Story Archive

The Pickens Progress Online archives stories we feel may be of a broad general interest.

For further research please visit the Pickens Library, where past issues of the Progress are available.

 

 

General Articles:

 

Meth Affects Us All

Veggie Voyage

 

 

Published January 11, 2007

Making the grade
Foreign language students, families
get the help they need to succeed

Published January 2, 2007
Eastern Cougars may be officially extinct in Georgia
But close encounters still occur in Pickens County


Inside Dawson Forest
A History of the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory

 

Published December 27, 2006

Local sex offender registrations
up for November but seen as fluke

 

Published December 20, 2006

Larry Kellogg wins Golden Deed
Retiring pharmacist recognized
for prolific community involvement

 

Published December 6, 2006
Owners of Blaine cemetery property
say they have no intentions of selling
Native American group undeterred
in fundraising efforts

 

Published November 30, 2006
Progress marks century
of Edge family management

 

Gunning for gobblers
Turkey shoot keeps
tradition on target

Published November 22, 2006
Deer, highways: A dangerous mix
When collisions occur,
neither driver nor animal conquer

Published November 9, 2006

New contractor hired for Roper hospital demolition
City to impose park curfews
Officials hope to deter vandals, others from lurking at park

 

County holds meeting on millage rate
Budget still not in presentable form

Election review
Turnout higher than expected

Published November 2, 2006
Teacher of the year named
Carrie Stephens known for being leader, supporting all students

An Arbor Obit: Harmony School Road Oak 1906(?)-2006
Large tree cut before becoming safety hazard--Published October 19, 2006


After buying drugs during class
PHS student has near-fatal overdose--Published October 19, 2006

Methamphetamine
takes hold, never lets go


Pre-trial proceedings continue in Quinton Ray murder case
Issues relating to sharing of evidence
and subpoena use by defense heard in court--Published October 26, 2006


Tate tower request denied
by Commissioner Jones--Published October 26, 2006

 

The Veggie Voyage, Part 1
From Georgia to Oregon on $64 of fuel

 

Veggie Voyage Part Two

 

Veggie Voyage, Part 3
Crossing the last Frontier
in vehicle fueled by used veggie oil

 

Latest population statistics show Pickens  growing faster, richer, but driving more --July 12, 2006

Balloon Test used to determine cell tower suitability near historic district June 29, 2006
Crime in Pickens County increasing faster than population
Domestic violence, traffic incidents most commonly reported--Published June 8, 2006
Flu pandemic - it's mainly a matter of when--Published March 23, 2006

County preparing for pandemic flu  -- Published July 5, 2006

Help correct a historical error on the origin of the Trail of Tears, Information on Native American sites in Pickens sought

Downtown businesses to close for Collins funeral, Special bank accounts to benefit children of fallen soldier

Rules of the Roads
Bull Gap and Windy Ridge offer contrasting views
of public/private situations on thoroughfares---Published April 20, 2006


Pilot group makes it official
Deannexation papers for airport filed---Published February 23, 2006

State seeks death penalty for suspected killer,"Torture and depravity" alleged in killing of Sue Ann Ray,
Harold Ray pleads not guilty--Published April 6, 2006

Quinton Ray murder case update, Son's counsel asks for gag order; Ray's father granted bail

Quinton Ray's father charged with helping conceal death of Sueann--Published February 23, 2006

Body believed to be Sueann Ray found, Estranged husband arrested for murder--Published February 16, 2006

No new leads in case of missing Sue Ann Ray

Meth Use Affects Us All Series:

Part One: Meth problem to the point it can't get much worse says veteran GBI agent (Published December 22, 2005)
Part Two: Twelve steps touted as most effective program (Published December 29, 2005)

Part Three: Recovering meth addict determined to help other users quit (Published January 19, 2006)

Anti-Drug Summit highlights problems and proposes solutions to meth epidemic

 

Pickens County  -- City of Jasper government issues

County ad work on new administration building -- former Mountainside campus to be call into use --June 2006

County rezones more than 1,000 acres to open door for subdivisions -- July 2006
Mayor discusses future of Roper Hospital
Downtown Development Authority tells mayor get the building secured--Published June 15, 2006

Dirty Deeds, Former Commissioner challenges county giveaways, Current Commissioner says it's a tradition, DA will look into it---Published on February 2, 2006

County building swap completed
Former hospital bought by county,
Sidebar and Federal buildings sold as part of deal---Published March 23, 2006

No takers for Sidebar -- published September 8, 2005

    Earlier story -- County considering options at Sidebar building

Turbulence Ahead for local airport expansion plans -- published July 21, 2005

    Earlier story -- Funding in place for Airport-Tech Park

Commissioner Jones says land use plan will be adopted by second quarter of 2005

Father, two children killed in auto collision in front of new Home Depot published Dec. 09, 2004

Jasper City Council purchases Cove property

Robert Jones wins commissioner election, other election results

Meeting on lot sizes, erosion control draws large crowd

County officially considering impact fees

Tax rates vary little across North Georgia

Jasper Annexs property over objections from Commissioner  -- Published December 2004

Jail not annexed into city, but will be soon says Mayor -- published Dec. 16, 2004

Highway 53 eyed as prime problem by Transportation Study Group -

 Robert Jones waiting in the wings as commissioner elect   -- published December 2004

Blue Rodeo / Jasper fight over beer sales headed to Ga. Supreme Court

County 911 system fully modernized

City announces crackdown on speeding

Pickens Chamber, businesses, government looking for a "Brand" -- May 2004

Tax Board of Assessors declared invalid, results could jeopardize 2005 tax digest

 

News for local homeowners

• Pickens County housing market sees growing prices, more demand for bigger property--Published April 27, 2006

• POA's may be the wave of the future, but not everyone believes good community associations, make good neighbors published April 7, 2005

• Property Owners urged to file Homestead Exemption  to cut their tax bills  -- published Jan. 20, 200

• Pickens wells provide safe water, but common sense maintenance required

• Pumping the key to septic tank performance

• Price Creek Man cleared of littering charges published summer of 2005 

                Earlier story -- Price Creek Man fined $500 for littering his own property

 

Local dowser sounds ground with brass rods

 

School News

Local schools pass the big test -- all campuses make AYP -- July 2006

Pickens finishes ahead of nearby systems in state CRCT testing July 2006

School looking ahead to high school expanion,other building projects --- June 22, 2006

• Proposed attendance zones draw few parent comments--Published April 13, 2006

• Voters go to polls Tuesday to decide on extending school sales tax--Published March 16, 2006

• Dropout Rate improving here

• Media, internet, phone line keeping parents, students aware of school closings

• Mega-schools or community schools, county needs to decide

• Disciplinary Tribunals may follow state guidelines, but juvenile judge, probation officer sharply critical

 

General Interest

• County continues work on Talking Rock Creek's impaired status--Published April 27, 2005
Related article: Proposal drafted to take Talking Rock Creek off federal list of contaminated streams--Published February 23, 2006

• Pickens Soldier dies in Iraqi War--Published April 13, 2006
• Rules of the Roads, Bull Gap and Windy Ridge offer contrasting views of public/private situations on thoroughfares--Published April 20, 2006

• Get out your dancing shoes, Thursday nights are swinging at the art center--Published March 30, 2006

•Dangers of methamphetamine at PHS "Parents Night Out"

•Pickens parks trailing the pack...Community survey underway on future recreation needs

•Local Celebrity Chef uses blog to bring humor to his cancer treatment -- published August 2005

• Pickens getting bigger and richer according to latest figures -- published July 21, 2005

• Meth use widespread, but local labs not major suppliers -- published summer of 2005

• Drug Summit details growing Meth problem in North Georgia

• Joy House planning for permanent campus for "hurting teens"

•Antique stores gaining foothold in Pickens economy

• BARGAIN BARN to be Rebuilt

• Local land trust rolls out new plans

• Equine economics gaining foothold here

•Piedmont Medical Center buys local hospital

•City fountain to be final work by Jasper artist Eino in this area

•More than 76percent of registered voters turnout as county goes strongly for Bush

•Repeated Four wheeler wrecks in Sandy Bottoms put local rescue workers to the test

• Jasper merchants preparing for growth

• Grisham named Pickens Teacher of Year for 2004

• Polycor Moves Mountain With New Training -- Thursday, 16 Sept. 2004

• Onsite sewage disposal not a magic cure -- published December 2004

• Jasper Merchants report Christmas 2004 sales meet or exceedprevious years sales -- published Jan. 20, 2005

• First wave of commercial growth hits Jasper --published Dec. 09, 2004

Local History / Culture

* Trail of Tears; A vanishing local legacy

* Cherokee Cabin relocated

* Effort underway to preserve gravesite of marble industry founder

* Cherokee Cemetery marked and dedicated

* Plans moving foward for scenic byway in Pickens

* Internet Ghost vanishes in light of investigation