Outstanding citizens,
award winners saluted
The Barnesville Civic Center was filled to near capacity May 1 as the community came out in force to celebrate the achievements of its award-winning citizens for 2008.
Chamber chairman Scott Leverett welcomed the throng and president Amanda Rose lauded T.J. Imberger for his work on the highly successful 2008 BBQ & Blues Festival.
Taking top honors as Citizens of the Year were Jean and Charles Dukes. They will serve as grand marshals of the annual Buggy Days parade in September.
Longtime Buggy Days chairman Dick Esco received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 34 years on the chamber board and 30 years spent chairing or coordinating Buggy Days.
George, Janice and Rip Moore of Barnesville Marble Company are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their firm and were named Businesspersons of the Year. Rip Moore is the fourth generation of the Moore family to work at the downtown Barnesville institution.
Juanita Griffin was named Volunteer of the Year for her longtime efforts at Heritage Inn. Despite illnesses of her own, Griffin remains dedicated to the nursing home, its residents and staff.
Virginia Carter was named Career Woman of the Year. Carter, a UGA-trained pharmacist, is the third generation of her family to operate Carter’s Drug Store in downtown Barnesville.
Neil and Diane Anderson were named Farmers of the Year. They engage in hay and broiler production on their Redbone Farm. Neil is retired from IBM.
Louann Ramsey was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. She has served with the Lamar County sheriff’s office, Barnesville police department and recently retired from the Gordon College police force. Ramsey was credited with solving a shooting incident at the college last fall.
Mary Duffee was named the Britton Cauthen Firefighter of the Year. A veteran volunteer firefighter, Duffee was lauded for her efforts behind the scenes and out of the limelight.
Also honored were STAR student Nathaniel Rowe and his STAR teacher Scott Turner.
(For the rest of the story, read this week's The Herald-Gazette.)
Relay For Life $65,000
90% will stay in Lamar to help battle cancer
Over the weekend, Relay for Life surpassed its goal of $57,000, raising a total of $65,000 for the American Cancer Society.
In addition to major sponsors, money came from donations as small as a quarter for paper chain links.
A record number of luminaries lined both sides of the track, also helping break the goal. With 45 torches, there were more than ever.
Of the $65,000, 90% will reportedly go to services in Lamar County. Relay pays for education, advocacy, research and patient support for local cancer patients and their families such as a cosmetologist for a Look Good, Feel Better program for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
It will pay for locals to stay at Hope Lodge, a home away from home while patients are undergoing treatments; a patient resource navigation system and other resources; and services at Upson Regional Medical Center.
Nineteen teams took part. The team raising the most money on site was the Merry Methodists with $8,994.
“I’m so excited,” said captain Carolyn Kitchings. “We won two awards, Team Spirit and Most Money Raised by a Team.” She participated in every event throughout the 12-hour night.
With just $7 separating them from first place, second place honors went to the T-birds captained by Jerry Faulkner. Third place went to the elementary school.
Other awards went to the school system, Best Campsite, and Compassionate Hearts of Rock Springs, Rookie Team. The new and most coveted Golden Pillow for most team members staying all night went to First Baptist Church with 16 all-nighters.
In all, about 60 people stayed all night. Most teams stayed all night and had at least one person walking laps throughout the night.
Miss Relay raised $2,200, with the title going to Levi Brooks from Lamar County as Miss Lollipop.
Keith White filled in to provide entertainment as a memorial to Dewaine Bell. Emily Meadows sang the national anthem at the last minute.
Kelly Hughes and Kim Wall served as co-chairs of the 14th annual event.
(For the rest of the story, read this week's The Herald-Gazette.)
And they’re off
8 races contested
Political season has heated up in a big way with eight contested local races on tap for the July 15 general primary.
The biggest surprise came near the close of qualifying May 2 when longtime tax commissioner Geraldine Pippin did not qualify on the advice of her doctors. Her deputy, Andrea L. Anthony, was the lone qualifier as a Republican and will take office in January 2009.
The contested races are:
Sheriff: Incumbent Joe Buice will do battle with James D. McLarty and former Barnesville police officer Alonzo Taylor for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face lone Republican qualifier - former sheriff Larry Waller - in November.
County commission, district 3: Democrat Aaron Brown and Republican Jimmy Hearn were their parties’ lone qualifiers and will do battle in November for the seat being vacated by commissioner Ray Brinkley who is not seeking reelection.
County commission, district 4: Incumbent Gene Hardwick and challenger Nancy Thrash face off in the Republican primary July 15. The winner will have no Democratic opposition in the fall.
School board, district 3: Republican incumbent Susan Byars faces a challenge from Democratic challenger Danny Turner in November. Byars is the current school board chairman.
Coroner: Incumbent Jim F. Smith and challenger Spencer Williams will battle for this post in
(For the rest of the story, read this week's The Herald-Gazette.)
Gordon graduation is Saturday
Gordon College graduation ceremonies are slated for Saturday, May 10, at 8:30 a.m. on Lambdin Green at the center of campus.
Some 454 students are expected to graduate while about 200 chose to take part in the ceremony.
Diplomas will be distributed by president Lawrence Weill.
Guest speaker will be Rob Watts, chief operating officer of the University System of Georgia.
A reception will be held in the atrium in the student center immediately after the ceremony.
At 11 a.m. a special candlelight pinning ceremony for 89 graduates of the nursing program will be held in Alumni Memorial Hall.
Guest speaker for this ceremony is alumni Samantha Bishop of Lamar County, Gordon assistant professor of nursing and a 1994 graduate of the nursing program. Bishop earned her master’s degree in nursing as a pediatric nurse practitioner from the Medical College of Georgia in 1996.
(For the rest of the story, read this week's The Herald-Gazette.)
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