SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Brandy Lynn Nickels, the former Griffin High School teacher charged with numerous sex crimes involving students, is being held without bond in the Spalding County Jail after her bond was revoked following a second arrest. The GRIP was the only media present in the courtroom to hear arguments in the bond […]
Saturday murder suspect remains at large
STAFF REPORT ::: Authorities are investigating the Saturday murder of a Griffin man, Jontavian Davis. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 1:11 a.m. Saturday at 828 Scales St. Details of the incident are still being investigated, but authorities have confirmed Davis sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Jontavious Davis, murder, spalding county, Vonterryon J. Matthews
City of Griffin, GPD Chief Yates refuse to release records on officer allowed to resign in lieu of termination
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin and Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates are refusing to release for review certain records pertaining to Tyler Cooper, formerly of the GPD, that were requested by The GRIP under the Georgia Open Records Act. The original request was made Feb. 3, and repeated efforts to obtain […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, Freedom of information, GBI, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Joshua Howell, Open Records Act, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Teresa Watson, Tyler Cooper
David Gibson’s friends, family speak out at plea hearing; judge expounds on sentence
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: David Gibson, formerly of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, has plead guilty to two felony counts of violating his oath of office. Gibson on Thursday afternoon appeared before Superior Court Judge Robert M. Crawford and entered a blind plea, which means his guilty plea was entered without prior knowledge of the […]
Woman pleads guilty to murder in death of paraplegic man abandoned in woods
STAFF REPORT ::: Ruby Kate Coursey has plead guilty to murder in the death of Troymaine Johnson, a paraplegic who died after being abandoned in a wooded area. According to a press release issued by Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker, the guilty plea before Judge Christopher Edwards was entered Tuesday in Upson County […]
Don’t underestimate your value
The following is an editorial column by Maria McCoy that appeared in the last print edition of The GRIP. This is going to sound harsh. I don’t intend for it sound that way but I DO hope to get through to someone. I see and hear it every day. Most of the time it’s a […]
Filed Under: Lifestyles Tagged With: domestic violence, family, Lifestyles
Last weekend to catch Main Street Player’s “Nunsense Boulevard”
SUBMITTED ::: Get ready to laugh your habit off with Main Street Players’ new production of “Nunset Boulevard,” the final show of the 2016-2017 season. This riotously funny musical comedy features catchy songs, memorable characters and even some audience participation. The play is one of many sequels to the popular Broadway musical “Nunsense,” which introduced […]
Filed Under: Arts and Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: "Nunsense Boulevard", arts, Comedy, entertainment, Griffin, main street players, spalding county
Exclusive Breaking News – David Gibson pleads guilty, sentenced to prison
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: David Gibson, formerly of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, today plead guilty to two felony counts of violating his oath of office. Gibson on Thursday afternoon appeared before Superior Court Judge Robert M. Crawford and entered a blind plea, which means his guilty plea was entered without prior knowledge of the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, David Gibson, Griffin, prison, SpaldingCounty
JRE Market Day teaches real world economics
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: For nearly a decade, third grade Jackson Road Elementary School students have been receiving a hand-on experience in economics by becoming entrepreneurs in their own straw market on Market Day. JRE teacher Amy Nelms Brown said Market Day is an opportunity for the students to learn outside of workbooks. “The third […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Amy Nelms Brown, economics, education, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, Jackson Road Elementary School, Market Day, spalding county
Five arrested following burglary, entering auto incidents
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has arrested five people in connection with a residential burglary and entering auto case. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies responded to a burglary call at 3:35 p.m. May 29. The residential burglary took place in the 300 block of […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Burglary, crime, entering auto, Griffin, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Offic, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff’s Office targets high crime, drug and gang areas; multiple arrests result
STAFF REPORT ::: An operation of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and C.A.G.E. Deputies resulted in multiple arrests May 26 and 27. Targeted were high crime, gang and drug activity areas across the city of Griffin and Spalding County. Many of the charges pertained to alleged drug offenses and violations of the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrests, C.A.G.E. Unit, crime, drugs, gangs, Griffin, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Special Operations Unit
GPD, school officials offer differing accounts of teacher sex crime investigation
Publisher’s Note – It has come to my attention that an article published online Friday, May 19, 2017 – Griffin-Spalding teacher arrested on multiple sex charges – contains factually inaccurate information. This information was obtained directly from Judy Parker, executive director of the Griffin-Spalding County School System Communications and Partnerships Department. This article both corrects […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, Brandy Nickels, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Griffin Spalding County School System, Jim Smith, Judy Parker, Lt. Mike Natale, sex crimes, spalding county, teacher
The GRIP welcomes Bargain Hunt
Be sure to pick up the May 25 print edition of The GRIP for a 25 percent off coupon to Bargain Hunt. Please support The GRIP by supporting its advertisers. Tell them you saw their ad here!
Filed Under: Top Stories
Allegation of inappropriate coach, student relationship under investigation
Pike county law enforcement agencies and the Pike County School System are investigating allegations of an inappropriate relationship between an athletic coach and student. The GRIP thanks The Pike County Times for its coverage of this incident, and will continue to link to updates as they become available. http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSschool5.23.17.html#.WSTfoxHHfIU
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: coach, investigation, Pike County, Pike County School System, Pike County Sheriff's Offic, student
Griffin-Spalding teacher arrested on multiple sex charges
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A teacher with the Griffin-Spalding County School System has been arrested on a variety of sex-related charges. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the GPD, in conjunction with the Griffin-Spalding County School System, received information alleging inappropriate actions by a teacher with students. Brandy L. Nickels, age […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, Brandy L. Nickels, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Griffin Spalding County School System, molestation, sex crimes, spalding county, teacher
The GRIP 