Headlines

The Lamar County commission has set two planning sessions at the Gordon nursing building to meet with constitutional officers to set goals and plan projects for 2019.

Meetings with the officers (elected officials) and department heads will be held in 15-minute increments on Jan. 4, 2019 from 8 a.m. - noon. A planning session to discuss findings will be held Jan. 11 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Additionally, the commission will hold a public hearing Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at the courthouse to take input on the comprehensive plan.

Three hapless armed robbers, who bumbled their way through two armed robberies in the area, are now headed to prison after hearings before Judge Bill Fears in Monroe superior court. [Full Story »] 

Christmas is upon us and the season just wouldn’t be the same without letters to Santa from children. This newspaper has been publishing them for generations and this year is no exception.

Hundreds of letters are included in the Dec. 18, 2018 print edition of The Herald Gazette which is on sale now.

Kids’ lists have changed over the years to include fancy electronics, iPhones, drones and Timberland boots but old favorites like Mario Brothers games, Playdoh, bikes, trampolines and go-karts still make many lists.

Exaggerations of good behavior to spur Santa to fill those lists is also a constant. This year, Elijah McKenzie writes, ‘Hey. I have been a good boy, even my Mom would agree’ before asking for a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation5 and games to go with them.

Aubrey has a very long list so she opened her letter with a glowing Christmas behavior resume. “I have been very good this year. I have done these very nice things like being nice to my friends, being good in school and cleaning my play room. Does Rudolph have a shiny nose?”.

“I have been kinda good. Please bring me a dinosaur that can open his mouth,” wrote Nicholas.

Clint Willoughby had an unusual request. He wrote, “I need presents. I would like a school bus.”

Caleb left part of his list to Santa’s imagination. “I want a trampoline and a pool, a hover board and a TV and Nerf guns and $100 and I want your hat. So, can I have one more thing please with ice cream on top and a cherry on top?”.

Keaston Brownlee went a different route, deciding to go big or go home with his list. “I want for Christmas an Overwatch, and I want an iPhone X. I want 500,000 dollars. I want Call of duty 4, a Nerf gun, Fortnite and Madden 19. I want Baseball 19 also. I want GTA 5 and 6. I want some Nikes, a ticket to an NBA game and a new PS4,” he pleaded.

As Art Linkletter said, “Kids say the darnedest things”.

Merry Christmas.

By Walter Geiger

A Macon man who is on the run after a high-speed chase here on Dec. 4 was one of five people arrested after the murder of Bibb County deputy Joseph Whitehead on March 23, 2006. Whitehead was shot and killed as he and other officers served a no-knock warrant at an alleged drug house in Macon.

Thomas Mason Porter was among those arrested. He later went to prison for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in the aftermath of the shooting and was released on parole on September 24, 2010.

Porter now faces more prison time after the chase which began on I-75 at about 4:15 p.m. Sgt. Anthony Thompson and Dep. Hunter Hemphill were working the interstate as a two-man patrol when they spotted a white 2018 Dodge Charger weaving across the fog line of the southbound lane and stopped it. Porter, 32, was the driver. [Full Story »] 

Former LC standout Pippin Davis is celebrating a national championship after his Valdosta State team topped Ferris State 49-47 in the NCAA Division II championship game Saturday night in McKinney, Texas. Davis is the starting long-snapper on the team. He was a long snapper for the Trojans and starred at middle linebacker.

Pippin is the son of Pippa Lee and Jay Davis of Barnesville.

By Walter Geiger

With a booming American economy that has filtered down to the local level, growth, change and some new projects will be coming to fruition in Barnesville-Lamar County during the coming new year.

On the industrial front, major expansions are expected at two existing local industries and at least two new industries will open or make great strides toward opening in 2019.

Continental Tire is nearing the end of an expansion of its tire cord manufacturing operations at Aldora Mills. The company has spent over $9 million on new equipment and improvements and expects to add 109 jobs this year. Employees at a plant in Porterdale, which the company is closing, have been offered some of those positions but many will be filled by new hires from the community.

Any sort of growth in the textile industry is a rarity in this day and time. Continental Tire credits the local expansion to the stability and reliability of the local workforce.
Jordan Forest Products is also moving toward serious expansion and reportedly hopes to acquire more land, including the abandoned Rivera Parts building across Grove Street from the current plant. [Full Story »] 

HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects’ which was largely filmed here in 2017, earned a Golden Globe nomination last week for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. [Full Story »] 

UPDATE: This event has been canceled due to inclement weather forecast for Saturday.

The annual Holiday Hustle 5K and fun run will be held here Saturday at Summers Field Park. The colorful gathering, which benefits the Dolly Goodpuppy Society, brings out runners and walkers in all sorts of gear like Santa hats, elf ears and reindeer antlers.

Jingle bells attached to wind suits are routine.

Advance registration is $15 for kids under age 13 and $30 for adults. The 5K uses the same course as the Buggython. The fun run is two laps around the park.

The fun run will begin at 5:30 p.m. wit the 5K following immediately thereafter. For more information, contact Kathy Oxford at 678-877-9532.