News

Mayor and Council Sworn In

Carrollton’s new mayor and councilmembers spent the first week of the new year getting sworn in and conducting their first business meeting as a council.

Mayor Betty Cason and Ward 4 Councilmember Bob Uglum were sworn in at a January 2 ceremony at the Center for the Arts. Ward 2 Councilmember Brett Ledbetter was sworn in in November to fill the unexpired term of Rory Wojcik. Re-elected Ward 3 Councilmember Jim Watters was sworn in at the first regular council meeting of the year, January 6.

During the meeting, the mayor and council expressed their gratitude to former Mayor Walt Hollingsworth and Councilmember Met Lane for their service.

City to Hold Ward 1 Special Election

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540, a special election shall be held in the City of Carrollton to fill the unexpired term in the office of City Council Ward 1, caused by the resignation of Gerald Byrd. The special election will be held on May 19, 2020.

Qualifying for the special election will take place in the office of the Carrollton City Clerk, Carrollton City Hall, first floor conference room, 315 Bradley Street, Carrollton, GA, beginning Monday, March 2, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. and ending on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. Daily hours for qualifying are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The qualifying fee shall be $108.00. Qualifications to hold a city council seat are set forth in the city’s charter, a copy of which can be obtained from the city’s website: www.carrolltonga.com.

All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to vote in the special election may register to vote through the close of business on Monday, April 20, 2020. Early voting will be held April 27, 2020 – May 15, 2020, at the office of Carroll County Election Supervisor Greg Rigby, 423 College Street, lower lobby, Carroll County Administration Building, Carrollton, GA, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The special election will be held in all regular polling places in City Council Ward 1, Carrollton, GA. The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Should a runoff election be required, it will be held on July 21, 2020.

This call is issued by Jim Triplett, City Clerk, City of Carrollton, Georgia.

‘Mountainfilm’ brings Telluride to Carrollton

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming to the Carrollton Center for the Arts, January 4, bringing a selection of adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films selected from Telluride, Colorado’s annual Mountainfilm festival.

“We are excited to welcome this high-caliber event to Carrollton again this year,” said Carrollton Arts Superintendent Tim Chapman. “Our altogether original community is the perfect audience for Mountainfilm’s unique and inspiring films.”

Founded in 1979, the event is one of America’s longest-running film festivals, held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride. Mountainfilm is also a nonprofit organization that celebrates stories of indomitable spirit and aims to inspire audiences through film, art and ideas.

The Carrollton event will feature a collection of documentary short films that align with Mountainfilm’s mission to use the power of film, art and ideas to encourage audiences to create a better world. A presenter will guide the audience through the program, providing insight on the films, filmmakers and subjects.

Doors open for the event at 6:30 p.m. and the show will kick off at 7:00 p.m. See the complete playlist at www.mountainfilm.org/tour/schedule. Purchase tickets for $5 at carrolltonarts.com, by calling (770) 838-1083 or at the center’s box office at 251 Alabama Street in Carrollton.

Mountainfilm on Tour is hosted by the Carrollton Center for the Arts in partnership with the Alice Huffard Richards Foundation.

‘Cultivated’ & ‘Fiber Stories’ Open Jan. 3

A pair of exhibits using unconventional media and methods to depict life in the mountains and rural South will kick off the Carrollton Center for the Arts’ new year, January 3. Ted Whisenhunt’s whimsical interactive exhibit, Cultivated, celebrates the ingenuity, folklore and music of rural Appalachia and runs through Feb. 13. Fiber Stories, an exhibit featuring artist Annie Greene’s creations using mixed-media and yarn, closes Feb. 1. Both exhibits will be launched with a reception at the center at 5:00 p.m. on their shared opening night.

“Both of these artists are masters of their media and they complement each other so well,” said Arts Superintendent Tim Chapman. “Each artist shows work representative of the South and has a narrative component to their work.”

Rural Appalachia and life in the early 20th Century are the sources of inspiration for Whisenhunt’s work, which features movement and encourages viewer interaction by incorporating hand-cranked mechanical systems. The Alabama native currently lives in North Georgia and is a professor of art at Young Harris College.

“One of the most interesting aspects of Whisenhunt’s work is his playful mix of materials and moving pieces,” said Carrollton Visual Art Coordinator, Marcella Kuykendall. “Metal insects dance above animals with the turn of a crank, a bird takes flight with a soft tug of a pulley and a mixed media whirlygig hovers above a patchwork cow, ready to grab the wind. Viewers will get a rare chance to carefully touch the works as they help the sculptures to come alive.”

Georgia native and LaGrange resident, Annie Greene is best known for her yarn paintings featuring colorful knitting yarns outlined in black embroidery thread. Her paintings reflect culturally and socially relevant images of her life as an African-American in the rural South.

“Viewers will be intrigued by the details Greene creates with rows and swirls of colorful yarn,” said Carrollton Visual Arts Coordinator, Marcella Kuykendall. “It can take observers who are new to the works several minutes to figure out that the they are made of fibers. It has been fun installing the exhibit and seeing the surprise on each passerby’s face as they realize the material and time it took to produce each piece.“

Mayor and Council to be Sworn In Jan. 2

A reception and swearing-in ceremony will welcome Carrollton’s new mayor and new and returning councilmembers, January 2. The ceremony will be held at the Carrollton Center for the Arts, at 251 Alabama Street, during a special called meeting of the council.

Incoming Mayor Betty Cason, newly-elected Ward 4 Councilmember Bob Uglum and re-elected Councilmember Jim Watters will be sworn in at 7:00 p.m. after a public reception in the center’s lobby that starts at 6:00 p.m.

Cason served as Carroll County Probate Judge for two decades before retiring last year. Uglum was the long-time owner of the Maple Street Mansion restaurant. Ward 3 Councilmember Watters will be starting his third term on the council. Ward 2 Councilmember Brett Ledbetter was sworn in last month to fill the unexpired term of Rory Wojcik. Ward 1 Councilmember Gerald Byrd is the longest-serving member of the council, currently in the middle of his fifth full term.

Firefighters Save Choking Child

The crew of Carrollton City Fire Department Engine 24 saved a three-year-old girl from choking, Nov. 22, at the Wells Fargo Bank on Bankhead Highway. The child choked on a piece of candy and was unconscious and no longer breathing when the fire crew arrived. Firefighters Chad Thigpen, Jimmy Appleby and Jared McKenzie cleared the girl’s airway. Fire department officials say the girl is doing well and in good health.

The three will be recognized for the accomplishment during a Carrollton City Council meeting in January. Fire Chief Jimmy Bearden said in a written statement, “The child was within seconds of death and without the intervention of the firefighters, the child probably would not have survived. We are very proud of our dedicated firefighters and honored to recognize them for their life-saving efforts.”
Photo by Jay Luzardo, courtesy of the Times-Georgian

Workshop: Upcycling Gift Bags and Boxes

The Carrollton Center for the Arts’ Gallery Play workshop, Upcycled Gift Bags & Boxes, on November 23, will show participants how to make and decorate colorful gift containers using an assortment of art materials, recyclables and their own creativity.

“It is amazing to me what you can do with bits of paper, scraps from craft projects and other leftover items,” said the center’s visual arts coordinator, Marcella Kuykendall. “This workshop will be a creative exploration of upcycling craftiness, with Alan Kuykendall participating as one of the instructors. If you have a particular small present in mind or want to purchase a piece from our Small Packages exhibit, we can help come up with ideas to beautifully conceal that special gift.”

The workshop runs from 6 – 7:00 p.m. All ages are welcome, but young children will need assistance from their parents. Those wanting an evening of the arts can stick around for the Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The registration fee for the workshop is $10. Amahl tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for youth. Call 770-838-1083 or visit https://carrolltonarts.com/ to register, buy tickets or for more information.

City of Carrollton Honors Dr. James Pope

City Councilmember Met Lane presented long-time Carrollton surgeon and longest-serving Carrollton Board of Education member, Dr. James Pope, with a key to the city at the Carrollton Trojans’ state playoffs football game Friday night.

“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this honor than Dr. Pope,” said Carrollton City Council Member Met Lane. “Or a more appropriate setting for us to show our appreciation for all he has done for the health and education of our community.”

Pope was a member of the 1961 Carrollton High School state championship football team and 1962 Carrollton High School state championship baseball team. He practiced for 36 years with Carrollton Surgical Group and has held leadership roles on numerous boards, foundations and professional associations. Citing Pope’s positive influence in the health, education, and growth of Carrollton and his life of dedication to his profession, Carrollton’s mayor and city council honored Pope by proclaiming November 15, 2019, “Dr. James Pope Day” at their November 4 meeting.

Photos courtesy of Carrollton City Schools

Christmas in Carrollton

Whether it’s an altogether magical performance of a classic ballet, parading through downtown with Santa, finding a unique gift or just sharing a cup of good cheer, ’tis the season to celebrate Christmas in Carrollton!

Small Packages
Through December 14
Carrollton Center for the Arts
Great things come in small packages. These small-but-mighty works, created by members of the Carrollton Artist Guild, fit within a 12 x 12 x 12-inch space, come in a variety of media and styles and make great gifts for friends, family — or yourself. The Carrollton Writer’s Guild will present a selection of their members’ books, poems and other writings, which will also be available for purchase.

Christmas in Carrollton Choral Concert
December 13, 7:30pm
December 14, 4:00pm & 7:30pm
Carrollton Center for the Arts
Since the Carroll County Community Chorus was founded in 1979, it has become a Carrollton tradition to celebrate the holidays with the group’s Christmas concert. This year, the chorus will present both traditional Christmas music and some new holiday choral arrangements. Directed by Jack Gantt. Tickets: $10.

Carroll Community Wind Ensemble Winter Concert
December 16, 7:30pm
Carrollton Center for the Arts
The Carroll Community Wind Ensemble was founded in 2011 and is open to anyone living in West Georgia/East Alabama who played a symphonic band instrument in high school or college. The group has become a vital part of the musical life of Carroll County, Don’t miss their popular winter show at the Center for the Arts. Tickets: $10 Adults / $5 Youth

Christmas with the CSO
December 19 – 20, 7:30pm
Carrollton Center for the Arts
The Carroll Symphony Orchestra is a West Georgia treasure. Christmas with the CSO is a Carrollton tradition. This year, the orchestra will perform the soundtrack of Polar Express and feature a local community choir. Patrons will again have the opportunity to submit musical requests for CSO Conductor Terry Lowry to perform on the piano. Tickets: $18 Adults / $10 Youth.