A Look Back at 2019

The pages of The Monticello News in 2019 were filled with news about people. The News began a “Know Your Neighbor” series last February, which continued most weeks throughout the year. That gave people insight into several of their neighbors.

In addition, our “News on Vacation” series continued, showcasing many Jasperites who took The Monticello News with them on vacation—whether to the beach or to countries far away. Most of the reports were merely a photo and cutline, but a few readers shared their whole vacations with us, including the Harty family who visited three countries last summer, Dan Jordan’s trek through Japan, and Betty Jean Jordan who participated in a bike ride in France.

In addition, we try to report (when we learn of it) on milestone birthdays and anniversaries, career advancements, and more, and the pages of The News reflected much of that. There were at least two couples who celebrated their 50th anniversary, and one couple, Chick and Mary Ellen Wilson, celebrated 68 years of marriage.

Some who made The News included Cody Batchelor and Jarrell Jamont Bogan who became attorneys, Dionka Jackson was promoted to principal at Jasper County Middle School, ML&J named new coordinators, “Miss Janet Davis” turned 90 years old, Alton Standifer who is now assistant to the president at the University of Georgia; Keri Roach, long time 4-H’er became a counselor, and Walt Davis, the son of a couple at Turtle Cove was name the state’s first business court judge. Mack Brady made a name for himself as a caddy for a famous golfer. Leah Campbell was named to the state’s Parent Advisory Council; Michele Celani, who spearheaded the Smithsonian exhibit here received a presidential citation; Susan Holmes announced her run for re-election, and Joe Reed of Forsyth, an independent, announced he would challenge the long time state representative. Long-time dentist O.J. Barron announced his retirement as well in 2019.

The Smithsonian exhibit which is currently on display at the Visitors’ Center on the Square was promoted through much of the year. It was announced at the end of January and old photos ran throughout the year. Jasper County was one of only six counties in Georgia to host the traveling exhibit. The exhibition was kicked off with a film premiere in November before the exhibition arrived. Many Jasperites were interviewed to tell their thoughts on “Crossroads; Change in Rural America.”

The exhibition will continue for five years, visiting six counties in each of four other states before taking its final rest at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

Centennial families and farms were recognized as part of the Smithsonian exhibit, and The News plans to get to know them better in 2020.

Another big event in 2019 was the album release of Trisha Yearwood’s Every Girl. Trisha retraced her steps from her hometown of Monticello to Nashville, with several signings along the way. In Monticello, she did not turn anyone away, and did not get through signing until after 3 a.m. The town rallied to welcome her home, and The News pages reflected numerous photos of Trisha with her fans.

News from local schools filled each issue of The News. And there was lots of news. Long-time superintendent Mike Newton resigned and the board hired Kenny Garland to take the helm. Meanwhile, Piedmont Academy welcomed a new headmaster, Clint Welch, as Tony Tanner retired from that position.

Two Jasper County High School science teachers—Elizabeth Proctor and Scottiann Benton—were honored and received cash awards for innovations in the classroom. In addition, for the second year a group of students under Mrs. Proctor’s tutelage won the Lexus eco-challenge, netting the students $10,000. One group won in the winter of 2019, so the 2018-2019 school year, and another group recently won for the 2019-2020 school year. They advance to a national competition, and could win even more.

There was much talk through the year about school “branding,” with the high school going by different names for athletics and academics. Jasper County’s high school sports teams have long been known as the Monticello Hurricanes, and the academic teams compete in the name of Jasper County High School. School Board member Dr. Shannon Barton said that the local athletes were missing out on opportunities because of the name differences. For example, on a sports website, Maxpreps, Monticello High School doesn’t exist, so scouts don’t see the stats of local athletes. After several months of debate and discussion, the board voted to request the Georgia High School Association update their registry to show Jasper County, Monticello High School.

The pages of this paper frequently showcased local 4-H’ers who excelled at fairs, as well as at District Project Achivement, and in many leadership roles throughout the year. Jasper 4-H offers a chance to grow in a number of areas.

There were several elections during the year, with a special election in the spring to name a county commissioner for District 4, after Craig Salmon resigned. Gerald Stunkel won that seat. Two people sought that seat. Also elected was Andrea Brown to Jasper County Probate Judge after Linda Keller resigned. No one ran against Mrs. Brown.

Then the city of Monticello had an election with two council persons and the Mayor Pro Tem positions up for election. Stone Workman did not seek re-election to the Mayor Pro-Tem post which will be filled by Gail Harrell who beat Bobby Jacobs for the position.

The newly elected officials were only part of the new look for the city. A new City Clerk was hired, and began work in June, while Peggy Billerman again served as interim city manager. Then a new city manager, Tim Young, was hired, making staffing complete at the city.

Speaking of elections, Commission Chair Carl Pennamon was elected again as chair, by a split vote, as there were only four commissioners at the first meeting when that vote takes place. The commissioners agreed to re-visit the chairmanship after a fifth commissioner was elected, but that never happened.

The county named Roger Minter the new Recreation Director after Jonathan Green resigned to take a teaching position.

There were many public facility changes, with the renovated and refurbished Senior Center re-opening, and the health department closing at its long-time home to move down the street to the edge of town in the building that had held an assisted living facility. The cannery was also sold by the county to the Development Authority of Jasper County (DAJC).

In addition to the public facilities, there were many changes on the retail side as well. Sunrise Gifts and Thrift Store moved to Venture Court so the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) could sell the building. Several downtown businesses opened, changed hands, moved, or changed offerings. It was an interesting year which saw three new restaurants open in town—La Eskina Mexican Restaurant, Five Loaves and City Grocery.

Monticello Baptist Church bought the properties adjacent to it to build an addition, so the doctor’s office which had long been located on Greene Street, as well as Monticello icon Meme’s House were moved. The doctor’s office was moved whole, and Meme’s House was dismantled and moved in pieces to be partially restored at another location.

The Jasper County Courthouse became “secure,” with visitors now having to go through a metal detector before entering.

Of course, a review of the pages of The Monticello News wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the many disasters that were reported—fires, wrecks, a freak accident that resulted in a six-year-old losing his life, and more.

Jasper County deputies were perseverant as usual, and made several drug arrests, with some being fairly large. The year started out with a big drug arrest and they continued throughout the year. Deputies also had their hands full investigating burglaries and robberies, with Joseph’s Package Store, the Hideaway and John’s Market being broken into in the city, and Tyson’s Country Store in the county. An armed robbery occurred at the park in Shady Dale, and the perpetrators were caught.

And, if there are arrests, then those persons must be adjudicated. There was court almost every week with reports of life imprisonment for a child molester to jail time for several repeat offenders who couldn’t seem to complete his or her requirements on probation. Trials, however, were few and far between.

High school sports were reported on weekly in the pages of The News, whether good, bad or ugly. The middle school basketball Canes were undefeated and won the Piedmont area championships. The Piedmont Cougar baseball team fell in the semi-final round of state ending its state title reign at five. The Cougar football team improved as the season progressed, and ended up playing for a state title, but fell short.

No mention of high school sports would be complete without addressing the new athletic complex at Jasper County High School. It was originally anticipated to be complete by the beginning of football season, but then the opening was put off until October. More rain and delays, and it is not yet open. The baseball/softball field opened before ladies’ softball was over, but the football field has not yet been used. Officials anticipate soccer being played at the new complex this year, and the new football season will kick off there.

Another new venue that ground was broken for in 2019 is a new Monticello Kart Racing (MKR) track. MKR is a group of go-cart racers who race for fun, and often for charity. They have an upcoming race to benefit Bubba Pope, one of their group, who has been diagnosed with cancer. MKR has done so much good in the community that its founder, Terry McMichael was the 2018 Citizen of the Year. Monticello Drugs was honored as Business of the Year.

Of course The News pages covered many events that happen annually—the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) honoring a student and teacher with the 2018 winner begin Amerika Strickland and her teacher Michael Cooper, Black History celebrations, Talent and Art Showcase, Seuss on the Loose, Teachers and Support persons of the Year, Market on the Square, graduation, the Shady Dale rodeo, the Mexico mission trip, musical theatre camp, Jackson Lake Poker Run, Back-to-School, the News football contest, the Deer Festival Pageant and subsequent Deer Festival, Veterans’ Day observances, and the Christmas parade.

Meanwhile, Piedmont Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Jasper Memorial Hospital was the recipient of two large donations—one from Ameris Bank and one from the L.O. Benton Foundation. It also opened a new state of the art mammography center.

Jasper County lost several of its loved ones throughout the year, including Sergeant-Major of the Army, Billy Connelly, L.O. Benton, III, Grace Turcker, centenarian Dorothy Mygatt, Dante Campbell, Marcus Davis, J.R. Cobb, and many others too numerous to list, but definitely causing heartbreak for their loved ones. 2020 is bound to bring more of the same as well as much that we cannot even imagine. The News will continue to report on Jasperites, and stay on top of the news! Stay tuned!