Donna Enis appointed as school board member

Patrick Hall and Vanessa Stancil in a quieter scene of the thought-provoking work now showing at the community theater.

By Bre Donato

Guest reviewer

   There’s no better way to spend an evening than being entertained by the gripping edge-of-your-seat play Greetings!, a laugh-out-loud thought-provoking play at Jasper’s Tater Patch Players Community Theater.  

   The five very experienced Tater Patch actors truly embrace their roles and will have you wholeheartedly along for the ride and eagerly awaiting the next line. This comedy/drama by Tom Dudzick effortlessly entertains while also exploring an important metaphysical theme. 

photo/Angela Reinhardt

A big crowd turned out for the Piedmont Village groundbreaking. Construction is underway, with streets and utilities  in place. Pictured with shovels are (l to r) are Jasper City Manager Brandon Douglas, Pickens Chamber Executive Director Amberle Godfrey, Southern Investment Realty President Neil Hughes, Pickens Commission Chair Rob Jones, and Shelby Feinberg with Piedmont Residential. Developer Gary Copeland can be seen directly behind Feinberg. 

City and county leaders and members of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce gathered Monday morning, June 17, to break ground on a large mixed-use development being touted as a “high-caliber legacy project” many say will positively impact development here.

The Piedmont Village development is located behind Piedmont Mountainside Hospital on Highway 515. The first phase includes 72 townhomes for residents 55 and up. Construction is already underway on this phase. Phase II includes an assisted living facility and more townhomes. Groundbreaking on Phase II is expected sometime next year. Phase III is a retail area that will include a town square, amphitheater, hotels, spas, trails, restaurants and additional medical outparcels. 

Damon Howell / Photo

Jasper Police Chief Greg Lovell testing one of the new thermometers on a car that had been sitting in one place all day Tuesday. Different temperature readings from the dash, console, and floorboard inside the car were all well over 100 degrees. Lovell said it had not been determined what temperature would be considered too hot for animals. 

     At their June meeting, Jasper City Council unanimously approved a graduated fine schedule for people who leave their dogs in cars that officers determine are too hot and dangerous. 

     Fines will be: First Offense - $50; Second Offense - $100; Third Offense - $150.

During hot summer months, the city police department and animal control office receive numerous calls reporting dogs left in parked vehicles. Jasper Police Chief Greg Lovell said the new fines will give them a tool to address issues, but noted his department will use “lots of discretion.” The fine schedule will allow them to issue citations in certain

In the early days of Decoration, graves were decorated with live flowers or ones made with crepe paper. Today, nearly all the flowers used are artificial.

Decoration was held in Hinton last Sunday at the outdoor Arbor, a tradition that’s been around for many years in the patch of Pickens County’s west end that lays claim to being one of the oldest sites of the Christian religion here, pre-dating the creation of the county itself. 

“For the second Sunday every June for as long as I can remember Decoration and Homecoming have been going on here,” said Johnny Barnes. Barnes is a life-long resident of Hinton and a retired FFA teacher.