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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a four-part series looking back at 2023 in Troup County. The final part includes October through December.

Oct. 3

12-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN ATV ACCIDENT

Brody Lynch, 12, was killed in a tragic ATV accident off of N. Stateline Road on Sept. 30. Three others were injured as a result of the accident.

Oct. 4

HILLSIDE MONTESSORI BREAKS GROUND

Hillside Montessori broke ground on its planned new school on Hills & Dales Farm Road. The new school is expected to be completed by late 2024.

Oct. 6

WGT HOSTS MANUFACTURING DAY

West Georgia Tech hosted the inaugural West Georgia Manufacturing Day. The project organized by the LaGrange Development Authority had hundreds of high schoolers interact with local manufacturing companies to show them job opportunities after graduation.

Oct. 13

LPD COLLECTS MORE THAN 200 GUNS IN BUYBACK

The LaGrange Police Department’s first gun buyback saw a strong turnout. The department had to end a gun buyback early after funds to purchase the firearms ran out.

Oct. 15

WESLEY METHODIST HOLDS CHARTING SERVICE

After splitting with LaGrange First United Methodist Church, 273 members made it official by chartering Wesley Methodist led by Senior Pastor Dr. John Beyers.

Oct. 17

MAN DROWNS IN WEST POINT LAKE

Cobb County fisherman Jonathon Alvarado, 33, died on Oct. 14 after falling from a boat near the Liberty Hill boat access.

Oct. 17

BLUES TRAVELER CLOSES OUT SWEETLAND

Sweetland Amphitheatre closed out its 2023 concert series with a performance from multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning band, Blues Traveler.

Nov. 3

SHOTS FIRED AT CALLAWAY STADIUM?

Multiple people were injured fleeing from the LaGrange-Troup football game after what sounded like gunshots rang out coming from a tailgating area outside the stadium. Authorities are still unsure if shots were actually fired but no evidence was found confirming so.

Nov. 4

TWO ARRESTED FOR DANIEL STREET MURDER

Traveous Kindrez Rosser, 23, and Jacorious Jamar Thomas, 32, were arrested for the murder of Tabious Frazier at the Main Events event center on Daniel Street. At least two others were injured during the shooting as well.

Nov. 7

TRAMELL RE-ELECTED

Steve Tramell defeated Deedee Williams 460 to 365 for Mayor of West Point in a rematch of the 2017 election.

STRICKLAND WINS BY ONE VOTE

Kandis Strickland won the Post 5 council seat by a single vote over competitor Jason Baswell. Strickland will take the seat of Toni Striblin who is retiring from public service.

MITCHELL DEFEATS BROWN
Incumbent councilman Mark Mitchell defeated Curtis Brown for the LaGrange District 1C council seat, 1162 to 327.

AYERS WINS CLOSE RACE FOR

HOGANSVILLE SEAT

Mark Ayers defeated challenger Adrain Porter for the Hogansville Post 4 council seat, winning 213-192.

CHILDS TOPS HART IN LAGRANGE

Councilman Leon Childs defeated challenger Travis Hart for the District 2B council seat in LaGrange.

NEESE RE-ELECTED

Councilwoman Mandy Neese was re-elected to the Hogansville City Council defeating challenger Bridget Phillips. Neese won the seat 220-190.

PATRICK JOINS LEDBETTER AND THORNTON ON WEST POINT COUNCIL

Sandra Thornton and Jerry Ledbetter retained their seats on the West Point City Council. The incumbents are joined by newcomer Kevin Patrick who earned the third spot in the at-large election.

Nov. 10

COUNTY, COLLEGE BAN TAILGATING

Troup County and LaGrange College have banned tailgating in parking areas surrounding Callaway Stadium in response to the LaGrange-Troup football game where shots may or may not have been fired in a crowded area outside the stadium. 

Nov. 14

LCS BREAKS GROUND ON NEW KINDERGARTEN

Lafayette Christian School broke ground on its new kindergarten building. The construction is expected to be completed in 2024.

Nov. 15

LOVES OPENS IN WEST POINT

The Love’s truck stop at I-85 Exit 2 in West Point officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Troup=LaGrange Chamber of Commerce.

Nov. 17

THIRD SUSPECT CHARGED IN

DANIEL STREET MURDER

Jaylin Gates, 17, of Hogansville, was arrested and charged with felony murder. According to LaGrange Police, Gates was arrested after further investigation determined that Gates was directly involved in the shooting that led to the death of Tabious Frazier. Frazier, 33, was shot at Main Events on Daniel Street in LaGrange.

Dec. 1

OAKFUSKEE OPENS

The new Oakfuskee Conservation Center at Pyne Road Park officially opened on Dec. 1. The new event center overlooks West Point Lake and can be rented for weddings, parties, corporate events, family reunions and more.

Dec. 7

OVER $100K MISSING FROM STATE COURT FUNDS

More than $100,000 in State Court speeding funds has been discovered missing from county coffers. LaGrange Police Chief Garrett Fiveash said the money appears to have been taken through internet fraud and no one local is suspected of embezzling the funds.

Dec. 9

NUTWOOD’S

SECOND LOCATION OPENS IN DOWNTOWN LAGRANGE

Nutwood Winery has opened a second location in Downtown LaGrange. The new location will feature a full-service restaurant.

Dec. 12

LAGRANGE HOSTS INAUGURAL

MAYOR’S

CHRISTMAS BALL

The City of LaGrange hosted its first annual Mayor’s Christmas Ball featuring music from Regina Bell and raising money for local scholarships.

Dec. 12

CITY MANAGER KELSEY RESIGNS

LaGrange City Manager Meg Kelsey resigned in a surprise announcement between the morning council work session and the evening meeting. Kelsey plans to leave effective Jan. 12 to take an assistant city manager position with the City of Newnan.

Dec. 15

CONGRESSMAN DREW FERGUSON TO NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION

Congressman and former West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson announced that he is retiring and will not seek re-election in 2024.

Dec. 21

BID APPROVED FOR GRIGGS CENTER POOL

The Troup County Board of Commissioners has approved a bid with River City Contraction that will finish the construction of the Don Weatherington Aquatics Center at the William Griggs Center. The pool is expected to be completed by summer 2024.