[ March 31, 2020 ] The past few days have accelerated the closing and changes of operation within Pickens County government, schools and nonprofits. Yesterday, President Trump declares a national emergency over the coronavirus and today Governor Kemp declares a Public Health State of Emergency.

Below are notices listed in alphabetical order by entity name (updated 3/22/20):

Appalachian Judicial Circuit
An order declaring a Judicial Emergency in Pickens, Fannin and Gilmer counties has been issued by Chief Judge Brenda Weaver on 3/13/20. This emergency is a result of the continued transmission of the Coronavirus/COVID-19.

NO jurors or grand jurors shall report and no jury trials shall be held for a period of 30 days, through April 12, 2020, in Pickens, Fannin and Gilmer counties.

NO civil or non-essential criminal matters shall be heard during this time except for jail bond hearings, first appearance hearings, jail pleas AND emergency matters that may be set by the Court.

This order applies to Superior, Magistrate, Probate and Juvenile Court matters.

Boys & Girls Club of North Georgia
Roper Park Club will be closed March 16 through March 27th. All clubs will be deep cleaned and sanitized.

CARES for Pickens County
Beginning Monday, March 23rd, CARES will be offering curbside food distribution between 9 am and 12 noon on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY. If you or a loved one need home delivery, please call the Sheriff's Department and 706-253-8869.

Chattahoochee Technical College
At close of business on Friday, March 13, through Sunday, March 22, all campuses of Chattahoochee Tech will be closed. All college campuses will reopen Monday, March 23. During the next two weeks through Saturday, April 4, as many courses as possible will be transferred to an online/virtual environment as possible. Students will be contacted by their instructors with details. Non-credit instruction, testing services and adult education courses will be conducted as scheduled. Faculty and staff will report as normal as directed by their respective supervisors.

Spring Break is scheduled for the week of April 5 through April 12. No classes will be held that week. Upon return from Spring Break, the college will continue with online/virtual learning with possibility of resuming face-to-face component for labs, learning outcome assessments and completing coursework if possible.

City of Jasper
In an abundance of caution, we will be restricting the public?s access to our facilities beginning on Monday, March 16th until further notice. City Employees will come to work if they are not sick or showing signs of sickness and will operate as normal. Additionally, City Municipal Court is postponed until further notice (possibly April 3rd or thereafter).

The public will be able to call City Hall at (706-692-9100) for work orders or other items of city business and we will have staff to properly address the concerns. Persons or businesses that have payments due (water bills, etc.) will be able to access the night deposit box and staff will be able to process accordingly. The City of Jasper will not be turning water service off to our customers in the immediate during this time.

From a public safety concern we will be continuing to operate with slight modifications of social interactions but will fulfill our obligatory duties of protecting and serving our community.

City of Nelson
As a precautionary measure and to reduce the health risk to staff, employees, citizens and visitors due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the City of Nelson has decideded to close City Hall to the public until further notice.

The city will continue to operate as usual and staff will be available by phone 770735-2211 and email nelsoncityclerk@ellijay.com.

Trash and property tax payments can be made online at a href='https://www.nelsonpay.com' target='_blank'>www.nelsonpay.com or through website www.nelsongeorgia.com or left in the dropbox at City Hall.

Should you require immediate assistance, contact Kelsey at 678-592-5918 or Mayor Sylvia Green at 678-215-5137. If you have an emergency, call 911.

Community County Thrift Store
Closed until further notice. Please do not leave donations at the store.

Good Samaritan Health & Wellness
We are asking all patients to call ahead and schedule an appointment before coming to the clinic. Please leave a message at 706-253-4673 and someone will call you back.

To help limit the number of people entering the clinic and to help maintain social distancing, adult clients are asked to come to their appointments alone (unless they are in need of assistance). Other adults will be asked to wait in their vehicle. Children with appointments should only be accompanied by one adult.

Those visitors coming to pick up prescriptions will be asked to wait outside until they are ready. We have someone at the entrance to help you with this.

JumpStart cycle that was beginning March 29th is being postponed

Jasper Farmers Market
Due to circumstances beyond my control, opening day will not happen on March 28th. I am beyond disappointed, but I know we all are these days. Please keep check, as soon as we are allowed to, we will open.

Jasper Municipal Court
The March 17, 9 am Traffic Court has been rescheduled to Friday, April 3rd at 9 am. Notices will be mailed out.

Pickens County Chamber of Commerce
The following events are postponed with new date to be determined:
SnowBall Golf Tournament
Business After Hours at Designs on Main
Modern Woodman Ribbon Cutting
Plated Creations Catering

Pickens County Community Service Center - North Georgia Community Action
Due to circumstances involving the COVID-19, we will be closed through March 31st. We tentatively plan on re-opening our offices April 1st. Should you need emergency assistance please contact our Central office at 706-692-5644. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Pickens County Government
The Pickens County Administrative Offices will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, 2020. The public will not be able to enter the Administrative Office Building during this time. Our staff will continue to serve the citizens by utilizing alternate forms of business communication during this period.

Please use the drop box located in front of the building for the Tax Commissioner?s Department and the drop box located at the side of the building for the Water Department. Citizens can continue to utilize online bill pay or the U.S. Postal Service.

If you need to speak with our staff, please see the list of department telephone numbers posted at the front entrance. Our staff will be ready to assist, as always. Our office can be reached at 706-253-8809.

Pickens County Library
The Pickens County Library will close on Monday, March 16 until further notice. e-Library services will continue as normal. Materials should be kept at home. Fines will not accrue while the library is closed.

Pickens County Parks and Recreation Department
Suspending all operations due to the current COVID-19 situation on Sunday, March 15 at 10:00 am. We will be closing the Community Center and all Ball Fields during this time. Our plans are to open back up for normal business on March 30th at 8:00 AM. As always make sure all children and adults are practicing good hygiene to include hand washing and coughing or sneezing into elbow / shirt. If you or your child feels ill with fever,sore throat,cough or shortness of breath please don't bring them to games or practices. If you have any questions or concerns please call us at 706-253-8862.

Pickens County Schools
UPDATE 3/17/2020 - Pickens County School District will remain closed through Tuesday, March 31, 2020, per an executive order from Governor Kemp. The Board of Education will continue to monitor the situation and any changes will be communicated to our families and staff.

[previous release on 3/12/2020] Pickens County School District will be closed Monday, March 16, 2020, through Friday, March 27, 2020. During this time, our buildings and buses will be deep-cleaned. As long as schools are closed, all extra-curricular activities are canceled. View Board of Education meeting on decision and Proactive Planning for Closure presentation.

On Thursday, March 26, 2020, a determination will be made as to whether or not additional days are added for school closures.

"Grab and Go" meals are provided FREE of charge to all Pickens County children age 18 and under. More info

Pickens Master Gardeners SPRING PLANT SALE
In times like these all one can do is hope for the best (but plan for the worst). It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the cancellation of our plant sale this year. If you purchased plants this year, your order form and payment for the event will be mailed to the address on your order form. Please do not visit the office as it is closed to the public at this time.

Between the shelter in place order for older Americans and school cancellations, our entire plant sale volunteer workforce is mostly unavailable. The closing of school and government facilities has also removed options for a plant sale customer pick up site. Lastly, since federal officials are advising that no more than ten people gather in one place, I cannot in good conscience countenance the continuance of an event that surely will do just that.

Hopefully, we can try a Fall plant sale if issues created by the COVID 19 virus are resolved at that time. I sincerely apol