About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2024)
6A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com Wednesday, May 29,2024 Man released on bond in child sex crimes case Barkemeyer By Julia Hansen juliahansen@dawsonnews.com A local man accused of several felonies against an underage victim was recently released on bond after his arrest earlier this month. Justin James-Thomas Barkemeyer, 39, was granted bail of $70,000, stated a May 15 superior court bond order. After his arrest on May 6, Barkemeyer was initially held in Dawson County Sheriff’s Office custody without bond. Barkemeyer allegedly committed the offenses against the victim between March and Christmas 2023, DCSO warrants showed. He has been charged with one count each of incest, rape, aggravated sodomy, solicitation of sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, child molestation and entic ing a child for indecent pur poses. Barkemeyer has been released from DCSO custo dy, according to the agency’s jail roster. As part of his pretrial con ditions, he is staying with an approved person out of state. He also must comply with a range of other conditions such as regular check-ins with pretrial personnel, GPS tracking and no contact with the victim or the victim’s family. The Place to hold summer feeding program for local families By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com This June and July, local nonprofit The Place will hold a summer feeding program to help fill the gaps for local families with students in the Dawson County School System. According to information provided by The Place, the summer feeding program will take place on June 6, 13, 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25. The program is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each of these days and will be set up at Dawson County High School. During the summer feeding program, The Place will offer free food to local families on a first come, first served basis. The available food will include non-per ishable items, produce and snacks. The food will be available for families with students enrolled in the Dawson County School System, and no registration or application is required. For more information about the upcoming summer feeding program, call The Place at 770-887-1098. Photo courtesy of Unsplash ‘Mom kept the homefront going’ Photo submitted to Dawson County News Idilene Janie Pirkle, 87, of Dawsonville died Thursday, May 16, following a period of declining health, according to her obituary from Bearden Funeral Home. Dawsonville s Pirkle family matriarch leaves legacy of love By Julia Hansen juliahansen@dawsonnews.com It’s said that behind every great man, there’s a great woman. Idilene Janie Pirkle, 87, of Dawsonville died Thursday, May 16, following a period of declining health, according to her obituary from Bearden Funeral Home. Idilene was married for 63 years to her husband and local commu nity figure Gordon Pirkle. “Mom kept the homefront going, and dad kept the county going,” said Idilene’s daughter, Hayley Garrett. “She’s been the rock behind my daddy through it all.” Idilene was born on March 16, 1937 in Forsyth County to the late Judge and Effie Bennett. She lived in Dawson County for most of her life, according to her obituary. She also served as the former bookkeeper for Lanier Vending and Dawsonville Pool Room, ran the Corner Cafe and worked at Sweet Orr, the obituary stated. She most enjoyed being a grand mother and grandmother. Her hob bies included reading, crocheting, attending church and “loving on every person that walked through the door.” “Her family believes she gave the best hugs in the county. Her banana pudding was the most sought-after holiday dessert,” the obituary stated. Idilene was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dawson County. She is remembered by her husband, Gordon, children, grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, siblings and extended family members. Vacation Bible School programs are coming up in Dawson Photo courtesy of Unsplash By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com With school out for the summer, it’s the time of year again that local church es start offering Vacation Bible School (VBS) options for children in the com munity. Here are several of the upcom ing VBS programs in Dawson County. New Bethel Baptist Church, 1441 Highway 136 E When is it: June 2-7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. What is it: New Bethel Baptist Church will host its “Shine” themed Vacation Bible School program this June. For more information or to regis ter: https://www.facebook.com/ events/s/new-bethel-vacation-bible-scho /1511254292786149/?mibextid=913rB W&rdid=l 1 LvOIkLLw8 WZqJ7&share_ url=https%3A%2L%2Lwww.facebook. com%2Lshare%2LwnkTlpHbo7s23Wk c%2L%3Lmibextid%3D913rBW Liberty Baptist Church, 280 Liberty Church Road When is it: June 2-7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. What is it: Liberty Baptist Church will host its “Shine” themed Vacation Bible School program this June. For more information or to regis ter: https://www.facebook.eom/events/8 03391727911535/?ref=newsfeed First Baptist Dawsonville, 900 Highway 9 N When is it: June 3-6, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. What is it: As Galactic Starveyors, children will search the skies and God’s work to uncover His truth etched in HIS handiwork. They will discover that God, who created everything there is — the knowable and the unknowable, the visi ble and invisible — wants a relationship with them! For more information or to regis ter: https://www.firstbaptistdawsonville. com/vbs Sweetwater Baptist Church, Sweetwater Church Road When is it: June 3-7, 7 p.m. What is it: Sweetwater Baptist Church will hold its Vacation Bible School this June. For more information or to register: 404-555-5480 Winds of Peace Fellowship, 1550 Harmony Church Road When is it: June 9-14, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. What is it: Every day, our kids are bombarded with questions: Did God really create everything? Why do bad things happen? Was Noah’s ark real? Why do I need to be saved? Can I trust the Bible? At this VBS, your kids will explore the Biblical answers to these questions as they set off on an epic adventure from Genesis to Revelation. Prepare to swing into fun as we head out on the Great Jungle Journey! For more information or to register: https://www.facebook.com/ events/401801689394044?active_ tab=about Harmony Baptist Church, 1575 Harmony Church Road When is it: June 10-14, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. What is it: Join us at Harmony Baptist Church for the BEST week of the year: Vacation Bible School! This year we will be at BREAKER ROCK BEACH learning all about God’s rock-solid truth in a world of shifting sands! VBS is Monday, June 10th through Friday, June 14th, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. All ages are welcome and dinner is served nightly. For more information or to regis ter: https://www.facebook.com/event s/888153883066071/8881538863994 04?event_time_id=88 8153886399404 &ref=newsfeed CrossBridge Community Church, 751 Highway 53 E When is it: June 17-19, 7 to 9 p.m. What is it: Come join us for our 2024 VBS, “Wilderness Escape”! For more information or to regis ter: https://crossbridgedawson. churchcenter.com/registrations/ events/ Lighthouse Baptist Church, 329 Harmony Church Road When is it: June 24-28 What is it: Lighthouse Baptist Church will hold a Vacation Bible School program titled “The Riddle of Eternity”. More details will be announced soon online. For more information or to regis ter: https://www.facebook.com/light- housebaptistchurch
