Lyons City Council Recognizes Excellence In Community
The Lyons City Council recognized excellence in the police and recreation departments during their August meeting at the Calloway Community Center. The recognized received awards and kind words from the council.
Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker first presented Sergeant Jonathan Mc-Gahee with a plaque of a letter received from the Executive Director of Georgia DARE Gary Moore for Sgt. McGahee’s excellence in planning and conducting the statewide DARE training conference in Lyons this past June.
Sgt. McGahee is the Lyons Police Department’s DARE Instructor and School Resource Officer. Sgt. McGahee planned the entire conference, which was attended by DARE officers from several counties and cities across the state of Georgia. This is the first time the conference has been held in Lyons and will be regarded as one of the best, according to Moore.
Ford shared many positive comments about Sgt. McGahee’s itinerary for the event. “The attention to details and the professionalism shown by educators evidenced the professionalism of the Lyons Police Department,” Moore explained. “Sergeant McGahee was an integral component of the success of the conference. He was diligent, accommodating, and possessed a can-do will-do attitude to ensure all details were addressed.”
The Council applauded Sgt. Mc-Gahee for his hard work and thanked him for his contribution of time and work to the community. City Manager Jason Hall reiterated this appreciation to Sgt. McGahee. “I attended part of that conference one night and the attendees were overwhelmed with what Jonathan did,” he said. “He even provided some very unique recreation activities, which were very much appreciated by the staff that came and attended the conference because most of them brought their families with them.”
Chief Walker shared his sentiments about McGahee’s success: “Sgt. McGahee's hard work, dedication, and attention to detail made the 2021 DARE conference one of the most successful to date.”
Recreation Director James Mc-Gowen joined the Council in the recognition of the Lyons Class A/B 10U Girls Machine Pitch Softball and Lyons Class A/B 14U Girls Fastpitch Softball teams on their GRPA Class A/B state championships. The teams went mostly undefeated, with the 10U team only losing the home tournament in Lyons and the 14U team only losing a single game all season during
14U STATE CHAMPIONS — The Council also honored the Lyons Class A/B 14U Fastpitch Girls Softball Team on their GRPA state championship. The team had an extremely successful season, only losing a single game. Front Row, L to R: Marishka Smith, Anniston Powell, Emerson Powell, Natalie Quintero. Middle Row, L to R: Autumn Jarriel, Shakayla Joseph, Brinley Miller, Nora Grace Mercer, Shaylin Stringer. Back Row: Councilman John Moore, Jr., Councilman Ivy Toole, Coach TJ Mercer, Recreation Director James McGowan, Coach Scott Ford, Councilwoman Sonja Eason, Coach Shaun Stringer, Councilman Larry Griggers, Councilman Rick Hartley, Mayor Willis Neesmith. Not Pictured: Laura Zamorano.
10U STATE CHAMPIONS — The Council honored the success of the Lyons Class A/B 10U Machine Pitch Girls Softball Team on their GRPA state championship. The girls played hard all season and only lost one tournament. Front Row, L to R: Lindy Morris, Kylah Gay, Bella Otero. Back Row, L to R: Councilman John Moore, Jr., Councilman Ivy Toole, Mayor Willis Neesmith, Recreation Director James McGowan, Councilman Rick Hartley, Councilwoman Sonja Eason, Councilman Larry Griggers. Not Pictured: Coach Becky Pittman, Coach Jason Coe, Coach Ivan Herndon, Lucy Caraway, Annabelle Coe, Ella Hartley, Elin Haygood, Ella Herndon, Londyn Johnson, Braylin Pittman, Raeann Smith, Mary Frances Stanley, and Kanijah Toby.
DARE SUCCESS — Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker addresses the council about Sergeant Jonathan McGahee’s success in the planning and execution of the 2021 DARE Training Conference. Here, Chief Walker speaks to the council alongside Sgt. McGahee.
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the playoffs. Lyons Mayor Willis Neesmith made a statement on behalf of the City to the teams about the pride the community shares for them. “Being the best in the state requires total commitment, dedication, and personal fortitude from the players, coaches, and parents,” he said. Mayor Neesmith encouraged the community to congratulate these individuals when seen in public for their success in sport and representation of the city of Lyons. The Council passed a variance allowing the second location of the Step by Step Child Care and Learning Center to place a mobile classroom on their current property at 411 West Wesley Avenue. This business is owned by Chelsea Diaz, who explained the need for this mobile classroom was to increase compacity and give the children more space. The variance was necessary because the location is in an R-1 zone, which prohibits both multiple dwellings on one lot as well as manufactured homes. Because both buildings will be in use for the daycare, the Council passed the variance unanimously with the only limitation being that this variance is voided if the property is no longer inhabited by the business. This limitation is to ensure that no overcrowding of housing in the lot occurs, meaning no one may buy the lot and transform the classroom into a rental home.
Republic Sanitation Services representative Amy Vassey introduced herself to the council to explain the resource that Republic is for the city. She shared that Lyons currently has a new garbage truck driver, Rashawn Brown, who is enthusiastic about working and actively learning the route; thus, Vassey asked the public to be patient with his progress.
City Manager Hall further stated the importance of Republic’s service in the community; “I know you probably feel like you do not see them as much as you should, but the city and Republic Services work closely to ensure the sanitation of the community,” he explained.
The Council’s next meeting will be August 17 at Lyons City Hall; this meeting will discuss a requested change in zoning for the creation of a bed and breakfast.
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
