Camera traffic enforcement in school zones considered

Proudly wearing his veteran's cap, Roy Hughes recently celebrated his 100th birthday. The World War II veteran was awarded six Bronze Stars during his service.

By Larry Cavender

Progress contributor

Birthdays are a common occurrence, obviously, because everyone has one every year. However, a local veteran recently celebrated a birthday that, literally, happens only once in a century.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30th, Roy Hughes celebrated his 100th birthday at a party held for him at the Pickens County Senior Center in Jasper. When asked to what he attributes his longevity, he replied, "Get up. Get out. Get involved. Because if you just sit around, you'll die." He added, "I nearly lost it when I lost my wife." 

For the second year, Fainting Goat Vineyard, Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center, and IWeLife events have teamed up to bring a unique 5K event to Pickens County this December 7.  

“It’s definitely got a climb, and we don’t hide the fact that it’s hilly, but what you go up you come back down,” event organizer Sean Pfister of IWeLife events said of the route that takes participants along a portion of Burnt Mountain on Highway 136. The route begins at Vineyard Way and heads down Highway 136 to the lower overlook, then back up Highway 136 past Fainting Goat, then back to the vineyard to finish. 

photo / Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's Office

Investigators inside Bee's Home Cookin' restaurant at 660 West Church Street in Jasper. Fire crews were dispatched at approximately 10:12 p.m. the evening of November 5. 

         Bee’s Home Cookin’ owner Tyler Suarez has been arrested for 1st degree arson for a fire that occurred at the West Church Street restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

         According to a statement from Jasper Fire Chief Steve Roper, the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office, which assisted with investigations along with their K-9 units, presented evidence to a local judge on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m.

            With a very low 9.9 percent turnout, Pickens voters overwhelmingly approved the SPLOST in the November 5 election, with almost 68 percent of the voters casting ballots supporting the sales tax.

            In all 1,468 people voted in favor of the 6-year plan expected to produce $37 million in one penny sales tax to fund road paving, parks and pay off development debts at the airport in addition to public safety funding and some money for the cities.

            The SPLOST was the only countywide race on the ballot and overall only 2,212 people voted in either early voting or at the polls Tuesday out of 22,335 registered voters.

            Commission Chair Rob Jones, who waited on the results at the Pioneer Road elections office, said in a brief comment that he was very pleased with the results as “it will allow us to proceed on schedule with our development.”

            In other action: Jasper and Talking Rock voters said serve me bartenders with both municipalities approving alcohol ordinances. In Jasper 71 percent of the voters were in favor of earlier serving times on Sundays for restaurants, moving it up to 11 a.m.

    And in Talking Rock 10 voters said yes to allowing businesses to serve alcohol by the drink while 2 cast negative votes.

Check back at this website tomorrow for Nelson city council vote totals.