Entries by Walter Geiger

Some 2400 students went back to school here Friday as summer came to an end for students, faculty and staff among us.

Football begins next Friday with a scrimmage against Manchester at Trojan Field at 7 p.m.

All-access slideshow inside of photos by Herald Gazette staffers Rachel McDaniel and Derek Petty. [Full Story »] 

Between Sunday, July 16 and Sunday, July 23 the Barnesville Police Department made the following arrests: [Full Story »] 

The Lamar County commission is proposing to raise property taxes by 9.66% over the rollback millage rate.

As required by law, three public hearings on this matter are upcoming. Two will be held Aug. 8 - one at 9 a.m. and one at 6 p.m. The third hearing will be held Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.

All hearings will be conducted in the commission's meeting room.

For much more on this story, see the 8.1.17 print edition of The Herald Gazette.

A two car collision on Ga. Hwy. 7 at McLean Rd. sent two people to area hospitals Thursday afternoon.
[Full Story »] 

By Mike Ruffin

Dear Sullivan, Welcome to the world!

I am so glad you are here. I hope you will be free to become the best possible version of who you are meant to be and of who you want to be. You can rest assured that we will always love, embrace and support you. I also hope the world in which you will grow up and live will progress toward being an even better world than the one into which you have been born. I hope you will join with people of good will to contribute to that progress. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

A reduction in bond was denied July 20 for a local man accused of placing nude photos of his granddaughter in boys’ bathrooms at Lamar County High School last October.

Lance Kershaw, 60, of 1041 Hwy. 41 South appeared before Judge Bill Fears seeking a reduction in his bond which was previously set at $75,000.
[Full Story »] 

Lamar County school board members voted unanimously to approve new start times for each school at their July 18 meeting. When students return to school this Friday, July 28, middle and high school students will need to arrive by 7:30 a.m. and remain until 2:30 p.m. Primary and elementary school students will be in school from 8:15 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

Superintendent Dr. Jute Wilson noted that there are pros and cons to the new plan but thinks it will greatly benefit the school system, decrease after school traffic and be helpful for students who take part in after school activities and would otherwise have to leave classes early to participate. [Full Story »] 

The Red Cross recently announced an emergency blood shortage affecting the region and local citizens are encouraging others to help out by donating from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27 at the blood drive at First United Methodist Church at 375 Thomaston Street.

The Women’s League, Rotary Club and American Red Cross are hosting the blood drive and the goal is to have at least 48 units.

“We are in an emergency shortage situation and some elective surgeries are being cancelled because there isn’t enough blood for the patients,” said Rotary Club member Charles Glass. “The Red Cross is 100,000 units below where they were last year and from May to June this summer, there have been 61,000 fewer donors than average.”

Donors at the blood drive are treated to drinks and snacks, including cookies and sweets prepared by members of the Women’s League. Donors can save up to three lives with one blood donation.

To make an appointment to give blood, go to redcrossblood.org.

Between Friday, July 14 and Thursday, July 20 the following were processed through the Lamar County jail: [Full Story »] 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker’s Office have reopened the investigation in to the 34 year old cold case murder of Timothy Coggins.

On October 9, 1983, the body of Timothy Coggins was found on a power line off of Minter Road in Sunnyside. Investigators at the time gathered evidence from the scene, questioned suspects and witnesses but were unable to make arrests in Coggins’ death.

[Full Story »]