JONESBORO COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol. 26, Issue 2 February 2022
“One Great Community, Many Stories”
Joy B. Day, Mayor jday@jonesboroga.com Council: Tracey Messick, Mayor Protem Bobby Lester Billy Powell Donya Sartor Pat Sebo-Hand Ed Wise Ricky L. Clark, Jr., City Mgr. Tommy Henderson, III Chief of Police David Allen, Comm. Development Brandon Hermsmeier, Public Works Nina Robinson, Finance Derry Walker, Code Enforcement City Hall (770) 478-3800 Jonesboro PD (770) 478-7407 Non-Emergency (770) 477-3550 TIPLINE: (470) 543-2011
Brandon Hermsmeier
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR…
Dear Citizens, These years just keep rolling along, so hold on for the ride! 2022 marks my 23rd year as your Mayor. Thank you for affording me the opportunity and privilege of serving our community. We have many exciting events on the horizon in Jonesboro in 2022. The opening our of City Center near Lee Street Park is anticipated in Summer 2022. That building will house our City Hall, Police Department, Courtroom, and a beautiful Community Room and Atrium for meetings and events. Our 55+ community, Hearthside Jonesboro, will be under construction during the year; it will emerge near North Avenue and North Main Street. I am hopeful that we can resume our City Events, including concerts at Lee Street Park. Let’s pray that Covid passes very soon. We can all play a part in that by getting vaccinated. I totally understand that vaccination is a personal decision, but without “herd immunity” through vaccination the virus will not end. I will share with you that I have received both Covid shots, the Booster, and a flu shot. As we move into 2022, let’s make a renewed dedication to our City. Let’s work to improve our properties in order to keep the values up, participate in City Events and meetings, and be proud to live in the City of Jonesboro. My major goals for our City in 2022 are to deliver excellent and prompt services to you, our citizens, and to keep crime at a low rate. You can assist by being alert in your neighborhood. Report anything that looks suspicious...Call 911. Your concerns are important to us, and many times they can solve or prevent a crime. Always file a police report when you have a theft, vandalism, etc. Reporting will keep criminals out of your neighborhood by alerting our police. Remember, if you are going out of town, you may call the Police Department and place your property on Special Patrol during your absence. I trust that you will call upon me if you have a need in the coming year. Hope to see you at a Concert, Block Party, a City Council Meeting, or maybe just on the sidewalk! Keep in touch... Joy B. Day, Mayor
jday@jonesboroga.com
Named
Public Works Director
Brandon Hermsmeier has been promoted to Jonesboro Public Works Director. Brandon has worked for the City for seven years, previously serving as both Fleet Manager and Acting Public Works Director. He is a native of Griffin, Georgia, and an Honor Graduate of Griffin High School. Brandon brings a wealth of maintenance, management and mechanical knowledge to the position. He is married to Candace Hermsmeier and they have two children, Harper & Garrett. Congratulations!
Donates Shields to JPD
Mr. Ed Tallman, owner of Tallman Pools in Jonesboro has donated two United Shield E.R.T. Ballistic Shields to the Jonesboro Police Department. The shields will ensure the safety of our officers in the event of tactical situations. The department does not currently own any ballistic shields. The shield is multifunctional, allowing operators to deploy their weapons without exposing their arms. The shields are valued at $7,549.66. Thank you, Mr. Ed Tallman, and Tallman Pools, for your generosity and working to protect our police officers!
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH….GET IN THE KNOW! Why does Black History Month occur in February? The relevance of February dates to 1926, when ASALH’s (The Association for the Study of African American Life & History) founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson first established “Negro History Week” during the second week of February. Why that week? Because it encompasses the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass—both men being great American symbols of freedom. However, Woodson never confined Negro History to a week. His life’s work was to represent a living testimony to the year-round and year-after-year study of Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American history. Let us appreciate American Hero Black History Month in an earnest way—as when our government sets aside a month or day, thereby giving it a special meaning for all Americans. No one should think that Black History is confined to the month of February. Black History Month is not a token. It is a special tribute—a time of acknowledgement, of reflection, and inspiration—that comes to life in real and ongoing activities throughout the asalh.org/festival year. The theme for Black History Month 2022 is:
www.asalh.org/festival
“The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity .”