Pike County Post 197, The American Legion will hold a short service to offer thanks and prayers for our military on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 pm (noon). This is a monthly service that is held at the Veteran’s Memorial on the Pike County Courthouse grounds. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact pikepost197@gmail.com.

A support group for caregivers of family and friends who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, held its first meeting on March 8, 2012 at Concord United Methodist Church. The group will meet the second Thursday of each month.

Caregivers of loved ones with memory loss are invited to attend. There will be a special informational program as well as the opportunity for conversation and fellowship. Refreshments will be provided. Separate supervised activities will be provided for loved ones with memory loss.

Contact Tammy Jarrett at 706-646-3949 or Gary Kemp at 770-584-2388 if you plan to attend or for more information.

Thomaston Toastmasters meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 12 - 1 p.m. at The Pie, 710 N. Church Street, Thomaston. Visitors are welcome. Anyone living or working within driving distance is welcome to attend. Visit us on Facebook for more information: www.facebook.com/ThomastonToastmasters

The Pike County Republican Party meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Pike County Senior Center located at 2488 Highway 19 N, Zebulon.

The Pike County Democratic Party meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 PM at A Novel Experience in Zebulon. Click here for more.

The American Legion Auxiliary meets the first Tuesday of the Month at 6 p.m. The American Legion Post 197 meets the second Thursday of the Month at 7 p.m. The Sons of American Legion, Squadron 197 meets the second Sunday of the Month at 3:30 p.m.

All meetings are held at the Post 197 Building located at 645 Meansville Road in Zebulon, Georgia.

GED classes and are offered at Concord Baptist Church (8670 Hwy. 18). Amy Tate is there every Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Students may also register for the program at the same location and times. All classes, books, and materials are free. Scholarships for GED testing fees are available. Contact Amy at atate@sctech.edu or 770-467-6036 for more information. (Amy spoke to Kiwanis of Pike last week. Thanks to Mike Cox and Kiwanis Club of Pike for this information.)

The Pike Community Resource Network meets on the first Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Church of Joy located at 3080 Highway 362 W, Williamson.

If you have any questions, please contact Michael Powell of the Pike Community Resource Network at 770-567-2930 or pikecommunityresourcenetwork@gmail.com.

PINE MOUNTAIN - Do you want to help out in a project that will benefit many at a public venue? Does your group want to participate in a group project picking up trash and making a community asset shine? FDR Park is looking for volunteers to help with a roadside trash pickup. Workdays are FREE and volunteers of all ages are welcome. You do not have be a PMTA member to participate and you do not sign up in advance or call ahead. Just show up a few minutes before the stated start time.

Click here to find out more about this and a list of hikes at FDR Park. Please tell them that you read about this on Pike County Times and snap a selfie or two and send them to editor@pikecountytimes.com as you work or hike!

The EPD burning restrictions go into effect May 1, 2017 and will last through the summer months until October 1.

ww.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/permit9.18.17.html

For more information visit the Georgia Forestry Commission’s web site at www.gatrees.org or call your local office of the Georgia Forestry Commission at (770)227-5522 or (706)646-6011. You can also contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at (404)362-2671.

There will be a Charity Concert with Marc Broussard on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Double P Farms in Williamson. This family friendly event will have food, kid activities and great music with Southbound and Lambert, O'steen & Friends and Marc Broussard.

Tickets are $20 in advance. Kids 6-12 are $10. Kids 5 and under are free. Gates open at 1 and the music starts at 3. Click here to get your tickets. This fundraiser benefits the Brandon Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The 2017 Bible Reading Marathon has been cancelled before it even began. Only three volunteers called to read for a total of 2.5 hours out of 88 hours. Organizer Dwain Penn let me know by email that he has some great ideas for 2018 so keep an eye on Pike County Times for more info!

The Salvation Army will be taking applications for those needing assistance with food and toys for the 2017 holiday season. Applications will be accepted Monday through Friday, October 2 through October 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 725 Meriwether Street in Griffin. You must apply in person at this location to be eligible for assistance.

Applicants must provide ALL of the following information to be eligible for this program: 1) Georgia picture identification, 2) Social Security card for EVERYONE in the household, 3) Age verification for children (birth certificate, shot record, or school records), 4) Proof of ALL income (TANF, Payroll stub, child support, SS/SSI, food stamp award letter, ALL INCOME), and 5) Proof of expenses (mortgage statement/lease, utility bills, phone, ALL BILLS IN THE HOUSEHOLD).

For more information, please call the office at 770-412-6561. PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU TO THE INTERVIEW.

Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City.

Registration at 8 a.m. Ceremony at 9 a.m. Walk at 9:30 a.m.

Start or join a team at georgiawalk.org.

The Let's Talk Church and Get Understanding Conference will be held on October 14 at Life Springs Church with doors opening at 9 a.m. and the conference starting at 9:30 a.m. The admission is free along with lunch.

We have three facilitators teaching about Servanthood that includes Minister Susan Chaney, Rev. Ryan Lee, Rev. Robbie Milner and of course our guest speaker Minister Leisa Atwater. The classes are only 30 minutes for each subject (Importance of Servanthood in our home, church, and community) and broken down in three age groups (10-18, 19-25, 26 &up). We also will have a musical guest to perform during lunch before hearing our guest speaker.

For more information, Contact Rufus Clemmons at (678) 544-1218 or our Conference Host Rev. Derrick Driver (404) 513-9071.

The 1st Annual Brandon Brown Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. at the Griffin City Course. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. All proceeds benefit a scholarship that will be awarded to a graduating senior chosen by The Brown Family.

Please contact Ryan Edge at 770-468-6768 for more information.