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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in four-part series looking back at the year 2022 in Troup County.

April 8

TADS REMOVED DUE TO INACTIVITY

In April, The Troup County Board of Commissioners voted to eliminate two tax allocation districts (TAD) due to a lack of development in the districts. The two dissolved TADS were the Commercial Gateway and the Veteran’s Village tax allocation districts.

April 13

HISTORIC KING BRIDGE RETURNS 

The historic bridge built by George King, son of bridge builder and former slave Horace King, was set up near the Mulberry Street cemetery, mere feet from where King and his son, Marshall N. King, were buried. The bridge is believed to be a replica of the one King built that was destroyed in a flood at Harmony Church Road and Wehadkee Creek.

April 16  

TROUP COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HIRES FOUR NEW PRINCIPALS

In April , the Troup County School Board approved the hiring of four new principals: Shannah Mabry for  Clearview Elementary School, Hanna Beall for Hogansville Elementary School, Keneithia Cook for West Point Elementary School and Todd McRae for Callaway Middle School.

April 23  

HOGANSVILLE RECEIVES $750K GRANT FOR ROYAL THEATER

The City of Hogansville was approved for a $750,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration, the final step to get the city’s Royal Theater restoration project off the ground.

DR. SUSANNA BAXTER INAUGURATED AS LAGRANGE COLLEGE’S SECOND FEMALE PRESIDENT

In April, after two years serving as LaGrange College president, Dr. Susanna Baxter was finally inaugurated as the college’s second female president.

The inauguration was delayed due to COVID-19. “LaGrange College has been transforming lives since 1831, and I stand on the shoulders of many great presidents,” Baxter said.

April 26  

LAGRANGE CYCLING CLASSIC RETURNS

The LaGrange Cycling Classic returned for its second ride in April as riders from all over the world competed for top spots in the tight-knit criterium encircling Main St. and Bull St. The two main races for the event were the Women’s PRO 1/2/3 and the Men’s PRO 1/2/3.

May 4

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER HONORED IN LAGRANGE WITH GRAVE MARKER AT CEMETERY

Members of the Piedmont and LaGrange Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution gathered to honor Joseph Breed with a Patriot Memorial Gravestone Dedication service conducted by the Sons of the American Revolution. The service was held at the Shadowlawn Cemetery on a plot where some of Breed’s descendants are buried.

May 14

GMA VISITORS IMPRESSED BY LAGRANGE

Former Mayor Jim Thornton welcomed GMA members from cities all around the state to LaGrange for two meetings — one by GMA’s legislative policy council and a meeting of the 60-member GMA board. During the trip, the mayors were impressed with what LaGrange had to offer. “That fountain was absolutely beautiful to look at,” Screven Mayor Jason Weaver said. “I mean, it’s amazing. Everything’s right here in walking distance.” Thornton now works for GMA.

May 18

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD TO REMEMBER THREE KILLED IN WRECK

In May, a two-vehicle wreck on Roanoke Road killed 24-year-old Troup County native Rico Dunn and two LaGrange College baseball players, Stephen Bartolotta and Jacob Brown. The accident was just hours after the LaGrange College baseball team had won the USA South Conference title.

“We as a Panther family, we want to make sure that we send out our condolences that prayers and hugs and love to the Dunn family. We are going to support and be there for the Bartolotta and the Brown families,” said LaGrange College Athletic Director Terlynn Olds.

June 4

CHORAL SOCIETY PERFORMS AT HISTORIC CARNEGIE HALL

Due to the pandemic putting live concerts on hold, the trip was one of excitement and anticipation. “These were choirs that signed on to do this project two years ago in 2019,” Bettie Biggs, former artistic director of the Choral Society of West Georgia. “After three years of waiting and not knowing, it finally took place.”

June 8

RISING FUEL PRICES BRINGS PUMP PAIN TO CITY AND COUNTY OPERATIONS

In June, fuel prices were averaging $4.30 a gallon in Georgia, setting a new all-time high in the state, according to AAA. “Rising gas prices has created hardship for many families and businesses,” said former LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton. “They also have caused the cost of providing city services to increase. It has definitely made life more difficult for residents, but it looks like they are adjusting and cutting expenses elsewhere. This is not the best of times, but I’m sure we will get through it.”

June 25

ROE V. WADE OVERTURNED 

The Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in June.  The overturning of this landmark case ends the constitutional right of abortion for millions of women, putting the decision in the hands of states. The vote was held 6-3, with the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett voting to overturn Roe v. Wade. The dissenting justices were Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

June 29

BOZEMAN NAMED LHS PRINCIPAL

Longtime assistant principal Jamie Bozeman was approved as the new principal by the Troup County School Board in June. Bozeman replaced principal Alton White, who retired earlier in June.