Monday, August 31, 2015

GARY ATWATER HAS OPPOSITION, THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT  ONE  CITY  COUNCILMAN  GARY  ATWATER  QUALIFIED  FOR  REELECTION  IN  THE  NOVEMBER  MUNICIPAL  ELECTION,  MONDAY.  FORMER  COUNCIL  MEMBER LAKETHIA   REEVES  QUALIFIED  TO   OPPOSE  ATWATER.

QUALIFYING  CLOSES  FRIDAY.

Monday, August 24, 2015

15 YEAR OLD JUVENILE HAS DIED OF A GUNSHOT WOUND

On August 20, 2015 at approximately 10:00 p.m. the Thomaston Police responded to 105 Third Street in the City limits of Thomaston in reference to a juvenile male with a gunshot wound to the head. The juvenile was transported to Upson Regional Medical Center and later air lifted to Macon Medical Center in critical condition. On Saturday August 22, 2015 the juvenile was pronounced dead by the on staff medical doctor while in Macon GA at the Macon Medical Center with an autopsy pending with the GBI Crime Lab.

Evidence will show that Christopher Len Jones, 17 of Thomaston who lived at 105 Third Street in Thomaston was in possession of a stolen .45 cal Taurus handgun and was pointing it around the room and while pointing the gun at his brother the trigger was pulled striking the victim in the head. Statements that were given by witnesses that were inside the bedroom during this incident are consistent that the brothers were playing with each other with this weapon and that this act was not intentional.

Christopher Len Jones has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, Tampering with Evidence, 2 Counts entering Auto and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime

Atravius Lee Mizell, 17 of Thomaston was also charged with Two Counts of entering Auto in connection to this case as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gwyn family as they mourn the loss of this young man. Certain cases in this community affect some but when a child’s life is lost at such a young age it affects us all.

Lt. Andrew Pippin

STOVE FIRE SUNDAY 2015 WILEY ST.

A  GREASE  FIRE BURNED  THROUGH  THE  ROOF   AT  2015  WILEY  STREET SUNDAYAND  CAUSED  DAMAGE  TO THE  RESIDENCE  OF   TISHA  LANETTE  MCMULLINS.  DUSTY  ELLIOTT,  THE  OWNER  SAID  THE  HOUSE  WAS NOT  INJURED.

UPSON  S.O.  SAID  UNITS  FROM   ROCK  HILL,  THURSDAY,  LINCOLN PARK  AND  NORTHSIDE  EXTINGUISHED   THE   BLAZE.

Friday, August 21, 2015

15 YEAR OLD IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD THURSDAY NIGHT 105 THIRD ST.

ACCORDING  TO  LT.  ANDREW  PIPPIN  OF  THE   THOMASTON  POLICE  DEPARTMENT,  A  15  YEAR  OLD  BLACK MALE  WAS  TREATED  AT   THE  E.R.  AT  URMC  AND  THEN  AIR-FLIGHTED  TO  A  MACON  HOSPITAL  WITH  A  GUNSHOT  WOUND  TO  THE  FOREHEAD  FROM  A   45  CALIBER   HANDGUN.

  THE  SUSPECTED  SHOOTER,  THE  VICTIM'S  OLDER  BROTHER,  17  YEAR  OLD  CHRISTOPHER  LYNN  JONES  OF   105  THIRD  STREET,  IS  BEING  HELD  IN  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  JAIL  ON  CHARGES OF  AGGREVATED  ASSAULT.  JONES   SAID  HE   POINTED  THE  PISTOL AT  HIS  YOUNGER  BROTHER  AND  IT  WENT  OFF.

 LT.  PIPPIN  TOLD  HOMETOWN RADIO  NEWS,  ANOTHER  TEEN  IN  THE  BEDROOM,  ATRAVIUS  MOZELL IS  ALSO  IN  JAIL  ON   THEFT  CHARGES  FOR    STEALING  THE  HANDGUN  DURING  A  CAR  BREAK-IN  AUGUST  19TH.

FIVE  YOUTHS,   ONE  A  FEMALE  JUVENILE , WERE  IN  A  BEDROOM  SMOKING  MARIJUANA,  WHEN  THE  HORSE  PLAY  STARTED  WITH  THE  HANDGUN ,   ACCORDING  TO  LT.  PIPPIN.  NO  ADULTS  WERE   AT  HOME.

GA. GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL SPEAKS WITH HOMETOWN RADIO

GEORGIA'S  GOVERNOR  NATHAN  DEAL  MADE  A  STOP  IN  THOMASTON,  TUESDAY,  TO  SPEAK  TO  LOCAL  CIVIC  CLUBS  AND  COMMUNITY  LEADERS  .HOMETOWN RADIO  WILL  AIR  HIS  REMARKS   SUNDAY,  AUGUST   23RD  AT   6;15AM.

HOMETOWN  RADIO'S  DAVE  PIPER  ASKED  THE  GOVERNOR  IF  HE  HAS  ENDORSED ANYONE  IN  THE  REPUBLICAN  PRESIDENTIAL  RACE.  GOVERNOR  DEAL  TOLD  US HE HAS  NOT  CHOSEN  A  CANDIDATE,  BUT  HE  IS  ACQUAINTED  WITH  ALL  THE  GOVERNORS  AND  EX-GOVS  WHO  ARE  RUNNING.

ASKED  IF  A  GOVERNOR   IS  A  BETTER  FIT   TO  RUN  THE  COUNTRY,  GOVERNOR  DEAL  RESPONDED,  GOVERNORS  ARE  REQUIRED  TO   MAKE   EXECUTIVE  DECISIONS   ON  A  DAILY  BASIS  LIKE  THE  PRESIDENT,  AND  THAT  EXPERIENCE   WOULD  TRANSLATE  WELL  IN  THE  WHITE   HOUSE.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

UPSON BOC SETS 2015 TENATIVE TAX MILLAGE RATE

AT  A  CALLED  MEETING,  THURSDAY,  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS    SET  THE  TENATIVE  TAX   MILLAGE  RATE  AT    18.76 MILLS,  SAME  AS  LAST  YEAR.

THE  THREE  MILLAGE  RATES  INCLUDE;  GENERAL  TAX  AT   9.76 MILLS,  UNINCORPORATED  COUNTY  TAX 2.72  MILLS  AND  JOINT  PROJECTS  TAX,  6.28  MILLS.

COUNTY  MANAGER  JIM  WHEELESS  SAID  UNLESS  PROPERTY  VALUES  WERE  RAISED,  TAX  PAYERS  SHOULD  NOT  SEE  AN  INCREASE  IN  THEIR  TAX  BILL.

THE   COUNTY  TAX  DIGEST  CONTINUES  TO  ERODE,  DOWN   $30  MILLION  OVER  LAST  YEAR,  A  DROP  OF  OVER   5%. UPSON  COUNTY  TAX  COMMISSIONER BERRY  COOK  SAID  THE  STATE  DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE  HAS  GRANTED  AN  EXTENSION ON  SUBMITTING  THE  TAX  DIGEST,  BASED  ON  REVALUATION OF RURAL  LAND  BY  THE  TAX  ASSESSORS  OFFICE.  IT  MEANS  TAX  BILLS  WILL  GO  OUT  LATER  THAN  THE  USUAL  NOVEMBER  15TH.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

PENNY CLIFF RESIGNED FROM THE ARCHIVES

AT  TUESDAY’S  MEETING,  COUNTY  MANAGER  JIM  WHEELESS  TOLD  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS, MS. CLIFF  WAS  OFFERED  A  FULL-TIME  TEACHING  POSITION AT  GORDON  STATE  COLLEGE AND  CLASSES  STARTED  WEDNESDAY.

PENNY  HAD  BEEN  TEACHING  NIGHT  CLASSES  AT  GORDON,  AND  MANAGER  WHEELESS  SAID  A  SEARCH  COMMITTEE IS  BEING  FORMED  TO  HIRE  A NEW DIRECTOR.

UNDER  PENNY’S  LEADERSHIP  THE  ARCHIVES  HAS  WON  ACCLAIM  FROM  THE  STATE  AND  FROM  VISITORS  ALL  OVER  THE  U.S.  WHO  HAVE  DONE  RESEARCH  AT  THE  FACILITY. 

Board Of Education - No Tax Increase

One of the most important items on Tuesday night’s agenda was to set the tentative mill rate for 2015. The Board heard from Kathy Matthews, Director of Finance, who reported that the Upson County tax digest shows a decrease in property tax values for 2015, which will result in a decrease in property tax revenue to the school district. Mrs. Matthews outlined the options available to the BOE. 

Even with the decrease in revenue to the school district, Superintendent Dr. Maggie Shook recommended that the Board of Education maintain the current mill rate of 15.38. Dr. Shook cited the fact that more than 85% of Upson County voters had supported the recent ESPLOST. “I believe we can tighten our belts a little and absorb this decrease in tax revenue. The community has shown their support for the school system by overwhelmingly passing the ESPLOST, and this is our opportunity to show our appreciation to the voters.” 

The BOE accepted Dr. Shook’s recommendation and voted unanimously to set the tentative mill rate at 15.38. The final vote for the mill rate will occur on Sept. 3 at 8 a.m. in the boardroom of Central Office.

Friday, August 7, 2015

LAKE THOMASTON PARK PROJECT AND PARK STREET PLAYGROUND PROJECT $45,000 ABOVE ESTIMATES.

AT   TUESDAY’S  MEETING—THOMASTON  CITY  MANAGER  PATRICK  COMISKEY  SAID  THE  LOW  BID  FROM TOMMY  GIBSON  BUILDERS  OF  WARNER  ROBINS  WAS   $930,000.  HE  SAID  THE  RISING  COST  OF  MATERIALS  APPARENTLY  CAUSED  THE  INCREASE.

THE  WORK  INCLUDES  A  PAVILION,  BOAT  HOUSE  AND  RESTROOMS  AT  LAKE  THOMASTON  AND  $200,000  FOR  A  PAVILION  AND  RESTROOMS  AT  PARK  STREET.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

J.D. STALLINGS TO RUN FOR THOMASTON MAYOR

COUNCILMAN  STALLINGS  MADE  THE  ANNOUNCEMENT  AT  TUESDAY’S  MEETING OF  THE  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL.  MAYOR  HAYS  ARNOLD   HAS SAID  HE  WILL  NOT  SEEK  REELECTION.

STALLINGS  HAS  SERVED  ON  THE  COUNCIL  SINCE  FEB.  2014.  QUALIFYING  BEGINS  AUGUST   31ST.

Monday, August 3, 2015

ARMED ROBBERY SUNDAY FLASH FOODS 19 N.

UPSON  COUNTY SHERIFF  DAN  KILGORE  SAID  A  BLACK  MALE  ENTERED THE  STORE  JUST  BEFORE  MIDNIGHT, WALKED  BEHIND  THE  COUNTER  AND  POINTED  A  PISTOL AT  THE  FEMALE  CLERK.  HE  ORDERED HER  TO  OPEN  THE  CASH  REGISTER  AND  DROP  THE  SAFE.  SHE  INFORMED  HIM  SHE  COULD  NOT  OPEN  THE  SAFE. HE TOOK  ABOUT   $150 FROM  THE  REGISTER AND LEFT ON  FOOT.

SHERIFF  KILGORE  DESCRIBED  THE  SUSPECT  AS  A  BLACK  MALE  5-7 TO  5-11,   250  POUNDS  WEARING  A  BLUE  KNIT  CAP  AND  A  BLUE  BANDANA OVER  HIS  FACE,  ALL    BLACK   CLOTHING,  AND  WHITE  SNEAKERS.

ANYONE  WITH  INFORMATION  ABOUT  THIS  CASE  SHOULD CONTACT  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF’S  OFFICE.