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ELECTION RESULTS
Find out the results of the local District Attorney’s
race online at pikecountygeorgia.com after
the polls close on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
E COUNTY
JOURNAL REPORTER
ONE DOLLAR
www.pikecountygeorgia.com
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021
PIKE'S PEEK
Dad Daughter
Dance set for
Feb. 13
Life Springs United
Methodist Church will
host a Daddy Daughter
Dance for girls 12 and
under on Saturday,
Feb. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The Daddy Daughter
Dance is primarily for
girls 12 and under, but
all are welcome. The
cost is $10 per ticket
and that includes
tiaras for the daugh
ters, snacks, games
and visits from real
Disney princesses.
Tickets for the Daddy
Daughter Dance can be
purchased the day of
or on the Life Springs
website at LifeSpring-
sPike.org.
Deaths from
COVID-19 rise
to 19 in Pike
Pike County has lost
another resident to
COVID-19 with the 19th
victim confirmed as
of press time Monday.
There have been 86
confirmed cases in the
past two weeks, com
pared to 93 for the pre
vious two-week period.
There have been a
total of 924 confirmed
cases since March with
19 deaths, 10 probable
deaths and 60 hospital
izations.
Of the 19 confirmed
victims of the corona-
virus, the average age
was 70, the youngest
was a 42-year-old male
and the oldest was
listed as 90+ years old
on the Georgia Depart
ment of Public Health
website at dph.georgia.
gov/covid-19-daily-
status-report.
See TROOPER page 3A
PHOTOS BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
Above, Shayley Jones and Skyler Conkle sign a poster in
Jamori’s memory at Pike County High School. At right, Jamori
Williams was well loved at school, in his community and by
family and friends. A benefit fund has been set up at United
Bank and donations may be made at any branch location.
Community mourns, remembers Jamori
SPECIAL PHOTOS
At left, a table by the trophy case at PCHS was completely
covered in flowers in memory of Jamori. At right, Jamori
Williams in his Class of 2021 graduation photo.
BY RACHEL McDANIEL
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
A tragic accident took
the life of 17-year-old
Jamori Williams on the
evening of Tuesday, Feb.
2. Around 6:20 p.m. that
evening, Pike County
Sheriff’s Office deputies
responded to the Fourth
Street home in Concord
where the accident hap
pened inside the house.
Jamori was transported
for medical treatment
but unfortunately suc
cumbed to his injuries.
A firearm was dropped
in an adjacent room and
it discharged when it
hit the floor, traveling
through the wall at an
upwards trajectory and
striking Jamori.
“This was a tragic ac
cident and our thoughts
and prayers go out to
the family and all those
involved,” said Maj.
David Neal, investigator
with the Pike County
Sheriff’s Office.
A benefit fund was
set up at the Williamson
United Bank and dona
tions to help with ex
penses may be made at
all United Bank branches.
Jamori, known by his
classmates as Mari, was
a senior of the Class of
2021 at Pike County High
School and students
mourned his untimely
death, gathering outside
to remember him and
pray for his family the
day after the accident.
Students at the high
school, middle school
and elementary school
wore Jamori’s favorite
basketball team’s colors
- blue and gold for the
Golden State Warriors
- on Friday. During his
high school years, Jamo
ri had been a basketball
player, FFA member
and was a PCHS Pirate
through and through.
“Jamori was a great
kid, with a smile you’ll
never forget. He was
always in a great mood,
and brightened every
one’s day. Jamori will be
missed but not forgot
ten. The class of 2021
will not be the same
without you and your
smile,” said PCHS princi
pal Kevin Huffstetler.
Pike County High School students wore blue and gold in memory of Jamori Williams as did students at the elementary school.
PCHS graduation is Sunday,
May 30 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Big news for seniors at Pike
County High School was an
nounced Friday as the school
revealed graduation ceremo
nies will be held Sunday, May
30 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
starting at 8 p.m.
The Class of 202 l’s top stu
dents were announced as well
as Caitlyn Foster earned the
honor of being valedictorian
and Davis Huber will be salu-
tatorian. All Honor Graduates
were recognized as well and
thanked for all their hard work.
“Just because you are Honor
Graduates doesn’t mean you
took the easiest course load to
get good grades,” said PCHS
principal Kevin Huffstetler
who noted they were also the
students with the best AP test
grades and students who are
dual enrolled in college as well.
“You are the ones who make
Pike County High School such
high academic achievers.”
Teacher Laura Douglas an
nounced the students voted as
Mr. and Ms. Pike County High
School (PiCoHi).
PHOTOW BY RACHEL McDANIEL
Above, Alexis Patterson was named
Ms. PiCoHi and John Lovett (right)
was named Mr. PiCoHi.
At right, Caitlyn Foster (left) will be
the Class of 2021 valedictorian and
Davis Huber (right) will be the Class
of 2021 salutatorian.
Mr. PiCoHi for the Class of
2021 will be John Lovett and
Ms. PiCoHi for the Class of 2021
will be Alexis Patterson. The
students to earn this honor
must display outstanding citi
zenship, attitude, academics,
service, leadership and sports
manship.
Trooper
cleared
SPECIAL PHOTO
Adam Salter of Pike was one
of 32 GSP troopers recently
cleared and recertified after
POST reversed the decision
of an investigation, showing
the troopers were told by
instructors that they could use
electronic devices and work
together on the radar gun test.
GSP 106th
reinstated
A Pike County man
was among nearly an
entire class of Georgia
State Patrol troopers that
was cleared after a Janu
ary 2020 investigation
resulted in their POST
decertification and the
subsequent firing of the
troopers already hired.
Before the investiga
tion was completed, the
newly graduated troop
ers of the 106th trooper
class were assigned to
several posts throughout
the state. Adam Salter of
Pike County, who was as
signed to GSP Post 26 in
Thomaston, was termi
nated.
The Peace Officer
Standards and Training
Council, which over
sees the certification of
every state and local law
enforcement officer in
Georgia, cleared all but
one member of the Geor
gia State PatroFs 106th
trooper class accused
of cheating during their
training. The trooper
who actually cheated
submitted his resignation
and the other 32 were
fired after an internal
investigation determined
they had passed an unsu
pervised speed detection
exam with help. The 2019
training academy mem
bers reportedly cheated
on the radar gun test.
The POST executive
director Mike Ayers said
the consistency of the
cadets’ story helped
confirm they were telling
the truth since they were
all adamant that they
had been told by instruc
tor that they could use
computers and electronic
devices and consult with
one another on the test.
Of the 32 troopers
wrongfully accused, 28
have filed whistleblower
lawsuits against the agen
cy according to attorney
Jeff Peil who represents
two of the clients.
“It appears those in
charge didn’t want to
take the blame and put it
all back on the cadets,”
Peil said.
One of the fired cadets,
Daniel Cordell, said he
thinks the academy was
saving face since the class
president and a squad
leader of the 106th troop
er class had already failed
the test and it would be
an embarrassment to the
instructors if the rest of
them didn’t pass.
See TROOPER page 3A
