GRIP Exclusive: Spalding County Marshal Smart Web currently under GBI investigation

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County Marshal Smart Web is currently under criminal investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The investigation was initiated prior to Web being hired to head up the newly created Spalding County Marshal’s Office. In response to an Open Records request, the city of Woodbury confirmed Web is a subject […]

County BoC will meet in Savannah to discuss possible stormwater utility, budget, taxes, zoning

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Board of Commissioners will be holding a workshop this weekend in Savannah during the annual Association County Commissioners of Georgia conference. The workshop will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and will be held in the Savannah Conference Center. The agenda lists three subjects to be discussed – the […]

Hawbaker pleads guilty to five counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Don Hawbaker, who has been held without bond in the Spalding County Jail without bond since Feb. 4, 2020, today accepted a guilty plea to five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. The guilty plea was accepted by Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Scott Ballard. Hawbaker was on […]

BoC approves The Lakes at Green Valley Industrial Park site for new aquatic facility

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Board of Commissioners has voted to construct the 2015 SPLOST referendum-approved aquatic facility at The Lakes of Green Valley Industrial Park. The vote in favor of the industrial park site was split 3-2 with Commission Chairman Clay Davis and Commissioners James Dutton and Ryan Bowlden approving and Commissioners […]

Dutton ethics complaint died in tied vote

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The ethics complaint filed against Spalding County Commissioner James Dutton by Sharon Royl will not move forward due to a tied two-two vote during the Monday night Board of Commissioners meeting. In discussion prior to the vote, potential changes to the current ethics code were cited as a reason to table […]

Ethics complaint against Spalding Commissioner James Dutton dead on table

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The ethics complaint filed against Spalding County’s District 2 Commissioner James Dutton will  not move forward to a formal hearing. The complaint, which alleged Dutton violated two provisions of the county’s Code of Ethics, was filed by Sharon Royl.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Read about Royl’s ethics complaint against Dutton here: https://the-grip.net/2021/02/01/spalding-boc-to-discuss-ethics-complaint-against-commissioner-james-dutton/__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The complaint was considered during […]

Spalding BoC to discuss ethics complaint against Commissioner James Dutton

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: An ethics complaint against Spalding County Commissioner James Dutton will be discussed during the Board’s Monday night meeting and a date and time will be set to determine if there exists a prima facia violation of the county’s Code of Ethics. The ethics complaint was filed Jan. 14 by Sharon Royl, […]

Governor suspends Don Hawbaker from office as Spalding County commissioner

STAFF REPORT ::: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has suspended from office Spalding County Commissioner Don Hawbaker. An executive order announcing Hawbaker’s suspension was issued Wednesday. Hawbaker was indicted on Oct. 29 indicted on one count of aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act, five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and two […]

BREAKING NEWS: Don Hawbaker indicted on eight felony charges

STAFF REPORT ::: Spalding County Commissioner Don Hawbaker has been indicted by a grand jury on eight felony charges. The charges relate to a Feb. 4 incident at his Satilla Court residence. The grand jury today true billed one count of aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act, two counts of possession of a […]

Federal judge recommends dismissal of Hawbaker lawsuit against Sheriff and jail administration

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Don Hawbaker, the Spalding County commissioner who has been held without bond in the Spalding County Jail since his Feb. 4, 2020 arrest, has filed a lawsuit against Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Maj. Robert Sowell and Capt. Kyle Phillips. Sowell is the jail administrator and Phillips is the assistant jail […]

County lawn waste container erroneously removed; will be returned to Carver Road station

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County residents will soon be able to resume disposing of yard waste at the Carver Road refuse collection center. The container designated for that use was erroneously removed Sunday. In a Tuesday afternoon interview, County Manager William Wilson initially said it was removed at the wish of the Board of […]

Spalding County officials announce actions taken in response to COVID-19

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Board of Commissioners has announced action and precautions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and say local officials are closely monitoring all federal, state and local public health announcements. Out of an abundance of caution, Spalding County will be taking the following necessary precautions to ensure the health and well-being of […]

Hawbaker: Bond denied

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County Senior Magistrate Judge Rita Cavanaugh has denied bond to Commissioner Don Hawbaker on five felony counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. Bond was granted on five separate misdemeanor charges. The GRIP will publish a detailed article of the bond hearing later in the day.

Sheriff formally requests Governor Kemp remove Don Hawbaker from office

STAFF REPORT ::: In a letter in which he referred to Commissioner Don Hawbaker as “a threat to the community and menace to society” whose actions “are worse than the actions of a gang member,” Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix requested Gov. Brian Kemp take steps to remove from office the elected official who remains […]

Hawbaker retains all rights as duly elected county commissioner

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Don Hawbaker, who is currently being held without bond in the Spalding County Jail, remains a member of the Spalding County Board of Commissioners. Under Georgia law, governmental action to remove a commissioner may not be initiated prior to the official being indicted by a grand jury on a felony charge. […]