Bicentennial committee to offer special bricks

County commissioners approved a fund-raiser project Oct. 25 for the county’s bicentennial celebration. The county was founded in 1811 and county officials are planning a celebration next year to mark the county’s 200th anniversary, which will be Dec. 5.

For $25, citizens can purchase a brick to be placed on a walkable wall at the county’s Memorial Park, next to the county’s government complex. The bricks, which can be engraved, will be available for any person or group wanting to place a lasting public tribute in honor of another at the wall.

County bicentennial chairperson Rhonda Wooten said the order forms for the bricks have not yet been finalized. She said she expects those forms to be completed shortly after the eight-member bicentennial committee meets again Nov. 3.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” said Wooten of the brick project, who noted that order forms will be made available at various sites around the county and online.

The brick wall is just one of various bicentennial plans for 2011. For instance, a bicentennial festival will be held Sept. 24 next year. And the county commissioners will recognize the anniversary in December with a re-enactment of the county’s first commissioners’ meeting.

The county will also have storytelling sessions with refreshments and bicentennial merchandise for sale on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. between January and November in the BOC meeting room. Local historian Charlotte Bond is the first scheduled speaker on Jan. 20.

No taxpayer money will be used to fund any bicentennial events. So, the bicentennial committee is seeking contributions from local individuals and businesses who want to assist in the bicentennial effort. Those who would like to help sponsor 200th-anniversary efforts can contact the bicentennial committee’s public relations and sponsorship director Luanne Byrd at 770-231-0788 or e-mail her at luannebyrd@windstream.net.

Commissioner Bruce Scogin, who lost the Republican primary to Jim Escoe, said he will assist with the construction of the wall, but will receive no pay.