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Red hot Lady Trojans at home Friday and Saturday nights

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Friday, January 25. 2019

The LC Lady Trojans (18-2, 8-0) are at home tonight and Saturday night for key region contests as the regular season winds down and the playoffs approach.

Heard County comes to town tonight and Temple rolls in Saturday. Girls action begins at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow.

The Lady Trojans, who still have not cracked the state rankings despite their stellar record, got two region wins last week.
[Full Story »]

Crawford murder suspects have hearings set in Upson

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, January 24. 2019

By Walter Geiger

The two suspects in the murder of Roderick Crawford, 46, of Barnesville have hearings upcoming in Upson County superior court. Crawford disappeared Dec. 29. [Full Story »]

Jan. 28 jurors need not report but court will go on

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, January 24. 2019

Those summoned for jury duty in Lamar superior court Jan. 28 for criminal trials do not have to report to the courthouse. All the defendants scheduled for trial that week entered guilty pleas Jan. 17 so there will be no criminal trials. Court will go on, however, with pleas, hearings and other proceedings.

FSA offices will reopen Thursday

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Walter Geiger

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Wednesday, January 23. 2019

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen to provide additional administrative services to farmers and ranchers during the lapse in federal funding.

"At President Trump's direction, we have been working to alleviate the effects of the lapse in federal funding as best we can, and we are happy to announce the reopening of FSA offices for certain services," Perdue said. "The FSA provides vital support for farmers and ranchers and they count on those services being available. We want to offer as much assistance as possible until the partial government shutdown is resolved."

Starting on Thursday, Jan. 24, Farm Service Agency offices will put employees back to work full-time for two weeks. After two weeks, assuming the department is still without funding, they will be open three days a week until the shutdown concludes.

Two stabbed on High Falls Road; GBI called in

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Walter Geiger

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Monday, January 21. 2019

From Spalding County sheriff Darrell Dix:

On January 21, 2019 at approximately 9:07am, deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an aggravated assault at a residence on High Falls Road. When deputies arrived, they found a male identified as Syntel Brown 33 years of age, in the front yard of the residence. Mr. Brown was found to have suffered multiple stab wounds and cuts. A neighbor, along with deputies, began rendering aid to Brown until EMS could arrive. Brown has since been transported to Atlanta Medical Center for treatment.

A second person identified as Devontae Perkins, 24 years of age, was found a short distance from the residence also suffering from multiple stab wounds and cuts. He has been transported to Spalding Regional Hospital and is being treated for his wounds.

According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, “After being briefed by my investigators as to the details of the incident and those involved, I made the determination to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and ask for their assistance. At this point the investigation has been turned over to them. No other details will be released at this time as the investigation into the incident and fact gathering is
ongoing.”

Monroe County man wanted for assault on female BPD officer

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Walter Geiger

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Sunday, January 20. 2019

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BPD investigators are searching for 20-year-old Donterious Frye of Monroe County for an alleged assault on Officer Maria Gebelein at Waffle House early Friday morning during a brawl that followed a rap performance at a local club. Frye is wanted for felony obstruction of an officer.

Officer Gebelein was punched in the head and suffered scratches and bruises but is recovering.

If you have any information on Frye's whereabouts, call BPD at 770.358.1244 or the sheriff's office at 770.358.5159.

See the super blood wolf moon eclipse this weekend

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 18. 2019

Mother Nature is dishing up a triple threat for us at the end of the weekend. Late Sunday and early Monday morning, there will be a super blood wolf moon eclipse. It’s a combination of three separate things – a super moon, a wolf moon and a lunar eclipse. A super moon is a new or full moon that happens at the time of the month when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. The wolf moon is just another name for the first full moon of the year, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. And then there’s the blood moon. It’s a lunar eclipse that causes the moon’s appearance to change as it enters Earth’s shadow. It turns it a rusty, red color. [Full Story »]

DNR Ranger: Trapped kayakers broke law

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 18. 2019

The six kayakers who tried to shoot rain-swollen Potato Creek Jan. 5 took unnecessary risk and were guilty of trespassing, local DNR Ranger Keith Page reported last week.

“Boating is not allowed on non-navigable waterways. The property owners own to the center of the creek. Kayaking the creek is no different than walking down it. If they did not have permission from the landowners, then they were trespassing,” Page said. [Full Story »]

Susan Byars stepping down from school board

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 11. 2019

Lifelong educator Susan Byars is stepping down from her position as the District 3 member of the Lamar County Board of Education. Byars was first elected to the board in 2000. She has been a teacher, administrator, served briefly as school superintendent and has worked at Gordon State College.

"I have always believed that, if you're not effective in what you're doing, its probably time for you to discontinue the activity. I find myself in a situation where I can no longer be an effective voice on the board. With this in mind, I have decided to retire from education in Lamar County by resigning my position on the Board of Education," Byars said. Byars last ran for re-election in 2016 without opposition.

(Note: Byars penned a lengthy statement on her resignation that will appear as a letter to the editor in the 1.15.19 print edition of The Herald Gazette)

Judge Wilson hears motion for new trial for Joshua Cox

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, January 10. 2019

In an unusual turn of events, the Towaliga circuit public defender was put on the stand as the only witness in a hearing for a new trial for convicted killer Joshua Cox Jan. 3 in Lamar superior court.

Cox is serving life with the possibility for parole for killing his drug dealer, Donald Terrell Clark, in the driveway of Clark’s home on Chappell Mill Road. He was convicted on Jan. 26, 2017. [Full Story »]

Officials: Escort service involved in Crawford case tied to similar crimes statewide

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Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, January 8. 2019

By Kay S. Pedrotti

Suspects in the killing of Roderick Crawford of Barnesville are now in two county jails under charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and possession of firearms in the commission of a crime. Kiera Williams, 18, is incarcerated in Upson County, according to Upson sheriff Dan Kilgore. Alleged accomplice Cameron Jones is in the Clayton County detention facility, as is Ashanti Dorsey, arrested in connection with a similar crime in that county.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported in a press conference Monday that the three will likely face charges in other counties, and the “escort service” for which Williams is alleged to have worked appears to be connected with similar crimes throughout Georgia. [Full Story »]

Upson sheriff says Crawford killed after contacting escort service; suspects tied to other murders

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 4. 2019

This is the official release from Upson County sheriff Dan Kilgore regarding the murder of Roderick Crawford:

A body was located by an Upson County Deputy on Thursday evening January 3, 2019 just before 9:00. The deceased is believed to be Roderick Crawford of Barnesville who was reported missing from Lamar County on December 29th. Two individuals are in custody charged with Murder, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm while in Commission of a Felony. They are identified as Cameron Jones, 20 and Kiera Williams 18. Williams is in the Upson County Jail and Jones is in the Clayton County Jail.

Investigation reveals that Crawford contacted Williams through an internet escort website and met her in Upson County. He was subsequently murdered and left behind an abandoned house located at 1414 Grantling Street in Upson County.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been requested to handle this investigation.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff
January 4, 2019

UPDATE:

Williams and another woman, Ashanti Dorsey, are now charged with the murder of are now charged with the Dec. 21 murder of Mario Rashaad Edwards in Forest Park.

Sheriff Kilgore said Jones faces an additional murder charge for a separate Clayton County murder.

Members of the Clayton County Fugitive Squad arrested Dorsey Thursday, hours after became the first woman to top the county’s Most Wanted List.

Squad members captured Dorsey in DeKalb County for another murder charge separate from the Forest Park case.

Investigators believed Dorsey shot and killed a wanted man Wednesday after an argument on Lakeview Way in Clayton County.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office described Dorsey as a known prostitute who is a suspect in a series of robberies of men who solicited her services off of the internet.

Investigators believe all of the suspects met their victims through an escort website.

Williams is being held in the Upson County Jail, while Jones and Dorsey are in the Clayton County Jail.

GBI issues release on Crawford murder

Posted by

Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 4. 2019

The following release was issued by the GBI regarding the murder of Roderick Crawford at 6 p.m. Friday:

On Friday, January 4, 2019, the GBI arrested two individuals in connection with the death of Roderick Crawford, 46, of Barnesville, Lamar County, GA. Cameron Jones, 20, of Upson County, and Kiera Williams, 18, of Clayton County, both have been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes, and kidnapping. Jones is being held at the Clayton County Jail and Williams is being held at the Upson County Jail.

On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, the GBI was requested by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a missing person investigation. Preliminary information received was that on Saturday, December 29, 2018, Crawford was reported missing by his wife and was last seen on Friday, December 28, 2018.

During the investigation, Crawford’s vehicle was found abandoned in Clayton County, GA. A search for Crawford continued and on Thursday, January 3, 2019, a deceased male was located behind a residence on Grantling Street in Thomaston, GA. Based on preliminary information, the deceased male is believed to be Crawford.

The GBI, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Upson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office are continuing to follow leads in this investigation. Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Heavy rains cause flooding; no major issues here

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, January 4. 2019

Rainfall totaling two to three inches fell on already saturated ground overnight Thursday leading to some localized flooding problems Friday morning.

Brinkley Road was closed. Bottoms Road and Turner Bridge Road were in bad shape, according to county manager Bob Zellner.

Potato Creek was well out of its banks in the area of the bridges on Piedmont and Ruffner roads.

"We had two to two and a half inches overnight and there was just no place for all that water to go," noted Barnesville city manager David Rose who reported a sewer lift station problem in Milner.

The rain, which has lasted all year, has ended. The sun will be out Saturday and Sunday with temperatures in the mid to high 60s.

Two 2018 mysteries carry over to New Year

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Walter Geiger

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Thursday, January 3. 2019

Two mysteries that fell into the laps of local law enforcement in 2018 will apparently carry over into the new year labelled ‘unsolved’. [Full Story »]