THOMASTON TIMES GOING TO COURT OVER LEGALS

THE  THOMASTON  TIMES  IS  GOING  TO  COURT  TO  TRY  AND  RETAIN  THE  LEGAL ADS, HEADED  FOR  THE  UPSON  BEACON, JAN. IST.  IN  A  PRESS  RELEASE, THE  TIMES  GENERAL MANAGER, ROLAND  FOILES SAID  CIVIL  ACTION  HAS  BEEN  FILED SEEKING INJUNCTION  AND  MANDAMUS  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  NEWSPAPERS. HE  SAID  A  HEARING  IS  SCHEDULED  JAN. 4TH  BEFORE  CHIEF  JUDGE  CHRIS  EDWARDS  IN  UPSON  SUPERIOR  COURT. IN  THE  FIRST PART  TO  DETERMINE IF  THE  LAW WAS  FOLLOWED  CONCERNING DATES OF  ELIGIBILITY. ACCORDING  TO  THE  PRESS  RELEASE,  THE  LAW  STATES THAT  THE  ENITY MUST  HAVE  COMPLETED 24 MONTHS OF  QUALIFIED  SERVICE AS A SUBSCRIPTION BASED  NEWSPAPER AS  WITNESSED  BY  AN INDEPENDANT  AUDIT. ANY  PERIOD  OF  TIME  THAT  WAS  OPERATED AS A  FREE  PUBLICATION COULD  NOT  BE  COUNTED  UNDER  THE  LAW.  WITH  THAT  IN  MIND THE  UPSON  BEACON WOULD NOT  BE  ABLE TO  EVEN  APPLY UNDER  THE  LAW  UNTIL   JAN  IST,2011,AT  WHICH  TIME THEY  WOULD  HAVE  COMPLETED 24 MONTHS OF  UNAUDITED  SERVICE. THE LAW  ALSO  STATES  THAT  YOU  MUST COMPLETE  THE  REQUIREMENTS IN  TIME  TO  RUN 4 WEEKS OF  LEGAL ANNOUNCEMENTS WHICH  WOULD  NOT  BE POSSIBLE IN  TIME  TO  MEET  THE JAN IST.  DEADLINE, FOILES SAID.

THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MOVED MORE MONEY INTO UPGRADES AT THE CIVIC CENTER DURING A WORK SHOP ON THE 2011 MARCH SPLOST, TUESDAY. $2.I MILLION IS NOW LISTED FOR THE CIVIC CENTER , WITH ELECTRICAL THE BIG NEED. CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES WANTS THE RACQUETBALL COURT AND STEAM ROOM RESTORED, AND THE GAME ROOM. THE COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED A 5 YEAR $15 MILLION SPLOST WITH THE COUNTY GETTING 65%, CITY OF THOMASTON 33% AND CITY OF YATESVILLE 1.39%. THAT'S AFTER 20% IS TAKEN OFF THE TOP FOR COUNTY-WIDE PROJECTS INCLUDING THE CIVIC CENTER AND RECREATION, WHICH WOULD GET $500,000 FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO FIELDS.$5 MILLION FOR ROAD PAVING INCLUDING ATWATER ROAD, $520,000 for 4 SHERIFF'S CARS FOR FIVE YEARS, AND $100,000 FOR AN OBSERVATION DECK-OVERLOOK, AT SPREWELL BLUFF. THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAD $2 MILLION ON ITS WISH LIST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT A LEGAL OPINION SAYS SPLOST CAN'T BE USED FOR THAT, BUT THE NEW BUSINESS PARK AT THE AIRPORT WILL GET A $400,000 GAS MAIN. THE COMMISSIONERS PLAN TO MEET WITH THE CITY OF THOMASTON THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO GET ITS LIST OF PROJECTS , OPERATING ON THE BASIS, THERE WILL NOT BE A JOINT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. IF SO THE SPLOST COULD