Sheriff: Woman committed murder, set fire to home to conceal “insidious” crime

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Christy Garner, of Spalding County, has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Patricia Gresham, in a crime described by Sheriff Darrell Dix as an “insidious.” The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Spalding County Fire Department and Spalding County Coroner Michael Pryor on Sunday responded to a structure fire […]

Sheriff refutes social media report of riot and fire inside Spalding County Jail

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix is refuting a social media post reporting a fire and riot inside the Spalding County Jail. The allegation posted on a local public Facebook forum said in part, “If anyone has family or friends inside of the Spalding County Jail, they should be aware that there […]

Two men credited with rescuing woman from burning vehicle after wreck

STAFF REPORT ::: Good Samaritans are being credited with rescuing a woman from her wrecked vehicle just as it caught on fire. According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Hatchett was involved in a collision early Thursday morning on Reidsboro Road that left her unable to exit her vehicle. Two passersby, George Smith and […]

Three bodies located after Spalding County mobile home fire

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Three people were located deceased after a Friday afternoon fire in the South Hampton Mobile Home Park located at 5291 Old Atlanta Road. The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and Spalding County Fire Department at 2:34 p.m. today responded to a call reporting a possible suicidal person at the address. Upon arrival, […]

County refuse collection centers impacted by city transfer station fire

STAFF REPORT ::: Spalding county officials are advising residents that the fire at the city of Griffin transfer station may result in delays at the county’s refuse collection centers. According to a press release issued by Spalding County, the city’s transfer station is utilized for the disposal of household garbage and recyclables from many of […]

Sheriff: At least one seriously injured in warehouse explosion; first responders remain on scene

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: At least one person has been seriously injured in a reported explosion at ARI, an aerosol product manufacturing facility located at 2523 S. McDonough Road. According to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the incident was reported as an explosion with a fire at 4:24 p.m. “It appears that there was some […]

Wreck causes damage, gas pump fire at Ringgold Superette

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A single vehicle wreck has damaged and caused a fire at Ringgold Superette located on Jackson Road. According to Capt. Dwayne Jones, of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, preliminary reports indicate the wreck does not appear to have damaged the building. “It appears a vehicle jumped the curb at Ringgold’s Superette […]

Cause of fatal Saturday morning fire determined

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Officials have determined the cause of a Saturday morning fire at 408 E. McIntosh Road that claimed the lives of two – 44-year-old Christie Lewis and six-year-old Zachaury Sevenstar. Authorities say an investigation conducted by Spalding County Fire Marshal Harold Williams and State Fire Marshal Mickey Hunt determined the fire originated […]

Six-year-old fire victim will give life to others through organ donation

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Zachaury Sevenstar, the six-year-old little boy critically-injured in a Saturday morning fire, has succumbed to his injuries. “He was actually pronounced at 12:10 p.m. by Dr. Clardy. He was declared brain dead at that time,” said Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster. Little Zachaury’s cause of death was smoke inhalation with thermal […]

Woman killed, young boy critically injured in fire

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Spalding County woman lost her life and her six-year-old son was critically-injured in a Saturday morning fire. Christie Lewis, 44, and her son, six-year-old Zachaury Sevenstars, were the only family members home when the blaze began in their 408 E. McIntosh Road residence. Lewis’s husband left for work in the […]

Elderly Griffin man killed in Sunday morning fire

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: An early Sunday morning fire on Morningside Drive took the life of an elderly Griffin resident, 76-year-old Albert C. “Carey” Jones. According to Griffin Fire-Rescue Chief Tommy Jones said he received notification of the fire at approximately 7 a.m., and heavy smoke was showing upon the arrival of the first fire […]

An unexpected furry heroine

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: It has long been said that dog is man’s best friend, but for one Griffin woman, the family pup proved to be more – much more – than her best friend. Domino became her unexpected hero. Dana Ogle’s day seemed a typical one. She finished her night shift at work, returned […]

Fatal Wednesday night fire under investigation

STAFF REPORT ::: An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a Wednesday night fire on Kennedy Drive that resulted in the death of a 37-year-old woman. Officials say the Spalding County Fire Department and Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services on April 13 responded at 11:05 p.m. to the report of a structure fire at […]

Family loses home in fire

STAFF REPORT ::: The Grip wishes to thank Becky Clark Watts, of the Pike County Times, for allowing us to share this article. Please visit the link below to read the entire story and learn of equipment utilized by the Fire Department that allowed water to be pulled from a nearby source to fight the […]

Griffin PD officer searches smoke filled home, rescues toddler from reported fire

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Griffin Police Department officer responding to a kitchen fire call pulled a child from a residence amid heavy smoke. Sgt. Joe Hudson, the first responding officer on the scene, was informed by a resident that the child remained inside the home. “At 6:12 p.m., Sgt. Hudson responded to a kitchen […]