Student arrested for alleged threat to blow up Spalding High

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Spalding High School student was arrested Wednesday for making an alleged threat against the school. According to Griffin-Spalding County School System Digital Communication Specialist Laura Beaber, the student was overheard making statements concerning blowing up the school. Spalding High parents received notification of the incident which stated, “Students alerted school […]

School officials schedule make up days during winter break

STAFF REPORT ::: Officials of the Griffin-Spalding County School System have announced students will be required to make up two of the six days missed due to inclement weather during the 2017-2018 school term. Those two days have been scheduled on Thursday, Feb. 22, and Friday, Feb. 23. According to a press release issued by […]

SCSO narcotics operation nets alleged meth distributor

STAFF REPORT ::: An operation by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit resulted in the arrest of 38-year-old Mario Andretti Williams, of Holly Lane, on multiple narcotics charges. According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, Williams is being held in the Spalding County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, […]

Some things should be left behind

This editorial column written by Maria McCoy was published in the most recent print edition of The GRIP. The things we are not taking into 2018……. The pain. The awful, excruciating pain of 2017. It must stay behind because it is crippling. It is suffocating and debilitating and has held me under for far too […]

Department of Revenue questions Spalding County tax appeals process

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Georgia Department of Revenue Commissioner Lynette Riley has contacted Spalding County officials to express concern that local property owners may not be receiving their due process rights with regard to the appeal of property taxes. In a letter addressed to William Norris, whose service as the chairman of the Spalding County […]

Griffin man pleads guilty to domestic violence related murder

STAFF REPORT ::: Johnny Johnson has plead guilty to the April 17, 2017, murder of Joanne Redding, who was then identified as his fiancé. Johnson inflicted multiple gunshot wounds upon Redding, and remained at the scene where he was taken into custody. According to a press release issued by Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben […]

Spalding High teacher, student arrested on separate drug, weapon charges

STAFF REPORT ::: A Spalding High School teacher, Jordan Hale, and an unidentified student were on Friday arrested following an operation of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, a request to deploy K9s in the school parking lot was made by the Griffin-Spalding County School System. […]

Juvenile arrested for residential burglary

STAFF REPORT ::: A 16-year-old juvenile has been arrested and charged in connection to a residential burglary on Andrews Road. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Deputy Steven Culberson and Deputy Maurice Gray on Jan. 2, responded to a report of a burglary in progress at 61 Andrews Road. […]

BREAKING NEWS: Search underway for missing 19-month-old

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching the High Falls Road area for a missing 19-month-old child. As part of their search, Sheriff Darrell Dix and deputies are going door-to-door in an effort to locate Anastasia Mercer. Authorities say the child is believed to have been abducted by her father, […]

Spalding Clerk of Court agrees to retire Dec. 31; will face no further legal action

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County Clerk of Court Marcia Norris, who was on Dec. 14 suspended for 60 days by Governor Nathan Deal, will retire from office Dec. 31. Norris’s retirement is part of a settlement agreement reached by the beleaguered constitutional officer and Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker. It was signed […]

Two injured when truck, ambulance collide in intersection

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: An early Thursday morning wreck involving an ambulance and a GMC Jimmy that occurred at the intersection of Highway 19 and Zebulon Road injured two people, one seriously. “The GMC Jimmy was traveling north on State Route 3 and the ambulance was coming out of Pike County going to a Spalding […]

Sheriff: Gang leaders targeted, arrested in Operation Blue Christmas

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spading County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit in October received a complaint about illegal narcotic activity allegedly occurring at 407 Meadowlark Dr. Officials say after preliminary investigative work and surveillance, investigators quickly recognized key members of the Blood Gang /Zoo Krew/ Rolling 20s were utilizing this house and immediate area to […]

Shooting victim Amber Rae Brown Norton has died

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Amber Reese Brown Norton has died as a result of injuries sustained in a Dec. 12 shooting. She was 42-years-old. The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning stated confirmation of Amber Norton’s death had been received from Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster. Authorities say Amber Norton sustained a single gunshot […]

Mumps case confirmed at Spalding County school

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Health Department on Thursday received confirmation that a Beaverbrook Elementary School student has been diagnosed with the mumps. Health Department officials then took necessary steps to inform the Griffin-Spalding County School System so that parents can be notified. Parents of Beaverbrook Elementary School students will receive a letter […]

Search underway for missing special needs teenager

STAFF REPORT ::: An active search is underway for a missing special needs Spalding County teenager last seen at approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office reports that Darrin Allen, a 14-year-old white male who is five feet nine inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds, was last seen wearing a blue jacket […]