SPALDING CO UPSON NATIVE BAIN PROCTOR VOLUNTEER AWARD

 GRIFFIN, Ga. (March 04, 2024) – Spalding County Leisure Services announced today that nominations are open for the 21st Annual Bain Proctor Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. The Bain Proctor Award was created by the Spalding County Board of Commissioners to recognize volunteers who have contributed to the growth, development and strengthening of the quality of services, programs, and activities for Spalding County citizens. Raakesh Patel was the 2023 winner. Nominees must be Spalding County residents who have volunteered his/her services for the betterment of our community, and Spalding County Leisure Services will accept submissions until Friday, March 29 at 5 p.m. Nominations should include: • A cover page with the nominee’s name and address, the name of the person submitting the nomination, contact information and the name of the nominating association or organization, if any. • A minimum of a one-page typed (12-point font, 1-inch margins) statement describing the nominee’s unpaid service and years of dedicated volunteerism to Spalding County residents. Please send nominations via email to tbowie@spaldingcounty.com or mail/deliver to Spalding County Leisure Services, 843 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223. For any inquiries about the award criteria, please call 770-467-4750 or visit the Facebook page at Spalding County Leisure Services. # #

MIKE DUGAN QUALIFIES FOR U.S. CONGRESS

 

ATLANTA, GA — Today, Mike Dugan, Veteran Army Ranger and former State Senator, qualified to appear on the ballot for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District in the May 21st Republican primary.    Upon qualifying, Dugan issued the following statement:   “America is in trouble. The border is open, with communities and families in our state paying the price. It’s getting harder for people to pay grocery bills, medical expenses, and just keep the lights on. Threats are rising around the world because of weak leadership in Washington. I’m running for Congress to be part of the solution, and no candidate in this race has the experience I have when it comes to delivering results. I’ve served in the Army as a Ranger and Master Paratrooper, led major economic projects in the 3rd District, and helped make Georgia the best state in the country to do business with strong policy in the State Senate — while delivering major conservative victories.   What we need in Congress now are leaders who take action and focus on results, not news hits or social media clicks. That’s what I’m offering the 3rd District, and I’m ready to hit the ground running on day one. Let’s go.”

THOMASTON POLICE BLOTTER

    A  MALE  SHOPLIFTER  MADE  OFF  WITH  SEVERAL  PLAYSTATION  CONTROLLERS   AT  WAL  MART   ON  FEB. 18TH,  20TH  AND  22ND.  HE  HAD  A  NIKE  BACKPACK--ESCAPING ONE  TIME  THROUGH  THE  GARDEN  CENTER--LOSS  OVER  $500.

A  FEMALE  BOOKED  FOR  POSSESSION  SCHEDULE  DRUGS  AFTER  K-9 OFFICER  BEN-0  SNIFFED  OUT  SOME  NARCOTICS  FOLLOWING  A  TRAFFIC  STOP.  ARRESTED--45 YEAR   OLD  DAPHNE  ALSOBROOKS  WHO  ARGUED  WITH  OFFICERS  BUT  WAS  BOOKED FOR  METH   AND  POSSESSION  OF  OVER   200  SCHEDULE  PILLS.

A  PUP  SUFFERED  AN  OPEN  BELLY  WOUND  AND  THE  OWNER  GOT  BIT  ON  THE  HAND  WHILE  THEY  WERE  WALKING  NEAR 301  6TH AVE.  BOTH  GOT  MEDICAL  ATTENTION--AND  CITY  ANIMAL  CONTROL  DISPATCHED  TO  TWO  DOGS  RUNNING  FREE  WHO  ATTACKED  THE  WALKERS.

BURGLARY  REPORT  AT  303  THURSTON  AVE.--A  BIG  SCREEN  TV  AND  A  PLAYSTATION  MISSING.

A  MAN  WITH  A  KNIFE YELLING  AT   335  PARKWAY  DRIVE  WAS  CONFRONTED  BY  POLICE  AND  ORDERED  TO  THROW DOWN  THE KNIFE.  35  YEAR OLD  DANIEL  WILLIAMS  ARRESTED  AFTER  HE    TOLD  POLICE  HE  WAS  ON  METH  AND  HAD  A  SMOKING  PIPE  IN HIS POCKET.

UPSON CO/SKELTON ROAD RE-OPENED

 UPSON  COUNTY  HAS  ANNOUNCED SKELTON  ROAD  HAS  BEEN  RE-OPENED  BUT  REPAIRS  ARE NOT  FULLY  COMPLETED.  PLEASE  USE  EXTREME  CAUTION.

IN GA QUALIFYING BEGINS MONDAY

 QUALIFYING  BEGINS  MONDAY   IN  GEORGIA   FOR  THE  MAY  21ST  PRIMARY

UPSON CO BD ELECTIONS LAST DAY TO MAIL OUT ABSENT BALLOTS

 Friday, March 1, 2024 is the last day to mail out absent by mail ballots.  All requests for ballots should be in the Elections office by 3/1/24 to processed.

UPSON BOC 2/27/24

 UPSON  COUNTY  BOARD   OF COMMISSIONERS  APPROVED  THE  PURCHASE  OF  TWO   PICK-UP  TRUCKS  AT  THE  FEB.  27TH  MEETING  FROM  WADE  FORD.  F-250   4  BY 4  FOR  WATER  DEPARTMENT  $64,000,  A  REPLACEMENT  VEHICLE.  FOR  THE  ROADS  DEPARTMENT  AN  F-250  2  BY  4 $47,000 

HIGHLINE  COMPANY  GAVE  AN  UPDATE  ON  INSTALLATION  OF  INTERNET  SERVICE  USING  GRANT  FUNDS  , COUNTY  AND COMPANY  INVESTMENT.  THE  PROJECT  SHOULD  BE  COMPLETED  BY  MID-SUMMER.  CHAIRMAN  NORMAN  ALLEN  CALLED  THE  FIBER  A  GAME  CHANGER  FOR  THE  COUNTY. 

COMMISSIONER  PAUL  JONES  SAID  HE NEVER  THOUGHT  UPSON  COUNTY  WOULD  HAVE  FIBER  IN  HIS  LIFETIME.

GRIFFIN COMMISSIONERS MET 2/27/24

 AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING  THE  GRIFFIN  CITY  COMMISSIONERS  APPROVED   $2000  IN  DUES  TO  REMAIN  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  1-75 CENTRAL  CORRIDOR  COALITION  WORKING  TO  GET  AN  ATLANTA-MACON-SAVANNAH  INTERCITY  PASSENGER  RAIL  LINE  APPROVED  BY  G-DOT. 

ATHENS MAYOR PLANS NEW SECURITY MEASURES

    FOLLOWING  THE  MURDER  OF  A  NURSING  STUDENT  ON  THE  UGA  CAMPUS--  MAYOR  KELLY  GIRTZ  ANNOUNCED  NEW  SECURITY  MEASURES  IN   ATHENS  TO  BE  MANNED  24/7  AT  A   PRESS CONFERENCE  WEDNESDAY  AT THE  POLICE  DEPARTMENT. HE  WAS  FREQUENTLY  INTERRUPTED  BY  PROTESTERS  CLAIMING  CITY HALL  HAD  BLOOD ON  ITS  HANDS  AS  A   SANCTURY  CITY--SOMETHING  HE  AND  THE  POLICE  CHIEF  DENIED.

CONGRESMAN  MIKE  COLLINS  OF JACKSON  WHO  REPRESENTS  ATHENS  CLAIMED  THE  BLOOD OF  LAKEN  RILEY  IS  ON  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  PRESIDENT  AND  ATHENS-CLARK COUNTY  GOVERNMENT

PIKE BOC APPOINTMENT TO TAX ASSESSORS

 AT  TUESDAY'S MEETING--THE    PIKE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  APPOINTED  CHRISTOPHER  TEA  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  TAX  ASSESSORS  UNEXPIRED   6  YEAR  TERM.   APPROVED--A   RIDE   ON  ROLLER    FROM  PUBLIC  WORKS  IMPACT  FEES--$48,000 .

DISCUSSION  OF  YEAR  2023  PROPERTY  TAX  ON  2.29  ACRES  ON  HIGHWAY  19  IN  NAME  OF  THE  ESTATE  OF  JERRY  COLWELL.  MOTION  TO  DENY  CARRIED   4-1-COMMISSIONER  PROCTOR OPPOSED.

UPSON CO ADVANCE VOTING

Advance Voting/Absentee By Mail Daily Results
Election Date: MARCH 12, 2024
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY
DATE	ADVANCE VOTING	ABSENTEE BY MAIL	DAILY TOTAL
2/19/24 Monday |	76	15	91
2/20/24 Tuesday	86	10	96
2/21/24 Wednesday	82	7	89
2/22/24 Thursday	89	7	96
2/23/24 Friday|	70	6	76
2/24/24 Saturday	58	1	59
2/26/24 Monday|	99	10	109
2/27/24 Tuesday|	110	3	113
Grand Total AIP - 670
Grand Total ABM – 59

YELLOW JACKET SHOALS UNDER THE GOLD DOME

 YELLOW   JACKET  SHOALS  IN  UPSON  AND  TALBOT  COUNTY   ON  THE  FLINT  RIVER  IS  IN  THE LIMELIGHT  AS  THE  2024  SESSION OF  THE  GA.  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  ROLLS  ON.  THE  GA.  HOUSE  PASSED  A  MEASURE  MONDAY  GUARANTEEING   GEORGIANS  THE  RIGHT  TO  HUNT  AND  FISH  IN  THE  STATE'S  NAVIGABLE  RIVERS  AND  STREAMS.

DECATUR  DEMOCRAT  MARY  MARGARENT  OLIVER  OF  DECATUR  URGED  LAWMAKERS NOT  TO  ACT  ON  THE  BILL BECAUSE  A  2ND LAWSUIT FILED  BY  RELATIVES  OF  THE  LATE  SUPERIOR  COURT JUDGE  BEN  J. MILLER  SR.  REMAINS  PENDING IN  TALBOT  COUNTY  SUPERIOR  COURT.

REPRESENTATIVE  DAVID  JENKINS  WHO  REPRESENTS  MERIWETHER,  TROUP,  AND  COWETA  COUNTIES  SAID  HE  REJECTS  THE  FALSE  NARRATIVE  THAT  THE  FLINT  RIVER  IS  A  PRIVATE  WATERWAY.

A  PREVIOUS  LAWSUIT  FILED   IN  UPSON  SUPERIOR  COURT BY  THE  FAMILY  OF  THE  LATE  DR.  SAM  BREWTON  WAS  AIMED AT PROTECTING  PRIVATE  PROPERTY  RIGHTS  AT  YELLOW  JACKET  SHOALS.  THE  BILL  NOW HEADS TO  THE  GA.  SENATE--BUT  OPPONENTS  WONDER  HOW  TO  DETERMINE  WHICH  OF  GEORGIA'S  WATERWAYS  ARE  NAVIGABLE  AND  WHICH  ARE  NOT.

$7.3 MILLION FOR NEW SAFETY INITIATIVES AT UGA AFTER STUDENT'S DEATH

 ATHENS, Ga. - Laken Hope Riley‘s murder has stirred fears and stoked political firestorms. The 22-year-old nursing student was out for a morning run at the University of Georgia when authorities say a stranger dragged her into a secluded area and killed her.

On Tuesday, UGA officials announced a series of comprehensive enhancements to its campus safety initiatives, totaling an investment of more than $7.3 million.

A motorcycle rider is dead in Monroe County after an incident Monday.

In a media release, the Forsyth Police Department says officers were called to the Ingles Grocery Store on Tift College Drive. Once there, officers found a wreck had happened in the parking lot involving an SUV and a motorcycle.

Investigators confirm the motorcyclist, who has not been identified, died from his injuries.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP UPSON SELECTED WASHINGTON YOUTH TOUR DELEGATE

Upson County resident Lily Baity has been chosen to participate in the 2024 Washington Youth Tour, an all-expense-paid leadership experience sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, including Upson EMC.

For more than 50 years, the tour has helped promising student leaders to become exceptional young adults. According to Brooke Parrott with Upson EMC, the Youth Tour was established to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour offers opportunities for students to meet policymakers, tour historic monuments and participate in leadership experiences, all while making new friends from across the state and the nation.

Teens on the tour are challenged to consider the part they play in government and to understand the cooperative business model to become engaged citizens and to learn about careers in public service.

5 students from the Youth Leadership Upson program were interviewed by out-of- town judges. After completion of the interviews, Lily was selected and will join other Georgia high school students who have been selected by their local EMCs.

Georgia’s tour delegates will convene with more than 1,800 youth representing electric cooperatives across the nation and exchange views concerning local and national issues.

The 4 other students who completed interviews were Aisha Derico, Chacie Bailey, Gracie Daniel, and Sarah Kate Bennett.

TOP TEN CORPORATE TAXPAYERS FOR UPSON CITY-2023 TAX YEAR

 

NAME	ASSESSMENT	CITY TAX AMT	% TOTAL LEVY
West GA Generating	30,453,522	174,560	9.86
Wal-Mart	6,220,026	35,653	2.01
Standard Textile	4,983,576	27,912	1.58
Home Depot	4,694,647	26,910	1.52
GA Power	15,101,064	25,211	1.42
Ingles	3,514,743	20,146	1.14
Gran Bio	2,683,387	15,381	0.87
Harbor View	2,216,117	12,703	0.72
Pacific Management  (Providence Healthcare)	2,192,037	12,564	0.71
Pacific Management  (Northcreek Shopping Center)	2,120,000	12,152	0.69