GROUNDBREAKING AT GORDON STATE COLLEGE THURSDAY

Almost 100 dignitaries staff and citizens attended this morning's 9am ground breaking ceremony on the Gordon College campus, for their new $3mil 11,000 sq foot Student Services Center. The grand opening is expected to be this same time next year in July.

Dr. Kirk Nooks, new Pres. welcomed the crowd. He acknowledged that Gordon was part of the mid state educational system- covering students from 14 counties, and working closely with other educational facilities in our area. "We will educate together" he said.

Nooks introduced Ted Benning, owner of the construction company who will build the center. Benning Construction recently renovated the Hightower LIbrary on Gordon's campus and was proud to be selected as builder for the new student center.

Jim Meserle spoke who was the architech designing the center. And state Rep. Robert Dickey said "It's great to see such support for this. It couldn't have happened without our legislative team.

Johnny Caldwell and others worked hard for this project."

Nooks then thanked everyone for coming and helping Gordon to move forward. He then lead a group to pose for pictures actually shoveling ground for the new site on the SE corner of Gordon's campus. Afterwards he gave a live interview to ZOOM 105.

An in depth interview with Dr. Nooks will be aired this Saturday at 9am on ZOOM 105.9 and 101.1.

JOHN HANSON RESIGNING AS PIKE CO. MANAGER

COUNTY MANAGER JOHN HANSON TOLD THE PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE IS RESIGNING EFFECTIVE NEXT MONTH TO ACCEPT A POSITION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

HANSON HAS BEEN MANAGER FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HE THANKED THE BOARD, COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR SERVICE DURING HIS TIME RUNNING COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

CHAIRMAN BRIAR JOHNSON SAID HANSON HAS PUT PIKE COUNTY'S SHIP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND HE THANKED JOHN FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR PIKE COUNTY.

JOHN TOLD ZOOM NEWS—HE IS EXCITED ABOUT HIS NEW OPPORTUNITY BUT HE IS ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THE COUNTY HAS MADE AND HE PLANS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PIKE AND BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

HANSON HAS INDICATED TO THE BOARD HE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH RECRUITING A NEW MANAGER .

JOHN TOLD US HE HAD TWO GOALS WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS MANAGER—TO LEAVE THE POSITION BETTER THAN HE FOUND IT AND TO MAKE IT A POSITION PEOPLE DESIRE TO TAKE. 

FINALISTS FOR UPSON CO. MANAGER NAMED

AFTER A CLOSED DOOR SESSION, TUESDAY—UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN NORMAL ALLEN ANNOUNCED THE TWO FINALISTS FOR COUNTY MANAGER.

MICHAEL STEWART OF PINE MOUNTAIN, GA. IN HIS 50'S IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED. FORMER COUNTY MANAGER OF LOWNES COUNTY/VALDOSTA ALSO WORKED IN ADMINISTRATION IN LIBERTY COUNTY AND COLQUITT COUNTY AND WAS ON STAFF AT THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF GA. MOST RECENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE U.S. AGENCY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HAS WORKED WITH THE MILITARY IN SYRIA, AFGANISTAN AND IRAQ. MASTERS IN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION FROM VALDOSTA STATE.

TINSLEY IN HIS 40'S HAS BEEN CITY MANAGER OF JEFFERSON, GA. AND HAS WORKED IN ADMINISTRATION IN WAYNE COUNTY, GA. HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA. IN VIRGINIA AND WITH THE CARL VINSON INSTITUTE. MASTERS IN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION FROM EAST TENNESSEE STATE.

10 APPLICANTS WERE INTERVIEWED FOR THE THE POSITION.

THOMASTON MOTORIST KILLED IN POLICE CHASE

A THOMASTON MOTORIST WAS KILLED WHEN HE WRECKED ON THE YATESVILLE HIGHWAY DURING A POLICE CHASE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE—BEN JEFF ARD WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT THE E.R. AND A PASSENGER KYLE TURNER WAS TRANSPORTED TO MACON MEDICAL CENTER BY EMS.

DEPUTIES SAID ARD HAD OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR HABITUAL VIOLATOR AND PROBATION VIOLATION.

THOMASTON POLICE STARTED THE CHASE ON AVE. F. AND UPSON COUNTY S.O. AND THE GA. STATE PATROL GOT INVOLVED.  

TPD INVESTIGATING VANDALISM AT RITZ THEATRE

THOMASTON POLICE INVESTIGATING VANDALISM IN THE MEN'S RESTROOM AT THE RITZ THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN THOMASTON.

SOMEONE SLAMMED INTO THE DOOR AND KNOCKED IT DOWN AT A HANDICAPPED-ACCESSABLE STALL.

IT APPARENTLY HAPPENED TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY EVENING WHILE THE MOVIE WAS PLAYING.

SPALDING COUNTY OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

THE GBI HAS IDENTIFIED THE MAN SHOT AND KILLED WEDNESDAY EVENING IN SPALDING COUNTY IN AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING.

THE GBI WAS —BROUGHT-IN TO HANDLE THE INVESTIGATION AND IN A PRESS RELEASE --- SAID 35-YEAR OLD RYAN FORCE WAS INVOLVED IN A DOMESTIC INCIDENT AT 1928 BONNIE RIDGE DRIVE—AND SPALDING COUNTY DEPUTIES FOUND HIM IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE DAMAGING PROPERTY. DEPUTIES ATTEMPTED TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION, NOWEVER, FORCE CONFRONTED LAWMEN WITH A SHOTGUN AND HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A DEPUTY.

NO DEPUTIES WERE INJURED DURING THE INCIDENT.

THE GBI SAID IT WILL CONTINUE ITS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, AND ONCE COMPLETE IT WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER FOR REVIEW.

JULY 3RD CITY COUNCIL MEETING CANCELLED

THE JULY 3RD MEETING OF THE THOMASTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY.

MONEY RECOVERED IN WOODBURY BANK ROBBERY

CITY OF WOODBURY POLICE CHIEF SAM BAITY REPORTS THE MONEY STOLEN IN A BANK ROBBERY AT UNITED BANK IN WOODBURY LAST THURSDAY, HAS BEEN RECOVERED.

TWO SUSPECTS ARE IN CUSTODY.

THOMASTON'S BRAD VAUGHN HIRED AS PIKE PLAN & DEV DIR

THE PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HIRED BRAD VAUGHN OF THOMASTON AS THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY AT TUESDAY'S REGULAR MEETING.

BRAD IS A 2006 GRADUATE OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAS A BACKGROUND THAT INCLUDES FINANCIAL PLANNING.

HE TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE APPRECIATES THE WARM RECEPTION HE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE PIKE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY MANAGER JOHN HANSON.

MONDAY , JULY 2ND WILL BE BRAD'S FIRST DAY ON THE JOB.

UNITED BANK ROBBED IN WOODBURY

Two Arrested, FBI Searching for Two or More in Violent Takeover Robbery

Woodbury, GA – J. C. Hacker, Acting Special Agent in Charge (A/SAC), FBI Atlanta Field Office, in conjunction with Chief Sam Baity, Woodbury Police Department announce the arrest of two suspects in a violent takeover-style bank robbery and the search for two, possibly more suspects.

Derrick R. Scott, 26, of Augusta, GA and Antavious Bray, 29, of Greenville, GA were taken into custody hours after the robbery that occurred at the United Bank, 33 Jones Mill Road, Woodbury, on June 28, 2016.

At approximately 12:25 PM, on Wednesday, three suspects, two armed with handguns and the third armed with an AR-15 rifle, entered the bank and forced employees to the ground at gunpoint and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

The FBI is asking for the public’s help in identifying two or more possible suspects. United Bank is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those suspects.

One of the unidentified suspects is described as wearing a camouflage ball cap, gray sweatshirt and blue jeans, and carrying a gray backpack. His face was fully covered. (See attached photos).

There is no description of the other suspect, who is believed to be the driver of the getaway vehicle, described as a 2010-2013 black Chevrolet Impala (See attached photo).

IN SPALDING CO. GEBHARDT GUILTY OF MURDER

IN SPALDING COUNTY TUESDAY AFTERNOON—A JURY FOUND FRANKIE GEBHARDT , 60 -- GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES FOR THE 1983 MURDER OF TIMOTHY COGGINS AND HE W AS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 30 YEARS BY JUDGE FLETCHER SAMS.

THE JURY RETURNED THE GUILTY VERDICT SHORTLY BEFORE 3PM-- AND JUDGE SAMS IN SENTENCING SAID—HOPEFULLY, SIR YOU HAVE STABBED YOUR LAST VICTIM. ACCORDING TO GBI TESTIMONY AT TRIAL --- COGGINS WAS STABBED 30 TIMES BEFORE HE WAS DRAGGED BY A CHAIN BEHIND A TRUCK FOR SOCIALIZING WITH A WHITE WOMAN.

GEBHARDT'S BROTHER-IN-LAW, WILLIAM MOORE SR. IS ALSO CHARGED WITH COGGINS MURDER AND WILL GO TO TRIAL IN AUGUST IN SPALDING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.

COGGINS FAMILY BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AFTER THE VERDICT WAS READ—THANKING THE COURT AND THE JURORS FOR FINALLY GETTING JUSTICE.

UPSON SO DEPUTY ARRESTED AND TERMINATED FOR INCIDENT

On June 26, 2018 the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Sgt. Kody Kennedy of the Upson County Sheriff’s Office for his conduct relating to the March 8, 2018 arrest of Curtis Lamar Perry. Their investigation concluded that Kennedy struck Perry once with a “knee strike” and pushed him into a utility pole after he was taken into custody.  Perry was handcuffed and offering no resistance at the time. Perry had initially fled on foot while being taken into custody during a traffic stop off Barnesville Highway. Perry was found to be in possession of a glass smoking pipe commonly used for methamphetamine after being taken into custody. Perry was charged with speeding 80 in 45 mph zone, Obstruction of an Officer and Possession of Methamphetamine. This incident was reported by law enforcement officers present at the time of the arrest. Perry never reported this incident and made no complaint of injury. Perry has reluctantly cooperated with the investigation. He has retained an attorney seeking civil damages.

Kennedy is charged with Simple Battery and Violation of Oath of Office. He has been released on $3500 bond. Kennedy has been on unpaid suspension since March 16, 2018. Kennedy’s employment with the Upson County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated effective immediately.

The actions of Sgt. Kennedy are not reflective of the standards of behavior expected of the men and women of the Upson County Sheriff’s Office. Conduct of this nature will not be tolerated.