SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Describing Georgia’s COVID-19 testing as “unacceptable,” Governor Brian Kemp on Monday announced the state will expand the previously tightly-restricted requirements for the diagnostic tool. “As of noon today, we now have 13,315 COVID-19 cases in Georgia spanning 157 counties with 464 deaths. The state lab has processed 3,750 tests, and commercial […]
Georgia to expand COVID-19 testing; set up 200 medical pods in World Congress Center
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Public Health, executive order, expansion, Georgia, Governor Kemp, Griffin, shelter-at-home, spalding county, testing, World Congress Center
Virtual graduation ceremony scheduled for Gordon State College
STAFF REPORT ::: Gordon State College will hold a virtual graduation ceremony for its spring graduates at 9 a.m. May 15. Graduates will be recognized online in a ceremony that will be accessible to their families and friends. An additional on-campus ceremony during which graduates will walk the stage to receive their diplomas is also […]
Filed Under: Education, Top Stories
Kemp urges Georgians not to attend in-person religious services
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp is urging Georgians to not attend religious services, including Easter services, even those that are described as “drive-in.” Authorities say law enforcement agencies have received reports that participants of drive-in religious services are not staying in their vehicles, but are instead leaving them to allow children to play, use […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Religion, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, easter, faith, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, religion, shelter-at-home, spalding county, worship
Griffin Board of Commissioners cancels April 14 meeting
STAFF REPORT ::: Griffin Board of Commissioners has cancelled its April 14 meeting Citing concerns regarding COVID-19 and the state’s shelter-at-home order, the Griffin Board of Commissioners has cancelled its regularly scheduled April 14 meeting. A press release issued Thursday afternoon stated, “In order to comply with Governor’s Shelter in Place Order and out of […]
Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Board of Commissioners, coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Griffin, meeting, shelter-at-home order, spalding county
GPD apprehends burglary suspect as store owner remotely viewed the crime
STAFF REPORT ::: An alert business owner reported a commercial burglary as it was in progress, which led to the speedy apprehension of one suspect by officers of the Griffin Police Department. Renish Panjwani on Monday at approximately 3:45 a.m. called in a report to Spalding E911 that he was watching live video footage of […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, Burglary, crime, Georgia, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, spalding county, Uniform Patrol Division
Kemp: Shelter-at-home executive order extended through April 30
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday morning announced he is extending his executive order that declared a public health state of emergency. This order that was originally set to expire on April 13 was extended through May 13. Wednesday afternoon, Kemp announced he is extending his executive order requiring Georgian’s to shelter-at-home. First […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter-at-home, spalding county, state of public health emergency
Georgia’s public health state of emergency being extended to May 13
STAFF REPORT ::: Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston have announced their intention to extend Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13. The original state of emergency was set to expire April 13. State law allows for the extension of the emergency declaration, which Kemp sought to […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Public Health State of Emergency, spalding county, Speaker David Ralston
Head on collision injures three
STAFF REPORT ::: Three people were injured, at least one seriously, in a Tuesday evening head on collision in Pike County. According to the office of Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, the incident occurred when Kaitland Harvey, a Thomaston resident, reportedly failed to yield the right of way when entering Highway 19. Harvey, who was […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: air ambulance, head on collision, Pike County, Pike County Emergency Services, Pike County Sheriff's Office, wreck
Rapid result drive-through COVID-19 testing now available at Georgia Tech
April 6, 2020 by Sheila Mathews
STAFF REPORT ::: Access to rapid COVID-19 testing is expanding today with a drive-through site located at Georgia Tech. The test site will be operated by CVS, with testing offered by Abbott Laboratories. At full capacity, the site will be able to conduct up to 1,000 tests daily. “Increased access to rapid testing remains one […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, rapid testing, spalding county
Pike County Sheriff responds to Kemp shelter-in-place executive order
STAFF REPORT ::: Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas has issued a statement regarding Governor Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place executive order. “The Sheriff’s Office has received numerous phone calls with questions regarding the recent orders passed down by Governor Kemp. I understand that we all face a trying time that can leave us anxious for answers. All […]
Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, law enforcement, Pike County, shelter in place, Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, spalding county
Curfews imposed by city of Griffin, Spalding County no longer in effect
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: With the enactment of Governor Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place executive order, the curfews imposed by the city of Griffin and Spalding County are no longer in effect. As of 6 p.m. Friday, April 3 – the time at which the shelter-in-place order goes into effect – all activities permitted under Kemp’s order […]
Kemp executive order requiring Georgians shelter in place signed and released
STAFF REPORT ::: The office of Governor Brian Kemp has released his executive order requiring all Georgians to shelter in place in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order, which details what actions will be permissible and which will be prohibited, can be read in its entirety on Kemp’s website https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders/2020-executive-orders. It is the […]
Filed Under: Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter in place, spalding county
High customer volume leaves shoppers waiting in line to enter some stores
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: High customer volume in Griffin grocery stores Wednesday afternoon resulted in shopping delays for some customers as they were required to wait to enter stores. Griffin Fire-Rescue Chief John Hamilton said that following Governor Brian Kemp’s Wednesday afternoon address, GF-R personnel drove by local businesses to ensure crowds were with safety […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, customer volume, Fire Chief John Hamilton, Griffin, Griffin Fire-Rescue, grocery stores, shopping, spalding county, wait times
DPH: First COVID-19 death confirmed in Spalding County
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed the first Spalding County COVID-19 death. State health officials say the deceased patient was a 73-year-old man who did have an underlying medical condition. Spalding County Board of Health Chairman Johnie McDaniel said the board has no additional information, and that due to […]
Filed Under: Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Public Health, Georgia, Griffin, spalding county
Governor Kemp announces statewide shelter in place executive order
Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday afternoon announced he will be signing an executive order requiring all Georgians to shelter in place. Kemp also declared all public schools K through 12 are closed for the duration of the 2019-2020 school term. Kemp’s address can now be read below in its entirety. “I’m joined today by Department […]
Filed Under: Education, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Griffin, shelter in place, spalding county
The GRIP 