Pike County journal and reporter. (Zebulon, Ga.) 1980-current, November 29, 2023, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTFUN! The city of Molena and the Friends of the J. Joel Edwards Public Library hosted the Bigfoot Fest and Elkins Creek 5K and fun run See page 1B PIKE COUNTY www.pikecountygeorgia.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 PIKE'S PEEK HollyJolly Christmas parade set for Dec. 15 The 2023 Holly Jolly Lighted Christmas Parade will be held Friday, Dec. 15 through downtown Zebulon with the parade start ing at 7 p.m. Register floats now at pikecountychamber ofcommerce.ticketspice. com/pike-county-holly- j olly-lighted-christmas- parade. For more, email info@pikecountyga- chamber.com or call 770-584-5638. Send us your Santa letters by Dec. 8 Santa’s helpers at the Pike County Jour nal Reporter want to make sure your letters get to the North Pole before Christmas. Letters may be emailed to news@pike- countygeorgia.com, mailed to P.O. Box 789, Zebulon 30295 or dropped off at our office on the square in Zebulon. Letters will be published in the Wednesday, Dec. 20 edition. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8. Support this special edition and boost your business with holiday advertising. Call us at 770-567-3446. Lighting of Concord is Dec. 1 The Lighting of Concord is set for Friday, Dec. 1 with fun for the whole family, including food ven dors, live entertainment, train and pony rides, Santa’s arrival via helicopter and shopping opportunities at The Mistletoe Market inside the Strickland Building. The event is sponsored by the city of Concord and starts at 5:30 p.m. with crackling fire boxes for friends and family to enjoy together. “The Friday week following Thanksgiving, the city of Con cord sponsors The Lighting of Concord annual Christmas the R.F. Strickland Build ing and along Main Street, this is a one-of-a-kind family gather ing. Family, food, live music, and a visit with the jolly ole man himself, this event draws local folks and those from neighbor ing counties,” said mayor John Strickland. “Gather around crackling fireboxes with friends old and new, shop for that spe cial someone at the Christmas bazaar or RF Strickland Compa ny Mercantile, enjoy pony rides for the children and eat tasty treats along Main Street. Sing along with live entertainment! Santa’s photographer will be on site to capture that special mo ment with your child!” Food vendors wifi include The Concord Cafe, Twisted Phillies, Coffee A GoGo, Pirate Nutrition and roasted corn and cotton candy. See LIGHTING page 3A Brothers (l-r) Liam Hill and Chad Hill warmed up at one of the fire boxes at last year’s Lighting of Concord. This year’s celebration is Friday, Dec. 1. PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER Two new fields are being built in the softball complex by the Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority, through partnerships with community members and the county. Pike recreation complex expanding Gifts collected for Angel Tree and Just Because ministries BY RACHEL McDANIEL news@pikecountygeorgia.com When recreation spring softball and base ball seasons start, there wifi be new fields and a different parking area for softball. The work is be ing completed by partner ships with the county and community members. Two utility fields with all dirt infields are being built from scratch in the recreation department’s softball complex area. One field is 185 feet to the outfield fence and is for 6U/8U teams. The oth er field is 200 feet to out field poles and 220 feet to centerfield and can be used for all age groups. Softball complex parking wifi now be across the creek as the new fields take up portions of the upper parking area. “Softball needed more fields to accommodate growth. Currently, 6U and 8U have to share a field and 12U and 16U have to share a field. The new fields will give capac ity to double our current registration for softball in all age groups,” said recreation board chairman Chris Childress. “Teams in 4U have always played on a football field but the new fields wifi allow for 4U to move to an actual diamond field for game play. Registration for 8U baseball has grown tremendously and the new fields will help to immedi ately address 8U growth.” In addition, there are other improvements underway. The softball concession stand wifi be remodeled and baseball fields have been upgrad ed as well. See FIELDS page 3A Two local ministries are working to make sure all good little boys and girls get special gifts this holiday season. ANGEL MINISTRIES Gifts of an Angel Ministries wifi have local Angel trees where participants can select a child to sponsor. The trees wifi be at Palomas, Zebulon City Hall, American Pie and Margos Mediterra nean Res taurant in Griffin. The ministry will also host a coat drive for the homeless and accept jackets, hats, coats and blankets. All donations must be turned in by Dec. 10 at the drop off locations. JUST BECAUSE UNITED INC. Just Because United Inc is a non profit 501c3 and the group is now collecting new gifts for grades pre-K through twelfth as well as hygiene items. Drop donated gifts and items off at Prosperity Group, Benchmark, Unclaimed Bargains, Walk By Faith, the J. Joel Edwards Public Library, Harper Jaymes (Mustard Seed) in Molena, Highland Real Estate Investors LLC, Church of Joy, Providence First Baptist of Williamson and Griffin Moose Tdge. “We also ac cept gift cards $25, to be given as gifts - gas, grocery, pop shelf and in town boutiques are great for the older stu dents,” said Stacy Berry. “Chick-Fil-A, Dairy Queen, Burger King and Dollar Tree are some great ideas for all ages. If you would prefer to donate monetarily we have Cash App, PayPal and Venmo. Checks may be sent to P.O. Box 645, Zebulon, GA 30295.” 1 “T7] J PHOTO BY GINA HATCHETT Kiwanis members presented a check to the Pirate Regiment, including Kathy Pitts, Trisha Dabbs and Ric Calhoun, next to band director Lee Ewing (far right). Kiwanis of Pike County supports Pirate Regiment Marching Band The Pirate Regi ment Marching Band was shown support by Kiwanis of Pike County recently. Kiwanis mem bers donated funds to help the marching band program - which involves more than 60 students. Kiwanis members visited Pike County High School to present the band with their donation in person. “We are extremely grateful for the donations by the Kiwanis Club of Pike County, as well as attorney Gene Dabbs and his wife, Patricia! Their contributions allow us to provide the march ing band with the best possible experience and equipment,” said director of bands Lee Ewing.

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Pike County journal and reporter. (Zebulon, Ga.) 1980-current, November 29, 2023, Image 1