Entries by Walter Geiger

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

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.