GUILTY VERDICT FOR CHILD ABUSE IN SPALDING CO.

This morning, a Spalding County jury convicted Versaches Evans of Aggravated Battery for fracturing his infant daughter's ribs. His daughter was 12 weeks old when the injuries were discovered. He was charged with additional counts; however, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on those counts. 

On the Aggravated Battery, Senior Judge Matthew Simmons sentenced the defendant to 20 years with the first 12 years to be served in prison. Takiah Wilson, the biological mother was also charged with the crimes. The jury acquitted Wilson. 

Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder and Assistant District Attorney Ashton Fallin tried the case for the State. The case was presented over 3 days and included testimony from law enforcement and medical doctors from local hospitals and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

District Attorney Ben Coker said, "child abuse cases are exceptionally difficult to prosecute and difficult for juries to consider. I respect the jury's decision in this case. My heartfelt thanks goes out to law enforcement, Dr. Messner from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and my staff, especially Marie and Ashton, for their fight for this helpless victim."

A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER FOR PIKE CO ?

AT WEDNESDAY'S MEETING, THE PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED A LETTER FROM LOCAL ATTORNEY WALKER CHANDLER REGARDING A DONATION FROM THE DR. C.L. CHANDLER FOUNDATION FOR UP TO $250,000 TO BUILD A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER IN PIKE COUNTY.

THE FOUNDATION OF DR. CHANDLER OF ATLANTA, THE FATHER OF WALKER CHANDLER, HAS DONATED FUNDS TO ZOO ATLANTA IN THE PAST AND FOCUSES ON ANIMAL-RELATED PROJECTS.

DR. CHANDLER'S WIFE WINNIE JONES CHANDLER IS THE MOTHER OF THREE FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS.

THE LETTER REQUESTS THAT PLANS FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE FOUNDATION BY OCT. 15TH WITH THE FUNDS BECOMING AVAILABLE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. COUNTY MANAGER BOBBY BICKLEY SAID $250,000 SHOULD COMPLETELY FUND A NEW SHELTER AND HE IS CHECKING ON OTHER NEAR-BY SHELTERS FOR IDEAS.

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN BRIAR JOHNSTON TOLD 101 NEWS—THE DONATION WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FOR THE SHELTER, AND THE BOARD PROJECTS IT WOULD NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OPERATING COSTS OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL PROGRAM, PERHAPS JUST IN UTILITIES.

THE BOARD IS MOVING FOWARD TO ACCEPT THE DONATION. 

PRIDE OF PIKE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

THE 2019 PRIDE OF PIKE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY PIKE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION AUTHORITY, SATURDAY JUNE 29TH AT 4PM, AT THE PIKE COUNTY SOCCER COMPLEX. PRESENTING SPONSOR—RESURGENS ORTHOPAEDICS-- FREE ADMISSION, $5 PARKING FEE FOR EACH VEHICLE. KIDS ACTIVITIES, FOOD, A TRACTOR SHOW AND A SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS SHOW.

ENTERTAINMENT BY AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANT ISAAC STREETMAN. BIG PARADE AT 3;30 -- GRAND MARSHALL THE STATE CHAMPION PIKE COUNTY PIRATES BASEBALL TEAM.

SAT. JUNE 29TH.

PIKE COUNTY'S TRISTEN ENGLISH, ALL AMERICAN

PIKE COUNTY'S TRISTEN ENGLISH OF THE GA. TECH BASEBALL TEAM HAS BEEN NAMED 3RD TEAM ALL-AMERICAN BY BASEBALL AMERICA. TRISTEN WAS DRAFTED IN THE 3RD ROUND OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT BY THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AND HAS REPORTED TO THEIR FARM TEAM IN OREGON.

TRISTEN WAS A FINALIST FOR THE JOHN OLERUD TWO-WAY PLAYER OF THE YEAR BATTED 346 AND WAS 3-0 AS A PITCHER.

JAMES FORTNER TAKING UPSON CO TO COURT

JAMES FORTNER IS TAKING UPSON COUNTY TO COURT AFTER THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RULED HE HAS TO MOVE HIS TRUCKING COMPANY FROM ITS LOCATION ON COUNTY ROAD BECAUSE ITS IN A-R ZONING AND ITS A DANGER TO POTATO CREEK—THE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF THOMASTON AND PARTS OF UPSON COUNTY.

FORTNER FILED HIS APPEAL IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT ON THE 29TH DAY OF THE 30 DAY APPEAL WINDOW. COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN HAS SAID , THE COUNTY WILL WORK WITH HIM TO RELOCATE HIS BUSINESS BUT FORTNER WANTS TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS WITH AN ANNUAL PAYROLL OF OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

SCOTT BLACKSTOCK SWORN-IN TO GBED

LAST THURSDAY, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP CONDUCTED SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES FOR SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS—ONE OF THOSE, THOMASTON BUSINESSMAN SCOTT BLACKSTOCK TO THE GA. BOARD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT—A FORMER MEMBER OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON IDA.

FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT, BLACKSTOCK TOLD 101 NEWS HE PLANS TO WORK TO RECRUIT NEW JOBS FOR RURAL GEORGIA.

GRIFFIN CHILD KILLED BY WRONG WAY DRIVER

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, Henry County First Responders were dispatched to an accident with injuries involving a wrong way driver on Hwy 19/41 just North of Circle Drive in Hampton. The accident involved three vehicles and resulted in one fatality. Preliminary investigation has revealed that a White Ford F-150 traveling the wrong way northbound in the southbound lanes of travel of Hwy 19/41 collided with two southbound vehicles, being a red Mitsubishi Galant and a Black Chevy Suburban. All three drivers of the vehicles and three passengers of the Chevy Suburban were transported to area hospitals. Jacie Webb, 12 years of age, Griffin Georgia, died as a result of her injuries.

TRISTIN ENGLISH DRAFTED BY DIAMONDBACKS

Tristin English’s dreams of being a professional baseball player is one step closer. On Tuesday, in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks selects Tristin English with the 93rd overall pick.

English, a three-time first team All ACC member was the first Jacket to be drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft.

The two-way star for the Jackets had a tremendous junior season that pushed him up draft boards across the league and his NCAA regional performance only raised eyebrows more.

This season, English hit .346/.427/.710 in 214 at bats. He hit 18 home runs on the season while driving in 71 base runners. English performed well on the mound as well for the Jackets in 2019, going 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA over 15 appearances.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILVERTOWN, 90 YEARS OLD

90 years ago , in June of 1929, Silvertown Historic Community, a mill village was built to serve Martha Mills employees, became incorporate. It was later annexed by the city of Thomaston in 1958.

Happy 90th Birthday Silvertown!

Thomaston Upson Landmark Legacy (TULL) will be celebrating on June 29, Saturday by giving away FREE

Ice-cream cones & lemonade to our community from 11:00-1:00pm at the entryway of Silvertown. Adjacent to the tennis & Pickleball courts located at The Greatest Generation Memorial Park.

WASTEWATER SPILL CITY OF THOMASTON

Public Notification
Sanitary Sewer Overflow at Collection System
Walmart Lift Station Force Main
County: Upson
Date of Release: 6/06/2019
Contact Person: Brian Kelly
Phone: 706-646-8031
Mailing Address: 340 N Center Street
City: Thomaston
Zip: 30286
On June 6th, ESG was checking the force main behind the Walmart department store due to low flows at Town Branch wastewater plant. After investigating, we found the pipe leaving the Walmart lift station was compromised, allowing sewage to leak when the pumps were running. The leak was found at 10:00 am. We shut the lift station down and started the repairs. We were able to get the leak stopped at 4:00 pm when the force main was repaired. The station was brought back on line at approximately 5:30 pm. There was a release of 50 gallons per minute for 70 minutes for a total of 3,500 gallons. The release was due to the pipe having to be cut and fitted for proper repair. When the pipe was cut, the backflow from the force main overcame our pumping capability. We were able to recover approximately 1,000 gallons by pumping into the gravity line feeding Walmart lift station until the station reached full capacity. The release of 2,500 gallons reached a tributary of Potato Creek. A spill notice sign has been posted at the site. Should you have any questions, I can be reached at 706-646-8031.


The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has been notified and the affected area has been treated within the regulations of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the above listed contact persons.

UPDATE; DRUG CONSPIRACY CASE

THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON TOLD 101 NEWS FRIDAY—ALMOST A DOZEN INDICTMENTS BY SPECIAL PRESENTMENT BY THE UPSON COUNTY GRAND JURY FOR OPIOID DISTRIBUTION HAS LEAD TO SOME NEW LEADS IN THE MURDER INVESTIGATION OF STEPHEN EARLES OF 4TH AVE. IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. EARLES WIFE JOYCE EARLES WAS ONE OF THOSE INDICTED AND ARRESTED.

THE CHIEF WOULD NOT SAY MORE—BECAUSE HE SAID THE INVESTIGATION IS ON-GOING.

STEPHEN EARLES, WHO WAS DISABLED WAS BEATED UNCONSCIOUS AND DIED TWO DAYS LATER IN MACON. JOYCE EARLES WHO WAS ALSO ATTACKED, SAID TWO MASKED MEN BROKE INTO THEIR HOME AND JUMPED THEM.

MS. EARLES ALLEGEDLY WAS SELLING OPIOID PILLS PRESCRIBED FOR HER HUSBAND. DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER SAID SHE WAS SCHEDULED FOR ARRAIGNMENT IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT THIS PAST WEEK— SHE WAIVED ARRAIGNMENT AND ENTERED A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.

THOMASTON P.D. DRUG SALES CONSPIRACY

A November 2018 Home invasion/Homicide at 224 Fourth Ave., Thomaston, Georgia leads to multiple drug indictments and arrests by the Thomaston Police Department.

On Monday, November 26, 2018 Officers from the Thomaston Police Department responded to 224 Fourth Ave. SE, Thomaston, Georgia in reference to a violent home invasion. When officers entered the residence they made contact with a female victim, Joyce Earles and her husband, Stephen Earles who was on the floor unconscious and severely beaten. Mrs. Earles also had visible injuries from being assaulted.

Both subjects were transported to the Upson Regional Medical Center for treatment where Mr. Earles was later transport to Macon for further treatment where he expired two days later as result of his injuries. According to Mrs. Earles two unknown subjects broke into the residence at which time they were assaulted. The initial investigation would indicate that this was a robbery attempt. As the case turned to a homicide investigation that continued into 2019 and is still unsolved, it was determined that the initial home invasion was a robbery attempt resulting from illegal drug activity being conducted by Mrs. Earles at 224 Fourth Ave., Thomaston, Georgia.

During the months to follow the investigation lead to numerous amounts of evidence indicating that Mrs. Earles was conspiring with multiple suspects in an illegal drug operation in which she was illegally buying and selling controlled substances. This information and evidence lead to a special presentment to the Upson County Grand Jury in May of 2019 by TPD investigators at which time nine individuals were indicted for conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and or using a telecommunication device to facilitate a drug transaction all violations of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

Based on the indictments, the following individuals where issued felony bench warrants for their arrests: 

Joyce Earles
William Haege, Jr.
Ryan Joiner
Michael Paul Clark
Michelle Clark Wright
Neely Lynn Spratlin
Jeanette Hoyal
Heath Edward Warmack
Cody James Butler

As of the time of this release all the suspects have been arrested with the exception of Ryan Joiner and Heath Warmack. Anyone with information as to their whereabouts should call the Thomaston police Department at 706-647-5455.