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The Paper | Thursday, March 27, 2014
WELCOME
Continued from 1A The Consular Corps gathered in front of the Long Monument for placement of a red carnation wreath honoring Doctors’ Day. Ryan Gurley of Crawford W. Long Pharmacy placed the wreath. Along with the U.S. flags, the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Jefferson Rotary Club, placed flags of the home countries of Jackson County’s international firms on Jefferson’s Public Square. Flags from Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and other countries displayed. Representatives from these firms were on hand to great their respective Consulate Generals. International firms represent more than $1.5 billion in investment and more than 2,000 jobs to Jackson County. As a part of their trip, tour guests were briefed on Economic Development activities by Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO/ Economic Development Director F.J. “Josh” Fenn. In his welcome given inside the Pendergrass Store, Plott said Jefferson is a family community with lots of young people and great schools ranking in the top 10 in the state. During the recession, Plott said Jefferson was busy doing its homework and expanding its water system and constructing a new library and police station. Now that new industrial and residential permitting is taking place, the city is prepared for that growth. He reminded that industrial expansion was taking place even during the recession and noted that development is also taking place in Braselton with recent announcements by Hitachi and Mizuno. He pointed to community and school theatre and school and recreational sports as quality of life
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Bruce Allen, a retired dermatologist, and Romuadla Klicius, a pediatrician, were the “pair of docs” touring the Crawford W. Long Museum as a part of the VIP Tour. Both said they enjoyed the tour.
The VIP Tour group gathered with local and county officials for a photograph in front of the Long Monument after Ryan Gurley of Crawford W. Long Museum placed the red carnation wreath in honor of Doctors’ Day observed nationally on March 30. See more scenes from the tour visit to Jefferson at ClickThePaper.com
enhancements, making Jefferson a wonderful place to be. Plott said when he retired from Georgia Power a decade ago, he and wife Debra moved to Jefferson. “We enjoy this life,” said Plott, who noted he and his wife are both invested in the community. “We want to see it nurtured.” Jackson County Commission Chairman Tom Crow also issued a welcome. He noted that Jackson County is also known for its agriculture. The county ranks among the top 10 in the state for cattle production and ranks in eggs and chicken production as well. “Many don’t know how agriculture-based we are,” said Crow, who spoke of one egg producer who produces 1.3 million eggs a day. “Now that’s a lot of omelets.” Crow said he has spent nearly 70 years in Jackson County, noting that his roots are deep in the county as he parents traded in his store. He said as the community develops there remains a commitment to preserving the heritage of Jefferson and Jackson County.
This was the seventh tour for Dr. Bruce S. Allen, Honorary Consul of the Consulate of the Principality of Liechtenstein. He credits Georgia’s unique way of showcasing different regions of the state. He is the consular for 10 states and Georgia is the only one which provides a tour experience. “That is why Georgia excels,” he said. He also credits the state’s QuickStart program which helps ready the needed workforce. Allen is a doctor, although he is not currently a practicing dermatologist as is his wife, so he and fellow tour-goer, Romuadla Klicius, a pediatrician, particularly enjoyed the Crawford W. Long Museum. Klicius was on her third tour and she said the tour exposed her to information about Dr. Long that she never knew. “It’s amazing. I learned a lot.” “This is doubly meaningful for Roma and me,” said Allen. At the Monday Jefferson City Council meeting, Mayor Plott expressed thanks for the citywide effort related to the recent Beth Laughinghouse, Vicki Starnes,
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Andy Garrison and Laura Collier were credited for readying the Crawford W. Long Museum for the special tour. He shared an email Garrison, who portrayed Dr. Long and Dr. Pendergrass for the visitors, received from one of the tour participants. “Thank you very much ... for the tremendous hospitality that you and the people of Jefferson showed the members of the consular corps,” wrote Allen. “We had a fabulous time and many of my colleagues agreed with me that the visit to the CWL Museum was a highlight of the entire tour. It was both fun and informative, and the planners in Jefferson did a perfect job of making it delightful in every respect for the foreign diplomats. Thank ‘all y’all’ (the plural of y’all) very much indeed.” He said he intends to bring his wife to Jefferson for a visit. Plott also thanked Susan Russell, the street department and city hall for their involvement. He noted the Jefferson Rotary Club as-
sisted in getting the flags out, and he thanked the existing international industries for their participation including Deutz, Buhler Quality Yarns, Kubota, Resilux and Toyota. Plott said you can’t buy better advertising than to have a chance to be on the VIP Tour and showcase what Jefferson and Jackson County have to offer to other international interested in seeking to expand or locate in the United States. The Georgia Department of Economic Development hosts the Consular Corps annually and Plott said international interest in Jackson County will be furthered as a result of the visit, said Ploott. “Every year the International VIP Tour shows off a ‘slice’ of Georgia to our Consular Corps,” said Abby Turano, Chief of Protocol, State of Georgia, GDEcD. “The tour is an opportunity to familiarize our VIP Tour guests with destinations they might not have otherwise seen. The mutual benefit is tremendous, as the tour forges long-lasting friendships and business connections.”
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Jackson County Commission Chairman Tom Crow and Jefferson Mayor Roy Plott welcomed the participants of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s International VIP Tour to the community. (R) Andy Garrison portrayed Dr. Long and Dr. Pendergrass as a part of the tour of the Crawford W. Long Museum and Pendergrass Store.
POLICE REPORT Jackson County Sheriff’s Office ■■ A man who said he was assaulted after he was shorted during a drug transaction was taken by a friend to Northridge Medical Center for treatment. The battery occurred on March 22 and the man sustained injuries to his face and several cuts to the back of his head. Deputies were given the name of a possible suspect. ■■ A Hoods Mill Road resident called 911 when two persons knocked on the door asking for a hammer. The complainant thought it was suspicious and told the people to leave. The responding deputy located a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 441 and learned they had tried to get a hammer to help remove a flat tire after one of the lug nuts on the tire stripped out. A passenger in the car was wanted on a warrant from Barrow County so he was transported to the county line where a Barrow deputy took custody of
the man. ■■ A New Cut Road resident reported damage to two mailboxes on March 20. A driver had lost control and left the roadway, damaging the mailboxes and 20 feet of guardrail. The vehicle was left in the woods. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and said he picked up his daughter at 5 a.m. after the wreck. The daughter said she had fallen asleep while driving, struck the guardrail and rolled the vehicle. ■■ Deputies responded to assist at the scene of a one-vehicle accident on Sandy Creek Road at Wheeler Road on March 22. The Ford Grand Torino caught fire and firefighters responded. The driver was on the ground across the road from the mishap but said he was fine. He smelled of alcoholic beverages and is facing driving under the influence charges. The Georgia State Patrol investigated the wreck. ■■ A Talmo resident reported damage to a 2013 Toyota Scion which was caused by her boyfriend on March 20
Fraud charges filed The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation March 6 relating to fraudulent activity on a citizen’s checking account. The victim reported that someone had used his check card information to make several unauthorized purchases. The investigation led deputies to stores in the Atlanta area. On March 17, the Sheriff’s Office obtained warrants on Sheondra N. Mason, 23, of Jonesboro. Mason is charged with four counts of financial transaction card fraud. She
has not yet been arrested. Citizens are encouraged to notify their local law enforcement agencies of any suspicious persons, crimes or other relevant information by calling 911 or the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 706- 367-8718. Also please remember that you can provide information without being involved or identified by contacting the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office’s anonymous tip line at 706-367-3784 to report any criminal or suspicious activity.
YMCA after he took the vehicle without permission. They were at a friend’s house drinking when the boyfriend grabbed the keys, left in the car and apparently struck a fixed object before leaving the damaged car at another location. ■■ A Maysville resident reported damage to a flower bed caused by a red Chevrolet Jimmy on March 21. The complainant said she yelled for the vehicle to stop. A deputy located a vehicle matching the description nearby and the driver said she did not stop out of fear. The complainant did not want to press charges but wants repairs made. ■■ A criminal trespass was reported March 20 in the Emily Lane area. Four persons located as they walking in the woods around 10:30 p.m. said they were exploring. They were advised they could not trespass onto other people’s property without their permission. ■■ Deputies logged a report from a Guy Cooper Road resident on March 19. A vehicle was taken without permission and driven out of state. The vehicle was recovered. See more law enforcement reports at ClickThePaper.com
Continued from 1A added to further enhance the quality of life for families. At the March 13 meeting of the Braselton Rotary Club, Putman shared some of the history of the YMCA, which was founded in 1844. The first Y in the United States was opened in Boston in 1851. The Brad Akins YMCA in Winder got its start in 1999 when Judge Clyde Thomas approached Buddy Ouzts, then mayor of Winder, about having a Y in Winder so that he and his wife would no longer have to travel to Athens for their Y experience. Diane Brantley would be the community’s driving force to fundraise and boost support to make Thomas’ vision for a Y a reality. The Y’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. With that purpose in mind, Putman said each Y activity begins with prayer. She said she is proud to be a part of an organization where prayer is so important. Putman also spoke of the core values which the Y teaches children including caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. With child care and summer day camps, after school programs and Pre-K, the Y offers
pediatrics SeemaBisht-Nadler M.D., F.A.A.P • Robyn Lance FNP-BC Michelle Shand CPNP • Maria Brotoeva FNP-BC
Same day appointments English/Spanish • We accept all major insurances and Medicaid
678-450-0747 3030 McEver Rd., Suite 130 • Gainesville, GA 30504 (Located across from Free Chapel)
enrichment for the lives of children who can also be involved in swimming, karate, ballet, soccer, basketball , football, cheerleading and more. For adults, there are wellness programs including Zumba and aquatics and sports such as tennis. Seniors can connect with friends, health and wellness through Silver Sneakers. The YMCA of Georgia’s Piedmont is also involved in the community with sponsorship of the Summer’s End 5000, Winder’s largest 5K held each August, volunteering at the Mobile Food Pantry, feeding 28 families weekly, serving as a charter organization for the Boy Scouts and hosting events. The Healthy Kids Day, a nationwide YMCA event held every April that is hosted for the community to show children that being healthy is fun. Set for April 12, it is coordinated with an Easter egg hunt, a collaboration between Bethlehem First Baptist Church and the YMCA. Community children come out to meet the Easter bunny and hunt eggs for prizes. The YMCA Share the Spirit campaign is conducted annually to raise the
$150,000 which is provided in financial assistance so that families can be a part of the Y. Grants, including a recent $15,000 Operation Round Up grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation. Putman said an example of what the Share the Spirit funds can do was the opportunity provided for a grandmother raising her two grandsons after the death of their mother to get half off family membership. The Y scholarship helped to fill the void in the boys’ lives and allow the grandmother to return to full-time work to support the family. The Y’s programming is helping to raise those children. Putman said the next step for the Braselton community would be to make contact with her to show an interest in determining if a Y presence would be supported. She would then contact national about conducting a feasibility study. The Brad Akins Branch of the Y is located at 50 Brad Akins Drive in Winder. Call 770-868-2917. You can also visit gapiedmontymca.org or follow the YMCA of Georgia’s Piedmont on Facebook. Contact Putman at angie@ gapiedmontymca.org
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