EDITORS NOTE: This is the second of a four part series looking back at the year 2018 in Troup County:

April 4

Hogansville Piggly Wiggly closes

The Piggly Wiggly in Hogansville announced in April that it was closing at the end of the week. Rockdale Grocery President Scott Lewis said “a business isn’t in business to lose money and at some point you have to make a decision to cut your losses.”

April 6

Cart Barn reopens for business

Cart Barn Grill, which had closed its previous location on Whitesville Road around Christmas 2017, reopened on Jefferson Street in April.

April 18

Hogansville council

approves plans for

downtown, theater

Two days after the Hogansville City Council did not take an official vote on approving the city’s downtown masterplan or for the Royal Theatre, the council approved moving forward with both plans. The revitalization of the Royal Theatre involves restoring it as a performing arts center.

April 19

Yeargin named

finalist for Georgia

Teacher of the Year

Troup High School’s Kayla Yeargin was named one of 10 finalists for teacher of the year in April. Yeargin was the 2017 Troup County Teacher of the Year.

April 21

Knight performs

at Sweetland

Gladys Knight was a hit at Sweetland Amphitheater in April. The seven time Grammy Award winner held the second concert in the venue’s concert series.

April 22

Second part of The Thread opens

The Thread held a 5K to celebrate the second portion of the running/walking trail opening near Eastside Park in Calumet Village.

April 25

Cagle makes stop in

LaGrange

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle made a second stop in LaGrange in April, giving voters a chance to learn about his campaign for governor. Cagle eventually lost to Brian Kemp in a run-off election in the Republican primary.

April 26

West point names

police chief

The West Point City Council unanimously voted to name Donald Britt as the city’s new police chief in April. Britt was named the replacement for Tony Bailey, who left in September 2017.

May 1

Candidates gather

for forums

For two days, candidates for Troup County Commission, the Troup County School Board and statewide positions participate in forums at the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

The forums gave each candidate a chance to discuss local and statewide issues.

May 5

Distracted driving law passed in Georgia

Georgia new Hands-Free Driving Law went into action on May 1, making it illegal to drive with a phone in hand. For the first 90 days, several local agencies — including Georgia State Patrol — gave a grace period.

May 11

Students win

brand new cars

Each high school in the Troup County School System gave a car away to a local student in May. Students had to meet grade, attendance and behavior requirements in order to be eligible for the random drawing. The vehicles were donated by local dealerships. Jennifer Espinoza (LaGrange), Oeisha Jenkins (Callaway) and David “DW” Ward Jr. (Troup) won the vehicles.

May 16

Optimist Club awards LPD, LFD officers

The Optimist Club of LaGrange recognized LaGrange Police Department Det. Jeremey Jones and LaGrange Fire Department firefighter Daniel Fogg were recognized at its May meeting. Jones was named law enforcement of the year and Fogg was firefighter of the year.

May 22

Phase three of The

Thread under way

Work on the third portion of The Thread officially started in May. The third portion of The Thread goes down North Greenwood Street, Broad Street and Panther Way.

May 23

Crews, Jones-Cameron win elections

Patrick Crews was re-elected to the Troup County Commission, defeating challenger Tripp Foster. Tanya Jones-Cameron was also elected to the district 7 seat on the Troup County School Board. Rebecca Grubbs won the district 4 seat on the BOE after running unopposed.

May 24

Applebee’s Closes

Applebee’s in LaGrange closed in late May. A sign was posted on the door, alerting customers that the location had closed. Signage was taken down at the building almost immediately.

May 25

Great Wolf Lodge

opens in LaGrange

Great Wolf Lodge officially opened in late May. The resort opened with 710 employees and Disney Star Meg Donnelly made an appearance. The lodge is expected to bring in half a million visitors each year.

June 2

Sweet Coincidence

A doughnut truck was involved in a wreck in LaGrange on National Doughnut Day, leading to more than 4,000 sweets being given away on the holiday. A LaGrange Towing called Sgt. Marshall McCoy from the LaGrange Police Department and McCoy helped get the doughnuts delivered to shelters, daycares, banks and Twin Cedars.

June 6

NAACP asks for

investigation into schools

The Troup County Branch of the NAACP demanded an investigation into the Troup County School System in June. A letter was sent to Gov. Nathan Deal’s office, as well as the Georgia Board of Education and the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Office of Professional Standards. The NAACP alleged that teachers were pressured to pas students and that discipline data had been falsified.

June 7

Man shot, killed by police after firing at officers

A LaGrange man was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after making a false 911 call and firing at police once they arrived at his residence. Roger Dale Sims, 56, allegedly called 911 and said he had killed his wife, but officers learned his wife had died 14 months earlier in an automobile accident. When officers arrived, Sims fired, despite being told to put the guns down.

June 12

Hogansville purchases

PNC Bank building

In June, the City of Hogansville purchased the PNC Bank in Hogansville, which is likely to be the future home of City Hall. The city acquired the land, but the bank’s ATM at the location continued in operation.

June 15

Man killed in West Point

Three men were wanted — and eventually arrested — after a shooting in West Point in June on Dogwood Circle. In the shooting, Reggie Person, 50, was shot and killed. Octavious Bridges, 24, Trent Murphy, 24, and Eric Bridges, 25, were wanted in connection to the shooting. Octavious and Eric Bridges were arrested in June and Murphy was arrested in August.

June 23

McBride plays at

Sweetland

Country music artist Martina McBride performed in front of a sold out Sweetland Amphitheatre in June. McBride’s concert was the biggest in the three-year history of Sweetland Amphitheatre and sold out five weeks before the show.

LaGrange Library closed due to lack of A/C

The LaGrange Memorial Library had to close its doors in June due to the lack of air conditioning.

The library was closed for about a week before getting the A/C fixed and reopening.

Hogansville, LaGrange raises utility rates

The Hogansville City Council voted unanimously to raise water, waste waster and a portion of electric utility rates during its meeting in June. Mayor Bill Stankiewicz said “it was not an easy decision.” LaGrange increased utility rates a few days later, voting 5 to 1 to increase electric and gas services. The increased rate was to fund repairs and upgrades.

June 29

Eagle Scout wins

national award

LaGrange native Nathan Fain, a homeschool student, was honored when his Eagle Scout Project was named the Glenn A. Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Project of the Year. Fain’s Joyful Noise playground at Lafayette Christian School is a handicapped-accessible.

Man shot and killed in

Lexington Park Drive area

A man was shot and killed in the area of Lexington Park Drive in late June. According to the LaGrange Police Department, victim was Jevontay Carr, a man from Mississippi.

Three passersby were in a vehicle driving past an apparent broken down vehicle, but were ambushed by several individuals who opened fire. Carr apparently was involved in the ambush but got in the middle of the gunfire and was injured. Five individuals were arrested in the investigation.