Saban Positive For COVID-19

Alabama coach Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19 and is suffering mild symptoms of the virus.

ESPN is reporting that it will keep him from coaching in Saturday's game against Auburn, offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will assume the head coaching duties.

Warrant Issued In Bank Robbery

Pike County Sheriff’s Office Investigators have obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in regards to the September 18th bank robbery at the First Bank of Pike. 

Howatdrick Jamal Jones , 28 years of age, from Woodbury, Georgia, has been charged with armed robbery for this incident. 

A second bank robbery at the Talbot State Bank on October 9th, has also been linked to Jones by investigators. In both cases the suspect passed a note demanding money from the teller. The note threatened to use a firearm to commit violence during the First Bank of Pike robbery. 

Additional charges are possible from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as they conclude their investigation into the Talbot County incident.

Jones is currently in the Meriwether County Jail on an unrelated violation of probation charge. He will be transferred to the Pike County Jail in the near future.

LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING TUESDAY BY UPSON BOARD OF ELECTIONS

 The Upson County Board of Elections will begin Logic & Accuracy testing for the statewide Presidential recount on tomorrow 11/24 at 1pm at the Election Room located at 715 Andrews Drive.

The actual scanning/recount will begin on Monday, 11/30 at 9am at the same location.

All testing & counting is open to the public. For more information please contact the Elections Office at 706-647-6259.

THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT SAVES A HOUSE

THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT DISPATCHED TO A HOUSE FIRE AT 416 WEST GOODRICH AVE. MONDAY AROUND LUNCHTIME.

FIRE CHIEF RENEE HARRIS TOLD 101 NEWS THE HOUSE WAS 45% DAMAGED. AN ADULT MALE WHO LIVED THERE TOLD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HE HAD JUST LEFT THE RESIDENCE AND IT WAS NOT ON FIRE. 

THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL HAS BEEN CONTACTED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. SANDRA ADAMS LISTED AS THE OWNER ON THE UPSON COUNTY TAX BOOKS.

CHIEF HARRIS SAID UNITS RESPONDED TO 401 4TH AVE. SOUTHEAST SUNDAY EVENING. A HOT PLATE CAUGHT FIRE, MINOR DAMAGE TO ONE ROOM.

ATLANTA DEER HUNTER DIES IN UPSON CO

SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAID A DEER HUNTER FROM THE ATLANTA METRO AREA DIED WHEN HE FELL OUT OF HIS DEER STAND IN SOUTHERN UPSON COUNTY OFF IVEY ROAD, SATURDAY.

THE DECEASED, 60 YEAR OLD JOSEPH COLBERT OF WOODSTOCK, GA. WAS FOUND FACE DOWN BY COMPANIONS AFTER THEY ENDED A DAY OF HUNTING AT DARK.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAID THE CORONER RULED COLBERT DIED OF AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK .

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY A VEHICLE

A 65 YEAR OLD PEDESTRIAN WAS INJURED SERIOUSLY IN UPSON COUNTY AFTER HE WAS HIT BY AN SUV WHILE CROSSING HIGHWAY 74 WEST NEAR SUNNYSIDE ROAD THURSDAY.

ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL THE VICTIM, THOMAS KARLTON VAUGHN OF 2971 CREST HIGHWAY, WALKED INTO THE PATH OF A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVEN BY SHIRLEY ANN WALLER OF PICKARD ROAD.

SHERIFF DAN KILGORE A THANKSGIVING BLESSING!

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAYS THAT WORKING WITH A MIDDLE GEORGIA RELIEF AGENCY HIS OFFICE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING AROUND 1300 FOOD BOXES ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th. 

STARTING AT 10:30 am AT THE USUAL LOCATION, THE SOCCER COMPLEX BEHIND THE CIVC CENTER. SHERIFF KILGORE CALLED IT A THANKSGIVING BLESSING THAT THIS TRAILOR LOAD OF FOOD BOXES HAS BECOME AVAILABLE.

Former Georgia All-American Jake Scott Dies

Former Georgia All-American, Miami Dolphins All-Pro defensive back, and Super Bowl MVP Jake Scott died Thursday in Atlanta.

Click HERE for the complete story.

Father And Child Found Dead Outside Butts County Waffle House

A young father and his 10 month old son were found dead in their car outside a Waffle House on Highway 36 in Butts County on Saturday, November 14th. 

Christopher Gage McKinzie, 26, and his son Sawyer Gage McKinzie, were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical responders.

Christopher was found unresponsive in the drivers seat, Sawyer was in a car seat in the rear. McKinzie's girlfriend, Kortnie Payne was unconscious in the front passenger seat but had a faint pulse, she was transported to the hospital and listed in critical condition. 

Officers said that both McKinzie and Payne worked at the Waffle House and that McKinzie got off at midnight, drove to his mother's home to pick up Sawyer and returned to wait on Payne to get off around 2:30 am. Investigators speculate that Payne thought both Christopher and Sawyer were asleep and fell asleep herself.

McKinzie’s mother found all three passed out in the car and called police at 6 am.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is believed to be the cause of death, the vehicle was not running when found but the ignition switch was in the "on" position.

Investigator Richard Gandy said that there was a known problem with the vehicle's exhaust system, parts had been ordered to make repairs but they had not arrived. The exhaust pipe had been cut off underneath the car and apparently led to the exhaust fumes filling the passenger compartment. McKinzie likely was not aware how deadly the problem was.

McKinzie was born in Thomaston but grew up in Forsyth and graduated from Mary Persons High School in 2013.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.

GORDON STATE COLLEGE ASN CLASS

Gordon State’s Class of December 2020 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students celebrated with a socially-distant Nursing Pinning Ceremony Wednesday. The nurses, many who are currently employed or have offers pending, will immediately impact the region and aid in the demand for nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Gordon State College is proud to continue its great tradition of preparing highly qualified nurses for Central Georgia and beyond,” said Victor Vilchiz, the dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences . “We will continue to do our part in fighting the current health environment.”

Participants received their nursing pins, lit their nursing lamp and recited the international nurse’s pledge.

Melissa Harrison, associate professor of nursing, said she always looks forward to the pinning ceremony. “It gives faculty an opportunity to celebrate their achievement,” Harrison said. “As faculty, the success of our students is our greatest accomplishment. We strive to help prepare them to become the best nurses they can be.”

Director of Nursing Samantha Bishop welcomed the nurses and told them she represented the college when she stated how proud she was of their efforts. “We have all struggled through 2020, making this accomplishment more important because nurses are needed in the workforce now more than ever,” Bishop said.

Dr. Jacquelyn A. Key, assistant professor of nursing, cited the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Bishop’s introduction of faculty. Senior Anna Morris delivered the invocation, followed by President Kirk A. Nooks, who shared how a nurse personally impacted his family recently and commended them for their tenacity in the program. Senior Marianna Simmons shared a student’s perspective. Assistant Professor of Nursing Kelly Wilson announced the nursing class while Alexis Hill shared the significance of the nursing pins. Bishop and Wendy Martin, associate professor of nursing, pinned the class. Senior Josh Craig shared the significance of the lamp lighting while Harrison and Martin led the lighting of the lamps for the students. Bishop led the nursing pledge. Assistant Professor of Nursing Christy Skinner announced the class honors and Harrison closed the program with gratitude for the students and their sacrifices to complete the degree.

The fifty-two students were able to participate in the small, abbreviated ceremony held in the SARC, which allowed for safety protocol for the students and limited guests. A virtual event for graduates is slated in December followed by a virtual senior toast celebration. The institution plans to have a commencement celebration in the spring semester for all of the graduates.

UPSON CO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX SALE

Upson County’s next delinquent property tax sale will be held Tuesday, December 1st at 10:00 am at the Thomaston-Upson County Civic Center. 

Anyone interested in bidding on property in the sale should come by the tax office prior to December 1st and sign up. 

Reminder: the tax office will be closed November 26th & 27th for Thanksgiving holidays.

Edwards Taken Number 1 In NBA Draft

Georgia’s Anthony Edwards was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft on Wednesday.

Click HERE for story.