UPSON COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS RESPONDED TO AN OVERTURNED SEMI AT 19 SOUTH AND HIGHWAY 80 MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE DRIVER WAS AIR FLIGHTED TO AN OUT OF TOWN TRAUMA CENTER. 101 NEWS SPOKE WITH NORTHSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF CHARLES SANDEFUR WHO TOLD US SALEM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED FOR MUTUAL AID AND HIS CREW RESPONDED. WE WERE TOLD FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS HAD TO FREE THE TRAPPED TRUCK DRIVER WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE CUTTING TOOL. THE BIG RIG WAS TRAVELING ON 19 SOUTH WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND WAS TRANSPORTING LIQUID WASTE. GA. STATE PATROL IS INVESTIGATING.
South Metro's News Leader
Monday, July 6, 2026
Thursday, July 2, 2026
SPALDING CO SHERIFF DIX REPORTS
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, at approximately 05:30 hours, Spalding County
Uniform Patrol Division Deputies responded to 100 block of Westridge Drive regarding
an Entering Auto and Aggravated Assault that had occurred moments earlier. While
entering one of the vehicles at 108 Westridge, the suspects were confronted by the
homeowner who had gone outside to check on a noise he had heard. While being
confronted, one of the individuals fired 3 shots at the homeowner as the suspects fled the
scene in one of the vehicles they had previously stolen. Upon arrival and after initial
interviews, shift supervisors requested that a Criminal Investigator respond to the scene.
In all, 8 entering auto crimes had occurred that night, 2 vehicles had been stolen, and the
Aggravated Assault had occurred.
While the Investigator was responding he was notified that Uniform Patrol
Officers had already identified the vehicle that was used by the suspects and had located
it abandoned in the Will’s Walk Subdivision off of Vineyard Road.
As Investigators and UPD Deputies began tracking an electronic device that had
been stolen from one of the vehicles, the Spalding County 911 Center received a call
from a citizen regarding suspicious teenagers walking through the Wills Walk
subdivision. Two teens fitting the descriptions were located by Deputies in the 1000
block of Vineyard Road which is very close to Wills Walk subdivision. One of them was
positively identified as the suspect who fired the shots at the homeowner in the 100 block
of Westridge Drive due to his clothing and backpack he was wearing. A search of the
backpack incident to his arrest uncovered a pistol that had been stolen from one of the
vehicles that had been entered earlier.
Over the next 24-hours, Investigators were able to tie the suspects to a string of
entering autos that had occurred during the previous week. Identified and charged are:
Leon McCampbell, B/M 18, of Griffin
1 count- Aggravated Assault
4 counts- Theft by Taking motor vehicle
18 counts- Entering Auto
1 count- Poss Firearm During Commission of a Crime
16-year-old juvenile, B/M 16, of Griffin
4 counts- Theft by Taking motor vehicle
18 counts- Entering Auto
1 count- Poss Firearm During Commission of a Crime
McCampbell is currently in custody at the Spalding County Jail, the juvenile was
detained at Martha Glaze Juvenile Facility in Clayton County.
Sheriff Darrell Dix, “These suspects were stealing because they wanted stuff
without paying for it. It’s that simple. They are blessed that they didn’t run across an
armed homeowner who shot back.”
“This was great work by Uniform Patrol Deputies and Criminal Investigators
working together as a team and following through until the suspects were captured. They
kept pushing and moving forward and ended up solving a string of crimes. I’m proud of
them and the work they do every day.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
UPSON CO ELECTIONS/VOTER REGISTRATION HAS A WARNING
THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION IS WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT FRAUDLENT MAILINGS REGARDING VOTER REGISTRATION. YOU CAN ONLY REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE IN THE DRAKE ANNEX AT THE GOVERNMENT COMPLEX OR YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE.
RULES FOR THOMASTON CHESS TOURNAMENT
COFFEE SHOP SUMMER CHESS SERIES
BLITZ SWISS CHESS TOURNAMENT
WHOLESOME BOWLS COFFEE SHOP
105 South Center Street, Thomaston, GA
(762) 319-9119 or (706) 271-5944
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 4PM
RULES
1. Due to space limitations the tournament is limited to the first twelve
(12) players to sign up.
2. This is not a United States Chess Federation (USCF) rated event and
no USCF membership is required to play in the tournament. It is
open to all.
3. There is no cost to play. Just sign up at the store or call it in.
Registration closes 10 minutes before the start of the first round.
4. This is an open “Blitz” chess format tournament. (5 minutes per side
with a 5 second increment)
5. This will be a Swiss-system tournament (This is a competition
format in which contestants are paired using rules designed to ensure
that each competitor plays opponents with a similar running score
without playing the same opponent more than once. Match pairing for
each round is done after the previous round has ended and depends
on its results.)
6. There will be five (5) rounds. Every player will play in each
round. Round Times: Round 1: 4:00 PM; Round 2: 4:20 PM; Round
3: 4.40 PM; Round 4: 5:00 PM; Round 5: 5:20 PM.
7. Each Win earns one point. A Loss earns no points. A draw earns ½
point for each player.
8. The player with the highest score after five rounds wins the
tournament.
9. Players are not required to record their scores but may do so. Score
sheets and pencils will be provided.
10. Boards and clocks will be provided.
11. No requested Byes are allowed.
12. No withdrawals permitted after tournament begins. Rounds missed
will be deemed forfeited and counted as losses.
PRIZES
Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded to the First, Second, and
Third place winners. Also free smoothies to the medalists courtesy of the
Wholesome Bowls Coffee Shop.*
*This tournament is sponsored by the Thomaston Chess Club and the
Kings Army Chess Club who will provide the medals
ATTENTION CHESS PEOPLE IN THOMASTON AREA
Aloha Chess People,
On Wednesday, July 8th, the Kings Army Chess Club and the Thomaston Chess Club will host the 3rd tournament in their Coffee Shop Summer Chess Series. The tournament will be held at the Wholesome Bowls Coffee Shop in downtown Thomaston.
This will be an open "Blitz" chess tournament with each game featuring 5 minutes per side with a 5 second increment. (Each time a player completes a move, 5 seconds is added to the player's time. So each 12 moves gets the player an additional minute of time. It's much harder to run out of time with a 5 second increment.) There will be five rounds. Every contestant will play in every round. Pairings will be determined using a "Swiss" system in which basically winners play winners and losers play losers. The field will be limited to 12 players. Handsome engraved Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers. Also free smoothies from Wholesome Bowls Coffee Shop to each medalist. This will be a fast-paced and fun tournament for players of all skill levels. There is no cost to enter.
More detailed information about the tournament is attached.
Hope to see you all at the Wholesome Bowls Coffee Shop next week.
Mahalo
Bentley Adams, III
Monday, June 29, 2026
GOV ANNOUNCED $2 MILLION GRANT TO T-U IDA
GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP HAS ANNOUNCED A $2 MILLION RURAL SITE DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR THE THOMASTON-UPSON DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. IT WILL BE USED TO CONSTRUCT WATER, SEWER, AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE GRAD-CERTIFIED CENTRAL GA. BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK. THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS ARE $2.3 MILLION.
SPALDING CO COOLING STATIONS
We have worked with partners to schedule a cooling center in Spalding County to escape the heat that we are already experiencing. Attached is the location and hours that is available beginning today (Monday June 29). The location is:
• Flint River Regional Library (800 Memorial Drive in Griffin):
- Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
“The heat out there is getting oppressive,” said County Manager Dr. Steve Ledbetter, “and we want to provide relief for our citizens, specifically the most vulnerable. Please take advantage of these cooling centers if you’re feeling at risk.”
To assist residents in our community with coping with extreme heat, the Rotary Club of Griffin and the Rotary Club of Griffin Daybreak have partnered with Spalding County Emergency Management to provide fans to the community.
There is a limited amount of fans that will be available on a first come- first serve basis for Spalding County residents with one (1) fan per household.
This opportunity to offer fans to residents is a special project from both Rotary clubs and we appreciate the partnership as we assist those in our community, along with Walmart of Griffin that assisted in acquiring the fans for the clubs.
To request a fan, please visit the Spalding County Fire / Emergency Management Administration Complex located at 1005 Memorial Drive from 10a-2p on Wednesday 7/1 and Thursday 7/2, where fans will be available until all of the supply is depleted.
For more information, please contact Spalding County Office of Homeland Security / Emergency Management at 770-228-2129.
Please let us know if there is anything else that we can do for you.
Hope you have a great day!!
Glenn
Glenn Polk, MPA, CFO, CEM, GAFC, MiFireE, EMT-I, CCC, GA-PCEM
Fire Chief – Administration / Emergency Management, Spalding County Fire Department
Director, Spalding County Office of Homeland Security / Emergency Management
1005 Memorial Drive Griffin, GA 30223
(O) 770-228-2129 (F) 770-467-4785
(C) 770-527-2855
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