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Local volunteers, organizing committee make Tour de Georgia visit a success
A local organizing committee and more than 50 volunteers made the stage start a success, said organizer Ashley Barnett. "Thank you to everyone who helped," she said "and our city and county government, police, Sheriff's Department, and so many more for making this event possible. It took every one of us to make it happen. I am overjoyed that this was all so successful and so much fun!" Although the Tour's visit on a weekday morning saw crowds far smaller than the race organizers predicted, organizers said that Washington's turnout was better than other, much larger cities this year. "The Tour staff absolutely loved it here and the feedback we received was nothing but positive," Barnett said. "They had a ball here, and thought our city did an outstanding job. They really could not say enough about Washington- Wilkes!" The local volunteers helped with everything from hospitality to security, and did it well. "Thanks to the volunteers for your time, patience, energy, and dedication to this event," Barnett said. "It was because of all of you that this event was so successful." Students at Washington-Wilkes Elementary School got a nice surprise from the Tour riders as they rode by the school. "We had our state CRCT testing that day, so we didn't tell the children that anything was up for fear it would distract them," said Principal Wanda Barton Jenkins. "But as soon as the testing was done, we took them out front and lined them up in their places, and before long, the police and cars started coming, then the cyclists rode by, and the children were so excited!" For the week, the Tour de Georgia Foundation and Tour sponsors raised over $500,000 for official beneficiaries Children's Healthcare and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. While the event didn't bring a large crowd to Washington, it did bring some VIP and media attention to the city. "Lt. Governor Casey Cagle is chairman of Tour de Georgia Foundation and he stayed in Washington Tuesday night," Barnett said. "He ate dinner downtown, attended the Arts Foundation's cocktail party, attended the street dance, and enjoyed the band at the Farmers Market, and we were thrilled to host him! He is absolutely a joy to work with, as well as Tour organizer Elizabeth Dewberry." Throughout the week, Washington and Wilkes County were seen or mentioned in news reports about the race in Augusta, Atlanta, and in international sports media. "I expect we'll see tourists coming this summer who discovered us by seeing the Tour on television," she said. "The big benefit is yet to come." Cable and satellite network Versus, Comcast channel 61 in Washington, will provide playback coverage of the 2008 Tour on Sunday, May 4 at 2 to 4 p.m. Barnett also expressed thanks to the merchants and restaurants for being open to accommodate the event Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Local sponsors made the Tour visit possible, Barnett said. "Because of your generous donations, we were able to pay for hotel rooms for the Tour staff plus many more of our expenses required to be a hosting city."
Sponsors for the event included: Farmers & Merchants Bank, Washington Retail Ventures, Clarks Hill Partnership, Farmers State Bank, Fievet Pharmacy, Ruffin Flag Company, Barnett Southern Corp., Gene & Teri Bridges, Rev. William Boyd, Mrs. Jack Rhodes, Michael Horgan, Bolton Lunceford, Tena's Jewelry & Gifts, United Country- Griggs Realty, Mann Electric and WXKT - WLOV Radio.
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