Shown helping Better Hometown and the City of Wrightsville prepare the Christmas lamppost bows for storage are (l to r) Irene Sahaydachnaya from the Ukraine, Heba Rbehat from Jordan, and Haya Almaskari of Oman. Thanks to these Johnson County Exchange Students the bows will be fresh and ready for use next Christmas!

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Gifted students participate in tree plantings

The City of Wrightsville Tree Board celebrated Georgia Arbor Day on February 19th by planting six trees in and around the downtown area. Will Tanner, local forester, graciously donated all trees to the project. A Little Gem Magnolia was planted on the courthouse square and live oaks and a Shumard Oak were planted in other areas.  Gina Bright’s gifted class was present for the plantings and a question and answer  session 
conducted by Rodney Soles of the tree board. It is hoped the Wrightsville will become a USA Tree City for 2010. Wrightsville’s Tree board members are Chan Carter, Joy Hoover and Rodney Soles. Thanks for your great work!

Winners: Historic Coloring Book Contest

Winning entries of Better Hometown’s Historic Wrightsville Coloring Book Contest have been announced and are shown in photo (left to right): First Place, Ramsey Hadden; Second Place, Alli Brantley; Third Place, Haley Carter. The contest is offered each year to Johnson County Second Grade students in hopes of teaching them the importance and value of our historic buildings.

The Johnson County Commission has provided for the W & T Depot to be rented for family and community events by the Better Hometown organization. To reserve a date, simply fill out the application and return it to the Better Hometown Director at the Depot.

Kevin Price, Chair
Curtis Dixon, Secretary
Ralph Holmes, Treasurer
Mary Ann Norris, Program Manager
Ron Blaxton
Jimmy Cook
Dr. Hayward Cordy
Joy Hoover
Ann Veal

One of Better Hometown’s early projects consisted of putting together a partnership of twenty-two counties to publish the Classic Courthouses Brochure. The brochure, updated in 2009, is now in Georgia Welcome Centers and the brochure’s web page has been revised thanks to Suzana Rowland of Clickfire.com/  (Funded in part by the Georgia      Department of Economic Development) 
                                                  

To view the Classic Courthouse brochure, please click the following link: Classic Courthouse Tour of East Central Georgia

Better Hometown continues to sponsor historic-styled lampposts ($1000), benches ($500), trees ($250) and engraved pavers ($30) for the just completed streetscape project. All sponsorship donations are tax de-deductible under the law. Applications are available at the BHT Office, City Hall and on this site as well as photos of Lamppost plaques. This is a great way to keep alive the names of family members or a business!