🍇 Which Section Gets The Most Compliments

Good morning, Spalding County!

Want to guess which section of the Grapevine gets the most compliments?

I’d like to tell you it’s Civil News, where I try to make keeping up with government meetings a little easier. Or our Adoptable Dog of the Week, because the pups at Spalding County Animal Care & Control are tough competition.

It’s the dump schedule. Apparently, the quickest way to people’s hearts is helping them get the trash out of their truck.

Most of y’all understand. Figuring out where to take your trash and when the gate will actually be open can feel like it requires advanced degrees in mycology, serology, teratology, embryology, psychology, and zoology. Even then, I still get emails from readers who did their homework and arrived to find the place unexpectedly closed.

I put this publication together hoping to make your week a little easier. If that means saving you a wasted trip with a truck full of garbage, I’ll gladly take the compliment.

- Chad

Gmail is free, but you pay with your data. Proton Mail is different.

We don’t scan your messages. We don’t sell your behavior. We don’t follow you across the internet.

Proton Mail gives you full-featured, private email without surveillance or creepy profiling. It’s email that respects your time, your attention, and your boundaries.

Email doesn’t have to cost your privacy.

Ditch the Gmail data grab

The Kiwanis Spalding County Fair returns September 15–20, bringing rides, rescue-dog performances and local creativity to the Kiwanis Club Fairgrounds. Families can explore Georgia Untamed Zoo, catch K9s in Flight, visit the Living Statue and spend time in the Kiwanis Kidz Zone. The Exhibit Hall will showcase 4-H projects, canning, needlework, and arts and crafts. Saturday adds a Tractor and Truck Pull from 2–9 p.m. Tuesday admission is free, courtesy of Inspired Wealth Planning. On Wednesday, visitors can bring 10 undented, unexpired food cans instead of paying the $10 gate fee, supporting Five Loaves Two Fish Food Pantry. The fair opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Ride wristbands cost $30 Tuesday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday, separate from gate admission.

Griffin and Spalding boys basketball players finally had a chance to face their familiar neighbors again, ending a three-year gap in one of the county’s most anticipated matchups. Griffin won the fall league game 42–26. The result will not affect either team’s regular-season record, but the meeting gave both programs something they had been missing: a chance to compete against players they have known for years. Griffin coach Oscar Moore and Spalding coach Montay West welcomed the reunion and expressed interest in continuing the rivalry. Both emphasized respectful competition, with Moore praising how the teams represented their schools. A return to regular-season games remains undecided. For now, the fall matchup offered an encouraging start, giving longtime friends, former teammates and neighborhood rivals a shared court again.

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.

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.

Griffin-Spalding County Airport Authority Meeting
When: Monday, September 14, 5:00 PM
What: The authority will receive an update on the replacement airport, consider engineering services for stream conveyance culverts, and review August expenditures and airport operations.
Where: W. Elmer George Municipal Hall, One Griffin Center, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Spalding County Water Authority Meeting
When: Wednesday, September 16, 8:30 AM
What: The authority will consider engineering proposals for expanding the Cabin Creek water reclamation facility, developing a wastewater sewer model, and preparing a systemwide wastewater master plan.
Where: Spalding County Courthouse Annex, Room 108, 119 East Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Chess Club for Kids and Adults
When: Monday, September 14, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library hosts its weekly chess club for children and adults. The gathering brings different generations together for an evening centered on chess.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Griffin-Spalding Mentor Program Training
When: Tuesday, September 15, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Mentor Program offers an in-person training session for new mentors. Residents interested in joining the program must register in advance through the event page.
Where: 223 South 6th Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Knit/Crochet Club
When: Tuesday, September 15, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What: Adults and teens are invited to learn, share their skills, and meet other knitters and crocheters at the library. Bring your own project, materials, and tools for this drop-in gathering. No registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Kiwanis Spalding County Fair
When: Tuesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 17, with scheduled activities beginning at 5:00 PM each day. The fair continues through Sunday, September 20.
What: The annual fair returns with rides, carnival games, fair food, and family entertainment. Tuesday through Thursday, the schedule includes Georgia Untamed Zoo from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the Kiwanis Kidz Zone and living statue from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and K9s in Flight acrobatic dog shows at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM.
Where: Kiwanis Fairgrounds, 1025 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Business After Hours at Sourcepass
When: Tuesday, September 15, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce hosts an evening of networking for Chamber members and local professionals at Sourcepass. Attendees can meet other businesspeople, learn about the host company, and enjoy light refreshments and door prizes. Bring business cards to exchange with new contacts.
Where: Sourcepass, 120 East Taylor Street, Griffin, GA 30223

UGA Author Entertainment Series: Thomas Aiello
When: Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
What: UGA Griffin welcomes author Thomas Aiello to discuss Return of the King: The Rebirth of Muhammad Ali and the Rise of Atlanta. The book explores Ali’s 1970 return to boxing against Jerry Quarry and Atlanta’s role in making that comeback possible. The event connects sports history with the city’s changing social and political landscape. Admission is free.
Where: Bailey-Tebault House, 633 Meriwether Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Family Storytime at the Library
When: Wednesday, September 16, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
What: Children ages 2 to 5 and their parents or caregivers can enjoy an interactive afternoon storytime. Activities include stories, themed songs, fingerplays, movement, and crafts. No registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Main Street Players Present Moonlight and Magnolias
When: Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM each evening
What: Main Street Players opens its 25th season with Ron Hutchinson’s comedy about the frantic effort to finish the screenplay for Gone with the Wind. Producer David O. Selznick and director Victor Fleming act out the story for screenwriter Ben Hecht, who has never read the book.
Where: Main Street Players Theatre, 115 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Family Storytime at the Library
When: Thursday, September 17, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
What: The library offers a morning storytime for families with children ages 2 to 5. Parents and caregivers can join their children for stories, songs, movement, fingerplays, and crafts. No registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Save a Life in Under an Hour: Overdose and Naloxone Training
When: Thursday, September 17, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
What: NALO Spalding and Georgia Overdose Prevention present an overdose and naloxone training session. The program offers residents an opportunity to learn about overdose response. Organizers will provide free naloxone at the training for people at risk or those who know someone at risk.
Where: 222 Meriwether Street, Griffin, GA 30224

School Supplies Crafting
When: Thursday, September 17, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
What: Teens can customize their school supplies during a creative evening at the library. Paper, paint, stickers, and other decorating materials will be provided. No registration is required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Piano Men: Generations
When: Thursday, September 17, 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
What: The Griffin Area Concert Association presents father-and-son performers Terry and Nick Davies with their band in a tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John. The concert features favorites including “Uptown Girl,” “Rocket Man,” and “Tiny Dancer.” Seating is open, with no reserved seats.
Where: Griffin Auditorium, 234 East Taylor Street, 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

94° 🌡️ 71° | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 0–5 mph N

91° 🌡️ 67° | ☀️ | 5% | 💨 5–10 mph E

89° 🌡️ 63° | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 0–10 mph E

90° 🌡️ 65° | ☀️ | 5% | 💨 0–10 mph NE

That’s it for today, Spalding County.

Whether you came for the local stories, found something to add to your calendar, or scrolled straight to the dump schedule, I’m glad you made time for the Grapevine.

And thank you to everyone who hits reply with a kind word, a story tip, or a heads-up that a gate was locked when it shouldn’t have been. Those emails help me keep this publication useful, and I always enjoy hearing from the people reading it.

If you know someone who would appreciate having all this in one place, send them today’s issue. You can tell them about the news, the events, and the adoptable dogs. Or just lead with the dump schedule. Apparently, that’s our selling point.

Have a fantastic week!

P.S. Local businesses interested in reaching Spalding County readers can reply as well or email [email protected].