Houston County Insider

Category: Local News

  • Old Book Sale at GA National Fairgrounds – Free Entry Today/Tomorrow!

    Attention book lovers! Score some amazing deals on books and media at the “Old Book Sale” happening this weekend at the GA National Fairgrounds! This annual event is sponsored by Houston County Friends of the Library – the books are all decommissioned library books and proceeds benefit our HoCo libraries!

    Them’s good readin!

    Admission is free Friday and Saturday – explore over 90,000 books and media sorted into more than 50 categories! Whether you’re into fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, or children’s books, there is something for everyone here. And the best part? Average prices are only between 50 cents to $3.00, so you’re sure to get your hands on some great finds without breaking the bank!

    The sale is taking place inside the Georgia Grown Building, so you’ll be able to shop rain or shine. On Saturday, it’s half-price day, so you’ll have an even greater chance to snag some bargains.

    So mosey on down Friday (April 21st) from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM or Saturday (April 22nd) from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM to the GA National Fairgrounds – don’t miss this opportunity to fill up your personal library, buy some gifts for friends and family, or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Happy reading!l, Houston County Insiders!

  • America’s Thrift Store To Open in June on Russell Parkway!

    You might have seen the signs! A new America’s Thrift Store is coming to Russell Parkway in Warner Robins, right next to Planet Fitness, at the end of June. If you haven’t heard of America’s Thrift Stores before, let me tell you why they are an awesome addition to our beloved Houston County GA.

    America’s Thrift Stores is a thrift chain that operates across the South and supports children’s health and addiction recovery charities with every donation they receive, including various local chapters of Make-A-Wish for example. They have a goal to donate $100 million to these charities in 10 years from the proceeds of their stores. How awesome is that?!?

    They also have a unique shopping experience that you won’t find anywhere else called the “new store every day” concept. They price everything to sell fast and then reset a huge part of their inventory daily. That means you can find new treasures every time you visit!

    I can’t wait to check out their new store and see it firsthand. I love shopping at thrift stores because I can find quality items at affordable prices while supporting a good cause. Plus, it’s fun to hunt for bargains and discover hidden gems!

    Stay posted for more details as well as their opening date – we’ve got you covered, Houston County!

  • Don’t Miss Tickets for Perry Wine Tasting on 4/21!

    Let’s raise a glass, Houston County! Downtown Perry is hosting a Wine Tasting on Friday, April 21, with 25 wine stops and live entertainment. Entry is $50 per person, and the festivities start at 5:30 pm – it’s sure to be a great time!

    Get tickets here!

    Look, we’re not all wine connoisseurs – a wine tasting is a great way to figure out what you like and learn about different wines, or discover new ones if you’re already savvy. It also provides a fun and relaxed social atmosphere!

    They’ll have live entertainment and shopping to go with the booze, of course, and a Courtesy Shuttle will be available to provide transportation from downtown to anywhere within Perry city limits, so you can enjoy the event without worrying about how you’ll get home.

    Tickets may sell out, so jump on it if you’re interested – so get your crew and get sophisticated at the Downtown Perry Wine Tasting!

  • Cherry Blossom Music Highlights – SUGARHILL GANG and More!!

    If you’re hoping for great live music at the Cherry Blossom Festival this year, we’ve got you covered, HoCo!

    The Concert Series is held every night at 8pm during the festival (March 17-26) in Carolyn Crater Park (115 Willie Smokie Glover Dr). Entry to the festival area is $10, with kids 10 and under free.

    You can find the full schedule at the official Cherry Blossom Festival website, but here are Houston County Insider’s top picks and highlights you won’t want to miss!

    • Saturday, March 18, 8pm: Junior Marvin’s The Legendary Wailers
      • Ready for Reggae, mon?? Join Julian Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers, and his version of the Wailers for a night of unforgettable reggae music.
    • Monday, March 20, 8pm: Demun Jones
      • Homegrown country music from Middle GA! Demun Jones is a singer-songwriter and former member of the group Rehab. Did you know: his album “Jones County” pays tribute to his Central Georgia upbringing!
    • Tuesday, March 21, 8pm: Sugarhill Gang
      • I say the hip, hop, the hippy to the hip hip hop, you don’t stop! Get down with the Sugarhill Gang, the pioneering hip-hop group that brought us the iconic hit “Rapper’s Delight”. The Sugarhill Gang can still bring the house down with classic rap and hip-hop – you don’t want to miss it!
    • Friday, March 24, 8pm: Eli Young Band
      • Cause we’s country round here! Don’t miss the Eli Young Band, the country music sensation known for hits like “Crazy Girl” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Come out and hear why they keep topping the charts!

    The Cherry Blossom Festival has a lot more to offer – here’s our primer for the opening weekend!

  • Macon Cherry Blossom Festival Kicks Off This Weekend!

    Macon‘s International Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off today, despite the forecasted rain and cold, to celebrate spring and the spectacular blooming of the city’s 350,000+ Yoshino cherry trees with a week of special events, vendors, live music and more! It’s not in Houston County, but is a beloved tradition in adjacent Macon-Bibb County that draws huge crowds from HoCo and beyond.

    Macon has more Yoshino cherry trees than anywhere on earth – thanks mostly to a concerted planting effort beginning in 1952!

    There are a dizzying number of events – a parade, guided tours, rides, races, concerts, shopping and all kinds of live entertainment, including a lot of live music, magic shows, art shows, dog races – there really is something for everyone!

    Fun fact: statistically, the peak blooming of cherry blossom in Macon most often falls on March 23, so the festival is always arranged to include that date!

    You’ll want to browse the official website to plan your visit to the ”Pinkest Party on Earth,” but here are a couple of highlights for the opening weekend:

    Bed Race – Saturday, March 18, 2-3pm @ Cherry St. & Third St.

    • Sounds weird, right?? It is! Teams compete to see who can race down the streets of downtown Macon on a “bed” mounted on wheels – they define bed pretty loosely, but it’s fun all the same!

    The Legendary Wailers – Saturday, March 18, 8pm @ Carolyn Crater Park

    • Get feeling irie with some Reggae music tomorrow night! The Legendary Wailers is led by Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers.

    Cherry Blossom Parade – Sunday, March 19, 3-4pm @ Cherry St. & First St.

    • One of the most popular events of the festival is the Cherry Blossom Parade, which features colorful floats, marching bands, dancers, and other performers.

    (If you’re in it for the Concert Series, don’t miss Houston County Insider’s highlight picks for this year!)

    The Macon Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful celebration of spring and nature’s beauty, and a great way to experience the vibrant culture and community of the city. Go check it out!

  • Crumbl Cookies Warner Robins Location Confirmed!

    Attention HoCo cookie lovers! Y’all know you want more dessert, and you’ve maybe heard rumors about Crumbl Cookies coming to Warner Robins… Well, we’ve finally seen the signs go up on the rumored storefront, confirming that the new hit dessert spot is going to be located next to Stevi B’s at 2907 Watson Boulevard.

    If you happen to peek in the windows, you’d see that we’ll be waiting a bit longer for the storefront to be renovated (*ahem* not that WE did that… *ahem*), but no target opening date has been released.

    In the meantime, here’s a few reasons why people go nuts over Crumbl Cookies:

    1. This family-owned business started in 2017 and became the nation’s fastest growing cookie company.
    2. Tech-driven approach to order and deliver cookies via a user-friendly mobile app.
    3. A rotating menu of fresh and unique flavors every week, along with their classic chocolate chip and pink sugar cookies.
    4. Trademark pink boxes that are both aesthetic and functional, keeping the cookies warm and fresh.
    5. A strong and active social media presence where they showcase their cookies and attract customers.

    Between this and the Starbucks at Target in the same shopping center, we won’t know what to do with ourselves!

    Houston County Insider will keep you in the know for the opening so you don’t miss first dibs! Keep salivating, HoCo!

  • 5 Tips for Peaches to Beaches 2023 – Starts Tomorrow at 8 am in Houston County!

    Are you ready for Peaches to Beaches in Perry this weekend, Houston County??

    The annual 200-mile yard sale is a Middle GA bargain hunter’s paradise, with hundreds of official vendors and many private individuals selling everything from antiques to clothing to furniture. all along Hwy 341, from Barnesville to Brunswick!

    To help you make the most of your shopping experience, here are 5 tips for your Peaches to Beaches bargain hunting:

    1. Plan Your Route – Before you head out, map out your route and mark the locations of the vendors you want to visit. This will help you stay organized and save time! Are you going to just see what’s available in Perry, or meander down 341 a ways for private yard sales? You could plan to hit up the official stops in Fort Valley and Hawkinsville as well – whatever you decide, it’s always good to know before you go!
    2. Bring cash – Many vendors at Peaches to Beaches only accept cash, so make sure you have enough on hand. And don’t forget to bring small bills and change for haggling!
    3. Dress comfortably – You might be doing a lot of walking and browsing, so wear comfortable shoes and clothes – it should be in the mid-60s. You might also want sunscreen, a hat and water to stay hydrated.
    4. Shop early for the best stuff, shop late for the best deals – The early bird catches the worm, but the best deals at any yard sale come at closing! These are also the best times to avoid the crowds.
    5. Negotiate – Haggling is part of the fun at Peaches to Beaches, so don’t be afraid to challenge the first price! But show some Southern charm – be polite and respectful, and remember that these folks are also trying to make it worth their while.

    Get those deals at Peaches to Beaches in Perry this year, HoCo!

  • What’s with the purple street lights all over Middle GA? Here’s how to report them!

    First the red glow on 96, now this! Have you noticed more of the streetlights in Houston County turning purple the last few years? It’s actually a problem all over the Southeast and Midwest that was first reported in North Carolina in 2020 – and tens of thousands of them have already been replaced! Here’s what happened…

    Expect more purple streetlights in Middle Georgia as time goes on 😩

    Starting in 2017, as efficient LED lighting tech became more popular it started being used in streetlights. BUT a widespread manufacturing defect at that time causes the laminate on them to degrade over time, producing purple light instead of white (read further down for more science-y details!)

    Local areas have been playing catch-up ever since, including here in Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville. But there’s good news! You can report the offending purple street lights near you to Georgia Power through their dedicated website – they have an online map where you can select the exact location for repair (note: they do require your contact info.)

    Okay, I know, you want to know the deets on how the LEDs actually turn purple – here it is, you big nerd!

    LED stands for light-emitting diode, which is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. But white light is actually a composite of other colors, so, in order to create white light from LEDs, a blue LED is coated with a material called phosphor. This material converts the blue light into other colors, like yellow or green, which when combined with blue create white light.

    But as the phosphor coating on the LED wears out or degrades, it peels off – leaving the LED emitting only blue light, giving that all-to-familiar purple glow instead. If you want the big, long version that includes story of the scandalous manufacturing defect, click here.

    Now be a great citizen – report those purple lights and stay bright, Houston County!

  • Peaches to Beaches: Don’t Miss GA’s Yard Sale Extravaganza in Perry!

    Peaches to Beaches is a Houston County tradition to be excited about! Check out the local deals in downtown Perry this year and follow 341 to your heart’s content!

    Hey there, Houston County! Are you ready for one of the biggest annual events in Georgia? Peaches to Beaches is a 200-mile long treasure hunt that stretches all the way from the peach-filled city of Barnesville to the sandy shores of Brunswick, running along Highway 341 the whole way INCLUDING right through our own downtown Perry, GA in Houston County!

    From March 10-11, 2023, folks from all over the state will be flocking to Hwy 341 to explore the numerous sales hosted by residents and businesses along the way. There are official vendors and designated sites along the way that you’ll see banners and signs for (official times are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), but part of the fun is driving along 341 for a smorgasbord of private yard sales that accompany the official ones.

    If you’re looking for great deals and exciting vendors nearby, look no further than downtown Perry! There are also hubs nearby in Fort Valley as well as Hawkinsville, and you might also get caught up in curiosity chasing deals all the way to Brunswick if you’re so inclined! More details are at their website, including how to become an official vendor.

    Whether you’re a seasoned yard sale pro or a newbie looking to score some great deals, Peaches to Beaches is the place to be! Join us in downtown Perry, HoCo is the place to be!

  • Coming to Perry Parkway: Huey Magoo’s!

    Calling all chicken lovers! Exciting news – Huey Magoo’s is coming to Perry Parkway later this year!

    Construction starting soon in Perry, GA!

    The popular chicken chain has been a big hit since opening it’s first Houston County store a few months ago off of Lake Joy Road in Warner Robins, and they’re about to start construction on a second store on Perry Parkway, located between the Publix shopping center and the Houston Superior Court.

    Some folks are thinking, “really, another chicken place?” But the rest of us Insiders are emphatically shouting, “YAS.”

    Huey Magoo’s is famous for their delicious hand-breaded chicken tenders, made with all-natural, hormone-free chicken breast. Their signature “Magoo Sauce” is a must-try, along with their hand-cut fries and creamy mac and cheese. Plus, their menu includes a variety of salads, wraps, and sandwiches, so there’s something for everyone.

    And that’s not all – the local franchise owners plan to open one more location in Houston County, location TBD.

    Can Middle Georgia handle this much chicken? Y’all ain’t even seen us get started, we ’bout to eat! See you at Huey Magoo’s, Houston County!