Entries by Walter Geiger
Sheriff's report
Between Friday, January 29 and Thursday, February 4 the following were processed through the Lamar County jail:
[Full Story »]

Feb. 8: 1186 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1186 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Monday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 83 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 775,446 confirmed cases with 51,928 hospitalizations and 13,361 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 927 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1632 cases, 149 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1685 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1865 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3422 cases, 361 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 775,446 confirmed cases with 51,928 hospitalizations and 13,361 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 927 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1632 cases, 149 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1685 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1865 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3422 cases, 361 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.

Feb. 7: 1183 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1183 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Sunday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 83 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 772,978 confirmed cases with 51,842 hospitalizations and 13,326 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 924 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1628 cases, 149 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1681 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1858 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3412 cases, 361 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 772,978 confirmed cases with 51,842 hospitalizations and 13,326 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 924 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1628 cases, 149 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1681 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1858 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3412 cases, 361 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.

LC wrestling sending huge contingent to state championships
The LC wrestling team hosted the area traditionals here last Thursday and emerged with a large contingent of qualifiers for state. The state traditional meet begins Tuesday at the Macon Coliseum.
The Trojans are sending 10 boys who won their weight classifications and two who finished as runners-up.
The champions advancing (weight class) are Nathan Layton (106), Hunter Hammock (113), Sam Blevins (126), Braydon Pines (132), Elias Browning (138), Levi Banks (145), Chaz Hammock (152), Cayden Sloan (160), Travis Jones (170), and Christian Bostic (195).
Runners up advancing are Kendall Jones (182) and James Gilroy (220).
Eight Lady Trojans also qualified and will go to state. They are Breanna Turner, Mariyah Zavala, Kate English, Autumn Vaughn, Geisel Williams, Elizabeth Schrieber, Leia English and Heather St. Clair.
The Trojans are sending 10 boys who won their weight classifications and two who finished as runners-up.
The champions advancing (weight class) are Nathan Layton (106), Hunter Hammock (113), Sam Blevins (126), Braydon Pines (132), Elias Browning (138), Levi Banks (145), Chaz Hammock (152), Cayden Sloan (160), Travis Jones (170), and Christian Bostic (195).
Runners up advancing are Kendall Jones (182) and James Gilroy (220).
Eight Lady Trojans also qualified and will go to state. They are Breanna Turner, Mariyah Zavala, Kate English, Autumn Vaughn, Geisel Williams, Elizabeth Schrieber, Leia English and Heather St. Clair.

Feb. 6: 1179 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1179 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Saturday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 82 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 769,825 confirmed cases with 51,732 hospitalizations and 13,324 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 920 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1623 cases, 148 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1676 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1853 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3393 cases, 360 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 769,825 confirmed cases with 51,732 hospitalizations and 13,324 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 920 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1623 cases, 148 hospitalizations and 91 deaths.
Monroe: 1676 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1853 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3393 cases, 360 hospitalizations and 113 deaths.

Feb. 5: 1173 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1173 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Friday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 82 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 766,604 confirmed cases with 51,479 hospitalizations and 13,146 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 917 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1621 cases, 147 hospitalizations and 90 deaths.
Monroe: 1667 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1845 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3375 cases, 358 hospitalizations and 111 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 766,604 confirmed cases with 51,479 hospitalizations and 13,146 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 917 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1621 cases, 147 hospitalizations and 90 deaths.
Monroe: 1667 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1845 cases, 106 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3375 cases, 358 hospitalizations and 111 deaths.

Feb. 4: 1169 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Thursday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 81 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 763,077 confirmed cases with 51,247 hospitalizations and 13,048 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 912 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1615 cases, 143 hospitalizations and 88 deaths.
Monroe: 1658 cases, 158 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1836 cases, 105 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3364 cases, 355 hospitalizations and 111 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 763,077 confirmed cases with 51,247 hospitalizations and 13,048 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 912 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1615 cases, 143 hospitalizations and 88 deaths.
Monroe: 1658 cases, 158 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1836 cases, 105 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3364 cases, 355 hospitalizations and 111 deaths.

Feb. 3: 1160 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1160 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Wednesday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 79 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 759,228 confirmed cases with 50,953 hospitalizations and 12,907 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 906 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1609 cases, 142 hospitalizations and 87 deaths.
Monroe: 1642 cases, 156 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1827 cases, 105 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3353 cases, 352 hospitalizations and 110 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 759,228 confirmed cases with 50,953 hospitalizations and 12,907 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 906 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1609 cases, 142 hospitalizations and 87 deaths.
Monroe: 1642 cases, 156 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1827 cases, 105 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
Spalding: 3353 cases, 352 hospitalizations and 110 deaths.

One lifeflighted after Jackson Road crash; one driver charged with DUI
UPDATE (8:15 a.m., Feb. 4):
From the Georgia State Patrol:
The driver of the Ram 2500, Terry Brown, 50, of Hinesville, Ga., has been charged with DUI, suspended license, failure to maintain lane and no seat belt. He was taken by ambulance to Upsopn Regional Medical Center.
Brown was northbound on Jackson Road when he crossed the center line and struck an embankment. The truck overturned in the southbound lane where it was struck in the rear by the Camry which was southbound.
The driver of the Camry, Patricia Harris, 67, of Barnesville, was taken to Spalding Regional Medical Center Regional by ambulance. She was not charged.
The front seat passenger in the Camry, Chloe Foster, 9, of Barnesville, was not wearing a seat belt. She was life flighted to Egleston in Atlanta. According to family members, Chloe suffered facial and mouth injuries and had a laceration of her liver. She is recuperating and may return home today.
The passenger in the back seat of the Camry, Ivan Williams, 9, of Barnesville, was also not wearing a seat belt. He was taken to an area hospital in a private vehicle.
•••••••••
Original coverage:
One person was lifeflighted to a trauma center and three others transported by ambulance after a serious collision on Jackson Road just before 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The collision involved a Ram 2500 pickup truck and a Toyota Camry. The most seriously injured patient was flown out from an LZ at Lilla Baptist Church.
Jackson Road was closed from Howard Road to the intersection of the Hwy. 36 East and the Hwy. 36 Bypass.
From the Georgia State Patrol:
The driver of the Ram 2500, Terry Brown, 50, of Hinesville, Ga., has been charged with DUI, suspended license, failure to maintain lane and no seat belt. He was taken by ambulance to Upsopn Regional Medical Center.
Brown was northbound on Jackson Road when he crossed the center line and struck an embankment. The truck overturned in the southbound lane where it was struck in the rear by the Camry which was southbound.
The driver of the Camry, Patricia Harris, 67, of Barnesville, was taken to Spalding Regional Medical Center Regional by ambulance. She was not charged.
The front seat passenger in the Camry, Chloe Foster, 9, of Barnesville, was not wearing a seat belt. She was life flighted to Egleston in Atlanta. According to family members, Chloe suffered facial and mouth injuries and had a laceration of her liver. She is recuperating and may return home today.
The passenger in the back seat of the Camry, Ivan Williams, 9, of Barnesville, was also not wearing a seat belt. He was taken to an area hospital in a private vehicle.
•••••••••
Original coverage:
One person was lifeflighted to a trauma center and three others transported by ambulance after a serious collision on Jackson Road just before 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The collision involved a Ram 2500 pickup truck and a Toyota Camry. The most seriously injured patient was flown out from an LZ at Lilla Baptist Church.
Jackson Road was closed from Howard Road to the intersection of the Hwy. 36 East and the Hwy. 36 Bypass.

Counting your blessings
By Mike Ruffin
I had a stroke.
I know this for several reasons.
First, as I type this on January 28, I am just one day removed from sitting in a room in the stroke unit of Navicent Heath (which will always be the Medical Center of Central Georgia to me). Second, that’s what the MRI and other tests reveal. Third, it will take ten times longer than it should for me to type this column.
The good news from my perspective is that my mental faculties seem to be more or less intact. That means that I should be able to continue to write this column.
I know this pleases some of you.
[Full Story »]
I had a stroke.
I know this for several reasons.
First, as I type this on January 28, I am just one day removed from sitting in a room in the stroke unit of Navicent Heath (which will always be the Medical Center of Central Georgia to me). Second, that’s what the MRI and other tests reveal. Third, it will take ten times longer than it should for me to type this column.
The good news from my perspective is that my mental faculties seem to be more or less intact. That means that I should be able to continue to write this column.
I know this pleases some of you.
[Full Story »]

Lady Trojans rolling
The LC Lady Trojans notched two region wins last week to run their record to 15-4 overall and 8-1 in region play. Region 3-AA standing are all important in that the member schools have decided not to have a region tournament and will seed for state based on the final region standings.
[Full Story »]

More wrestling on tap at LC gym
The LC wrestling team hosted the Class AA state duals championships here Saturday and finished tied for fifth place out of eight teams that made the finals. Oglethorpe County won the state title. The event drew huge crowds to the new LC gym.
There is more on tap this week as Lamar hosts the traditional area championships Thursday beginning at about 4:30 p.m.
There is more on tap this week as Lamar hosts the traditional area championships Thursday beginning at about 4:30 p.m.
Blood drive a success
The Red Cross Blood Drive held here Jan. 28 was deemed a success by Charles Glass who spearheads collection efforts here.
“Last year we got 44 units at our January drive. The Red Cross set our goal for this month at 46 units. We collected 53 units. We had seven Power Red donors, our most ever,” Glass reported.
The drive was sponsored by the Rotary Club, Women’s League and First United Methodist Church. The next drive is set for March 25.
“Last year we got 44 units at our January drive. The Red Cross set our goal for this month at 46 units. We collected 53 units. We had seven Power Red donors, our most ever,” Glass reported.
The drive was sponsored by the Rotary Club, Women’s League and First United Methodist Church. The next drive is set for March 25.

Sheriff: Cemetery damage appears to be accidental
Damage to multiple graves in the Crawley Cemetery on Old Hwy. 41 North near the burned out Lighthouse location was discovered over the weekend. Multiple headstones were heavily damaged. Sheriff Brad White reported Monday the damage appears to be accidental.
“It looks like somebody ran off the road and into the cemetery. We have some parts from the vehicle and are working to figure out the make and model of the car then we will go from there,” the sheriff said.
UPDATE: The truck involved in this incident has been impounded. Sheriff Brad White reported Wednesday afternoon his office received several tips and found the truck in the backyard of a home on Brown Springs Road. "The driver is out of state and we expect him to turn himself in on Friday," the sheriff said. Possible charges include leaving the scene of an accident and striking a fixed object.
“It looks like somebody ran off the road and into the cemetery. We have some parts from the vehicle and are working to figure out the make and model of the car then we will go from there,” the sheriff said.
UPDATE: The truck involved in this incident has been impounded. Sheriff Brad White reported Wednesday afternoon his office received several tips and found the truck in the backyard of a home on Brown Springs Road. "The driver is out of state and we expect him to turn himself in on Friday," the sheriff said. Possible charges include leaving the scene of an accident and striking a fixed object.

Feb. 2: 1152 cases, 33 deaths
Lamar County was up to 1152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths as of the Tuesday case count update from DPH. Lamar has recorded 79 hospitalizations.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 755,412 confirmed cases with 50,685 hospitalizations and 12,772 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 895 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1607 cases, 142 hospitalizations and 86 deaths.
Monroe: 1632 cases, 153 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1819 cases, 104 hospitalizations and 60 deaths.
Spalding: 3324 cases, 350 hospitalizations and 108 deaths.
Lamar deaths include: (latest) white male (81), black male (67), black male (64), white male (85) white male (81); white male (60); white female (80); black male (53) white male (81); white male (70); white male (86); black female (84); white female (68); black female (73); black male (90+); white male (69); white male (73); white male (55): white female (88); black female (66); white female (70); white female, (72); white male (80); black male (49); white female (81); white female (83); white male (87); white female (88); white male (86); white female (85); white female (74); black female (87); white male (85).
Statewide there have been 755,412 confirmed cases with 50,685 hospitalizations and 12,772 deaths.
Surrounding counties:
Pike: 895 cases, 59 hospitalizations and 19 deaths.
Upson: 1607 cases, 142 hospitalizations and 86 deaths.
Monroe: 1632 cases, 153 hospitalizations and 74 deaths.
Butts: 1819 cases, 104 hospitalizations and 60 deaths.
Spalding: 3324 cases, 350 hospitalizations and 108 deaths.