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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - 2018 was a whirlwind of a year with the ending never seeming to slow down, and January rolling quickly through. I can’t believe it’s already the middle of January! Here is a look at some of the major events of the year including some of the community events that I covered.
Pictures from major events like motorcyle rides, Concord Jubilee, and Christmas in Concord are on my Facebook page. and you can find me on Instagram at Becky Clark Watts. Pictures are my favorite thing, but they are very time consuming to upload onto Pike County Times so it takes a minute to get those online! Facebook is an easy resource to use for pictures.
The year began with snow and ended with threat of a lawsuit. The snow is normal with a threat about once a year. The threat of a lawsuit was serious enough that I put 6 to 8 hours into an investigation before writing my follow up and addition to an article from earlier in the year.
News from 2018
January began with a December story about a very special citizen who gives his time and advice freely to those who are wise enough to ask, snow, and a local motorcycle group is working with law enforcement and our first responders to bring comfort to young ones in times of stress.
Tom Morton Is the Zebulon, Georgia City of the Year for 2017
Southside Riders Present Teddy Bears in Pike County
February brought a football signing, a wreck, a time to mourn together, and a new ministry in our community.
Pike County Football Holds Signing Day
BREAKING NEWS: Log Truck Wrecks in Molena
Remembering Matthew Williams
Collier's Community Services Is Providing Meals to Needy Families.
April brought breaking news in BREAKING NEWS UPDATED: GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Pike County.
May brought special events, an election, and other events.
BREAKING NEWS: Three Vehicle Accident Occurs South of Zebulon
Unofficial Primary Election Results - May 22, 2018
Student Hopes to Walk Across High School Graduation Stage
Pike American Legion Post 197 Presents Meansville 5K/10K Run/Walk - May 5, 2018
Congratulations to the PCCHS Class of 1969!
June brought breaking news and another storm.
BREAKING NEWS: FBI Arrests Two More Suspects in Violent Takeover Robbery (The entire article is here if you will read from the bottom to the top of the page.)
Thursday's Storm Downed Tree in Zebulon and Blocked a Few Roads
July began a search for a county manager that lasted into the fall.
BREAKING NEWS: Pike County Manager Resigns; Search Is Beginning for New County Manager
BREAKING NEWS: Arrest Made in Rock Store Burglaries
McKinley Road Between Hwy 19 and New Hope Road to Be Closed to Thru Traffic
Pike County Health Department to Hold Back to School Bash
August was a fun ending to a summer of reading with the Summer Reading Finale at the J. Joel Edwards Library - Saturday, July 28th.
September brought the first round of finalists for county manager and an invitation to help hurricane victims north of Georgia.
BREAKING NEWS: Pike County Commission Announces Finalists for County Manager
BREAKING NEWS: Barnesville Church of the Nazarene Invites Community to Help with Hurricane Response
October brought disappointment in county manager candidates who chose to work somewhere besides Pike county and another opportunity to help hurricane victims--this time in South Georgia. It also brought tragedy and a community coming together to support our own.
BREAKING NEWS: Pike County Manager Candidates Both Withdraw Their Application
Pike County Not Affected Much by Hurricane Michael; How to Help in a Small Town in Southwest Georgia
Remembering Dylan Thomas
November brought a new county manager, an election, an arrest in a fraud case, and threat of a lawsuit to Pike County Times.
BREAKING NEWS: Pike County Has Chosen a New County Manager
BREAKING NEWS: Results of the 2018 November Election
Suspect Arrested in Fraudulent Go Fund Me Account Case
BREAKING NEWS: Racketeering Charges Dismissed Against Veal
December brought arrests of those thought they could act badly in Pike County and not suffer any consequences. They were wrong.
BREAKING NEWS: Theft of Auto Leads to Four Arrests
BREAKING NEWS: Theft of Auto Leads to Fifth Arrest
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Thank you to First Bank of Pike for sponsoring Pike County Times’ Breaking News Alerts! First Bank of Pike has been serving customers in Pike County and the surrounding area since 1901 and offers Personal and Business banking with a personal touch. Services include checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, and IRA’s. Mobile Banking and Bill Payment services are also available!
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Goals for The New Year
My biggest goal for the year is to continue attending meetings of the Pike County Board of Commissioners and keeping the public informed on as much as I can. I will also continue attending occasional meetings for boards and cities in the county from time to time. Hopefully it's because something interesting is happening and not because people in authority are not following the rules. Some may beg to differ, but it does not give me joy to write up when bad things are going on in the county. Following the rules is important to me.
I will also attend as many events as I can around the county throughout the year. If I can't make it to your event, feel free to send pictures to me or tag me on Facebook so the community can see the good things that are happening in our community!
This will be year thirteen of being a civil activist, news reporter, and owner of Pike County Times. No, I'm not superstitious in the least, and I hope that this will be the best year ever of covering local and county events and putting community events out to the public. A look back at the past year shows that we have a great community where bad stuff sometimes happens but the good stuff is out there all the more because that is who we are here in Pike County!
Let us remember the good, learn from the bad, and continue enjoying living in this little piece of heaven called Pike County. It isn't perfect, but I'm happy here and hope that you are too.
You can send news tips to me by email at editor(at)pikecountytimes.com, by call or text at 770-468-7583 or through Facebook. Thank you for making sure that Pike County Times remains a community newspaper. I am honored by your support and will continue doing what I do in politics and news throughout the year.
As always, thanks for reading and supporting Pike County Times.com!