Our Voice
There are good things about Milledgeville
Spreading like wildfire, the story about 6-year-old Milledgeville resident Salecia Johnson has erupted all over the news. News of the kindergartner getting handcuffed by the Milledgeville police can be found at a number of different places. The story has appeared on the likes of ABC News, the Associated Press and even the L.A. Times. It seems as if people cannot get enough of this little girl’s story.
Unfortunately, what this means for Milledgeville is more bad press. Everyone remembers the Roethlisberger case, and even to this day it is still following the Milledgeville name around like an annoying fly that just won’t go away. Sure, this case has come and gone, but bring up Milledgeville around family and friends and almost 50 percent of the time someone is going to say something along the lines of “Milledgeville? That’s where the Roethlisberger thing happened.”
The question is, upon hearing the name Milledgeville, will these people also mention the 6-year-old who got handcuffed? With the vast amount of articles about it already taking over Facebook and online news sources, chances are this will become yet another infamous case that will be talked about several years down the road.
At The Colonnade, we believe that people need to start recognizing Milledgeville for its successes and not just for its downfalls. For instance, most people do not realize that the annual Deep Roots Festival, which brings students and the community together, recently gained some good publicity. Winning six awards at this year’s Southeast Festivals and Events Kaleidoscope Awards.
Aside from the Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville also shines through the success of its farmer’s markets. With the return of the Milledgeville Market on Tuesdays and the addition of the Fall Line Farmers Market on Saturdays, the city is steadily building a reputation as a prime location for sustainable food. Downtown Milledgeville also has a plethora of booming businesses, and the number of businesses is only supposed to increase with each passing year.
So the next time someone refers to Milledgeville as “crazy town” and remarks on Roethlisberger or Salecia Johnson, remind them of the good parts about this town. Tell them about how Georgia College is one of the top universities in the state, or tell them about the beautiful, historic homes that line the streets.
The Colonnade is not saying that such cases like a 6-year-old getting handcuffed should be pushed aside, but we are suggesting that people need to get the bad taste they have in their mouths about Milledgeville. It’s time this city starts being recognized for the good and not just the bad.
Posted by 
