Thomasville Insights

We talk with Kenny Thompson about how Thomasville can make West Jackson Street safer by testing changes first and using real measurements instead of guesses. We break down what “multimodal” means, why Jackson Street looks the way it does today, and how public input helps shape what happens next. 
• the West Jackson Street demonstration project and why it is temporary by design 
• what multimodal transportation means for cars, walkers, bikes, scooters, and golf carts 
• treating streets as public spaces, not just fast routes for traffic 
• how Jackson Street changed from a two-lane road to a wider corridor and why traffic forecasts missed 
• the three-lane configuration test between Remington Avenue and College Street 
• Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funding and what it pays for 
• who designs the plan and who installs the quick-build materials 
• how we collect data on speeds, counts, and turning movements through spring 2027 
• why the bypass matters
• how to share concerns and questions with the planning team 
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To learn more about the City of Thomasville, visit Thomasville.org and follow us on social media 

We sit down with Jennifer Vanderbeek and Mimi Greitzer to share how a free bicentennial activity book helps kids explore 200 years of Thomasville history through hands-on learning. We dig into how the content gets chosen, how the illustrations are drawn, and how community support turns a big idea into something every student can hold. 
• overview of the Thomasville 200 Bicentennial Activity Book and what it covers across 200 years 
• distribution plan for Pre-K through fifth grade across city schools, county schools, Brookwood, and homeschool families 
• the two-year process of brainstorming, revising, and narrowing down to a 24-page activity book 
• using an interpretive plan to choose high-impact history moments without getting lost in side stories 
• keeping the story accurate while making it fun and age-appropriate for young learners 
• illustration and layout challenges, including creating a cover that blends old Broad Street with today 
• why funding and sponsorship make it possible to provide the book at no cost to students 
• a quick run of Thomasville history facts from 1910 to 1920 and how they still shape the community 
• upcoming reminders on voting dates and a family movie night at the Ritz 
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We walk through how the City of Thomasville plans and pays for major park upgrades while keeping everyday maintenance moving. We get concrete updates on Cassidy, Balfour, and Paradise Park, plus the behind-the-scenes steps that make these projects take time. 
• parks as a practical quality of life investment 
• how the 2023 Parks Master Plan guides priorities 
• Cassidy Park reopening plans with disc golf, trails, pavilion, restroom, and pond updates 
• Balfour Park design features including pavilion, playground, and splash-style water feature 
• Paradise Park Phase Two scope, timeline, and parking improvements 
• longleaf pine and wiregrass habitat restoration during drought conditions 
• dog park relocation from Balfour to Cherokee Lake for safer access 
• how SPLOST, LOST, grants, and donations fund capital projects 
• why grant cycles, utilities, surveys, and conservation rules stretch timelines 
• how public input and cross-department teamwork shape outcomes 

We remind you to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app. To learn more about the City of Thomasville visit thomasville.org or follow us on social media. 

A lot of people think gun violence is a problem you only deal with after it happens. We see it differently. We’re joined by Thomasville City Council Member Terry Scott and Thomasville Police Department Chief Wade Glover for a blunt, practical conversation about what gun violence looks like locally, why it’s increasingly tied to youth access to firearms, and what it takes to slow it down before a trigger gets pulled.

We talk through Scott’s community organization, Think Before You React, and the real mechanics of grassroots gun violence prevention in Thomasville, Georgia: church-based gatherings, street-level tents after a shooting, simple pamphlets, and powerful speakers like survivors and mothers who’ve lost a child. The point isn’t to “host an event” and move on. It’s to mentor, to tell the truth about consequences, and to create consistent contact with the age groups most vulnerable to peer pressure and fast decisions.

Social media comes up for a reason. We dig into how online posts can fuel fights, threats, and attention-seeking behavior, and why parents and guardians have to understand what kids are watching, sharing, and planning. Then we shift into police-community relations and the department’s revamped Use of Force Awareness training, where citizens learn what the law allows, what officers are trained to do, and how small choices during traffic stops can help de-escalate high-stress moments for everyone.

If you care about community safety, youth mentorship, firearm safety, and smarter prevention, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone in Thomasville and leave a review so more neighbors can find it.

We team up with Thomasville City Schools to launch the City of Thomasville Youth Council and explain how mentorship with City Council turns civics into real-life experience. Superintendent Dr. Scott Sweeting and Executive Director of STEM, CTAE, and Career Development Ashley Palmer share how the program builds career exposure, a stronger student voice, and a reason for students to stay connected to Thomasville long after graduation. 

To learn more about the city of Thomasville, visit thomasville.org or follow us on social media 
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app so you don't miss an episode 

We walk through why Thomasville’s historic municipal auditorium has to close now, and what it takes to launch a renovation that protects a downtown landmark while updating safety and access issues. Mary Patchunka-Smith shares what’s already happened behind the scenes, what residents will see first, and how we keep public meetings moving while construction ramps up. 

• doors closing timeline and what moved out 
• team effort to clear decades of storage and preserve historic items 
• where public meetings relocate across the city 
• project partners, from feasibility work to architect and local construction manager 
• historic preservation approach, including replica energy-efficient windows 
• visible early work, including landscape removal and scaffolding 
• courtyard redesign plans, ADA access, and reclaiming flexible space 
• life safety priorities
• why timing is urgent, funding sources, total project cost, and fall 2027 target 

We remind everyone to visit the public meetings calendar at thomasville.org for meeting dates, times, and locations.
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app so you don't miss an episode. 

We hand the mic to our interns for an honest look at what it’s like to work inside the City of Thomasville. From customer service and IT support to finance leadership and a historic building move, we hear what surprised them, what challenged them, and what they’d tell anyone thinking about applying. 
• why the intern takeover matters and how the program builds a pipeline for city jobs 
• how customer service includes multiple internal functions beyond phones and the front desk 
• what municipal IT support looks like day to day with hardware, PCs, and ticketing 
• advice to apply even if you doubt you’ll get picked 
• a Thomasville “hot take” on food diversity and making better use of free community events 
• how to learn coworker styles fast by talking beyond work and reading the room 
• what working near a CFO teaches about leadership, multitasking, and stress 
• why renovating a historic municipal building takes time, rules, and patience 
• navigating internship pressure and using summer work to test career paths 
• upcoming Kids Community Day details and where to find the community calendar 

Just a reminder to subscribe to Thomasville Insights on your favorite listening app. 
To learn more about the city of Thomasville, visit Thomasville.org or follow us on social media. 

We sit down with City Manager Chris White for a midyear look at what’s moving in Thomasville and why the pace of work feels like a whirlwind. We break down the biggest budget in city history, the projects behind the road cones, and the practical ways you can get involved.

• record-setting operating and capital budgets and what progress looks like
• infill development district that unlocks hundreds of previously undevelopable parcels
• stormwater utility as a long-term way to fund drainage and runoff work
• downtown entertainment district rules, benefits, and early results
• Remington Avenue streetscape timeline, water main replacement, and retention pond impact
• Old Albany Road pedestrian safety improvements and GDOT partnership
• municipal building and auditorium renovation scope plus the upcoming temporary relocation
• parks, airport, landfill, sewer, and resurfacing projects across the city
• why current resurfacing funding creates a decades-long cycle and what could change it
• ways to serve on boards, watch meetings, and follow city updates online

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app so you don’t miss an episode. 

We sit down with Electric Distribution Superintendent Brent Alderman and URC Manager Drew Wharton to explain how Thomasville plans for hurricanes, responds to pop up storms, and brings the grid back safely. We break down what happens behind the scenes, from materials and mutual aid to the tough calls on priorities, communication, and crew fatigue. 
• long range hurricane preparation through materials, inventory, and staffing plans 
• what the Utility Response Center does as a 24/7 dispatch operation 
• why keeping a mobile number on your utility account helps notifications 
• how on call crews scale up during severe afternoon storms 
• what mutual aid is and how crews are deployed locally and regionally 
• why feeders and large outages get addressed before single homes 
• why radio communication and safety tags prevent deadly mistakes 

To learn more about the City of Thomasville, visit Thomasville.org or follow us on social media. 
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening app so you don't miss an episode. 

On this episode, we interview History Center Curator Ephraim Rotter, who fills us in on some important local history and more.

Some of the topics include

• History Center Lunch and Learn updates plus what’s next 
• How Thomas County and Thomasville get their names 
• Why Lot 39 matters to the city’s beginning 
• Henry O. Flipper’s legacy through the wider Flipper family’s achievements 
• Why politicians and public figures choose to visit Thomasville 
• John F. Archbold’s local influence beyond building a hospital 
• Why does Thomasville have an odd street layout? 

To learn more about the city of Thomasville, visit Thomasville.org or follow us on social media.