Headlines

University System vice chancellor Stuart Rayfield, a former interim president at Gordon State College, will deliver the keynote address at commencement exercises on the GSC campus Friday.
The ceremony begins with the traditional processional led by piper Michael Grest.

GSC will present 135 bachelor’s degrees and 158 associate degrees. Of the grads, 38% are 22-24 years old. Two are international students while 84% come from the college’s 14-county service area. In the class are 14 dual enrollees who will graduate from GSC and high school this month. One will be awarded a Gordon degree while still a junior in high school.

Stephen Boyd was hired Monday night as principal of Lamar County Middle School. He currently serves as an assistant principal in Peach County. He began his career as a social studies teacher at Upson-Lee Middle School.

He is a past STAR teacher and teacher of the year.

He has experience coaching cross country, basketball and soccer.

He served as a US Army paratrooper with tours in Bosnia and Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart.

For much more on this story, see the 5.14.19 print edition of The Herald Gazette.

A proposed expansion at Ranew’s Fleet Services in Milner, which drew light opposition at a county commission meeting in March, is now off the drawing board and the company will now locate in Upson County near the Thomaston airport.
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The #4 LC Lady Trojans (15-3-1) rolled to a 12-2 mercy rule win over Rabun County in round one of the GHSA Class AA state soccer playoffs here Thursday to advance to the Sweet 16. They host Pepperell Wednesday. First touch is set for 5:30 p.m. at Trojan Field.

Pepperell is located in Lindale in Floyd County. The Lady Dragons (10-6) were the only #4 seed to topple a #1 seed in round one as they edged KIPP 1-0 on the road to set up Wednesday’s round two match. The two teams had no common opponents over the regular season.
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They're young. They're fast. They own a ton of medals and they want to go to the nationals.

You can help the tiny track stars of Georgia Horsepower by getting your car washed May 11 from 8-4 p.m. in downtown Barnesville.

For more information call 470.587.3537.

Pomp and circumstance will be the order of the day when Dr. Kirk Nooks is invested as president of Gordon State College Friday. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in the student activities and recreation center on campus.

Nooks was named GSC president by the Board of Regents last June. Over 90 students will take part in his investiture. [Full Story »] 

The LC Diamond Trojans and both the highly-ranked Trojan and Lady Trojan soccer teamsare in the playoffs.

Mike Oberg's Diamond Trojans (18-9, 10-5) traveled to Elberton for a doubleheader yesterday and split two games. They lost game one 5-3 but came back to win the nightcap in an 8-1 rout. The rubber match is today in Elberton at 4 p.m.

LC is the #3 seed from Region 5AA. Elbert County's Blue Devils (19-3-1, 11-3) are the #2 seed from Region 8AA.

Soccer action gets underway today.

The #4 Lady Trojans (14-3-1, 8-2) are a #2 playoff seed and host unranked Rabun County tonight. First touch is set for 5:30 p.m. at Trojan Field. Rabun’s Wildcats (4-3-1, 4-2-1) are unranked and the #3 seed from Region 8AA.

The #5 Trojans (14-4, 10-0) are a #1 seed and host Union County Friday in a match that kicks off at 7 p.m. at Trojan Field. The visiting Panthers (9-4, 5-2) are unranked and the #4 seed from Region 8AA.

Lamar County school superintendent Dr. Jute Wilson received the President's Award from the Georgia School Boards Association (GSSA) during its Bootstrap Conference in Savannah over the weekend. These awards are given to superintendents for outstanding leadership in their school systems and communities.

Dr. Wilson is in his fifth year with the local system. Since his arrival, his system has consistently exceeded the state average on graduation rates with a record high of 91.23% in 2015, which ranked among the highest performing systems in Georgia. This is an exceptional success story as the Lamar system is small and rural (approximately 2300 students) with a 70% economically disadvantaged population.

For much more on this story, see the 4.30.19 print edition of The Herald Gazette.

Jurors called to Lamar superior court on Tuesday, April 23 for the criminal trial calendar have been excused and need not report. Plea deals precluded the need for trials. Defendants on the calendar and their attorneys must still report unless they have been told otherwise, according to clerk of court Caleb Tyson.

The Barnesville Blues chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will host its annual Confederate Memorial Day observance Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m. The event will take place in the Confederate section of Barnesville's Greenwood Cemetery.

Memphis-based Fred’s announced last week that it will close 159 stores, including the retail outlets on Veteran’s Parkway in Barnesville and Hwy. 19 North in Zebulon. The local stores are among 25 Georgia stores involved in the plan to save the business. [Full Story »] 

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has issued a lookout for 15-year-old Ashley Gibson who was last seen about April 11. If you have information regarding her whereabouts, contact investigator Daniel Ruiz at 478.994.7010.

UPDATE: The teen was located in Butts County after a tip from the public.

The Fred's stores in Barnesville and Zebulon are among 159 stores the company is closing in an effort to save the business.

The stores will close by the end of May.

For more on this story, see the 4.16.19 edition of The Herald Gazette.

First Methodist Church and First Baptist Church are teaming up to present a huge community Easter Egg Hunt at Summers Field Park. Children of all age are invited.

This gift to the community will take place this Sunday, Palm Sunday, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the park, the former football stadium, which is located adjacent to the Gordon State College campus near downtown Barnesville.

Prior to the egg hunt, First Methodist will host Palm Sunday services at 10 a.m. with a palm processional and performances by its vocal and bell choirs. For more information, call the church at 770-358-1994.