THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 1/21 POSTPONED

   TUESDAY'S   1/21/25 REGULAR MEETING OF THE  THOMASTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL  HAS  BEEN   POSTPONED--ON    THE  AGENDA--UPSON  COUNTY  CHIEF  APPRASER  CHARLES  MCKEEHAN  TO  DISCUSS  HOUSE  BILL  581  AND THE PLAT  FOR JMF  TOWING  ON  YAMAHA PARKWAY.

THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS CLOSED WED 1/22/25

 Due to severe weather and the probability of adverse driving conditions in the morning, all Thomaston-Upson Schools and Central Office will be closed on Wednesday, January 22. We will continue to monitor the weather and will release information about Thursday’s plans as soon as possible. 

UPSON CO OFFICES CLOSING

 UPSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICES  CLOSING  AT   4PM  TUESDAY  ACCORDING  TO  COUNTY  MANAGER JASON TINSLEY.

REVIVAL POSTPONED IN UPSON CO

 Due to the inclement weather expected tonight in our county, the MLK Youth Revival at Salem Baptist Church has been postponed. It will now take place next week, from Monday, January 27, through Wednesday, January 29. The same speakers are scheduled to participate throughout the week. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but look forward to a great and uplifting time together next week.

Tuesday, January 21, HB 581 Public Hearing

At this time, the Thomaston-Upson School System’s HB 581 public hearing will take place as scheduled on Tuesday evening, January 21, at 6 PM. If travel conditions are unfavorable and public participation is limited due to weather conditions, we will be adding a fourth public hearing to ensure citizens the opportunity to address the Board of Education regarding this matter. The date of the fourth public hearing will be announced as soon as possible.

 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BETH CAMP ANNOUNCES A NEW WRINKLE ON HB 581

 STATE LEGISLATOR  BETH CAMP REPORTED FRIDAY  THERE APPEARS TO  BE  NO  SUNSET PROVISION  ON  HOUSE BILL  581 THAT COULD IMPACT  SCHOOL BOARDS IN  THE  STATE. THE  T-U BOARD OF EDUCATION  HELD  TWO  HEARINGS ON  THE BILL JAN. 14TH. MORE  ON  101.1  FM NEWS.

WHALEN REMAINS CITY OF GRIFFIN ATTORNEY

 THE  GRIFFIN CITY  COMMISSION  HELD A  CALLED MEETING  FRIDAY MORNING  WITH  AN ATTORNEY  FROM  THE  GA. MUNICIPAL  ASSOCIATION--AFTER  A   4-3  VOTE TUESDAY  TO DISMISS LONG-TIME  CITY  ATTORNEY  DREW WHALEN. FOLLOWING  A CLOSED  DOOR SESSION  THE  BOARD  VOTED  5-2 TO NAME  WHALEN CITY ATTORNEY AS HE HAS  AN ADDITONAL YEAR ON  HIS  CONTRACT. THE  TWO NEW  COMMISSIONERS BRAD WRIGHT  AND ROSE CURTIS  VOTED AGAINST.

GRASS FIRE AT UPSON JUSTICE CENTER

 UPSON COUNTY  SHERIFF DAN KILGORE  REPORTS  A SMALL  GRASS FIRE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT THE NEW JUSTICE  CENTER--BUT  THOMASTON  FIRE DEPARTMENT  RESPONDED  AND  HAD  IT  OUT QUICKLY. LOTS OF  SMOKE  GENERATED NEAR THE DRAINAGE  AREA ON  THE  SITE.

THOMASTON POLICE BLOCKED  OFF LEE  STREET NEXT TO BIG CHIC UPTOWN  THURSDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A BIG TRUCK KNOCKED DOWN  A  PHONE LINE  CONNECTED TO  THE  BUSINESS THAT ENDED UP IN  THE  STREET.

PIKE CO ECONOMIC SUMMIT

 TIX  ARE ON SALE  FOR THE PIKE COUNTY  CHAMBER OF  COMMERCE 2025  ECONOMIC DEVEOPMENT  SUMMIT  FEATURING  WILLIAM J. SMITH  FROM  THE UNIVERSITY OF  WEST GA. ITS THURSDAY, JAN.  30TH AT  11;30 AT CHRIST CHAPEL-ZEBULON.

UPSON CO COMMISSIONERS TUESDAY MEETING

 DURING  PUBLIC  COMMENT  AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING OF  THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS,  EX-CHAIRMAN RUSTY BLACKSTON  AND PASTOR  CLAUDE TURNER  URGED  THE  BOARD  TO RESCIND  THE APPOINTENTS MADE LAST YEAR  CLAIMING  THEY  REEKED OF  NEPOTISM.  RUSTY SAID REPLACING  ALICA MCKINLEY  AND  JOHNNY DAWSON ON  THE PLANNING  COMMISSION  WAS A MISTAKE  BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE THE  TRAINING  NEW MEMBERS WILL NEED. HE ADDED THE  RESIGNATION OF JOEL PITTS  WAS AN INJUSTICE. AS PER POLICY  THE COMMISSIONERS OFFERED NO  COMMENT  ON THE ISSUE. 

A  RETIRED AIR  FORCE  FIRST  LIEUTENANT --  CATHY HEALY  TOOK ISSUE WITH  BRINGING  THE BRIGHTMARK CIRCULATORY  CENTER  TO THE COMMUNITY--STATING ADVANCED  OR CHEMICAL  RECYCLING OF PLASTICS WON'T WORK AND ACTUALLY  RISKS LIVES.

COMMISSIONER  JAMES  ELLINGTON MOVED  THAT ONE AGENDA ITEM  BE POSTPONED--USE OF SPLOST FUNDS TO  PURCHASE  VEHICLES  FOR  THE  SHERIFF'S  OFFICE- . IT WILL BE DELT WITH  AT A FUTURE MEETING. NEW CHAIRMAN DAN BREU HAS MENTIONED  THE LAGRANGE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEASES ITS UNITS  AND GETS NEW VEHICLES ON  A  REGULAR  BASIS.

BEN  WATSON  WAS  ELECTED  VICE-CHAIRMAN  FOR  2025.

DR. JESSICA WATSON LONE FINALIST LAMAR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT

 THE LAMAR COUNTY  BOARD OF  EDUCATION  HAS  NAMED  DR.  JESSICA  WATSON  AS THE  LONE  FINALIST  FOR  SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT. DR. WATSON SPENT  18  YEARS IN THE  THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS.

UPSON CO MLK DAY CELEBRATION

 UPSON  COUNTY  MLK  DAY CELEBRATION  2025, MONDAY JAN.  20TH  PRESENTED BY  THE  EMANCIPATION  COMMITTE OF UPSON'S  YOUTH ALIVE.    SCHEDULE  OF  EVENTS 10;30AM--MEET AT THE  COURTHOUSE, 10;45  WREATH-LAYING  CEREMONY, 11AM  MARCH TO  ULMS  AND  12 NOON  THE  CELEBRATION PROGRAM AT  THE MIDDLE  SCHOOL  AFTER THE MARCH. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER  PASTOR  MO--MARLIN LYNCH THE  THIRD.

A WEEK REVIVAL  FOLLOWS  TUESDAY  JAN 21ST, WEDNESDAY  JAN.  22ND  AND  THURSDAY  JAN.  23RD  AT  SALEM  BAPTIST  CHURCH  1349 U.S. HIGHWAY  80, CULLODEN,GA. AT  7PM.

TUESDAY--GUEST SPEAKER  PASTOR  RONKEITHVILES   RESPRESS, WEDNESDAY  MINISTER MIKE SMITH  AND  THURSDAY  REV. MAURICE  RAINES.

THE THEME; MISSION POSSIBLE: PROTECTING  FREEDOM, JUSTICE & DEMOCRACY IN  THE  SPIRIT OF NONVIOLENCE. 

 

 

UPSON BOC NO OPT OUT ON HB 581

 NO OPT OUT  ON  HOUSE BILL  581 FROM  THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS--THAT  WAS  THE MESSAGE  TO  101  NEWS    FROM  NEW CHAIRMAN DAN  BREU AND  COUNTY  MANAGER JASON TINSLEY FOLLOWING  TUESDAY'S FIRST VOTING MEETING OF  THE  YEAR. COUNTY OFFICIALS  ATTENDED A MEETING MONDAY  IN MACON INVOLVING  THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF  REVENUE. ACCG  AND OTHER  AGENCIES  AND COUNTY MANAGER TINSLEY  SAID IT  APPEARS HOMESTEADERS IN  UPSON COUNTY  WOULD  BE  ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL  AND  STATE EXEMPTIONS.

THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS CLOSED FRIDAY

 All Thomaston-Upson Schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 10. After evaluating the potential risks of rain, sleet, and snow in the morning and possible wind gusts of up to 20 mph in the afternoon, we have determined that school closure is the best solution to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

CITY OF THOMASTON TO DELAY OPENING FRIDAY 1/10

 THE CITY OF  THOMASTON WILL DELAY OPENING UNTIL  11AM  FRIDAY  DUE  TO WEATHER CONCERNS.

UPSON BOC MOVING TO ONE MEETING A MONTH

 BIG CHANGE FOR  THE  UPSON  COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT  WEDNESDAY'S  FIRST  WORK  SESSION OF  2025 WITH  NEW COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  DAN  BREU AND FIRST DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CHRIS  BIGGS--THE  COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD ONLY ONE  VOTING MEETING A  MONTH--THE  4TH TUESDAY PLUS  THE  FIRST WEDNESDAY  WORK  SESSION AT THE AIRPORT. REGULAR MEETINGS WILL BE HELD  AT  THE  GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.

A FIRST FOR A WORK SESSION--CHAIRMAN BREU RECORDED IT  AND PLANS TO POST IT ON HIS  FACEBOOK PAGE FOR  PUBLIC VIEWING, SHORTLY.