The GRIP

Griffin-Spalding County School System to resume operations Sept. 14

September 13, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin-Spalding County School System and central office will resume operations at standard hours Thursday, Sept. 14. Bus transportation may be delayed due to impassable roads and drivers utilizing alternate routes. The Kids in Action Elementary Afterschool program will resume at all sites, as well as other GSCSS afterschool events and activities. The […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: afterschool activities, classes, damage, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, spalding county, Tropical Storm Irma

Griffin Electric: Power expected to be fully-restored by Thursday

September 12, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: City of Griffin officials say progress is being made in efforts to restore electricity to those without power in the wake of Tropical Storm Irma. As Tropical Storm Irma passed over Spalding County on Monday, many areas experienced extensive damage from falling trees and downed power lines. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, several roads […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: damage, electricity, Griffin, Griffin Electric, Hurricane Irma, outage, spalding county, storm, Tropical Storm Irma

Irma roars through Griffin-Spalding County causing significant damage

September 11, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Tropical Storm Irma stormed through Griffin-Spalding County, leaving in her wake much property damage and thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. Widespread damage has been reported throughout the city of Griffin and Spalding County. Much of the damage appears to have been caused by fallen trees toppled by strong winds. […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager Kenny Smith, County Manager William Wilson, damage, Griffin, spalding county, storm, Tropical Storm Irma

Former GPD officer “showed deception” on every question in pre-employment computer voice stress analysis

September 11, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has learned that Tyler Cooper, a former officer of the Griffin Police Department, indicated deception on every question asked during his preemployment computer voice stress analysis (CVSA) – a form of polygraph examination. Although the city of Griffin has for nearly seven months refused to release Cooper’s CVSA, The […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, Computer Voice Stress Analysis, deception, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, LaGrange Police Department, Open Records Act, polygraph, spalding county, Tyler Cooper

The GRIP subpoenaed to produce investigative records, including confidential sources, in federal case

September 7, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has received a subpoena demanding numerous confidential materials – including those involving confidential sources – be produced in a federal civil rights law suit. The subpoena was issued as part of Civil Action No. 3-15-CV-163-TCB – Jessica Kelley, et al. v. Captain David Gibson, in his individual and official […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: confidential records, confidential source, federal law suit, First Amendment, Griffin, journalism shield law, records, spalding county, subpoena, The GRIP, United States District Court

Eight arrested on variety of drug, weapons and cruelty to children charges

September 6, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 4 Comments

STAFF REPORT ::: The execution of two search warrants resulted in the arrests of multiple adults and the removal of several children from what has been described as “deplorable” within the Howards Mobile Home Park. According to a press release from Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the Special Operations Unit on Aug. 24 completed an […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, cruelty to children, drugs, firearms, Griffin, Howards Mobile Home Park, narcotics, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

D.A. says shooting case that resulted in hung jury will be retried

September 5, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: A Spalding County jury was unable to reach a verdict in the case of State of Georgia v. Hall, which resulted in a mistrial being declared. According to a statement made by the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, the jury deliberated “several hours” on Thursday and Friday. “Hall was charged with […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, D.A. Ben Coker, Griffin, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, hung jury, Public Defender's Office, shooting, spalding county, trial

Search warrant results in numerous drug, weapon and gang charges

September 4, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: A search warrant jointly-executed by agents of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and the Griffin Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit resulted in a variety of felony and misdemeanor narcotics, gang or weapons-related charges against three individuals. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Bloods, C.A.G.E. Unit, drugs, gangs, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Michael Jackson, Michael Lyons, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Special Investigation Unit, Special Operations Unit, Trezmann Davis, weapons

Spalding Clerk of Superior, State courts under criminal investigation

September 1, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Governor Nathan Deal has announced a criminal investigation will be conducted against Spalding County Clerk of Court Marcia Norris. Deal on Wednesday signed an executive order authorizing the investigation. This action followed multiple requests submitted to Deal by local officials. Among those who requested Deal initiate the investigation were Griffin Judicial […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Clerk of State Court, Clerk of Superior Court, Commissioner Bart Miller, D.A. Ben Coker, Governor Nathan Deal, Griffin, Judge Josh Thacker, Marcia Norris, spalding county

Local partnership funds improvements to Civil War Camps Stephens and Milner

August 30, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SUBMITTED ::: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee partnered with Spalding Parks, Public Grounds and Leisure Services for improvements at Civil War Camp Stephens. Improvements include directional signs and information kiosks. The Tourism Committee provided funds for materials with Parks, Grounds and Leisure Services providing the labor for the needed repairs. Camp Stephens on […]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Chamber of Commerce, Civil War, Civil War Camp Milner, Civil War Camp Stephens, Griffin, improvements, Public Grounds and Leisure Services, spalding county, Spalding Parks

Silence is just as damning as hurtful words

August 29, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 4 Comments

This editorial column written by Maria McCoy was previously published in the print edition of The GRIP. I have seen post after post on social media regarding the removal of the General Lee statue in Charlottesville. Many people are glossing over the real issue and focusing on the statue removal. If you look to Facebook, […]

Filed Under: Lifestyles, Top Stories Tagged With: alt left, alt right, Antifa, Black Lives Matter, Charlottesville, editorial, Griffin, Maria McCoy, politics, race, social media, spalding county

GPD: Gunfire, standoff ends without serious injury

August 28, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) on Sunday was activated in response to a standoff following multiple calls reporting shots fired. According to a police report filed by GPD Officer Tyler Farrell, the incident occurred at 738 S. 9th St., after Spalding E911 reported receiving three calls referring to […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, gunfire, spalding county, Special Response Team, standoff, Tim Peoples

City increases yard waste fee, provides consumer protection

August 28, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 2 Comments

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Board of Commissioners has approved changes to the city’s yard waste collection service that includes a price increase to $8.75 per month, while also now providing a measure of consumer protection. The service will continue to be provided by Dependable Waste out of Pike County. “We’re basically just amending […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager Kenny Smith, curbside service, Griffin, spalding county, yard waste

Jake the Dog continues to fight for his life after being rescued in felony animal cruelty case

August 28, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Jake the Dog is now a smiling frisky pup, but most importantly, he is safe and fighting his way to good health. Jake was discovered and rescued by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office when deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant. He was located in the back yard of a residence […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Animal cruelty, crime, Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Griffin, Jake the Dog, Kimberly Blanton, North Griffin Animal Hospital, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

Reward being offered for information in Thursday home invasion, murder

August 25, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department is now offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Thursday morning murder of 36-year-old Quentin D. Poole. Poole sustained multiple gunshot wounds in what authorities are describing as a “likely” home invasion that occurred at approximately 1 […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, crime, drugs, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, home invasion, homicide, murder, Quentin D. Poole, spalding county