Top Stories

Bruce Akins, CEO of Akins Farm & Home was presented with the Golden Eagle Award by the Flint River Council of the Boy Scouts of America at the annual awards banquet held at the civic center.

The event was hosted by co-chairs Bill Lindsey and Rev. Garth Forster.

Akins, who has worked full time in the family business since returning to Barnesville after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1972, was surrounded by family and well-wishers at the banquet. [Full Story »] 

After a blistering blues show Friday night at Ritz Park, BBQ & Blues 2018 rolls into its second day with more music and lots of barbecue.

Saturday is devoted to the cook off. Competition turn-ins begin at 11 a.m. with winners announced at 4:30 p.m.

BBQ and all the trimmings will be available and you can sample the competition delicacies and participate in the People’s Choice judging. An egg carton of barbecue from the cook teams will cost $10.

Music Saturday at the festival stage will be provided by Bluesfish and the Garrett Collins Band.

As usual, the Kids Park with inflatables and other activities will be located near the United Bank drive-through area and open all day.

The meat is hitting the smokers in downtown Barnesville as BBQ & Blues 2018 ramps up. Cook teams are preparing for a night of music, fun, food and fellowship.

The vastly expanded Kids Park is in place as are vendors selling barbecue, corn dogs, etc.

The Ritz Park concert gets underway this evening. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Men in Blues opens followed by Crossroads. Tribute, the official Allman Brothers tribute band, headlines the show and will take the stage at about 9:30 p.m.

It will be cool and breezy tonight so be prepared. Saturday's weather will be perfect with sunshine and a high of 71 degrees.

Megan M. Littleton, who has been missing since at least April 8, has been found safe.

BPD personnel left here just before 1 p.m. Wednesday to pick her up. She was located in Bleckley County Wednesday morning after being tracked to Danville, Ga. there Monday by cell phone data.

She is safe.

More to follow....

UPDATE:

From Capt. Al Moltrum, BPD:

On Monday 4/16/2018, the cell phone of Littleton had been turned back on and the location of the phone signal was found to be in Bleckley County. Bleckley County Investigators were notified that Littleton might be in their jurisdiction. On 4/18/2018, Bleckley County deputy conducted a traffic stop in which Ms. Littleton was the passenger in the vehicle. Ms. Littleton appeared to be safe and not harmed. At this time, no foul play was involved. Ms. Littleton has been reunited with family.

Andrew P. Henry, whose works are known nationally, will open his exhibit at the Lamar Arts Depot Gallery tonight. A reception will be open to the public from 6-8 p.m. to kick off the exhibit.

"I'm thrilled to have a solo show, exhibiting my works from childhood to the present. There will be models, paintings, sculptures and an unexpected variety of visual originals to entertain everyone,” said Henry. "I've worked long and hard to create pieces designed to please and inspire many viewers. I hope that everyone will find something that speaks to them."

Henry's past projects include work for HBO, Heineken, the Georgia Aquarium and many murals throughout the United States, as well as graphics, logo design and signs. The exhibit will be shown through May.

“The range and variety of Andrew’s works make an eclectic and exciting exhibit, sure to enchant every viewer,” said Angela Preston.

For more information call 770-358-5888 or 770-358-2834. Regular gallery hours are Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Atlanta Braves have revived an old tradition of allowing high school teams a day on the major league field this season. The coaches at Monticello entered their team in the drawing, won and chose LC as their opponent.

The players, coaches and managers capped off spring break Friday with the trip. They arrived at the ballpark and were taken to their locker room at 2:45 p.m. Warm-ups began at 3 p.m. and, afterwards, the entire team was announced. [Full Story »] 

The City of Barnesville has issued legal notice to possible descendants of those buried in the Wadsworth Cemetery that it will apply for a grave relocation permit in Lamar superior court. [Full Story »] 

The retrial of David Lewis McGuire has been moved to Monroe County after the defense was granted a change of venue. Proceedings are set to begin on May 14.

McGuire is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
[Full Story »] 

A 70-year-old man who fired a shotgun at deputies at 3131 block of Roberts Quarters Road Wednesday has died and the GBI investigation of the event has shown the deputies acted in accordance with all policies, procedures and state law.

On Wednesday, April 4 around 2:30 p.m., Pike County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a 911 call at 3131 Roberts Quarters Road in reference to a man with a gun threatening the caller. The suspect was reported to be pointing a shotgun at the complainant.

The first arriving deputy found the suspect, 70-year-old Grady Parks, to be armed with a shotgun and a handgun. The deputy gave numerous verbal commands for him to put the weapons down to which Mr. Parks refused to comply. A second deputy arrived on scene and attempted to subdue him by deploying a taser which proved to be ineffective.

A struggle ensued between Mr. Parks and a deputy. It was during this time that Parks fired his weapon at deputies. One deputy returned fire, striking Parks twice. EMS was requested and Parks was transported to Spalding Regional Hospital where he subsequently died from his injuries. The deputies were not injured.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office were contacted to complete a thorough and independent investigation of this incident. The initial investigation has shown that deputies acted in accordance with all policies, procedures and state law. Once completed the case will be submitted for review by the District Attorney’s Office. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Fredrick Sherard Harden, 25, was sentenced to eight years in prison and two years on probation by Judge Tommy Wilson last week in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Jessey Gadzeti, a Gordon State College student. [Full Story »] 

A prank suicide call made to a friend led BPD officers to an apartment here in the wee hours March 13. Their visit resulted in seven arrests.

Officers responded to the suicide threat at 116 Houston Ave., Apt 4 at 1:48 a.m. They observed a large group of individuals inside and finally got one to answer the door.

Smoke boiled out of the apartment with a strong smell of burnt marijuana. There were numerous government street signs in the living room and hanging on the walls.
[Full Story »] 

Buddy Welch, founding partner of the law firm Smith, Welch, Webb and White which operates an office in Barnesville, was killed Friday morning when the ATV he was riding was struck by a train. The accident occurred at 7:33 a.m. as Welch, 73, crossed railroad tracks on Mt. Pleasant Church Road in Butts County on the ATV and was struck by a Norfolk-Southern engine.

Butts sheriff Gary Long said Welch was hunting, basing that on the clothing he was wearing and a gun on the ATV. The crossing where the crash occurred does not have gate arms.

Scott Mayfield of the Welch firm is Lamar County's legal counsel.

Barnesville police, Lamar deputies and other first responders worked a high-impact crash at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Veterans Parkway Thursday night involving a small car and an SUV which overturned. Two ambulance crews were on scene treating multiple victims but none were thought to have life-threatening injuries.

Units were dispatched to the collision at 9:14 p.m.

A work truck struck a Lamar County school bus around 7 a.m. Wednesday on Hwy. 18 West and Hwy. 109.

Only one student and a driver were on the bus, according to initial reports and neither suffered serious injury.

More to follow....

STATEMENT:
From school superintendent Dr. Jute Wilson (issued at 9:47 a.m.):

Just before 7 a.m. this morning, one of our Lamar County buses was involved in an accident on highway 109 West. One elementary student was on board (the parent was contacted and is with the child).

Both the bus driver and student have been evaluated by medical professionals to ensure they are okay. The driver of a commercial truck was cited in the accident (he was reportedly transported for evaluation also).

Please keep our bus driver, student, and the other individual involved in your prayers.