Barnesville.com

The holiday season officially begins here Wednesday evening with the annual Community Thanksgiving service and Illumination Celebration in downtown Barnesville.

The Thanksgiving service, hosted by the Lamar County Ministerial Association, begins at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. A welcome will be offered by Barnesville mayor Peter Banks. Music will be provided by the LCHS Travel Ensemble directed by NaToya Fletcher, the FUMC Chancel Bell Choir, FUMC organist Wayne Cook and pianist Jan Baker.

A sermon will be delivered by Rev. Kevin Thomas. Additional clergy with parts in the program include Craig Ogletree, Garth Forster, Karen Mitcham, Jeff Morgan and Cyndi McDonald. School superintendent Jute Wilson will offer a scripture reading.

After the service, the crowd will move downtown where Greg Burrell will lead a Christmas music sing-a-long and the First Baptist choir, Christ Chapel choir and Ozier School dancers will perform. Cory McCook will offer a welcome and announce the winners of the gingerbread house competition.

Mayor Banks will again offer greetings and Forster will read ‘The Christmas Story’. Belinda Penamon will sing ‘O Holy Night’. Eddie Collier will offer a closing prayer and then Santa will arrive as Greg Burrell leads the singing of ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’.

The downtown Christmas Tree was donated by Alan Hudson and decorated by members of The Women’s League. The Azalea Garden Club once again decorated downtown with greenery, bows and ribbons.

By Rachel McDaniel

The historic Lamar County Speedway on Highway 36 east recently held its final race for the 2018 season with the GSKA racing club on Nov. 10. The race meant something special to the only local driver who was born and raised in Lamar County, Michael ‘Lane’ Littleton.

Lane is 10 now and started racing at the beginning of the 2017 season and in his career has faced tough, experienced competition as well as National Championship drivers. Lane quickly progressed to the point of placing and being on the podium every race, but hadn’t yet earned the first place checkered flag.
[Full Story »]

By Walter Geiger

Thanksgiving week got off to a grateful start Sunday as West Mount Sinai Baptist Church celebrated its 150th anniversary with day-long celebrations. The church has a long history and an historic connection to First Baptist Church of Barnesville (FBC). The only churches older in Barnesville that are still viable are FBC (1825) and First United Methodist (1827).

The church traces its origins to 1868 when slaves left the balcony of FBC where they had been worshipping and organized their own church. In 1880, the original structure was destroyed by fire. After the blaze, services were held under a brush arbor for a time. Elders bought a church building that was originally used by white citizens and moved it to the corner of Perkins Alley and Elm Street. Baptisms were done in a branch behind the home of Nellie Russell Jenkins until a baptismal pool was built in the churchyard. [Full Story »]