Entries by Rachel McDaniel

The Pike County Middle School cross country traveled to Americus recently to compete in the first meet of the season, the Furlow Fast Feet Invitational. Both teams crushed their opponents individually and in team efforts. [Full story »] 

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I wrote some of my deepest secrets on a piece of notebook paper, carefully folded the sheet, placed it in an empty Mason jar, and screwed the lid on tight. I then dug a hole about a foot deep out behind my father’s utility house, placed the jar in the hole, and filled the hole with dirt. My plan was to return to it at some unspecified time in the future to see if my fears had come to pass and if my dreams had come true. [Full story »] 

The third annual Reunite Hilltop event is set for Saturday, Sept. 9 with a parade set to start at 9:30 a.m. from Concord City Hall to the Old Mt. Calvary Outreach Center. The Reunite Hilltop event will include a video game truck, inflatables, softball games, a live DJ and food and drinks and will last until 6 p.m. [Full story »] 

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Towaliga circuit district attorney Jonathan Adams has formed a team to launch a cold case investigation into the July 16, 1984 torture and murder of Donna Ogletree Johnson. The new probe got underway in earnest Monday. [Full story »] 

Mr. Roger Dale Maddox, age 66, of Zebulon, passed away September 2, 2017, at Brightmoor Hospice in Griffin. He was born in McDonough, son of the late J. T. Maddox and Mearlena Lee Maddox. He served in the National Guard for eight years. Roger worked for Clayton County Road Department and then the Pike County Road Department. He was also a carpenter. [Full story »] 

Mrs. LaTrelle Jones King, 81, of Thomaston, died Friday, September 1, at her residence.  She was the widow of Dr. James T. King who was a long-time veterinarian in Upson County.  Funeral services for Mrs. King will be held Sunday, September 3, at 2:00 PM, at Trinity Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Barber officiating. The family will receive friends in the church's fellowship hall immediately following the service.  Burial will be at 4:00 PM at Crystal Hill Cemetery. [Full story »] 

Hurricane Harvey devastated areas of Texas with catastrophic and historic levels of flooding, forcing as many as 30,000 families from flooded homes in Houston and surrounding areas. Locals have stepped up to help the thousands of victims by donating much-needed items and traveling to the area to volunteer in shelters. [Full story »] 

Georgina F. Boronkas, age 91, of Williamson, Georgia passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Westbury Medical Care Home. [Full story »] 

Mrs. Connie Reeves York, age 64, of Griffin passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at her residence. [Full story »] 

By Dwain W. Penn

Days after local residents read about Molena council’s approval to cut down a sycamore tree in the heart of the city, resources were pooled to hire an arborist for a second opinion. A modest group attended the Aug. 14 meeting to rescue the tree from the executioner’s saw. Local photographer Nancy McCrary, a descendant of local McCrarys, pled evidence of a healthy tree in a futile attempt to change council’s mind. [Full story »] 

A 1992 Pike County High School graduate and Hollonville native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Weaver IV is a weapons officer with the “Vipers” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48, a Mayport, Florida based squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter and Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and can travel over 120 miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas. [Full story »]