Usually when a high school sports team wins a state championship, there is a party. When three teams in one county reach that feat, there is a parade. However, this year, the Richmond County Sheriff’s office put the kibosh on any public celebration for two schools with championship teams.
Both the boys and girls teams at Cross Creek High School left the basketball court with championship rings, and the girls’ team at T.W. Josey won its state basketball championship as well.
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School board member Venus Cain said it is disheartening that the sheriff is denying the kids the ability to celebrate publicly.
“We can’t get a permit to have a parade and they say it is because of COVID-19,” she said.
Cain points out that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has relaxed his executive orders involving
public events such as parades, but she said those relaxed rules are falling on deaf ears locally.
According to The Augusta Press columnist and WGAC talk show host Austin Rhodes, when
Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan found out that celebrations had been
called off by the sheriff, he immediately offered to help.
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“When Chairman Duncan learned about the situation, he said the school board could use Evans
Towne Center Park to throw a party,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes, who is a vocal critic of Sheriff Richard Roundtree, said he can’t understand why the
sheriff would allow a packed gym with hundreds of kids holding a dance contest, but won’t allow
an outdoor parade with plenty of space to social distance.
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Rhodes said, adding that if the sheriff won’t allow a proper
graduation ceremony this spring, he might throw a party for the graduates himself.
However, the championship party will not be held in Columbia County either as the school board
politely said, “thanks, but no thanks.”
Cain said she appreciates the offer, but the Richmond County community should be the
community hosting the festivities.
“These kids are from Richmond County and they need to celebrate in Richmond County,” she
said.
Sheriff Roundtree apparently has no plans of backing down, so the celebrations will be
conducted in-house at the respective schools which Cain said is the best the schools can do at
this point.
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The school board plans to recognize the teams at their April school board meeting, but the
ceremony will happen on an online stream instead of having the teams receive the recognition
in person.
Cain said that she used to give a rose to each of the female champion students each year, and
she is sad that even that is not allowed this year.
“People are always calling the school system a failure. Well these kids aren’t a failure; they
worked hard to earn those rings,” she said. “We are the only system in the state with three
championship teams this year, and those kids have to keep their grades up to participate on the
team, so they really are all around champions.”
Cain said that the public can show their support for the teams by making a donation to the
schools to help the students buy their rings and championship jackets.
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“Many of these kids are economically disadvantaged,” she said. “If the community wants to
help and show their appreciation, they can help them get their rings.”
Donations in the form of checks can be taken directly to the front office of either Cross Creek or
T.W. Josey. Donations can also be given online by using the “payment plus” app that can be
found at the respective school’s websites: T.W. Josey High School / Homepage (rcboe.org) and
Cross Creek High School / Homepage (rcboe.org)
Scott Hudson is the Managing Editor of The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
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