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REFLECTING ON MLR JR., WEIERE WE STAND NOW / 4A Tuesday, February 9,2021 barnesville.com Barnesville, Ga. 30204 HERE’S THE SCOOP COVID-19: Lamar nears 1,200 cases Lamar County had 1,183 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of the Feb. 7 update from DPH. That number is up from 1,147 cases Jan. 31. Lamar has had 83 coronavirus re lated hospitalizations and 33 deaths. As of Monday, sheriff Brad White was tracking 124 positive cases at 108 local residences. Local COVID-19 numbers and those from surrounding counties are updated daily at barnes- ville.com. Freshman Samiya Smith (1) fires off a shot during LC’s 3-1 loss to Harris County in the sleet Saturday afternoon. SEE PAGE 1B Lamar Gives 365 recipients SEE PAGE 4A Subscribe. Your name goes on the label in this box Alleged cop shooter in court Feb. 16 WALTER GEIGER news@barnesville.com A 38-year-old Milner man charged in the violent ambush of a Lamar County deputy last August is due for his first hear ing in superior court before Judge Bill Fears Feb. 16. Donald Chandler Gordy is to be arraigned on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, criminal attempt to com mit a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and criminal damage to property. Dep. Justyn Weaver re sponded to the 100 block of Moore Street in Milner regard ing a suspicious person call at about 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2020. He had been up and down the street several times when Gordy allegedly popped out of the woods and opened fire. Prosecutors say Gordy fired five rounds from a shotgun loaded with #4 turkey loads. He was so close, the wadding from one shell was embedded into Weaver’s patrol car. Gordy fled the scene and was arrested about 3 a.m. Aug. 9 along 1-20 in St. Clair County, Alabama near Birmingham. Weaver, who was hit by multiple pellets in his head and face, was released from an Atlanta hospital Aug. 13 and Donald Gordy appeared in mag istrate court following his arrest last August via videoconference from the Spaldng County jail. received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the sheriff’s office that day. Weaver has since re covered and returned to duty. There are multiple additional cases on the calendar. They include the charges against alleged puppy mill operator Latitia A. Matthews who faces six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 23 counts cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of a dead animal. Her husband John David Matthews faces the same charges. State supreme court chief justice Harold Melton’s latest order clears the way for jury trials to commence in March. That will allow prosecutors and judges to work on the backlog of cases that has built up due to COVID-19. In the interim, some proceedings are done in person and some via videoconference. See the upcoming court cal endar on page 3B. THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER Vaccinations continue as COVID fight drags on Larry Clark of Barnesville was among those getting the COVID-19 vaccination Feb. 3 at the health department’s drive-thru operation at Southern Rivers Energy. The DPH appointment hotline will reopen Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 8 a.m. Call 762.888.8180 to sign up. If you have an appointment and cannot come, please call to cancel so someone else can be found for your dose of the still-precious vaccine. Thus far, 2074 people have been vaccinated here with about 400 having gotten the second shot. About 600 vaccinations are scheduled for this week with the vast majority being second doses. Dad/Daughter dance cancelled COVID-19 claimed another local event last week when First United Methodist Church announced it cannot hold the Dad/Daughter Dance due to coronavirus concerns. The church has hosted the event annually since 2007. The church suggested dads and daughters enjoy a dress up dinner at home and expects the 2022 dance to be the best ever. Gordon football scrimmages Saturday here For the first time in years, football players wearing a Gordon uniform will take to the gridiron Saturday. The Highlander club team will hold its Royal and White intra squad scrimmage at 7 p.m. at Trojan Field. GSC opens the regular season March 6 with a road game at Middle Georgia. Lamar Arts opens ‘Heart of the Community’ Sunday Feb. 14 A unique exhibit of the arts is planned by Lamar Arts to recognize “Heart of the Com munity” by featuring local and area artists of all kinds. The opening is a drop-in reception on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Members of the Lamar Arts Gallery Committee have worked for several weeks to gather art in varying media including paintings, watercol- ors, metalwork, china painting, woodworking, pottery, photog raphy and others. One such work by Andrew Patrick Henry portrays Erik McKinley who delivered mail on Thomaston Street and surrounding areas of Barnesville for many years. The Gallery Committee is composed of Angela Preston, Eleanor Stecker, Bambi Rogers and Pat DeVane Burns. Preston said, “We all agree that there is so much good art in this area, so much talent that has been hidden and unrecognized.” Stecker noted, “It’s been won derful to reconnect with artists that have not ever shown, or not exhibited recently. This is an amazing show - don’t miss it!” Two renowned artists who are deceased will be featured in the show: Virginia Legge and Herb Creecy. Another unique feature of the show will be entries from two Lamar County High School art students, McKenna Strom and Sheldon Brown, courtesy of art teacher Michelle Thaxton. Brown has done highly colorful paintings in a manner resembling collag es; Strom has entered pottery: two vessels and a tribute to her Scottie dog. Art work has been gathered from the region. Artists en tered also include Alan Stecker, Anne Haines, Jo Yancey, Hazel Caldwell, Peter Potter, Patricia Hankins, Charlotte Hankins Weber, Connie Walker, Niall Mathieson, Ted Clements, Eddie Rainey, Pat Devane Burns, Bambi Rogers, Eileen Smith Jackson, Nancy Jackson Thomas, Fred and Kendall Mor ris, Colleen Kiefer, Lee Wood- all, Carol Wubbena (founder of Lamar Arts), Sara Preston, Andrew Patrick Henry, Bob Detamore and Marlin Adams and Melanie Handy. Safety precautions are in effect for the show: masks are required and social distanc ing is encouraged. For more information call the Depot at 770-358-5888 and leave a mes sage, or call LA president Kay Pedrotti at 678-603-7268. Local artist Andrew Patrick Henry portrays Erik McKinley who delivers mail on Thomaston St. and surrounding areas. ©2021 THE HERALD GAZETTE, BARNESVILLE, LAMAR COUNTY, GA 30204, 770.358.NEWS