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 

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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 
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