Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

2A ®Ijt l)era(ti <©a??tt? Tuesday, September 7,2021 Drive-by shootings FROM PAGE ONE started July 21 when two alleged gang members from Columbus opened fire at Sammie’s on Mill Street. One man suffered minor injuries. Suspects have been identified in that case but not yet ap prehended. The second shooting occurred August 27 when three females, includ ing a nine-year-old girl, were shot on Washington Street. All three have recovered. The alleged shooter in that case, 40-year-old Travis Lael Mercer, was apprehended a short time later. Mercer was originally charged with three counts aggravated assault, four counts of reckless conduct, two counts first degree cruelty to children and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Mercer went back before chief magistrate Paul Kunst Sept. 1 as investigators added more charges including one count of attempted murder, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Mercer got into an argument with India Jackson about driv ing while drinking. He left only to return and open fire with a shotgun. India Jackson, Vicky Jackson and the nine-year-old were hit. All were taken to a Macon trauma cen ter and later released. Mercer remains in the Lamar County jail. His bond totals $115,000. Dawson Cauthen completes FROG Week More than 200 cadets began their time as Uni versity of North Georgia (UNG) cadets with Fresh man Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week from Aug. 15-21, including one student from Lamar County. FROG Week marks the transition from civilian to military life within UNG’s Corps of Cadets. Dawson Cauthen of Barnesville was the local cadet who completed FROG Week. Cadet leaders plan and execute all corps events, including FROG Week, with the oversight of the commandant staff. UNG is one of six senior military colleges in the nation and commissions more than 100 officers into the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserves each year. Cadet Col. Ryan Jones, a senior from Richmond, Virginia, pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies, is the brigade commander who leads the more than 725 cadets enrolled at UNG. He said the knowledge and experiences gained in FROG Week help inte grate the newcomers into the corps. “FROG Week offers us a great opportunity to bring in our new fresh men and build a team with our cadet leaders,” Jones said. “These older cadets give FROGs role models to look up to as they adjust to the leader ship laboratory of the corps.” Shooting suspect Travis Lael Mercer is led into magis trate court September 1 where he was charged with at tempted murder and additional new charges. His bond is now $115,000. Zion Pate, the suspect in a Sept. 2 drive-by shooting on First Street here, is shown in an image taken from social me dia and provided by sheriff Brad White. JULY BUILDING PERMIT The Lamar County Building and Zoning Depart ment issued 39 permits for the month of July 2021. Taylor and Patricia McWilliams, 618 Liberty Hill Rd., in-law suite. Kevin Rich, 315 Reeves Rd., site built. Lee Miller, 212 Fawn Rd., electrical. American Tower, 828 High Falls Rd., High Falls Rd. Thomas Dunn, 439 High Falls Rd., electrical. Robert Zellner, 385 Zellner Rd., electrical. Robert Hill, 434 High Falls Park Rd., electrical. Donald Smith, 372 McLean Rd., accessory building with electrical. Mack and Erin Cook, 1271 Ramah Church Rd., electrical. Roy Cochran, Turner Bridge Rd., electrical. South 20 LLC, 388 Industrial Rd., electrical. Michael Willard, 104 White Oak Dr., swimming pool. Kelles Fleming,187 Howard Rd., accessory building with electrical. Laney Beck, 241 Freeman Rd., electrical. Kimberly Parks, 404 Old Scout Rd., electrical. Mark Hall, Hwy. 36 E., accessory building with electrical. James Murchinson, 626 Liberty Hill Rd., site built. James Murchinson, 626 Liberty Hill Rd., accessory building. Leonard and Martina Gousha, 325 High Falls Rd., deck. Connie and Tommy Davis, 814 Gordon Rd., swim ming pool. Rickie and Joann Middlebrooks, 614 Grove St., manufactured home. Simon France, Brinkley Rd., site built. Doug Barnett, 175 Crane Rd., manufactured home. Jordan Forest, 725 Grove St., industrial building trimmer. Jordan Forest, 725 Grove St., industrial building stacker. Andy Raybon, 192 Bush Rd., electrical. James Daniels Homes, 109 Olivia Lane, Lot 99, site built. James Daniels, Olivia Lane, Lot 97, site built. Roush Enterprises, 300 Chappell Mill Rd., site built. James and Karen English, 303 Wilson Rd., acces sory building with apartment. Michael Adams, Rita Sisco, 141 Mill Pond Ct., swim ming pool. James and Sarah Priskitt, 268 Morgan Dairy Rd., swimming pool. DC4 Holdings, 120 High Falls Park, site built. Pres Pro Homes, Etheridge Mill Rd., site built. DC4 Holdings, 2003 Hwy. 36 E., site built. Wyatt Childs, 1598 Johnstonville Rd., pole barn. Mary Childs, 1668 Johnstonville Rd., site built. Jordan Blacksheer, 462 Trice Rd., electrical. Lester Talley, 257 Burnette Rd., manufactured home. SEPTEMBER 11.2021 GRIFFIN CITY PHRE *BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP * FOOD * DRINKS ★ * LIVE MUSIC * FAMILY ACTIVITIES* +HRTS HND CRUFTS * VEDORS* ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ WWW.DOCHOLLIDfiYFEST.COM r.5j/ssrAe SnA. A. ■ a*®** - 1 v8S- ■. t • The Miss Buggy Days Pageant turday, September 11 th Due to the high number of cases of COVID-19 in our community, we will strongly encourage social distancing and wearing a mask. Admission $5.00 per person (Children under 5 admitted FREE) Free admission for one parent with each contestant All pageant participants will register up front and will be directed to the appropriate age category section in the auditorium. Particiants are to arrive fully dressed and ready for the stage! NO dressing at the Fine Arts Center. No one will be allowed in the back stage area! The Miss Buggy Days Category 17-21 years will not have the “business attire” interview. The interview will be conducted with participants in pageant dress. / Registration/Stage Times Age Group Registration Stage Time 0-35 months 8:00-8:45 9:00 A.M. 3-11 years 11:30-12:15 12:30 P.M. 12- 21 years 1:30-2:45 3:00 P.M. *NO food or drink allowed in the Fine Arts Building. Barnesville Please Contact Krystal Haneline: 678-972-4599 or The Chamber Office: 770-358-5884 for questions and concerns. % Thank you to our Partners: Diamond Partner: Unitedtank Emerald Partners: FARM BUREAU Ruby Partners: Southern fivers Energy' tk. Georgia Power REOMONTtiREENPCWER