Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A
2021: Top stories share talent, hope and collaboration
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH EDMONDSON
This painting shows the old train depot in Williamson with a train on the
tracks. Artist Keith Edmondson has several more historic Pike paintings and
hopes to preserve historic places and memories for future generations.
FROM PAGE ONE
Callista Clark made a name
for herself as she released her
first album, earning a men
tion on many Top Country
music lists as well as mentions
in People and several music
magazines. Her original songs
received millions of listens on
both digital streaming and radio
stations and her two music
videos were played across the
world and on CMT. She is slated
to perform in a 16-city U.S. tour
in January as well as overseas
shows as part of the C2C: Coun
try to Country Festival in March
in London, Glasgow and Dublin.
Pike County weathered the
rises and falls of COV1D cases
in 2021 as most annual events
were held again including the
Concord Country Jubilee.
Cases surged in late August and
early September, forcing the
closure of local schools but the
numbers quickly dropped and
students returned to class after
a week of working from home.
There were 38 Pike citizens who
lost their lives to COV1D in 2021.
Community members also
mourned the loss of two local
teenagers, Jamori Williams
and Riley Nuce, who were both
students at Pike County High
School. The community showed
their support for the family by
wearing Jamori’s favorite bas
ketball team’s colors and dress
ing in camo for Riley. Students
expressed their love for the stu
dents in various ways, including
posters with memories of them
and a scholarship fund.
Several heroic citizens saved
the day in the past year, includ
ing George Smith and Ronald
Boes who stopped at an early
morning car accident and res
cued a young driver who was
trapped in a car as it caught
fire. Shelby Hatchett was the
driver and she swerved to miss
a deer and her vehicle struck
a brick sign. A woman was res
cued from an abusive situation
after a local citizens called the
sheriff’s office to notify them
that someone was seen on a
surveillance system at a house
under construction on Tanyard
Road. The female was located
in the attic with stab wounds
and she was air lifted to
America Medical Center. Lydell
Holmes lit a blanket on fire in
the structure and faced multiple
charges, including aggravated
assault, burglary, possession of
a knife during commission of a
crime and arson.
The Pirates football team
looked to the past as they
celebrated the start of the team
50 years prior. Team members
from the 1971 and 1972 teams
were honored at home games
as they served as team captains
and were recognized by the
team and fans.
Pike’s past was celebrated by
local artist Keith Edmondson
as he painted many historic
scenes of popular places and
pastimes in the county. He
hopes to keep the history of the
county alive through his beauti
ful paintings and pass down a
passion for history to future
generations.
Big foot stories returned
to Pike County as a sign was
posted that said, ‘Big Foot Nest’
with an arrow pointing into
the woods off Highway 18 in
rural Molena. The sign stirred
up memories of a previous Big
Foot incident in Pike in which a
casting was taken of a foot with
dermal ridges that was 17.5
inches long and 8.5 inches wide.
Throughout the school
year, several Pike County High
School teams had outstanding
seasons, including the baseball
and softball teams, both the
boys and girls soccer teams
and the track team which had
two state champions - Tayla
Moreland in long jump and
Zy Thompson in high jump.
Gymnast Madelynn Crow made
history for the school as she be
came the first gymnastics team
member to earn three state
championship titles - and a per
fect 10.0 for her floor routine.
As usual, Pike citizens
worked together to better the
community as Pick Up Pike
mobilized to clean up roads
and encourage everyone not
to litter. They hosted several
events to clean up heavily-lit
SPECIAL PHOTO
Callista Clark has performed across
the U.S. after the release of her first
album this year and will start her
first U.S. and overseas tours in 2022.
tered areas and asked property
owners to clean along the roads
near their property regularly
- and especially before spring
when trash is often chopped up
with the fast-growing grass. One
local family had fun helping the
community as Rick Rickerson
and his son and grandson
built two cars for a demolition
derby - promising to donate the
entire $1,000 in winnings to the
Pike County Animal Shelter if
they won. Josh Rickerson won
second place but no cash prize
so members of the community
worked together to raise the
$1,000 donation for the animal
shelter anyway.
Meansville council
discusses SPLOST funds
BY DWAIN W. PENN
dwain@pikecountygeorgia.com
Mayor Virion Rachels
and Meansville council
members welcomed
county manager Brandon
Rogers to the Dec. 13
meeting. Rogers was half
way into his tour of five
councils seeking accep
tance of the 2022 SPLOST
resolution and signatures
on the intergovernmental
agreement for appropria
tion of funds. Urgency
was needed for the coun
ty to benefit from the ex
pertise of registrar Lynn
Vickers who is retiring at
the end of December.
“The resolution sets
the amount of the new
SPLOST at $20 million for
six years,” said Rogers.
“The city of Meansville
will receive 2% of the
fund, $400,000 over the
six years. Apportionment
was not based on popula
tion, but a combination
of population, needs
and current projects.
Although Meansville has
received the GEFA grant
loan, they can use the
extra SPLOST money to
fill in the gaps.”
“The county will not
use the SPLOST for water
projects, but will focus
on roads. The referen
dum will be on the May
24 ballot. Voters will also
vote on the option to
call for a bond that will
bring up front 70% of
the SPLOST to disburse
among the municipali
ties. For Meansville that
amount will be $280,000.”
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Heard a message
from Am Waste through
city clerk Jerome Fin
ley. Due to a change of
garbage collection day,
several cans went missing
and the problem should
be solved in two days.
• Received the fire
department report from
assistant fire chief Tim
Lane. Lane introduced
council to Samantha, a
new firefighter. Responses
during November by the
station included six medi
cal calls in the city and
seven fire and 17 medical
calls in the county.
• Heard from water
superintendent Scott
Huckaby the city used
480,300 gallons in Novem
ber. A Collier at 109 water
leak will be fixed soon.
• Witnessed Rachels
sign the SPLOST resolu
tion, intergovernmen
tal agreement and the
recently approved GEFA
grant loan. Related to
the GEFA project, ap
proval was made on the
agreement with Carter
& Sloope for engineering
consultations and related
services.
• Enjoyed a holiday
buffet of Oink Joint BBQ
burgers, Brunswick Stew
along with a variety of
salty and sweet Christ
mas goodies.
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Public meetings
The next scheduled meetings in Pike County are:
• Pike County commission, Wednesday, January 12, 9 a.m.
in the main, upstairs courtroom of the courthouse.
• Concord city council, Tuesday, January 11,7 p.m., city hall
• Meansville council, Monday, January 10, 7 p.m.,
Meansville city hall, 6:45 p.m.
• Molena city council, Monday, January 10, 6 p.m.,
Molena city hall
• Pike County agribusiness authority, Thursday, January
20, 7 p.m., Farm Bureau office.
• Pike County board of appeals, Thursday, January 20,6 p.m.
• Pike County board of education, Wednesday, January 5,
12 p.m., Board Room at the Pike County Schools Memorial Annex.
• Pike County library board, Thursday, January 13, 4:30
p.m., J. Joel Edwards Public Library.
• Pike planning commission, Thursday, January 13, 6:30 p.m.
• Pike County tax assessors, Tuesday, January 4, meeting at
9 a.m., Pike EMA/Storage Facility, 1132 Twin Oaks Road.
• Pike County water authority meeting, Thursday, January
20, 7:30 a.m., authority building.
• Williamson city council, Thursday, January 6, 7 p.m.
• Zebulon city council, Tuesday, January 11, 6 p.m.
• Zebulon Downtown Development Authority, Tuesday,
January 18, 7 p.m., A Novel Experience, 426 Thomaston St.
• Board of elections and registration, December meeting
cancelled, next meeting set for 4 p.m. Monday, January 18,
in the commissioners’ conference room.
• Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 18, EMA facility.
Pike County American Legion Post 197 Member
ship Drive: Contact the Post 197 commander at 762-
207-8327 or Post 197 Adjutant at 404-790-6609.
Advo-Kids CASA training: Offered Jan. 13 with the
deadline to apply on Jan. 7. Court Appointed Special
Advocates help local children who are placed in foster
care, making an incredible difference in their lives. To
help local children and register for CASA training, call
770-668-4177 or go to advo-kidscasa.org/volunteer.
Meansville Volunteer Fire Department: Accepting
applications for volunteer firefighters. All training pro
vided. Apply in person, 40 Means Street, Meansville.
OBITUARIE
Cameron
Reese Colbert
Cameron Reese Colbert, age 18 of Concord, Geor
gia passed away Friday, December 17, 2021.
Cam was born in Riverdale, Georgia on July 24,
2003 to Frederick Dudley
Colbert and April Penning
ton Colbert.
Survivors include his
mother, April Pennington
Colbert; father, Fredrick
Dudley and Susan Colbert;
brothers and sisters, Kendall
Bailey Zakiyyah Colbert,
Fredricus Colbert, Adrian
Colbert, Amber Colbert, Sha-
mecia Anderson; grandparents, Brenda and Sherman
Curtis, Jr., James Pennington, Mary Colbert; relatives
he considered grandparents, Elaine Pate, Patricia
Wellmaker, James Ford; several aunts, uncles, and
cousins.
Visitation was held Thursday December 23, 2021
from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and Sunday December
26, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Conner-
Westbury Funeral Home, followed by a funeral
service in the chapel. Interment was held at Moody
Memorial Gardens.
Conner-Westbury Funeral Home 1891 West McIn
tosh Rd, Griffin is in charge of arrangements. Please
join the family and friends in honoring the life of
Cameron Reese Colbert by visiting www.conner-west-
buryfuneralhome.com and posting your tributes and
memories.
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Worship Services Abound In Pike
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Pike County Assembly of God, 4990
Hwy. 19 S., Zebulon, 770-567-1594
BAPTIST
Antioch Baptist Church, Highway 19
North, Zebulon, 770-228-8878
Berean Baptist Church, 2677 Highway
41, Griffin, 770-227-5817
Beulah Baptist Church, Highway 109,
Lifsey Springs, 770-567-3525
Christian Fellowship Baptist Church
of Pike County, 970 McKinley Rd.,
Zebulon, 770-567-4300
Concord Baptist Church, 9670 Hwy.
18, Concord, 770-884-5205
Corinth Baptist Church, Merrybrook
Road, Williamson, 770-227-2113
Elkins Creek Baptist Church, 7504
Crest Highway., Molena, 706-647-6250
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 5015 Hwy.
19 S, Zebulon, 770-567-8825
Faith Baptist Church of Pike County,
Hwy. 19 N., Zebulon, Pastor Nesbitt
Odom
First Baptist Church, Concord Street,
Zebulon, 770-567-8498
Flat Rock Primitive Baptist Church,
107 Flat Rock Church Rd., Zebulon
Friendship Baptist Church, 121
Friend-ship Church Rd., Milner, 770-
227-1885
Georgia Baptist Children’s Home,
1508 Highway 19 South, Zebulon, 770-
567-8987
Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church, 6749
Hwy. 362 W, Williamson, 770-229-4253
Meansville Baptist Church, 501 Hwy.
109 E., Meansville, 770-567-3834, www.
meansvillebaptistchurch.com
Molena Baptist Church, 770-884-
5323,678-410-1558, Highway 18
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, 14550
Hwy. 19, Griffin770-228-8075
Mt. Hope Baptist Church, Highway 19,
Zebulon, 770-567-3880
Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Highway
109, P.0. Box 343 Meansville, 770-567-
8834
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1177 Hwy
109, Molena, 770-884-5327
Neal Baptist Church, Highway 18
West, Concord, 770-229-6132
New Hebron Baptist Church,
Pedenville Road, Concord, 770-567-
4113. Meets third Sundays, 3 p.m.
New Hope Baptist Church, New Hope
Road, Zebulon, pastor Josh Gilliam,
770-227-2529, newhopez.com
New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 246
College St., P.0. Box 167, Concord, 770-
601-3616
Old Mt. Calvary Baptist, College
Street and Eppinger Bridge Road,
Concord, 770-884-5879
Open Arms Baptist Church, East
Milner Road, Zebulon, 770-567-3377
Providence First Baptist Church,
Highway 362 West, Williamson
Pritchett Memorial Baptist, 496
Jugtown Rd., Meansville, 706-648-3578
Smyrna Baptist Church, Smyrna
Church Road, Molena, 678 614-6343.
CATHOLIC
St. Peter The Rock Catholic Church,
3594 Barnesville Hwy., The Rock, 706-
648-2599
HOLINESS
Faith Deliverance Holiness Church,
525 Old Meansville Rd., Zebulon, 770-
567-9572
Mountain View Holiness Church, 3411
Kings Rd., Meansville, 706-648-4342
Pine Mountain Holiness Church, 1754
Hwy. 19 S. (Pine Mountain Holiness
Campground), 770-550-5815
Pure Holiness Church of God, Hillcrest
Avenue, Concord, 770-884-5796
True Solid Faith Holiness Church,
Second Street, Concord
Victory Temple Holiness Church of
the Apostolic Faith, 7767 Hwy. 19 S.,
Zebulon, 494-217-2440, Pastor Darry L.
Coverson Sr.
NAZARENE
Pine Mountain Church of the Nazarene,
1742 Highway 19 South, Meansville
Rehoboth Nazarene Church, Kinds
Road, Molena, 770-567-8620
N0N-DEN0MINATI0NAL
Bush Chapel, 398 Pullians Road,
Concord, 770-884-5560
Christ Chapel Community Church, 115
Sullivan Rd., Zebulon, 770-567-1141
Church of Joy, 754 Hwy. 362 W.,
Williamson, 770-227-1671
True Believers in Christ Tabernacle,
5800 Hwy. 109 W„ Molena, 770-884-
9100, Rev. Fred Blackmon
Fairfield CME Church, Highway 362,
Concord, 770-412-6875
Free Liberty Church, P.0. Box 7,
Williamson, 770-227-0340
High Praise Tabernacle, 509D S. Hwy.
19,770-412-7477
Joyful Noise Praise and Worship
Center, 770-884-9786,770-567-8872
Mountain Gap Church, 2746 Pine
Valley Rd., The Rock, 770-567-3734
New Life In Jesus, Zebulon, 770-
567-0684
Pike County Church of Christ, 688
McKinley Rd., Williamson, 770-567-
5525
Flint River Chapel, 2556 Flat Shoals
Rd., Concord, 770-330-0063, meets 4th
Sun. 6 p.m., Pastor Jeff Yeaiwood
Vega Community Church, Vega Road
Victory Life Tabernacle, Williamson
Williamson Christian Church,
Williamson Road, Williamson, Rev. Johan
VanderMerwe
Church of Joy 3080 Hwy. 362 W.
PRESBYTERIAN
Friendship Presbyterian, Pedenville
Road, Concord, 770-564-9040
(pastor), 404-697-2311 (church) www.
friendshippres.com
UNITED METHODIST
Concord United Methodist Church,
Hwy. 18, Concord, Arianna Eberle, pastor
Ebenezer United Methodist Church,
Highways 18 and 109 E„ 706-819-9357
Fuller United Methodist Church, Old
Meansville Road, Zebulon, 770-567-9600
Hollonville United Methodist, Hwy.
362, Hollonville, 770-378-4643, pastor
Shane Moore
Life Springs United Methodist Church
and Community Center, Rev. Alex Smith,
LiteSpringsPike.org.
New Pleasant Hill CME, 108 Society
St., Concord, 770-884-3910
Roberts Chapel UMC, 850 Powder
Creek Rd., Concord, 770-567-3371
Williamson Methodist Church,
Highway 362, Williamson, 770-227-2068
Zebulon UMC, Highway 19 North
Zebulon, 770-567-8621
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