Wednesday, October 9, 2024

UPSON BOC REVERSED TWO PLANNING COMMISSION DENIALS

 THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  REVERSED  TWO  SPECIAL  EXCEPTION  APPLICATIONS  THE PLANNING  COMMISSION  RECOMMENDED  DENIAL AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING.  MATT  SMITH  APPROVED  FOR MINI WAREHOUSES  ON   74  WEST  NEAR  THE  ENTRANCE TO SPREWELL  BLUFF PARK  AND  PASTOR  DONALD  HAMILTON  FOR  A  NEW  CHURCH  BUILDING  ON   19  SOUTH  NEAR  MARTIN  CHURCH  ROAD. 


DETAILS  ON  101.1  LOCAL  NEWS  AT 6;45AM, 7;45AM, 8;45AM,  12  NOON,  1PM  AND  5PM. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

GSP INVESTIGATING PEDESTRIAN FATALITY IN THOMASTON

 ACCORDING  TO  POST  26  GA.  STATE PATROL  THE  FEMALE  PEDESTRIAN  FATALITY  SUNDAY NIGHT  ON  TRIUNE  MILL  ROAD   IN  THOMASTON   WAS   30-YEAR OLD  MELISSA  HILL OF  274  TRIUNE  AVE.  A   ONE-YEAR  OLD  CHILD  WALKING  WITH  HER  WAS  INJURED  AND  LIFE FLIGHTED  TO  ARTHUR  BLANK  CHILDREN'S  HOSPITAL OF  ATLANTA  AND  IS  LISTED  IN  STABLE  CONDITION.


SGT. NATHAN  TRUITT, GSP , TOLD   101  NEWS  THE  MOTORIST  WAS  DAVID  ANDERSON  OF  TRIUNE  MILL  ROAD   DRIVING    A   2013  JEEP PATRIOT  SPORT  SUV. SGT. TRUITT  SAID   MS.  HILL  AND  THE  CHILD  WERE  THREE  FEET  IN  THE   ROADWAY  WALKING  IN  THE  SAME  DIRECTION  AS  THE VEHICLE,  NEAR   DALLAS  DRIVE AT 10.42 PM.  HE  SAID  THE  INVESTIGATION  CONTINUES,  BUT  AT  THIS  TIME  NO  CHARGES  HAVE  BEEN  FILED  AGAINST  THE  DRIVER. 

Monday, October 7, 2024

UPSON CO DONATES OVER $200,000 IN GOODS TO HELENE VICTIMS

 FORMER UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  RUSTY  BLACKSTON   TOLD  101  NEWS   VOLUNTEERS  DELIVERED  OVER   $200,000  WORTH OF  RELIEF  SUPPLIES  TO  HELENE  VICTIMS  IN  ECHOLS  COUNTY  IN  SOUTH  GEORGIA ,  SUNDAY-- COLLECTED  FROM  A    53  FOOT  TRAILER    THAT  HAD  BEEN  PARKED  AT  THOMASTON  WAL MART.  RUSTY  SAID  THE  TRAILER  WAS   90% FULL  AND  A  FARMER IN  STATENVILLE,GA.  VOLUNTEERED  HIS  MIGRANT  LABOR  TO  UNLOAD  IT.


THE  ECHOLS COUNTY  SHERIFF WAS  INVOLVED  IN  THE  EFFORT  IN  A  COUNTY  WHERE    MANY   SECTIONS    ARE  STILL WITHOUT  POWER -- BUT  POWER  CREWS  WERE  EVERYWHERE  AT  WORK.    ONE  LADY  WHO  FINALLY  GOT  POWER  TOLD  RUSTY  SHE   GOT  HER      FIRST  HOT  BATH  IN   9  DAYS.  HE DESCRIBED  THE  DEVASTATION TO  THAT  AREA   AS  UNBELIEVABLE.


RUSTY  WENT  ON  TO  THANK  ALL  THE  THOMASTON  CHURCHES,  VOLUNTEERS,  AND THOSE  WHO  DONATED  SUPPLIES.

UPSON TAX COMMISSIONER FAVORS HB 581

 Shedding light on HB 581:

HB 581, an amendment to property tax legislation, will be on the ballot in November’s election. It’s also known as the “Save Our Homes Act” and it addresses longstanding issues with local property taxes and would go into effect on Jan. 1st, 2025 should it pass. It’s part of an effort to lower property tax costs for Georgia families in response to the major increase in property values we saw in 2022 & 2023. It will particularly help homestead property owners by limiting increases in home value to 3% each year. Want to emphasize, this applies to homestead property only. However, the County & City governing authorities have a one- time opt-out clause in this amendment which they will have choose to do so by March 1st of next year. Why would they choose to do so? Because the 3% limit increase on homestead property value would cut into property tax revenue for their budget needs which could possibly result in a millage increase to make up for the loss of tax revenue. But another major component of this bill will give the governing authorities an option of not having to go up on the millage rate to make up for that loss. It will give them the opportunity to add a 1 cent sales tax for the purposes of rolling back on property tax, which in my opinion is a great thing. Last year, we rolled off just over $5 million between the County & City in sales tax revenue for property tax purposes. As it’s been explained to me, this would benefit all taxpayers that own any property here in Upson County whether it’s real or personal property. Adding the additional sales tax would require the governing authorities to approve it through referendum which most likely would take all of next year to do and taxpayers would not see the benefit of this relief until 2026 at the earliest. The only concern is that we need leadership in place that would not use this extra revenue as a reason to spend more and not use it for it’s intended purpose of helping the taxpayers. Regardless of your opinion on this bill, it’s important you let your local governing authorities know your feelings about this legislation. There are several other components in this bill that aid in simplifying local tax legislation and they all serve to better help our taxpayers. More detailed info about this bill may be found online at: HB 581 Summary and Guidance – accg.org Andy Chastain Upson County Tax Commissioner

CITY OF THOMASTON BUDGET WORK SESSION MEETINGS

 The City of Thomaston will be holding three City budget work session meetings. The meetings are open to the public and will be held on the following dates: Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9:30 p.m. Friday, November 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. And Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. All meetings will be held in the City Manager’s Conference room on the second floor of the Thomaston-Upson Government Complex (106 E Lee Street, Thomaston, Georgia 30286). Should you have any questions or need additional information, please call the City Manager’s Office at 706-647-4242 Ext. 4.

Friday, October 4, 2024

WALLER RD CLOSED IN UPSON CO

 UPSON  COUNTY HAS  ANNOUNCED  WALLER  ROAD  WILL  BE  CLOSED  FROM  HIGHWAY   19  NORTH  TO  HARRELL  ROAD  UNTIL  FURTHER  NOTICE.  NO  THRU  TRAFFIC.  RESIDENTS  WILL  HAVE  ACCESS  TO  THEIR  HOMES

Thursday, October 3, 2024

UPSON CO COLLECTION POINTS FOR HELENE VICTIMS

 FORMER    UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  RUSTY  BLACKSTON  HAD  AN  UPDATE   ON  COLLECTION  OF  GOODS  FOR     HELENE  VICTIMS  LATE THURSDAY  AFTERNOON--THE  BIG  RIG  PARKED  AT  THOMASTON  WAL MART  WAS ABOUT   25%  FULL. VOLUNTEERS  ARE  NEEDED  TO   SORT  THROUGH  COLLECTIONS  AND  SATURDAY  IS  THE  TARGET  DATE  TO  TRANSPORT  THE  ITEMS  TO  SOUTH  GA.



ANOTHER  UPSON COUNTY  COLLECTION  POINT  IS  THE  KINETIC  FACILITY  IN  NORTHSIDE NEXT  TO  THOMASTON  PEST  CONTROL.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

UPSON EMC AND SRE HELPING ANOTHER EMC

 UPSON  EMC  AND  SOUTHERN  RIVERS  ENERGY    DISPATCHED  CREWS  TO  HELP  RESTORE  POWER  TO  CUSTOMERS  OF  LITTLE  OCMULGEE EMC  BASED  IN  EASTMAN, GA.  UPSON  EMC  SENT  4  LINEMEN  AND  SRE  HAS  SENT  TWO  FOUR  MAN  CREWS.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

UPSON SUPERIOR COURT JURY TRIAL

 IN  A  JURY  TRIAL   IN  UPSON  SUPERIOR  COURT    THAT  STARTED  SEPTEMBER  23RD  AND    CONTINUED  UNTIL  MONDAY  DUE  TO  HURRICANE  HELENE-- THE  DEFENDANT,  BRYAN  ADRIAN  CALHOUN WAS  FOUND  GUILTY      OF  CRUELTY  TO  CHILDREN  IN  THE  FIRST  DEGREE  AND  JUDGE  RHONDA B.  KREUZIGER  SENTENCED  CALHOUN  TO   40   YEARS  ,  SERVE   10  YEARS  IN  PRISON  --REMAINDER  ON  PROBATION. 

Monday, September 30, 2024

JOB POSTING UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 Upson Historical Society

Part Time Position Available



Job Description:

  • 16 Hours per Week Total, 12 Hours On-Site

  • Update the Membership, Donations, and Gift Shop

  • Inform Treasurer of Income and Expenses

  • Learning about WWII Homelife in Thomaston and Upson County

  • Give Tours to Visitors

  • Write the Newsletter, email or mail to members


Preferable:

  • Interest in History and Education

  • Background in Non-Profits

REWARD FOR MISSING DOGS INCLUDING BROWN LAB NAMED BO

 They went missing Thursday, 9/26/24, near Trice Road and Knight Trail area

Saturday, September 28, 2024

2024 UPSON CO TAX BILLS

 2024  UPSON  COUNTY  TAX  BILLS  ARE  IN  THE  MAIL  WITH  A  DUE  DATE OF  NOVEMBER  25,  2024. 

HURRICANE HELENE RAINFALL IN UPSON

 EDDIE  EDENFIELD  UGA  GRIFFIN  BROADCAST  METEOROLGIST  MEASURED 8.86  INCHS  OF  RAINFALL  FROM  HURRICANE  HELENE   THURSDAY AND  FRIDAY,  2.9  INCHES  FRIDAY.

Friday, September 27, 2024

UPSON AREA DODGED A BULLET ON HURRICANE HELENE

 UPSON  EMC  PRESIDENT/CEO  KEN  SIMMONS  SAYS  THIS  AREA  OF  GA.  DODGED  A  BULLET  AND  HIS  SYSTEM  WAS  BLESSED ,   WHEN   HURRICANE  HELENE  TOOK  A  TURN  AWAY  FROM  US.  AS  OF  LATE  FRIDAY  AFTERNOON,  UPSON  EMC  HAD  300  SCATTERED  POWER  OUTAGES  ON   ITS  SYSTEM  FOLLOWING  A   PEAK  OF   AROUND   2000. 


UPSON   EMA  DIRECTOR  RICHARD  HICKMON  REPORTED  THERE  WAS  LIMITED  DAMAGE  IN  THE  COUNTY,  WITH  TREES  DOWN  ON  SEVERAL  ROADS ,  BUT  ALL  WAS  CLEAR  BY  EARLY  IN  THE  AFTERNOON.  HE  SAID  THE  BIG  ISSUE  WAS  A  TREE  DOWN  AT  THE  GA POWER SUB-STATION  2  ON  VETERANS  DRIVE  AND  THAT  LEAD  TO  ONE  OF THE  LONGEST  ELECTRICAL  OUTAGES  IN  RECENT  HISTORY,  11  HOURS.  FUN   101  RADIO  WENT  OFF  THE  AIR  AT  5;30AM  AND  POWER  WAS  RESTORED  AT  6;30  IN  TIME  FOR  THE  PRE-GAME  SHOW  FOR  UPSON-LEE  AND  MARY PERSONS.



AS  OF  7AM  FRIDAY  CITY  MANAGER  RUSSELL  THOMPSON  REPORTED  THESE  KNOWN  OUTAGES--PEACHBELT  ROAD,  NELSON  DRIVE,  MALLORY  STREET ,  ALL  OF  JOHNSTON  HEIGHTS, AND  THE  SOUTHWEST  PART  OF  THE  SQUARE. GA.  POWER  UNITS  HAD  TO  BE  DISPATCHED  FROM  MANCHESTER.


THREE  TRAFFIC  LIGHTS  WERE  OUT IN  DOWNTOWN  THOMASTON--CHURCH AT  GORDON  AND  THE  TWO  ON  LEE  STREET  AT  CENTER  AND  CHURCH. POWER  WAS  ON  NORTH OF  THE  COURTHOUSE  SQUARE  BUT  SLICES  PIZZERIA,  THE MEXICAN  RESTAURANT  NEXT  DOOR    AND  BIG  CHIC  UPTOWN  HAD  NO  POWER  AND  COULD  NOT  OPEN  FOR  BUSINESS.    


Wednesday, September 25, 2024

MONROE CO NEWSPAPER REPORTS MARY PERSONS MUST FORFEIT GAMES

 Mary Persons' football team is having to forfeit its first four games this season after the GHSA determined the Bulldogs used an ineligible player who had transferred from Upson-Lee, this Friday’s homecoming opponent.

Mary Persons announced on Wednesday, after the newspaper went to press, that it would have to forfeit its first four games of 2024 and pay a $1,500 fine for the violation. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) determined that MP failed to submit proper paperwork and failed to determine the player’s academic eligibility before letting him play. A scan of the roster shows that sophomore receiver Chauncey Powell transferred to MP from Upson-Lee this past year. Powell has 5 catches for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns so far this year.

MR. AND MISS U-L

Upson-Lee High School Principal Mr. Ricky English has announced Mr. and Miss Upson-Lee for the Class of 2025.Congratulations to Miss Upson-Lee High School, Kennedi Prater, and to Mr. Upson-Lee High School, Nytraevion “Trae” Jones. Mr. and Miss Upson-Lee High School are nominated and selected by their peers. 

Nominees must meet election/selection criteria detailed in the ULHS Student Handbook. 

Pictured l-r:ULHS Principal Mr.Ricky English,Mr.Upson-Lee High School,Trae Jones,
Miss Upson-Lee High School, Kennedi Prater, and Superintendent Dr. Larry Derico.