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Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, July 21, 2021 PHOTOS COORTESY OF THE J. JOEL EDWARDS POBLIC LIBRARY Summer reading club participants had the chance to ride a unicorn during a recent program, including Brynnley Proctor (right). The special unicorn was visiting from Perfect Pony Parties of Concord. Unicorns visit summer reading club at Zebulon City Park The J. Joel Edwards Public Library has created a magical Summer Reading Club experi ence for local students as they hold weekly programs for all age students. Each Thursday in June and July students 6 through 12 have met at 1 p.m. at the Zebulon City Park to enjoy dif ferent programs from chickens to unicorns and everything in between. Perfect Pony Parties of Concord recently brought unicorns to the park for the children to learn about and get to ride on. Children (0-12) and teens (13-18) can participate by go ing to frrls.beanstack.com on a computer or smartphone and registering, then logging the hours they spend reading in June and July. Molena council thanks retiring police chief; talks internet access BY DWAIN W. PENN dwain@pikecountygeorgia.com Molena police chief Novin Darsey presented his last monthly report at the July 12 council meeting. Topics included a written list of calls and citations plus a mention of a July 11 structure fire. In closing, Darsey offi cially tendered notice of retirement to council. “It’s time to start a new chapter,” said Darsey. “I’m retiring as chief effec tive July 30. I’ve enjoyed it. Councils and mayors were great. I worked with a good group of guys who had my back. They offered backup and un conditional support when needed.” Darsey introduced council to officer Matt Polk of the Zebulon police department as a potential candidate for chief or in terim chief. Polk has drug investigation experience plus C1D background. Council thanked Darsey for his service. They want to expedite the process to find a re placement before Darsey leaves the department. David Stewart, the “go to IT guy” in Pike County, was invited to follow Darsey and share current progress, plans and solu tions for viable internet service growth in Molena. “We have established a backbone of the back haul,” said Stewart. “And with a core network of nine folks, the potential is high for new customers.” “There are differ ent signals at different points,” he explained. “We found a good signal north along GA 18 toward Concord in a promising area of service, a good community with a high residential density.” “We are leaving no area untested - toward 109, down 18, off Jones Road, even on Glenn Beckham’s property. Due to inter est, we’re shooting down GA 18 toward Dunn’s Street at the Molena Food Mart.” “I spoke with the own er of the mart about using his sign to boost service, but he plans to install a new sign. So we will try to utilize the highest point on that property.” Solutions proposed by Stewart include the use of ham radio towers preva lent in the area, 40-foot telephone poles at a cost of $400 each, and an ex isting tower off of GA 18 north of Molena. Unlike the existing towers, the telephone poles have the benefit of being installed where the best and stron gest signals are. Stewart is offering free WIFI service for the pavilion at a nominal cost of $250 for equipment. The upgrade will make the venue more appeal ing for a variety of local events and be something that can be touted on the soon-coming city website. COUNCIL ALSO: • Heard repairs are needed at the Georgia Power substation on 109 to reduce interference with wireless communi cations. • Learned one of the Bagwell Street signs is misspelled causing confu sion in locating the sand pit. Pit managers are also requesting a small direc tional sign be posted at the caution light on 18. • Heard the water sys tem filters will be changed out in a few days. • Agreed to make the recent flag retirement ceremony an annual event. A drop-off box or receptacle will be placed at the old jail or city hall to collect worn out flags. • Granted permission for the Molena Civic Club to host a Christmas festival this year with the city joining to support it in 2022. • Heard the domain name for the city website is molenaga.com and should be operational in a few months. • Approved a bid of $3,680 to split water service by installing a second meter on a Spring Road property. • Approved Dyke McMichael as Director of Public Works. • Agreed to contact local cities for an ordi nance governing food trucks for adoption by the city to allow food trucks to operate in Mo lena to provide residents with places to eat. • Approved adjust ments on the current budget. Jim Cody dies after battle with C0VID-19 BY WILL DAVIS publisher@mymcr.net A Forsyth business owner and former Pike County resident died of COV1D over the July 4 weekend at the age of 58. Jim Cody, owner of Interceptor Public Safety Products at 1110 Indian Springs Drive, died at Coliseum Hospital in Macon. Cody started Intercep tor in 1994 in Milner. He wound up partner ing with Mac Brown of Forsyth and they moved the business there in 2005. Interceptor outfits vehicles and other equipment for police and fire departments. Brown said Cody, who was not vacci nated, came down with COV1D about 8 weeks ago. Brown said that Cody had moved from his home in Williamson, Ga. to his second home at Lake Sinclair to recuper ate. But Brown said his family couldn’t get him on the phone at Lake Sinclair and finally had to go get him and take him to the hospital. Cody’s stepson Josh Huff told the Reporter he took Cody to the Coliseum emergency room. He said the doc tor ordered Cody some Ivermectin. But Huff said that the chief medi cal director at Coliseum “slapped the doctor’s hand” and refused to al low it. Huff said he’s not happy about it. “I think doctors are working inside of a political and financial box,” said Huff. Huff not ed studies have shown Ivermectin is helpful for COVID patients but said top officials continue to say there haven’t been enough studies. “There could be a lot more lives saved,” said Huff. Brown said Cody con tinued to worsen and doctors took him off life support on Saturday. Brown said Cody was cremated and said there may be a funeral at a later date. ADVANCED Barnesville Office NOW OPEN!!! 207 A Main St. RQOPIfsj^ g, INTERIORS * Licensed and Insured ‘Guaranteed 678.521 9747 * Insurance Specialist • No Money Up Front www.advancedroofingandinteriors.com We Do So Much More Than Roofing! * Siding/Soffit * Spray Foam Insulation * Gutters * Fencing * Concrete * Painting * Metal Building/ * Roof Cleaning/ Structures Soft Wash Call our live phone lines 24/7 for request of emergency tarps when needed for your roof: 678-521-9747 PHOTOS BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Bob Clark of Meansville stands in B&D Ceramics which was recently sold to his son, Brian Clark. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and evenings by request. CERAMICS: Shop continues legacy FROM PAGE ONE That purchase added the slip production to the ceramics shop. Slip is available for purchase for $5 per gallon. “The slip is being purchased by ceramics shops all over the south east,” Brian said. B&D Ceramics is also in the process of set ting up a mold library to check out and return molds without having to purchase them. “Someone told me ‘no one’s ever done that before,’ and I said, ‘Well, there’s never been a Bob Clark before,” he said. B&D Ceramics now has around 15,000 molds in their library that they have gathered since the 1970’s and are adding others constantly. “You can find just about anything here in our library,” Bob said. “There’s something for everyone to create, paint and enjoy for years and years.” Churches and other groups are welcome to come do crafts and there are projects starting from 50 cents and up. The ceramics shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday. Classes are available upon request and bisque, greenware and slip are available and items can be fired for a small fee. Slip purchases can be made by calling Brian at 678-603-3718. Set up an appointment with Tina at 404-625-1820 to create ceramic pieces in the evenings. With more than 16,000 molds, there is something for every group or interest at B&D Ceramics in Meansville. The ceramics shop has been in existence since 1945 when it started in Nebraska.