Sequoyah-con returns with region wide events and special guests

Community, News

March is seeing the return of a special event that is spanning three locations this year in the Sequoyah Regional Library system. Sequoyah-con is hosting different themes at each location with the Woodstock Library hosting the space theme, RT Jones Memorial Library in Canton hosting the Fantasy theme, and the Gilmer Library hosting the anime theme.

The event, occurring on March 19, 2022, is an annual event that endeavors to feature popular fandoms, panels, activities, and programs; all for free!

Sequoyah-con

The 501st Legion professional Cosplay organization.

This year, two of the locations are hosting some extra special guests for 2022. Woodstock has its own special guests for their Space theme Sequoyah-con. The world-renowned and widely-popular 501st Legion will have representatives at the Woodstock Library from its Georgia garrison. A professional Cosplay group and avid charity supported, the 501st Legion, also known as Vader’s Fist, has supported major charities including the Make-a-Wish Foundation alongside business and community appearances. However, but each of its garrisons also support their own charities and events.

They make appearances in conventions across the globe and have even been invited by Disney to appear in parades and events during the Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World.

As they say on their website, “The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.”

Sequoyah-con

Tracy Sue Walker, author of “The Truth About…” series.

Canton will see children’s author Tracy Walker visit the library for Sequoyah-con. Author of the popular “The Truth About…” series, including “The Truth About Unicorns,” “The Truth About Bigfoot,” and “The Truth About Dragons,” she will be visiting the Fantasy theme day to read and visit with fans.

Canton will also be hosting local LARPing group Xanadune who will be offering both a panel on LARPing and a demonstration. Xadune is a Victorian Gaslamp Live Action Role Play (LARP) game with Steampunk, Fantasy, and Horror elements. The game is centered in Atlanta, Georgia, and runs in several Georgia State Parks. A popular group in the Atlanta area, they host nine events yearly, lasting between 3 and 4 days.

Gilmer is hosting its own anime theme convention for Sequoyah-con and diving deep into the culture behind the popular media style while teaching attendees origami with paperdoll crafting, Bento box lunches, Japanese Ink Paintings, and Shadow Puppet crafting. Found across the genre in anime, these Japanese cultural icons will be both on display and taught to those in attendance.

The event will also see another appearance by Calder, the Gilmer Library reading dog who comes from the Gilmer County Public Safety department. Calder is a Crisis Response Therapy Dog who doubles his efforts with the library in a reading program for children. However, this time, Calder will be visiting during mid-day tea time for those enjoying the Tea Time Cafe.

 

Road damages total $350,000 from March’s storm devastation

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GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The “third worst storm” in recent history is what Public Works Director Jim Smith called the surge in late March. Smith noted a “preliminary damage report” saying that totals are estimated between $300,000 and $350,000 for road and public works repairs and cleanup. However, that is the preliminary estimate offered to FEMA and GEMA this week.

With the vast majority of that costs in road damage, reports have come that over 80 roads in the county were damaged in some manner. Smith made his comment about the storm being the “third worst” in reference to his two decades of service in Gilmer County.

Road

Public Works Director Jim Smith addresses the BOC regarding the late March storms and the lasting damage.

Additional costs comes from debris removal that the county is performing. However, in outer parts of the county, people have been burning debris in ditches in controlled burns as they are also trying to clean up from the storm.

Smith said the storm has not been declared a disaster yet. But noted that a visit from FEMA and GEMA this week was part of that process so that the Governor could declare it a disaster. Damage assessments, meetings, and reports are all included in that process. Smith said, “The Governor can declare it a disaster and then, in turn, submit his request to Homeland Security, FEMA, and on to the President.”

Smith also noted that Gilmer was reported as one of the worst hit of the roughly 8-10 counties being inspected.

The $350,000 estimate only includes the report from Public Works. More damage has come to other departments like Parks & Recreation and the Golf Course. Including that, Smith commented today that the totals could come closer to $450,000 in total, but no detailed calculation has been officially made yet.

Even today, Hill Road remains closed as the county has awaited manufactured pipes and is currently installing them as part of the repair. The county is continuing the cleanup and repair process as they await a disaster declaration that could bring emergency aid funds to the county to reimburse some of the costs that have already been incurred and paid.

 

Land Use Ordinance to return in March alongside ongoing agenda items

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ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer has published its agenda for this week’s Board of Commissioners Meeting including a return to several ongoing issues including the Land Use Ordinance, the River Ordinance, a major donation to the Animal Shelter, and an alcohol license for the county’s Golf Course.

Each of these items have been in the commissioners, making progress through the long process for changes and finalizations. While the Golf Course’s license this month is a simple final formality, it was a discussed issue in November. This approval for a license will be the final step in the ongoing process of allowing golfers to order alcoholic drinks like Beer and Wine at the clubhouse.

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Gilmer Commissioners, from left to right, Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson, Chairman Charlie Paris, and Post 1 Commissioner Hubert Parker.

In November, the commissioners indicated the wanted to allow for the sale when people ask without making any major notice or advertisements visible from the street or parking lot for the change.

While the river ordinance seemingly came to a consensus on moving forward during their special meeting, the Land Use Ordinance is still addressing issues and changing. In the old business portion of the agenda, the county could make a final decision this week, though most of the Commissioners have indicated a desire to go slow with these changes. However the county still could see action to possibly begin advertising the final changes before adopting a first reader in April further addressing the ending of the moratorium on certain developments. The board spoke about breaking the ordinance into sections and addressing them one at a time.

With changes still being addressed and some portions even being taken out after their February Special Called meeting, the BOC has the ordinance and its current state of changes available for public viewing, but until officially advertised as the final draft the BOC continues discussing, researching, and amending these changes in attempts to support citizens wishing to end major developments in the county while not encroaching on the private businesses of developers who are behind those projects.

Finally, with no major new information since the announcement of the donation and discussion of plans for the county’s Animal Shelter, citizens are commenting online and addressing commissioners to find a way forward in accepting the donations and expanding the facility. The commissioners did discuss ramifications of expansion and the increasing costs of moving forward on that project addressing management of the facility and its financial requirements, but never said they were considering rejecting the donation.

Addressing that note, the commissioners’ agenda does host the agenda item for a “Resolution to approve Donation to the Animal Shelter.” The official motion, if made, will come during the March Regular Meeting on Thursday, March 11, 2021, beginning at 6 p.m.

St. Petrick’s Day event cancelled due to concerns over health

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ELLIJAY, Ga. – Posted to their social media site, those in charge of this weekend’s St. Petrick’s Day Celebration have opted to cancel the event in the face of rising concerns of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Their statement said, “At the advice of local authorities and due to concerns over the CORVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) the 2020 St. Petrick’s Celebration and Pet Parade has decided to err on the side of caution and cancel the event.”

Other authorities in the county have already made statements on the virus, but no cases or reports have been seen in Gilmer.

The statement also noted that vendors and sponsors will be contacted individually for further details on St. Petrick’s Day and the financial side. However, they have already confirmed the event will return next year saying, “We thank you for your understanding and hope to see everyone at the 2021 St. Petrick’s Celebration and Pet Parade.”

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