As COVID cases rise, Kemp urges vigilance for Thanksgiving

A photo of the new Nativity set purchased with funds donated from the community has arrived in time for the holidays. Public invited to event made possible through successful fundraiser.

The story of the Nativity that’s displayed at the Pickens Courthouse each Christmas is long and convoluted, with ownership and responsibility of the set changing hands over the years. The Nativity’s story came to a head in 2019 when it was noticeably missing from the lawn during the annual tree lighting ceremony. Members of the community went to social media with complaints. 

But after a year-long fundraiser organized by a private citizen a new Nativity has been purchased and is scheduled to be set up at a public event this Saturday. 

Local business owner Marla Renner spearheaded the fundraising effort, which has collected over $5,000 since last December. The set was delivered to Jasper on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

     Peyton Franco and Jake Anderson (l-r) completed an impressive area for the Catholic Church on Refuge Road as their Eagle Scout projects.

From Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church

Becoming an Eagle Scout is a major accomplishment that requires the candidate to “plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or their community.” 

For their Eagle Scout project, local Scouts Peyton Franco, son of Jose and Alana Franco, and Jake Anderson, son of Marc and Dana Anderson, chose to build a beautiful stone firepit with amphitheater

Book-in photos/Pickens Sheriff’s Office

Former Pickens judge Allen Wigington and Rosemary Wigington.

      On Thursday, Nov. 19th a Grand Jury indicted former Pickens’ chief magistrate judge Allen Wigington on 57 counts related to financial fraud and theft. Wigington’s wife Rosemary Wigington, a Pickens High School teacher, was arrested after the Grand Jury indicted her on two counts of Theft by Taking in the same case. 

     The financial crimes case against former judge Wigington, a 25-year employee of county government, began when he was originally arrested in January of this year. At that time he was charged with improper use of a county credit card and for writing checks from the magistrate court to cover money investigators say he stole as treasurer of the

Submitted by Haley Bouchie

Jasper Merchants Association

The virus is trying to steal Christmas. Just like the folks in Whoville, we cannot let that happen.

With coronavirus running rampant through our country, we are trying to bring some sort of normal to our lives. The Jasper Merchant’s Association has been working hard these last few weeks trying to come up with a way to have a Christmas parade while keeping the safety of our citizens first. We have a solution - a drive-thru parade on Saturday, December 5th, but now we need your help.

What we need from the public