Upson-Lee Player Life Flighted

An Upson-Lee football player was Life Flighted to an Atlanta area hospital following Friday night's game with Sumter County. 

The player was not injured during the game but suffered an apparent seizure during the third quarter.

Two Arrested ln Wyatt And Benford Murder

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has made two more arrests in the April 2021 murders of Joshua Wyatt and Carlos Benford whose bodies were found in the bed of a burning pickup truck in a wooded area on Jackson Road. Both victims had been shot and their bodies set ablaze in the bed of a truck that was found off of Jackson Road. The bodies of the 2 black males were later identified as being Joshua Wyatt and Carlos Benford. Both had been reported missing by their families in Henry County.

On Tuesday September 28, 2021, Marco Antonio Gonzales-Cabrera was arrested for his role in the murders. He has been charged with 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder, 1 count of armed robbery, 2 counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, 2 counts of tampering with evidence, 2 counts of concealing the death of another, 2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and 1 count of arson.

Erik Cabrealopez, Alicia Rojo-Sanchez, Kristen Cordero-Rojas, and Carmen Emilio Torres were previously arrested for Wyatt and Benford’s murders of Wyatt and Benford and other related charges associated with their deaths.

Eric Butler has also been arrested and has been charged with tampering with evidence and 2 counts of concealing the death of another.

According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, “In the days after Joshua and Carlos’s bodies were found we executed a search warrant at a residence on Dutchman Road. Even though the house had been cleaned and almost all contents had been piled up and burned in the yard, SCSO Crime Scene investigators were able to recover evidence and locate what we believe to be the room where the murders took place. Since then, we have been following up on leads and gathering information about the murders.”

“Like I have said from the beginning, we are going to do all we can do to hunt these murderers down, make sure they get everything they deserve, and that Joshua and Wyatt’s families get justice. To reiterate, if you would like to speak to an investigator about these murders it’s not too late for you. These six found out the hard way, don’t let it be you that is number seven. These six thought they could get away with murder and they thought wrong. It’s always better to come talk to us instead of us coming to talk to you, and it’s always better to be a witness than a defendant.

 

CITY OF THOMASTON FLUSHING HYDRANTS

 E.S,G,  THE  CITY  OF  THOMASTON  WATER/WASTE  WATER  CONSULTANT  IS  CURRENTLY  FLUSHING  FIRE  HYDRANTS  AND  WILL  CONTINUE  MONDAY  ON  SOUTH  GREEN  AND  JOHNSTON  HEIGHTS.  IT  CAN  CAUSE  SOME   DISCOLORATION  OF  WATER FROM  FAUCETS.

ITS  RECOMMENDED  TO  RUN  AN  OUTSIDE  FAUCET  TO  CLEAR  IT  UP.

GA. CITIES WEEK OBSERVANCE CITY OF THOMASTON

THE CITY OF THOMASTON OBSERVANCE OF GEORGIA CITIES WEEK OCTOBER 3-9 STARTED WITH PAINTING DESIGNS OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS DOWNTOWN.

THANKS TO A DONATION FROM THOMASTON HARDWARE. THERE WILL BE A " IF I WERE MAYOR CONTEST" FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A YOUTH ART WALL WILL BE FEATURED IN THE ALLEYWAY OF BABY LANE'S CONSIGNMENT STORE ON SOUTH CENTER.

THE GRAND OPENING OF LAKE THOMASTON PARK ON THURSDAY OFF COUNTY ROAD.

DOWNTOWN HISTORY TOURS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 4, 6, AND 8, AND THE UPSON-LEE HOMECOMING PARADE THURSDAY.

A KIDS FISHING DEBRY SATURDAY OCTOBER 9. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CITY OF THOMASTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR TAYLOR SMITH AT 706-647-4242.

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Head Seeks Reelection

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Head

The City Council, together, has accomplished a lot in the last 5 years. But there is more to do and the best is yet to come. I would like to look at what I think is important and some of what we have accomplished in the last 5 years regarding Finances, Public Safety, Infrastructure and Quality of life:

Finances:

The city has 7-9 months’ worth of unrestricted operational reserves for primary government. A goal for many governments is 3-6 months so we are in good shape financially to run our everyday operations and deal with emergencies that could come up. My 38 year banking career gives me the experience, knowledge and skillset to be able to read and understand financial statements, cash flows and financial projections.

Public Safety:

Police: We have enacted a take home policy for cars for officers and worked on pay and classification plans to help recruit and maintain adequate staff. We are seeking to set up a Crime Suppression Unit to deal with increasing gang and violent crime activity.

Fire: We anticipate finishing our new Fire Station by Christmas. We have purchased a new aerial Ladder truck and will add a new much needed replacement pumper truck. We hope to continue the training that has helped us lower our ISO rating from 4 to 3. I want to encourage our working toward being certified as a Licensed Medical First Responder Unit to help in critical care needs of our constituents, particularly when the ambulance service needs help.

Infrastructure:

We have executed a long needed Intergovernmental agreement between the city and county to upgrade and increase the capacity of our sewer system to take care of current needs and to help facilitate recruitment of future industries.

We have made $20 Million worth of upgrades in Sewer, $3 Million in Storm water upgrades, and $3 Million in paving of streets. We also got, with the help of taxpayers, a TSPLOST passed to help further paving of streets.

Quality of Life

We have completed Phase 2 of the Greatest Generation Park and looking forward to the October 8 ribbon cutting to open Lake Thomaston to the public. That is exciting!

We are also working toward the redevelopment of Downtown Thomaston by commissioning the first ever master plan of downtown, authorizing a Façade Grant program, working toward Rural Zone designation, and commissioning the redrafting of both alcohol and zoning ordinances. I believe that these things will lead to investment downtown that has simply not had as much interest before.

There is a lot more that we have done in the last several years that has been made possible with the great team of our council, our city manager, our financial officer, and all of our city employees. Yes, we have done a lot, but I am here to say that there is still more to do and believe me when I say that the best is yet to come!

UPSON COUNTY COVID HOSPITALIZATION UPDATE

Upson Regional Medical Center reports a total of 21 COVID patients currently hospitalized. That’s down from 24patients reported yesterday. The COVID census peaked at 57 patients a month ago on August 30. Of the 21 patients in the hospital now, 100% of them are unvaccinated. Average age is 56.

A POLICE OFFICER FROM THOMASTON HAS PASSED AWAY

SGT. TODD THOMAS, A CITY OF GRIFFIN POLICE OFFICER, WHO LIVES IN THOMASTON, HAS PASSED AWAY OF COVID-19.

POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON, WHO WORKED WITH SGT. THOMAS AT GRIFFIN PD SAID HIS UNITS ESCORTED THE BODY OF SGT. THOMAS FROM URMC TO FLETCHER-DAY FUNERAL HOME TUESDAY.

SGT. THOMAS BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WITH GRIFFIN PD IN 1999, WAS 52 YEARS OLD AND PLANNING TO RETIRE IN EARLY 2022.

WEEKLY COVID-19 REPORT – THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS

 For the week ending September 24, 2021

Upson schools saw a significant drop in COVID cases among students and staff last week. There were only 6 reported student cases compared to 13 the week before, and only 4 staff cases compared to 9 the week before. 

A mask mandate has been in effect for the past 3 weeks. The Board of Education meets on Tuesday, September 28, to discuss the termination or extension of the mandate, which is currently set to expire on Friday, October 8.

The CDC has not relaxed its beginning-of-the-school year recommendation for universal indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-through-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. This recommendation was made in response to the highly transmissible Delta variant. Upson County has consistently had a High Level of Community Transmission since the end of July.

http://www.upson.k12.ga.us/202122_covid_information

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

URMC OFFERING COVID BOOSTER SHOTS

 

Fun 101 Phone Problems

 Fun 101 is experiencing phone problems with our primary line 706-647-7121.

To reach the station, please call on 706-938-0686.

We are working to restore the primary line and hope to have it operational by tomorrow.

TWO WRECKS OCCUR IN PIKE COUNTY FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Pike County Deputies worked two separate vehicle accidents today that both involved a structure. The first was located at 12572 Highway 18 at 2:50 p.m. a pickup truck traveling westbound crosses the oncoming lane of traffic and then left the roadway. The vehicle then struck a building adjacent to the residence and exited out of the rear of the building before coming to a stop. The driver was transported by ambulance for treatment and no one else was injured.

 

At 4:36 p.m. deputies responded to Highway 19 near the Upson County line. A Chevrolet Suburban had been traveling southbound when it crossed into the oncoming lanes of traffic. The vehicle left the roadway striking a power pole and a citizen that was in their yard cutting grass. The vehicle then struck the residence before stopping. The homeowner was transported to Macon by ambulance. The driver was transported to Upson regional hospital for treatment. The driver stated to deputies that he believed he had fell asleep before the accident. The investigation will continue as deputies await blood toxicology results.

Arrest Made In Playground Shooting

THOMASTON POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE SHOOT OUT AT THE PARK STREET PLAYGROUND ON SEPTEMBER 5TH.

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR MONICA SNIPES IDENTIFIED THE SUBJECT AS AHMAN CALDWELL, AGE 17 OF THOMASTON.

CALDWELL IS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BUT OTHER CHARGES INCLUDING AGGREVATED ASSAULT COULD BE FILED. OTHER ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED.

POLICE SAID SEVERAL MALES FIRED WEAPONS AND DAMAGED TWO VEHICLES BUT NO ONE WAS WOUNDED. AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE AND A HANDGUN WERE RECOVERED AT THE SCENE BY THE P.D.

THE SHOOTING ALARMED THE COMMUNITY AND LEAD TO THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVING $250,000 TO FUND A 4 OFFICER -CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Dawgs 2022 Football Schedule Released

A season opener against Oregon in Atlanta, eight Southeastern Conference games and the annual tilt against Georgia Tech highlight the 2022 Georgia football schedule announced Tuesday by the SEC.

Click HERE for the entire schedule

UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

THE UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETS MONDAY SPET. 27TH AT 7 PM AT THE ARCHIVES.

LINDA JONES BEST AND ZAC JONES WILL PRESENT THE PROGRAM ON O.W. JONES AND SON HARDWARE. 

PUBLIC INVITED.

FDR DOC TO REPLAY ON GPB

UPSON COUNTY NATIVE DAN WHITE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM ON PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND HIS LIFE IN THIS AREA, SAYS THE FILM WILL REPLAY ON GA. PUBLIC TV CHANNEL 8 THIS SATURDAY AT 6 AM.

DAN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH BARNESVILLE MAYOR PETER BANKS WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE FILM THE MAYOR VIEWED AND ENJOYED TUESDAY EVENING. FDR'S SPEECH AT GORDON MILITARY COLLEGE SUMMERS FIELD AUGUST 11TH , 1939 IS CENTRAL TO THE FILM, AS THE PRESIDENT TOUTED THE R.E.A  AND TURNED ON THE LIGHTS IN RURAL MIDDLE GA.

DAN TOLD US HE HOPES TO HOLD A SCREENING OF THE FILM IN THOMASTON AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

UPSON CO. COVID-19 WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL

Jeff Tarrant, CEO of URMC reported:

As of 7AM this morning:

31 Covid positive patients (down from 46 last week) with 9 on vents (down from 12 last week)

Since 7/1/21-as of yesterday about 93% of patients have been unvaccinated. The Regeneron Monoclonal Antibody treatment continues to be used with stellar results, especially if given at early onset. Again this is the treatment that was given to President Trump. This treatment reduces Covid hospitalizations by 70% and reduces duration of the Covid symptoms by up to 4 days if given early. Its affect is good at keeping people out of the hospital.

No word yet on the booster for 65 and older other than immuno-compromised people. We continue to wait on word from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. We hope to be giving the booster next week and have a good inventory ready when we hear the rules to go by.