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Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3B
Local couple ties the knot at fly-in wedding in Pike County
BY CAVLA MCLEOD
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
After four and a half
years of weekly airplane-
side dinner dates, one
in-flight prom proposal and
hundreds of sunset flights,
Parker Thaxton, 23, and
Georgia Hanson, 21, tied the
knot at their fly-in wedding
at Eagles Landing, a private
airpark community in Wil
liamson, in October.
Thaxton arrived in style
in his family’s polished
Cessna 170. His grooms
men followed, flying a
Stinson 108, a Cessna 185,
an Aeronca Champ, and
a Cessna 172. Once they
chocked their aircraft, the
groomsmen walked from
the grass runway to the
wooded ceremony site, with
ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed
Man playing in the back
ground.
The bride, who arrived at
the ceremony site in a 1930s
Chevrolet truck, said, “Since
Parker and 1 first started
dating, I always knew our
wedding had to be at an
airport... not to mention it’s
just awesome to fly in and
out of your own wedding.”
Following their “1 do’s,”
the newlyweds socialized
with guests and ate pizza
before hopping in their get
away vehicle — the Cessna
170 — before the sun set
(driving back later for their
hangar reception).
“The 170 is like a part of
the family,” the groom said.
“We had to include it in the
wedding.”
PHOTOS BY CRISTA STUBBS PHOTOGRAPHY
Above, newly married Parker Thaxton and Georgia Hanson Thaxton are cheered as they depart from their fly-in wedding at Eagles Landing in Williamson.
PHOTOS BY CRISTA STUBBS PHOTOGRAPHY
Above, Georgia and Parker Thaxton taxi in a Cessna 170 as they leave
their fly-in wedding and (right) cut their cake together at the reception.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Billy McDowell (left) and Trint Gill with the three awards
earned at the 31 st Annual National Martial Arts Champion
ship IKC-ASKL in Columbus, Ga. on Sept. 11, 2021.
Trint Gill earns top spots at
Martial Arts Championship
Trint Gill of Pike
County competed in the
31st Annual National
Martial Arts Champion
ship IKC-ASKL in Co
lumbus, Ga on Sept. 11,
2021. He was awarded
first place in fighting,
first place in weapons
and fourth place in
forms. He is a student at
Billy D’s Karate Studio.
Williamson discusses water system upgrades
BY DWAIN W. PENN
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
For several years the
city of Williamson has
been proactive in solving
problems with low water
pressure in certain areas
with modest success. At
the October 7 meeting of
council, mayor Steve Fry
supported the importance
of a permanent solution
through an upgrade of the
system and correlated the
urgency of need to expand
the next county SPLOST
to benefit most of Pike’s
municipalities.
“1 have conferred
with Carter & Sloope,
water superintendent
Scott Huckaby, the city
of Griffin and the state
for needs and resources
for our area,” said Fry.
“When a hydrant is
opened, water pres
sure goes down in that
area. The problem is the
six inch main line that
serves the city along
with other old lines and
valves. There is no main
trunk line running down
362.”
“Carter & Sloope
suggests using a smaller
line, but 1 think a ten
inch main trunk on the
north side of the highway
would be better. Feed it
straight into the AirPark
pit and lay periphery
lines with new valves,
consolidating lines, get
ting rid of those outdated
blue water pipes which
are failing.”
The estimated cost
of the upgrade will be
$850,000. To pay for the
improvement, Fry sug
gests using part of the
ARPA funds and apply
ing for a grant offering
$100,000 in matching
funds which should guar
antee appeal and approv
al as a grant proposal.
Fry has been attending
recent SPLOST meet
ings trying to convince
the county to add water
infrastructure to the
list of fund usage other
than just streets, roads
and bridges. Meansville
and Molena, along with
Williamson, are in need
of financial assistance
with their water systems.
Meansville is currently
seeking a $1,000,000
GEFA grant and loan with
a 40% debt forgiveness.
For 25 years William
son has purchased their
water from Griffin. Of
the monthly amount of
gallons purchased, the
city sells a lower amount
resulting in a chronic
average of 30% water
loss. With a water system
upgrade, the city can re
duce that percentage and
preserve a vital natural
resource.
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Witnessed the swear
ing in of new council
member Steve Davis for
post 5 previously held by
Brenda Bennett.
• Heard the city gave a
nod to hosting the Wiste
ria Festival next April.
• Received the library
report: 89 patrons and
$51.80 income in August;
106 patrons and $52.10
income in September;
$300 has been received
for the mystery dinner
theatre.
• Heard the 2020 audit
review from Broadus
Smith.
• Learned work on fin
ishing the amphitheater
should begin soon.
• Heard Williamson’s
population doubled since
the census in 2010.
• Heard the parade
float trailer needs a new
floor.
• Approved to permit
library employee Kristy
Lucio to work additional
weekly hours at the cur
rent wage.
SGES announces first quarter headmaster and honor roll lists
St. George’s Episcopal
School recently an
nounced the first nine
weeks Headmaster and
Honor Roll lists.
To be named to the
Headmaster List, a stu
dent must maintain all
As and to be named to
the Honor Roll, a student
must maintain all As and
Bs.
FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE:
Headmaster list: Coo
per Bell, Jake Benincosa,
Sheppard Brown, Ade-
lyn Buffington, Monroe
Clinton, Coleman Gill,
Davis Helms, Owen Hil-
ley, Knox Long, Asher
Melton, Hannah Moore,
Elliott Potter, Bo Powers,
Kinsley Stikes, Brock
Surles, Catharine Taylor,
Mercy Teal, Willow Teal,
Carter Todd and Will
Waltz.
Honor Roll List:
Caroline Durham,
Shaw McElroy and Wil
low Walters.
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
Headmaster List: Julia
Benincosa, Xander Brown,
Sebastian Buice, Pressley
Burson, Grady Coker,
Ella Doughtie, Kaylin
Drake, Addison English,
Bridgette Henson, Har
rison Hilley, Emma Ison,
Westley Matlock-Carter,
Bonnie Kate Matthews,
Autumn McPherson, Isaac
Melton, Andrew Ortiz,
Lucy Pearson, Caroline
Powers, Camille Reming
ton, Stroud Searcy, Sophie
Shapard, Henry Stover,
Hattie Stover, Gaines Tay
lor, Annie Wheaton and
Kate Wheaton.
Honor Roll List: Per
rin Boatright, Alex Buice,
Gray Cook, Damon Cox,
Jaden Davidon, Olivia
Foley, Bobby Hancher,
Noah Livingston, Eli
Mason, Gracen Aly
Parker, Alison Phillips,
Ty Strickland, Jett Takle,
Laine Thacker, Elise
Tharpe, Barrett Tucker
and Ketren Waites.
Letters To Santa Wanted
Santa’s helpers at the Pike County Journal Reporter want to make sure
your letters get to the North Pole before Christmas.
Letters will be published in the Wednesday, December 22 edition.
Deadline for letters is 5 p.m., Friday, December 3.
Letters may be mailed to:
P.O. Box 789, Zebulon, GA 30295,
dropped off at our office on the square in Zebulon or
emailed to news@pikecountygeorgia.com.