STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, working in conjunction with the United States Department of Homeland Security, has concluded an in-depth investigation that resulted in the Nov. 1 arrest of two Spalding County residents – Cupertino Mendoza and Iartina Alvizo Zapata, of 3812 High Falls Road. According to a press […]
Sheriff: $1.5 million cocaine seized in joint narcotics operation
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: cocaine, crime, Griffin, narcotics, seizure, Sgt. Josh Pitts, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Special Operations Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Bond denied for two men charged with 1983 murder of Timothy Coggins
STAFF REPORT ::: Two men arrested and charged with the 1983 murder of Timothy Coggins – Franklin Gebhardt and William Moore Sr. – have been denied bond. According to the office of Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker, Gebhardt and Moore Sr. were on Monday denied bond by Superior Court Judge W. Fletcher Sams. […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: ADA Marie Broder, cold case, District Attorney Ben Coker, Franklin Gebhardt, Griffin, murder, spalding county, Timothy Coggins, William Moore Sr.
Sexual assault: We must all speak up to stop the horrors
This editorial column written by Maria McCoy appeared in the previous print edition of The GRIP. I read a news story this morning regarding Harvey Weinstein. I was shocked at the allegations against him, sure, but what shocked me even more was that this has been an ongoing issue for years in Hollywood and nobody […]
Filed Under: Lifestyles, Top Stories Tagged With: advocacy, control, Griffin, Lifestyles, Maria McCoy, sex crimes, sexual assault, spalding county, violence
Cowan Road Elementary principal resigns; GSCSS alleges multiple ethical violations were substantiated
STAFF REPORT ::: Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCSS) has accepted the resignation of Aleshia McCray as principal of Cowan Road Elementary School. Hoby Davenport will on Monday, Oct. 30, assume the position of interim principal while the search for McCrary’s replacement is conducted. McCray was placed on leave Oct. 5, 2017, pending the outcome of […]
Orrs Elementary School teacher Roxie Davis disciplined after controversial lesson
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Roxie Davis, a fourth-grade teacher at Orrs Elementary School, has received an official letter of directive related a classroom lesson that included the sharing of a CNN 10 Kid News clip about President Donald Trump’s comments pertaining to some NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem. The disciplinary action followed an […]
Filed Under: Education, Top Stories Tagged With: CNN, controversial, education, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, National Anthem, NFL, Orrs Elementary School, Pledge of Allegiance, Roxie Davis, spalding county, teacher
Spalding County Assistant County Manager Eric Mosley hired to fill Troup County leadership position
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: It has been announced that Spalding County Assistant County Manager Eric Mosely has been hired to fill the newly-created and short-term position of assistant county manager in Troup County. This position is temporary as an interim step to assuming the position of county manager upon the November 2018 retirement of current […]
Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Assistant County Manager Eric Mosley, Government, Griffin, leadership, management, spalding county, Troup County
Pike County man arrested after two shooting incidents
STAFF REPORT ::: According to the office of Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, one man was arrested Monday and charged in connection to two separate alleged shooting incidents. Pike County Deputies responded yesterday afternoon to a report of a citizen’s car being shot on Bankston Road. Upon arrival it was learned that the victim had […]
Filed Under: Top Stories
Five arrested in connection with brutal 1983 murder of Timothy Coggins
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office announce that arrests have been made in the 1983 murder of Timothy Coggins. Coggins was murdered in October 1983 on Manley Road. He suffered multiple forms of trauma that resulted in his death. Brutally murdered, his […]
Former GPD officer’s pre-hire tests raised concerns
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Pre-employment testing records for former GPD Officer Tyler Cooper indicate some portions raised questions regarding whether he should have been hired to police the city of Griffin. As part of the hiring process, the GPD administers an examination called the Personnel Evaluation Profile (PEP), which is commonly referred to as a […]
The GRIP responds with objection to subpoena demanding production of records in federal trial
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has responded to a subpoena in a federal civil rights trial demanding Publisher Sheila Mathews produce work product associated with multiple investigative reports primarily involving the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. The subpoena was issued as part of Civil Action No. 3-15-CV-163-TCB – Jessica Kelley, et al. v. Captain David […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: civil rights, David Gibson, federal court, Griffin, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, The GRIP, Wendell Beam
Cowan Road Elementary School principal on administrative leave
SHEILA A. MATHEWS : : : The principal of Cowan Road Elementary School has been placed on administrative leave. Griffin-Spalding County School System Executive Director of Communications and Partnerships Kimberly Green stated, “Griffin-Spalding County School System can confirm that the principal of Cowan Road Elementary School is on leave. This is a personnel matter.” A […]
Filed Under: Top Stories
Alleged teacher-student altercations on Australia trip not investigated by GSCSS
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two employees of the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCSS) – Spalding High School Principal Lindy Pruitt and Kristie Hall, a Cowan Road Elementary School Pre-K teacher – were suspended for drinking alcoholic beverages in the presence of students while on a student trip to Australia. Elise Heaton, who resigned from the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Australia, Code of Ethics, Elise Heaton, Executive Director of Communications and Partnerships Judy Parker, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, Kristie Hall, Lindy Pruitt, Professional Standards Commission, Rynn Goldstein, spalding county, verbal altercation
Orrs Elementary student allegedly brought knife to school
STAFF REPORT ::: An Orrs Elementary School student on Friday, Sept. 29, was allegedly in possession of a knife on the school bus. According to a letter to parents issued by Griffin-Spalding County School System Communications and Partnerships Executive Director Kimberly Willis Green, another student brought the alleged incident to administrators’ attention. “A student aboard […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, knife, Orrs Elementary School, spalding county, weapon, zero tolerance
Further the kingdom of Christ by providing hope that humanity is still present in the world
This editorial column written by Maria McCoy was previously published in the print edition of The GRIP. The United States has been severely impacted by Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma. We watched in horror as the deadly hurricane pulverized cities and caused massive flooding throughout the affected areas. We have watched as horrific fires threatened homes […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: charity, community, evacuees, giving, Griffin, Hurricane Irma, Lifestyles, Maria McCoy, NewWalk Christian Fellowship, relief, spalding county, support
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
This column written by Dr. Bob Hayden was previously published in the print edition of The GRIP. That title is not original with me. You may recognize it from Bob Dylan’s song of 1962. Originally penned as a war protest piece, it asks searching questions about why things happen. Events of the past few days […]
Filed Under: Arts and Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: community, destruction, Dr. Bob Hayden, Griffin, Hurricane Irma, Inspiration, Iris City Chiropractic, perserverence, spalding county, strength
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