Since 1990, according to tax records, this property has been owned by Christmas Club International, Apperson Enterprises and most recently, since 2003, Helping People Inc. The former occupant didn't own the property. How would you like for that house to be in your neighborhood? Or maybe your neighborhood looks like that. The article did not say anything negative about the former occupant. Do you know these owners? Is this a mortgage scam or tax evasion scheme? Looks like Helping People, Inc was only interested in helping themselves, not the neighborhood.

Where is our compassion in Cedartown? Where is the respect for the memory of a person who has gone on? I spoke with the City Manager today and the editor of this article expressing my disappointment of the posting of this picture and article. Understanding the need for lawn maintenance needed here, why was this posted in such a negative way. Obviously this residence was vacant because the person was deceased not because of true negligence. I would hate for my home to be posted in such a way for my friends or my children to see if I passed on and there was noone to maintain it. Could we not have just obtained the court order, mowed the yard and not broadcasted it in such a way to demean the memory of the ones who have past on, who by the way kept a beautiful yard maintained during their life at this residence. What did this gain? Must we use such a tragic loss as a stepping stone of personal gain in our community?

This article really upsets me. I knew the man that lived there. He has passed away for GOD sake. He had no living family what so ever. I feel like this article is so disrespectful. He kept his yard beautiful for many years and no one could notice that. But once he is dead and gone they want to notice what he is no longer in control of. This is so sad.

The City should clean up properties on 27 North, just past Urgent Care, and send the property owners the bill. From the small electrical substation on the left to the top of the hill, the odd-shaped parcel of land is overgrown, and may not have been cut this entire year. I'm sure the homeowners whose front yards look over this grown up mess would like to see it cleared.

Same for the abandoned house on the right at the top of the hill, just past the shopping center. The growth almost hides the house, and the areas to the left and right of the house are worse than the pictures of the Chestnut St. house that triggered this story.

The homeowner on the left side of 27N does an outstanding job: yard looks good, the slope down to the highway looks good. Good job! The entire area should be maintained like this.

Have you ever the little man picking uip trash on john hand road. good samatarian yes but go by his house on georgia ave off college drive where the 180,000 home subdivision is and you will see that his yard is always the most unkept in the neighborhood and looks terrible. he needs to put some of that energy to use closer to home and honor the rest of the other yards there.

i would nominate the one on stringer road, close to lakeview church, that looks like all they did was frame the house up... there is no siding or windows in the house... and the grass is just about as tall as the house. there is no way i could be living in one of the houses beside it.

Why don't you visit the Polk County Tax Assessor's Office web site and take a look at the most recent owners of this property on Chestnut Street. It will, at least surprise you. Maybe I'm too suspicious but I think there is/has been something going on that may be legal but probably is that way only because of loopholes in the law. I'll bet these owners are using these, probably non-profits, to hide profits or to get Grants from many sources and/or donations from individuals and charitable organizations. They probably are able to delay foreclosures because of their organizational structures. I know from personal experience that there is a profit motivation for one or many in some of these non-profits. There are many non-profits doing outstanding jobs with volunteers and little paid staff so I don't mean to cast aspersions on them all. ACORN is just the tip of the iceberg and believe me, no single political party is immune from supporting these profitable non-profits.

I wish the city of Rockmart - and the county - would follow suit. May I nominate the house on the corner of Old Cedartown and Clarkwood first and then the house on the east end of Morgan Valley.