The Old Pickens County Jail: Curating the Past, Present, and Future

UPDATED STORY IN THIS WEEK'S PRINT OR ONLINE EDITIONS. 

   A large area at the rear of the Home Depot parking lot has been roped off where a shooting occurred the afternoon of June 11. The GBI has been called in to assist with investigations. 

            Jasper officials have confirmed a shooting in the parking lot at Home Depot in Jasper at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, June 11. 

            Few details are available at this very early stage in the investigation, but according to Jasper's Asst. Police Chief Matt Dawkins two people were involved in the incident and at least one person was shot and injured. No officers were involved. A large area of the Home Depot parking lot where the shooting occurred has been taped off for investigations. 

            The GBI arrived on the scene just before 4:30 p.m. to assist. Asst. Chief Dawkins said the GBI will release more details as they are available.  

The Pickens County Library is closed for the next 10-12 months during renovations. 

        The Pickens County Library in Jasper, located at 100 Library Lane, has closed to the public to prepare for upcoming renovations and expansions of its facilities through 2021. While the library is closed, a temporary, limited-service library location called “Pickens Grab & Go” is now available inside the Mountain Education Charter High School building, located at 339 West Church Street. The Grab & Go location is open Sundays from 2 p.m.- 6 p.m., Mondays thru Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.- 8 p.m., and Fridays thru Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Current conditions at Pickens Street park, which Mayor Green says is in disrepair and in desperate need of quality upgrading.

Following the city of Nelson’s regular city council meeting Monday, June 7, Mayor Sylvia Green issued a statement about problems she has with some council members and their vote against  funding improvements to a park on Pickens Street. 

The Pickens Street park is located on the same property as an old water tower, and straddles the Pickens and Cherokee county line. There is an aging basketball court at that location. At the meeting, council was presented with artist renderings and voted on construction drawing estimates for the park project. Council

      Historian and author Larry Cavender will be the featured speaker at the June 22nd meeting of the Ball Ground Historical Society.

     After more than a year of suspended meetings because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Ball Ground Historical Society is resuming their regular monthly meetings.

Following an outdoor May meeting held at the Ball Ground Botanical Gardens, the historical society will resume their indoor meetings on Tuesday, June 22nd at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler House Barn located at 510 Gilmer Ferry Road with a special program honoring local veterans.

Larry Cavender, local historian and author, will be the featured speaker and will be relating the heroic stories of several local combat veterans. The stories are garnered from Cavender's latest book, Thank You for Your Service - A Tribute: Inspiring True Stories of Uncommon Valor and Sacrifice of Unsung Military Heroes. The