Entries by Walter Geiger

School officials confirmed a teacher had inappropriate contact with a student.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Duncan released this statement:

On Saturday May 20, a Pike County High School teacher reported to District Officials that they witnessed a male teacher engaged in inappropriate contact with a female student. As a result of the District investigation, the employee is on administrative leave pending a termination hearing. The School District is cooperating with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department to uncover the full extent of the relationship. [Full story »] 

A 41-year-old Williamson teacher has been arrested on multiple charges in connection with an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a ninth grade student at Griffin High School.

[Full story »] 

Nathan Enders, Laura Enders and two of their small children were killed in a plane crash in Williston, Florida around 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16. The family had moved to the Eagle’s Landing subdivision in 2016.
[Full story »] 

An incident at the City of Griffin's wastewater tratment plant Wednesday afternoon led to the accidental discharge of 42,600 gallons of untreated wastewater into Potato Creek.

From the plant, Potato Creek flows south into Lamar and Pike counties. [Full story »] 

Gregory R. Bell, 61, died Tuesday at Grady Memorial Hospital from injuries he received in a horrific fire at his home on Bowen Road in Milner on the Lamar-Pike County line March 6.

Mr. Bell was born September 6, 1955 in Rome, Ga. to the late Charles L. Bell and Emmie Tucker Bell of Centre, Al.

Mr. Bell was an Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles L. and Emmie Tucker Bell, and by his brother Judson Phillip Bell of Trenton, Ga.

Mr. Bell is survived by his children: Charles (Sandra) Bell and Karina (Phillip) Bell; Grandson: Mailo Bell; siblings: Bernice Orell Estes of Cedar Bluff, Al., Gerald “Bo” (Judy) Bell of Milner, Charlene (David) Maddox of Centre, Al., and Pam (Billy Joe) Shelton of Ball Play, Al.; and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Bell will be held at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Perry Funeral Home which is located at 1611 East Bypass, Centre, Al. 35960 with Interment to be held at Cherokee Memory Gardens, Centre, Al.

Pike and multiple other counties are now under a tornado watch that was issued at noon. The watch period continues until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A line of strong storms is approaching the area with high winds, heavy rains and lightning forecast.

Stay alert.

Candler Field principal Ron Alexander and an unidentifed Federal Aviation Administration official were killed Thursday evening in a small plane crash near the airport in Williamson. The plane, a Curtiss Jenny, burst into flames upon impact. First responders rushed to the scene but could not save the two onboard.

The plane experienced trouble on takeoff. It appeared the pilot tried to put it down in a pasture but it crashed into a wooded area, according to Bill Taylor of WKEU.

More to follow...

As word was breaking that the FBI was reopening its invesitigation into Hillary Clinton's e-mail scandal, Donald Trump Jr. spoke to a packed house Friday at the 1100-seat sanctuary at Rock Springs Church in Milner.

The event opened with a rousing invocation by Pastor Mark Burns that brought the flag-waving throng to its feet.

Trump Jr. noted he had been brought up to work and can drive a D9 Caterpillar. "My Dad doesn't need this job. He is taking the stones thrown at him and the arrows launched at him because he loves this country and wants to take it back from the politicians," he said.

Dr. Benny Tate agreed. "Poly means many and a tick is a blood-sucking insect. We need to take our country back," he added.

After his remarks, Trump Jr. waded into the crowd, greeting well wishers and taking selfies. He then posed with the Rock Springs Academy Chorus for photos and exchanged high fives with the young performers who sang the National Anthem.

Spalding sheriff Wendell Beam has released artist sketches of two suspects in a teen predator incident that occurred September 9.

A youg female said two men in the truck began following her as she drove along Hamil Road in eastern Spalding County about 7:45 a.m. It continued to follow her along East McIntsoh Road to Old Atlanta Road. When she stopped at a traffic light, the driver of the truck got out and tried to open the door of the female's vehicle.

She drove west on McIntosh Road but, at a second stop light, the driver of the truck approached her vehicle a second time with a gun in his hand. The female finally stopped at a church and the truck drove west on Hwy. 92.

The suspect driver is a white male in his 20s. He is tall and slender and has dark brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. The passenger in the truck was also a white male in his 20s. He is heavyset with strawberry colored hair.

The truck is white, possibly a Ford Ranger, with black bumpers, chrome wheels and a black toolbox in the back.

If you have any information on this truck or those in it, call the Spalding S.O. CID at 770-467-4282 or 911.

Spalding sheriff Wendell Beam has issued a lookout for the truck pictured herewith with regard to a possible teen predator incident that occurred September 9.

A youg female said two men in the truck began following her as she drove along Hamil Road in eastern Spalding County about 7:45 a.m. It continued to follow her along East McIntsoh Road to Old Atlanta Road. When she stopped at a traffic light, the driver of the truck got out and tried to open the door of the female's vehicle.

She drove west on McIntosh Road but, at a second stop light, the driver of the truck approached her vehicle a second time with what looked like a gun in his hand. The female finally stopped at a church and the truck drove west on Hwy. 92.

The suspect driver is a white male in his 20s. He is tall and slender and has dark brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. The passenger in the truck was also a white male in his 20s. He is heavyset with strawberry colored hair.

The truck is white, possibly a Ford Ranger, with black bumpers, chrome wheels and a black toolbox in the back.

If you have any information on this truck or those in it, call the Spalding S.O. CID at 770-467-4282

Skeletal remains thought to be that of a Marine veteran missing from Henry County since May have been found in Upson County.
[Full story »] 

Benefactor:
Scouts, community honor Life Springs founder Julian Danielly.

Be there or...:
Buttermilk Ball set for October 8; tickets on sale now.

Back door:
New entrance road to high school being constructed.

Terry Kay:
Acclaimed author to visit Pike County September 24.

Molena:
Council discusses budget, water bill complaints.

Election:
No candidate for one post so qualifying reopens Aug. 29-31 in Molena.

Welcome back:
Schools back in session in Pike County after summer break.

Bash:
Back to school event assists families, pre-K program.

Appreciation:
Local woman's grandchildren reach out to thank law enforcement officers.

Football:
Pirates fall 31-14 to Ola; next game is September 2 at Monticello.

On Friday, August 19, 2016 United Bank announced it entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC to assume all deposits and approximately $17.8 million in assets of the Woodbury Banking Company based in Woodbury, Georgia. United Bank purchased both insured and uninsured deposits and therefore all Woodbury Banking Company depositor accounts will be honored in full. The Woodbury Banking Company location will open as normal on Saturday, August 20 at its regular times and customers will be able to conduct business as usual. [Full story »]