Headlines

Sharp Objects earns three Golden Globe nominations

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Wednesday, December 12. 2018

HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects’ which was largely filmed here in 2017, earned a Golden Globe nomination last week for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. [Full Story »]

Could serial killer jailed in Texas be connected to cases here in 1984?

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, December 6. 2018

A serial killer now imprisoned in Texas who has confessed to 90 murders across the country has claimed seven kills in Georgia, including one in the Griffin area in 1983-1984. Lamar County has two unsolved crimes from that time period.

Helen Ann Morgan, 26, disappeared on May 16, 1984. Her car was found at the Atlanta airport several days later but not a trace of her has been found since. Donna Ogletree Johnson, 28, was brutally tortured and murdered. Her body was found on a logging road in the Piedmont district on July 16, 1984. [Full Story »]

Holiday Hustle CANCELLED

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, December 6. 2018

UPDATE: This event has been canceled due to inclement weather forecast for Saturday.

The annual Holiday Hustle 5K and fun run will be held here Saturday at Summers Field Park. The colorful gathering, which benefits the Dolly Goodpuppy Society, brings out runners and walkers in all sorts of gear like Santa hats, elf ears and reindeer antlers.

Jingle bells attached to wind suits are routine.

Advance registration is $15 for kids under age 13 and $30 for adults. The 5K uses the same course as the Buggython. The fun run is two laps around the park.

The fun run will begin at 5:30 p.m. wit the 5K following immediately thereafter. For more information, contact Kathy Oxford at 678-877-9532.

FINAL ELECTION RESULTS:

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, December 4. 2018

These are final results for Lamar County only from the Dec. 4 General Primary Runoff.

SECRETARY OF STATE:

Brad Raffensperger (R): 2095
John Barrow (D): 809

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION:

Chuck Eaton (R): 2048
Lindy Miller (D): 843

Just before 9 p.m. with 64% of votes counted, both Raffensperger and Eaton had large leads statewide as well.

Voters to decide on Sunday sales, new jail

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, November 30. 2018

By Walter Geiger

Lamar County voters will go to the polls March 19, 2019 to decide if package sales of beer and wine will be allowed on Sunday and $15.5 million in bonds are issued for the construction of a new jail.

The county commission agreed to call referendums on both issues at a contentious meeting Nov. 20. [Full Story »]

Early voting underway for Dec. 4 runoff

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 27. 2018

Early voting for the Dec. 4 runoff is underway beginning Wednesday this week at the board of elections office from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 - 5 p.m. daily. The only race on the ballot is that for secretary of state which pits Republican Brad Raffensperger against Democrat John Barrow.

Convicted mom-killer McGuire files motion seeking a new trial

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, November 23. 2018

David Lewis McGuire, who was convicted May 17 on multiple charges in connection with the shooting death of his mother, has filed a motion seeking a new trial. A hearing on the motion is set for Dec. 4 in Lamar superior court before Judge Bill Fears.
[Full Story »]

Food bank dream becoming a reality; you can help build it

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, November 22. 2018

Despite a week of heavy rain, site preparation work continued at the site of the new Hope Tree Food Bank building at the corner of College and Carletta streets in Barnesville. When the sun finally came out last week, volunteers were in place pouring the concrete foundation.

The 2500-square foot building will be erected during a 40-hour period beginning Black Friday morning, Nov. 23 by volunteers working around the clock. If you have construction skills, just show up and go to work. If you have no skills, you can carry boards or provide refreshments.

Monetary donations are also needed and can be dropped off at any United Bank location. For more information, call Jimmy Fambro at 678-972-2457 or David Clark at 770-639-0346.

As an interesting side note, one of the volunteers supervising the concrete pour at the site Friday helped rebuild the dam at city pond after the great flood of 1994.

Young karter tearing up the track

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 21. 2018

By Rachel McDaniel

The historic Lamar County Speedway on Highway 36 east recently held its final race for the 2018 season with the GSKA racing club on Nov. 10. The race meant something special to the only local driver who was born and raised in Lamar County, Michael ‘Lane’ Littleton.

Lane is 10 now and started racing at the beginning of the 2017 season and in his career has faced tough, experienced competition as well as National Championship drivers. Lane quickly progressed to the point of placing and being on the podium every race, but hadn’t yet earned the first place checkered flag.
[Full Story »]

Holiday cake auction is today

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 20. 2018

The 5th annual Holiday Cake Auction to benefit John's Place will be held today. John's Place is a respite care ministry at First United Methodist Church. Cakes will be auctioned off today at the noon meeting of the Barnesville Rotary Club.

The auction moves to the church fellowship hall this afternoon. A pizza and salad supper, hosted by the United Methodist Men, will be served at 5:30 p.m.

Get out and acquire a culinary masterpiece for your Thanksgiving spread prepared by the community's best cooks.

For more information, call FUMC at 770.358.1494

Locals getting Medicare scam calls

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, November 15. 2018

Local residents have received calls from a scammer claiming to be with Medicare and offering to send a plastic card rather than a paper card. Medicare does not issue plastic cards.

The caller seeks a Medicare card number in order to print the new plastic card. Once they have the number, they can file false claims on your account do do not provide that information. One number routinely associated with this scam is 619.478.7432.

Woman killed in traffic accident

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, November 13. 2018

Comments (2)

A 49-year-old Barnesville woman died Tuesday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Hwy. 36 East.

Coroner Jim Smith identified the dead woman as Jennifer Jones of a Wilson Street address.

Jones was alone in her vehicle eastbound on Hwy. 36 when she lost control, crossing the oncoming traffic lane and crashing into some trees. She died at the scene of a severe head injury.

Smith said a property owner noticed the car when the sun came up. Jones had apparently been dead for some time before the wreck was discovered.

Routine drug and alcohol blood testing was done at the scene but her body was not taken to the crime lab, Smith said.

The initial 911 alert went out at 7:43 a.m.

More to follow...

Honor Walk is Nov. 13 at career academy

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, November 9. 2018

The Barnesville Rotary Club will hold its annual Honor Walk Tuesday, Nov. 13 at noon. UPDATE: Due to weather, this event has been moved to the LCHS College & Career Academy.

The event is held to celebrate local first responders and law enforcement officers. After the walk, lunch will be provided for all participants.

Mel’s Pork Pit of Milner is co-sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Tim Turner at 770-358-0181.

Two locals busted in massive Spalding raid

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, November 7. 2018

Spalding County launched Operation Say No More in the aftermath of three deaths tied to illegal drugs laced with fentanyl earlier this year. The two-month investigation quickly expanded beyond Spalding County and the first wave of arrests Oct. 26-27 sent 32 people to jail on drug and related charges.

Two Lamar countians were arrested in the initial sweep and more arrests are expected. [Full Story »]

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

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Headlines

Tuesday, November 6. 2018

Lamar County voters and those across Georgia have turned out in huge numbers for early voting in today’s general election but, for those who didn’t cast advance ballots, polling places throughout the county will be open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The heavy turnout has been fueled by a bitter, hard-fought battle for governor that pits Democrat Stacey Abrams against Brian Kemp, Georgia’s current secretary of state. Libertarian candidate Ted Metz is also in the gubernatorial race.

Georgians shattered the early voting record for a mid-term general election with at total of 2,071,830 advance ballots. Of those, 1,886,905 were cast in person and another 184,925 by absentee ballot.

The story was the same here as elections supervisor Anita Reid and her staff collected 3830 advance ballots. They also mailed out 472 absentee ballots, of which 372 had been returned as of press time Monday.

Also on the ballot is the race for Lt. Governor which has Republican Geoff Duncan facing off against Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico.

Battling for Kemp’s current job as secretary of state are Republican Brad Raffensperger, Democrat John Barrow and Libertarian Smythe Duval.

Current state attorney general, Republican Chris Carr, is battling Democratic challenger Charlie Bailey. Incumbent agriculture commissioner Gary Black, also a Republican, faces a challenge from Democrat Fred Swann.

Those seeking the office of insurance commissioner are Republican Jim Beck, Democrat Janice Laws and Libertarian Donnie Foster.

Incumbent Republican Richard Woods will attempt to hold off Democrat Otha E. Thornton Jr. in the race for state school superintendent. In the race for labor commissioner, Republican Mark Butler is challenged by Democrat Richard Keatley.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, a Republican, is battling Democrat challenger Chuck Enderlin in the 3rd District congressional race. In the District 16 race for state senate, Republican incumbent Marty Harbin is being challenged by Democrat Bill Lightle. In the District 131 state house race,
Democrat Chris Benton is battling Republican Ken Pullin.

As always, The Herald Gazette and barnesville.com will be your go to resource for election night coverage. Realtime local results will be maintained at barnesville.com and a recorded message will be available on our election hotline at 770-358-NEWS once all the votes are counted.