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Holiday tour of homes features five favorites

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Friday, December 2. 2016

Halls have been decked with boughs of holly and weary decorators are ready to welcome visitors Saturday for the 2016 Holiday Tour of Homes. It is sponsored by the Barnesville Women’s League.

The Tour of Homes is scheduled Dec. 3 and the doors of five grand locations will be open from 3-7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Tickets may also be purchased prior to the event from DB’s Pizzeria, Goggans Florist, the Chamber of Commerce or any Women’s League member. All proceeds from the tour will benefit local charities. Detailed addresses with a map will be available on the day of the tour and all tour-goers are invited to stop by the Women’s Clubhouse with their ticket stub to enter a drawing and enjoy light refreshments. Each site on the tour features splendid decor wrapped in an abundance of history and holiday cheer. [Full Story »]

City water reserves under 100 days

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, December 1. 2016

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Lamar has enjoyed two days of rain but they will make little impact on severe drought conditions here unless more is to follow. Light rains are also predicted to resume late Saturday.

While this will help lawns and pastures and perhaps allow for over seeding with winter grazing, it is unlikely to have much impact on Barnesville’s water reserves. The city reservoir was eight feet below full pool Sunday morning and things are rapidly approaching the critical level there, according to city manager Kenny Roberts. [Full Story »]

LC 3 shine in Tech win over UGA

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 30. 2016

By Walter Geiger

The LC 3, twins Lance and Lawrence Austin and Qua Searcy, played key roles in Georgia Tech’s big win over Georgia Saturday in Sanford Stadium in Athens.

Searcy scored the winning touchdown on a six-yard run with 30 seconds left. Searcy flew through the air for the final three yards of the game winner. [Full Story »]

Lamar, surrounding counties under tornado watch

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 30. 2016

Lamar and multiple other counties are now under a tornado watch that was issued at noon. The watch period continues until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A line of strong storms is approaching the area with high winds, heavy rains and lightning forecast.

Stay alert.

Pedestrian hit, killed on J'ville Rd.

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, November 25. 2016

A 23-year-old female was struck and killed by a vehicle on Johnstonville Road early Friday morning.
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Dr. Jackson dies

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, November 24. 2016

Longtime Barnesville dentist Dr. James Holland Jackson Jr. died Thanksgiving afternoon at Eternal Hope Hospice after being moved there Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Breedlove Memorial Chapel.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 23. 2016

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from all of us here at The Herald Gazette and barnesville.com. Our office will e closed Thanksgiving Day but will reopen Friday morning.

Enjoy a safe and happy holiday!

Illumination Celebration is Thanksgiving Eve

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 22. 2016

By Diana New

The 2016 Illumination Celebration “A Storybook Christmas” is booked for Thanksgiving eve tomorrow night where Santa will make his debut appearance and turn the page for another holiday season. [Full Story »]

Bob Cloudt dies in Austria

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Walter Geiger

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Sunday, November 20. 2016

Bob Cloudt who, along with his wife Nancy, spearheaded the Operation Christmas Child effort in Barnesville-Lamar County died Nov. 19 in Vienna, Austria where he was undergoing treatment for advanced cancer.

Cloudt died during the last days of the 2016 OCC gift box collection. Boxes will be shipped from First Baptist Church here Monday and it is not to late to donate in Bob's memory. The goal is to reach 3500 gift boxes for needy children in impoverished areas of the world.

Funeral arrangements are pending...

Bond denied for man charged in mother’s murder

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Walter Geiger

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Saturday, November 19. 2016

By Walter Geiger

A 39-year-old local man charged with shooting his own mother to death in her Liz Acres Road home here Sept. 15 was denied bond and bound over to a grand jury by Judge Bill Fears following a hearing here Nov. 10.

David Lewis McGuire Jr. is charged with murder in connection with the death of his mother, 70-year-old Elaine Brown McGuire, but more charges will be forthcoming, according to assistant district attorney Mark Daniel. [Full Story »]

Report: Ron Alexander, FAA official dead in plane crash

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, November 17. 2016

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Candler Field principal Ron Alexander and an unidentifed Federal Aviation Administration official were killed Thursday evening in a small plane crash near the airport in Williamson. The plane, a Curtiss Jenny, burst into flames upon impact. First responders rushed to the scene but could not save the two onboard.

The plane experienced trouble on takeoff. It appeared the pilot tried to put it down in a pasture but it crashed into a wooded area, according to Bill Taylor of WKEU.

More to follow...

Beware: Drought fire danger is extreme

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 16. 2016

By Walter Geiger

Though well over 100 people turned out Nov. 7 to pray for rain at the farm bureau here, drought has set in. There has been no appreciable rain here since mid-September and none is forecast.

Creeks and ponds have dried up or been severely diminished. Crops, winter grazing and pastures are dead. Cattlemen face a winter hay crisis and low cattle prices.

But, now, the drought’s biggest threat is fire. On Wednesday morning, Gov. Nathan Deal banned used of fireworks indefintely.
[Full Story »]

Events set to honor veterans Friday

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, November 10. 2016

Multiple events are on tap here Friday as the community marks Veterans Day.

The main event is the annual observance at the Veterans Memorial at the library at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month as tradition dictates.

Marion Matthews VFW Post 6542 is coordinating this year’s event. Rep. Johnnie Caldwell Jr. will deliver the keynote address. VFW commander Junior Hamrick will have remarks and Bob Richardson of American Legion Post 25 will read the honor roll of veterans who have died over the past year. [Full Story »]

ELECTION RESULTS

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 8. 2016

THESE ARE LAMAR COUNTY RESULTS ONLY:

FINAL RESULTS:

SHERIFF:

Brad White: 6004
Frank Usher: 1492

PRESIDENT:

Hillary Clinton: 2267
Donald Trump: 5183

ESPLOST:

Yes: 4475
No: 2833

U.S. CONGRESS DIST. 3:

Drew Ferguson: 5143
Angela Pendley: 2172

Vote today: Polls open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Posted by

Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 8. 2016

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Lamar County voters go to the polls today to cast ballots in the General Election. Polling places throughout the county will be open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If advance voting is any indication, turnout will be heavy.

Elections supervisor Anita Reid said 4,628 Lamar voters cast ballots during the early voting period that ended Friday as compared to 3,840 in the general election four years ago. Her office mailed out 413 absentee ballots of which 302 had been returned by Monday morning.

Driving the turnout are several contested races.

The big one is the bitterlypartisan presidential race that pits Republican Donald Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton and Libertarian fringe candidate Gary Johnson.

Also of high interest is the race for Lamar County sheriff that pits incumbent Republican Brad White against Democratic challenger Frank Usher.

Also on the ballot today is the ESPLOST referendum. Approval would continue the current one percent sales tax for education, allowing the school board to pay of bond indebtedness and jumpstart construction of a proposed new high school.

Also contested is the race to fill the seat of 3rd District U.S. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, a Republican who is stepping down and thought to be a future gubernatorial candidate here in Georgia.

Vying for that seat are Republican Drew Ferguson and Democrat Angela Pendley.

There are also four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.