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. Contact Brent Taylor, Chairman, at (678) 972-9352 for more information.

The Pike County Democratic Party meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 PM at A Novel Experience in Zebulon.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, and the American Legion Post 197 meet on a monthly basis here in Pike County. All meetings are held at the Post 197 Building located at 645 Meansville Road in Zebulon, Georgia.

For more information, contact pikepost197@gmail.com.

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.

The Alzheimer's Association has a Georgia Chapter that offers services, programs, education, and support groups in our state. Click on the links to find out about what is offered here and how you can become involved. The calendar has a list of dates and times for upcoming events, programs, etc. that is invaluable for families affected by Alzheimer's.

This group has been in existence since 1982 and has seven regional offices as well as a state office in Atlanta. Find out more at www.alz.org/georgia about how the Alzheimer's Association can help you and your family!

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 and last through the summer months until October 1 each year. 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.

The Pike Volunteer Emergency Services Booster Organization (PVESBO) is hosting its annual fundraiser to purchase needed items that may not be covered by the county budget for our volunteer fire department. This is a program that has been in place for many years. Click here for more.

Outdoor burning will again be permitted beginning October 1 in 54 Georgia counties where restrictions have been in place since May. Click here for more.

Pike Post 197 American Legion here in Pike County is looking for a relative/family contact for each of the WWI killed in action names listed on the Pike County Veterans Memorial located on the Courthouse Square in Zebulon Georgia: Arthur Roland Ballard, Herman K. Davis, Leon Rupert Davis, Roswell D. Hooton, John G. McLendon, Henry Alvin O’Neal, Solon S. Self, Vernon Ellis Slade, and brothers Lawrence Grady Sullivan and Pierre M. Sullivan. These ten Pike County heroes who died while on military orders to France or while fighting in France will be honored during this year’s Pike County Veterans Day Observance Program (11 November, 2:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Square) and inducted into this year’s Pike County Memorial Annex Induction Ceremony as part of the 100th Anniversary of the end of WWI. The Induction Ceremony will take place on 1 December 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pike County School Auditorium. You can read Bryan Richardson's Letter to the Editor in its entirety by clicking here.

ZEBULON - On Sunday, 11 November 2018, the Pike County American Legion Family will be hosting the Pike County Veterans Day Program and 100th Anniversary Celebration of the WWI Armistice at the south side of the Pike County Courthouse Square in Zebulon, Georgia. The public is invited to attend this special event commencing at 2:00 p.m. Click here for more.

The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 197 will be smoking Boston Turkey Butts (aka Smoked Turkeys) just in time for Thanksgiving. They are $25 donation. They will be smoking them on Monday, November 19th. Pick up date is Tuesday, November 20th from 10 am - 3 pm. Orders need to be in by Friday, November 16th at 12 noon. For orders contact Peggi Payton at 770-468-4077 text or leave a message.

There will be an estate sale in Meansville on November 16, 17, and 18th (Friday through Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days. The sale will include items like tools, glassware, furniture, knick knacks, household furnishings and SO MUCH MORE! Click here for more.

The Infant Loss Awareness Walk will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Wyomia Tyus Park, 1301 Cowan Road in Griffin from 3-7 p.m in the Pavilion by the lake. This is a yearly event designed to encourage and inspire those who have experienced the loss of an infant due to: sickness, miscarriage, stillbirth, and SIDS.

1 in 4 women will experience the loss of a child. We come together each year to say that you are not alone we represent the 1 in 4 and we will stand together to uplift each other. Please come out and celebrate the lives of our Angel Babies There will be singing, dancing, 1K walk, balloon release, food, and much more.

For more information please contact Gregory and Cherilyn McFadden at: 678-572-9262, and 678-326-8936.

Mattie’s Kitchen will be serving Community Thanksgiving Dinners on Monday, November 19, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at Joyful Tabernacle of Praise Fellowship Hall located at 8th Church Street in Concord, GA. We will take preorders for the sick and shut in, and please call ahead to 706.741.2811 or 770.884.5796.

You can also make food donations, financial contributions and/or volunteer at the above numbers or $BADoutreach - cash app (BAD-Blessed and Delivered) Paypal.Me/14lenae74 - PayPal.

For more information, contact Elder Christy Welch at 706.741.2811.

Santa Claus is coming to Griffin on Tuesday, November 20th. Spalding County will be hosting the annual “Festival of Lights” on Tuesday, November 20th at Airport Road Park from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Santa visits from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tree Lighting at 7:00 p.m. This is the annual holiday event you don’t want to miss!

Children will enjoy a visit with Santa, Elf School, Penguin Bowling, Snowball Throw, Frosty’s Flurries, Penguin Pass and Santa Zone featuring S’more making, cookie decorating, games, prizes and more! Tasty treats including hot chocolate, coffee, soft drinks, hamburgers, hotdogs and nachos will be available for purchase from the local 4-H.

All parking will be at Roses Shopping Center and shuttle busses will be provided. For your safety, everyone is asked to ride the shuttles rather than walk. Airport Road will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic at 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call Spalding County Leisure Services 770-467-4750.

The J. Joel Edwards Public Library is doing its part to help people in the community connect to affordable health insurance. During the open enrollment period for coverage under the Affordable Care Act (Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2018), J. Joel Edwards Public Library is taking steps to encourage enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Flint River Regional Library System and dozens of other public libraries and library systems across the U.S. have received grants from the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, to do this work as part of a national partnership funded by Community Catalyst and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

J. Joel Edwards Public Library will be hosting an open enrollment information and question and answer session on Tuesday, November 20, from 5-6:30 PM. Peggie Rhodes from B INSURED 4 LIFE will present information about the Affordable Care Act marketplace, choosing a health insurance plan, and how to enroll. The session will be held in the library meeting room at 7077 Highway 19 South, Zebulon, GA 30295. For further information and to register for this event, contact the library at 770-567-2014. The event is free and open to the public.

The Kiwanis Club of Pike County is smoking Boston Butts to help fund all Pike County Kiwanis Club projects for local children. Supplement your Thanksgiving turkey or serve this 8 pound smoked butt as the main entree. Only $30!

Call 404-775-0658 to place your order. Pick up your order on November 21 from 2-6 p.m. at Georgia Farm Bureau located at 7664 Hwy 19 South in Zebulon. All proceeds benefit Pike County Children.

Rufus Clemmons, Jr. will be the spotlighted author at the Novel Experience bookstore in the Downtown Square of Zebulon where he will share how God used him and his life to write this compelling book entitled, “How to Become A True Servant-leader of God.” An inspirational book that shares his perspective on how not only to become a Servant-leader, but also how to find your purpose in performing the will of God.

If you want to hear this impactful message and get your autographed copy of this life changing book, come by Novel Experience on November 24 between 4p.m.-6p.m.

Pike County Extension to host beekeeping workshop. Workshop to be held November 29, 2018 at the Concord Event Center in Concord, GA from 6pm-8pm. $10 registration is due at the door. Space is limited to 30 participants. Participants must RSVP to Pike County Extension at 770.567.2010 or brooklyne.wassel@uga.edu by November 26 to reserve a spot.

Topics will include introduction to beekeeping, problem solving, and a question and answer session with an experienced beekeeper of over 20 years, Jim Quick. People interested in beekeeping, novice beekeepers, and experience beekeepers are all encouraged to attend.

An opportunity to order bee packages and materials will be available to participants. Refreshments provided by a local vendor will be provided during the event.

Prescribed fire is defined as fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives. This course is designed for Prescribed Burning Managers. The 1992 Georgia Legislature passed the Prescribed Burning Act which allowed the Georgia Forestry Commission to promulgate a Prescribed Burn Manager Certification Program. Although certification is not required to practice prescribed burning in Georgia, the program is offered in the interest of higher learning and achievement for qualified prescribed burn practitioners and landowners.

Course includes self-study of materials provided by mail prior to the program, a two-day training session and a written state exam. Applicants for certification must pass this exam with a score of 70 or higher, have two years of experience and meet a prerequisite of having been the person in charge of five prescribed burns before becoming a certified prescribed burner in Georgia. 11.5 hours of CFE’s will be awarded for those registered foresters needing continuing education credits.

Classes will be held on Dec. 4-5 at the UGA Conference Center in Tifton. Classes are limited to 40 participants. For information on specific classes and registration, please visit gatrees.org/forest-management/prescribed-fire/prescribed-fire-certification. For additional questions pertaining to this class or questions about prescribed burning, please contact Ken Parker, Wildland Fire Specialist, at 478-751-3332 or kparker@gfc.state.ga.us.

Breakfast and pictures with Santa and Ms. Claus will be December 8th, 2018 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Molena Baptist Church. please e-mail murpheyc1@bellsouth.net to make an appointment. Walk ups also welcome.