El Niño

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Good morning, Spalding County!

Not sure if you have heard yet, but the folks in charge of the weather are starting to talk about this upcoming winter, and apparently things could get interesting. A very strong El Niño is developing in the Pacific.

If you are like me and have heard the term El Niño approximately 10,000 times in your life without ever really knowing what it means, the simple version is this: unusually warm water develops along the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can shift the jet stream and change weather patterns thousands of miles away. For us in Georgia, El Niño winters generally tilt wetter than normal, with more storms moving across the Southeast.

The last few really big El Niños certainly gave us some examples.

During the 2015-16 El Niño, we received more than 25 inches of rain from December through February, making it the second-wettest winter on record. The 1982-83 event helped set the stage for a significant late-season snow across parts of Georgia in March. And following the powerful 1997-98 El Niño, Georgia dealt with major flooding and a rough severe-weather season that included the deadly Gainesville tornado.

Now, before everybody runs out and clears Kroger of milk and bread, none of this means we are guaranteed a snowy winter. Actually, that is probably the biggest misconception about El Niño. A stronger storm track gives us more opportunities for winter weather, but we still need cold air to show up at exactly the right time.

So we could get snow. We could get ice. We could get a whole lot of cold rain. Or, because this is Georgia, probably all three within the same week. Either way, this winter might be one worth watching.

- Chad

It's Here: Pique's New Caffeine-Free Afternoon Energy

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THE DIGEST

Spalding County Supports Heather Raper Through Transplant Journey

Spalding County residents are rallying around Heather Raper as she faces advanced kidney disease and prepares for a possible transplant. Raper, a deputy with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, has been unable to work for roughly a year while dealing with polycystic kidney disease. Doctors recently removed her left kidney, and her remaining kidney is functioning at about 12 percent, making her eligible for the transplant list. The medical crisis has unfolded during the first year of her marriage to Jeremy Raper, adding emotional and financial strain for the newlyweds. Their church, employers and other community members have begun offering assistance while the couple navigates treatment and an uncertain recovery timeline. An online fundraiser has also been established to help cover expenses connected to surgery and the months that follow.

Bears and Jaguars Launch 2026 Season With Opening Wins

The Griffin Bears and Spalding Jaguars opened the 2026 football season with victories Friday night, giving both programs an early boost as fall competition gets underway. Griffin delivered an explosive performance at Memorial Stadium, defeating Locust Grove 54–34 in front of its home crowd. The win gave head coach Bernard Goodrum and the Bears a strong start after an offseason of preparation. Spalding found similar success away from home, earning a 27–19 victory over Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy at Commitment Field in McDonough. Head coach Nick Davis and the Jaguars handled their opening road test against the Class AA program. With both teams beginning the year at 1–0, Griffin and Spalding now turn their attention to maintaining that momentum through the demanding weeks ahead.

New Orchestra Brings Local Musicians Together

A new orchestra is giving experienced musicians across Spalding County and surrounding communities another way to perform, connect and serve. The Iris City Worship Orchestra held its first rehearsal on August 11 and has already grown to roughly 30 to 40 instrumentalists. The nonprofit, volunteer-based group was created to bring musicians together through instrumental worship while also supporting local churches and ministries. The orchestra plans to hold concerts and worship events throughout the year, with its first public performance scheduled for November 15 at 4 p.m. at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. The concert will be open to the public and will mark the first major performance for a group hoping to become a lasting part of the area’s music and worship community. For more information about the Orchestra, contact iriscityw.o@gmail.com.

DUMP SCHEDULE

Monday & Thursday: Carver (610 Carver Rd) and Woodroof (4245 Old Atlanta Rd) 11am-7pm

Tuesday & Friday: Blalock (5756 Newnan Rd) and Cabin (3865 Jackson Rd)
11am-7pm

Saturday: All centers open 7am-1pm (plus Akin for bulky items only)

Sunday & Wednesday: Closed

Got big stuff? The Akin Collection Center (841 S McDonough Rd) is for bulky items only—no regular household garbage. Open Saturdays 7am-1pm.

All centers closed on county holidays.

The Official Griffin Grapevine Hometown T-Shirt

Griffin Grapevine is where local stories, familiar faces, and hometown pride come together and now you can wear that spirit. This soft Comfort Colors tee features a richly illustrated tribute to Griffin, Georgia on the back, with irises, railroad tracks, peach, sweet tea, and classic Doc Holliday hat. Wear it around town, to community events, or anywhere you want to represent the people and stories that keep Griffin connected.

Shop the Griffin Grapevine tee and wear your hometown pride.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

Griffin Farmer’s Market 2026
When: Friday, August 28, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
What: UGA Extension Spalding County’s weekly market features locally available produce, honey, boiled peanuts, and other goods.
Where: Kiwanis Fairgrounds, 1025 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Lakeside Vikings at Spalding Jaguars Football
When: Friday, August 28, 7:30 PM
What: Spalding High School hosts Lakeside High School of Atlanta in a non-region varsity football game. Tickets are available online. Memorial Stadium enforces a clear-bag policy.
Where: Griffin Memorial Stadium, 310 East Poplar Street, Griffin, GA 30224

SATURDAY

SCPA Pickleball 101 for Beginners
When: Saturday, August 29, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
What: A 90-minute introductory class covering scoring, rules, paddle positioning, forehand and backhand strokes, basic strategy, and guided practice. Designed for beginners through skill level 3.0. Registration is required, with eight participants allowed. Cost: $25 per person.
Where: Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park, 1301 Cowan Road, Griffin, GA 30223

Pickleball 201 with Darin Kourajian
When: Saturday, August 29, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
What: An intermediate class for players at skill level 3.0 or higher. Instruction focuses on third-shot drops and drives, topspin, fourth-shot pressure, approaching the kitchen, and guided games. Registration is required, with eight participants allowed. Cost: $25 per person.
Where: Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park, 1301 Cowan Road, Griffin, GA 30223

Central Georgia Circuit Shoot No. 6 — NSCA Tournament
When: Saturday, August 29; tournament time not published
What: Cherokee Rose hosts the sixth Central Georgia Circuit sporting-clays shoot of the year. This is an active National Sporting Clays Association event. Participants should contact the venue at 770-227-6569 for registration and check-in details; the courses are scheduled to remain closed to regular use until 3:00 PM.
Where: Cherokee Rose, 895 Baptist Camp Road, Griffin, GA 30223

Builders Bash: Mom and Son Date Night
When: Saturday, August 29, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
What: Mothers and sons can reserve a 45-minute building session beginning at the top of each hour. Each pair receives a buildable flower-bouquet keepsake, access to additional building blocks, a themed photo opportunity, and a brownie sundae to share. Tickets are listed at $25 per pair before fees.
Where: Truett’s Grill, 1455 North Expressway, Griffin, GA 30223

Faith vs. Fear Tour — Gary Michaels, Biker Comedy Hypnotist
When: Saturday, August 29, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
What: Gary Michaels brings his touring comedy-hypnosis stage show to the Griffin Opera House. Michaels combines hypnotism with comedy and performance entertainment. This is an adults-only, ticketed show.
Where: Griffin Opera House, 102 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

UPCOMING

12th Annual Doc Holliday Festival
When: Saturday, September 12, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: The Doc Holliday Festival returns to Griffin City Park for a free day of barbecue, history and family entertainment. The festival will feature more than 30 professional teams competing in a Georgia Barbecue Association competition, along with a People’s Choice tasting where visitors can sample barbecue and vote for their favorite. Spurred West will perform three reenactments of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral while sharing the story of Griffin native John Henry “Doc” Holliday. A portion of the event’s proceeds will support the Spalding Collaborative for Families and Children.
Where: Griffin City Park, 601 Camp Northern Road, Griffin, GA 30224

Moonlight and Magnolias
When: Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, September 27. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.
What: Main Street Players opens its 2026-27 season with Moonlight and Magnolias, a fast-paced comedy set behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most famous films. Producer David O. Selznick has halted production of Gone With the Wind because he needs a new screenplay, so he pulls screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming away from their own work and locks them in his office. For five frantic days, the trio survives on bananas and peanuts while racing to rewrite the script. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors 55 and older, and $15 for students. The production runs for two weekends at Main Street Players’ intimate downtown Black Box Theatre.
Where: Main Street Players Black Box Theatre, 115 N. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

WEATHER

FRIDAY

87° 🌡 69° | ⛈️ | 75% | 💨 Calm

SATURDAY

87° 🌡 69° | ⛈️ | 40% | 💨 5 mph SE

SUNDAY

87° 🌡 70° | ⛈️ | 30% | 💨 5 mph E

THANKS!

Thanks for spending part of your day reading the Griffin Grapevine.

Mother Nature is already making plans for winter. It might mean snow, ice, endless rain, or absolutely nothing worth talking about. For now, I’ll hold off on buying the milk and bread.

I hope today’s issue gave you something useful, whether that was a local story you had not heard yet, an event to add to the calendar, or simply something interesting to talk about around town. If you know someone else who likes keeping up with what’s happening around Spalding County, send the Griffin Grapevine their way.

Have a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Local businesses interested in reaching Spalding County readers can reply as well or email griffin@welldiem.com.