Lyons Recognizes Summer Interns

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During their regular monthly meeting on September 3, the Lyons City Council issued several official proclamations recognizing members of the community, including the municipality’s first ever summer interns.

This summer, Toombs County High School Students Jean Peterson and Clark Brannon completed an internship with the City throughout the past summer, during which they worked closely with city officials and employees, and were able to learn more about how the local government functioned. Mayor Willis NeSmith Jr. commented on this internship program’s inaugural summer, saying, “Youth are stewards of the future and can lead by providing new ideas. These guys did a great job, and we are proud of them!”

In addition to recog nizing summer interns, the Mayor and Council also recognized Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Racers Alyssa Head, Noah Gordy, Charles Conner, Taylor Copeland, Isaac Pickles, and Alexis Head for their success throughout the 2023-2024 race season. All six racers traveled to Akron, Ohio, during the summer for the World Soap Box Derby Championships, during which Gordy and Conner were both rally race champions. Alyssa Head was 3rd overall in the rally super stock division, and Alexis Head, Copeland, and Pickles each won their first rounds of competition.

Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Director Jonathan Gordy thanked the Council for their sup- port of the sport. "I'll be honest with you – we talk to a lot of folks that we race with around the United States of America – and a lot of people actually come here to rally race with us – but they ask us, ‘What’s it take to get the city involved like you all have?' I tell them that I was honored to be able to step in to a situation where some people who really cared a lot about the Derby invest in the operation. Without our City Council, City Manager, Recreation Manager, and Mayor, [the Derby] wouldn’t be what it is. So, I just wanted to say thank you for that,” he emphasized. He also shared his gratitude to several racers’ parents who had stepped up to make sure that the Derby was at its best.

Mayor NeSmith also declared September as National Recovery Month in Lyons, as he thanked local recovery agencies – such as Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization, Forge Men’s Recovery Center, and more – for their work within the community.

Forge Men’s Recovery Center Administrative Assistant Amy Cruz provided the Council with an update following the recognition, during which she shared that over 24 individuals in long-term recovery have been able to find work in the community.

During the Lyons Main Street Association report, Association Executive Director Daphne Walker introduced the council to Boy Scout Troop 939 Scout Liam Tipps, who plans to complete his Eagle Scout Project in Lyons. According to Walker, Tipps plans to construct a wooden pergola and several bird houses in the downtown 304 Society Garden.

Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker introduced the Council to the Department’s two newest officers, Zach Culbertson and Dustin Matejcik. He also told the Council that he recently purchased several Dodge Durangos for the Department.

Council members unanimously agreed to amend the intergovernmental agreement between the Toombs County Board of Education and the city, as the municipality will supply 3 school resource officers to the schools within Lyons city limits – Lyons Primary School, Lyons Upper Elementary School, Toombs County Middle School, and Toombs County High School – rather than the 4 officers originally agreed upon. This change comes as the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office will provide a School Resource Officer for Toombs Central Elementary School, which is located in the unincorporated area of the county.

The Council also approved to submit a preapplication to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for a $75,000 grant to buy playground equipment – a swing and ADA-accessible playground – for the downtown park. This preapplication certifies that the City is able to provide the necessary local match funding if they were to receive the grant; a grant application cannot be submitted until this preapplication is accepted.

Action regarding the future of a unique modular home development, which is planned to be completed by Rocky Creek Investment Company, has been tabled, as the Council seeks guidance for the development’s next steps. Currently, the company is struggling to receive authorization from the Department of Community Affairs regarding the structures because of them being manufactured off-shore, which led owner Win Tippett to seek guidance from the City.

The next city council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, within the city council chambers.

LEARNING ABOUT GOVERNMENT – Clark Brannon is one of two Toombs County High School students who spent his summer interning at the City of Lyons. He and his family attended the Lyons City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 3, to be honored for his participation in the internship program. L to R: Councilman Ivy Toole, Councilman John Moore, Jr., Councilwoman Cathy Benton, mother Sarah Toler, Clark Brannon, brother Griffin Toler, Mayor Willis NeSmith, Jr., Councilman Tracy Johnson, Councilman Drayton Oliver.Photo by Ansleigh Randolph

INAUGURAL PROGRAM – Jean Peterson was one of the first two student interns in Lyons’ new youth leadership summer program. She and her family attended the Lyons City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 3, to be honored for her participation in the internship program. L to R: Councilman Ivy Toole, Councilman John Moore, Jr., Councilwoman Cathy Benton, father Tom Peterson IV, mother Letty Peterson, Jean Peterson, Mayor Willis NeSmith, Jr., Councilman Tracy Johnson, Councilman Drayton Oliver.Photo by Ansleigh Randolph

TALENTED RACERS – Several of the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby racers were recognized during the Lyons City Council meeting on September 3 for their successful racing season. L to R: Councilman John Moore Jr., Councilman Ivy Toole, Charles Conner, Noah Gordy, Soap Box Derby Director Jonathan Gordy, Assistant Soap Box Derby Director David Pickles, Isaac Pickles, Mayor Willis NeSmith, Jr., Alyssa Head, Councilman Tracy Johnson, Councilman Drayton Oliver.Photo by Ansleigh Randolph