About us

An Internet-only news site devoted to issues regarding Warrenton, Ga., and its environs.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Ray Guy shares his kicking expertise

His hometown of Thomson is mentioned in this profile from Pittsburgh, where the former Oakland Raiders star led a class for kids.

The gov is coming

He's coming to Thomson Saturday.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Coming soon: Retail

That's what the sign says in front of the new strip mall building that has sprung up on Norwood Road, across from the new high school. The nameplate out front calls it "Warrenton Crossing." Looks like it has maybe five store fronts in it. Anyone know what's going in there?

We're back now

Sorry about the recent lack of posts, loyal readers. We went on a sudden unexpected hiatus about two weeks ago when my grandmother, Laura Strange Peebles, known to me as "Mu," had a massive stroke. She died last Thursday and was buried Sunday in Emanuel County. She was 92. Here's the short free obit that ran in The Augusta Chronicle. Mu was a unique lady. We'll post a more complete obituary later on.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Wrens doing internal investigation of police chief

It was tipped off by Police Lt. Willie Nelson -- but apparently not THAT Willie Nelson.

CSX declares 10-cent dividend

The railroad has a yard in Camak. Shares were trading at 43.90 this morning.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Explosives truck on its way to Warrenton turns over in Columbia Co

The truck was headed to Martin-Marietta. It overturned outside Appling. No one was injured.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Get ready for the sales tax holiday later this month

It's July 28-31 across Georgia, according to this Journal-Constitution story.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Remembering those who didn't come home

A U.S. Air Force pilot who was shot down in Vietnam in 1966 was recently buried in Savannah after his remains were finally identified. There are actually several American servicemen from this area -- none from Warren County, but some from neighboring communities -- who remain missing in action, according to the Department of Defense Web site:

From the Korean War -- (all listed here are presumed dead by the Pentagon):
+ Staff Sgt. Larry B. Akins, U.S. Air Force, of Statesboro, missing in action since 1951.
+ Sgt. Baldwin B. Barclay, U.S. Army, of Baldwin County, missing in action since 1950.
+ Sgt. First Class James Allen Hunnicutt, U.S. Army, of Statesboro, taken prisoner in 1950.
+ Cpl. William Judson King Jr., U.S. Army, of Emanuel County, taken prisoner in 1950.
+ Sgt. Luther C. Riner of Emanuel County, missing in action since 1951.
+ Sgt. James R. Schroeder of Wilkes County, U.S. Army, killed in action in 1950.
+ Master Sgt. James R. Stapleton, U.S. Army. (The Pentagon lists his home of record as "Washington, Ga.," but it's not clear whether that's the town of Washington or Washington County.) Killed in action in 1950.
+ Private First Class Charlie Wilcher Jr., U.S. Army, also of Washington or Washington County, missing in action since 1950.

From the Vietnam War, Maj. Thomas Franklin Case, U.S. Air Force, was shot down over North Vietnam in 1966. The C-130 aircraft he was piloting was one of two in a raid trying to demolish the Thanh Hoa Bridge. Case's remains were returned to the U.S. in 1986 and were identified the following year.

Read more about what the government is doing to find our MIAs and POWs at the homepage of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office.

Sunday, July 10, 2005

10 years of the Redneck Games

Launched as an alternative to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, it's been going strong for a decade now. The Journal-Constitution story includes photos of a toilet-seat-throwing match. Or check out the official Redneck Games homepage.

Saturday, July 9, 2005

Warrenton man leads police on chase in Glascock Co.

Gaynor Newsome wound up running into a sheriff's deputy's car and was arrested, The Chronicle reports.

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Lean times for the kaolin industry

Combined after-tax profits of the four area kaolin companies were $28.7 million last year, up from $4.6 million in '03, the Macon Telegraph reports.

Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Mother of two drowned toddlers indicted on child neglect charges

Jonah and Nicole Payne wandered away from their Warrenton home on April 23; their bodies were later found in a sewage pond nearby (story from WGST radio station).

Sunday, July 3, 2005

This just in: Warrenton not in the running to host the 2012 Olympic games

The finalists are New York, Paris, Madrid, Moscow and London, The New York Times reports. So I guess I won't be able to pitch my plan to the International Olympic Committee:
+ Track and field events held at the football field on Legion Drive.
+ Tennis at the city park tennis courts.
+ Swimming at the Cedar Park swimming pool.
+ Javelin throw and shot put competitions at the driving range at the old Warrenton Country Club.
+ Tourist accomodations at Fountain Campground.

That crazy dancing old man in the Six Flags ads ...

... is named "Mr. Six." The ad campaign is profiled here in a story in the Wall Street Journal, and has been blogged-about on ObscureStore.com.

Sandersville kid makes good

The Westell modem that, in part, brings you this Web site is made by a company outside Chicago run by a guy who was born in Washington County and whose late father was once the the mayor of Tennille. Story from The Daily Herald.

Georgia, the land of the free, where you can now legally fish with your fingers

The practice of "noodling," or fishing using just one's fingers, is now legal in Georgia with a new state law that took effect with the start of the new fiscal year July 1, the Macon Telegraph reports.

Saturday, July 2, 2005

Timber industry statewide devalued as land values rise

... Due to development, which there's not all that much of in our area. But elsewhere in the state, apparently it's a big deal, the Journal-Constitution reported.

Friday, July 1, 2005

Yet another bear ... this one in Columbia County

This one wasn't caught Friday, The Augusta Chronicle says. That's three in the space of about two weeks. Read some advice on what to do if you see a bear on the Web site of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Jefferson Co authorities bust alleged dog fighters

"The people who do this are from all walks of life," a veterinarian for the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture told the News and Farmer. "These aren't just your ordinary rednecks. There are doctors and lawyers who spend big money on their dogs."

From the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Web site, http://www.agr.state.ga.us/html/animalprotfaq.html:

I think my neighbors are dog fighting. Is this legal in Georgia?
Dog fighting and cock fighting are illegal and considered animal cruelty in the state of Georgia: Dog Fighting: A person commits the offense of dog fighting when he/she causes or allows a dog to fight another dog for sport or gaming purposes or maintains or operates any event at which dogs are allowed or encouraged to fight one another. O.C.G.A. §16-12-37

Cock Fighting (not legally defined): A person commits the offense
of chicken fighting when he/she causes or allows a chicken to fight another chicken for sport or gaming purposes or maintains or operates any event at which chickens are allowed or encouraged to fight one another.
*Dog fighting and cock fighting information should be reported to the local Animal Control or Sheriffs Department.

Speaking of cockfighting, someone in Mitchell is advertising roosters for sale in a cockfighting magazine I saw yesterday.

Another bear on the loose: This time in Louisville

It's the second case in a couple of weeks now. The last one was in Sandersville (see previous post here). This story from the News and Farmer.

Warren County's Hank Crumpton nominated for counterterrorism post

Hank Crumpton, an official with the CIA and son of Dan and Charlene Crumpton, has been nominated for counterterrorism coordinator for the State Department. His wife initially didn't believe it, his mother tells The McDuffie Mirror. I have a photo somewhere of him on the softball team with my dad for First Baptist Church of Warrenton. He's mentioned in this Washington Post story.

Honk if you can count geese

It's a goose roundup in Greene County. Wildlife workers are doing a goose census.