City councilmembers speak on Black History Month at February meeting

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, February 10, 2022

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At the LaGrange City Council meeting Tuesday, members of the city took a moment to recognize Black History month by highlighting different members of Troup County who helped make LaGrange the city it is today.

Councilmember Willie Edmondson highlighted the doctors, while council member Nathan Gaskin highlighted some of the problems youth currently face in the LaGrange community.

Edmondson said he would like to salute a number of individuals, including the past doctors of LaGrange.

“I’d like to salute some of the fine African American men and women of LaGrange and Troup County, especially LaGrange. Dr. Benjamin Wood and Dr. Epps were some of our first African American doctors here in the city,” Edmondson said.

Mayor Jim Thornton said he hopes to see Edmondson make a video for the city of LaGrange.

“I’ll join you in celebrating Black History Month. I appreciate you sharing some of those names with us,” Thornton said. “I’m going to take this as you’re volunteering to perhaps record a video for Katie and Adam.”

Gaskin highlighted that the Troup County community can do a better job of investing in their youth, particularly the William J. Griggs Recreation center.

“We have a lot of problems with young people, whether they’re not getting out enough and playing or getting involved in bad things like gangs and just being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Gaskin said.