Sand Mountain Dollar General Store Slated To Open This Week
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
Tractor Supply’s grand opening and ribbon cutting will be Saturday, April 3.
“We are planning a really big day,” County Executive Ted Rumley said during the March 18 county update.
According to Rumley, there will be a bluegrass band playing during the grand opening event, in addition to some other things planned, which haven’t been announced yet.
“We are looking forward to that day, and we have been for a while,” Rumley said.
Rumley noted that it is a nice facility, and it will be an asset to both the city and the county.
The Dollar General on Sand Mountain is also expected to open sometime this week.
“When they open, we will welcome them,” Rumley said. It is well needed out there, as far as a business in that area. As you know, if you live out there, you have got to drive a long way to get anything.”
Alison Henderson, Dade County 4-H Educator, said that there would be a Dade County Cloverleaf Project Achievement this year.
“We were not able, as a northwest district, to have our DPA event in Rome this year, so each county is having their own,” Henderson said.
Project Achievement is for students in fourth through sixth grade. To do a Project Achievement project, students can choose a topic that they like, research it, pick a few main ideas, and put them in the form of a presentation.
Henderson asks that all of the presentations are filmed, and all of the videos will be uploaded.
Call (706) 657-4116 to be given a secure link to upload the video to. The upload window is from April 1-14.
“On April 22 we will have an evening of awards and fun. If you want more details you can look at the Dade County 4-H Facebook page,” Henderson said.
Donna Street, with the Historic Preservation Commission, gave an update on the historic courthouse.
“The Historic Preservation Commission is a part of the government of Dade County,” Street explained. “We got a grant last year to improve the superstructure of the court house. That grant was completed. The structure that was holding up the roof had been impaired. It has been replaced by a local company.”
“The contractors have been working there the last month or so. We did a walk through this past week. It looks good, they did a good job,” Rumley said.
Street would also like to find the oldest person from each community in Dade County, for a project she is working on. If you know of anyone, call Street at (706) 657-7305 or email donnam.street@gmail.com.
Rumley also reminded the community of the Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency. The grant provides temporary employment opportunities for individuals whose employment has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Those in Dade County are encouraged to apply.
For more information, call Paula Stallings at (706) 657-4625.
“We have less than a year left to use the money. That money will be turned back to the federal government,” Rumley said.
It was also noted that the continuation of E-SPLOST passed. There was a turnout of about 600 voters.
Governor Brian Kemp has opened the vaccine eligibility to people ages 55 and older, and also adults 16 and older with chronic health issues.
Call (706) 657-4213 to make an appointment at the Dade County Health Department. As a reminder, if you have gotten your first dose already, the Health Department will call you to schedule the second appointment.
It was noted that the Health Department is receiving shipments of both Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, with the majority being Moderna. Johnson and Johnson is a one-dose vaccine, and Moderna is two doses.
“What I would do is do a little research. You need to make your mind up before you pull your sleeve up, and know what you are getting. Each one of them is a little different,” Rumley said.
County Commissioner Allan Bradford is still in the hospital, according to Rumley.
“Allan Bradford is still holding his own. He still has a long road to go. Keep your prayers coming in for him and his family,” Rumley said.
Dade County has seen 22 cases in the past two weeks, for a total of 1,153 COVID-19 cases. The number of cases can be found at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report.
The Dade County weekly update is held on Thursdays at 3 p.m. on Facebook. The video is also uploaded to the county’s YouTube channel, found listed under “Dade County Ga.”