Ralston dedicates Cecil Mathews Memorial Bridge in Ellijay

Community, News

ELLIJAY, Ga. – A new sign for the Cecil Mathews Memorial Bridge stands on the roadside just at Turniptown Creek just before you get to the shops at Whitepath Commons when traveling from Ellijay. A simple brown sign stands for a man of Ellijay’s history.

Mathews

Georgia Speaker of the House, David Ralston speaks at the dedication ceremony of the Cecil Mathews Memorial Bridge on September 14, 2021.

On September 14, 2021, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and Representative of District 7, David Ralston visited the site with family and friends of the late Cecil Mathews to dedicate the bridge over Turniptown Creek to him.

With 7 kids, six daughters and one son, Cecil Mathews was memorialized in a ceremony dedicating the bridge to his memory for his remaining family. All of his children but one were able to attend, but few had a short drive. Eldest child Maxine Clark said that many of the siblings are spread all over the southeast from Kentucky to Alabama and one still living in Ellijay.

With local leaders Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson and Chamber President/CEO Jennifer Grimmer also attending, the family listened as Speaker Ralston read the official resolution naming the bridge and delivered two duplicated signs to the family members.

Ralston said, “He was a very highly thought of person in this community.”

Mathews

During the ceremony on Tuesday, Septermber 14, 2021, the first sign was revealed for the newly dedicated Cecil Mathews Memorial Bridge over Turniptown Creek.

Mathews opened his own sawmill in Ellijay in 1965 after operating others for 15 years previous. According to the approved resolution, he later completed the total electrification of the business in 1966 which “allowed for the streamlining of production and an increase in lumber supply used in the manufacture of furniture and flooring.”

A special feat in that day, the electrification allowed for 15,000 feet of lumber to be sawed in a day with grading still done by hand. This also attracted other businesses to the county at the time and aided in modernizing the area.

Patsy Harris, one of Mathews’ daughters, accepted a bound copy of the resolution on behalf of the family.

Harris said, “Thanks be to God, there is seven of us children and we’re all still living. We’re all in our 70’s and 80’s. I appreciate what you did.”

From left to right, Maxine Clark, Joann Crotzer, Jackie Allums, James Mathews, Patsy Harris, and Susan Buckner attend the ceremony honoring their father. Not pictured is daughter Doris Hammond.

Maxine Clark of Blairsville and Mathew’s eldest daughter, chuckled as she fought back tears when asked about the sign and what it meant to see her father memorialized in the area they grew up. Amid the tearful moment she could only reply, “What do you think?”

Taking a moment, Clark eventually said, “Daddy was the best man in my life. I still can’t talk about it but I guess I’m the ‘bawl-box’ of the family.”

Each of his seven children, from eldest to youngest, are Maxine Clark, Joann Crotzer, Doris Hammond, Jackie Allums, James Mathews, Patsy Harris, and Susan Buckner.

Gilmer delays graduation ceremony one day

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ceremony

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer High School’s graduation ceremony has been delayed in the face of weather forecasts. According to school administration, at the time of the decision, forecasts indicated an 80 percent chance of rain.

Due to this, Gilmer Schools originally followed previous plans to move the ceremony inside, keeping the date and time in order to avoid upsetting any plans for families who may be traveling. However, overwhelming response indicated that the majority of families did not want to move it inside.

Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs told FYN that the school system polled students for the option of moving the ceremony to the following morning in order to allow their wishes to stay on the field but also avoid the rain. With virtually complete support for the idea, the school system announced today that Gilmer’s Graduation Ceremony will move from Friday night at 7 p.m. to Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Gilmer Football Stadium Field, ceremonyWhile avoiding the possible rain, despite the forecast continuing to change, the change in date has also forced another change to the ceremony.

As reported in March, the resignation of Superintendent Downs effectively set her last day as May 28, 2021, in order to allow Dr. Downs to perform her final action in recommending the class for graduation and joining in the delivery of diplomas. The legal motion within the meeting accepted her resignation with this final day.

Now, with the official date of the ceremony moved to May 29, and with former plans to move into her new home already in motion, Dr. Downs said that she deeply regrets that she will not be able to be a part of the proceedings anymore. She confirmed with FYN that Interim Superintendent Kim Cagle will now perform the necessary actions.

Downs said the she will start her new job early next week, but wanted, and planned, to finish her time with Gilmer Schools with the final moments of ceremony and acceptance of this year’s graduating class.

Much of the plans for the ceremony remain as stated including parking and processions. The system is simply changing the time and day.

Sheriff’s Office honors 25th Anniversary for Brett Dickey

Community, News
Dickey

A long weekend for some as they take a day to remember Presidents and celebrate Valentine’s Day, yet, it also marked a major event for the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and Gilmer Sheriff Stacy Nicholson. The office honored the memory of their fallen Deputy Brett Dickey in the 25th anniversary ceremony.

An annual event, many will recognize certain memorial actions like lowering the courthouses flag to half mast or the playing of taps as Officers salute the memorial. Sheriff Nicholson spoke for the memorial, thanking those who were present for the ceremony.

Nicholson said, “Today is a milestone mark in the memory of Brett. It’s the 25th anniversary, today, of when he was killed in the line of duty as a Gilmer County Deputy Sheriff. February 13, 1996, I will never, ever forget that day… There is so many here today, so many that worked for the Sheriff’s Office, so many citizens in the county that are so supportive of the Sheriff’s Office.”

https://youtu.be/prKPc-Nr_Vc

Nicholson said, “I hope that what we try to do, in some small way gives some comfort or peace to the family. I feel like it is our responsibility to honor Brett’s memory every year.”

The memorial transpired in the rain as Nicholson jokingly said it was “perfect weather.” Yet, some would agree it is altogether right and proper that a day of remembrance be somber and cloudy.

It is difficult to label the remembering of a tragic day and the loss of someone in a community. More so for those in the department who knew him or were close to him. As citizens we can only know a part of the sacrifice and the life. Some call days of remembrance a celebration to celebrate the life and the efforts of this man. Some call it a memorial, calling to mind memories of life together or service alongside him. Still others might call it a ceremony, ritualizing the events to create honor from tragedy. One may call it a vigil as they wish to guard the story and carry it onward into the future, so that others may know of the sacrifice.

Additionally, many people will drift from year to year, the day may be a sad dirge one year becoming a day of celebration and memory the next.

Nicholson said that his wish to continue past the 25th anniversary is to continue the memory. He spoke about the younger generation and many citizens that didn’t know Dickey, offering his thoughts and hopes that the people of Gilmer County would share the memory. He said, “Tell your kids who Brett Dickey was. He made the ultimate sacrifice for citizens of this county and the state of Georgia.”

Nicholson recalled a couple stories of his time with Brett Dickey including one from the night that he died. He also recalled how small the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office was at the time, a small “family” he called them. A family devastated by the events that transpired. Nicholson thanked retired Gordon County Sheriff Sid Roberts and retired Murray County Sheriff Howard Ensley who were present at the 25th anniversary ceremony. Nicholson thanked them because he said they “ran Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office” for a few days after the events of Dickey’s death.

Gilmer Deputy Sheriff Brett Dickey

Gilmer Deputy Sheriff Brett Dickey

With tears welling up, Nicholson said to both the retired Sheriffs,  “That made an impression on me.”

Gilmer Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Scotty Davis also spoke before praying over those present. He said, “We are here honoring a man who is a hero because he served this county and he served this community. Preserving, serving, and protecting you and your parents as they grew up. It is a great honor serving in law enforcement.”

Davis’ prayer ended the ceremony as the deputies present marched away immediately after.

In the Bible, in the book of John, Jesus speaks to those who follow his faith saying, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” A man who serves, who offers his life daily in that service, may have died in that service, but he offers that love to those he served and to those he offered his life daily to protect. It is sad that one day, that offer was claimed. Yet, it is a portrayal of love on this Valentine’s Day weekend that one man gave to a community, that he gave to those he served.

It is on this day that the Sheriff’s Office remembers its loss. It is on this day that they remember what they gained. It is on this day that they refresh and renew the meaning of that sacrifice. It is we who live on that attribute meaning and honor to those who have sacrificed for us.

Gilmer signs new REACH Scholars

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REACH

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Continuing their annual program Gilmer County Schools recognized the three newest REACH Scholars – Yadhira Alonzo-Alcon, Matia Rafael-Garcia and Wilburn Simeon Weaver on November 20, 2020, at the REACH Signing Ceremony at Clear Creek Middle School.

REACH

Yadhira Alonzo-Alcon signs the contract to become one of Gilmer’s REACH Scholars for 2020.

The program operates as eighth grade students apply and are selected to participate in the REACH Georgia scholarship program to support their post-secondary educational journey.

Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs began the program by welcoming the scholars’ families and congratulating the new scholars.  Gilmer High School and Clear Creek Middle School principals, Carla Foley and Nicole Pike also addressed the scholars and their families.

REACH

Wilburn Simeon Weaver signs the contract to become one of Gilmer’s REACH Scholars for 2020.

The ceremony concluded with Dr. Downs inducting the scholars and walking them through their obligations and responsibilities.  The REACH Scholars and their families signed commitment forms, agreeing to meet the requirements of the scholarship program of keeping an overall 2.5 or above grade point average, having good attendance, good behavior, and meeting with their assigned mentor and academic advisor.

REACH

Matia Rafael-Garcia signs the contract to become one of GIlmer’s REACH Scholars for 2020.

REACH Georgia is the State of Georgia’s needs-based mentorship and college scholarship program. The mission is to ensure that Georgia’s academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college and achieve postsecondary success. Beginning in the 8th grade and through high school, REACH Scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach. Scholars must maintain good grades (2.5+ HOPE Calculated GPA), behavior and attendance. Scholars who successfully complete the program and graduate from high school are awarded a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year) that can be used at a HOPE-eligible University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, or private postsecondary institution. The scholarship is in addition to any other grant or scholarship the student receives.

 

(Photos provided by Gilmer County Schools)

Gilmer updates Graduation plans with tentative dates

Bobcat's Corner, News
Gilmer BOE 2019, school closed, Graduation, Board, Education, Spending Resolution

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Students are getting more updates as the administrative staff of both Gilmer High School and the Gilmer County School System continue working towards tentative dates for graduation ceremonies for seniors this year.

Throughout April, Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs has constantly updated parents and students of their work to offer recognition and honor for these students despite the viral outbreak and shutdown. That continued with their Special Called Meeting this week as Downs revealed specific dates for their plans.

https://youtu.be/T-t3r2wAfmY

Dr. Downs did say “tentative” dates for these events as the school system is still planning and looking at the changing environment.

The current plan does include other grades as those schools wish to hold a celebration for their students to collect some items they may have left, to see friends and teachers, and to provide a little closure to the school year.

Ellijay Elementary School will hold theirs on July 6, 2020. Clear Creek Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School will hold theirs on July 8, 2020. Clear Creek Middle School will be held on July 9, 2020. Specific times or a time range have not been set yet as plans and events continue to formulate.

Answering the most asked question of recent weeks, Gilmer is attempting to address both Graduation and Prom this year. Dr. Downs announced during the meeting that they are looking to hold their actual graduation ceremony on July 17, 2020, with prom the Friday before, July 10, 2020. Again, the specific time has not been finalized yet, though some time slots are already being considered.

Gilmer is, currently, still planning on a televised recognition video on May 22, 2020, in recognition of students and their honors and achievements, but also wants to give students the actual chance to hold their real graduation in July. Filming will be going on in early May as students, staff, and the school board plan to be a part of the video.

 

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