Newspaper Page Text
HEAVY
Pirates football players compete
in weightlifting, combine.
See page 7 A
PIKE
TRACK STARS SIGN
PCHS track standouts Tayla Moreland and
Taylor Hampton sign Division 1 scholarships.
See page 7A
COUNTY
JOURNAL REPORTER
ONE DOLLAR
www.pikecountygeorgia.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021
Heroes save
driver from
burning car
An early morning ve
hicle accident on May
27 on Reidsboro Road
resulted in the driver
being unable to get
out of the car as the
vehicle caught on fire.
“Fortunately for the
driver, two of her fellow
Pike County citizens
happened upon the
accident scene. George
Smith and Ronald Boes
didn’t hesitate to come
to the aid of the driver,
Shelby Hatchett, and
were able to get a door
open to get her out of
the car,” said Maj. David
Neal of the Pike County
Sheriff’s Office. “If not
for the heroic actions
of these two men this
incident could have had
a devastating outcome.”
The accident was
a result of the vehicle
swerving to avoid
a deer which then
caused her to leave
the roadway and strike
a brick sign. Hatchett
was transported to the
hospital for treatment
of her injuries.
Qualifying for
Molena seats
is June 7-9
The city of Molena
will hold a special elec
tion Tuesday, Sept.
21 for vacant council
posts 3 and 4 and citi
zens can qualify for the
seats starting Monday,
June 7 through Wednes
day, June 9 from 8:30
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Quali
fying will take place at
Molena City Hall, 10
Spring Road. The quali
fying fee is $9.
The last day for a
person to register and
be eligible to vote in
the September Special
Election and Runoff
Election is Aug. 23.
PHOTOS BY LAURA YORK
JaBahri Pinkney and Logan Totten celebrate together prior to walking through the Pike County
Primary School hallways as young students cheered on the Class of 2021.
Congrats
Students at the pri
mary, elementary and
middle schools cheered
on members of the Class
of 2021 during the recent
Senior Walks. The stu
dents clapped,cheered
and some even had
posters and pom poms to
celebrate the seniors.
At right, Kayli Rich is among
the many seniors honored.
Below, Layna Garrett cel
ebrates as primary school
students cheer.
to the Class of2021
Summer reading
programs underway
The J. Joel Edwards
Public Library is ready
to get wild on another
fun-filled
summer
read
ing
pro
gram,
follow
ing the
national
theme Tails and Tales.
Throughout June and
July, the library will be
hosting various pro
grams to accommodate
all ages, from toddlers
to adults.
Children (0-12) and
teens (13-18) are invited
to participate in logging
each hour read through
out June and July by ac
cessing frrls.beanstack.
com on a computer
or smartphone - this
means that readers can
participate from any
where. The first step will
be to register and then
participants will be able
to select the chal
lenge they want
to join
based on
their age
group.
Chil
dren and
teens
who join a
challenge will log their
hours in the online
platform, earn virtual
badges for every five
hours read and win
prizes every 10 hours.
Once 10, 20 or 30 hours
have been logged,
participants can stop
by the library to pick
up their prize. Paper
reading logs will also be
available to those who
wish to participate of
fline and can be picked
up at the library.
See READING page 2A
County approves
new benefit plan,
planning director
BY RACHEL McDANIEL
news@pikecauntygeorgia.com
Pike County commis
sioners approved the
hiring of a new planning
and development direc
tor and approved new
retirement benefits plan
for county employees
during their May 25
meeting.
Following a closed
session to discuss the
director’s job vacancy
at Pike County plan
ning and development,
commissioners voted
unanimously to ap
prove the hiring of
Jeremy Gilbert as the
new director. Former
planning and zoning
director Brad Vaughan
was hired as the county
administrator in Meri
wether County.
County manager
Brandon Rogers said
he requested a study
from ACCG on the pos
sibility of upgrading
the county’s retirement
plan from a 457 plan to
a defined benefit plan to
be similar to surround
ing counties’ benefits.
He said the research
shows the plans are af
fordable for the county.
He recommended keep
ing the 457 plan and
adding the benefit plan
with a 4% multiplier
scenario which will cost
the county an estimated
$330,500 the first year
with no contributions
from employees re
quired.
See COUNTY page 2A
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SUBMITTED PHOTOS
A large crowd gathered as Boy Scout William Gray (center) and Williamson mayor Steve Fry cut the ribbon to officially open the RockHammer disc golf course.
Scout project open in Williamson, dedicated to Riley Nuce
William Gray unveiled the
disc golf course he built as his
Eagle Scout project and a crowd
of more than 40 were present as
the course was dedicated to the
late Riley Nuce, a close friend of
his who passed away in March.
Those who spoke prior to the
official opening of the course
included William Gray, William
son mayor Steve Fry, Scoutmas
ter Brad Glass and Craig Jeffery
whose company was the naming
sponsor. His speech was read
aloud as he was at his son’s
graduation.
“Craig decided to name the
course RockHammer because of
the passage from Jeremiah 23:29
that says, ‘Is not my word like
fire, declares the Lord, and like a
hammer that breaks the rock in
pieces?”’ said William.
Mayor Fry stated that there
have been several people both
locally and as far as Fayette
ville who have approached him
about the opening of the course
and expressed their excitement
of having a new course in the
area.
“This course, as a short par 2
course, is uniquely suited to be
enjoyable for everyone by being
‘accessible to people who have
never played’ but also challeng
ing for more experienced disc
golfers,” said Williams. “We had
seven sponsors with multiple
representatives who were in
attendance and were recognized
with certificates and a custom
made disc with the course’s
logo. I also recognized the Nuce
family, who are the family of my
close friend Riley Nuce, who
passed away in March. The
course is dedicated in loving
memory of Riley.”
At right, William Gray built RockHam
mer Disc Golf Course in Williamson
as his Eagle Scout project and dedi
cated it to his late friend Riley Nuce.