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Good morning, Spalding County!

I have officially reached the point in August where I am done negotiating with summer. I have heard its arguments. I have experienced the humidity. I am ready to move on.

Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the pumpkin Munchkin I tried at Dunkin the other day. Whatever happened, my brain has decided fall is close enough to start getting excited.

I even went through my sweatshirts and hoodies this weekend to see which ones were ready for cooler weather. Actually wearing one right now would probably have me questioning my life choices before I reached the mailbox.

Georgia summer still has a little fight left in it, but . Before long, one of those first cool mornings will sneak into Spalding County and sitting outside will finally feel enjoyable again.

- Chad

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THE DIGEST

Spalding County Adds Safety Officers for Youth Sports

Spalding County will add private safety officers at youth football and baseball games after commissioners approved an agreement with Valor Protection Safety Agency on Aug. 17. The 3-1 vote followed renewed discussion about whether private personnel or off-duty deputies should cover county recreation events. Commissioner James Dutton opposed the contract, while Commissioner Reginald Watts was absent. Valor personnel will provide a visible safety presence, monitor activity, document concerns and notify county leaders or law enforcement when needed. They will not have police powers or authority to make arrests. The contract permits armed and unarmed officers who meet Georgia certification requirements. Sheriff’s deputies and Griffin police will remain the lead law enforcement presence. County officials said securing enough off-duty deputies has been difficult, particularly during football season. Funding is included in the current budget, and commissioners plan to evaluate Valor’s performance after the season.

Existing Zoning Cases Move Forward During County Moratorium

Spalding County’s 120-day moratorium on new zoning and special-exception requests will not stop cases already in the pipeline. Senior planner Eva Morales said 10 previously submitted or tabled matters remain eligible for consideration, including the proposed 75 South Data Center on Tomochichi Road. The developer withdrew its applications June 26 and resubmitted them July 23, before the moratorium took effect Aug. 3. The Planning and Appeals Commission’s Aug. 25 agenda lists one application: Sunpath Solar’s request for a special exception involving rooftop solar panels. The meeting will also mark new Community Development Director Toussaint Kirk’s first appearance before the commission. The commission meets at 6 p.m. in Room 108 of the courthouse annex.

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.

CIVIL NEWS

MONDAY

Griffin-Spalding County Land Bank Authority Regular Meeting
When: Monday, August 24, 4:00 PM
What: The authority manages tax-delinquent, vacant and dilapidated properties, returning them to productive use for housing, economic development and job creation.
Where: Municipal Courtroom, One Griffin Center, 100 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

TUESDAY

City of Griffin Board of Commissioners Workshop
When: Tuesday, August 25, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
What: Commissioners review city priorities, proposed policies and staff recommendations in preparation for formal action at regular commission meetings.
Where: One Griffin Center, 100 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Spalding County Planning Commission Meeting
When: Tuesday, August 25, 6:00 PM
What: The agenda includes Application 26-09S from property owner Paul Duval and agent Sunpath Solar, requesting a special exception for roof-mounted solar panels at 152 Bantry Way.
Where: Spalding County Courthouse Annex, Room 108, 119 E. Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

City of Griffin Board of Commissioners Meeting
When: Tuesday, August 25, 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
What: Griffin’s elected commission conducts city legislative business, including ordinances, finances, utilities, public services and local policy.
Where: One Griffin Center, 100 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education Meeting
When: Tuesday, August 25, 6:00 PM
What: The school board governs district policy, finances, personnel and operations. The official meeting notice currently lists the detailed agenda as “TBD.”
Where: Griffin-Spalding County School System Board Room, 216 S. Sixth Street, Griffin, GA 30224

WEDNESDAY

Griffin Main Street Program Board Meeting
When: Wednesday, August 26, 8:15 AM–9:15 AM
What: The board guides Griffin’s Main Street program, supporting downtown revitalization, historic preservation, business development, promotions and events.
Where: Municipal Courtroom, One Griffin Center, 100 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

THURSDAY

Spalding Collaborative Executive Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, August 27, 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
What: The executive committee oversees the local Georgia Family Connection collaborative, coordinating community partners and initiatives serving Spalding County children and families. The meeting is open to the public.
Where: Spalding County Senior Center, 885 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

MONDAY

Quad-Fathers FPV — 2026 US-Southeast Regional Qualifier
When: Monday, August 24, 1:00 PM
What: Quad-Fathers FPV is hosting a MultiGP regional qualifier featuring first-person-view drone racing. Pilots will compete for qualifying results in the league’s U.S. Southeast region. The public listing does not provide spectator information or a street address, so anyone planning to attend should confirm the race site with the host chapter first.
Where: Griffin, GA; exact race location not publicly listed

Griffin Bears Varsity Softball vs. Locust Grove
When: Monday, August 24, 5:30 PM
What: The Griffin Bears host the Locust Grove Wildcats in a varsity softball matchup. It is one of the few publicly listed Monday evening activities taking place locally. Spectators should check with the school for current admission and weather information.
Where: Griffin High School, 1617 West Poplar Street, Griffin, GA 30224

TUESDAY

Coffee & Connections
When: Tuesday, August 25, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce is holding a one-hour morning networking session for local professionals and business representatives. The event offers an informal setting for introductions and community business connections over coffee. Space is limited, so attendees should check registration availability in advance.
Where: Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce, 143 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Day – Spalding County
When: Tuesday, August 25, by appointment
What: HELP Spay/Neuter Clinic is offering another low-cost spay and neuter opportunity for Spalding County pet owners through its Snip Ship transport program. Pets are dropped off at Spalding County Animal Care & Control in Griffin, transported to HELP’s surgical clinic in Newnan for their procedure, and returned to Griffin the following day for pickup. HELP is a nonprofit clinic that has performed more than 81,000 spay and neuter surgeries and regularly serves Spalding County through its transport program. Appointments are required and availability is limited. To schedule, visit HelpSpayNeuter.org or call 770-304-7911.
Where: Spalding County Animal Care & Control, 105 Justice Blvd., Griffin, GA 30224

THURSDAY

Ribbon Cutting for The Local in Downtown Griffin
When: Thursday, August 27, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the grand opening of The Local with a downtown ribbon cutting. Visitors can meet the team, tour the renovated shop and sample its selection of loaded teas, protein shakes and smoothies. The business describes the new location as a gathering place where customers can refresh and reconnect.
Where: The Local in Downtown Griffin, 130 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Advo-Kids CASA Fall Training — Week Two
When: Thursday, August 27, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
What: Advo-Kids CASA continues its eight-week fall training program for prospective Court Appointed Special Advocates. This week’s session focuses on the well-being of the child. Participants who complete the program can be sworn in to advocate for children involved in juvenile court proceedings. This is an application-based training program rather than a drop-in event.
Where: Advo-Kids CASA, 141 West Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

D&D Club
When: Thursday, August 27, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library is hosting an evening Dungeons & Dragons session for teens and adults. Players can take part in collaborative tabletop role-playing in the library’s upstairs nonfiction room. No advance registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, 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

MONDAY

91° 🌡 67° | ⛅ | 7% | 💨 0–5 mph N

TUESDAY

91° 🌡 69° | 🌤️ | 14% | 💨 0–5 mph NW

WEDNESDAY

91° 🌡 70° | ⛈️ | 30% | 💨 0–5 mph W

THURSDAY

88° 🌡 69° | ⛈️ | 70% | 💨 0–5 mph SW

THANKS!

Thanks for spending part of your morning with the Griffin Grapevine.

I hope today’s issue gave you something useful, whether that was a local event to add to the calendar, a story you had not heard yet, or just a better idea of what is happening around Spalding County this week.

If you know someone else who likes keeping up with the community, send this issue their way. Word of mouth is still the best way the Grapevine reaches more neighbors. Have an event, news tip, or local story I should know about? Reply to this email. I personally read every message.

Have a great week, stay cool out there, and keep an eye out for that first morning that finally feels a little like fall.

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