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C.O.C. decides not to host July 4th event

Posted by
Tamra Jarrett
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Wednesday, March 11. 2009
Comments (38)
In light of the economic downturn, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce has decided not to host the county's Fourth of July fireworks this year.

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#1 Anonymous on 03/11/09 at 03:48 PM
I will miss watching them, but I think its a great idea to conserve $$ since the ecomomy is so bad. Apply it to something that is really needed.
#2 Anonymous on 03/11/09 at 07:53 PM
I'm sorry to hear that but it's a good way to cut expenses without hurting people's paychecks.
#3 Annonymous on 03/11/09 at 08:10 PM
I am sorry to hear this. The one thing to lighten the mood and to reflect on our country is now being removed. In actuallity you are taking away a moment that families can share with children. Fireworks aren't they really for the kids. I think if asked,people in the community would come to the aid and pitch in to make this happen.
#4 Anonymous on 03/12/09 at 12:49 PM
That sucks I was looking forward to that!!!
#5 Anonymous on 03/12/09 at 02:46 PM
This is BS! I don't care what is cost or what it takes, this should and needs to happen.
We want to cry about our nation and its leadership then turn right around and forget the nations birthday and the celebration of our independance. Next year lets give it all up and start speaking the language of another government or country. There are plenty who would love to see us go down!
Money is not everything and there are some things worht paying for. How many Americans gave thier all? How many Americans are overseas wishing they could be here.
The PRIDE OF PIKE CELEBRATION is a way to keep our nations beliefs and heritage alive and I say we are foolish to let it die. If someone can find a way to keep this going I will be the first S*B to volunteer. Where is our pride? Fight to win or die trying do not just give up.
#6 Anonymous on 03/12/09 at 11:45 PM
I for one am ashamed of my county for the first time in my life. This is a day to celebrate our country and the birth of a great nation .I for one apologize to all the men and women that have served and died for this country . I hope that someone will pick up the torch and run with it! Don Baily where are you on this one !!!!!!!!!!!!where are you united bank where are you first bank of pike where are you first national bank of barnsville where are you first national bank of griffin !!!!!!!!!!!!You guys own most of this county why not help out I personally pay two of you enough money in interest a year to put on 4 or 5 fireworks shows.
Ashamed citizen of cheap town usa!!!!!!!
#7 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 07:59 AM
I just want to say the both of my brothers are overseas and they would be very hurt and ashamed for what is taking place. What are they fighting for when pepole decide that we can't celebrate our nation and honor those who have died for the country? Its ashame that money is such a big issue. Everybody is worried about theirself and who is making more money it is really sad. We have taken our kids to this for the past couple of years they have so much fun and play and I really enjoy spending that day with them it reminds me how wonderful life really is and that its not about money and its not about showing off what you have its about a community coming together and showing their pride in a country that they love. I remember 9-11 and the pride and the love of this country was better than I have ever seen it, where did that all go? Have you people already forgotten? Its sad to thing that something like that had to happen to get people to show their pride. I hope nothing like that has to happen again for people to love this country again.
#8 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 08:01 AM
What if George Washington had of said we need to save money and leave Valley Forge or never cross the Delaware, the boat cost too much? What if we had just let Japan have Hawaii and Alaska? What if we just crawl in a cave and hid from a poor economy. What if Americans never stood tall and proud through the hard times? We have already stopped prayer in school. What are we going to stop next because we are too poor or lazy. Are we ready to stop being Americans?
I say shoot the fireworks, shoot them long and loud so that our enemies can see and hear them with their satilites passing over head. The hard things accomplished are what make this country great.
#9 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 08:16 AM
I think that instead of spending thousands of dollars for the fireworks, we can still come together and celebrate our nations birth and such. Its just like Christmas where you celebrate Jesus's brith not the holiday made out to be or Easter. I'm ashamed that because the county decided to save the money, the citizens are acting this way. Get out there and come up with a cook out or something in place of the fireworks. I'm sure people would pitch in a couple dollars for a cook out and still share the togetherness of this country!
#10 Sheila Tolley on 03/13/09 at 10:15 AM
I understand the "budget crunch" since every household in Pike is most likely experiencing the same problem. This is March...put it back into the hands of the people. Pike County has 17,000 people...if only one-tenth of them show up and pay $5.00, you got $9,000. Don't paint a building, don't plant flowers, contribute yourself...but c'mon C.O.C., Do celebrate July Fourth!! Read Geiger's Counter...While you got something worth fighting for????? This truly is a negative move by the C.O.C. I am shocked and disappointed. I really want some one to answer this question for me. Did anyone in that room stand up and say, "Hell no, we are not taking the celebration of our country away from our people?" Please answer this. What employees make up the C.O.C? You all go and walk around the courthouse. Look at the statues of the dead people. I think I am going to be sick.......
#11 Sheila Tolley on 03/13/09 at 10:32 AM
It's me again. I am sorry but the more I read, the more upset I get. The Pike County Courthouse has been there 114 years. Still no wrinkles or gray hair. I am willing to bet if you put off that $2,000,000 renovation for another year, it will still be there. 114 years, imagine how many people died for our country in that length of time. The C.O.C. need to adjust their medication??? No American, of a sound mind would elect to ignore July 4. In fact, you may want to reconsider that courthouse renovation, just maintain it from year to year. You people have obviously lost interest in the USA. Please tell me this was an early April Fool's joke. That would be easier to accept. Don't buy your Easter eggs too soon, folks, we may scratch that out too!!!
#11.1 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 12:20 PM
This is an example of what is wrong with the Country today.

When did we let the government dictate how we choose to celebrate a holiday? You mention not buying Easter eggs, why? If the government tells you they will not sponsor an Easter egg hunt will you not celebrate Easter your own way? maybe have an Easter egg hunt in your yard, or better yet you and your neighbors form one.
#12 Jessica Horton on 03/13/09 at 12:24 PM
That's the night the lights went out in Georgia.

No fireworks? No Celebrating our Independence? Are you kidding me?

There isn’t any doubt that times are hard. All we have to do is cut on the news, and gloom and doom is broadcast 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. Turn on the radio: Whenever they stop playing songs, the announcer is battering us with how bad things are, with how we’re living in fear and hopelessness. All we have to do is look at our neighbors and see them losing their homes to foreclosure. We all pray quietly that we won’t be next…

Next to lose our home. Next to lose our car. Next to lose our job. Next to lose a person that we love.

There is darkness everywhere.

That’s EXACTLY why we shouldn’t cancel the fireworks. That’s exactly why we need to celebrate our Nation’s Independence. That’s exactly why we need to go boldly into the night.

Fireworks. They are a reminder of a time when royalty tried to tax our people to death with an iron-fist from across the Atlantic. They are a reminder of the brave men and women who laid down their lives to fight for our Independence. They are a reminder of the men who signed their names on a piece of paper - even though many believed they were signing their own death warrants. They are a reminder of the soldiers that have died in days of old and in the most recent days of new. Some of those soldiers lived here in Pike County. Went to school here. Have families here. How can we dare insult their memory by not honoring their service?

Fireworks. They are reminders that we are a people that call ourselves Americans and we don’t all have to agree to get along. We come in many shapes. Many colors. Many sizes. We’re all unique. We’re all beautiful in our own special way - just like fireworks.

Fireworks. They are reminders that no matter how dark it gets outside, we can always look up to the heavens and see the light.

Fireworks. Beautiful and brilliant sparkles of erupting light, beacons of hope and freedom in the dark, dark night. If we don’t paint hope and freedom across the sky for all to see, who will? It’s who we are. It’s what we do.

I try to imagine George Washington telling his starved, half-naked, unpaid, barely hanging-on soldiers that we are just going to give up because the money isn’t there to fight the battle. That we won’t try. We won’t press on – we will just lie down and die. And, you know what? I just couldn’t see him ever saying something like that.

Now, I do understand why the Board of Commissioners and Chamber of Commerce doesn’t want to pay for it. They are trying to be fiscally responsible. I applaud their sound economic judgment, but at the same time I challenge all the people in our community to do what government was never designed to do: Take care of our own problems.

I’m willing to donate $500.00 or 10% (whichever is greater) from all new closings from now until July 4th to help cover the cost. My daughter said that she will cancel her birthday party on June 21st and donate the money for her cake and gifts for the fireworks. Even at seven years of age she understands what they mean. When I told her that they were going to be cancelled she said, “That just ain’t right!”

No, it ain’t right!

I challenge all citizens of Pike County to step up and make it happen.

Moms: Bake some cookies to sell.

Dads: Play a few rounds of golf at a dollar a hole.

Kids: Wash a few hundred cars.

Pastors: Pass that collection plate around for this country.

Businesses: Put up a plastic bowl and collect those pennies, nickels and dimes.

Realtors®: I challenge every other local real estate agent to step up and do something too. You beat that code-of-ethics drum like you’re sitting first chair in the percussion section of an orchestra. What does that code say? Underneath all is the land! The land. THE LAND.

This land. Right here. Right now. Help do something about it. We owe our livelihood to this land. Thousands upon thousands of brave men and women have died to give us the right to wake up every single day and sell houses ON THIS LAND. We should never allow this land and everything it stands for to not be celebrated.

Don’t let the lights go out in Pike County, Georgia. Not this year. Not on our watch.
#12.1 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 06:34 PM
Oh dear god not this realtor BS.

The government does not dictate how you live your lives as much as all you people seem to want it to!!
Shoot a damn firework, or better yet organize your own fireworks show.
#12.2 Tanya McCullough on 03/17/09 at 11:05 AM
Just as an FYI- the Pike County High School Band program is looking into our options of taking over organizing this WORTH While traditional event. I will say we are small group but we have great kids, parents and supporters and I think we can pull this off. We will need the help and support of the ENTIRE community but we are willing to work hard to make sure we keep the 4th of July celebration a tradition for many years to come. Please do not give up on Pike County just yet- let us see if the Band can get this going- We will keep the community posted.
#13 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 03:13 PM
I think you all are misreading the article. The coc has decided to not host the event, doesn't mean all those who feel it should take place can't form a committee and host it or another organization. No one said anyone was cancelling the event, the 4th of july is a really important day for our country and I don't think any disagrees with that, I think the coc is just making the decision it needs to make for its own organization and for its members. Stay tuned, I suspect the rec authority will take it over and they can be the recipient of sll your good will!
#14 OWW on 03/13/09 at 04:23 PM
I guess I'll take my family to griffin on the 4th to watch the fireworks after we go to walmart and spend money and go out to eat and spend some more money and buy some gas and watch spalding county use my tax dollars to improve there county and give the people of their county a good show !!!!!!!!!!!!
As of now I'm going on a diet and I'm going to quit smoking and I'm not going to drink anymore so I can out live all you cheap dirt road loving jerks that are trying to hold this county in the 50's there is a new age coming and we want things in this county like stores that sell more than BAIT or chicken wings I say shoot the fire works !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#15 Jessica Horton on 03/13/09 at 08:00 PM
"Oh dear god not this realtor BS."

Coming from a person that can't even attach their name to a thought. Really nice...
#15.1 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 09:01 PM
Please keep your agenda and profit making ideas on your on site.
#15.2 Anonymous on 03/15/09 at 07:48 AM
it is a time for families to be together....maybe you should think about that. That includes grandparents being with grandchildren.
#16 View From Above on 03/13/09 at 08:02 PM
If the Chamber of Commerce is supposed to and is trying to sell Pike County they are doing two things wrong (1) they want to cheapen up new construction in their expensive overlay district on Hwy 19 and (2) they are not presenting a positive image of Pike County if they cancel the 4th of July Fireworks display and celebration without any explanation after years of sucess. Not a good omen if you are trying to present a good image of Pike County to prospective citizens and businesses. The county still has money budgeted for fireworks. The banks that started the celebration should take the ball and run with it. Or do they only participate when there is something for them "right now". Sure development is down, but they were not bashful when it was going on. Seems that the lenders and government would try to put a smile on the citizens during these times. If not, the citizens will remember when things change. No wonder Pike is the laughing stock of governance. Time for an image makeover.
#17 Anonymous on 03/13/09 at 09:56 PM
I truly do not understand why the people in this communty choose to rant about issues within the community rather than asking questions and finding out all of the facts. How many of you know what a Chamber of Commerce is, what it does and what it stands for? How many of you have been in our local Chamber of Commerce office and met the staff? How many of you have ever called the Chamber of Commerce office and asked your questions or concerns to find out what the truth or the real facts are? Let me first explain that the Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit entity. It does not receive or operate on tax payer's dollars. It is strictly a membership organization that businesses and individuals pay yearly membership dues (investments) to be a part of. Which I am a member of and make sure I pay my dues each year to be a part of this great organization. Other than membership dues, the Chamber holds fundraisers during the year to operate on. I am very proud of our Chamber of Commerce and how it has grown and progressed over the past couple of years. I am getting more out of the Chamber than ever with their new programs that assist our local businesses. Are you aware of all the programs that the Chamber is putting into place to help us local businesses in this economy? They are moving in the right direction and doing what is right to assist their members. They sent out a poll last week to all of their members that asked if we thought they should keep hosting the 4th of July and seek alternative funding or if we would rather see the chamber focus its funding and efforts to support business and the economic development of the community. I voted No to the 4th of July. Because I would like to see my yearly membership dues go towards helping me and my business and doing what the Chamber is meant to do. Look around at other communities...it is other organizations handling their county events and not the local Chamber of Commerce. It is not that I do not want to see the county have this event because I do. I just think it would be better fit for another organization to handle it. And we do not need to turn to all of local businesses to ask for funding either. How selfish is that? I have lived in this county all of my life and I have never been more ashamed of the people in my community then I am tonight. Everyone is so quick to judge but not so quick to ask the questions. I urge you to learn what the Chamber is and what it is about. Learn the difference between the Chamber and the Development Authority. They are two seperate entities. Just because they share an office and staff doesn't mean they are the one and the same. They both have different objections, missions and goals. So before you go making statements, make sure you have your facts straight. We, Pike County Citizens, are good, smart people, lets prove to hold that true.
#18 Jessica Horton on 03/14/09 at 07:14 AM
Anyways, my offer stands for any group that organizes this. If not, that’s fine too – there’s always Stone Mountain.

Mr. & Mrs. Geiger: I love the web 2.0 direction you’re taking the site in! Good stuff.
#18.1 Laura Geiger on 03/14/09 at 12:10 PM
Jessica, thanks. We enjoy publishing Pike's news and helping businesses get their advertising messages to citizens. It's good to hear from you. Our best to you and your boys.
#19 Anonymous on 03/14/09 at 08:26 AM
Well said. Thanks for contributing.
#20 Christina on 03/14/09 at 09:39 AM
Why don't we gather with surrounding counties and put on a bigger show? Just a thought. The people of this town need to come together and set up a meeting. Do fundraisers (sell cookies, ect.) to make this happen. (it was mentioned above) Don't point fingers. Just get out there and make it happen. I'm sure the people of this community can spare $5 or so. Even if you can't afford to "chip" in, come out and help gather donations as a way of helping. I think the C.O.C is doing the right thing by not hosting this event. County budgets are being cut back and we need to conserve where we can. Everyone is cutting back on everyday life, but I also agree that the birth of our Nation is important and we shouldn't settle. I'm willing to get out there and raise some money. Who is with me?
#21 Cassie on 03/14/09 at 10:09 AM
This is nothing new. But dont fret weer not to far away everyone head to West Point Lake they have a ton for you to do and the kids can have a blast. This money will be used to fatten someone elses pockets this year. Im sure there is a 12,000.00 trash can that has to be purchased. Dont give up on our country just because Pike County has given up on its citizens. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
#22 Sheila Tolley on 03/14/09 at 10:12 AM
Either we have multiple Anonymous's writing to this blog or she is Sybil.
#23 Sheila Tolley on 03/14/09 at 10:26 AM
To reply 11.1: You let the government decide how you will celebrate a holiday when you are satisfied with your local government not supporting July Fourth.

To Comment 14: Yeah, we will all go to Griffin. It will be safer since they transferred some of their problems to Pike Teen Challenge Hill.

To Comment 17: Way too wordy!
#23.1 Anonymous on 03/14/09 at 02:19 PM
To Comment 23: Pointless drivel.
#24 Sheila Tolley on 03/14/09 at 02:27 PM
Christina...If you will plan a Yard Sale that is easy to find, I am poor on following directions, I will bring you many valuables....You keep the money for my July 4 contribution. Who else out there would donate????
#24.1 Anonymous on 03/14/09 at 05:19 PM
I would love to. I'm sure we could probably have it at a church. That way its easy to find and if people would just bring stuff it would be great. My email is Brlracinbeauty@aol.com. Email me and we can discuss this further! Just put July 4th in the subject so I won't spam it.
~Thanks!
#25 Sheila Tolley on 03/14/09 at 10:47 PM
My email is smtolley@comcast.net. Just tell me where to bring items after it is planned. I will donate items for you to sell.
#26 Sheila Tolley on 03/15/09 at 11:05 AM
Answer to 23.1...Did you know that if you rearrange the letters of "pointless drivel," it will create the words "spindliest lover?"....Now that is pointless drivel.
#27 Anonymous on 03/18/09 at 12:09 AM
DO ANY OF YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME THE COC HAS TO PUT IN TO PUT THIS FIREWORKS SHOW ON?THEY BEGIN AT 8AM ON THE 4TH AND ARE THERE UNTIL AROUND 2PM ON THE 5TH.THESE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH THIER FAMILIES ALSO. I AM A MEMBER OF THE COC ALSO. DID YOU PEOPLE KNOW THAT THANKS TO THE COUNTY MANGER THE COC TOOK A HUGE CUT IN THEIR BUDGET.LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE OVER THIS PROJECT AND SEE ITS NOT AS EASY AS YOU THINK.
#28 Why do you need to know? on 03/18/09 at 01:20 PM
Every story has more than one side! As a parent, I am disappointed that this is being blown up so big, someone please tell me how to explain these reactions to my children. If the Chamber (or any other county orginization) needs to contribute...the first question that pop's into my head is; "what the heck is my tax money being used for?"
I really feel that the J-R is just trying to keep up with the CNN's out there. As a business owner in Pike, I am happy that the Chamber is focusing its resources towards improving an important part of our county...the businesses. We help the community in many ways, and the resources that the Chamber is conserving will help everyone in the short & long haul's.
Wow, I am not happy about the way the J-R said the the Chamber "Bailed" on the fireworks, and made someone else the hero. Honestly; WE should be ashamed! This is a community event! Have some pride, make a reason to be proud & help! Everyone in the community should volunteer to help, donate funds or, both. How's that thought sitting with you?
#28.1 cats on 07/18/11 at 08:12 AM
Wait, what?
I know this is an older story, but I read it over and over and cannot find where the J-R said the Chamber "bailed". And who else was made a hero?
Confused............
#29 KRISTENCabrera on 07/18/11 at 02:25 AM
Do not enough money to buy a car? Do not worry, just because it's available to take the loan to resolve such kind of problems. Thence get a short term loan to buy everything you require.
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