Entries by Walter Geiger

Barnesville mayor Peter Banks, ward one council member Anne Claxton and ward three councilman Sammie Shropshire were sworn in to new four-year terms Tuesday morning by city clerk Tammy Folson. None of the three had opposition at the polls.

The LC Lady Trojans won three games last week with two of those wins coming over Region 5AA opponents.

LC opened region competition last Tuesday at Bremen with a 60-46 win. Tamya Blasingame erupted for 23 points to lead LC. Zaria Fletcher also hit double figures with 12 points while Avian Tyus added 10. Other scorers were Karen Rock (6), Madisyn Scandrett (5) and Issys Foster (4). [Full Story »] 

The fund drive to raise start-up and initial operating funds for the Barnesville Boys & Girls Club topped the $300,000 mark last week with donations still coming in. The original goal was $200,000.

The club building is being finished up on the LCES campus and will open next month. Currently, club director Sandra Watts and the steering committee have developed an inventory list and are looking to purchase or have donated multiple times like art supplies, furniture, countertops, etc.

After much discussion and considerable outcry from neighbors, the Lamar County commission approved a 11-lot subdivision on Five Points Road near its intersection with Hwy. 41 North. Developer Bowen Jones will subdivide 36.44 acres.

No change of zoning will be required because the lots and home sizes will fit the current AR agricultural-residential zoning for the property which has water service but no sewer. The average lot size will be 3.31 acres. AR requires homes be at least 1400 square feet but Jones stipulated his minimum size would be 1800 square feet.
At a public hearing prior to the commission session, several area residents commented on the proposal.

Gene Cosby
Five Points Rd.
Cosby said his great-grandfather farmed all the land in the area, including Jones’ property and his nearly 24-acre tract across the street. “I don’t want Lamar County to become Henry County. I’m concerned with the changes in our part of the county. We’re talking about 11 driveway where now there are none and 125 foot setbacks. You’re talking about putting a neighborhood in front of farm land,” Cosby said.

Cosby alleged Five Points Road has become the busiest bypass in the county and termed it a ‘speedway’. Cosby also questioned the amount of grading required to create the driveways. “This is a bone of contention. Mr. Jones talks out of both sides of his mouth,” Cosby added. [Full Story »] 

By Mike Ruffin

I was born in 1958, so most of my childhood occurred during the 1960s.

Each Christmas Day in that decade followed a set schedule.

First, I would wake up very early in our little house on Memorial Drive in Barnesville. The house rule was that I had to wake my parents up before going into the living room to see what Santa Claus had brought me. This was so my father could arm himself with his Brownie 8mm movie camera, equipped with its panel of spotlights, to film the spectacle. We would then enter the place of wonder, where I would receive the first installment of my Christmas bounty.

Second, we would get dressed and go to the home of whichever Abbott was hosting my mother’s family’s Christmas celebration. If we were hosting it, we’d get dressed and stay home. After enjoying a delicious Christmas lunch, we’d open presents, and I would receive the second installment of my Christmas bounty. [Full Story »] 

Communion and Lord’s Supper events are a tradition at churches worldwide and worshippers have multiple opportunities to participate locally this afternoon and evening.

Rock Springs Church will host communion services at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

First Baptist Church of Barnesville will host a family Lord’s Supper from 4-6 p.m.

First United Methodist Church will host communion and worship at 5 p.m. (family friendly) and 11 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

To you and your family from all of us at The Herald Gazette and barnesville.com.

Mr. James Carl “Buddy” Waller, age 76, of 287 Johnstonville Road, Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on Monday, December 23, 2019 at Macon Navicent Health Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bobbie Carol Waller; one daughter, Jennifer Carol Leveillee; one granddaughter, Jasmine Marie Leveillee; one grandson, Tristan James Leveillee; son-in-law, Jerry Leveillee; and sisters-in-law, Joyce Waller and Glenna Waller and a number of nieces and nephews. [Full Story »] 

Coming up in the public school system in Savannah many, many moons ago, I got a strong base education in Latin. It was referred to as a ‘dead language’ then and it has certainly flatlined now - gone the way of cursive writing.

I was able to master Latin somewhat but cursive writing? Not so much. I cannot read my own handwriting after a couple hours so I have my own code - unbreakable by anyone, including me.

But back to Latin. It steps to the forefront at Christmas. I love to watch the Christmas mass from the Vatican with all the ceremonial flourishes, the processionals and swinging incense. The readings are in Latin and, though I cannot understand them, the language adds weight and credence to the importance of the birth of Jesus Christ. [Full Story »]