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EARLY DEADLINE Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the deadline for all classified and legal ads for the next edition is at noon on Thursday, May 27. NEVER FORGET The Journal Reporter staff wishes you a Happy Memorial day to reflect on the sacrifices of all those who lost their lives preserving our nation. PIKE COUNTY jwjRNAL REPORTER ONE DOLLAR www.pikecountygeorgia.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 if PIKE'S PEEK Memorial Day parade, program is May 31 On Monday, May 31, the Post 197 American Legion Family will host the Memorial Day Observance Parade and Program at the courthouse square in Zebulon. The public is invited to attend these special events. The parade will start at 10 a.m., followed by the program. In case of inclement weather, the program will be in the main courtroom. To be in the parade, contact Steven Yerkes at 770- 584-3909. PCHS grads cross stage at AMS May 30 The Class of 2021 at Pike County High School includes 276 students, including three sets of twins - Alexis and Alanis Strickland, Micah and Miriam Martin and Cameron and Logan Wood. The class lost one member - Jamori Williams - through a gun-related accident. “Our school and community have suf fered so many trag edies this year, and our students, faculty and staff were dev astated. This school and community loved and supported one another through the hurt, the pain, and the unknown,” said PCHS principal Kevin Huffstetler. “We all feel blessed to live in such a special place, where everyone is a family. Graduation 2021 will be a special event!” Woman stabbed, According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call from a citizen Friday morning at a house under construc tion on Tanyard Road. The complainant had observed an unknown person inside the house on his surveillance system. Lydell Holmes was located in the attic with a female who was injured. Holmes also lit a blanket on fire, for an unknown reason, while inside the home. After Holmes was taken into custody the extent of the female victim’s injuries became more apparent and emergen cy medical personnel responded to the scene. Several stab wounds were treated by EMS personnel and the victim was air lifted to Atlanta Medical Center. The victim also made rescued statements to depu ties that Holmes had forced her to leave her own residence with him while at knifepoint. Holmes and the vic tim are familiar with one another due to an on going relationship be tween the two of them. Investigators are still working on this case and criminal charges maybe updated due to the findings. Holmes is currently charged with aggravated assault, burglary, possession of a knife during com mission of a crime and arson. CrossPointe Christian Academy valedictorian Katie Blackwell CrossPointe Christian Academy salutatorian Natalie White Pike County High School valedictorian and salutatorian Caitlyn Foster and Davis Huber Class of2021 's top students honored CrossPointe Christian Academy recently announced the Class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian. CCA VALEDICTORIAN Katie Blackwell is the CCA vale dictorian for the Class of 2021 and she has been a student at the school for seven years during which she has been a member of Beta Club, Na tional Honor Society, literary team, quiz bowl team, drama and student council. She has also been a student athlete who competed in archery, soccer, track and cross country. “During my high school years, I’ve enjoyed pursuing goals and seeing them happen successfully,” she said. She plans to attend Mercer Uni versity and pursue a career in biome chanics engineering. She is the daugh ter of Karen and Charles Blackwell. CCA SALUTATORIAN Natalie White is the CCA salutatori an for the Class of 2021. She has been active in the National Honors Society, served as Beta Club secretary and in one act play for drama as well as being on the student council. She also was on the varsity girls soccer team. “During my time at CCA, I’ve enjoyed spending time with friends and growing relationships where 1 least expected,” she said. She plans to attend Baylor Univer sity and major in economics as she pursues a career as an attorney. She is the daughter of Dan and Su san White and the sister of Bethany White and Joshua White. The CCA Class of 2021 includes Katie Blackwell, Natalie White and Vic toria Roberson, all graduating Summa Cum Laude, Aaron Partin graduating Magna Cum Laude, Cade Steele gradu ating Cum Laude, Kurt Holtzclaw grad uating with honors, Jacob Coursey, Enoch Davis and David Kitchens. The Pike County High School Class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian will speak during the commencement exercises set for Sunday, May 30 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. PCHS VALEDICTORIAN Caitlyn Foster is the PCHS valedic torian for the Class of 2021 and she has been active in both academic and athletic teams and clubs during her high school years. She was on the cheerleading team for four years, the swim team for three and she also pole vaulted one year for the track and field team. She was the FFA presi dent for the past two years and was also the founder and vice president of the PCHS Debate Club. She served as the spirit chair for the National Honors Society and was a member of the Science National Honors Society. “The most important thing that 1 had to remember throughout high school is to grow my relationships with my friends, family and God,” she said. “My biggest accomplishment thus far is being recognized as an UCA All-American Cheerleader.” She will attend the University of Georgia this fall and plans to attend law school and have her own law firm one day. She is the daughter of Christy Foster and Bart Foster. PCHS SALUTATORIAN Davis Huber is the PCHS salutato rian for the Class of 2021 and he was active on the school’s tennis team, with theater productions and the Academic Team. He helped the tennis team win the region championship in 2019 and advance to round two of playoffs. He was undefeated in 2020 at 8-0 before the pandemic stopped play after the PCHS team earned the win in the Old Wooden Racket match against Lamar County. See TOP STUDENTS page 3A SPECIAL PHOTO Pictured are Tayla Moreland, Taylor Hampton, Zy Thompson, Yasmin Davis, and Jada Colbert. The PCHS girls track team earned fourth place in the state with two state champions. Track champions The Pike County High School girls track and field team had two students named state champions for the first time since 1982. The girls team also earned fourth place overall at the re cent state meet. See more about the PCHS track and field teams on page 2A. SPECIAL PHOTO American Legion Post 197 will have poppies at Ruth’s Restaurant, McLeRoy Plaza and Freshway on May 28, National Poppy Day. Post 197 honors National Poppy Day on May 28 Honor fallen warriors and contribute to the continuing needs of local veterans on National Poppy Day, May 28 from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at Ruth’s Restaurant, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McLeRoy Plaza and 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Freshway Market when members of American Le gion Auxiliary (ALA) Pike County Unit 197 distrib ute bright red poppies in exchange for a donation. “Wearing the poppy on National Poppy Day and throughout Memorial Day weekend is one small way to honor and remem ber our fallen warriors who willingly served our nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said ALA Pike County Unit 197 Presi dent Peggi Payton. “We must never forget.” See POPPY DAY page 3A PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Chris and Laura Shadrick spearheaded efforts to provide a Little Free Library outside Georgia Military College in Zebulon. City of Zebulon gets Little Free Library The city of Zebulon has a new Little Free Library just outside of the Georgia Military College Zebulon campus at the side of the park. This library is part of the Pike Family Con nection Collaborative’s Pike Literacy Project that began October 2020 in partnership with the Pike County School District. The goal is to promote and enhance Literacy in Pike County. Anyone inter ested in getting involved in the literacy project may contact the Pike Family Connection Collaborative by emailing michael@ connectup.info. This Little Free Library is a true community ef fort and was spearhead ed by the Shadrick family. Laura Shadrick is a mem ber of the Pike Family Connection Collabora tive board of directors, a member of the Pike Lit eracy Project Team, the director of the Georgia Military College Zebulon campus and lifelong Pike County community mem ber. After discussing the literacy project with her husband, Chris, and son, Austin, the family wanted to give back to their com munity, and plans for the library began. See LIBRARY page 3A