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SUBMITTED

The Gri AreaCommuity CocertAssociatio is proud topreset Gri ativeEmily Hear i cocertat the Gri Auditoriumo Thursday, Jauary 17,

2012.

The daughter o Tim adRobi Hear o Gri,Emily was a seior i highschool whe she taughthersel to play the guitar.While attedig theUiversity o Georgia, she

bega writig sogs adperormig them orclose rieds. It was'tlog beore her hobbybecame her passio. Sheproessioally recordedher rst sog, Maybe,i Charlesto i Jue o2009, which led to hercollaboratio with TreyRoth ad Jaso Hoard oGri or her 5 sog EP,Paper Heart, released iMay o 2010.

Oly a year ad a hal a teridepedetly releasigher debut EP, Paper Heart,Emily is tourig all over thesoutheast.

Emilys maager, MarkBrya o Hootie ad theBlowsh, guided Emily

DEC 15 - JAN 4, 2011 VOL. 01 NO. 24

PG 3

EVENT PREVIEW

COnT, artist, pg 3

What to do ifsomeone you loveis having a "BlueChristmtas" pg 5

City and countyofficials commentupon Griffin's greatand growing gangproblem. pg 7

F

R E

E

Budding recording artist returns to Grin or concert

Families gathered in the parking lot on the corner o Broad and Hill on S aturday, Dec. 3 to c atch a ride on the mule-drawn carts during thisyears Mistletoe Market, held annually at Grins Regional Welcome Center. Vendors sold their handmade goods and children took photoswith Santa upstairs in the welcome center while mules pulled cartloads o people around the streets o Downtown Grin.

Mistletoe Market mules draw large crowdJESSICA GREGORYThough HB1133 waseacted i 2008, allowigGeorgia to issue icometax credits to idividualsor busiesses who doateto studet scholarshiporgaizatios (SSOs), mayremai uaware o thisopportuity.

The house bill was recetlytweaked, but the premisehas remaied the same:taxpayers ca reduce theirGeorgia state icome taxliability by doatig moeyto a SSO. The doatioacts as a credit agaisttaxpayer tax bill, ot adeductio. This measthat dollar-or-dollar,the doatio amout isdeducted rom Georgiaicome tax liability.

Limitatios do apply -

pre-approval is ecessarybecause a maximum o $50millio ca be allocatedeach year to the etireprogram, ad caps o$1,000 ad $2,500 exist orsigle or married couples,respectively. Corporatiosca doate up to 75percet o their icome taxliability.

As o november 8, 2011,the $50 millio cap orthe Georgia StudetScholarship Orgaizatiowas reached, which was therst time the cap has beemet sice the eactmet othe bill. Ayoe iterested

i doatig will ow haveto submit a applicatio or2012.

The Dio School, a localprivate school, participates

i the Golde Dome, oeexample o a SSO.

"Over hal o our studetsare o a Golde Domescholarship," saidHeadmaster Leslie Dio."I have at least 30 studetshere o it ad am able toemploy 7 people that Icould't otherwise."

"It's a awesome way tobrig moey back ito ourcommuity," she cotiued.

Sky Hardi, Presidet oGolde Dome, explaisthat the tax credit programhelps stretch the state'seducatio budget a littleurther, sice the cost toeducate a private schoolstudet is roughly hal thato a public school studet.

"The law reads that I caotgive the school more thathe state average tuitio($8,000) or the max that theschool charges. I would say90 percet o schools I dealwith, their tuitio ragesrom $4 - 5,000 per year. Sowhat were doig i southGeorgia is were givig aprivate school educatioto two childre or theprice o oe public schooleducatio," said Hardi.

Several other SSOs exist,icludig Georgia GOAL,i which St. George'sEpiscopal School i Milerad 115 other Georgiaschools participate.

For more iormatio,visit www.doe.k12.ga.usad click the "tax creditiormatio" lik o thebottom let.

Georgia citizens can earmarktheir tax dollars or local schools

FDA pulls HCG weight-loss products rom the marketJESSICA GREGORYO Dec. 6, the FDA ad theFederal Trade Commissiodeemed over-the-couterweight-loss productscotaiig huma chorioicgoadotropi (HCG)raudulet ad illegal, adtold seve mauacturers to

stop sellig them.

notig that the productlabels call or the pellets,liquids, ad sprays to betake i cojuctio with avery low-calorie diet, a FDAocial said it did ot appearthat oral HCG oers ay

extra weight loss beet.

Warig letters set tomauacturers o theproducts ote that HCGhas ot received FDAapproval or ay weight-lossidicatio. The substace isapproved as a ijectabledrug or certai orms oemale iertility ad isthereore subject to FDAregulatio.

Several local weight-lossceters i Gri curretlyoer HCG as a weight losssolutio, ad or ow, willbe able to cotiue to doso, as log as someoe osta has the ability to writea prescriptio or it.

Lisa Mobley Mullis, amilyurse practitioer o

Absolute Healthcare iGri, commeted upo

the FDA press releaseby sayig, "The ake orhomeopathic HCG productsthat are sold over-the-couter at health ood advitami stores ad o theiteret...were pulled romthe market. Real HCG isoly legally obtaiable byprescriptio rom a licesedhealth care provider witha DEA umber allowigprescriptive authority."

Though there are maycritical o the HCG diet,citig a lack o FDAapproval; that ayoe wouldlose weight o 500 calories,ad that such a restrictivediet is ot sae, may HCGdieters swear by its success,

COnT, HCg, pg 2

D. McGirt commentsupon financialinvestments, whilea new columnisttalks about herFunky time in thebathroom. pg 4

VIEWPOINTS

GRIFFIN'S GREAT AND GROWING GANG PROBLEM:What it's like living in the hood - pg 2What local law enorcement is doing about it - pg 2Commissioners and ocials reactions to it - pg 7

MERRYCHRISTMAS TOOUR WONDERFULREADERS - THANKYOU FOR YOURSUPPORT DURINGOUR FIRST YEAR OFBUSINESS! WELOOK FORWARDTO 2012!

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The gangs arereal, ensures lawenorcementSHEILA MARSHALL

With a cosesus amoglocal law eorcemetagecies that a miimumo 75 percet o Gris

violet ad property crimeis directly tied to gagactivity, ocers remai othe rot lies o what isdescribed as a icreasigad potetially explosivesurge i gag-relatedactivity.

Spaldig Couty SheriWedell Beam cited amilydysuctio, sayig, Thegags seem to be attractigyouger ad yougerpeople. With some, thegags are almost like asecod amily or some,their rst amily. They lookat it as a home. It givesthem somethig theyrelookig or.

Despite the may actorsthat cotribute to thegrowig umber o gagmembers located iGri ow estimated toexceed 500 strog theed result is a sigicat

dager posed to the public,a dager that some sayis poised to icrease withpotetially deadlycosequeces.

Theres o suchthig as waa-bes,said Sgt. Joh Hayes,o the GPD CrimialIvestigatio Divisio.Whe you have

kids who are tired ohearig that, theyregoig to go out theread prove themselvesby whatever meas isecessary.

Towards that goal, he saidlocal gags are much morehighly structured, withrak, as well as specictasks.

Whe you talk about theWest Side Bloods, theyreactually broke dowito groups by streets,like Slato Aveue ad19th St. Theyre all Bloods,but theyll put groupstogether or specic

purposes, whether itsdrugs, prostitutio orrobbig crews, Hayessaid. Withi the gags,they also have structure

just like the military adlaw eorcemet. Theyhave captais, lieuteatsad OGs, which is Old

Gagsters guys whohave bee i a log time,maybe bee locked up i

priso ad come back outto the streets. Its a lot morestructured tha a lot opeople thik they are.

I additio to structure,Gris gags arealso becomig moresophisticated i crimialedeavors, Hayes said.

The gags are comigup. Theyve moved romoly street level crime to

Iteret crime idetitythet, tax raud, thigs othat ature, he explaied.Coutereitig is also ahuge problem ad thatsot just moey. It ca beclothes, checks, aythig.Just like everythig else, thegags are evolvig. Someo the techiques they

lear i jail, but were alsohavig people come i romother cities. They brig theirkowledge o what theywere doig there here.

Cpl. Kelly McKieysaid oe hidrace laweorcemet ocersace is the lack oackowledgemet thatGri actually does have a

serious gag problem.

Most people out theredot thik there are gags.

Theyre oblivious to the actthat there are gags here,she said. There are 16 thatwe ca come up with othe tops o our heads. Drugsad gags are the biggestproblems i this city. Drugshelp ace the gags you cat separate the two.

Ivestigator Chip Johssaid or those who doubtthe gag problem exists, hesuggests lookig o arthertha local ootball games,where metal detectors arerequired alog with a heavy

o-duty police presece typically at least 20 to 24ocers.

Sgt. Gee Mathews adJohs are oly two o mayat the GPD who say theyhave see a icrease igag-related crime that

they believe is oly the tipo the iceberg.

Withi the past three orour moths, weve seemore gag-related activitytha we did the rest o theyear, Mathews said. Its justthe atural progressio oit. Ad the oes who useto have this so orgaizedhave bee locked up, but

theyre gettig ready to getout. Theyve bee i prisoor 10 or 15 years, buttheyre about to be back. Bysummertime, its goig tobe o the chai.

Its about the East Sidead the West Side itscause ad eect, he saidi reerece to the causeo may past gag ghts,a umber o them atal.Where you use to earyour way up, ow youbeat or kill your way up.

The harder you are adthe more stu you do, thehigher you rise i the raks.

Lt. Mike natale also wared

parets who thik theirchildre are immue romexposure to Gris gagsto thik agai.

Its i the schools owad theyre recruitig romwithi, he said. Its just likedrugs. We ca get this guy

ad that guy, but theresalways te more behidthem.

The result? natale said itis ot uusual or him toecouter 12- to 13-year-olds with gag tattoos.

Meawhile, local laweorcemet ageciescotiue their eorts, albeit

usig dieret approaches,to curb the icrease igag-related crimialactivity.

Stricklad said the GPDdoes ot have persoelspecically assiged towork ati-gag operatios,with the task allig toivestigators as they worktheir idividual caseloads.

Beam, however, has optedto desigate persoelspecically to the workgag-related matters.

We do have several peoplei our ivestigative uitwho are assiged to try ad

stay o top o that, ad Iwish we had more peoplewe could desigate, hesaid. The crimes that arebeig committed by thegags are violet crimes.

The drugs, murders, assaultsad thets they all gohad-i-had.

Lie in the midsto violenceSHEILA MARSHALL

While some remaiskeptical o the existece

o violet orgaized gagsi Gri, those who livead work i their midstare orced to accept theirreality, as well as the impactthey have o their dailylives.

Charlotte Hall is oe suchGri residet.

Havig worked or 17years at the Fast Food Martat the itersectio o n.Hill Street ad northsideDrive, she has witessedrsthad the tremedousdestructio these gagswreak o amilies ad thecommuity.

Ive bee here at this jobor 17 years ad Ive everbee as scared as I amow, she said. As log asIve bee there, Ive everhad the ear o goig towork like I do ow. Im just

so araid that somebodyiocet is goig to ed upgettig hurt i the crossre.

A typical week or Hallicludes violece sheattributes to gags, adshe said the icideces areicreasig i requecy ad

magitude.

Every week, were goigto have at least oe ght sometimes three, our orve people o oe perso because someoe is wherethey aret suppose to be,she said. Its pathetic. Fromwhat I ca tell, its aboutrespect. I try to tell themtheyre doig wrog, butthey say, We dot go othere side o tow, so weeel like they should respectours. I tell them they dotow aythig its ottheirs. They dot work.

They dot pay taxes. Howthe hell do they thik theyca tell someoe what

part o tow they ca goto? Its ridiculous. The gagmembers just dot careabout what they do whathappes. Theyve gotsomethig to prove.

Hall said she does ot kowwhat it will take to curbthe rampat crime that hastor much o Gri apart,but she believes ay eortis worthwhile, icludigeducatio or both childread parets.

I also thik that jailseteces would make adierece sometimes. Ithik that or these violetcrimes, servig sometime istead o gettigprobatio might detersome o this gag activity,she said.

Despite her deep ear, Hallsaid she cotiues to reachout to those she kows tohave gag aliatios ithe hope that it may oeday make a dierece isomeoes lie.

Theyre igorat ad Itell them that. As a mother,as a gradmother, I wouldreally like to see it stop,but it just goes o ado ad o, she said. Ittears my heart apart, butit doest make them stop.All theyll say to me is thatI dot uderstad. I try to

make them see that I catuderstad it because it

just doest make sese. Weshare the same history weshould respect ad supporteach other. Istead, alltheyre doig is destroyigour commuity.

statig that the HCG helpscurb their appetite.

Mullis also stads by theeectiveess ad use oHCG, statig, "HCG, likemay other medicatiosused to aid i weight loss,has ever bee approvedby the FDA to be used orweight loss.

However, real HCG has beeprove cliically to aid iweight loss. I my opiio,HCG is a sae ad eective

method o quicker weightloss whe uder closesupervisio o a licesedhealth care provider whoperorms thorough examad moitors the patietclosely. "

TOP STORIES2 Dec. 15 - Ja. 4, 2011

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Has started 16 businesses, including fourretail stores, six multi-level marketingschemes, three franchises, and four realestate deals which have all failed

Has asked you to nancially back each one

Has asked you to bail him out of each one

Has gone bankrupt twice

Owes $120,000 in legal fees and back taxes

Gone away is the bluebirdHere to stay is a new bird

He sings a love song,as we go along

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770-227-2595 | 124 W. Solomon Street, Grin

SHARPSJewelers

HCG, cont.

Grin's great and growing gang problem: 75% o crime in Grin is gang-related

Gri crime statistics report a overall dowward tredi crime based o data rom 10 years with violet crimedecreasig ad property crime decreasig. Based o thistred, the crime rate i Gri or 2011 is expected to belower tha i 2009.

The city violet crime rate or Gri i 2009 was highertha the atioal violet crime rate average by 77.13% adthe city property crime rate i Gri was higher tha theatioal property crime rate average by 100.99%.

I 2009 the city violet crime rate i Gri was higher thathe violet crime rate i Georgia by 78.53% ad the cityproperty crime rate i Gri was higher tha the propertycrime rate i Georgia by 66.42%.

Ocials at the Gri PD say a portio o the past year wasmuch "quietier" tha usual, but that it's pickig up a lotow, with the aticipatio that 2012 will see a crime spike.

HomicideRapeRobberyAggravated AssaultBurglaryThet

Motor Vehicle ThetArsonTotal

09

4294

2901188

489

1680

-100%-25%

-14.29%4.44%

-2.68%-8.76%

-38.46%50%

-8.75%

2011 YTD Crime # Incidents % change rom 2010

A "West Side" gang tag

*Statistics provide by www.cityrating.com

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ANNE HENDRICKS CHILDRESSAnnechildress@ymail.com

As a ormer libraria, Iam asked every day by

someoe, How do youraise up a reader? Myaswer is always the same:there are two types oreaders: iormatioal adleisure. A iormatioalreader seeks to daswers or read to dout somethig. A leisurereader is someoe readigad does it ote or u.Sometimes, a reader wearsboth hats they are leisurereaders ad iormatioalreaders.

What is the trick to raisiga reader? Keep a varietyo books, magazies, adewspapers all aroud

the house. Ad the key tosuccess?

Locatio, locatio, locatio!Beside the bathroom door.Or withi the bathroom.

Why?

Because everyoe usesthe amily bathroom. Bysimply puttig a bookcaseor a basket o a varietyo literature by or i thebathroom, your child willbe readig.

Here is my story o how Ibecame a iormatioalreader:

Both o my parets wereeducators ad by the ageo 9, I was ot a avidreader. I did, however, visitthe bathroom ote tohide rom my brother.

I oly read whe I had

to ad eve the, I did'twat to. I desperatio, mymother came up with theidea to buy a set o Fukad Wagall Ecyclopedias

ad put them by thebathroom door. I wasitrigued by the shiycover o the books admost importatly, how theywere lettered. I was alsocurious to see i there wereay amous people amedHedricks iside. Look itup my mother told me adhavig o clue as to how, I

just gured out ay amousHedricks would be ithe H. I thik I must haveheard that somewhere imy Crescet Elemetary.

Ad thus, I became a hugeiormatioal reader.

Withi a year, my brilliatmother bega puttigovels ad magazies othe shelves ad I starteda variety o readig, but Iwould always retur to myFuky Time. I discovered,through my libraria, thatecyclopedias were hugevolumes o iormatio,but I could go urther itoctio to experimet withmy dreams besides theworld o octio.

Thaks to nacy Baird,my Crescet libraria, Idiscovered Victoria Holt,Judy Blume, ad LauraIgalls Wilder both owhich, i tur, had me i

Fuky Time, ad I learedabout the WestwardExpasio, Boar Wars,Quee Victoria, ad EstherWilliams. I kow what awide variety i such a shorttime!

All because o havig aFuky time i the joh.

I recetly asked my motherwhere she got the ideaad she iormed me thatshe got the idea rom herchildhood libraria, MissLea Mae Scott (a subjector aother day). But all Ica say is that the simpleidea o havig a Fuky

time i the joh gave mea excitig ad rewardig16-year career where Iispired studets to reador iormatio ad maybe,i I was lucky, got a ewreadig or leisure.

Ad by the way, i caseyou are woderig,

Thomas Adrew Hedrickswas vice presidet o theUited States uder GroverClevelad, but died withieight moths i oce. Ikow you were woderigabout that.

VIEWPOINTS4 Dec. 15 - Ja. 4, 2011

GET A GRIP: POLL OF THE WEEKEach week at ww w.the-grip.net a Get A Grip poll willbe posted. The results and any related content will bepublished in the consecutive print edition o The Grip.Visit www.the-grip.net to vote today!

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Saturday December 17thJoin Griffin's Dawg House, 92.5 The Bear &

Southside Santa for the Griffin Dawg House Toy Drive!

11am - 3pm

Join us for the final collection day for toys tohelp those in need in our community.

Bouncy CastlesRadio RemoteSanta PicturesFace Painting

DIRT MCGIRT

Like most people, my401(k) has take quite ahit durig this ecoomicdowtur ad I have beelookig or a way to recoupsome o the losses to my

portolio.I have looked ito possibly

ivestig my moey iiteratioal currecyor tradig commodities,but the ucertaities othe acial markets iEurope make that a riskypropositio at best. I havealso talked to severalacial plaers ad theyseem to thik that rathertha pull my moey outo the market, the betterstrategy is to sit tight adhope or a recovery oboth the domestic aditeratioal ecoomies.

I had all but give up hope

util a recet drive throughdowtow Gri whe Irealized that the solutioto my ecoomic woes waslocated o early everycorer.

While Gri may lackcertai idustries, it moretha makes up or thoseshortcomigs i title pawsad gold buyers ad Idecided to stop by oe othese establishmets to seei they could assist with myacial eeds.

Beore eterig I had acoversatio with the guyi the Statue o Liberty

suit dacig by the roadwith the sig that saysTitle Paw ad Top $ orGold. I was certai thathis acial stability was

the reaso or his dacigjoy ad that he would bea useul source o acialadvice. He agreed that thedebt crisis grippig bothGreece ad Italy coupledwith the Europea Uiosslow respose to Stadardad Poors dowgradigo Fraces credit ratigmake a oray ito theiteratioal marketsuteable at this time.

He also said he had a catamed Russ who oly hasoe eye ad that he reallywished McDoalds wouldleave the McRib o themeu all year log.

Ater this elighteigdiscussio, I decided thatI would rather have thesecurity o cash i hadtha risk the ucertaity oivestmets. Thus I decidedto paw the title to my1986 El Camio ad sell my

excess gold chai. Ater all,a car title is just a piece opaper ad I ca oly wearoe diamod ecrusteddollar sig ecklaceat a time, lest I appearostetatious.

I was able to paw mycar title or $600 at oly194 percet iterest adI received $150 or myextra gold chai. With theextra cash I was able toget racig stripes paitedo my El Camio ad acustomized licese platethat says 2 kool 4 skool.

now whe I see the dire

acial predictios othe eveig ews, I cathelp but eel sorry or thosewho have ot plaed ortheir acial security asthoroughly as I have.

Having a Funky time in thebathroom (How to get your kids reading)

Anne is a stay-at-home-mother, ormer librarian,and a NBCT certifededucator. She holds a BAin Communications romMercer and a M.Ed. in Mediarom West Georgia College.

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Question: My sister has beenwithdrawn recently. Sheappears depressed. She hasbeen in poor health, but hermood has really darkened inthe past ew weeks, especiallyas Christmas gets closer. Is shedepressed?

Tis the seaso to be jolly,but may people struggleat this time o the year.

There are some goodreasos or this, ad it isquite commo. I heardi a sermo oce, Whilethe orchestra proclaimscelebratio ad joy, i youliste closely eough, youwill hear the melacholysoud o the Frech hor,remidig us that someoesomewhere has eedo cosolatio. I oudthe thought so prooudad expressive that Ihave remembered BruceMorgas words ever sice.

There is a well-kowcoditio kow asSeasoal Aective

Disorder, or SAD, thatoccurs i witer moths.Your sister may be moreproe to it related to herstate o overall health,sice there is a early100 percet correlatiobetwee chroic pai addepressio.

There is a glad i the braithat secretes substacesthat aect mood, ad theglad is stimulated itoactio by ultraviolet lightrom the su. Whe thesu is behid clouds i coldweather, or whe there isless o it because the daysare shorter, the glad is lessactive. I you are teeterig

o depressio, this cased you over the edge.

Like with other depressiostates, you may oticechages i appetite; losso eergy ad ability tococetrate o taskslater i the day; slow,lethargic body movemet;withdrawal rom socialactivities; ad, irritability

or uhappiess. It ca beextraordiarily rustratigor the amily, coworkers,ad rieds who mayot uderstad what ishappeig to your sister.

There are somecoservative measuresthat may help. Sice lacko exposure to light iscotributory, take yoursister o walks durigthe daylight hours. Youca also use very brightfuorescet lights i thehome to mimic sulight.I light exposure is goigto help, it should work ithree or our weeks. Ocourse, i your sister is

takig ay medicatiosthat icrease sesitivityto light, this is ot a goodoptio, ad you wouldeed to cosult yourdoctor rst.

Talk to your sister about hereeligs. SAD ca usuallybe tured aroud withtime ad uderstadig,but i she is bipolar or has

a history o other orms odepressio, it is particularlyimportat to idetiyay suicidal thoughts. Ishe has ay thoughts oharmig hersel, get herto her doctor as soo aspossible.

I these coservativemeasures do ot helpthe coditio withi amoth, cosider takigyour sister to her doctor todiscuss whether she eedsmediatios to help her.Medicatios should everbe your rst optio, butthey are helpul i somecases where coservative

measures do ot succeed.

Most o us have beetouched by a serious illessor death o a loved oedurig a major holiday, sothe very happy evets thatmake it memorable cabe a problem or peoplewho are remided o thoselosses. All o us shouldremember that while thereis much celebratio goigo at Christmas, it is a SADtime o the year or some.As you hear the happysouds o the orchestra oChristmas, liste closelyor the mourul Frechhor. Reach or whoever isblowig it, ad hug them.

DUSTY TAKLE

Ill be home orChristmas echoes i myhead. Ive listeed to itplayed every Christmasseaso, ad util ow,it was just a sweetsetimet or those who

really dot get to behome or the big day.But, sice this year myhusbad will be fyigover Christmas, I kido get it. Ad, really, Imokay.

Im okay, because mychildre will still wake upto more tha they eed.

Their little eyes will turto woder as they ruto touch the thigs theywished or.

Im okay, because theywill ll themselves thatmorig with a traditioalbreakast east where theyca pour the syrup to their

hearts cotet.

Im okay, because theywill joi me at the altarChristmas Day to takecommuio, rememberigthe Oe who was set thatday to become Savior tothe world.

Ad, Im okay, because myhusbad will retur home.

Im ot okay, because thereare childre who will wakeup to the same. The sameeed or ood. The sameeed or shelter. Ad, thesame aticipatio thatSata remembered them.

I ca easily becomeoverwhelmed by the

immesity o eeds thatsurroud me. Ad, i I let it,the magitude o it all camake me eel helpless.

Util, Im remided oHOPE. Its all throughoutscripture. Love hopes allthigs. O aith, hope,ad love.. Hope does

ot disappoit. But orhope to exist, hopelessessmust aboud. A hardcocept? Yes. But, we doot live i a perect world.Ad, a perect world wouldot eed hope.

So, o the rst Christmas,God became fesh i theorm o a baby to providea oce ad or all sacriceor our poor choices adshort-comigs. So, wewould remember thatwhere thigs look bleak,hope lives.

Max Lucado writes, hopeis a upredictabledepedece o a God

who loves to surprise usout o our socks ad be

there i the fesh to see ourreactio.

I hope i the Oe whocotiues to surprise me. Ihope i the Oe who lovesthose hurtig childremore tha I do. I hope ithe Oe who says, to holdo to the hope we proess,

or he who promised isaithul. (Hebrews 10:23)

Because Christ lives ius, hope lives i us. Adthat hope ispires me togive what I ca, ad dowhat I ca do. May yoube ispired with the hopelivig iside o you to givewhat you ca, ad do whatyou ca do to help meetthe eeds aroud you.

Ad, may we all be thakulthis seaso or that thrill ohope.

A thrill o hope; the wearyworld rejoices, or yonderbreaks a new and glorious

morn. O Holy Night

LIFESTYLES Dec. 15 - Ja. 4, 2011 5

GRIPPER: The GripAPIEGRIFFIN: American Pie Griffin

IHEARTGRIFFIN: Griffin EventsBOWLING: Magnolia LanesCLEANING: Hospitality Cleaning

Text theredkeywords to55958to receive updates and couponsfrom your favorite local businesses!

*If you dont see your favorite business onthis list, tell them to contact TXT COM today!

678-689-3085 | garyh@txtcom.biz

The thrillo Hope

your Christmasplace

Arthur Court25% OFF!

Holiday Plattersstarting at $20.99

Holiday ScentsTrapp Candles

Nativity Scenesstarting at $14.99

126 W. College Street, GrinMonday - Saturday 8 - 6; Sunday 12 - 5

Last-minute gift ideas

from

PET OF THE WEEK: RambleLabrador Retriever MixMEDIUM | YOUNG | MALE

Ramble is 5 moths old adlikes to be the boss o thepuppies. He loves to swim ihis baby swimmig pool. Helikes to play with the big dogsad also play tug o war. Hewas rescued by a kid yougma that saw him ad hissister o the side o a busyroad. He is learig to sit ocommad This dog wouldbe a perect boys dog. He isrugged.

To adopt Ramble, contactcatsanddogs4you@yahoo.com.Adoption costs range rom $100-$185, and include rst-time shots,spaying and neutering.

Ashford Villas (Formerly Flynt Ridge)1560 Flynt Street, Leasing Oce Apt A2

770-233-6895

Home for the Holidays

home.

community offers anamazing park-like

lifestyle where everyapartment is a

two-story townhome.The cozy, relaxingenvironment is the

perfect place to call

Ashford Villas

I someone you know is having a blue Christmas...

DR. BOB HAYDENDC, PhD, FICC

Have a question or Dr. Bob?Send it to IrisCity@aol.com.

8/3/2019 Dec. 15 Online

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December 15; Friday;America BusiessWomes Associatio;6:30 p.m.; ChristiaErichmet Ceter o FirstMethodist Church; ormore iormatio call 770-467-8752.

December 15; Friday;Spaldig CoutyDemocratic Party; SpaldigCouty Courthouse Aex;7 p.m.; meetig is ope tothe public.

December 16; Saturday;Impact Gri 5k; Themissio o Impact RacigMiistries is to parterwith at-risk kids ad theiramilies i ruig liesrace or the Glory o God;Race day packet pick upad registratio will be 7a.m. to 8 a.m. at JoureyChurch. The 5k race startsat 8:30 with awards at 9:15.

The u ru will start at8:45. Both races will start atJourey church; For more

iormatio ad to registerolie, go to impactracig.org

December 21-23; Wedesdaythrough Friday; ChristmasJam Pub Crawl; Threeights, three bars, threechaces to wi; Sidey'sCarryout, Chill's SportsBar; The Rusty Buzzardi Thomasto; For moreiormatio search or2011 Christmas Jam PubCrawl o acebook.

December 15 - 25; Git oLights; Atlata MotorSpeedway; a ightly drive-through evet with overoe millio LED lights ihudres o displays; 6 pm.to 10 p.m.

COMMUNITY6 Dec. 15 - Ja. 4, 2011

HOMETOWN BULLETIN BOARD

Our communitycalendar is

sponsored by UGAGrifn Campus &92.5 FM The Bear

Boarding & GroomingWhether a short visit or

extended stay, our four-leggedfriends will always have aplace to hang their collars.

visit our website or facebookfor monthly specials!

770-228-90091550 A. Flynt Street, Grifn

FREE BLUEBERRY FACIAL

Blueberry facials clean tear stainsand provides anti-oxidants whilesmelling great! Safe for cats and

dogs. Must bring this coupon.

To have your inormation appear in the this secti on o The Grip,(space permitting) e-mail a press release to sheila@the-grip.net.Community bries

SAFEHOUSEcoffee & tea

Monday-Friday7am-10pm

Saturday 8am-10pm

109 S. Hill StGriffin, Ga

(678)603-1462

Your hometown coffee roasters

ODAY

CALL AHEAD

For Directions and

Weekly Specials

holesalers, Retailers & Landscapers Welcome!

821 Old Woodbury HWYWoodbury, GA

(706) 553-9000

We Delivermost bulk items!

CUSTOM

OUTDOOR GRILLS

FIREPITS

QUALITY PAVERS RETAINING WALLS

COLORED MULCH RIVER STONES

EDGING MATERIALS & MORE

www.rockbottomscapes.com

info@rockbottomscapes.com

2 cu. ft.

678-692-8175116 E. COLLEGE STREET, GRIFFIN

One per customer please

1742 Zebulon RdSuite J, Griffin

Fast turn-around time!(Normally 2 days.)

A ew autism ad AutismSpectrum Disorder SupportGroup called JeremiahsPromise is meetig at RockSprigs Church the third

Thursday o each moth at7 p.m. Meetigs are owheld i The Chapel whichis the buildig located tothe let o the Rock SprigsChurch Sactuary.

Participatio is ope toeveryoe ad churchmembership is ot

required. Thaks to aexperieced voluteer childcare is ow provided! Toreserve a space i child careor or more iormatioplease call Kelly Leger at404-861-6341.

New autismsupport group

The Gri-Spaldig pre-kidergarte programtrasitioed rom a our-day per week program tove-days per week with itsrst Friday o December 9.State budget cuts slashedthe prekidergartebudget or the 2011-2012school year chagig itrom a 190-day school yearto a 169-day school year.O Friday, December 9,pre-kidergarte studetsbega attedig ve schooldays per week.

The ve-day school weekor pre-kidergartestudets will remai or

Pre-Kindergartenstudents start5-day weeks

the rest o the school yearwhich eds Fri., Jue 1,2012.

All school days or pre-kidergarte are ull legthschool days.

Pre-K classes were heldour days per week,Moday through Thursday,rom August 8 throughDecember 1.Pre-K educatio isimportat because itprovides the child witha strog base o skillsor which to build upoor the rest o his or her

educatioal career, saidLouisa Melto, the Pre-kidergarte Coordiatoror the Gri-SpaldigCouty School System.Eve though weve hadsevere budget cuts to ourprogram, Im grateul thatwe ca still oer publicschool pre-kidergarte.For more iormatio,cotact Louisa Melto at770-229-3796 or louisa.melto@gscs.org.

The HELP Spay/neuterCliics trasport va, TheSip Ship will be meetigresidets o Spaldig,Butts, Hery ad Pikecouties o Jauary 3ad 16, 2012 i the backparkig lot at SpaldigCouty Aimal Shelter, 208Justice Boulevard, Gri,to trasport pets to thesurgical hospital i newa.

I additio, H.E.L.P. Spayneuter Cliic will hold aHO HO HO evet. Foray December or Jauaryappoitmets scheduledby December 23, 2011, allsurgery packages icluderee vaccies or dogs adcats (DHPP & Rabies ordogs, FVRCP & Rabies orcats). This represets a$20 value to cliets takigadvatage o this greatoer. As always, there is oextra charge or i heat orpregat cats or dogs.

For emale dogs, the costrages rom $70-80; maledogs $60-70. Female catsare $55 while male cats are$45.

Pets will be retured toSpaldig Couty AimalShelter at 11:30 a.m. othe morig ater surgery.Appoitmets are required.

H.E.L.P. accepts cash, checks,or pet owers may call i acredit card to the cliic othe day o their surgery.

Each pet MUST have aRabies Vacciatio, or brigproo showig they havereceived oe withi thelast year. I ot curret orabies, the pet may receive

the vaccie o the dayo surgery. AdditioalVacciatios are availableor $10 each.

To schedule aappoitmet, or i youhave ay questios, pleasecotact Cidy Leopard at(770) 304.7911.

HELP Spay/Neuterhaving Dec/Jan

specials

Mother-daughterduo beginsetiquette training

LauraLee Happel ad hermother, Patricia Lee, willbegi teachig etiquetteclasses startig i Jauary2012.

The Etiquette School oCetral Georgia will ocuso today's etiquette, eeligcomortable with peersad adults, diig skills,commuicatio skills, adcodece-buildig sel-

esteem programs.

Happel graudated romValdosta State Uiversitywith a degree i Theatre,Radio ad TelevisioCommuicatios.

Though curretly withouta locatio, Happel ad Leepla to either d a locatiosoo or base themselvesiside a local church.

Their classes will cosisto teachig childre asyoug as six basic etiquetteo ormal itroductios,diig protocol, ad

commuicatios skills. Forolder childre, proper attire,clealiess ad social skillswill be taught. Collegiate-level studets will becosulted o image, datig,iterview preparatio adager maagemet.

They also pla tooer reelace classesor civic, church adbusiess groups. Formore iormatio, visittheir website at www.etiquetteocetralga.vpweb.com.

The efects o unemployment spur creative income methods...

Wintertime humor

Happy Hour: Half-Price BarWednesday 3-7 Q Thurs - Sat 3-6

12 Draft Beers - Wings 9 Ways - Fresh Oysters

Dinner Q Wednesday - Saturday 4-9:30GLUTEN-FREE MENU INCLUDES

FRIED SEAFOOD, PASTA & DESSERTSGift Certificates and Holiday Party

Reservations Available! Call David at 770-584-8660.

129 S. Sixth Street | 770.233.1220 | 6thstreetpier.com

Dine-in only

8/3/2019 Dec. 15 Online

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GOVERNMENTDec. 15 - Ja. 4, 2011 7

Distributed Locally ByDender Distributing, Inc.

Please Enjoy Responsibly During This Holiday Season, and Always

info@rockbottomscapes.com

www.rockbottomscapes.com

VISIT TODAY

CALL AHEAD

For Directions and

Weekly Specials

Wholesalers, Retailers & Landscapers Welcome!

821 Old Woodbury Hwy

Woodbury, GA

(706) 553-9000

We Delivermost bulk items!

CUSTOM

OUTDOOR GRILLS

CUSTOM

OUTDOOR

FIREPITS

2 cu. ft.

balloonsbearington bears

yankee candles

gifts

sweets of all kinds!

770-233-2700103 S. Hill Street

AND

We celebratethe birth of theGreat Physician,

who came to diagnosemankins terminal illness.

He prescribed alife-saving transfusion,

making the blooddonation Himself for

all the trasngressions ofus all. In Him alone is

our cure.Merry Christmas to all!

770-412-0005210 Rock Street, Grin

Robert Hayden DC, PhD, FICC

tony Lm pk, J

4000 Jackso Rd.

Parole ViolatioArmed Robbery

Aggravated Assault O LawEorcemet Ocer

Dewyne Edde peley

932 Hamilto Blvd.Thet By Takig (F)

Crimial Trespass

Alvis EugeneThomas1229 Edgewood Ave.Crimial Damage To Property2d Degree (F)Obstruct Perso MakigEmergecy Call (M)

Craword Lewis Stodghill419 Barlow St.

Burglary

Emanuel Kenny IIStith2559 Clito Sprigs Maor

Decatur, Ga.Possessio Marijuaa (F),

Possessio Marijuaa WithItet to Distribute

Rashawn Antwane Giles1611 Hallmark Dr.Armed Robbery

Aggravated Assault O Law

James W. Smith721 Eglish St.

DUI, Drugs, Violatio OLimited Permit

David Michael Stogner453 Williams Rd. ,LagrageDUI, Failure To Maitai Lae

Rusty Tobey Strickland355 n Ave Apt 603A nE, Atl.Executig Fictitious ChecksForgery 1st Degree

Curtis Lamar Gibson503 Wheeler St.Obstructio O Ocer (M)

Thet By Shoplitig (F)

Richard Bennett526 Kicaid Ave.

Speedig, DUI

James William Hatchett111 Cai Cir., Miler

BurglaryThet By Deceptio

8/3/2019 Dec. 15 Online

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www.the-grip.net | 770-227-1857

10 REASONS TO DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY

Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce

Members Supporting Members www.griffinchamber.com

Employment- Local business employ local residents.

Economic Development- Every dollar spent locally does the work of five dollars.

Quality Merchandise - Our merchants carry merchandise of superior quality.

Community Committment- Our merchants financially support local area activities

Saving Money- Local merchants offer products at competitive prices.

Personal Service - Local merchants know their customers & will go the extra mile.

Selection - We CAN find it locally!

Convenience - Save time, avoid crowds, no metro traffic.Taxes - Our local purchases create local tax revenue.

An Investment in our Future - Keeps our economy healthy and productive future.