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A 35-year-old man thought to be homeless was struck by a vehicle on Hwy. 42 in Monroe County Saturday night and later succumbed to his injuries. [Full Story »] 

Two children, ages 2 and 3, were killed Friday afternoon in a house fire in Butts County. The mother of the kids was seriously burned and lifeflighted to the Grady Burn Center.

The 2:30 p.m. fire struck a home located at the intersection of Valley Road and Oak Street.

The mother had three other children who were at school at the time of the blaze.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley has named Dr. Stuart Rayfield interim president of Gordon State College.

Rayfield has been serving as the interim president of Bainbridge State College since June 1, 2016. She will assume her post at Gordon State on January 1, 2018, replacing President Max Burns who has previously announced his plans to retire, effective December 31, 2017.

“Dr. Rayfield has done an outstanding job leading Bainbridge State through a period of significant change over the past year and a half,” said Chancellor Wrigley. “As we move forward with the consolidation of Bainbridge State College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, I am grateful to Dr. Rayfield for her willingness to shift her focus, qualifications and expertise to the deserving students, faculty and extended community at Gordon State College.”

Prior to her role as interim president at Bainbridge State, Dr. Rayfield served as the Frank D. Brown Distinguished Chair in Servant Leadership, associate professor and director of the Servant Leadership Program at Columbus State University.

Rayfield previously served as interim associate provost for Undergraduate Education at Columbus State in 2015. In this role, her areas of responsibility included the Academic Center for Excellence, dual enrollment, Faculty Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, and co-leadership of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accreditation reaffirmation.

She has previously served as an instructional designer at TSYS and student affairs consultant at Auburn University in Alabama. Prior to her service at Auburn University, she held positions at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Rayfield earned a doctorate in leadership, policy and organizations from Vanderbilt University, a master’s in higher education administration, student affairs from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

Lamar County is included in a hazardous weather outlook notification area for possible wintry mix but there is little to no chance of any accumulation of snow. There is no chance of an ice storm in that temperatures will not fall far enough while moisture is still in the area.

All the models vary as is normal. All note that the forecast could change. So be alert but do not plan on making a snowman and don't rush out for milk and bread.

Most models point to the heaviest snow in LaGrange. [Full Story »] 

Five local homes including an artist’s studio, the Depot Art Gallery and Presbyterian Church will be highlighted on Saturday’s holiday Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Barnesville Women’s League from 3-7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

“I think this will be one of the most diverse and interesting tours we have had,” said Martha Windle, coordinator of the tour. Refreshments will be served at the Women’s Clubhouse.
[Full Story »] 

Local artist Andrew Patrick Henry’s work has always been avante-gard, cutting edge. So is his look, a sort of down home Salvador Dali vibe.

Now, as part of an art in space plan he dreamed up with two friends, one of his pieces has soared to great heights.

Henry, a accomplished muralist who is in high demand, had an idea for murals in space. He approached Nathan McGarity and Taylor Lamm, the principal partners in Oconee Brewing in Greensboro, Ga. who agreed to partner in the ambitious project. [Full Story »] 

Former LC standout Lance Austin and teammate Step Durham have issued statements on a video of a fight they got into in which Austin was the victim of a one-punch knockout. The video went viral on TMZ and is embedded inside. (Language warning). [Full Story »] 

This video is about Barnesville native Staff Sergeant John Meyer, who was badly injured in a motorcycle accident while home on leave from the Air Force.

The video was done by Airman 1st Class Cassandra Johnson and distributed by the Air Force.

S.Sgt. Meyer is now stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
[Full Story »] 

Wayne Cochran died at his home in Miramar, Florida Nov. 21 at the age of 78. With his male beehive and backed by his band, The C.C. Riders, Cochran was a legendary showman.

His signature song 'Last Kiss' was written about a wreck here on Dec. 22, 1962 that killed three teenagers.

The crash occurred on Hwy. 341 South near what was then Evans Truck Stop. A 1954 Chevy Impala, its driver blinded by fog, slid up under a flatbed truck hauling potatoes that had stalled in the highway.

Three of the five teens in the car were killed. They were Jeanette Clark, 16, and Wayne Cooper, 17, both of Barnesville and 16-year-old J.L Hancock of Covington, who was driving the car. The two teens who survived were Jewel Emerson and Eddie Shockley, both of Barnesville.

The tune vaulted back up the charts in the late 1990s when it was covered by Pearl Jam.

Downtown Barnesville is now home to a giant Christmas tree that is over 40 feet tall, thanks to chamber of commerce head honcho Christopher Deraney.

The tree was moved from Jack Knowles' home on Old Hwy. 41 to downtown Saturday and will be decorated for the annual Illumination Celebration Wednesday and the Christmas season.

Deraney's childhood friend Josh Nickell donated his company's truck and labor to move the tree. He also did all the drone work for the video inside this all access post. Deraney edited the video and his brother, John, built the massive base for the tree.

City public works personnel were also heavily involved.

[Full Story »] 

A man escaped serious injury after blacking out at the wheel of his car which plunged down to Aldora Street from Veterans Parkway Thursday afternoon.

[Full Story »] 

After surveying faculty and staff and the community at large, the LC school system has chosen the calendar above for the 2018-19 school year.

207 school staff members responded with 66% choosing this calendar.

495 community members responded with 72% preferring this calendar.

The annual Honor Walk tribute to first responders is Tuesday at noon at Summers Field Park. The event is sponsored by the Barnesville Rotary Club.

Lunch will be provided for first responders, their families and registered participants. The entry fee is $20.