Troup Trends | May 2022 Issue

May 2022

e r e H e r e W u o Y h Wis

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No matter how major or minor your medical concerns may be, Wellstar is committed to helping you live a full, healthy life.

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(706) 882-1411

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wellstar.org/westga

May 2022 VOLUME IX, ISSUE II A publication of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce 111 Bull St./P.O. Box 636 LaGrange, GA 30241 (706) 884-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair: Jamey Jackson TalentKinect Past Chair: Dale Jackson, Jackson Services Chair Elect: Brandon Eley, EleyDigital Secretary/Treasurer: John Westmoreland, CPA Boatwright

CONTENTS 4 | A Letter from the Chairman

18 | Spotlight on the Arts Tiny Doors

6 | Cover Story

19 | Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

Visit LaGrange

DEI Corner

11 | Cover Story

20 | Business Spotlight

Visitor Center

Renasant Bank

12 | Community

21 | Healthcare

Bellevue CHAMBER STAFF President: Connie Hensler Director of Member Engagement: Leslie Traylor Communications & Events Manager: Christan Spires Accountant: Melanie Key, CPA

Wellstar's Healthy Initiatives

14 | Spotlight on Non-Profit The Exceptional Way

24 | Movers, Shakers, Risk-Takers

15 | Education

28 | Spotlight on LaGrange

From the Classroom to the Workplace

29 | Business Spotlight

The Refresh Me Center

16 | Spotlight on Leadership The Basics Troup County

30 | Chamber Events

17 | Spotlight on Troup County

34 | Spotlight on Hogansville

Blazing Trails

35 | Small Business 38 | History

TO CONTRIBUTE Troup Trends welcomes your ideas. Please send inquiries to info@lagrangechamber.com for consideration.

Staying on the Square

41 | Spotlight on West Point

re Wish You W ere He May 2022

DESIGN

Jayme Ogles

42 | HYPE

This publication is produced by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written permission is prohibited.

All claims, materials and photos furnished or used are, to the publisher's knowledge, true and correct. Publication of any article or advertisement is not an endorsement by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

ON THE COVER Visit LaGrange President and CEO, Kathy Tilley and Visitor Center Manager Lynne Holle

Troup Trends is published quarterly by the LaGrangeTroup County Chamber of Commerce. Please send news items, suggestions, advertising requests and comments to:

P.O. Box 636 • LaGrange, GA 30241 lagrangechamber.com www.lagrangechamber.com

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www.lagrangechamber.com

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FROM

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CHAIRMAN

Contributors

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s the calendar turns to May, I want to take the time to reach out to our membership, both new and longstanding, to sincerely thank you for making the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce a continued success.

If you have been to any of our programs in the last quarter, you have seen the energy and camaraderie present at the Chamber’s many events. We continue to add new members at a rapid rate, and I feel that is due to two things: our hardworking internal staff and the incredible partnerships that exist within the fabric of our existing members.

ensure our community and Chamber members continue to enjoy a robust economy and opportunities to live an unrivaled quality of life.

Our 2022 Board of Directors is off to a running start with a shared commitment to executing our goals for the year. I continue to be inspired by the level of thought leadership within our community and it’s an honor to work alongside my fellow board members, our volunteers, ambassadors and most importantly – all of you – our Chamber partners. Our board is focused on continuing to bring increased value to our members and supporting our local businesses and organizations.

I encourage you to attend a Chamber sponsored In this issue of Troup Trends, we are focusing event in the 2nd quarter such as Early Bird on tourism and hospitality. Although there are Breakfast, the Summer Leadership Series, Safety plenty of our fellow citizens that have a solid Council or Business Council. These events are grasp of the economic impact of tourism, there great ways to network with fellow Chamber are equally as many who don’t know how much members and find value for your business. We of an economic and quality of life contributor look forward to seeing you soon! overnight visitors are to our hospitality ecosystem. Dog parks, restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, gas stations, and electric vehicle charging stations are all things that visitors expect but Troup County residents get to enjoy. Street lights, sidewalks, newly paved roads, school infrastructure improvements, JAMEY JACKSON etc. are all things that are directly affected by Chairman, the impact of tourism and the sales tax money Executive collected primarily from visitors. These are all Committee amenities that can tip the scales to continue to LaGrange-Troup make our community a vibrant economy.

Since 1911, The LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce has been about connecting businesses to residents, to customers and to local issues. We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize that in an everchanging local ecosystem our partnerships with our hospitality and tourism industries and bureaus are significant. These partnerships will

County Chamber of Commerce

CHALTON ASKEW Trustbuilding, Inc. SHERRI BROWN Circles of Troup County TODD CARLISLE UGA Small Business Development Center IRISHA GOODMAN Troup County Board of Education LAURA JENNINGS LaGrange Art Museum CAROLINE JOHNSON Troup County Government MARK KOSTIAL City of LaGrange ANDREA LOVEJOY Community Member KIM MYERS Get Troup Reading LEWIS O. POWELL, IV Research Archivist, Troup County Historical Society CHRISTAN SPIRES COC Communications & Events Manager SHELLEY STRICKLAND Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center

Special Thanks to Our 1911 Society Presenting Sponsors!

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Visit LaGrange

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isit LaGrange President and CEO, Kathy Tilley, is a longtime LaGrange local with a visitor’s mindset.

“It’s my job to think like a tourist,” she said.

As the person chiefly responsible for promoting local tourism, Tilley asks herself a basic question every day: If I am a tourist, why would I choose LaGrange over somewhere else?

There’s an impressive list of reasons, Tilley said, beginning with West Point Lake and including major attractors like Great Wolf

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Lodge, Hills and Dales Estate, Biblical History Center, Sweetland Amphitheater and more. Breweries, wineries, musical venues, museums and galleries add to the mix, as does LaGrange’s authentic small town charm. Proximity to major population centers, like Birmingham, Atlanta, Columbus and Macon, is another plus.

Visit LaGrange defines a tourist as a visitor who comes to LaGrange from outside a 50-mile radius, not usually for work.

People who fit this description, Tilley said, often know little or nothing about what LaGrange has to offer.

“A person living inside the Atlanta perimeter may not know LaGrange from Tifton,” she said, laughing. “It’s my job to market LaGrange to people 50 miles outside the city. We don’t put on events or build buildings. We woo people to them.”

As the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for LaGrange, they are off to a fast start.

“Visit LaGrange is a very young organization,”notes board chairman Carleton Wood, executive director of Hills and Dales Estate. Much of its first two years was impacted by the pandemic.

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“We were incorporated in 2019 and since that time have made great strides in promoting LaGrange,” Wood said.

“Despite the pandemic, we have completed a number of important projects.”

For starters, there’s a marketing-focused strategic plan that is already bringing results and a mission statement that, Wood says, “captures the essence of our job.”

The mission of Visit LaGrange is “to champion unique opportunities for travelers to fall in love with LaGrange through unforgettable experiences and homegrown hospitality.”

Toward that end, Visit LaGrange engaged Atomic Brand Energy, a local firm specializing in brand development, digital media, marketing and advertising, to create a significantly upgraded website (visit lagrange.com) brimming with information, inviting photography, suggestions for getaways and abundant links to local businesses and attractions.

“It’s a phenomenal website,” Tilley said. “It’s staggering how good it is, manageable, user friendly with loads of information without being overwhelming.”

One strategy of the website is to suggest “curated getaways,” designed to show how visitors could spend one, two or three days visiting LaGrange. Site visitors can check out Family Adventures, Soul Inspiring Adventures, History Buffs Guide, Budget Friendly Visits, Girls Weekend Getaway and many more.

“Our target market is families of adults ages 35-54 with children at home,” Tilley said. “Parents in that age group don’t always have time or energy to plan a trip, so anything we can do to make it easier for them makes it more likely they will choose LaGrange,” Tilley said.

The getaway itineraries aren’t intended to be rigidly followed, but to “plant the seed that there’s more to do in LaGrange,” said Andy Fritchley, owner of Atomic Brand Energy.

His firm also produced a 20-page visitor guide that is free, downloadable from the website and available in print at the Visitor Center or by mail on request. The visitor guide is also available at local hotels, attractions and at welcome centers across the Southeast.

Wood, who has been at Hills and Dales Estate for almost 20 years, believes it’s the best visitor guide LaGrange has ever had.

In fact, he says, locals could learn a lot about their hometown – and even plan a “staycation”- by checking it out.

rose a staggering 30,000 percent. Other media, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, have also grown significantly.

“The guide is filled with great photos and information to let visitors know about all the things they can see and do in LaGrange,” Wood said.

“People in LaGrange and Troup County would be shocked at how much work goes on behind the scenes to promote LaGrange. What people see on their social media feeds is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Fritchley, a certified brand specialist.

In addition to the website and visitor guide, Atomic Brand Energy was tasked with expanding Visit LaGrange’s presence on social media and in digital and print advertising. Wood describes the results as “nothing short of amazing.” From 2018 to 2021, traffic to the Visit LaGrange website

Ads in carefully-chosen digital spaces, for example, target a variety of “micromarkets,” like faith-based travel, and even individuals, based on their online

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S T O R Y important, too, and will always outnumber overnight visits, but visitors who stay overnight visit more attractions and businesses. Not to mention contribute to the hotel/motel tax.

In a recent report to LaGrange City Council, Tilley showed hotel/motel occupancy numbers up significantly over 2019. The LaGrange occupancy rate from January to December 2019 (prepandemic) was 57.94 percent. For the same time period in 2021, the rate was 64.93 percent.

Early numbers for 2022 are trending even higher. In February 2022, the occupancy rate was 67.9 percent, up from 51.6 percent in February 2019.

“Our goal is to reach 70 percent this year and 72 percent the next year,” Tilley said.

Measuring success is hard since there are so many variables, and Visit LaGrange doesn’t claim credit for all the “heads in beds.” Still, Tilley believes the hotel/motel numbers speak for themselves.

“I base our success on hotel occupancy. It means we are doing some things right,” she said.

The hotel/motel tax numbers also bear her out. In calendar year 2019, LaGrange’s total hotel/motel tax revenue was $2,658,479. In 2021, the total was $4,066,097.

All hotel/motel tax revenue must go toward promoting tourism and the state requires most of the revenue to go to a 501(c)(6) organization, like Visit LaGrange, rather than to a local government. Visit LaGrange is not a department of the city, but rather is a nonprofit contracted by the City of LaGrange as its Destination Marketing Organization. It’s considered quasi-governmental because funding comes from the hotel-motel tax revenue.

search behavior. Someone researching history-related travel, for example, will see ads promoting local historic sites. Links help them explore lodging, shopping, food options and more.

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shopping, restaurants, breweries and more along with major attractions like Great Wolf Lodge, Biblical History Center, West Point Lake and others.

“We are always working on awareness,” Fritchley said. “We promote a wide variety of attractions to a wide variety of audiences.”

“We are always looking for the mix that will attract visitors and rotating our content according to what is timely or seasonal, so that everybody gets attention,” Fritchley said.

Another marketing strategy is to create “bundles” of activities, promoting

The overall goal, Tilley explains, is to get “heads in beds.” Day trips are vitally

May 2022

Visit LaGrange has its own seven member board, appointed by the city. In addition to Wood, members include co-chairman Greg Hall, recently retired from Troup Parks and Recreation; Chris Lutz, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge; Tabitha Coverson of Communities in Schools; Chase Hudson, with experience in restaurants and breweries; Nikki Franklin, a merchant who operates Emberglow in Downtown LaGrange and Katie Van Schoor, Marketing and Public Relations Director for the City of LaGrange.

“Our board members represent all aspects of our town, and it is that diversity that

C O V E R brings us strength,” said Wood, who credits Visit LaGrange’s first chairman, Bobby Carmichael, with laying the groundwork for the organization’s success.

Prior to 2019, the local tourism DMO was the LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce, also a 501(c)(6) entity. After Great Wolf Lodge opened in 2017 —and hotel/motel tax revenue skyrocketed — the city felt it was time to have an organization dedicated to tourism and only tourism.

The reason, said City Manager Meg B. Kelsey, is simple: “Tourism is economic development. It brings in outside dollars to support community facilities and allows the city to continue to invest in quality-of-life projects like The Thread and world class parks.”

Lynne Holle are both so professional, knowledgeable and passionate.”

Tilley was with Callaway Gardens at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks, experience that proved useful as she navigated the pandemic. She remembered that tourism came back in smaller towns before rebounding in cities.

“I felt like towns like LaGrange would come back first post-pandemic. We aren’t crowded. We have open spaces and familyfriendly attractions. That’s exactly what people are looking for.”

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Visit LaGrange cut back on advertising but didn’t stop marketing through the pandemic.

“People were stuck at home and online a lot. Our ads were out there so when people were ready to travel, we were ready for business,” Tilley said.

Sure enough, with lots of pent up demand, visitors came roaring back. In 2021, some local attractions had their best year ever.

Still, Tilley feels Visit LaGrange has only begun to scratch the surface in some areas and sees rich potential for continued rise

Tourism also creates local jobs and business opportunities, she adds, including jobs directly related to tourism (hotels and destinations) and indirectly supporting tourism, such as restaurants and retail shops.

The creation of Visit LaGrange has also strengthened the Chamber, allowing it to focus solely on supporting, promoting and growing local businesses and industry, said Connie Hensler, President and CEO of the LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber experienced near record growth last year, including more than 100 new members and dozens of ribboncuttings.

“We work closely with Visit LaGrange as part of our shared commitment to economic development as the foundation of a vibrant community,” Hensler said.

The spiffy new Visit LaGrange Visitor Center on Ridley Avenue, remodeled and owned by the city, serves as both a welcoming resource for travelers and a centralized spot for the serious business of promoting tourism.

Tilley, whose work background includes more than 20 years marketing experience with Callaway Gardens and six years as director of the Troup County Center for Strategic Planning, came onboard as director in April, 2020, just weeks after the pandemic set in. She used the time as an opportunity to take a deep dive into what had been done previously and expand her awareness of local resources and assets.

“We are so lucky to have Kathy Tilley leading our tourism efforts in LaGrange,” said Wood. “Her background and experience made her a perfect fit for Visit LaGrange. She and Visitor Center Manager

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S T O R Y The benefit, Tilley explains, is not just the obvious revenue but the chance to show off the lake, LaGrange and Troup County to hundreds of visitors who might come back again.

LaGrange and Troup County already have significant historical resources to promote but the current Mulberry Street Cemetery project, including the restored King covered bridge, will add a whole new dimension. “When you add Mulberry Cemetery to our existing historical attractions – Troup County Archives and Legacy Museum, Biblical History Center, Callaway Clock Tower, Bellevue, Historic Downtown LaGrange and Hills and Dales – we are reaching a point where LaGrange is becoming more of a destination,” said Wood.

West Point Lake has long been the area’s top draw for visitors (the Corps of Engineers estimates 2.1 million per year), but Tilley sees more potential to “activate the lake” with offerings for people who don’t fish or own boats. She cites the upcoming Portuguese Water Dog Trials, set June 25-26 in Pyne Road Park, as one example. The event not only brings visitors but gives locals an entertaining and free spectating opportunity.

Troup County’s plans for $6 million improvements at Pyne Road Park, including construction of the Oakfuskee Conservation and Conference Center, will offer even greater opportunities to promote lake-based tourism, she believes.

Troup County also uses Visit LaGrange as its Destination Marketing Organization and has engaged Atomic Brand Energy to promote county-wide tourism through Destination Troup. Hogansville uses Visit LaGrange as its nonprofit, as well, but manages its own tourism promotion.

in tourism. One example of opportunity is hosting meetings.

trending downward then virtually stopped during the pandemic.

“LaGrange is an ideal place for meetings,” Tilley said, citing its convenient location, easy transportation access, a full blown conference center adjacent to Great Wolf and a growing number of attractive event spaces. Meeting in LaGrange is also more affordable when compared to large cities.

LaGrange and Troup County already host a significant number of sports and fishing competitions, but there are plenty more out there, Tilley said. The challenge is to identify and lure those with the best revenue potential and take good care of them while they are here so they will want to come back.

LaGrange recently was the site of a successful meeting of the Georgia Cemetery Superintendents Association, she said, and Visit LaGrange will work to attract more similar events.

Visit LaGrange will also work aggressively to boost tour bus travel, which had been 10

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She points with pride to a recent West Point Lake competition of student anglers that featured 250 boats with three anglers each. The event started at “first light” so all but a handful of teams came the day before and spent the night, along with family members and friends.

In addition to abundant and growing opportunities, Chairman Wood believes another factor is setting the local stage for Tourism, capital T. “Our attractions, venues, hotels, downtown establishments, merchants, restaurants and sports facilities are working together in a very positive way. I sense a very good positive vibe for our tourism community and feel tourism in LaGrange is well positioned for additional growth. I venture to say LaGrange has as much to do as any small city in the South!”

Photo Credit: Visit LaGrange

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Visitor Center W

hen the handsome double doors of the Visit LaGrange Visitor Center swing open, there’s no telling who will come in.

It could be a visitor from New Jersey inquiring about the Marquis de Lafayette, spring breakers from Snellville wondering what to do on a rainy day or a lively group of senior citizens from Macon looking for a downtown walking tour.

It could even be somebody famous.

Author and former UGA football star Malcolm Mitchell, in town for a Get Troup Reading event, was the center’s first unofficial visitor, brought in by Get Troup Reading Director, Kim Myers, shortly before the facility at 206 Ridley Avenue opened last November.

Travelers stop by the charmingly renovated facility for many reasons, said Kathy Tilley, president and CEO of Visit LaGrange, the city’s two-year-old Designated Marketing Organization, but no matter what brings them in, the goal is the same.

“The Visitor Center needs to be a fun place. People are on vacation. They want to walk into a happy place and find the information they need.”

Visitor Center Manager, Lynne Holle, whose background is in advertising sales and community banking, is charged with serving up accurate, interesting information with a warm and welcoming smile.

“I love LaGrange, so I enjoy sharing my community with visitors,” Holle said.

She’s very good at it, said Visit LaGrange Board Chairman Carleton Wood. “Lynne understands hospitality and customer service and performs at a very high level. We are very fortunate to have her representing LaGrange!”

In addition to being responsible for the building, Holle fields multiple calls, recruits and directs volunteers, supervises college interns, communicates regularly with “hospitality and tourism partners” like hotels and attractions and keeps abreast of what’s going on and what’s available at area destinations.

“I have learned a lot,” she said. “Like camping. I had no idea that R. Shaefer Heard Park on West Point Lake is one of the top campgrounds in the state.”

In just the first six months, Holle has welcomed visitors from as far away as California and Michigan, but most come from Georgia, Alabama and other southern states. She also has had many locals stop by just to see the place and encourages others to do the same.

As summer approaches, Holle expects visitation to jump, but having a Visitor Center is already making an impact.

“I have seen it with my own eyes,” said Andy Fritchley, whose firm, Atomic Brand Energy, handles social media and digital marketing for Visit LaGrange. “Having a home base for tourism is important, and this one is world class with Southern charm.”

Much of the “charm” comes from Holle herself.

“Lynne Holle is the best ambassador of LaGrange you can imagine,” Fritchley said.

“No one could do this job better than Lynne,” echoed Al Brannon, co-owner and manager of Marketplace, a downtown antiques store, who also praised the City of LaGrange for doing a first rate job of renovating the building.

footage of local attractions, a rotating exhibit featuring a different attraction each month, original paintings of local sites by local artist Cindy Fulks, attractive, homelike furnishings, including wicker chairs on the front porch and a glassed-in conference room where tourism-related groups can meet in convenient comfort.

“Thanks to the city, we have a wonderful Visitor Center. I venture to say it’s among the nicest visitor centers in the entire Southeast,” Wood said.

Brannon is in the building regularly as a board member of Sweetland Amphitheater, which has its office on the lower level of the Visitor Center.

“I appreciate the Mayor and Council and the Visit LaGrange board for working so hard to make this facility available and doing so much to bring visitors to LaGrange,” Brannon said.

He believes the efforts are paying off.

“It’s working,” Brannon said. “Visitors are here. I see them in my store everyday.

Tourism is here.”

Among the special features: a big screen TV with continuously scrolling, high quality

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A NEW FACE BRIGHTENS A HISTORIC HOME

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ong before tourism really took a stronghold in LaGrange and Troup County, an early tourism attraction was Bellevue, the stately antebellum home built between 1852 and 1855.

Benjamin Harvey Hill had the house built for his wife, Caroline Holt Hill. It is a significant example of the “domesticated temple” form of Greek Revival-style architecture popular in the antebellum South. Many dignitaries, including Confederate President Jefferson Davis, were entertained there.

veterans and the general population in LaGrange.

We asked Stacy to tell us more.

What do you love best about this job?

I love having the opportunity to maintain and share the history of this beautiful home which includes the prior residents as well as the Woman’s Club history. I appreciate architecture and the skilled artisans it took to build this home.

However, I would have to say having visitors from across the nation and globe is what I love most about this opportunity.

Since my time in the Air Force traveling globally, to talent acquisition recruiting I have loved connecting with people abroad.

Located in LaGrange at 204 Ben Hill Street, Bellevue became the home of the LaGrange Woman’s Club in 1942 when the Fuller E. Callaway Foundation presented the home to the club. In existence for 167 years, Bellevue is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, said Bellevue trustee, Kathren Fogg.

Stacy Hummer is the new resident and event manager/hostess at Bellevue and is a self-professed “jack of all trades.”

She has held several fascinating jobs but especially noteworthy is that she is a United States Air Force Desert Storm veteran. From 1991–1997, she was an instructor and in-flight air refueling 12

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Did you ever imagine you would be responsible for a circa 1852-55 antebellum home?

specialist (boom operator) and cargo load master on the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker airplane.

Stacy continues with her house/pet sitter business in Troup and Harris counties and as a facilitator with Reboot Recovery, a faith-based trauma healing program for

I actually had imagined living here. I had the opportunity to attend a shower at Bellevue in 2015, then in 2016 my future daughter-in-law’s bridal shower was held here. That is truly when I had the opportunity to take in the inside of this grand home and envision what it would be like to live and maintain this home after working with the resident host/ hostess.

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What do visitors like best?

After being a hostess for a couple of months, I can narrow it down to a few categories. 1. Architecture 2. Antiques 3. History/War. One of the things I enjoy is engaging visitors, finding out their interests, and then highlighting those areas.

What are the hours/days for tours?

Our hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am-noon and 2-5 pm. This is subject to change based on meetings and events being held onsite. We have a new Facebook and Instagram - Historic Bellevue – that we try to keep updated with open hours. You may also call (706) 884-1832 or email historicbellevue@ gmail.com to book tours or events.

Did you know?

• Bellevue was once a 1,200-acre estate.

• When the estate was larger, Bellevue’s gates were located on Broad Street.

The gates were removed in 1905 to convert the carriage drive to a residential street (now Ben Hill Street).

What do you love most about the house?

There are many things I love about the house. The architecture, the incredible craftsmanship and all of the woodworking detail around every doorway on the first floor and the stairwell. The windows! I love the large windows that allow you to see the outdoors and let in generous amounts of light, Bellevue "beautiful view.” It is also a stunning feature to have a large percentage of the original beveled window panes on both floors.

However, above all, I love the fact this home can be shared with the community as a venue/meeting space as well as an educational opportunity.

• These gateposts are now at LaGrange College. Interestingly, the gates are identical to the gates at The White House in Washington D.C. They were ordered from the same catalog.

- visitlagrange.com

What kind of visitors come for tours?

We have had many snowbirds traveling from Florida back to either the Northeast or Midwest as well as some locals or Georgia residents that have not had the opportunity to come through in the last couple of years because of the pandemic.

Since I have been onsite, many local family and friends have also taken advantage of bringing their visitors in for tours. A large percentage of our visitors have also been veterans from all eras. www.lagrangechamber.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON NON-PROFIT

The Exceptional Way

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hen Laurie Wilder’s son, Thomas, turned 22, he was no longer able to attend public school.

Wilder quickly realized that an adult with a disability had limited options in Troup County.

“Sitting on the couch watching Jeopardy at 8:30 in the morning is not what you want for your kids. I want Thomas to experience life. He has much to give and much to experience,” she said.

When children with disabilities age out of school, 80 percent experience a decline in social, physical, and emotional health.

That was unacceptable to a group of parents in Troup County.

George Childress, a local dentist and parent of a son with autism, first saw the need in his own family.

“I started listening to three moms who had been thinking about options for a long time. I was unaware of the drop-off that kids experience. I always thought by age 22 they’ll be functional and able to have a job, but it doesn’t always happen,” he said.

Wilder, Childress and a group of other parents and teachers began creating a plan. In 2021, they opened The Exceptional Way, a day center for adults with disabilities. Just a year later, they’re actively looking for a larger location to provide services to a long waiting list.

Cindy Skipworth, executive director at The Exceptional Way, is quick to point out they are not providing adult daycare.

“We are building life skills, job skills, and helping them reach their goals,” she said.

Current participants in the two- or four-day program range in age from 20 to 57. Daily activities include art projects, movement activities and other skill-building instruction. Each week, the group goes on an off-campus outing ranging from bowling to shopping for Christmas gifts.

“We also do volunteer projects in the community. Our participants have a lot to give and it’s good for them to learn to interact with people,” Skipworth said.

Recently, the group passed out free popsicles at Granger Park.

“They had to talk to people and ask them what color popsicle they wanted, it was a good experience for everyone,” Skipworth said.

For Skipworth, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is seeing the dramatic changes in participants.

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“Our oldest participant lived with his mom and when she passed away, moved in with his sister. When he started coming to our program, he didn’t talk much, wasn’t social at all. He’s a different person now. He talks more and at home, he wants to sit with the family and join them.

Sometimes just being in community makes a big difference,” she said.

The Exceptional Way is a nonprofit organization, but not a governmentfunded program. Tuition is kept low with much of the cost funded through donations, grants and fundraisers.

“We originally thought we would ask for the families to pay half the actual cost and raise the rest,” Childress said. “Most of our participants get a disability check, but it doesn’t go far. A lot of times that’s rent or grocery money. It’s been an eye-opener for me. My heart really goes out to the single parent.

“I know my son, Carson, is in my life because God has used him to keep me humble and aware of things around me.

I’ve realized this is a place where God can use me and some of my resources to help Carson and others right here in my community. And I couldn’t be happier about it,” he said.

For information about The Exceptional Way, call (706) 668-1465 or see the website theexceptionalway.org

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From the Classroom to the Workplace

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n August 2020, the Troup County School System launched a new program designed to support students in their transition from the classroom directly to the work environment. The new program called the Troup County Career Center (TC3) is located on the campus of West Georgia Technical College. The close partnership between TCSS and WGTC has been a vital part of the success experienced by the students of TC3.

The Troup County Career Center offers students individualized, flexible learning opportunities which allow them to earn high school credits toward graduation with the support of certified teachers, tutors, and mentors. In addition to these flexible learning opportunities, TC3 supports students in their acquisition of soft skills, life skills, and leadership skills which will be vital to their success as they enter the workforce.

TC3 students are encouraged to participate in work-based learning opportunities in which they are employed by local industry partners and earn high school credit simultaneously.

Some of these opportunities include apprenticeships, internships, and full-time employment through flexible scheduling options.

one of the many programs of study such as welding, automotive technologies, advanced manufacturing, and health care.

WGTC credentials apply to students’ graduation requirements in place of traditional high school courses.

Partnerships with non-profit organizations and leaders in business and industry along with community outreach have supported and contributed to the expansion of the program in a way that addresses both community needs and student goals.

Partners include; WGTC, Development Authority of LaGrange, LaGrange College, Greater Achievement Youth Empowerment Academy, Calumet Park Neighborhood Association, Communities of Tomorrow, LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce, Milliken, Hyundai, Weiler Forestry Products, Kimble’s Food by Design, City of LaGrange, and many others. With the support of these partners, students can acquire the necessary working skills and opportunities for post-graduation employment.

The goal of TC3 supports the mission of the Troup County School System of being committed to educating ALL students using creative and innovative strategies that provide 'A Place For Every Kid.'

Students may enroll in WGTC to earn certificates and diplomas gaining skills in

www.lagrangechamber.com

15

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP

Leading the Way with

The Basics Troup County

D

id you know that 80% of brain growth happens in the first 3 years of life? By the time children reach kindergarten their brains have grown to 90% of their adult size!

The Leadership Troup class of 2022 learned these facts over the past year, and they saw a huge correlation between a child’s early years and their future success in school.

After learning about many issues facing Troup County and knowing that job preparedness is one of the obstacles facing the workforce, the group decided to make their class project centered around efforts to make sure families have the tools they need to help their children achieve academic success right from the start. With the diverse group of people in the class coming from the manufacturing, education, medical, hospitality, community service and nonprofit fields it was decided that this would be a perfect group to help saturate the community with the Basics Troup County!

The Basics Troup County is not a program but a way of life that focuses on everyday interactions between parents and children

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May 2022

that promote brain development! The class is made up of thirty-three members that represent a cross section of leaders in Troup County that will serve as trusted messengers for The Basics Troup County.

The class has spent the past few months learning about the five principals of The Basics and they have become versed in sharing the importance of early brain development for academic success and emotional week-being. As ambassadors for The Basics, they plan to promote The Basics Troup County, interact with families of children with infants and toddlers to teach them about the basic principles and to promote The Basic Insight text messaging app. The Insight text messaging app deliveries two tips a week to parents sharing intentional interactions within their everyday lives that can help their children boost brain development.

The Leadership Troup Class kicked off their ongoing project on April 23rd at the Troup County Family Connection Family Expo at Southbend Park. The group plans to participate in similar events in Hogansville and West Point over the summer. If you would like to learn more about The Basics Troup County, please contact kimmyers@gettroupreading.org.

Maximize Love, Manage Stress Talk, Sing and Point Count, Group and Compare Explore through Movement and Play Read and Discuss Stories

SPOTLIGHT ON TROUP COUNTY

BLAZING TRAILS

W

hether you’re a Troup County native or simply passing through town, Pyne Road Park on West Point Lake is the perfect outdoor destination to enjoy warmer weather with friends and family this season. Camping, waterskiing, and mountain biking are just a few activities our more adventurous guests can enjoy, not to mention fishing and nature trail walks for visitors seeking a quiet, relaxing weekend.

With summer just around the corner, Troup County Parks & Recreation would like to call attention to a few new and exciting amenity enhancements at Pyne Road Park, located at 4481 Roanoke Road in LaGrange.

Last year, the park’s campgrounds underwent major upgrades, including reworked plumbing and electricity, newly paved driveways, and the addition of electric gates, fire pits, and new pea gravel. These campsites are available for both tent and RV rentals, offer easy access to West Point Lake, and are in very close proximity to our multi-use trails, which are currently undergoing notable improvements and have an anticipated “grand opening” date of May 2022.

Upon completion of the campsites’ upgrades, Parks & Recreation received funds from a matching $100,000 Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grant, which the Troup County Board of Commissioners graciously agreed to use to vastly improve Pyne Road Park’s already existing multi-use trails. These enhancements are part of an effort to make the trails more sustainable for hikers, bikers and horses by adjusting trail alignments to repair erosion and mitigate the severity of possible future weather damage.

Further upgrades to the trails include the addition of an electric gate to provide more security, the establishment of appropriate directional and safety signage, and improved emergency

access for EMS/Extraction Services, which will support the park’s mission to prioritize guests’ safety and well-being.

Previously, there were no proper markings on the trails, so the new signage and GPS markings will make a considerable difference in the process of contacting paramedics if someone is lost or hurt.

Daniel Price of Mountain Bike Atlanta, a branch of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) is ecstatic to see the trails elevated to a higher standard, and believes that these trails will undeniably establish Troup County as a prime outdoor recreation destination.

When asked to predict the extent of the positive impact these enhancements could have on residents and visitors, Price said, “Having fun, healthy, and easy-to-use trails will provide benefits

to the equestrian, hiking and biking communities for generations to come.”

The Troup County Saddle Club, an equestrian community that is open to the public and has been active for more than 30 years, is also thrilled about the attention and changes coming to the trails.

“The park and its trails are a hidden gem that we’ve enjoyed for many years,” explained Sonya Jones of the Troup County Saddle Club. “We hope that the community will take full advantage of the trails and parks, and that we can continue to make them better and better!”

If you are interested in learning more about everything Pyne Road Park has to offer, please contact their office to learn more: (706) 594-7586.

www.lagrangechamber.com

17

SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS

Jump on the Tiny Door Tour

O

n March 3rd, tiny doors were installed around LaGrange’s Downtown District by members of LaGrange Academy’s National Honor Society as part of a public art installation.

The project was modeled by Tiny Doors ATL, an installation of 20 tiny doors with a map throughout Atlanta. The Atlanta project is “designed to reflect the spirit” of each institution or neighborhood in which the doors are placed.

The LaGrange Academy students, led by teacher Tiffany Ackerman, aimed to provide a connection between public art, tourism, imagination and activity downtown. The objective of the project is to bring more people to Downtown LaGrange, be they tourists or locals, and to encourage more public art to be displayed throughout the downtown district.

The seven installation locations include the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Sweet Roast, Charlie Joseph’s, LSPA, The LaGrange Art Museum, Pretty Good Used Books and Sweetland Amphitheatre.

Each door has a theme coordinated with its location: think paints and a palette for the LaGrange Art Museum and a view of the Marquis de Lafayette at the Chamber of Commerce.

The tour of all seven locations takes under an hour and would give a local or a visitor a good look around Downtown LaGrange.

For the most direct route, we recommend parking at LSPA, traveling up Bull Street, making stops at Charlie Joseph’s, Sweet Roast Café, and the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, taking a right on to Vernon to the LaGrange Art Museum, then head back toward LaFayette Square and take a right onto Ridley Avenue, take a left onto Haralson Street to stop off at Pretty Good books, and then taking a last right onto Church Street to Sweetland Amphitheatre. To head back to the starting point simply take Church Street back down until it turns into Bull Street and LSPA will be on the right.

“Tiny-Door-Tourists” are encouraged to take pictures along their route and use the hashtag #lagrangetinydoortour on social media.

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May 2022

DIVERSITY/EQUITY/INCLUSION

DEI CORNER D

iversity is America's strength, spurring the innovation and creativity that have made the U.S. economy the most vibrant and dynamic in history. When businesses recognize and embrace different perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees and solve problems. By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help lift communities and strengthen the health, prosperity and competitiveness of our nation and our society.

DID YOU KNOW? "Diverse and inclusive businesses have 19% higher innovation revenues, a 35% performance advantage over their homogenous counterparts and are 36% more profitable."

By 2024, employees over the age of 55 will make up 24.8% of the working population, as compared to 11.9% in 1994. Women are also expected to make up a larger portion of the overall U.S. workforce, rising from 46.8% of the workforce in 2014 to 47.2% in 2024. And, by 2024, less than 60% of the U.S. labor force is expected to be defined as "white non-Hispanic."

What does diversity mean?

First, let's start with the basics.

Diversity refers to the inherent differences that exist amongst a group of people.

Diversity manifests in traits such as age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and even cultural diversity, like socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, and education.

Diversity is often mentioned in the same breath as equity and inclusion. Commonly

abbreviated as "DEI," diversity, equity and inclusion are separate practices that enable small businesses to be more productive, innovative and successful.

Equity refers to giving someone (e.g., a business owner or employee from an underrepresented group) the support they need to succeed. On the other hand, equality refers to giving everyone the same thing. Equity helps fill some of the opportunity gaps that perpetuate broader inequalities in our society.

Inclusion has to do with creating a supportive, welcoming and respectful environment at work for people of all backgrounds to participate. Inclusion is about taking action: dedicating resources and time to creating a space that embraces all perspectives and employee needs. This might include founding employee resource groups, offering mentorship programs or requiring employees to participate in diversity training regularly.

Diversity, equity and inclusion can all help businesses create vibrant, thriving companies. Beyond a moral imperative, diversity, equity and inclusion can benefit business owners and broader communities alike.

Why diversity is important Diversity plays a crucial role in growing our national economy and the success of American business. Increasing diversity in business is projected to have widespread benefits for the country. Consider some of these statistics: According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, one report found that there are 9.1 million women-

owned businesses that generate a total of $1.4 trillion in sales.

Another McKinsey study found that the national GDP would add $25 billion if just 1% more disabled people were hired.

The American economy stands to gain $8 trillion by 2050 simply by closing the racial equity gap.

Moreover, businesses that recognize and embrace the value of inclusion consistently perform better across multiple financial metrics. Research shows, for example, a strong correlation between diversity in leadership and quarterly earnings. For every 10% increase in racial and ethnic diversity on a company's senior executive team, earnings before interest and taxes rise 0.8%.

What's more, companies in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity on executive teams are 33% more likely to have industry-leading profitability. There is also mounting evidence that greater diversity leads to a healthier workplace culture and better business outcomes.

Studies show diverse teams are better at problem-solving, decision-making and innovating. Companies with an inclusive culture are not only considered a great place to work by employees, but also highly regarded by consumers. Some of the most diverse companies aren't only successful in their industry. They also score highly on employee engagement, customer brand loyalty and Net Promoter Scores.

Building diversity is not only the right thing to do – it is the smart thing for business.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

R

RENASANT BANK

enasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi bakery.

Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $16.8 billion in assets and more than 195 banking, lending, mortgage, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Renasant was named the “Best Bank in the South” by Time Magazine’s Money. com in 2018-19, and “Best In-State Bank in Georgia” by Forbes Magazine for 2021.

Recently, Forbes Magazine announced that we were one of the best banks in its

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May 2022

World’s Best Banks 2022 report, ranking us as the sixth best bank in the United States. The success of Renasant stems from each of our banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people we serve. At Renasant, we understand the needs of our clients and communities because we work and live alongside them every day.

Stop by and meet our experienced team with over 212 years in banking, located at 401 Vernon Street in LaGrange or by phone at (706) 298-0035.

Kim Banks, Branch Manager, VP Ricky Rodriguez, Commercial Banker, VP Tammy Cox, Mortgage Banker Susan Moore, Senior Personal Banker Judy Reed, Head Teller Hillary Burns, Senior Teller Sandra Arrington, Teller

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Wellstar Implements Initiatives to Serve the Health of our Community

T

he health of our community extends far beyond the doors of the local hospital and doctors’ offices. To help promote good health in Troup County, Wellstar Health System has recently implemented new initiatives including a school-based health clinic offering pediatric services and a Mobile Market serving those faced with food insecurities.

School-Based Health Clinic at Callaway Elementary In partnership with the Troup County School System, Wellstar Pediatrics recently opened a school-based health clinic at Callaway Elementary School. The clinic, which is staffed by an advanced nurse practitioner, is available to any student at Callaway Elementary School (with parent consent) if they need a higher level of care than the school RN can provide. Some of the services offered at the clinic include: • General illness/injury treatment • Covid-19 testing • Flu testing • Strep throat testing • Urinary tract infection testing • Mono testing • Glucose check Insurance will be filed for the visit; any balance will be sent to the parent/ guardian. No forms of payment are taken on site, rather the child’s insurance carrier is billed for charges and fees covered by their insurance plan. Children without insurance coverage can also be seen at a self-pay rate. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mobile Market and the Wellstar Center for Health Equity Wellstar Mobile Market provides high quality, fresh and frozen groceries to 100 households on a monthly cadence. Locally, Wellstar Mobile Market has partnered with First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange to provide groceries to families in our area.

In March, Wellstar Mobile Market set up at Warren Temple United Methodist

Church and served 121 families. In April, they served 102 at the AMC Theater parking lot.

This free service will return in May and June to LaGrange. Through Mobile Market, Wellstar has also provided resources and health education related to mental health and colorectal cancer. In the upcoming months the focus will be on stroke awareness and men’s health.

Mobile Market is part of the Wellstar Center for Health Equity (WCHE) which focuses on six strategic domains based off the community health needs assessment.

Between 2022 and 2025, Wellstar strives to make meaningful impact in the areas of West Georgia Health Administrative Intern, Alexandra Rumpke, Access to Healthcare, working at Wellstar Mobile Market in Summer 2021.

Behavioral Health, Food Access, Housing, Wellstar has provided QPR (Question, Maternal Health and Pediatric Health.

Persuade, Refer) Suicide Training and By putting systemwide initiatives and colorectal cancer testing kits through First programs into action, the WCHE will help Baptist Church in LaGrange. enhance the health and well-being of For more information on Wellstar Mobile the people and communities the health Market, go online to system serves. wellstarmobilemarket.com With this goal in mind, Wellstar has To sign up for the Prevent Maternal Mortality partnered with several organizations study, email pm3.cmhe@msm.edu including Confidence Missionary Baptist Church and other local churches and To join Wellstar’s Congregational Health organizations to make an impact on Network or to ask questions about current maternal health through the Prevent or upcoming Wellstar Center for Health Maternal Mortality using Mobile Equity programs, email Community Impact Technology study.

Specialist Jana Ford at: Also, in 2021, Wellstar partnered with First United Methodist Church of LaGrange and First Baptist Church on Fannin Street to provide Covid-19 vaccinations. To further impact key areas of health concerns,

jana.ford@wellstar.org

www.lagrangechamber.com

21

NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT PHYSICIAN? Wellstar has just the care you need.

Olumide Ajayi, MD

J. Robert Coggins, MD

FAMILY MEDICINE

GASTROENTEROLOGY

(706) 880-7335

(706) 880-7311

1497 Lafayette Parkway LaGrange, GA 30241

1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

Alexander Gedevanishvili, MD CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

1602 Vernon Road, Ste 300 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 242-5100

Coney Bae, MD

Facia B. Dew, DO

Tom Gore, MD

GENERAL SURGERY

FAMILY MEDICINE

CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

(706) 880-7321

(706) 880-7119

1602 Vernon Road, Ste 300 LaGrange, GA 30240

Joy Baker, MD, FACOG, PMH-C, C-EFM, MT (ASCP)

Nayab Dhanani, MD

Torey Harden, MD

FAMILY MEDICINE

PEDIATRICS

(706) 880-7188

(706) 812-2655

Cameron Body, MD

Rod Duraski, MD

Samer Kabbani, MD

GASTROENTEROLOGY

INTERNAL MEDICINE

CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

(706) 880-7311

(706) 845-3494

1602 Vernon Road, Ste 300 LaGrange, GA 30240

Srinivas R. Bramhadevi MD, FAAFP, MBA

Salman Fidahussein, MD

Ravina Kadam, MD, FACP

FAMILY MEDICINE

PULMONARY MEDICINE

INTERNAL MEDICINE

1600 Vernon Road, Ste A LaGrange, GA 30240

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

303 Medical Drive, Ste 406 LaGrange, GA 30240

2000 Billy Tucker Circle Hogansville, GA 30230

(706) 242-5100

301 Medical Drive, Ste 504 LaGrange, GA 30240

1602 Vernon Road, Ste 200 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7252

1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

1497 Lafayette Parkway LaGrange, GA 30241

(706) 880-7335

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May 2022

211 East Broad Street Pine Mountain, GA 31822

1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7222

(706) 242-5100

300 Medical Drive, Ste 704 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7361

Robinette King, MD

Ariyo Olobatoke, MD

Jingzi Shang, MD

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

PULMONARY MEDICINE

NEUROLOGY & SLEEP MEDICINE

1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7222

303 Medical Drive, Ste 401 LaGrange, GA 30240

Gail Knight, MD

James Parker, MD

Mandy Snyder, NP

HOSPICE CARE

FAMILY MEDICINE

FAMILY MEDICINE

(706) 845-3905

(706) 242-5081

(706) 845-3599

John Woody, Major, MD

Janese LatimerPierson, MD

Ashley Stewart, MD, FACS

GENERAL SURGERY

WOUND CARE

GENERAL SURGERY

(706) 880-7207

(706) 880-7366

(706) 880-7321

Shawn Mathews, MD EAR NOSE & THROAT

Kalyani Rajeev, MD, FAAP

Nchang Taka, MD

(706) 880-7144

301 Medical Drive, Ste 504 LaGrange, GA 30240

303 Medical Drive, Ste 405 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 242-5099

1510 Vernon Road LaGrange, GA 30240

106 Lukken Industrial Drive West LaGrange, GA 30240

599 3rd Avenue West Point, GA 31833

1600 Vernon Road, Ste G LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 242-5161

454 LaGrange Street Greenville, GA 30222

1600 Vernon Road, Ste A LaGrange, GA 30240

PEDIATRICS

CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

(706) 812-2655

(706) 242-5100

Madhavi Naik, MD, FACOG

Charles Roberson, MD

Robert Taylor, MD, PhD

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

ORTHOPEDICS

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

(706) 880-7320

(706) 845-3544

RHEUMATOLOGY

Vincent Scoglietti, MD

Karin Whitlock Taylor, MD, FAAPMR

GENERAL SURGERY

(706) 880-7266

1600 Vernon Road, Ste A LaGrange, GA 30240

REHABILITATION MEDICINE

300 Medical Drive, Ste 705 LaGrange, GA 30240

106 Lukken Industrial Drive West LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7207

Sana Makhdoom, MD 1555 Doctors Drive, Ste 102 LaGrange, GA 30240

300 Medical Drive, Ste 707 LaGrange, GA 30240

1602 Vernon Road, Ste 300 LaGrange, GA 30240

111 Medical Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 880-7321

1555 Doctors Drive, Ste 102 LaGrange, GA 30240

Weredeselam Olango, MD

Richard S. Simmons, MD, FACP, FCCP

Venu Thirukonda, MD, FACP

NEUROLOGY

PULMONARY MEDICINE

HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY

(706) 880-7222

(706) 812-2426

303 Medical Drive, Ste 401 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 242-5161

1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 298-5592

111 Medical Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

wellstar.org www.lagrangechamber.com

23

MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS

MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS Forbus Named Executive Director of Vernon Woods Retirement Community

Peterson Named New Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Brian Peterson has been named Vice President for Academic Affairs at LaGrange College. Currently serving as Senior Associate Academic Dean at Central College in Pella, Iowa, Dr. Peterson comes to the post with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education.

He brings to the role a passion for student success, according to college President Susanna Baxter.

“Brian has served more than a decade in academic leadership and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this very important role,” she said. “He is a collaborative, creative thinker who embraces the liberal arts and its connection to the workforce.

Dr. Peterson began his academic career as an instructor of economics and has progressed through a range of faculty and administrative appointments. He says he is eager to begin his work at LaGrange.

“In my interview on campus, the students spoke highly of the mentoring relationships they have with their faculty, and the faculty spoke about their ability to work with students as the main reason they teach at LaGrange,” he said. “The ability to develop these close relationships with faculty is a part of why students come to LaGrange, and my role as VPAA will be to create the academic conditions under which those relationships can thrive.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in Ohio, and his Master’s and Ph.D. in Economics from Indiana University.

Chosen from a field of 68 candidates, Dr. Peterson will begin his work here on July 1. He and his multi-generational family will be moving to LaGrange.

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May 2022

Tammy Forbus has joined Vernon Woods Retirement Community as Executive Director. Tammy has a long-standing relationship with Vernon Woods through her role at West Georgia Hospice, where she served as Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Community Outreach and Fundraising/ Events for the past eleven years. She has been invaluable in her role of transitioning residents from Vernon Woods to Hospice to receive care, support and services.

Under her direction, Tammy expanded the Hospice Volunteer Program to 130 active volunteers and increased the level of financial support through fundraising, in particular the annual Hospice Poinsettia sale. All proceeds are used for patient care.

Reflecting on her time at West Georgia Hospice, Forbus said she is most thankful to have been a small part of the end of life journey for many individuals and families.

“Our Hospice volunteers provide companionship, listening, and supportive presence, when needed most. They have a beautiful way of doing small things with great love and care that make such a difference,” said Forbus. She says this act of service, is reflected in her favorite teaching of St. Francis of Assissi: “For it is in giving that we receive.”

She became familiar with Hospice, following the brief illness and death of her father-in-law, Charles Forbus.

“I was so impacted by his stay and the care he received at Hospice, that I became a volunteer. This experience truly changed my life,” she said. “I learned quickly that life is so precious and short, especially watching the bravery and grace our patient’s families displayed as their loved one lived out their final

days. It made me recognize that the relationships we have with others is the most beautiful part of our lives.”

Not long after, the position of Volunteer Services Coordinator became available following Joyce Wood’s retirement. Forbus said even she was surprised at her reaction to accepting this position. At the time, she was Senior Vice President at Synovus Bank in LaGrange, formerly Commercial Bank and Trust, where she had served for 25 years. While there, she served in several roles including Retail Executive and Commercial Lender.

“This entire experience was a complete surprise to me, as I loved my position with CB&T and fully intended to eventually retire from there. But God had other plans for me, and I am so thankful for both my time at the bank and at Hospice,” she said. “Now I am looking forward to continuing Vernon Woods’ commitment to providing a safe, beautiful and supportive environment, along with exceptional care for residents of independent and assisted living in our community.”

Forbus replaces Susan Burdick, who retired after 22 years in January, and having served as the first executive director since the opening of Vernon Woods in 2000.

MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS

Point Professor Awarded Prestigious Sabbatical Grant

The Louisville Institute announced this week that Dr. Jennifer Allen Craft, Associate Professor of Theology and Humanities at Point University, is the recipient of a 2022 Sabbatical Grant for Researchers for the project titled “Sins of Place: Christian Theology and the Practices of Placemaking.”

The Sabbatical Grant for Researchers (SGR) enables grantees to conduct a major study that can contribute to the vitality of Christianity in North America. Grants of up to $40,000 support year-long sabbatical projects that address Christian faith and life, the practice of ministry and/or adaptive challenges confronting religious institutions.

“In-depth research projects take time and focused energy, which sabbaticals are meant to provide,” said Rev. Dr. Aimee C. Moiso, the Institute’s associate director, in a press release.

“We are thrilled to offer sabbatical grants to this year’s exceptional cohort of scholars and researchers to help enable their exciting and innovative research in religion, culture, and the future of Christianity.”

Louisville Institute is funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment Inc. and based at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky). The Louisville Institute’s mission is to bridge church and academy through awarding grants and fellowships to those who study North American religious institutions, practices, and movements, and thereby promoting scholarship that strengthens church, academy, society, and contributes to the flourishing of the church.

Point Professor Appointed to Serve on State Licensing Board Dr. Greg Moffatt, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Point University, has been named to the Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists for the State of Georgia. The board licenses mental health professionals who work throughout the state. Moffatt was recently sworn in by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

Moffatt, who is professor of counseling psychology at Point, is also a licensed counselor, a published author, a columnist for newspapers and Counseling Today, and a frequent public speaker. He served for nearly ten years as a regular lecturer at the FBI Academy, a profiler with the Atlanta Cold Case Squad, and consultant to numerous airlines, businesses and schools.

“Dr. Moffatt’s appointment to the Georgia Composite Board is a great honor and a fitting recognition of his service and professional expertise,” said Dr. Stephen Waers, chief academic officer. “Point University is grateful to have such a well-respected leader as the dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.”

“I'm honored to have been selected by Governor Kemp to serve on the composite board, but even more so, I'm honored by the shower of support and encouragement I've received from my clinical colleagues in the field,” said Moffatt. “That means as much to me as recognition from the governor."

For more information about Point’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, visit point.edu/academics.

www.lagrangechamber.com

25

Press Release: 3.16.22 MOVERS, SHAKERS, Coach SteveRISK-TAKERS Pardue Named Director of Athletics and

Head Football Coach

Steve Pardue Named Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach Championship Pardue the hiring Region Championships and three State SpringwoodCoach.

SchoolCoach announces of Coach is also a Georgia Athletic Coaches Championships.

Steve Pardue of LaGrange, GA. Coach Pardue joins Association Hall of Fame member, the school as Director of Athletics andAfter HeadLaGrange High School, Pardue inducted in 2020. coached football at the University of Coach. Carson Champion, AFootball native of Hopkinsville, KY, Coach Parduea Springwood Kentucky, East Coweta High School in School junior who participates and softball, played football at Christian County in cheer Sharpsburg, GA, and LaGrange College High School under KHSAA Hall of Fame before said, "I am excited to see the transformationretiring Coachin 2018. coach Fred Clayton. Pardue played on are thrilled Coach Pardue chose Pardue will make at Springwood with "We athletics. the offensive line at Austin Peay State to come Eager toinsee him join family!"out of his retirement to join University Clarksville, TN,the andSpringwood got his Springwood School. Enthusiasm master's degree at West Georgia College for Coach his hiring is widespread. It is We are honored to welcome a man with in Carrollton, GA. great to welcome the coach to the Pardue's commitment to family, to hard Coach Pardue's coaching career began dedication Springwood family. With his Hall of Fame and student-athletes at our Among his we look forward to inwork, 1985 at Fayette County High School in school. accomplishments, Fayetteville, GA, in football and baseball. energy and leadership in our many accomplishments, Steve Pardue renewed was named In 1986, Pardue coached at Albertville athletic department. Go Wildcats!" the 2010 AAA Coach of the Decade by said Georgia High High School in Alabama before moving Chattahoochee Valley Educational School Daily Report.

In 2003, won the Touchdown of Atlanta's WrightFoundation BazemoreBoard Chair Sykes Smith. home to KentuckyClub as Head Football Coach Springwood School announces the he hiring at Crittenden High School All-Classification Coach of the Year Award, named County for Valdosta HighinSchool's long-time, 14-wife, Pam, teaches of Coach Steve Pardue of LaGrange, Coach Pardue's Marion, KY. GA. Coach Pardue joins the school as time State Championship Coach. Coach Pardue is also a Georgia Athletic Coaches fourth grade at Springwood School. They Director of Athletics and Head Football In 1991, Coach Pardue moved to have two children, Morgan Tomberlin, Association Hall of Fame member, inducted in 2020.

Coach. Carson Champion, a Springwood LaGrange, GA, coaching outside an administrative nurse at Emory Clark School junior who participates in cheer linebackers LaGrangeat High School. CountyHolder Clinic, and Chas Pardue, a teacher A native of Hopkinsville, KY, Coach Pardue playedatfootball Christian High School and softball, said, "I am excited to see the During his first season with the Grangers, and coach at Dunbar High School in under KHSAACoach Hall Pardue of Fame Fred they Clayton.

Pardue played on the offensiveLexington, line at KY. They also have two transformation willcoach make at won the state championship and Springwood with athletics.

Eager toinsee Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN, and got his master's degree at West GeorgiaMason, eight years old, were declared National Champions grandchildren: him join the Springwood family!"

by USA Today. Pardue then coached and Bennett, four years old.

College in Carrollton, GA. the offensive line and was defensive Among his many accomplishments, taking over as Head CoachPardue Pardue's coaching career began coordinator in 1985 atbefore Fayette County High School in Steve was named the 2010 AAA Coach in 1994.

At LaGrange High, Pardue Coach of the Decade by Georgia High Fayetteville, GA, in football and baseball. In 1986, Pardue coached at Albertville High School also served as Assistant Athletic Director School Daily Report. In 2003, he won in Alabama before moving home to Kentucky as Head Football Coach at Crittenden County and Physical Education Department the Touchdown Club of Atlanta's Wright High School in Marion, Coach KY. of Head while building a football program Bazemore All-Classification with a 78% winning percentage, eight the Year Award, named for Valdosta In 1991, Coach Pardue moved to LaGrange, GA, coaching outside linebackers at LaGrange High School's long-time, 14-time State

High School. During his first season with the Grangers, they won the state championship and were declared National Champions by USA Today. Pardue then coached the offensive line and was defensive coordinator before taking over as Head Coach in 1994. At LaGrange

Dr. Melissa Lau Emory Orthopaedics & Spine __________________________________________________________

Dr. Lau’s professional goal is to provide Dr. Melissa Lau is a newly appointed 1814 Cherry Drive Lanett, AL 36863 ~ Phone: 334.644.2191 ~ www.springwoodschool.org Emory faculty member in the Southern excellent and evidence-based care to Orthopedics office here in LaGrange.

She completed her residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Ohio State University. More recently, she graduated from an Interventional Spine fellowship at Virginia iSpine Physicians in Richmond, Virginia. Despite being from New York City, she has fully embraced the southern hospitality here in the Peach State.

Dr. Lau, her husband, and two Australian Shepherd dogs like to spend their time traveling, eating and exploring the great outdoors. They are avid players in the game of squash.

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those patients suffering from acute and chronic low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy. Her scope of non-operative management includes educating patients, collaborating with therapists, managing non-opioid medications and, if needed, performing x-ray guided injections.

She works closely with her orthopedic colleagues throughout the Emory network should patients’ pathologies ultimately warrant surgical intervention.

Dr. Lau looks forward to helping to serve the patients and community at large.

MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS

Oliver Selected for Elite Museum Leadership Program LaGrange Art Museum’s deputy director Lauren Oliver was one of just 16 national museum leaders selected to participate in the highly competitive Southeastern Museum Conference’s (SEMC) Leadership Institute. The program entitled “Leading for Today’s Challenges” is geared for staff members of small- and medium-sized museums.

Only four of the 16 participants represent art museums. The remainder represent historical and heritage museums. Participants come from seven states and the District of Columbia.

The focus of the Institute is to “redefine leadership and help prepare participants to take risks. It will disrupt old patterns and make way for new ways of thinking, doing and leading,” said Zinnia Willits, executive director for SEMC. Partnering with SEMC is the Association of African American Museums (AAAM).

The Institute takes place April 24-29 at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Participants will officially graduate from the Leadership Institute at the SEMC annual conference October 24-26 in Arkansas.

James Emery Named Engineer of the Year On February 23rd, The Troup County Board of Commissioners announced that the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers named James Emery the 2022 Engineer of the Year in Government.

The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers (GSPE) coordinates the Engineer of the Year awards, which are judged by the Engineering Council of Birmingham. The purpose of the awards is to honor licensed engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession, the public welfare and/or humankind.

Currently, Emery serves as the Director of Engineering and Development for Troup County, but serves voluntarily on the board of the LaGrangeTroup County Chamber of Commerce, The West Point Lake Advisory Council, The Governing Board of the ACF Stakeholders, and the Georgia Water Planning Council.

His work includes engineering feats such as the Pyne Road Park Mega Boat Ramp, which is the largest concrete boat ramp to ever be pushed into water.

Emery was honored on March 19, 2022 at the Georgia Engineering Awards at the Cobb Galleria.

Do you know a Mover,Shaker, or Risk Taker?

Tell us their story!

CONTACT: leslie@lagrangechamber.com www.lagrangechamber.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON LAGRANGE

DESIGNING DOWNTOWN

E

very year, mayors from across the country, representing cities of all sizes, share their visions for the upcoming year in their State of the City speeches. During these speeches, the subtopic of downtown development edged out all other economic development issues for the top spot. Several common themes that these plans and projects touched on include jumpstarting private investment in downtowns through public infrastructure improvements and development incentives; the role of public spaces like parks and plazas, as well as cultural facilities, to support community needs and tourism; and the role of new residential development in making downtowns more vibrant.

The City of LaGrange, prides itself on remaining on the cutting edge of contemporary trends which is why they have already completed several exciting projects in historic downtown with more phenomenal projects on the horizon. A streetscape project has already been completed at the corner of Ridley Avenue and North Lafayette Square. This elevated plaza includes new ground lighting, gas lanterns, decorative railings, cozy seating options, landscaping, and charging stations for electronic devices.

Lafayette Square’s water fountain also received a lighting update last year which included updating lighting components to 56 multi-color LED color changing light fixtures.

Going forward, the city has already begun work on a streetscape project located near the heart of downtown at the corner of Bull Street and Broome Street. This enhancement will include the installation of new brick pavers, electric and gas lighting, benches and landscaping. The city is also on the cusp of a third streetscape project downtown with this taking place at the corner of Ridley Avenue and West Haralson Street. The improvements at this intersection will include a four faced pedestal clock, the installation of a water fountain, new gas and electric lighting fixtures, brick pavers, stormwater mitigation efforts and landscaping.

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BUSINESS

SPOTLIGHT

www.lagrangechamber.com

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C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

Join us in celebrating our members!

Ribbon Cuttings, Anniversary Celebrations and Grand Openings

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May 2022

NAOS On-Site Staffing 308 S. Lewis Street, LaGrange

A New You Massage Therapy 202 W. Haralson Street, LaGrange

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers 138 Commerce Avenue, LaGrange

Goodwill Retail Store & Career Center 311 Commerce Avenue, LaGrange

BC Stone Homes Showroom 1360 Lafayette Parkway, LaGrange

Champion’s Training Academy 1504 Orchard Hill Road, LaGrange

C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

The Center for Mindful Exploration 8 Garfield Street, LaGrange

Versa Court at The Phoenix 201 Chatham Street, LaGrange

Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, LLC 205 N. Lewis St., Suite 2, LaGrange

Premier Medical Training Services, LLC 1385 Lafayette Parkway, Suite 2, LaGrange

SIP Cafe & Wine Room 708 3rd Ave., West Point

www.lagrangechamber.com

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C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

West Point Business Council

STATE OF HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE

SIP Café and Wine Room was our featured location for our Q1 West Point Business Council. We loved hearing from SIP’s owners, Tiffany and Jamie Welsh and sampling the delectable menu.

Safety Council

Presented by Jackson Services, our "State of Housing & Infrastructure" in Troup County included panelists: Mark Kostial, Senior City Planner for the City of LaGrange Georgia Government, James Emery, County Engineer for Troup County, and Zsa Zsa Heard, CEO of LaGrange Housing Authority. Topics for our panelists included affordable housing and rising costs of living, forthcoming growth in Troup County and availability of utilities within the county.

New Member Orientation

During the Q1 Safety Council, presented

by Hyundai Transys Georgia Powertrain, we heard from Paul Schlumper, P.E., CSP from Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute. He provided an overview of OSHA recommended guidelines. Special congrats to our raffle winner, Mary Potts.

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At our quarterly New Member Orientation, we discussed our 2022 calendar of events, chamber benefits and heard from The University of Georgia SBDC Area Consultant Todd Carlisle. Congratulations to our door prize winner, Natasha Heard with FeatureS of Tomorrow Foundation. Door prize provided by new member, Bubble Lee Balloon Art.

C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

EARLY BIRD BREAKFASTS FEBRUARY

Governor Brian Kemp was our guest at our first Early Bird Breakfast of 2022, presented by Jackson Services. For this sold out breakfast, Kemp gave us an update on the State of Georgia since his time in office discussing healthcare, education and job growth. Special thanks to our Gold Sponsor, Childress Dental Center.

MARCH Our featured speaker, Stuart Countess, President & CEO of Kia Georgia, spoke on overcoming supply chain and workforce challenges, the future of electric vehicles and the launch of the new Kia Sportage. Raffle giveaways included our March Gold Sponsor, The Yard on Mill Apartments as well as Ressa’s Unique Boutique, Tournesol and Bubble Lee Balloon Art Official.

APRIL

Senior Outreach Advisor, Princeton Williams educated us on the ins and outs of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and four of our members won raffles from our Gold Sponsor, Goldens Bikes and the Chamber.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON HOGANSVILLE

Meet Your Councilman

M

ichael Taylor was elected at the age of 25, to the Hogansville City council in 2021, becoming one the youngest members ever elected.

Michael has been a lifelong resident of Hogansville and loves his community.

He attends church at St. Mary U.M.C and is the chair of the finance department. Michael is a graduate of Callaway High School where he spent his freshman to senior years involved in Air Force JROTC and Clark Atlanta Educational Talent Search. He currently works at Ingles Markets where he started as a cashier and worked his way up to co-manager.

He volunteers at the Elite Basketball Camp, which teaches youth ages 5-14 the fundamentals of basketball and how to become leaders on and off the court. Moreover, he helps feed those in need through the food bank at his church, which gives out food boxes in Hogansville and the surrounding areas.

Michael has been and continues to be committed to improving his community. At the age of 14, he started volunteering with the then local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club.

He looks forward to working with constituents to achieve these goals and ensure a bright future for Hogansville.

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Hogansville is Michael's heart and passion. As a member of the Hogansville City Council, Michael will continue to improve the lives of residents. Two of his primary goals include establishing more activities for the youth and improving city infrastructure.

Hogansville Business Council June 7, 2022 For more information, contact Leslie Traylor at leslie@lagrangechamber.com or 706-884-8671

S M A L L

B U S I N E S S

The Opportunity to Grow

I

n business, growth is paramount and a necessity for most. Whether you are in a new or mature market there are opportunities all around us. How do we choose which to pursue? Glad you asked! Here are a few of the many questions to consider when exploring new opportunities: 1) Does the opportunity match the skillset of the company?

The size or profit from the job may be very attractive but does it fit within the scope of work and abilities of the company? In some instances, a great customer might ask one to look at a job that doesn’t particularly fit with it’s skillset. The temptation is to say yes and figure it out but that can be costly. If it is a relationship that is key to the business, one possible option is to sub the job to another company that is trusted.

No can be just as powerful and fruitful for a company as saying yes.

2) What are the payment terms on the opportunity that is presented?

The opportunity may fit well with the skillset of the company but how quickly will payment be collected? Does the op-

portunity require payment terms? If so, what are the terms? Payment terms can range depending on your industry and customer. 15-120 plus days depending on the customer. In some cases, the clock does not start until the job is completed.

For example, if the job takes 30 days to complete and the payment terms are 30 days then the company will be funding the job from the initial start date almost 60 days before payment is received. Properly planning when it comes to the cash flow of the company is paramount.

3) How much capital does the company have on-hand or access to?

If the company will have to float the opportunity for 60 days how will that affect cash flow? What other jobs are in process?

Are additional projects on the books to start? Will taking on the new opportunity consume most of the cash on-hand? If so, does the company have access to a line of credit or other options to help float the opportunity until payment is received? Cash is the lifeblood of a business. If cash reserves or access to capital for the company are depleted, it can leave the business in a vulnerable position.

4) What level of capacity is the company currently operating at?

If the skillset matches, payment terms are acceptable, and cashflow is in place can the company handle the amount of workload it will require? Capacity is similar to cash flow. If the company is stretched too thin it may leave itself vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances resulting in not completing the job. Understanding the capabilities of your company are key.

Opportunities are out there. When they come a calling (and they will) hopefully these questions will help.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR SMALL BUSINESS? Contact Todd Carlisle with the UGA Small Business Development Center at (706) 569-2651 to schedule a consultation in our LaGrange office.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Adient, LLC

CWG/TalkinTables

Spherion Staffing of Lagrange

Amanda Eiland Hair

Feller Holdings Inc.

Strickland Tax and Accounting

Angel Care Living Assistance Services

Highland Pines Resort and Marina

The Center for Mindful Exploration

Auto Gallery Chevrolet Buick GMC

LEAD Advisors Legacy Ventures

Tiffany Pressley, Allstate Insurance

Baby Dimensions LaGrange

Liberty Communities

Towne Fitness Club

Bellevue/LaGrange Woman's Club

Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, LLC

Trident Truck Rental, LLC

NAOS On-Site Staffing

Truitt Vanderbilt Club, LLC

Purge Nation

Turkey Creek Tents and Events

Bubble Lee Balloon Art Champions Training Academy Chatmans Media, LLC Combat Zone Continental Creative Legacy Group

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Ram Environmental Services Sheer Elegance Event Center SIP Cafe and Wine Room Southern Harbor Resort and Marina

Vann Co. Construction LLC Veterans Roofing Company

We’re OBSESSED with creating PROFITABLE online EXPERIENCES

E-Commerce Consulting

Online Marketing

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Full Service Solutions from Strategy to Implementation EleyDigital is a small team of specialists in online marketing, e-commerce, and web design & development with more than 20 years of experience.

Visit www.eleydigital.com connect@eleydigital.com or call 706.407.1047 to schedule a consultation

www.lagrangechamber.com

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H

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Y

STAYING ON THE SQUARE: Southern Hospitality Since 1828

T

he Square in LaGrange has provided the utmost in Southern hospitality since the city was established in 1828.

Travelers to town around 1830 would have arrived in one of the stagecoaches that ran the route from Griffin to Montgomery, Alabama, via what is now Greenville and West Point Roads. As the stagecoaches neared the center of town, one of the coachmen would sound a horn to signal their impending arrival at LaGrange’s courthouse square.

Centered by a newly built brick courthouse building, the courthouse square offered accommodations for travelers and the community in the form of two taverns.

Nowadays, we think of taverns and bars being synonymous, though in this period taverns were more akin to community centers. Taverns provided lodging and food, a meeting place for friends or groups, a place to exchange gossip or

news, a place to conduct business. Sometimes they would serve as the local post office or an impromptu courthouse if none was available, and a polling place, all in addition to serving alcoholic beverages.

The memories of Maj. Early Baker of Mountville published in the LaGrange Reporter in 1883 provides brief descriptions of two of the taverns operating on the square in the city’s earliest days. “Uncle James Herring, father of Mr. W. H. Herring, was proprietor of the first hotel, which stood on the lot now covered by the Baptist church. Walter P. Browning, whose wife was a sister of Gen. Hugh A. Haralson, built a log tavern on the site of the LaGrange Hotel.”

An early twentieth century postcard image of the Park Hotel.

This is the earliest photographic image of the hotel. From the collections of the TCA.

James Herring arrived with his family in Troup County a short time after receiving land in the 1827 land lottery. The 1830 census shows him and his wife, Mary Stokes, with a number of children and enslaved people in Troup County. He opened his tavern around this time. Little is known about the tavern itself, though we can confirm its location oddly based on an advertisement for a shoe store. One of the few surviving issues of the LaGrange Herald (one of the city’s earliest newspapers) from 1844 has an ad for a new shoe store owned

by James Lowe and George W. Thomas. In describing the location of the store, it notes that the shop is located “on the southeast corner of the Square, directly opposite Mr. Herring’s Tavern,” presumably that this is on the opposite corner of the square, the northwest corner where the First Baptist Church now stands.

The taverns located on the square in LaGrange were likely close in appearance to this tavern, the Vann Tavern, now located at New Echota Historic Site in North Georgia.

Photograph taken 2017 by Thomson200, courtesy of Wikipedia.

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While we know little of the tavern itself, we know a bit more about Mr. Herring.

Previous research reveals that he was “quite eccentric,” perhaps a good quality in a tavern owner, and he was affectionately known to locals as “Uncle James” or “Uncle

H Jimmy.” He was among the first trustees of the LaGrange Female Academy (the earliest predecessor to LaGrange College) in 1831 and served as postmaster for several terms while his tavern (or hotel as it was later called) was the post office. Herring’s operation most certainly was lucrative as he built one of the first brick homes in LaGrange, the fine home that now serves as offices for Houze and Associates at the intersection of Church and Smith Streets.

Returning to the southeast corner of the square where the shoe shop was located in 1844, there was another tavern described by Major Baker: “Walter P. Browning, whose wife was a sister of Gen. Hugh A. Haralson, built a log tavern on the site of the LaGrange Hotel.”

Unfortunately, the information in this single line is all that is known about the establishment and its proprietor.

However, this corner becomes quite a bit more important once the Sims House Hotel was constructed. Few newspapers have survived from the period before and during the Civil War, thus we are unable to determine exactly when the hotel was built, or why it was originally called the Sims House Hotel. However, it is certain to have existed prior to the war and dominated this particular corner for almost a century.

The hotel building that rose on the site of that rough-hewn log tavern was a tremendous improvement. It was a substantial three-story brick building that provided retail space at the street level and two floors of hotel rooms above. The façade was a simple vernacular architecture, plain in design, though an elegant addition to the square. The hotel was operated by

The image of a hotel room interior was taken in August of 1951 by S. Hutchinson.

This is the only known interior image of the hotel. From the collections of the TCA.

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Samuel Curtright, a prominent businessman with several plantations, a saw mill, a cotton brokerage, and a bank under his purview. He also as served as the Judge for the Court of the Ordinary.

After his death in December of 1863, the property passed to Samuel’s son, Frank. Frank’s business, B. F. Curtright & Company, continued to run the hotel. An announcement in a March 1864 issue of the Daily Bulletin (a Virginia newspaper that moved operations here during the Civil War) notes a benefit at the hotel strangely given on behalf of Arkansas troops. Only four months after the end of the war, an advertisement in the LaGrange Reporter states that the hotel and its dining room were open for the public and that the rooms had been newly renovated.

Throughout the remainder of the 19th century, the hotel served as a center of the community hosting balls and galas, weddings and dinners, and a plethora of businesses on its first floor. Managers came and went every few years—some of them changing the name, while others left their mark in more physical ways by renovating and updating the structure. Colonel Lemuel Madison Park, a Confederate veteran, and his father-in-law, Judge Benjamin Bigham, acquired the hotel in the latter years of the century renaming it the Park Hotel. They continued to make improvements to the facilities, so that by 1905 an article in the LaGrange Reporter praised it saying it was “thoroughly up to date and modern in all of its appointments…” with “the very best

The front page of the LaGrange Daily News, April 21, 1953 reporting the destruction of the Park Hotel. From the collections of the TCA.

The ruins of the hotel as seen from Main Street in 1953. From the collections of the TCA. sanitary plumbing. electric return call bell system, and electric lights throughout.”

Despite competition from the Elmrose Hotel just across Main Street, and the Hotel Colonial on Ridley Avenue (which opened its grand Ridley Avenue building in 1926), the Park Hotel continued to serve businessmen, travelers and tourists through the first half of the twentieth century. A trio of businessmen, J. E. Dunson, A. D. Mallory, and Robert Hutchinson, purchased the aging Park Hotel in 1927. As a precaution and to bring the hotel in line with state law, the building was equipped with a fire escape on the front and a fire detector system in 1950.

Three years later, these fire precautions would be put to the test when a fire broke out in the Tasty Sandwich Shop just after 1 AM. Flames from a stove ignited a grease-packed air vent in this 24-hour café on South Court Square. Local firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes of the alarm and were able to quickly rouse the sleeping guests by banging on doors.

While everyone escaped the inferno, the upper floors of the building were a total loss. The flames extinguished hospitality on the square for more than half a century.

After a long absence, hospitality returned to a very different Lafayette Square in 2017 when Marriott International opened one of its Courtyard by Marriott Hotels on the site of the old Mansour’s Department Store. Since opening, this brand-new hotel has continued to attract travelers, tourists, and businessmen to LaGrange by carrying on the tradition of Southern hospitality on the Square.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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PRESENTED BY

TICKETS ON SALE NOW @ SWEETLANDAMP.COM

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

to advertise in

contact

706.884.8671

info@lagrangechamber.com

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May 2022

SPOTLIGHT ON WEST POINT

Cowboys with a Cause

First Responders Pro Rodeo Returns to West Point

O

n March 11th and 12th, the First Responders Crisis Fund held the 2nd Annual First Responders Pro Rodeo. The first rodeo was held before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018.

The First Responders Crisis Fund (FRCF) was born out of a tragic incident in which five firefighters were injured badly burned during a call on Labor Day Weekend back in 2018. The firefighters were so badly injured they were unable to work, prompting members of the community to begin raising money.

Wanting to create a more formal fundraiser for injured first responders, Sgt. Matthew Oubre and his father, brainstormed the idea for the First Responders Pro Rodeo.

Oubre is a Sergeant/EMT with the City of LaGrange Fire Department by trade, but he was born into rodeo. His father, Bubba Oubre, a retired sherriff, was a champion bull rider and steer wrestler and is now the owner and operator of Oubre Rodeo Company. Together, he and his father have put on rodeos throughout the southeast.

Since the inception of their idea, the FRCF has been able to provide funding for medical care, clothes, shoes and much more for first responders in need.

In 2019, funding from the First Responders Pro Rodeo was able to aid a member of the Troup County Marshal’s Office when he and his family sadly lost their home and possessions to a fire. Because of the First Responders Crisis Fund, he and his family were able to purchase clothing and many other items that they desperately needed to start over.

This year, the Rodeo held nine standard events that included Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Bull Riding and others. Entertainment for children including clowns made the event family-friendly. Members from each first responder agency in Troup County volunteered at the event.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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YOUNG

PROFESSIONALS

HYPE is a high impact group of diverse young professionals working together to showcase Troup County as a unique and fun place to work and live. HYPE provides its members with opportunities for building relationships with community and business leaders and cultivates an atmosphere for building personal relationships and a sense of purpose within the community.

HYPE SPOTLIGHT

Donte Lane

HYPE VOLUNTEERS: Members of the HYPE Board partnered with the City of LaGrange in March to help with their efforts in “Keeping LaGrange Better Than We Found It”.

Current Employer: D. Lane Agency Current Title: Owner/ Principal Agent How long have you worked in Troup County: 2 years When you’re not working, what do you like to do: I enjoy spending time with my kids, Taylor and Zach What is your best personal achievement: Winning Lagrange-Troup County Young Professional of the Year Award What are your future plans: I plan to continue to grow my insurance agency while still serving the community.

Favorite Ice Cream: I am not an ice cream person however I enjoy blue slushies!

All-Time Favorite Movie and Why: Life.

One of the funniest movies EVER! "I'm the Pappy!"

If you won $1 million, what would you do with the money: Take a month long vacation and invest the rest into my insurance agency.

Favorite “after work” spot in Troup County: LONGHORN

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May 2022

COFFEE & CONNECTIONS: Hosted at Local Goundz, HYPE heard from Downtown LaGrange Development Authority Executive Director, Bill Hunnicutt and Director of Marketing & Promotions, Barbie Watts for their quarterly Coffee & Connections.

NEW MEMBER KICKOFF: HYPE members gathered for their annual kickoff at Wild Leap in February!

Save the Date!

Saturday, October 29

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Melissa Lau, MD Orthopaedics & Spine Emory Orthopaedics & Spine is proud to announce the addition of Melissa Lau, MD, to our growing orthopaedic practice. At the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, our physiatrists (physicians trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation) specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of acute back and neck pain and injuries.

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May 2022

the care you expect. the professionals you know. a name you trust.

1805 Vernon Rd, LaGrange GA 706.884.2691

www.southernorthopedics.org facebook.com/emoryatlagrange