Hometown: Clinton, Iowa
Birthday: August 24.
John Barker returns to Patch after nearly a three-year absence. He was the founder of Douglasville Patch in 2010 and will now be covering a much wider area, including Douglasville, Dallas-Hiram, Logansville-Grayson, Dacula and Cumming, among other Georgia areas.
During his absence, John spent time as a public affairs specialist for both the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
He grew up in a small town in Iowa and served as a photojournalist in the Army for eight years. John served in Germany, West Point and Korea. He earned several military photojournalism awards including the Keith L. Ware Award and the Thomas Jefferson Award for a first-place entry for stories supported by photos. While a military photojournalist, John covered thousands of stories, including the Presidents of the United States Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush. He attended several military journalism and editor programs at the Defense Information School and was accepted, through portfolio, to attend the Army Advanced Photojournalism Course, held at the University of South Carolina. After serving in the Army, he worked as a writer and photographer for major daily newspapers like the San Antonio Express-News. He's also been an editor of several weekly newspapers in Texas and Georgia, including in Paulding and Douglas Counties. Owner of River City Images Portrait Studio for many years, John has used his photojournalism skills to photograph hundreds of weddings. He is married to Marina, his German-Italian wife.
Politics: I am not registered with any political party and strive to vote for the most qualified candidate.
Local Hot-Button Issues: I believe strongly in the arts and their importance in the community.
It might sound like a bunch of hocus pocus, but AMC Theatres is bringing Disney's iconic 1993 film back to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
It might sound like a bunch of hocus pocus, but AMC Theatres is bringing Disney's iconic 1993 film back to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
It might sound like a bunch of hocus pocus, but AMC Theatres is bringing Disney's iconic 1993 film back to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
It might sound like a bunch of hocus pocus, but AMC Theatres is bringing Disney’s iconic 1993 film back to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
A Gwinnett County Zaxby's restaurant scores 77 after an inspector has to throw out lettece and finds other violations.
The Paulding County Sheriff's Office said rumors at South Paulding High School about a weapon Thursday, were just that — rumors.
Gwinnett County Police Officer and hero Antwan Toney was given a heart-warming send off by the community Wednesday.
Here's how to advance Vote In Forsyth County Saturday.
A drug dealer fled after a traffic stop, throwing 63 baggies of cocaine out the window before being arrested by Douglas County deputies.
The Douglasville, Douglas County Cultural Arts Council will feature 'Motown Magic' at their upcoming annual gala
A gang member was sentenced Tuesday and be deported after a 2002 shootout with a rival gang, killing a rival gang member.
Robert DeNiro joined Atlanta officials who gathered at Phipps Plaza to announce the mixed-use transformative project happening there.
A traffic roundabout will be installed at a busy Peachtree Corners intersection to increase safety.
Atlanta Falcons Safety Keanu Neal is forging relationships with veterans who are rehabbing from battle, at Top Dogg K9 Foundation.
A 71-year-old woman was killed in a crash Wednesday on Jot Em Down Road near County Lake Road in north Forsyth County.
A family restaurant scores 85 after an inspector finds flies in the kitchen and other violations.
A restaurant failed inspection this week with a 62 score after the inspector found meat thawing improperly and other violations.
A Douglasville restaurant scored 80 after the inspector found raw beef and chicken stored next to ready to eat food and other violations.
A Gwinnett eatery had its permit suspended for failing 2 consecutive times. A water line was found leaking on food and other violations.
Officials with the Georgia Lottery reported 20 tickets worth $10,000 each were sold in Georgia, one in Villa Rica.
