NO VISITATION POLICY AT URMC DUE TO COVID SPIKE

Upson Regional Medical Center reports that the spread of COVID-19 in the seven county service area has dramatically increased. Due to the rise in cases, the hospital has updated its visitation policy to “No Visitors,” effective December 27th. Special exceptions may be made for situations such as OB or end of life.

Several of Upson Regional’s clinic locations offer COVID-19 testing, generally with same day results. These include:

Upson Family Medical Center Northside and Southside,

Upson Family Physicians Thomaston, Barnesville and Zebulon, and Upson OB/GYN.

Appointments are necessary for each location except Northside and Southside Clinics which offer walk-in services only. Upson Regional’s cash price for COVID-19 testing is $115.

The Upson County Health Department offers free drive-through COVID-19 testing every Wednesday from 9 am to 2 pm in the lower level parking deck at Upson Regional. Preregistration is strongly recommended but not mandatory. Due to an increase in demand for testing, the average turnaround time for lab results is 2 to 4 days.

TIDAL WAVE INKS DEAL WITH PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTMENT FIRM

Tidal Wave Auto Spa Founder & CEO Scott Blackstock and Golden Gate Capital, a leading private equity investment firm, today announced the recapitalization of Tidal Wave, one of the largest and fastest growing premium conveyor car wash systems in the nation. 

Mr. Blackstock will continue to lead the Company as CEO and will remain a significant shareholder. The company will continue to be headquartered in Thomaston, Georgia. 

Founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock, Tidal Wave’s current footprint includes over 60 locations in eleven states in the Southeast and Midwestern United States with 18 more wash locations under construction. Tidal Wave is a recognized leader in the car wash industry with its innovative use of technology and unwavering dedication to an excellent customer experience. “We are very pleased about the partnership with Golden Gate Capital,” said Mr. Blackstock. “With its long and successful history of investing in multi-unit businesses and considerable financial strength, the partnership will enable us to accelerate our growth.” “Being able to build this business right here in Thomaston and Upson County has always been so important to both Hope and myself,” Mr. Blackstock continued. “The level of talent in our hometown is phenomenal and has been essential to our success. Thomaston is truly the best small town in the best state for business.” 

The Tidal Wave Auto Spa home office is located in downtown Thomaston. The refurbished two-story building houses over 40 employees who manage all aspects of the car wash business. Starting with concept, permitting, and construction, to operations, human resources, payroll, quality control, marketing, supply distribution, accounting, and customer service. Tidal Wave Auto Spa was ranked #6 in the 2020 Top 50 List of Conveyor Carwashes published annually by Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine. 

Tidal Wave is also listed as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies on Inc. 5000’s 2020 list. Scott Blackstock, CEO was named SBA Georgia District Small Business Person of the Year in 2009

BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED FOR NORTHSIDE THOMASTON

THE UPSON COUNTY WATER DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED IN NORTHSIDE THOMASTON.

THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY HAD BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN THERE WAS A WATER LINE BREAK IN THE DANIEL ROAD AREA.

UPSON CO. SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SWORN IN FOR A THIRD TERM BY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE BEN MILLER JR.

 

"We're Gonna Be Fine"

Thomaston native Betsy Williams tells Fun 101's Mickey Thrasher about the Christmas Day suicide bomb in Nashville and how she and her family survived the ordeal.

Click HERE for the entire interview.

COACH PHIL JONES PASSED AWAY SATURDAY

COACH PHIL JONES DIED SATURDAY IN GRIFFIN HOSPICE, A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE.

PHIL IS A MEMBER OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON SPORTS HALL OF FAME, HE LETTERED IN BASEBALL AT MERCER, AND WAS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT FITZGERALD HIGH AND WINDER-BARROW HIGH, WAS ON THE STAFF AT SMU UNDER COACH MIKE CAVAN, AND AT UGA UNDER COACH JIM DONNAN AND STARTED THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AT SHORTER COLLEGE IN ROME.

SENATOR DAVID PERDUE BUS TOUR IN THOMASTON TUESDAY 4PM

 

BOIL WATER ADVISORY STILL ON NORTHSIDE THOMASTON

ACCORDING TO THE UPSON COUNTY WATER DEPARTMENT, A BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS STILL ON IN NORTHSIDE THOMASTON AFTER A WATER LINE BREAK WAS REPAIRED CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE DANIEL ROAD AREA. 

101 NEWS WAS TOLD WATER TESTING IS ON-GOING AND CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS LIFTED.

Thomaston Connection To Nashville Bombing

A Thomaston connection to the Nashville Christmas Day bombing. 

The location of the bomb blast was on 2nd Avenue near Commerce Street in downtown Nashville. The RV containing the bomb was parked in front of the AT&T building directly across the street from the third floor loft belonging to former Thomaston residents Betsy Williams and Kim Madlom. 

According to a post by Kim, she and Betsy heard the gunshots, looked out the window and saw the RV. After calling 911, they could hear a warning being broadcast to leave the area before the bomb was set to explode and once the message changed to a 15 minute countdown, they quickly grabbed their cat and left the building. 

They drove across the Cumberland River to Nissan Stadium and waited, but when nothing happened, they decided to return home and as they approached the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, they felt the blast and witnessed a fireball as it rose over the AT&T building. The explosion knocked out the windows in their loft but through the shattered glass, they could see that the lights on the Christmas tree were still on. 

Betsy described the terrifying event to Anderson Cooper on CNN Friday afternoon giving a minute by minute breakdown of their experience.

UPDATE; BOIL WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT NORTHSIDE THOMASTON

UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN REPORTED A WATER LINE BREAK IN NORTHSIDE WAS REPAIRED IN ABOUT AN HOUR CHRISTMAS EVE, BUT A BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

THE LINE BREAK INTERRUPTED WATER SERVICE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

GRIFFIN-SPALDING BOE ANNOUNCES 3 FINALISTS FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT

The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education narrowed the field of superintendent candidates to three in a called meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23. 

Griffin-Spalding Board of Education Chairman Will Doss said, “We were pleased to be able to consider so many well qualified candidates. We began with 39 candidates, conducted research, checked references, narrowed the group to the top nine candidates, completed two rounds of interviews and now are pleased to present the finalists.” 

The three finalists are Dr. George Bickert, Keith Simmons and Dr. Kathleen Truitt.

NORTHSIDE THOMASTON WITHOUT WATER SERVICE 11AM CHRISTMAS EVE

UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN REPORTED A WATER LINE BREAK IN NORTHSIDE AT 11AM CHRISTMAS EVE. THE NORTHSIDE AREA IS WITHOUT WATER SERVICE. HE ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 HOURS TO MAKE REPAIRS. 

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY COULD FOLLOW THE REPAIRS--HE TOLD 101 NEWS.

COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT FOR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS

Middle Georgia’s District 4 Public Health reports a surge in COVID-19 positive cases, hospitalizations and deaths in our area, with all 12 counties surpassing their predicted positive cases for December. As you prepare for Christmas this week and New Year’s next week, the safest way to celebrate the holidays is at home with the people who live with you. Travel and gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase your chances of getting or spreading COVID-19.

Using Georgia Tech’s Risk Assessment Planning Tool for gatherings of different sizes, if you live in Upson County and have a gathering of 25 people, there is a 56% estimated chance that at least one person at your gathering will be COVID-positive. At Thanksgiving the estimated chance with 25 people was much less at 29%.

If the gathering in Upson County is reduced from 25 to 10 people, the risk drops to 28%; however, this is still more than double the 13% risk factor for the same number of people at Thanksgiving.

The Department of Health encourages you not to let your guard down over the holidays. Continue to practice COVID Basics: wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands, and avoid crowds.

UPSON CO. UTILITIES OFFICE CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19

The Upson County Utilities Office will be closed Tuesday, December 22, 2020 and Wednesday, December 23, 2020 due to COVID-19 exposure. 

Please note that all County Offices will be closed for holidays on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25. The Utilities Office will reopen on Monday, December 28 at 8:30 a.m. 

Water and Solid Waste payments will be accepted by the following: 

• Drop box located at 605 W. Gordon Street, Thomaston 

• Mail payment to P.O. Box 889, Thomaston 

• Online payment www.upsoncountyga.org

2020 EMPTY STOCKING FUND REPORT

The Empty Stocking Fund has been a ministry in our community since the 1940’s. And through the Upson County Ministerial Association it has continued to be a light in our community each Christmas.

This year’s Empty stocking fund was amazing. Regardless of COVID19 and by taking precautions, We were able to help 142 families with over 300 children in our community. We also had successfully toy drives thanks to the Upson County Extension office, Thomaston Ford and Thomaston Walmart. The turnout of volunteers this year was unbelievable and a blessing! This year we held a drive through pick up at the Shiloh church gym for families to receive their boxes, due to COVID. We are definitely proud of and thankful for everyone who put in all the hard work, time and donations to make it possible this year. A special thank you to Heritage pregnancy center for being the application site and to Shiloh Church for being our main site to host the ESF.

Thank you,

Heather Blackmon 

THOMASTON'S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN DISTRIBUTES 1700 MEALS

LINDA BEST WITH THOMASTON'S COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS KITCHEN REPORTS 1700 OF THE 2000 MEALS PREPARED WERE DISTRIBUTED DURING SATURDAY'S DRIVE-THRU AT THE SENIOR CENTER.

DUE TO COVID-19 MEALS WERE NOT DELIVERED THIS YEAR AND LINDA SAID TYPICALLY THE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN FEEDS CLOSE TO 3000--BUT APPARENTLY TRANSPORTATION ISSUES KEPT SOME AWAY.

THE EXTRA MEALS WERE DONATED TO OTHER MINISTRIES AND SHE THANKED ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN POSSIBLE.

TIME TO PAY UPSON COUNTY OCCUPATION TAX

The Upson County Building and Zoning Department has completed mailing out the 2021 occupation tax renewal notices to all registered businesses in the unincorporated area of the County. Anyone with their business located in unincorporated Upson County who has not previously applied for their tax certificates must come to the Building and Zoning Department to pick up the paperwork. 

Currently registered businesses are requested to provide updated information, where necessary. Proof of up-to-date professional licenses, permits, bonds and other regulatory documents must also be provided. Receipts showing that the business location property taxes and equipment and inventory taxes have been paid for 2020 are required to be submitted. Every renewing business must report its E-Verify status on the declaration form included in the mailing. 

The Upson County Building and Zoning Department is located at 305 S. Hightower Street, Suite D-100 in the Drake Building in Thomaston. The office can be contacted at 706/647-1297.

State of Georgia-required immigration-related affidavits must be submitted by new businesses. The completed and notarized affidavits and I.D. copies, as well as occupation taxes, may be submitted by mail or in person. New business affidavits may be notarized by any Georgia-licensed Notary. A Notary Public will be available in the Building and Zoning Department 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, to assist owners completing their paperwork.

Business owners are encouraged to submit their paperwork and tax payments as soon as possible by the January 1, 2021 deadline; however, no late fees or interest will be charged

Georgia In Peach Bowl

Georgia will play Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl on January 1st.

For more click HERE.

Pedestrian Killed In Upson County

Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore says a pedestrian was killed late Friday afternoon when struck by a car while crossing the road to his mailbox on 36 east near Railroad Street. 

The fatality has been identified as Jerry Allen Walker, the custodian at Upson Lee Middle School. 

Traffic was detoured around the accident scene and Sheriff Kilgore says the investigation has been turned over to Post 26 Georgia State Patrol.

GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DA BRODER HAS OPPOSITION IN THE FEB. 2021 SPECIAL ELECTION

QUALIFYING ENDED FRIDAY FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FEB. 9TH 2021` IN UPSON, PIKE, SPALDING AND FAYETTE COUNTIES.

DA MARIE GREENE BRODER , A REPUBLICAN WAS FIRST TO QUALIFY--SHE WILL BE OPPOSED BY GRIFFIN ATTORNEY DEXTER WIMBISH, A DEMOCRAT.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP APPOINTED BRODER DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN FEB. BUT IN OCTOBER THE GA. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED A 2018 STATE LAW THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED BRODER TO SERVE UNTIL AN ELECTION IN 2022.

3RD DISTRICT G-DOT ENGINEER MICHAEL PRESLEY HONORED

 Thomaston, Georgia - At its 2020 virtual Annual Meeting today, the Georgia Institute of Transportation Engineers presented Michael Presley of Thomaston with the Carl Bevins Distinguished Service Award. Presley has served the Georgia Department of Transportation's District 3/West Central region as district engineer since 2015. In total, he has worked with distinction at the Georgia DOT for 26 years. 

The award is named for Georgia's first traffic operations engineer and recognizes the work of outstanding professional engineers who have focused on traffic operations or transportation throughout their careers. At today's ceremony, Presley was cited for consistently promoting leading-edge, modern traffic operations, highlighting transportation safety and maintaining an attitude of continuous improvement. Under his leadership, District 3 was the first Georgia DOT region to install and administer a traffic management center outside of Atlanta. His support of innovative intersections and improved signal operations has greatly benefited the West Central Georgia region, making it a model for other regions and municipalities across the state. 

MID-MONTH COVID-19 UPDATE FOR DECEMBER 15, 2020

From the Georgia Department of Public Health

As the Holiday COVID-19 surge continues across the country, Georgia is setting record highs in case numbers, hospitalizations, and test positivity rates. Deaths in Georgia are also on the rise but, so far, a long way from the death tolls we saw in August. Upson and the surrounding counties are following close behind the state trends, just like they did during the first and second waves of the virus. The top settings for outbreaks in our area continue to be schools and long-term care facilities, but the epidemiologists are also seeing increasing outbreaks in manufacturing plants and small to medium sized business offices.

                                     

Upson County reported 57 new cases for the first half of December, slightly lower than the 63 cases reported the last half of November. New hospitalizations in Upson also dropped slightly from 6 to 4. Upson has maintained zero deathssince the first of November. On the rise is the 2-week test positivity rate which averaged 8.4% for the month of November, and increased to 11.7% for the first half of December.

 

The combined area including Upson and its bordering counties is trending in line with the state. There was a significant increase in reported cases from 340 the last half of November to 514 the first half of December. Reported new deaths increased from only 1 in the last half of November to 2 deaths during the first half of December. MonroeCounty reported the most new cases at 134 followed by Lamar County with 100 new cases. Talbot County reported the fewest new cases at 17. Lamar and Crawford Counties reported 1 new death each, while all the other counties reported zero deaths.

 

Test positivity rates place Upson, Lamar and Monroe Counties in the Red Zone, while all the other area counties are in the Yellow Zone. At the end of November Talbot and Meriwether Counties were both in the Green Zone, but have now moved up to the Yellow Zone. Out of Georgia’s 159 counties only 8 counties are currently in the Green Zone. 

 

Upson County	New Cases	New Deaths	New Hosp	Avg 2-wk Test Pos
March 1 – 31	5	0
April 1 – 15	134	5
April 16 – 30	77	13 (hi)
May 1 – 15	41	10
May 16 – 31	24	6
June 1 – 15	14 (lo)	6	1
June 16 – 30	60	3	0
July 1 – 15	38	2	5
July 16 – 31	78	0 (lo)	4
Aug 1 – 15	153 (hi)	4	9
Aug 16 – 31	37	6	5
Sept 1 – 15	65	4	7
Sept 16 – 30	73	3	7
Oct 1 – 15	29	6	10	6.6%
Oct 16 – 31	16	3	7	4.4%
Nov 1 – 15	35	0 (lo)	1	6.0%
Nov 16 – 30	63	0 (lo)	6	10.9%
Dec 1 – 15	57	0 (lo)	4	11.7%
Source: Daily Reports from GA Dept of Public Health

 

GEORGIA	New Cases	New Deaths	Avg Daily Hosp
March 1 – 31	4,114	125
April 1 – 15	11,146	451
April 16 – 30	11,004	556
May 1 – 15	10,508	456	1,247
May 16 – 31	10,291(lo)	465	915
June 1 – 15	11,351	441	820 (lo)
June 16 – 30	22,877	311	1,083
July 1 – 15	46,543	286 (lo)	2,279
July 16 – 31	58,518	661	3,098 (hi)
Aug 1 – 15	48,816	917	2,926
Aug 16 – 31	35,303	963 (hi)	2,308
Sept 1 – 15	26,362	766	1,726
Sept 16 – 30	21,193	623	1,381
Oct 1 – 15	18,215	471	1,282
Oct 16 – 31	24,549	487	1,354
Nov 1 – 15	26,159	483	1,535
Nov 16 – 30	35,184	316	1,896
Dec 1 – 15	62,019 (hi)	472	2,603
Source: Daily Reports from GA Dept of Public Health

DECEMBER 1 – 15, 2020
County	New Cases	New Deaths	Zone
Upson	57	0	Red
Pike	59	0	Yellow
Lamar	100	1	Red
Monroe	134	0	Red
Crawford	46	1	Yellow
Taylor	36	0	Yellow
Talbot	17	0	Yellow
Meriwether	65	0	Yellow
Source: Daily Reports from GA Dept of Public Health

 

8-County Area	New Cases	New Deaths
March 1 – 31	24	0
April 1 – 15	235	10
April 16 – 30	170	18
May 1 – 15	102 (lo)	11
May 16 – 31	164	15
June 1 – 15	112	15
June 16 – 30	239	6
July 1 – 15	348	5
July 16 – 31	516	9
Aug 1 – 15	532 (hi)	23
Aug 16 – 31	359	30 (hi)
Sept 1 – 15	229	14
Sept 16 – 30	265	19
Oct 1 – 15	178	14
Oct 16 – 31	175	8
Nov 1 – 15	235	11
Nov 16 - 30	340	1 (lo)
Dec 1 – 15	514	2
8-County Area = Upson, Pike, Lamar, Monroe, Crawford, Taylor, Talbot, and Meriwether
Source: Daily Reports from GA Dept of Public Health