UPSON CO TAX COMMISSIONER ANDY CHASTAIN ON TAX BILLS 2026

 PSA 2026 PROPERTY TAX BILLS

2026 property tax bills are scheduled to be mailed out by this Friday, Oct. 16th and will be due Dec. 17th. There was a delay in processing & printing the tax bills this year due to programming for FLOST & HTRG tax relief that taxpayers will be receiving this year. Tax bills will be available to pay in person, over the phone, or online starting Thursday Oct. 15th.

All property taxpayers will see an amount on their bill that indicates the amount of FLOST tax relief they received for 2026 and each homestead taxpayer will see an avg. of $400 in savings from the Homestead Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) given by the State.

This year Upson County & the City of Thomaston received a combined amount of $2.2 million from the Property Tax Relief sales tax, formerly known as FLOST, that was used exclusively for tax relief on their 2026 tax levies. Next year that amount should be around $5 million that will be used to roll off their millage rates and provide even more tax relief. In the coming months we’re going to see more counties & municipalities vote in an additional sales tax for property tax relief purposes, especially since the new LHOST is on the table that provides additional homestead tax relief. It’s important to note though that there will most likely be no HTRG tax relief from the State to help next year.

This year FLOST, combined with the HTRG given by the State, should significantly reduce taxes on the majority of homes and other properties in Upson. It’s good that the County & City got FLOST on the ballot when they did because we’re getting unexpected tax relief for 2026 that was initially planned for 2027. With the expected revenue from FLOST in the coming years and the possibility of having an LHOST in its place, I foresee some major tax relief for our homestead taxpayers.

UPSON P&Z DIRECTOR LEAVING

 SIX   MONTHS  AFTER  HE  ACCEPTED  THE  POSITION  OF   BUILDING  AND  ZONING  DIRECTOR  FOR  UPSON  COUNTY--LEAVING  THE  SAME  POST  AT  PIKE  COUNTY--JEREMY  GILBERT  IS  HEADED  FOR  TENNESSEE  FOR  A  SIMILAR    JOB.  JEREMY  INFORMED  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  PLANNING  COMMISSION  HE  WAS LEAVING  AFTER  MONDAY'S  OCTOBER  MEETING.  HE'S  GOING  TO  GOODLETTSVILLE,  TENNESSEE  NORTH OF  NASHVILLE  AND  HIS  LAST   DAY   WILL  BE  OCT. 28TH. HE  GOT HIGH  PRAISE  FROM  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  FOR  HIS JOB  PERFORMANCE  DURING  TUESDAY'S  MEETING  .  

HOUSE FIRE IN UPSON CO

 HOUSE  FIRE      AT  102 FERGUSON  ROAD  HAD VISIBLE  FLAMES THROUGH   THE  ROOF OCT.   10TH  ACCORDING  TO  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF'S  OFFICE.  NO  INJURIES--OCCUPANTS  AND  PETS  ALL VACATED.  IT  STARTED  AS  A  GREASE  FIRE  IN  THE  KITCHEN  AND  THURSTON  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  MANAGED  TO  CONTAIN  THE  DAMAGE  TO  THE  KITCHEN/LIVING  ROOM.

T-U CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON

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Join us for our 2026 Legislative Luncheon! Hear directly from our state and local leaders about the issues, initiatives, and opportunities impacting Thomaston-Upson and Georgia. 📅 Monday, October 19 ⏰ 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. 📍 First Baptist Church of Thomaston-Building C 💲 $15 in advance | $20 day of luncheon at the check in table 🍽️ Lunch provided! Space is limited, so register early and join us for an informative afternoon of community conversation and updates! Scan the QR code on the flyer to reserve your spot or click on the flyer for direct access to the event page to register. Thank you to our event sponsor, Georgia Power!

GRIFFIN CITY MANAGER DISMISSED

 THE CITY  MANAGER  OF  GRIFFIN,  JESSICA  O'CONNOR  HAS  BEEN  FIRED  WITHOUT  CAUSE.    ACCORDING  TO  AN  EMERGENCY  RESOLUTION  THE  GRIFFIN   BOARD OF  COMMISSIONERS  VOTED  4-3  TO  APPROVE  A  MOTION  TO  TERMINATE  THE  CONTRACT OF  MS. O'CONNOR    AT A  CALLED  MEETING  TUESDAY.

JENNIFER FREEMAN,  ASSISTANT  CITY  MANAGER OF  UTILITIES  AND  KELSEY  CARDEN,  ASSISTANT CITY  MANAGER  OF  DEVELOPMENT  SERVICES  WILL  HANDLE  MS. O'CONNOR'S DUTIES.   A   PRESS  RELEASE  FROM  CITY OF  GRIFFIN  SAID  THE  BOARD  WILL  DISCUSS  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF AN  INTERIM  CITY  MANAGER  AT  A  CALLED  MEETING  THURSDAY  9AM  OCT.  IST.

GRIFFIN-SPALDING SCHOOL GRAD RATE

 Griffin, GA – Griffin-Spalding County Schools (GSCS) is proud to announce the district’s 2026 graduation rate rose to 94.5 percent, reflecting the continued commitment of students, educators, families and the entire community to student success. GSCS performed above the State of Georgia graduation rate of 88.5 percent.

Graduation rates across the district’s high schools demonstrate strong outcomes for the Class of 2026. Griffin High School achieved a 96 percent graduation rate, A.Z. Kelsey Academy achieved a 95.7 percent graduation rate, and Spalding High School achieved a 92.4 percent graduation rate.

UPSON-LEE GRADUATION RATE

 Thomaston-Upson Schools Graduation

Rate Reaches New All-Time High of 92.6%

Thomaston-Upson Schools is proud to announce that the district’s graduation rate has reached

92.6% for 2026, establishing a new all-time high and continuing a multi-year trend of strong

graduation outcomes for Upson-Lee High School students.

The district’s graduation rate increased from 91.6% in 2024 to 92.5% in 2025 and 92.6% in

2026. The 2026 rate is also 4.1 percentage points higher than Georgia’s state average of

88.5%.

The continued increase reflects the collective efforts of students, teachers, counselors,

administrators, support staff, families, and community partners who work throughout a student’s

educational journey to keep students engaged, provide needed support, and prepare them to

successfully complete high school.

“This accomplishment is something our entire school system and community can celebrate,”

said Superintendent Dr. Travet “Tret” Witherspoon. “A graduation rate of 92.6% represents

students who have worked hard and persevered to reach an important milestone. It also

represents the teachers, staff members, families, and community members who have supported

those students along the way. We are extremely proud of our graduates and remain committed

to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

While the district celebrates another record-setting graduation rate, Thomaston-Upson Schools

remains focused on continued improvement. District and school leaders will continue working to

identify and support students who may be at risk of not graduating while strengthening

academic opportunities, student engagement, and college and career readiness.

The district recognizes that graduation is the culmination of years of work that begins long

before students enter high school. From early learning and elementary education through

middle and high school, employees across Thomaston-Upson Schools play an important role in

preparing students to reach graduation.

The 92.6% graduation rate marks the second consecutive year Thomaston-Upson Schools has

established a new all-time high, building on the district’s 92.5% rate in 2025

THOMASTON KIWANIS 5K SIGN-UP

 

The direct link to register for the Thomaston Kiwanis Kreepy 5k is https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Thomaston/ThomastonKiwanisKreepy5kRoadRace26

I have also attached a flyer with a QR code that can be scanned to register. This flyer has been shared on our Kiwanis Facebook page. Please share on your personal pages or anywhere else you see fit.

UPSON BOARD OF ELECTIONS

 The Upson County Board of Elections will have their regular meeting Tuesday, October 6th @ 3:00 PM in the Elections Office Meeting Room located at 305 South Hightower St. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the upcoming November 3, General Election. For more information contact the Elections Office at 706-647-6259. Pam W. Releford Elections Supervisor

PIKE COUNTY LIONS CLUB BBQ

 PIKE COUNTY  LIONS  CLUB  BBQ   SAT. SEPT. 26TH  11AM  TILL  2PM  ZEBULON  TRAIN  DEPOT. $12  PER  PLATE.

CITY OF THOMASTON RETREAT/WORK SESSION

 CITY OF THOMASTON

RETREAT / WORK SESSION OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY AIRPORT

Beginning September 24, 2026

12:00 pm

The Thomaston Mayor and City Council will hold a strategic planning retreat on Thursday and Friday, September 24-25, 2026, at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport located at 2347 Delray Road, Thomaston, GA 30286. The retreat is for strategic planning purposes only. No official or legally binding action will occur at this retreat.

Tentative Retreat Schedule

(Changes may occur.)

Thursday, September 24, 2026

12:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Friday, September 25, 2026

8:30 am to 5:00 pm

UPSON CO REPORTS SCHOOL THREAT

 News Release

On Friday, September 11, 2026 deputies were made aware of a threatening social media post made against Upson Lee Middle School. An investigation was begun and confirmed the identity of person making the threat to be a 13 year old male student from Upson Lee Middle School. The student, who was absent from school today used a fictitious name to make the post.

The post claimed that the student was " Finna blow up Mrs (----) classroom".

The student was referred to juvenile court on charges of Terroristic Threats and acts. The student will also face disciplinary consequences from the school system.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

Sept 11, 2026

UPSON CO COMMISSIONERS MEETING 9/8/26

 IT  WAS  AN  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  MEETING   STRAIGHT  OUT   OF  THE   TWILIGHT  ZONE,  TUESDAY.   THE  BOC  UNANIMOUSLY  APPROVED    IDA     REZONING  ON  RACE  TRACK  ROAD  FOR  A  FUTURE  INDUSTRIAL  PARK,  SOMETHING  CRITICIZED  BY  EX-CHAIRMAN  RUSTY   BLACKSTON-DURING PUBLIC  COMMENT--  SET  THE  TAX  MILLAGE  AT  THE  RATE  PREVIOUSLY  DISCUSSED  AND   A  FEMALE  WAS  ESCORTED     TO       THE  DOOR      BY  A  DEPUTY  AFTER COUNTY  MANAGER   LONNIE  JOYCE  DEFENDED  THE  S.O. USE OF  FLOCK CAMERAS  AND  WARNED   MARY ALICE  ADAMS      TO  STOP  INTERRUPTING  HIM  WITH   NEGATIVE  COMMENTS  ABOUT  THEIR   USE.

T-U BOE SETS TAX MILLAGE AND THOMASTON COUNCIL CUTS TAXES

 THOMASTON'S CITY  MANAGER   RUSSELL  THOMPSON    SAYS   WATER  IS  CLEAR  LEAVING   THE    TREATMENT     PLANT       AFTER  A   TEMPORARY  PUBLIC   NOTICE  ABOUT      DISCOLORATION  DUE  TO  MANGANESE.  THE  WATER   REMAINED  SFE  FOR  DRINKING,  COOKING, BATHING  AND   OTHER  USES.

MAYOR  JD  STALLINGS  WAS  GUSHING   AT   TUESDAY'S  COUNCIL  MEETING--NOTING    THE  CITY  COUNCIL  CUT  TAXES  DURING  THE  MEETING.

IN   HIS  TESTIMONY  BEFORE  THE  T-U-  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION-PUBLIC  HEARING   PRIOR   TO  SETTING  THE  TAX  MILLAGE  DR. KEN  MORGAN    URGED  COMPROMISE   AND  THE  BOARD  VOTED  TO  DROP  THE  MILLAGE  RATE  ABOUT  ONE MILL    AND   UP  THE FUND  BALANCE  CONTRIBUTION   TO  $567,000  TO  BALANCE  THE  BUDGET--A  6-1   VOTE  . BRENT  KING  VOTED  NO--TELLING  101  NEWS  HE  OPPOSED  BECAUSE  TOO  MANY  CITIZENS  ARE  STRUGGLING  FINANCIALLY.

WARM SPRINGS POLICE OFFICER KILLED/SHOOTER SHOT HIMSELF AFTER A CHASE

 A   FATAL SHOOTING  OF  A  WARM  SPRINGS  POLICE  OFFICER   ON  DUTY--CHRIS  FISHER   TUESDAY  NIGHT       HAS  LEAD  TO   THE  REPORTED    SHOOTING    OF   THE  SUSPECT  IN  THE  SHOOTING.  THE  GBI  ISSUED  A  BLUE  ALERT  FOR  23  YEAR  OLD  JIMMIE   STEVERSON  WHO  MIGHT  HAVE   AMBUSHED   OFFICER   FISHER  AND  FIRED   THE   FATAL  SHOT  TO  THE  HEAD.  

BREAKING  NEWS--THE  ALLEDGED  SHOOTER  REPORTEDLY  GOT   IN  A  CHASE   WITH  THE   LAW  IN  GEORIGIA  AND  SHOT     HIMSELF       WED    IN  SOUTH CAROLINA.   THIS   IS  BREAKING  NEWS  FROM  101  NEWS.

KIWANIS CLUB OF THOMASTON 5K /WALK

 THOMASTON  KIWANIS  CLUB  KREEPY  5  K  ROAD  RACE/WALK.  OCT.  24, 2026

5 K RACE  $35  ENTRY  FEE      $40  DAY  OF   RACE.  SUBMIT   ENTRIES  KIWANIS  CLUB  RACE,  101  NORTH  GREEN  ST.   THOMASTON,  GA.   30286.