Digest increases; County proposes rollback millage rate

A scene from last year's Marble Festival Road Race. 

         Registration is going on now for the 39th annual Marble Festival Road Race, on Saturday, October 5. The 5K race starts at 8 a.m. on North Main Street, near the historic Old Pickens County Jail. The course is USATF certified, relatively flat, and has a fast, downhill finish. It’s followed by a 1-mile Fun Run at approximately 9 a.m., which starts at the corner of North Main and Spring streets. 

Organized by the Jasper United Methodist Women, proceeds from the Marble Festival Road Race fund the ministries of the Dorcas Circle whose focus is to be in service to women and children in our community. Thanks to the

photo/John Hafner

         Archery hunters will get to hit the woods beginning Saturday, Sept. 14 for their chance at bringing home some venison, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). 

Last year, 80,000 archery hunters harvested almost 48,000 deer. Statewide, hunters can use archery equipment throughout the entire 2019-2020 deer season.  

“It’s hard to believe that deer season is almost here. Let’s hope we get another nice cold snap on September 14th,” said state deer biologist Charlie Killmaster.  “A Georgia deer can yield anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds of

                Alex Nawrocki (L) as Norman is comforted by Kerry Rosewall, as Ethel.

This heartwarming and funny play by Ernest Thompson, is about a couple who are "not middle aged" anymore. 

Ethel and Norman Thayer have been married for a very long time and have been coming to their cabin on Golden Pond, in Maine, every summer. This summer seems a little different because  the Thayer's daughter, Chelsea, makes a rare appearance at the cabin. She has her boyfriend and his son in tow. Things take a surprise turn and the Thayers lives change in many ways. The play is more wonderful than the movie was, and the intimacy of our theater will help it reach the heart of every theater-goer.

Max Caylor / Photo

After bogging down in JeepFest’s mudpit Sunday afternoon, this man decided to have a little fun when he surprised the crowd with a daring back flip off the bumper. Trey Barnes dazzled the crowd with a backflip off his front bumper going head over heels into the blog. See more photos of JeepFest on pages 11-12A.

Staff reports

The 9th annual Sheriff’s JeepFest saw the off-road event in Marble Hill with a modest increase in registered Jeep owners and what appeared to be smaller spectator crowds.

Organizers reported Monday that 2,340 owners registered Jeeps for events between the Thursday night ride and final day on the trails and obstacle course Sunday.

Spectators can park and watch the obstacle course and see other entertainment for free so there is no accurate way to get a total, but it was thought to be a smaller general public crowd this year.