Entries by Walter Geiger

The Griffin Bulldog Club will hold its annual gathering July 17 at 6 p.m. at the Stuckey Auditorium on the UGA Griffin campus. Legendary Bulldog quarterback Buck Belue will be the guest speaker. Belue led the Dogs to the nation title in 1980 and is now a broadcaster.

Tickets are $30 which includes a social hour and dinner catered by The Varsity.

For more information, call Hal Peeler at 770-468-3776.

Mr. Kelly Wade Wilson, age 79, of Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on Friday, June 1, 2018 at Brightmoor Hospice.

Kelly was born in Bonaire, Georgia on November 11, 1938 to the late Cornel Lane Wilson and the late Bessie Louis Matthews Wilson. He was preceded in death by his siblings; Margaret Denny, Jean Evans, Frances Ruffin, Jimmie Wilson, and a daughter Kelly Gearman. Wade served in the Navy, owned Wade Wilson Pulpwood Services, and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church. He was an avid golfer, loved gardening, and working. [Full story »] 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, at the request of the state attorney general's office, has opened an investigation into Griffin circuit superior court Judge Mack Crawford, The Journal Reporter has confirmed.
[Full story »] 

A 70-year-old man who fired a shotgun at deputies at 3131 block of Roberts Quarters Road Wednesday has died and the GBI investigation of the event has shown the deputies acted in accordance with all policies, procedures and state law.

On Wednesday, April 4 around 2:30 p.m., Pike County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a 911 call at 3131 Roberts Quarters Road in reference to a man with a gun threatening the caller. The suspect was reported to be pointing a shotgun at the complainant.

The first arriving deputy found the suspect, 70-year-old Grady Parks, to be armed with a shotgun and a handgun. The deputy gave numerous verbal commands for him to put the weapons down to which Mr. Parks refused to comply. A second deputy arrived on scene and attempted to subdue him by deploying a taser which proved to be ineffective.

A struggle ensued between Mr. Parks and a deputy. It was during this time that Parks fired his weapon at deputies. One deputy returned fire, striking Parks twice. EMS was requested and Parks was transported to Spalding Regional Hospital where he subsequently died from his injuries. The deputies were not injured.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office were contacted to complete a thorough and independent investigation of this incident. The initial investigation has shown that deputies acted in accordance with all policies, procedures and state law. Once completed the case will be submitted for review by the District Attorney’s Office. [Full story »] 

The GBI is en route to investigate an officer-involved shooting in the Concord area where a Pike deputy has apparently shot a suspect. Initial reports indicate the man who was shot was threatening a third person with a gun.

Traffic has been cordoned off and portions of Roberts Quarters Road, Powder Creek Road and Motes Road have been closed to traffic. The probe is centered in the 3100 block of Roberts Quarters Rd.

UPDATE FROM GBI: Bahan Rich of GBI public affairs: GBI has been requested to investigate an officer involved shooting in Pike County. Our agents are gathering information at this time. No further details available.

UPDATE FROM PCSO: Pike County Sheriff's Deputies are currently on the scene of a Deputy involved shooting in the 3100 address block of Roberts Quarters Road. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and District Attorneys Office have also arrived at the scene. No Pike County Personnel we're injured during this incident. One suspect has been transported to a local hospital.

More to follow....

A Zebulon teen was killed early Thursday when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a garbage truck.

According to PCSO, Matthew Williams, 18, died in the crash which occurred at 5:58 a.m. on Caldwell Road near Flat Rock Church Road.

The accident remains under investigation.

to you and yours from all of us here at The Journal Reporter and pikecountygeorgia.com.

A group of big-hearted, kind-hearted folks have put together one heck of a prize package for a benefit for Stepping Stones in Griffin. A $50 raffle ticket could win you:

• Eight tickets to the Rose Bowl.
• Luxury Suite at the Ritz Carlton Marina del Ray
• Private charter jet service to and from Pasadena
• Dinner gift certificates in the amount of $3000
• $2500 shopping experience on Rodeo Drive
• 8 black alligator belts

The runner-up and second runner-up also get Rose Bowl tickets among other prizes.

The link to enter is inside this all access post.... [Full story »] 

The Pike County Pirates were at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Decatur Friday to take on the Cedar Grove Saints and lost 28-0 to end their stellar season. Cedar Grove, now 13-0, is ranked #1, undefeated and the reigning state champion.

The Pirates closed their most successful season at 9-4.

Realtime scoring from the sidelines by Walter Geiger:

8:34 2nd qtr.: Saints 14 Pirates 0

HALFTIME: Saints 14 Pirates 0

3:24 3rd qtr.: Saints 20 Pirates 0: Saints 4-yd. TD. PAT failed. KEY PLAY: Saints interception of Pike pass on a fake FG from Saints 20 yard line.

End 3rd qtr.: Saints 20 Pirates 0

4:51 4th qtr.: Saints 28 Pirates 0: Saints 35-yd. TD run. Two-point PAT good.

FINAL: 28-0

San Francisco Giants star pitcher and Pike County native Hunter Strickland will speak Sunday at Rock Springs Church.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

Call 770.229.8663 for more information.

A Pike deputy, tentatively identified as school resource officer Michael Wright who is known as 'Chopper' was badly injured in a collision Wednesday morning.

Initial reports were Wright's patrol car collided with another vehicle, flipped and then hit a tree. A lifelfight helicopter was summoned to the scene near the elementary school.

More to follow....

Adam Dubose (Thomas James Adam Dubose) was born April 16, 1975 and died August 5, 2017. He is greatly missed by his family and friends.

A chaplain, who happened to be assigned to the Pentagon, told of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11.

A daycare facility inside the Pentagon had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs. The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do.

There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the cribs. There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers.

Just then a young Marine came running into the center and asked what they needed. After hearing what the center director was trying to do, he ran back out into the hallway and disappeared. The director thought, "Well, here we are, on our own."

About two minutes later, that Marine returned with 40 other Marines in tow. Each of them grabbed a crib with a child, and the rest started gathering up toddlers. The director and her staff then helped them take all the children out of the center and down toward the park near the Potomac.

Once they got about 3/4 of a mile outside the building, the Marines stopped in the park, and then did a fabulous thing - they formed a circle with the cribs, which were quite sturdy and heavy, like the covered wagons in the Old West.

Inside this circle of cribs, they put the toddlers, to keep them from wandering off. Outside this circle were the 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children and waiting for instructions. There they remained until the parents could be notified and come get their children.

The thought of those Marines, what they did and how fast they reacted shows the American spirit which represents good men (and women) protecting the young just like good Dads do.

Happy Father’s Day!

Mr. Bobby Ray Youngblood, age 81, of Griffin, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2017 at his residence.

Mr. Youngblood was born on August 24, 1935 in Griffin, to the late Charlie Youngblood and the late Dellie Harper Youngblood. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Manderson Youngblood and son, David Youngblood. Mr. Youngblood was a veteran of the U S Army. He served during the Berlin Crisis and was stationed in Germany. He was a member of the Midway United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Tiffany Youngblood; grandsons, Wyatt Youngblood and Levi Youngblood; brother, Gene Youngblood; nephew, Kenny Youngblood and Betty Elder; and faithful companion, Roscoe.

Funeral services for Mr. Bobby Ray Youngblood will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home. Pastor Eddie Jones will officiate. Interment will follow at Midway United Methodist Church Cemetery. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Heritage Funeral Home 1512 Williamson Rd. Griffin, GA 30224 is in charge of arrangements. www.heritagefhgriffin.com