An apparent explosion at the Georgia Guidestones left one of the wings of the stone monument in a pile of rubble Wednesday morning.
According to the Elbert County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the explosion was seen on video camera footage a little after 4 a.m.
Comments on The Elberton Star’s social media from people who live in the area said they felt and heard the apparent explosion, comparing it to an “earthquake.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation worked the incident for most of the day Wednesday. The GBI’s bomb disposal unit, along with K-9 units from the Hall and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office(s) were called in to help.
A text message from the Elbert County Emergency Services center went around at 6:47 a.m. that said “needs assistance” on Guidestones Road.
Local authorities, including the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, Elbert County Fire Department and EMA responded to the scene and closed off the perimeter of the Guidestones and Guidestones Road. Later, the Georgia Department of Transportation, with help from the Georgia State Patrol, closed off Hartwell Highway (Georgia Highway 77).
Kandiss Taylor, a former gubernatorial candidate in the May 24 primary who listed “demolishing the Georgia Guidestones”as her 10th executive order if she became governor, posted on social media following the incident Wednesday morning.
“God is God all by Himself. He can do ANYTHING He wants to do,” Taylor wrote on Facebook. “That includes striking down Satanic Guidestones.”
Information will be updated on The Elberton Star’s Facebook page as well as its website at elberton.com. Updates will also be shared by The Hartwell Sun on its Facebook page and at thehartwellsun.com.