Solomon Street Building Coming Down, Young Anglers Reel In Wins at Tyus Park Derby, and Ribbon Cuttings This Week.
Griffin Grapevine
June 22, 2026
Good morning, Spalding County!
The World Cup has been about as fun as advertised so far. It is one of those sports events that manages to pull in people who normally do not care about soccer at all. You turn it on for a few minutes, tell yourself it is just background noise, and then suddenly you are locked in, yelling at the TV, and acting like you have always had strong opinions about set pieces.
Team USA has helped make it even better. After opening with a big win over Paraguay and following it up with a clean win over Australia, there is a real buzz around this team. They look confident, they are scoring, and they are giving casual fans plenty of reason to keep paying attention. And that is the best part of a World Cup on home soil. It turns regular days into little national check-ins. People are watching at restaurants, talking about the games at work, checking scores on their phones, and pretending they were soccer experts long before this month.
- Chad
Intrepid Travel has just launched its new Premium Family range — eight new trips across Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, India, Borneo, Vietnam, Morocco, Thailand and Egypt. Small groups of three to five families. Intrepid's most experienced local guides. Immersive, kid-focused activities and elevated stays, with all the logistics handled for you. Watch baby orangutans learn to climb in Borneo. Stargaze at a desert camp in Morocco. Spot leopards on safari in India. These aren't holidays where you watch the world through a window — they're the kind of trips kids remember when they're grown up. Bookings for Intrepid's Family range grew 19% in 2025, and their new Premium tier is their fastest-growing travel style for good reason.
Demolition has started at 117 E. Solomon Street in downtown Griffin after storm damage forced Spalding County to abandon plans to save part of the historic building. Crews with Anderson Environmental began tearing down the rear portion Friday morning, and the full demolition is expected to take about 10 days to two weeks. The county had originally planned to keep the front facade and part of the building while rebuilding the rear section to connect with the Spalding County Annex. That changed after heavy rain on May 29 caused a major roof failure, damaging the front of the structure and raising safety concerns. The building, constructed in 1946 and owned by the county since 1997, had already been closed because of roof and electrical issues.
Young anglers had their turn in the spotlight last weekend at Tyus Park during the annual Youth Spring Fishing Derby. Kids ages 5 to 18 competed in a catch-and-keep contest, with trophies awarded for biggest fish and most fish caught across three age groups. The day also included snacks, raffle giveaways, and plenty of family time around the water. In the 5 to 8 division, Jeremy Dugger caught the biggest fish at 1.42 pounds, while Beckham Powers won most fish caught with 22. For ages 9 to 13, Megan Brown landed the largest catch at 7.61 pounds, and Ja’Miyah Dugger brought in 21 fish. Jemarion Moreland swept the 14 to 18 division, catching a 4.68-pound fish and 46 total fish.
Smoke - Male - 1 year old
Adoptable at Spalding County Animal Care & Control
The week opens Monday at 4:00 PM with the meeting. This is one to watch if you follow vacant, tax-delinquent, blighted, or underused properties, since the Land Bank’s stated purpose is to return those properties to productive use for housing, jobs, and redevelopment.
Tuesday is the busiest day on the civic calendar. The City of Griffin starts the morning with a at 9:00 AM at One Griffin Center, 100 South Hill Street. Workshops are useful for residents who want to hear city issues discussed before formal action is taken later.
Tuesday evening, the City of Griffin reconvenes for its regular at 6:00 PM, again at One Griffin Center, 100 South Hill Street. This is the formal city meeting where residents can follow city business, public services, ordinances, budgets, and other Griffin issues that may come before the board.
Wednesday brings the meeting at 8:15 AM. The city calendar confirms the June 24 meeting, and the city’s Main Street schedule says the board meets on the fourth Wednesday at 8:15 AM in the City of Griffin Municipal Courtroom at 100 S. Hill Street, unless an alternate date is approved. This one is most relevant for downtown activity, business support, events, and Main Street program work.
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.
When: Monday, June 22, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library is hosting Britney Mayorga from UGA Extension Spalding County for a practical food workshop on how to wash, store, and cook produce and other foods from across different cultures. It is a useful afternoon program for home cooks, gardeners, and anyone trying to make the most of fresh food during the summer. No registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
When: Tuesday, June 23, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: The Chamber is welcoming Brooks Legacy Group LLC with a ribbon cutting at the Welcome Center. The group focuses on mentoring local youth, education, outreach, publishing, and supportive services, so this is a good one for readers who like to see new community-minded organizations getting plugged into Griffin.
Where: The Welcome Center, 143 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223
When: Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
What: Main Street Players continues its production of The 39 Steps, a fast-moving stage adaptation that blends Hitchcock-style suspense with comedy and quick character changes. With a small cast taking on dozens of roles, it is a strong midweek pick for anyone looking for local theater in downtown Griffin.
Where: Main Street Players Theatre, 115 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223
When: Thursday, June 25, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
What: The Pink Buffalo is celebrating the grand opening of its new home on Hill Street with a Chamber ribbon cutting. The boutique features boho-western apparel, accessories, home décor, and gifts, making this a good downtown stop for readers who like local shopping and want to welcome a business into its new space.
Where: The Pink Buffalo, 103 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223
When: Thursday, June 25, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
What: Southside Baptist Church is hosting a free family creative workshop where participants will make jump ropes and faith rocks. Families are asked to bring a snack to share, and the church is accepting donations of supplies such as T-shirts, scissors, rocks, and painting materials.
Where: Southside Baptist Church, 1332 Zebulon Road, Griffin, GA 30224
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
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That’s it for today’s Griffin Grapevine.
I know I opened with the World Cup, but that is kind of the fun part of a week like this. You have something big enough for everybody to talk about, and then life around here keeps moving right alongside it. A building coming down on Solomon Street. Kids catching fish at Tyus Park.
That is what the Grapevine is trying to catch. Not just the big headline, but the useful little updates that make you feel more plugged in to the place you live.
If you see something around Griffin or Spalding County that makes you curious, send it my way. A new sign, a construction fence, a local event, a business opening, or just a question people keep asking. A quick photo or a short note is plenty.
Enjoy the week, keep an eye on Team USA, and I’ll see you back here Thursday.
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