Veterans honored at parade, recreation fields

Pike County cheerleaders pass the courthouse during the Pride of Pike parade.

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Saturday, July 3. 2010

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Hundreds lined the highway for the Independence Day Pride of Pike parade with the theme "We Shall Never Forget." As the parade passed the courthouse, spectators applauded loudly as volunteers carried plaques commemorating the 173 veterans from Georgia who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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#1 Parade Goer on 07/04/10 at 01:38 PM

Great weather and good American spirits. The fireworks were ok I guess. My last year going, too many outsiders.

#1.1 Pike on 07/05/10 at 06:15 PM

Everyone was, is and will be welcome!

And yes I did give a few bucks toward the fireworks at a fundraiser.

Congratulations to all those that made it happen this year!!

#2 jck on 07/04/10 at 02:51 PM

i truly enjoyed the parade but pike county fireman called to a fire really did not take into cosideration the people attending. they were driving way to fast when they came by the courthouse it was lucky no one was in the way some thought it was the beginning of the parade.

#2.1 Anonymous on 07/05/10 at 05:57 AM

If that was your house burning or family member in a wreck and hurt badly you would want them to go as fast as they could.Be thankfull that we have firefighters that want to go to calls.Remember they are a vol. fire dept.They dont have to go at all!

#3 Anonymous on 07/04/10 at 08:02 PM

them was the best fire works.

#4 To Parade Goer on 07/04/10 at 10:05 PM

I have lived in Spalding county my entire life. As an outsider you and those that believe like you are the reason Pike county does not grow. Blame it on the commissioners, the splost, the county manager or any other reason you want. But the real reason is the backwoods attitude that is displayed by your comments.

#4.1 Say What?? on 07/05/10 at 06:13 AM

"Pke county does not grow"??? That's the problem, we have grown too much and too fast. Someone left the gates open and everyone piled in wanting a piece of our "backwoods" attitude.
And yes, the fireworks were very good. I did not support them financially, but I think I will help them out now. And yes, the firetrucks went entirely too fast thru the downtown area putting everyone along the street at risk plus the children that were in the firetrucks.

#4.2 fat bass tard on 07/05/10 at 08:05 AM

WE DON'T WANT PIKE COUNTY TO GROW.

AND GROW INTO WHAT? A CESSPOOL LIKE SPALDING COUNTY. NO THANKS!!!!

You stay where you are and don't worry about us Pike County folk. We neither want or need your kind here.

#4.2.1 Bryan Ferrell on 07/05/10 at 10:53 AM

I am a spalding county transplant and I came to Pike county to participate in YOUR 4th of July parade. But I must say FAT BASS TARD you represent Pike Co. well just like all the 174 volunteers that pike provided for the walk of honor. Oh yea that is right Pike did not provide enough volunteers to carry the placquards for our fallen heroes. So you must not love your veterans very much Mr.Tard. Just keep in mind that spalding county loves you and your money you spend at the WalMart keep coming to spalding and spend your dimes with us. As far as the rest of Pike Co. yall need to reign in the uneducated mouthpieces you have there. Without growth Pike will fail as any community. Your population grows faster than the tax base so without growth the tax base will fall short. GFL good luck Pike Co.

#4.2.1.1 Trisha Dabbs on 07/05/10 at 03:24 PM

Bryan, the parade organizers were not asked until Monday to find volunteers. That gave some of us about four days to find 176 volunteers to march 3.3 miles uphill in the 4:00 heat. With more time, every placard would have had one walker and therefore more impact. As it was, many of us carried the names of two fallen soldiers. No name was left behind. When I asked people to help with this challenge, I never gave a thought to what county they lived in. I am under the impression that we are all Americans. Thank you for the support you gave to this project. Given the time frame I thought it was an excellent turnout.

#4.2.1.2 Tracy B. on 07/05/10 at 04:29 PM

Bryan, if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out about the volunteers being needed for the "Walk of Honor"? I personally did not know anything about it until the day of the parade, when I signed into PCJR and saw the article about it. The article was posted the day before. I would like to think that a lot more people would have volunteered if they had of had more notice. I most certainly would have myself, along with my husband & children. Maybe next year, with a little more planning and advanced notice, more people will volunteer. Thank you for unselfishly giving your time, I for one appreciate it very much!

#4.2.1.3 shops/pays taxes/both counties on 07/05/10 at 07:41 PM

You need to lose the un American attitude, boy. If you carried a sign, you are shaming some hero up in heaven. Even Spalding doesn't want your transplanted roots and they'll take anybody!

#4.2.1.4 fat bass tard on 07/06/10 at 06:55 AM

You can stay in spalding bryan, we don't need you or want you here.

If you are so well educated, why do you live in a hole like griffin?

#4.2.1.5 fat bass tard on 07/06/10 at 09:02 AM

and BTW bryan, had I known about the need, i could have carried 10 placards just by draping them across my very large frame.

#4.2.2 Anonymous on 07/05/10 at 02:59 PM

Pike County need to grow then you will be able come out of those back woods.

#4.2.2.1 fat bass tard on 07/06/10 at 03:21 PM

... and learn how to write a coherent sentence?

#4.3 Sheila Tolley on 07/05/10 at 11:15 AM

Oh, look. A Spalding person that is not in jail. Must have jumped the fence.

#4.3.1 Bad Karma on 07/13/10 at 06:24 AM

Sheila, you may have spoken too soon!
Authorities Sieze Marijuana Plants
According to Spalding County Sheriff Dee Stewart, a large number of marijuana plants were seized at a Musgrove Road house Monday afternoon.
“The way it started was deputy Joe Peavy received some information that there was possibly marijuana plants growing at that location,” said Capt. Novin Darsey of Spalding County Special Operations.
Peavy, Capt. Keith Duncan and other deputies and probation officers went to 505 Musgrove Road and searched the property. They located the plants in a garden behind the house.
“Once the plants were located, Capt. Duncan contacted myself and Special Agent Sammy Torres and Special Agent Keith Massengale responded to the location,” Darsey said.
The officers received the call at 12:20 p.m. They recovered 65 marijuana plants.
“They’re not real tall, maybe three feet tall,” Duncan said at the scene. “They’ve just started to bud out.”
Torres said each plant could produce two pounds or more of marijuana when mature. Massengale estimated the plants would be worth $110,000 to $120,000 when mature; Torres said that was the wholesale price and selling the marijuana by the bag would net much more.
“When you sell larger quantities, that’s like wholesale,” he said.
Massengale and Torres interviewed Bryan Ferrell at the scene. He said two young men, one blond-haired and one brown-haired, asked if they could grow corn on the property.
Ferrell was arrested and charged with manufacture of marijuana.
Hmmmmm.

#5 Bryan Ferrell on 07/05/10 at 07:13 AM

I would like to thank the volunteers for the walk of honor. It was very moving to get a standing ovation for our fallen heroes. What was no to moving was the lack of support by the newspaper editor to not show the volunteers. I specifically would have liked to world to see how a 70+ year old US Army retiree in a wheelchair carry a placquard with a fallen hero on it. Also where were the human interest story on this important event. I know the little pike cheerleaders want to be in the newspaper but maybe next time they will wear uniforms and march the entire 3.3 miles and not stop at the freshway. I was terribly disappointed in the parade participsnts not going all the way to the ballfields.

#5.1 Anonymous on 07/06/10 at 10:41 AM

I want you to know that the cheerleaders would have worn their uniforms had we had them.....and how in the heck to you expect a 5 yeal old to walk 3.3 miles up hill in the heat. And also we did not go all the way to the ball fields because not everybody wanted to pay $5 to pick up their child when they were not staying for the fireworks.....think about what you say before opening your mouth....

#5.1.1 Anonymous on 07/06/10 at 11:07 AM

Arrangements were available to those wanting to pick up after parade. You just had to ask. Some even left a vehicle there early so they could drive themselves away.

An unasked question always goes unanswered.

#5.1.1.1 Anonymous on 07/07/10 at 06:43 AM

well not everybody has a second car to do that either.....everybody needs to stop thinking that their way of thinking is the right and oly way.....you people on here need to grow up and get a freaking life.......the world does not revolve around you

#5.1.1.2 Me on 07/23/10 at 04:46 PM

Well just so you know, arrangements were asked for and we were told the cheerleaders were told to make their own arrangements, therefore it was set up to have the parents pick up children in the parking lot of the Freshway! Please don't continue to speak of things you have no knowledge of! This just really chaps my hide to have people putting down the participation of these young girls by knocking everything they did by depicting what they should have done instead! This is just awful and you all should be ashamed of yourselves!!!

#5.1.2 walker on 07/06/10 at 11:42 AM

You didn't have to pay the five dollars. We drove two cars and left one at the ballfield. Then when the parade ended, we drove back to the school. All you had to do was tell them at the gate that you were in the parade and wanted to leave transportation.
Personally I don't think any of us should walk that far. Past the BP station there was a mile and a half of walk left and only a few dozen bystanders.

#5.2 Sheila Tolley on 07/13/10 at 09:42 AM

Ref comment 4.3.1. Well, well Bryan. Do you look as good in your orange uniform as the cheerleaders look in theirs? It is a shame they found your 65 corn stalks before they even got to "budding good." That is a mighty nice house you bragged about in your comment. It might even be nicer than the Big House you will get to enjoy, rent free. With the money your corn brings, I think Pike will just stick to that old nasty gasoline......ethanol from your corn is just "too darn expensive."

#6 From To Parade Goer on 07/05/10 at 12:54 PM

I would like to thank the two people who responded to my post. You validated my post with your comments. Pike county may have grown in population, but as far as business who provide tax revenue Pike has not grown. Have you driven into the industrial park lately? At least my Spalding county tax dollars provide me with a few services. We even have animal control.

#6.1 Anonymous on 07/05/10 at 05:57 PM

We're not interested in becoming like Griffin. Personally, I go to Thomaston or Forsyth Walmart specifically to avoid Griffin. Also, Macon movie theater, Macon clothing stores, and Barnesville CVS for drug store purchases I can't get here. We don't need to go to Griffin

#6.2 Anonymous on 07/06/10 at 02:18 PM

Business will never carry it's weight in tax dollars. It will always be subsidized by the Homeowner. Go to the Ga tax website and look up the percentages of Homeowner taxes to that of business. Even in the City of Atlanta the Homeowner carries the lions share of taxes.

Quit drinking the Kool-Aide.......

#7 Debra Davis on 07/05/10 at 04:07 PM

In reply to all above posts: I currently live in Spalding and plan to live in Pike someday. My family and I attended the fireworks celebration on the 3rd at the Pike Co ballfields. We had a great time. We were there in honor of our country, The United States of America, and the Service men and women who have given their time and lives for our country. If people are going to complain about who attended and where each other live, you are missing the whole point as to what the celebration was for and about. Why don't you ask a fallen soldier if he or she cares what they think about this ridiculous argument? Be proud Americans, not selfish rednecks. Come down off the cross cause somebody needs the wood. Pathetic.

#8 Upson County Friend on 07/05/10 at 04:42 PM

I have visited Pike County's Independence Day celebration many times over the past years. I've gladly paid the any required admission fee for it. I have spent money at the various vendors - whether they were small businesses or local groups raising funds. I have been grateful for the opportunity to support my Pike County neighbors. I know that the vast majority of Pike County residents are open and gracious people who welcome visitors. It is distressing to see the comments of a few disgruntled people give visitors to this site the wrong impression about Pike County. I heartily thank each Pike County resident that support the celebration in any way and that welcomed visitors with great southern hospitality.

#8.1 fat bass tard on 07/06/10 at 02:20 PM

The problem is that the celebration in past years has been so full of out of town guests that the taxpayers who've paid for it couldn't get in or at least was so crowded that you didn't want to deal with the mess.

Since it was mostly funded by private interests this year, I say have at it.

#9 Mr. Republican on 07/05/10 at 08:25 PM

The house that burned was my neighbors.I could not believe it only took minutes for the Pike Co fire dept to respond .We did not realize they were already in route so the response was shocking to say the least .So we all thought this is great there was only smoke in the back room,the whole back of the house was still uninvolved .The Might of Pike Co Fire showed up ,not just a truck or two they brought the bulk .The driver of the first truck got to the drive and blocked all the rest .They were lined down the street for a block .And after all that the freaking house still burned to the ground, ----! They would have been better off if they had not even showed up now there is just more to clean up .A neighbor said it best "They saved the chimneys"

#9.1 jck on 07/05/10 at 10:56 PM

well you know why they all showed up. they get paid. so they all needed extra money for the fourth.

#9.2 FIREMAN FOR 3 DECADES!!!!!!!! on 07/06/10 at 06:27 PM

Mr. Republican, If you think you could have done any better then you should get yourself a fire truck and keep it at your house and put out all the fires in PIKE CO. MR. HERO HA HA..Well at least they tried.

#9.2.1 Mr Republican on 07/07/10 at 08:57 PM

like i said he would have been better off if they had not came,less to have to clean up since they let it burn .Heck if we had known it was gonna burn to the ground we would have thrown stuff out the windows .We never thought it would get that far heck the fire dept was there .But instead of putting water on it they were putting on air tanks and stuff for no reason at all other than to be big do-gooders .We good job the man's house burned to the ground .That's the part we all as a neighborhood cant seem to believe ,They sat there and never put any water on the back side of the house where the fire was .All I saw was total incompetence and lack of know how

#10 First timer on 07/05/10 at 09:19 PM

Great event! Look forward to next year. This celebration has plenty of room to grow and I have no doubt that it will in the years to come. Good job Pike County!

#11 know what on 07/05/10 at 09:56 PM

SPALDING COUNTY GRIFFIN, GEORGIA
A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY.
AND SPALDING IS GOING TO GIVE SOME
TO THE NORTH END OF PIKE WITH IT'S
TRI COUNTY CROSSROADS.
(WAIT AND SEE IF I'M RIGHT)

#12 cats on 07/07/10 at 04:26 AM

It distresses me to see the ungenerous spirit posted here.
For those of you who have walked this Earth more than 3 decades, like I have, I remind you that today's paradise is tomorrow's trash heap and today's lousy neighborhood may become next decade's most sought-after address.
Look forward, not back, people.
And I assure you,my daughter is not going out on another deployment next month knowing how petty and narrow minded some of the Americans she's representing can behave.
You embarrass me.

#12.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/07/10 at 07:36 AM

Hello cats,
I have missed conversing with you on the Barnesville site. I, for one, love and appreciate our military with all that is in me. These jerks who do not are assisting in the ruination of our country. They are disgusting and I am ashamed of any person who has no respect for our Veterans. They are as sorry as our president. I make it a point to thank every person I see in military uniform. Please say "Thank You" to your daughter on my behalf.

#13 Bryan Ferrell on 07/07/10 at 06:28 AM

To all you locals you can bet I will stay away from Pike Co. I have recently learned from this forum that I do not wish to come back to Pike for any reason. As far as my comments I do not HIDE behind a fake moniker I use my real name because I am not scared to tell it how I see it and am willing to take what ever heat comes with my statements. Ms. Tolley I apppreciate the fact that you would make a statement about the jumping the fence. If you think living in a 6 bedroom 4 bath home on 4 and a half acres is the jail then no wonder crime is so popular in Ga. Mr. Tard I would love to have your participation next year to see how many placquards you can carry or how far you can walk. Trisha I saw it on the 11 o'clock news and immediately emailed Ms. Teresa. Shop pays taxes I would like to say to you that My attitude is not un american attitude it is anti idiot. I live in Griffin because that is where my Mother retired. I moved to Griffin to help take care of her. I closed down a very profitable General Contracting business over night and moved within a week of learning my mother needed me here. Trust me I would have settled anywhere, but this corrupt part of the country. Spalding is no great place to live but neither is Pike, both are full of under-educated racist buffoons. Finally about the cheerleaders I know from where I speak I have been involved in sports clubs specifically cheerleading, as I have successfully raised 3 daughters and all were cheerleaders. We marched in a forth of july parade every year for about 11 years and then took off a few years after they grew up. The trick to get little girls to march in a parade is to have them cheer the entire route. as well as add a dance routine about every half mile. The distance will evaporate in a short time and the girls would enjoy the parade, because they are actually a part of the parade and not just riding in it. I will address any and all comments you feel necessary to send my way. In the immortal words of Forrest Gump " tupid is as Stupid does". Just remember The Golden Rule.

#13.1 fat bass tard on 07/08/10 at 05:31 AM

i should have known you were a liberal. you gave yourself away with the "PC racist" comment. stay away, stay FAR AWAY!!

#13.2 Trisha Dabbs on 07/08/10 at 08:26 AM

Again, your participation is appreciated. But know this: many in Pike are not recent transplants and the ones who are speak of how they love it here. In all fairness, you can't expect to run down your experience here and expect it to be taken kindly.
As for your volunteer actions, I can tell you from experience that you needn't wait on lots of applause, 'cause that bus ain't never gonna come.
Spalding County is chock full of great people, but it does have a signficantly higher crime rate than does Pike County. Those of us who shop there do so with prudent caution. For those of us who have lived here awhile, we have witnessed a decline in Spalding we never expected and it hurts to recall the small friendly town it once was. Having watched this downhill trend that doesn't appear to have an end in sight, there is a great fear among those of us who call Pike home that the same ruination could touch us also.
If you had lived through this, you would understand.
I wish you the best as you settle in to Spalding County. Many bedrooms do not a home make.

#13.2.1 WT? on 07/08/10 at 06:43 PM

I lived in Pike for over twenty years before moving to Spalding County. What is the decline you are referring to?
Pike County has one of the worst cases of group think I have ever witnessed.

#13.2.2 Hello on 07/08/10 at 06:44 PM

I lived in Pike for over twenty years before moving to Griffin. What is the decline you are referring to?
Pike County has one of the worst cases of group think I have ever witnessed.

#13.3 BWPike on 09/08/10 at 01:04 PM

Bryan, perhaps people don't use their real names because of the fact that it is so easy to investigate a person by a simple internet search and find out who they really are and contridictions to all their statements. You seem to put yourself way above all the people from Pike Co. and even from Spalding Co. where you now reside (perhaps soon in the big house tho). Anyone can do a simple search of your property address and find how you were attempting to sell drugs by harvesting them on your land.. tax free income which you are obviously not supporting your comunity with. Your house doesnt seem to show as a 6 bedroom on the tax accessors site. And as far as you choosing to live here with your mother, how about the truth which is you were asked to leave the state of Ohio for causing so many problems up there. What kind of job do you hold now? Besides selling drugs to kids? Who supports you and your family? The state? Yeah, thinking of it now, do you know why people don't choose to use their real names? Proud of Pike County and glad we don't have scum like you!You should be ashamed of yourself!

#14 Firefighter Laws on 07/07/10 at 07:11 AM

As long as the Fire Fighters were only going five miles a hour over the speed limit or were driving safely and completely stopping at every red light and stop sign then they were doing the right thing.
There were plenty of other fireworks at other locations if people wanted to go see them.
The Walk for the veterans, well that was a great idea that seemed to be organized later then sooner, it seemed a lot did not know about it till the week of or before.
Who cares how far someone had to walk. I mean I believe these soldiers or families would not complain no matter how far they had to walk if they could still be here.
As far as Pike Being "backwoods" well that is what Pike is about. Good people who love the country and dont always want to be bothered by the hustle and bustle of the busy world all the time.
Some things will not improve in Pike unless more corporations or subdivisions are brought in and well I dont think the majority of Pike People want this so they will live in this country atmosphere and would rather it stay that way.
Bringing in all that stuff will bring in lots more congestion and Crime.

#15 LCff on 07/07/10 at 11:35 AM

Yes full time paid Lamar County firefighters with the fire house "Lamar County". The idea of 9 or 12 firefighters staying at the station 24/7? Open in 2011. See you next year.

Tell Pike County fire chief Danny Henderson? Well said. Fire departments that you have pets that may be in need being rescued? And Tot finder? children? or The firefighters save 3 or 4 minutes. Think about it?

#15.1 Concord Resident on 07/07/10 at 12:31 PM

If you would make sense, people could tell if they agree or disagree with you. Those disjointed thoughts aren't doing you a bit of good in getting any kind of point across.

#15.1.1 LCff on 07/07/10 at 10:02 PM

New fire station. Need full time paid firefighters with the fire house "Lamar County"? Lamar County fire chief said yes. We can go on 9 or 12. The idea of 9 or 12 firefighters staying at the station 24/7. Can you tell fire chief Danny Henderson.

#16 Mr Republican on 07/11/10 at 04:41 PM

The thing everyone is missing is THE FIRE DEPT WAS THERE IN MINUTES.Has anyone saw the you tube video of the bulk of the pike fire dept flying threw the square .That much fire fighting equiptment ,,,,on the scene in minutes ,,,,the fire was only in one room ,,,,45 min later THE FREAKING HOUSE BURNED TO THE GROUND.All I saw was total lack of leadership and comptance.And people say well it's a volunteer fire dept ,,,Well if they are gona fight fires like this we are better off with out one.Pike handled it like they always do .Big GOV and nothing but a bunch of DUMB ASSES to run the place .

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