At graduation time, we think of caps, gowns, and continuing our education by entering college, where we can further our education. y3b5q

Many will do just that, while others will stay home with mom and pop working locally, and others will get married and move out on their own to another town.

In today's world, it seems harder to get ahead, even with the best of education.

This brings up a question that was asked of me this week: "Why are functionally illiterate students allowed to graduate from high school?"

I don't have an answer, maybe you do, send it to me at griffinjournal.

At a recent extraordinary session of the Spalding County Commissioners, the Board considered a resolution increasing the pay for all .

The Board should reduce its salary rather than search for ways to increase it.

What will they do, if anything, other than what they do now, that warrants a pay raise?

Looking back, I have found that most commissioners just sit and have never presented information that would make our county better than what it is today.

Should the County have money to increase the commissioner's salary, why not use this money to make our county better than what it is? Paying the commissioners more is not the answer needed.

Three of Spalding County’s most influential elected officials are not fulfilling their duties when they do not fulfill their obligation of deciding if the local paper is meeting the STATE LAW maintaining a 75 percent paid subscription of its total circulation and Papers holding the “LEGAL GAZETTE” have been a rubber stamping for many years not complying with the laws of the STATE.

In Spalding County, those responsible for making the decision whether a newspaper meets the STATE LAW qualifications to earn the title of LEGAL GAZETTE are the Spalding County Probate Judge, the Spalding County Clerk of Superior Court, and the sheriff.

We are not sure if these three were aware that this is one of the duties they swore to uphold when taking their OATH of OFFICE, but as the saying goes, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

So the question remains: When will these three elected officials fulfill their obligation to ask for an official audit of the local papers' paid subscribers and the number of papers printed each publication day so they can do their sworn duty of appointing an official legal gazette for Spalding County, published within the county they serve?

The STATE LAW calls for an official audit of a paper’s circulation, declaring the official number of paid subscribers and it must be done by a reputable company.  A paper’s figures cannot be accepted when making a final decision.

It appears from information not being provided in papers in Griffin and many in Georgia have not been audited for paid subscribers, as the GEORGIA LAW calls for.

Cheese might just be the MVP of comfort foods. Melt it on a burger, spread it on pizza, pair it with wine, or sneak a slice straight from the fridge — there's no wrong way to enjoy it. But behind its creamy, tangy, and savory appeal lies an often-overlooked risk: when something goes wrong in production, the consequences can be serious. Over the years, the U.S. has seen several major cheese recalls, involving everything from foreign contaminants like plastic fragments to dangerous pathogens. Some recalls were issued out of caution. Others were more dire, linked to widespread illness, hospitalizations, and even deaths. A few made headlines due to the sheer volume of cheese pulled from shelves. Others triggered ripple effects — lawsuits, FDA crackdowns, and lasting damage to once-trusted brands.

Aldi Recalled 400 Cases Of Happy Farms Colby Jack Shredded Cheese Due To Foreign Objects (2025)

A package of Happy Farms Colby Jack shredded cheese by Aldi©Instacart

In March 2025, cheese lovers in Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania got an unexpected reason to inspect their shredded cheese more closely. Aldi announced a recall of its Happy Farms Colby Jack Shredded Cheese after discovering the potential presence of stainless steel fragments. For fans of the brand, this was a surprising disruption to their go-to cheesy meal planning.

The recall impacted 400 cases, each containing 12 pouches of 12-ounce cheese slices. The FDA labeled it a Class II recall, indicating that the product could cause temporary or medically reversible harm, but serious consequences were unlikely. Consumers were asked to either return or throw away any affected packages. While no injuries or incidents were reported, the possibility of consuming metal fragments was considered serious enough for Aldi to act quickly, pulling the product off the shelves.

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese Recalled 402 Pounds Of Cheese Over E. Coli Contamination (2024) [Click Here for the complete story]

Spalding County will hold an extraordinary session on May 19. Under new business, the commissioners will consider a resolution to raise commissioner pay.  

I OPENING (CALL TO ORDER)

PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND ALL OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

II. INVOCATION

1. Commissioner James Dutton to deliver the invocation.

III. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

1. Commissioner Ryan Bowlden to lead the Pledge of Allegiance

IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Public Hearing

V. PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Presentation of the Financial Statements as of April 30, 2025

VI. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS

1. Resolution for the District Attorney's Office of the Griffin Judicial Circuit

4. 2023 GFOA Presentation to the Finance Department for the FY23 Audit.

5. Recognize the County Manager for the UGA Public Manager Certification

VII. CITIZEN COMMENTS

Speakers must sign up before the meeting and provide their names, addresses, and the topic they wish to discuss. Speakers must direct their remarks to the Board and not to individual or to the audience. Personal disagreements with individual or County employees are not a matter of public concern, and personal attacks will not be tolerated. The Chairman has the right to limit your comments in the interest of disposing of the County's business efficiently and respectfully.

Speakers will be allotted three (3) minutes to speak on their chosen topics as they relate to matters pertinent to the jurisdiction of the Board of Commissioners. No questions will be asked by any of the during citizen comments. Outbursts from the audience will not be tolerated. Common courtesy and civility are expected at all times during the meeting. No speaker will be permitted to speak more than three (3) minutes or more than once, unless the Board votes to suspend this rule.

VIII. MINUTES

       Consider approval for the May 5, 2025, Spalding County Board of Commissioners Work Session and the May 5, 2025,

IX. OLD BUSINESS

1. Consider approval of the second reading of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.

X.. NEW BUSINESS

1.     Consider Resolution for the Fiscal Year 2026 Roll Back Rate in compliance with the 2024 Georgia House Bill 581 and the 2025 Georgia House Bill 92 requirements. Also, consider the Resolution for the Pay Increase for the Board of Commissioners.

2. Appointment of New Deputy County Clerk for Spalding County

3.     3. Consider approval of Lease 5029 DPS (Griffin) - 1313 Arthur K. Bolton Parkway, Griffin, Georgia 30223-4578

4. IT RFP Recommendation

XI. REPORT OF COUNTY MANAGER

XII. REPORT OF ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

XIII. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS

XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION

XV. ADJOURNMENT

Koger has been accused of overcharging customers for basic groceries that were d as discounted at its stores across the country, according to a three-month-long investigation conducted by Consumer Reports.

After Kroger workers in Colorado alleged the company had widespread price errors and was aware, Consumer Reports sent people to shop at Kroger-owned stores such as Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Fry’s, and more to determine if the company had overcharged.

The report discovered that at 26 stores across 14 states and the District of Columbia, customers were overcharged for more than 150 basic items due to expired sale labels.

On average, customers paid $1.70 more than needed for everyday items such as cereal, cold and flu medication, instant coffee, meat, and more.

A spokesperson for Kroger denied the breadth of the problem, saying, “The Consumer Reports allegations boil down to misinformation, reviewing a handful of discrete issues from billions of daily transactions.”

“It in no way reflects the seriousness with which we take our transparent and affordable pricing,” the spokesperson added. Kroger is the nation’s largest supermarket chain by revenue. It has operations in 35 states.

Consumer Reports alleges their investigation found that one-third of sales tags on items were expired by at least 10 days, and at least five products had sales tags expired by 90 days.

“People should pay the price that is being d, that’s the law,” Edgar Dworsky, the founder of Consumer World, told Consumer Reports.

“The issue here is that shoppers can’t rely on the shelf price being accurate, and that’s a big problem,” Dworsky added.

The pricing mistake was not found at every Kroger store.

Kroger called the findings ‘misinformation’ and denied any wrongdoing. (EPA)

Fears about consumer prices going up have spread across the country as economists have warned that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could cause higher inflation. The Consumer Price Index found that prices rose by 0.2 percent last month, but inflation overall remains the lowest it’s been in four years.

But that hasn’t stopped consumers from worrying about price increases.

Customers who had complained told Consumer Reports that Kroger employees were quick to correct pricing errors after they were revealed.

Kroger said it’s “committed to affordable and accurate pricing” and that the characterization of widespread pricing was “patently false.”

“Kroger’s ‘Make It Right’ policy ensures associates can create a customer experience and addresses any situation when we unintentionally fall short of a customer’s expectations,” a Kroger spokesperson said. “Connecting regular technology upgrades and our 'Make It Right’ policy to price accuracy is incorrect.”

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

Beginning this weekend, Atlanta, Georgia, is hosting the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) 2025 Annual Training Conference.

Parole practitioners from the United States and International countries will be in Atlanta for the conference Sunday, May 18 to Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

In addition to paroling authorities from the U.S., International countries, and regions the APAI represents include Africa, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand.

This year’s conference theme is "From Evidence to Action: Innovations in Parole.”

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is the conference host committee.

"Our staff have been working diligently with APAI’s leadership for more than a year to ensure participants find this conference to be an unforgettable experience,” says Georgia Parole Board Chairman David Herring.

"I have attended these conferences, and APAI puts together thought-provoking sessions for attendees,” he added.

Executive Director of the Parole Board Chris Barnett serves as APAI Secretary.

"This training event will reinforce that the APAI is a premier training organization allowing paroling authorities globally to interact and learn from each other to facilitate enhanced public safety,” states Barnett.

Sessions will provide information on enforcing justice and providing second chances, medical and comionate releases, and adopting evidence-based practices among the many others.

Georgia Parole Board Member Joyette Holmes will be a ist for the opening session on Monday. The session is titled "Sharing Considerations Across the Globe.”

"Georgia’s Unique Approach to Serving Crime Victims Post-Conviction” is another highlight as the Georgia Office of Victim Services presents many of its effective programs.

What if Your Salary Is Too High for Today’s Job Market?

We all think we are worth every penny of our paychecks—and then some. Many who scored big raises are coming to the harsh realization that they are overpaid in today’s cooler job market.

It’s not that they are failing to live up to the deals they signed. It’s that wages have fallen, while the expansion of pay transparency laws makes it hard to ignore this truth.

Go ahead and snicker at these lucky stiffs, but consider that you might be one of them. Two-thirds of U.S. workers say they are compensated at or above the current value of their skills, according to a new workforce report.

Are you worth $175 thousand annually?

Here is one question that needs to be answered. "Why do Griffin Police Officers ride by cars parked between 'No Parking' signs on this side and never give out warnings or tickets?

For months, I have been one who has criticized Griffin Commissioners for allowing Griffin to become the "Dirty Little Town" of Georgia.

Should you desire to improve Griffin, I commend you; we share common ground in wanting a better, cleaner city. However, I must respectfully address one specific point regarding the streets of Griffin.

The streets of Griffin have become deplorable, with holes, and the city's failure to repair a washed-out road continues to be a failure of the city's repair work.

One street that needs immediate repair is South 8th Street, leading to our local hospital.

I have and continue to agree strongly with those who call for action on litter and community cleanliness. The level of trash in our ditches and roadways is disheartening. Since not the first Griffin Commissioner has presented a workable solution, then I will. Activate community service sentencing more meaningfully by requiring participants to clean public spaces each weekend. Let us turn ability into an opportunity for the public good.

For a better, cleaner town, we must move forward constructively, inclusively, and with data-driven solutions. Griffin deserves nothing less.