Barnesville.com

As the Independence Day holiday approaches, freedom and fireworks move to the forefront of the holiday agenda whether you are at the lake, beach or celebrating around the pool or grill in your own backyard.

The largest celebration in Lamar by far will be held at Rock Springs Church on Sunday, July 5 from 5-10 p.m. The Independence Day Family Picnic is a fundraiser for Rock Springs Clinic. A free will collection will be taken for the clinic which generously serves area residents without insurance with free, quality medical care. [Full Story »] 

Several citizens of the Barnesville / Lamar County area have received calls claiming to be from the I.R.S. about delinquent taxes. The Internal Revenue Service has posted repeated warnings about tax phone frauds, in which criminals call consumers pretending to be agents from the I.R.S.

The impostors claim the taxpayer owes back taxes, then threaten arrest or legal action, unless the individual makes a payment quickly. Sometimes victims are urged to wire money, but more commonly they are directed to obtain a prepaid money card at a retailer and provide the number to the caller. The callers are aggressive, they are relentless and they are ruthless.

Most calls start out with statements such as: “This call is officially a final notice from the I.R.S., Internal Revenue Service. The reason of this call is to inform you that I.R.S. is filing a lawsuit against you.”

The callers strive to appear authentic; they may use robocalling technology that shows “I.R.S.” on your caller identification screen. They may know part or all of your Social Security number and they may provide a fake I.R.S. “badge” number. In some cases, follow-up calls may come, supposedly from local police or prosecutors.

The I.R.S. does not initiate contact through phone or email, but rather sends written correspondence through the United States mail. The I.R.S. does not call people nor does it initiate contact through phone or email, but rather sends written correspondence through the United States Mail.

If you are concerned that you owe , you should contact the I.R.S. directly at 800-829-1040.

- Barnesville Police Department

Marion Lewis White, Sr. passed away Sunday, June 28, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., July 1, 2015, at Monroe County Memorial Chapel with burial in Monroe Hills Memorial Gardens. Dr. H. Darrell Watson will officiate. The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2015, at Monroe County Memorial Chapel. [Full Story »] 

Gay marriage:
Local officials react to change; pastors say they won't perform ceremonies.

Independence Day:
Huge fireworks show at Rock Springs Sunday; Jep Robinson will speak and southern rock legend Charlie Daniels will perform.

Cancer hits hard:
Family mourns for Stacey Curry, prays for four other family members fighting the dread disease.

Summer in the Sticks:
Local musicians will join headliners Jordyn Stoddard and Grayson Rogers at Ritz Park July 11.

Off to prison:
Eric Duran Greer, 37, gets 22 years in prison and 20 years probation for molesting an 11-year-old female family member.

Barnesville city manager Kenny Roberts has been inducted into the Municipal Government Hall of Fame at the Georgia Municipal Association convention in Savannah.

More to follow...

Mr. Arthur J. Hardin, 63, of 200 Redbud Drive, Barnesville transitioned on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in the Brightmoor Hospice. Professional services were held Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. at the White’s Chapel CME Church. Rev. Dr. Eddie Collier officiated and interment was in the O’Neal Cemetery. Trice Funeral Home Inc. of Barnesville was in charge of all professional services. [Full Story »] 

Clifford Moncrief passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Monroe County Memorial Chapel with burial in New Hope Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Dr. Preston Gleaton will officiate. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at Monroe County Memorial Chapel.

[Full Story »] 

Melissa Stokes Tyler, 48, of Athens was killed in an auto accident June 20 near Wrens in Emmanuel County, Ga. Her husband and daughter were injured when their car was hit by a vehicle driven by a driver allegedly impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

Mrs. Tyler was the sister of Elizabeth Matthews, wife of former Lamar commission chairman Jay Matthews.

Obituary information is posted under the obits tab below.

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors announces the death of Mrs. Melissa Stokes Tyler, age 48, of Athens, GA on Saturday, June 20, 2015 from injuries received in a automobile accident.

Funeral services will be Sunday, June 28, 2015 at 3:00 PM in the Swainsboro First Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Leigh officiating.

Interment will follow in the Bishop's Chapel Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 PM till time of service
[Full Story »]