the statue just right. “People just didn’t take as many photos back then. We gathered up what we could,” explained Gibbs. Gibbs reflected on her memories to paint a complete picture of Coach Rodgers to aid in the sculpture process. She created a profile for Knight to work with, which included his general stature and personality. Rodgers loved his ball cap, Gibbs recalled with a chuckle. “He just wasn’t Mr. Rodgers without that ball cap, and when he couldn’t wear it, it was folded up and stuck down in the pocket of his trademark tan jacket.”
Former students of Rodgers will be happy to see that his cherished ball cap and jacket are featured on the statue. “The statue is absolutely wonderful.”
Municipal Court Judge Ben Burch was sworn-in August 2022. He has been a partner in Mundy & Burch Law Firm since 2012. In addition, he is a part-time juvenile court judge in Polk & Haralson Counties. He is a board member on the Cedartown Polk Humane Society. Judge Burch fills the position left vacant by Judge Andrew Roper who was recently sworn in as Polk Superior Court Judge. sworn in as Polk Superior Court Judge.
The Cedartown Home Depot employees worked to restore our “Welcome to Cedartown” signs. These beauties needed a lot of TLC and the folks at Home Depot knew exactly what to do. A little repair work, patching here and there, and a fresh coat of paint took this artwork from drab to fab. Before the signs were hung back up, we took a quick photo to mark to occasion. Cedartown Home Depot Store Manager Tim Ramirez is pictured at far left with Renee Weeks and Hannah Coalson, two of the Home Depot employees that worked on the sign (there were more, but they were not present for the photo). Also in the picture is Cedartown Public Works Street Superintendent Luke Turley; Cedartown City Manager Edward Guzman; Aaron Pettit, Cedartown maintenance department and Cedartown Public Works Director Matthew Wray.
Kristen Brannon and her family officially broke ground on the soon-to-be built Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Oct. 24. The restaurant will be located on US 27, just in front of Tractor Supply Co. Plans are for a spring 2023 opening. City of Cedartown officials, city commissioners, and representatives of Polk County, Polk Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of Polk County also participated in the groundbreaking. Above, the Brannons and local officials “break ground.” At left, Commission Chair (2022) Andrew Carter began the ceremony.
Above: The Cedartown 5K Wheelchair Race was back on the list of annual events in 2022. Hometown favorite Krige Schabort speeds down College Street during warm-ups. At left and below: Seasonal banners were created and purchased by the Economic Development and Tourism Department in 2022. These banners hang along historic downtown Main Street and are changed out according to the season.
