05-15-12 Pate's Creek Elementary Second Graders Visit City Hall

Pate’s Creek Elementary
Second Graders Visit City Hall

On Friday, May 4, ninety-nine bright, excited little faces crowded in the front door of McDonough City Hall as Pate’s Creek Elementary School’s second graders came calling on Mayor Billy Copeland.

The students, their teachers, and other accompanying adults filled the Council Chambers as Mayor Copeland stepped to the podium and welcomed everyone to City Hall. The Mayor discussed his responsibilities as the city’s Mayor. He also explained the responsibilities of City Council members and those of City Clerk Janis Price as he introduced both Price and his assistant Leslie Balog.

On a lighter note, the Mayor asked the youngsters if they had any idea what the items he held up might be. A response of rocks prompted the Mayor to explain, “They look like rocks, and they are as hard as rocks. But these use to be wood and are now petrified wood.” The students listened intently as he described how he came to have these pieces of petrified wood. He told the students they were were found on the old Disney ranch in Wyoming where the Mayor’s son just happens to work as a cowboy.

The students also enjoyed the slides of the Mayor’s other assistant, Bayor, a large stuffed bear that has become the mascot of City Hall. Slides of Bayor’s various activities around the building were highlighted on the slide screens in the Chambers. Pictures showed Bayor hunting for Easter eggs, getting the Mayo a candy bar from a vending machine, and even giving the Mayor a homemade valentine for Valentine’s Day. The episodes of the Bayor had the youngsters breaking out in laughter multiple times during the slide show.

Each class had the opportunity to pose for pictures with the Mayor including all the teachers accompanying the students.

Student tours of McDonough may be scheduled by calling 770-957-3915 (City Clerk).

Mayor Billy Copeland holds up pieces of petrified wood and explains to
the visiting Pate’s Creek Elementary second graders that
these samples came from the old Disney ranch in Wyoming.

Mayor Billy Copeland explains the duties of Mayor and
Council to the 99 second graders from Pate’s Creek Elementary
during their visit to McDonough City Hall.

Pate’s Creek Elementary second grade teachers brought 99
students to visit McDonough City Hall recently. Each class gathered
around the Mayor for pictures. The teachers also had the opportunity to pose for
pictures with Mayor Copeland before departing. They include: (L-R) Verona Holder,
Bridgett Head, Joy Southerland, Mayor Copeland, Wendy Prescher, Gail Schwartz, Dana Peters, and Talisa Johnson.