City Council Honors Earth Day, Minutemen

Two organizations, including descendants of soldiers who fought and died in the Revolutionary War, were on hand to receive proclamations from Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood honoring Patriots Day at Thursday night's meeting.

Dr. J. Allen Henson, the president of the Captain John Collins chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, was joined by fellow members Larry Lines and Wayne Brown, dressed in the style of uniform George Washington wore during the Revolutionary War.

Patriots Day falls on April 19. On that date in 1775, militias from the state of Massachusetts fought 750 British regular soldiers in battles at Lexington and Concord, setting off the powder keg that became the Revolutionary War.

“Although people celebrate on July Fourth, we want people to remember when the war to earn our freedom began,” Brown said.

One of the American casualties on that April day in 1775 was Capt. Isaac Davis. Davis' brother and fellow captain, James, is the seventh great-grandfather of meeting attendee Larry Lines.

“I have a granddaughter who is failing American history,” Lines said. “I told her, 'Listen, honey, I've got something that will encourage you a little bit: Flowing through your veins is the blood of an American patriot that died to have the freedom that you have.' ”

Brownies from Girl Scout Troop 2376 were honored by the mayor with a proclamation recognizing the importance of Earth Day and the steps ordinary citizens can take to be more environmentally friendly. The troop received praise from City Hall for its upcoming service project, during which the girls and their friends and family will clean up local beaches that have suffered from a littering problem. The cleanup will be April 30 at 9:30 a.m.

“People are being mean to the beach,” one Girl Scout said.

In addition to proclamations, City Hall had business to attend to. In a bureaucratic reshuffling, Marian Williams will be appointed deputy city clerk. A human resources technician will be hired for $13.72 to $19.62 an hour to work in tandem with Sandra Henson. Those moves will cost the city no money.

The Board of Aldermen unanimously passed the consent agenda at Thursday night's meeting. The actions that will take place as a result include:

• Amending the budgets for the General Fund, Capital Improvements Project Fund, SPLOST Fund and the Solid Waste Sanitation Fund. Those changes are meant to reflect actual costs of projects done, replacing the initial estimates.

• Steve Prather will serve on the Acworth Lake Authority until May 1, 2015.

• Core Bodyworks will celebrate World Tai Chi Day at on April 30.

• will use the for an Easter sunrise service.

The full agenda can be found here.