Good-bye Sage and Better Hometown Program

Whether your realize it or not, Monticello stands out on the Georgia map for a lot of reasons.

Yes, it is basically the center of the state. Yes, it is Trisha Yearwood’s hometown. Yes, it is a community of caring people which may not actually show on the map but does show to most everyone who enters.

People in the tourism business have told us repeatedly that Monticello is the poster child for many other communities. Our Market Festival on the Square is being emulated throughout the state…and nation.

People from many miles away know Monticello because of the movie, My Cousin Vinny.

One local lady, Sage Edwards, realized that was one thing we were known for, so she shamelessly promoted it, creating the “My Cousin Vinny” tour. She prevailed upon local folks to play the parts of several characters in the movie, and put on a short version (with the original ending) in the local Courthouse for tour groups.

That same lady is responsible for the hot air balloon and jazz festival that an increasing number of people have enjoyed each October for the last four years or so.
And, not forgetting her heritage, she worked tirelessly for participants for an annual Black history program at the visitors center each February for Black History Month. Memorial Day, which had claimed no local celebration, became the weekend for the Catfish and Blues festival.

Her vision, and hers alone, to have a children’s parade around the Monticello Square has come alive the last few years. Santa Claus leads children on their bicycles, scooters, in wagons, on tricycles, etc., around the Square. The children decorate their transportation for the holidays. Afterwards, Santa sits patiently and hears the desires of each little boy and girl. It is a delight to behold.

When Monticello and Jasper County celebrated their 200th birthdays back to back in 2007 and 08, Sage pushed ahead trying to get them noticed and celebrated with little help. The bicentennial dinner held last December will long be remembered by all those who attended.

I remember “brown bag Thursdays,” in the spring and fall when Sage tried to get Monticelloans to recognize what they had here. She had musicians on the Square and those of us who worked on or around the Square were encouraged to bring their lunch, or better yet, purchase locally, a lunch, and enjoy it outside on the Square and maybe even relate with your neighbors.

Many of us have attended conferences, listened to officials and see with our own eyes, that tourism is indeed an industry. It is the cleanest industry about. And it is one Jasper County can attract. And it brings dollars to the community.

Sage knows that. And she worked tirelessly to bring tourists to Monticello. While here, they often learned of other tourism opportunities throughout the county…many of them nature-based. Sage knew how to bring people to town.
And, she knew how to work with others, and add to what was already working. The annual Jasper County Deer Festival attracts thousands. So, a few years ago she added the “deer stand derby” an added attraction. Businesses, clubs, and others built non-motorized cars to race down the hill on Funderburg Drive…along the lines of the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby, but these cars had helmeted drivers who took off, supporting their cause.

Last year, she added the Deer on Parade, where individuals, clubs and businesses were encouraged to create deer, and a tour was planned. It didn’t take off like she had hoped, but like many of her ideas, it would take a little nurturing. I’m sure there would have been more deer this year if we still had a Better Hometown program.

Those of us who attend Team Jasper will try to get Sage to stick around and cook for us whenever she can. Her breakfasts are known far and wide for their tastiness, variety and abundance.

Unfortunately, most of these programs that Sage started will end this year. And, new ones are not likely to begin.

The city of Monticello, in its effort to cut budget demands chose to do away with the Better Hometown Program. It cost the city a little more than $30,000, for a tireless, optimistic, hard-working visionary to help welcome people in the visitor’s center, and coordinate all these programs with little or no funds.

The Better Hometown Program came under the city’s budget last year….before that it it was an independent program. Sage needed health insurance, and that could only happen if she was a city employee.

She was told she could not do fund raising, but the city did not provide her with a budget. However, for the last year, we have not noticed. She has pushed forward, and continued to put Monticello on the map. But next Tuesday, June 30, ends the city’s fiscal year, and Ms. Edwards’ tenure as Better Hometown Director. She will be sorely missed.

Sage probably did more to bring tourists to Monticello than any other one person in the last decade. We’ve had others, and other good workers, but Sage has been there almost five years, and let’s face it, sometimes repetition is necessary before people catch on. Some of the programs were not a success the first time. But, Sage didn’t get disillusioned. She kept on, and people caught on.

But the vivacious lady who worked and pushed to keep it going, no longer has a job.

Sage still loves Monticello. Jasper County is her home, and she is proud of it. But, work is necessary.

So, you can be sure she will be on the Square this Saturday, June 28, the last Saturday that it is part of her job to be there. She’ll certainly be there on future Saturdays, because she wants to be.

But, those of us who recognize what she has done for this community and know how much we are going to miss her, better come this Saturday, because after that it is hit or miss. She, like the rest of us, will visit the Square when she can on Saturday, but she won’t be an anchor.

I’m going to see Sage on the Square Saturday, and tell her how much I appreciate her. I hope I’m not the only one.