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COVID closes schools again The explosion of new COVID cases here put Lamar County in the national news spotlight over the weekend and shut down the public school system for 17 days. Lamar’s rapid case growth, one of the worst in the country, made NBC’s national news broadcast over the week end. School superintendent Dr. Jute Wilson announced a “two week pause” for schools Friday afternoon. Schools will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 7 with a four-day school week as was in place last year. The system will offer a virtual option through fall break then reevaluate the situation. The situation in the schools had become untenable. “Between positive cases and quarantines, we were unable to cover bus routes. Our kitchen staff was incomplete and we could not properly supervise all classrooms. Our food sup ply was also impacted. As of Friday, we had 36 staff mem bers out and daily student absences were exceeding 600,” Wilson said. Lamar recorded three COVID deaths last week, those of a 53-year-old black male, a 48-year-old black male and a white female over age 90. On Aug. 1, Lamar had 1428 positive cases, 48 deaths and 135 hospitalizations. As of Friday, Aug. 20, Lamar had recorded 1752 cases, 51 deaths and 141 hospitalizations. Lamar ranks among the low est counties in Georgia in vac cination rate at 28%. However, that situation is slowly im proving. As of Friday, 33% had received their first dose of the vaccine and a few have started getting a third, booster shot. (Note: The DPH no longer updates its COVID statistics on weekends so Friday’s numbers are the latest available.) Tuesday, August 24,2021 barnesville.com ID Barnesville, Ga. 30204 HERE’S THE SCOOP Animal shelter hits another snag WALTER GEIGER news@barnesville.com The long awaited Lamar County animal shelter project hit yet an other snag Aug. 17, when the county commission unanimously rejected the lone bid from an archi tect to design it. Precision Planning entered a design bid of $82,340 and estimated the build out would cost more than $1 million. The shelter is the last remaining project on the list for current SPLOST funding in the amount of $250,000. “We can’t put that much money into the design and get it built,” chairman Charles Glass said. Citing the Boys & Girls Club project, com missioner Ryran Traylor said the commission would have to be more creative in finding ways to get the job done. Meanwhile, the shelter and its supporters, who have been raising funds for years, hang in limbo. Subscribe. Your name goes on the label in this box Cop shooter Gordy gets hard time WALTER GEIGER news@barnesville.com A 38-year-old Milner man who ambushed Lamar deputy Justyn Weaver in Milner last August will grow old in prison after being sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison by Judge Bill Fears Aug. 19. Donald Chandler Gordy pleaded guilty to multiple counts from the shooting inci dent and a prior drug arrest in which he tangled with deputies. Those counts included aggra vated assault on a peace officer, two counts possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, interference with government property, criminal damage to property, possession of meth and possession of drug related objects. Gordy also faces three years probation upon his release from prison. The sentencing hear ing was conducted in front of a contingent of 3540 law enforce ment officers there to support Weaver. According to assistant dis trict attorney Wayne Jernigan, the events that led up to Gordy ambushing Weav er on August 8, 2020 began when Gordy spotted his wife and children at the home of Dennis Armstrong at 102 Moore St. in Milner. Gordy became irate and demanded Armstrong return a rifle and a hedge trimmer. Later Gordy arrived at his in-laws’ house at 109 Moore St. and a domestic disturbance erupted. “Mr. Gordy was loud, hostile and making threats,” Jernigan said which resulted in a call to the sheriff’s office. Weaver responded. Gordy slipped into a wooded area after leaving his truck at the in-laws’ home. “Some very helpful neighbors spotted him and pointed Weaver in his direction. Weaver spotted Gordy and was reaching for his radio. Before he could get the microphone to his mouth, Gordy fired five 12 gauge shotgun rounds at him,” Jernigan continued. The shells were #4 turkey shot. The first round hit Weaver in the face and he dove to the passenger seat to try to get out. The second hit his elbow. “Dep. Weaver got out of the car. He was bleeding profusely. He couldn’t see out of one eye. He walked away but gathered himself, turned around, drew his weapon and got back in the fight,” Jernigan said. By that time, however, Gordy had fled. Neighbors ran to the aid of Weaver who was life flighted to a trauma center. “It was a miracle he survived,” Jernigan said. The five shots were fired from a pump shotgun at a range of 10-15 feet. Gordy was arrest ed early the next day 150 miles away in Alabama. In his car, officers found two shotguns, three knives and a quantity of ammunition, Jernigan said. In the interim, a search war rant was executed at Gordy’s home and shells matching SEE GORDY SENTENCED 4A THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER Wounded deputy gives emotional statement Dep. Justyn Weaver (at lectern) was overcome by emotion Aug. 19 as he gave a victim impact statement at a sentencing hearing for Donald Chandler Gordy who shot him in the face with a shotgun last summer. Looking on are (l-r) defense attorney Nicholas White, Gordy, Capt. Ron Buchanan, Sgt. Kathryn Knapp and lead prosecutor Wayne Jernigan. Prayer service Thursday The Lamar County Chris tian Ministerial Association will host a community prayer service Thursday at Sum mers Field Park. The event begins at 7 p.m. All are invited to bring a chair and join in pray ing for medical providers, educators, school personnel, students, first responders, businesses leaders, law en forcement, church congrega tions and those impacted by C OVID-19. A prayer net will be in place and attendees are in vited to bring a piece of cloth to tie to it, signifying our connection to one another. Prayer net greeting cards will be free to those who wish to send a loving note to some one else. “This is a stressful time and we need to draw close as a family of God to ask His blessing on our commu nity. Prayer is powerful. It strengthens and unites us,” Rev. Cyndi McDonald of First United Methodist Church said. Pastor Greg Burrell of First Baptist Church is also com mitted to the prayer event. “This community, this nation and this world need prayer,” Burrell said. Both McDonald and Burrell will help lead the service along with Peter Banks, Charles Glass, Tim Turner, Miles William, Dr. Jeff Mor gan, Rev. Nancy Dadd, Pastor Jett Davis and Rev. Jimmy Lyons. The county commission voted unanimously to purchase the old Fred’s building (above). County to buy Fred’s building WALTER GEIGER news@bamesville.com The Lamar County commis sion voted unanimously Aug. 17 to proceed with the pur chase of the old Fred’s building on Veterans Parkway for the county’s use. The building sits on 6.72 acres and is owned by Barnesville Perlmix. The 22,222 square foot facility was offered to the county for $1,333,320 or $60 per square foot. No purchase price was mentioned during the discussion at the meeting, however. Some 6,000 square feet of the building is currently oc cupied by American Pie, 1st Franklin Financial and Georgia Roots Boutique. Those three tenants pay about $50,000 per year in rent. The remaining 16,222 square feet was left vacant when Fred’s folded its tent three years ago. The county discussed renovating that por tion at a projected cost of $75 per square foot or $1,216,650 earlier this year. Discussion has included the building housing the county’s administrative offices and meeting room, the elections board (and election equipment storage), the tax assessors office, the tax commissioner’s office, the planning and devel opment office and the county extension office. ©2021 THE HERALD GAZETTE, BARNESVILLE, LAMAR COUNTY, GA 30204, 770.358.NEWS