ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Commissioners held their regular scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Courthouse Annex located at 79 Jackson Street in Zebulon, Georgia. I did not attend this meeting but am providing an update from a recording of the meeting.

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ZEBULON - This meeting was attended by all five commissioners, County Clerk Teresa Watson to take the minutes, Finance Officer Kay Landers, and County Attorney Rob Morton. There were 26 citizens and department representatives in the audience.

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Update 5.14.12: This meeting is now complete.

ZEBULON - Items on the agenda include a courthouse update, items for Public Works, the wells at the landfill, approval of the group health insurance plan (which is part of the May 9, 2012 meeting), and approval of recommended changes to the FY 2012-2013 Budget Ordinance. The public is invited to attend this meeting.

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Click here for the upcoming budget calendar.

ZEBULON - The National Day of Prayer has been celebrated for many years here in Pike County. Each year, pastors from community churches came together to pray for our community, state and nation. They also pray for our local, state, and national leaders as well as our military personnel and their families. There were over 75 people present at the observance this year.

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ZEBULON - The 3rd Annual Pike County "Dog and Pony Show" was held on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Chestnut Oak Center (across from the Georgia Baptist Children's Home). Photos are now online courtesy of Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Click here for photos that were added on 5.14.12.

ZEBULON - 2012 Third Fridays OFF the Square: The Rainmaker Series Continued will begin on Friday, May 18, 2012 featuring Country Singer, Thomaston-native & Nashville Recording Artist Ashley Allen from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

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CONCORD - On May 24th at 7pm the Pike County's Citizens Organization Active in Disasters (COAD) will be meeting again. During this meeting we will announce and/or plan dates for the following: community first aid classes, citizen emergency response training (CERT program), and training from the Red Cross on shelter management.

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BARNESVILLE - Laverna Moorer is the founder of Women of Excellence, Inc. in Barnesville, Georgia. It is a Christian-based, non-profit organization for women who are battered and abused, homeless, and battling substance abuse or alcohol.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House has passed H.R. 5326, the FY2013 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. This is the first FY2013 spending bill passed in either chamber. The bill funds the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation, and other related agencies. The bill set funding levels at $1.6 billion below FY2012 – or a 3.1 percent decrease – and at $731 million below the president’s request.

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ZEBULON - This is a special day when we honor our Moms. A Mom can be a birth mother, a step mother, an adopted mother or someone who holds a special place in our hearts for the love and care that she has shown throughout the years.

Some Moms are nearby and we can celebrate with them. Some Moms have passed on and we remember them with smiles and tears.

If your Mom is within reaching distance for a hug or a phone call away, please send some love her way today. It may be easy for some and hard for others. It may mean mending a fence that has been broken for a while.

Life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. Let your Mom know how much you appreciate her today.

Rev. John Ashby “Paw” Simms, age 66, of Zebulon, passed away May 10, 2012. He was born in Charleston, WV to the late Ira and Mary Simms. He was the first Pastor of Louisa Church of God in Louisa, KY where he served for 30 years. He was a member of Griffin Center Point Church and active in the Senior Super Stars, Men of Issachar, New Members Class and Pastoral Care ministries. He was also a builder who enjoyed fishing and golfing. He dearly loved his family. He is survived by his wife: Phyllis Simms; children and their spouses: John Allen and Denise Simms of The Rock, Michael Simms of Louisa, Taunya and Michael Smith of Zebulon and Shirley Chaffin of Louisa; grandchildren: John Simms, Josh Simms, Cecileigh Simms, Michael Simms, Dalton Simms, Dylan Simms and Mady Kate Smith. Friends may visit the family on Sunday, May 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Griffin Center Point Church. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, May 14, at 11 a.m. at the church with Pastor Tracy Stone officiating. Friends may visit the family again on Tuesday, May 15, from 1-3 p.m. at the Louisa Church of God in KY. A private family committal service will follow in the Smith Family Cemetery in Fort Gay, WV.

For more information about vistation and the service, directions or sign the guestbook go to Moody Funeral Home.

The Pike County Middle School Relay for Life team will host a live auction, with auctioneer Richard Smith, to benefit the American Cancer Society on Friday, May 11th. This exciting event will be held in the gym and will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.

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ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Education has announced the list of projects that will be repaired or renovated if the ESPLOST 4 passes in the November 2012 vote. This is an election to decide whether or not to allow a one cent sales tax to be collected for education. This Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales and Use Tax (E-SPLOST) is already being collected on purchases here in the county but is slated to end in June of 2012.

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FAYETTEVILLE - The Pike County Sheriff’s Office received the Griffin Judicial Circuit Law Enforcement Agency of the Year Award at the District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Banquet last Thursday. The Griffin Judicial Circuit consists of Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties.

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ZEBULON - The Pike County School Based Health Center had a Strategy Teams meeting at noon on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The School Based Health Center now has a new name and is working toward a new set of goals.

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MACON - On Friday April 27, Saturday April 28, and Sunday April 29, eleven members of Pike County Emergency Services attended an Advanced Extrication Techniques Course conducted in Macon by the GEICO College of Vehicle Rescue and RIGHT Training and Consulting based here in Meansville.

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ZEBULON - On Friday, May 4th, the Pike County Lady Pirates hosted the Lady Gamecocks from Screven County in the 1st Round of the State AA Soccer Playoffs, running away with an 8-0 victory and a trip to the Sweet 16.

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The Williamson Learning Center will hold a Bar-B-Que Fundraiser on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

BBQ pork sandwich plates will be available for pickup from 10:30 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. Cost is $7.00 per plate.

Please help them raise money for their building fund.

Click here to find out more about Williamson Learning Center. Please let them know that you read about this event on Pike County Times.com!

ZEBULON - The Pirate Nation presents a Car, Truck and Bike Show on Saturday, May 12, 2012 on Pirate Drive and Highway 19 at the Old Middle School Parking Lot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The entry fee is $15. All types and styles are welcome. There will be food and door prizes as well as a DJ at the event.

For more information, contact Kelly McKinney at kmckinney3453@aol.com or 770-630-9063.

All proceeds from this Touchdown Club fundraiser will go towards the Pirate Football Programs.

ZEBULON - Relay for Life 2012 is just around the corner. Mark Andrews, cancer survivor, shared, “As we enter the month of May I look forward to the culminating event of our year-long efforts on behalf of the American Cancer Society. Coming together as a community to celebrate survivors and caregivers and to remember those who lost their fight with cancer is a very moving experience. While there is sadness in remembering, there is also joy in celebrating our victories against this disease. With the help of the money raised for Relay for Life, 350 more lives are saved each day. I am one of those lives saved!”

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ZEBULON - Pike County Parks & Recreation Authority presents the 2012 Summer Outdoor Movie Series.

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ZEBULON - Family, friends, and teammates surrounded PCHS senior DeAndre Holmes recently as he signed a basketball scholarship with Waycross College located in Waycross, GA. DeAndre will trade in his Pirates uniform for one with the Waycross Swamp Foxes under Coach Cory Baldwin, a Jonesboro, GA native.

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BARNESVILLE - Gordon will reach another milestone as the first class of students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in biology is awarded diplomas during commencement exercises Friday, May 11 at 8:30 a.m.

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ZEBULON - Lisa Moore will address the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs on Tuesday, May 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the TUAC (Thomaston-Upson Arts Council) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square in Thomaston. She is very qualified to speak on her topic: “Legal Issues Photographers and Other Artists Need to Understand.” All artists, especially photographers, are invited to attend the meeting and receive valuable legal information from Ms. Moore. There is no admission fee.

For more info about the Shutterbugs and this meeting, please visit their blog: www.wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is a movie that gathers together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo.), the Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Captain America (Chris Evans). They are called together by Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) to protect the world from the evil actions of Thor’s adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

Click here to read the rest of this review. ©2012 Jackie K. Cooper

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com. Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

Psalm 127:3 - "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward for him."

In case you've forgotten (if you have, you're obviously not a mom), Mother's Day is this month. Last week, I saw a plaque that said, "Motherhood - the hardest job you'll ever love." Out of all the quotes that I have seen lately about moms, that one seems to sum it up, for me anyway.

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ZEBULON - The Special Olympic Athlete Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

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ZEBULON - I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I have decided not to seek re-election to the position of State Representative. It has been my honor and true privilege to serve the citizens of Pike, Upson and Lamar counties for the past 5 years.

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ZEBULON - County Manager Bill Sawyer had given a later resignation date but stated by phone that he will work his last day in Pike County tomorrow.

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CONCORD - Members of the Boys & Girls Club of West Georgia - Pike Unit worked with parents and members of the community to clean up trash from along Concord Streets last weekend. This was part of their Big Help Project to celebrate Earth Day.

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ZEBULON - The Pike County Commission will hold a FY 2012-2013 Budget Public Hearing on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

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Mr. Herbert Eugene Justus, age 83, of Meansville, passed away April 29, 2012 at his residence. He was born in Clayton, GA to the late Talley Justus and Mae Worley Justus. He had lived in Pike County for the last 20 years, moving from Griffin. Mr. Justus was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Zebulon. He was a commercial truck driver, retiring from Consolidated Freightways. He like dogs and horses and especially loved his great-grandchildren. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred “Millie” O’Dell Justus; sons, Robert Eugene Justus and Mark Anthony Justus. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law: Paul Matthew Justus and wife Sheila of Meansville; grandchildren: Paul Eugene Justus, Stephen Michael Justus, Christopher David Justus and wife Brandi; great-grandchildren: Lilly Justus, Gregory Paul Eugene Justus, Colton Dylan Justus, Alexis Dakota Justus, Jayden Mills and Braley Justus. sister-in-law: Sue Scott and husband C.E. of McDonough; several nieces and nephews.

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
11:00AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Cemetery:
Forest Hills Memorial Gardens, 722 Conley Road, Forest Park, GA

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

ZEBULON - The Development Authority of Pike County will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 3, 2012 in the Development Authority Conference Room (in the Pike County Chamber of Commerce) from 10:00 am until finished for the purpose of General Business.

The public is invited to attend.

BARNESVILLE - It's been one year since the tornado touched down in the Piedmont Road and Barnesville area. It is easy to look around and see scars that lay on the surface of the area from the horrible destruction, but for those who care enough to look deeper, the healing process continues a little more every single day.

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ZEBULON - Rufus Clemmons, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of West Georgia, Pike Unit, made a presentation to Friendship Presbyterian Church Wednesday night with three Keystone Club students who attended the 2012 National Conference in Dallas. This year’s theme was “Think Big”.

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Mrs. Pauline Dailey Smith of Zebulon, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away on April 26, 2012 at the age of 85 at Christian Ministries Hospice. Mrs. Smith was born September 30, 1926 in Fayette County and is preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Eva Belle Dailey, and sister, Catherine Elliott. She is also preceded in death by her husband, David Madden Smith, Sr. Mrs. Smith was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Zebulon and practiced her passion of being a witness for Christ daily. She loved serving the Lord by teaching Sunday School at both Emmanuel Baptist and New Hope Baptist Church of Zebulon. She found her greatest pleasure leading others to Christ and as she would often say “ministering to young people” was her greatest joy. Mrs. Smith was a Newnan High School graduate. She was also a Gold Star Wives of America member. Her joyful heart will be greatly missed. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law; David M. (Skipper) and Louise Smith of Zebulon, daughter and son-in-law; Louise and Sam Waldrip of Fayetteville, and son and daughter-in-law; Stephen and Andrea Smith of Milner. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses; Brian and Pam Custer of Kentucky, Brandon and Amy McWilliams of Lawrenceville, Brian and Amy Smith of Williamson, Nathan Roberson of Fayetteville, Beau McWilliams of Fayetteville, Greg and Natalie Davis of Griffin, Terry and Tara Heath of Milner, and Rusty and Nicole Hudson of Griffin. Great-grandchildren include: Kayla, Dave, Titus, and Philip Custer, all of Kentucky; Isaiah, Josiah, Timothy, Silas, and Luke Heath all of Milner; Gracie and Lindsay McWilliams of Lawrenceville; Cade Smith and Aiden Hudson both of Griffin. She is also survived by a niece, Carol Cansler of Tampa, and a nephew, Bill Elliott of Sharpsburg, as well as several great nieces and nephews. Elsie Owens was a special friend the last year of her life. Visitation for Mrs. Pauline Dailey Smith will be on Saturday, April 28 from 6-8 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home, Zebulon. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, April 29 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home with Dr. Bud Gleaton officiating. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. in Holly Hill Memorial Park in Fairburn, GA.

For more information including service times, directions or sign the guestbook go to Moody Funeral Home.

BARNESVILLE - The “new” Smith Hall on the campus of Gordon College was officially dedicated with a ribbon cutting last Friday afternoon.

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ZEBULON - Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority's Annual Easter Egg Hunt was another success. It was held on April 7th after being postposed due to the rain on the previous Saturday.

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THOMASTON - Some say coal. Others say natural gas. A few say iron ore. Many say the land itself. Years ago, most everyone said oil. Good choices all. However, when it comes to natural resources, I say that which America is most blessed is the American mind.

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Mrs. Ruby Grace Stribling O’neal, age 84, of Molena, passed away April 24, 2012 at the Christian Ministries Hospice in Griffin. She was born in Molena to the late Emmitt Stribling and Ruby Gibson Stribling. She worked at the pepper plant in Zebulon and operated the Molena Café for many years. She loved flowers and working in her yard. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby O’neal, her son, Danny O’neal Sr., sisters, Betty Nixon, Sarah Watts and Mary Massingale; brothers, R. L. Stribling and Eddie Stribling. She is survived by her grandchildren: Danny O’neal Jr. and Chasity “Nan” Perry; great-grandchildren: Laura, Colton and Caden Perry, Dakota Howell, Christopher and Julie O’neal; sisters: Nellie Wright, Thelma Bethune and Jean Henderson all of Griffin, Cecil Riggins of Pike County, Ellender Adams of Lexington, SC and Linda Moore of Woodbury; a host of nieces, nephews and special friends.

Visitations:
6:00PM to 9:00PM on Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
3:00PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, April 27th, 2012

Cemetery:
Stribling Cemetery, Reems Road, Molena, GA 30258

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

Beginning May 1 and ending September 30, EPD’s open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties. The open burning ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and landclearing debris. This rule is in addition to the year-round state ban on the burning of household garbage.

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Go to http://www.gatrees.org and click on Burn Permits through the end of April.

All five commissioners were in attendance along with County Clerk Teresa Watson to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, and County Attorney Rob Morton. It was a longer meeting than usual, but I appreciated the amount of information that was presented to citizens at the meeting.

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