TWO TRANSPORTED TO ER AFTER FRIDAY CRASH AT WAL MART THOMASTON TRAFFIC LIGHT

 TWO  DRIVERS  TRANSPORTED  TO  THE  E.R.  BY  EMS   WITH    NON-LIFE  THREATENING  INJURIES  AFTER  A  COLLISION  AT  THE  WAL  MART   THOMASTON  TRAFFFIC  LIGHT  FRIDAY  NEAR 2;30PM.  THOMASTON  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  REPORTED  THE  ROAD  WAS  BLOCKED  WHILE  WRECKAGE  WAS  CLEARED.  

SPALDING DEPUTY ARRESTED

 SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

SHERIFF DARRELL DIX

401 Justice Boulevard

Griffin, GA 30224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 17, 2026

Deputy DeAndre Smith

Public Information Officer

770-467-5443 

On April 15, 2026, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Major John Corley received an 

allegation against Spalding County Deputy Philip Ramsammy accusing him of family 

violence. Major Corley brought the allegation to Sheriff Darrell Dix and after reviewing the 

allegation, he assigned Captain Vicki Massengale, who heads our Office of Professional 

Standards, to begin conducting an internal investigation. Approximately 4 hours later, 

Captain Massengale reported that the internal investigation had reached a point where 

she believed a criminal investigation should be started.

Sheriff Darrell Dix, “On April 16, 2026, I instructed Captain Massengale to stop her 

internal Investigation, and I assigned the criminal investigation to Investigator Krysha 

Roberts. By law, criminal and internal investigations must be conducted independently of 

each other and cannot be conducted by the same investigator.”

During Investigator Roberts interview with the original complainant, it became 

clear that Ramsammy had committed the criminal acts as alleged. At approximately 1:15 

pm on the 16th, Ramsammy was escorted by Major Corley, Captain Massengale, and 

Investigator Roberts from the Criminal Investigation Division interview room to a jail cell 

in the Detention Division.

Ramsammy has been charged with Aggravated Assault under the Georgia Family 

Violence Act, Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree, and Violation of Oath of Office. More 

charges may be added as the criminal investigation continues.

Ramsammy was denied bond at his first appearance hearing this morning and is 

currently being held in the Spalding County Jail.

“I tell every Deputy I hire that on occasion there are only certain ways to say things 

to get your point across. I follow that with the fact that the badge they wear covers about 

six square inches of their chest and none of their ass. Don’t break the law or do dumb stuff 

and think your badge is going to get you out 

1-75 BUTTS, HENRY, LAMAR, MONROE AND SPALDING COUNTIES

 

Butts, Henry, Lamar, Monroe, and Spalding counties...

For Immediate Release Thursday, April 16, 2026 Contact: mediarequests@dot.ga.gov

Proposed I-75 Commercial Vehicle Lanes Project Hosts Public Comment Period and Public Hearing Open House Events The proposed I-75 Commercial Vehicle Lanes (CVL) project (P.I. No. 0014203) is one of the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) projects advancing across the state to improve mobility and safety for freight operators and passenger vehicles. The project proposes the addition of two, northbound, commercial vehicle lanes along Interstate 75 (I-75) from the I-75/I-475 Interchange in Monroe County ending near the State Route (SR) 20 Interchange in Henry County. From now through Thursday, May 28, 2026, the public may review and submit feedback on the proposed project’s Environmental Assessment (EA), proposed mitigation measures, and updated concept layouts illustrating features of the Preferred Alternative. To learn more about the proposed project and provide official input, visit: https://tinyurl.com/75CVL-PHOH6  Georgia DOT will also host a series of in-person Public Hearing Open House (PHOH) events during the public comment period at the following locations. The public is invited to attend one of the PHOHs to review project information, speak with project subject matter experts, and provide feedback about the proposed project. There will be no formal presentation.: May 13, 2026, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Henry County Administration Building, 140 Henry Parkway Connector, McDonough, GA 30253 May 14, 2026, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the GDOT District 3, Area 4 Office, 4499 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA, 31210  Materials and displays prepared for the in-person PHOHs are also available on the project website’s virtual meeting room published on the project website: https://tinyurl.com/75CVL-PHOH6 Comments about the proposed project will be accepted until Thursday, May 28, 2026. There are several ways the public can submit comments: Leave a written comment or speak to a court reporter at one of the in-person PHOH events on May 13 and May 14, 2026. Complete the online comment form located on the project website: https://tinyurl.com/75CVL-PHOH6. Email comments to the project email address: 75CVL@dot.ga.gov. Dial the project hotline at (678) 528-7275 to leave a recorded comment (please provide name and contact information). Mail written comments to: Georgia Department of Transportation Attention: Amber Phillips, State Environmental Administrator 600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor Atlanta, GA, 30308   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: The meeting sites are accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by contacting the District Planning and Programming Engineer Harland Smith, at 706-646-7566 or hasmith@dot.ga.gov.   In addition to reviewing PHOH displays at the in-person open house events and on the project website, printed versions (including the EA) will be available for 10 days following the last in-person event, at the following locations: Georgia DOT District 3, Area 4 Office: 4499 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31210 Henry County Administration Building: 140 Henry Parkway Connector, McDonough, GA 30253 Flint River Regional Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA, 30223 Jackson-Butts County Library: 436 E College Street, Jackson, GA 30233 Milner Community Library: 159 Main Street, Milner, GA 30257

GOV. KEMP; NEW JUDGE GRIFFIN CIRCUIT/NEW DA TOWALIGA CIRCUIT

 

Gov. Kemp Announces Superior Court, District Attorney, and Solicitor General Appointments

ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the following judicial and prosecutorial appointments: Tyler J. Browning to the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable A. Gregory Poole; Matthew M. “Matt” McCord to the Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable W. Fletcher Sams; Dorothy V. Hull as District Attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Jonathan L. Adams; and John D. Harvey as Solicitor General of the State Court of Bryan County, filling a vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Donald L. Montgomery, Jr., to the State Court of Bryan County.

 

 

Tyler J. Browning is the managing partner at Browning, Browning & Gilkinson, LLC, focusing primarily on family law. He has spent his entire 26-year legal career in Cobb County. In addition to representing clients in a variety of family law and civil cases, Browning serves as a Guardian Ad Litem and special master, as well as a state-certified mediator and arbitrator. Prior to entering private practice, Browning prosecuted cases as an Assistant Solicitor General in Cobb County and served as Staff Attorney for Cobb County Superior Court Judge Robert E. Flournoy, III.

Browning received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, where he served as Chief Defender of the University Judiciary. He received his Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law. Browning has lectured on family law issues at the Family Law Institute, Cobb County Bar Association, Georgia Trial Lawyers’ Association, and Kennesaw State University, among other organizations.

Browning is an active member of the Marietta community, serving on the Board of Trustees of the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art and as an officer of the Downtown Marietta Development Authority. He is also an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Marietta. Browning and his wife, Ashley, also an attorney, live in Cobb County with their two children.

 

 

Matthew M. “Matt” McCord has served as the Stockbridge Municipal Court Judge since 2014, the Hampton Municipal Court Judge since 2023, and as a pro tempore in the State Courts of Henry, Dekalb, and Fayette County. He has served two terms as president of the Council of Municipal Court Judges. Additionally, he was a member of the Georgia Judicial Council and served by appointment of the Chief Justice on the Judicial Council’s Misdemeanor Bail Reform Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Judicial Security and Awareness Committee, the Court Reporting Matters Committee, and the Committee to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Judicial Branch. Judge McCord is the Vice-Chair of ICJE, and from 2020-2023 he was the Chair of the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges Training Council, overseeing the training of Georgia’s 380 municipal court judges. From 2018 until 2024, he was an adjunct professor at the College of Law at Georgia State University, teaching evidence in the Fall and litigation in the Spring semesters. 

Judge McCord began his career as an assistant solicitor in Clayton County and then was an assistant district attorney in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit. Following his service as a prosecutor, he worked for the Atlanta firm of Harper, Waldon, and Craig (now Waldon Adleman). He has been a general practitioner in his firm, McCord Law, for 18 years.

A life-long Georgian, he graduated from Morrow Senior High school and studied music at the University of South Carolina, where he was the drum major of the Carolina Band. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1999. Judge McCord served on the staff of the Fayette County High School Marching Band for 29 years. He and his wife teach Sunday School together at their church in Pike County, where they live with their three children.

 

Dorothy V. Hull has been a prosecutor handling violent crimes and crimes against children for 29 years. She served as an assistant district attorney in Bibb County for 24 years before joining the District Attorney’s Office of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit where she served as chief assistant district attorney for five years. In addition to prosecuting crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, rape, and child molestation, Hull has written hundreds of appellate briefs and argued for the state of Georgia in the Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court.

The daughter of Frank and Ann Vinson, Dorothy Hull grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Georgia College and State University in 1993. She graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1996. Following law school, Hull worked as a law clerk for the Superior Court judges of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit before beginning her career as a prosecutor in the Macon Judicial Circuit.

Hull lives in Monroe County, Georgia, with her husband of 22 years, Mike Hull, chief deputy for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and their children, Katherine and Benton.

APRIL MEETING UPSON CO REPUBLICAN PARTY

 

When: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6:00 pm

Where:  Tasty Shoppe - 621 E. Main Street

Guest Speakers:

Brian "Bud" Johnston - Candidate District 3 County Commissioner 

Daniel Cook - Representative for Buddy Carter - US Senate 

Due to continued repairs in our regular meeting room, Ernie Vaughn at the Tasty Shoppe has graciously allowed us to meet there on the 23rd.

No food will be provided.

If you or your organization would like to speak at one of the Upson County Republican Party meetings, you may contact us at upsonrepublicans@gmail.com or through our FACEBOOK page: Upson County Republican Party

Drug Arrest In Spalding County

 The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division in conjunction with the 

Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office and the Fayette County 

Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division ended an investigation resulting in the arrest of approximately 

twenty individuals. 

Agents and investigators were able to learn that a drug organization ran by Brandon “TWIN” 

Williams and Gregory “CHUCK” Dodson were supplying multiple individuals within Spalding County, 

Fayette County and middle Georgia with methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics. Agents 

believe that this organization may have been linked to fentanyl overdose deaths within Spalding County as 

well. Agents and investigators determined that Williams and Dodson were the head of the organization and 

would utilize houses within Dekalb and Clayton counties to sell massive quantities of illegal narcotics to 

drug traffickers who would then return to Spalding, Fayette, and other local counties. 

While executing over thirty (30) Search Warrants, Agents seized more than 20 pounds of 

methamphetamine, quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills, along with multiple

firearms.

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Georgia State Patrol, the Butts 

County Sheriff’s Office, and the Henry County Police Department for their roles in this investigation. 

Without the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners this drug organization would have 

continued to sell narcotics to individuals throughout the State of Georgia. 

Sheriff Darrell Dix, “Williams and Dodson thought they were untouchable because they distanced 

themselves from here to where they lived. With the strong relationships between the GBI, Sheriff’s, and 

Police Departments in this area combined, we have some pretty long arms.”

This multi-agency investigation led to the following arrests:

Brandon Deon Williams B/M 35, (Clayton) – RICO, Unlawful use of telecommunications, 

Conspiracy to Traffic methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine

Gregory Antoine Dodson B/M 35, (Clayton)- RICO, Unlawful use of telecommunications, 

Conspiracy to Traffic methamphetamine

Joseph Martin W/M 48 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful use of 

telecommunications.

Douglas Goins W/M 48 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful use of 

telecommunications.

Ron Johnson W/M 38 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful use of 

telecommunications.

Cynthia Finch W/F 54 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful use of 

telecommunications.

Ovilah Mulkey W/F 59 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Unlawful use of 

telecommunications.

Calem Ware W/M 25 (Spalding)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Autumn Young W/F 42 (Henry)- RICO, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Richard Graves W/M 36 (Fayette)- RICO, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession with the 

intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Use of telecommunications.

Tracy Dingler W/F 57 (Spalding)- Possession of Methamphetamine

Eric Hamby W/M 43 (Coweta)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, 

Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Stephaine Strobel W/F 42 (Coweta)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Crystal Denney W/F (Spalding)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, 

Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Ronald Smallwood W/M 38 (Spalding)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Timothy Johnson W/M 37 (Spalding)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of 

Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Cindy Graham W/F 57 (Henry)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, 

Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine 

William Utter W/M 63 (Butts)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, 

Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine 

Zachary McClelland B/M 28 (Panama City Beach Florida)- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 

Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to Distribute Methamphetamine 

Michael Martin B/M 43 (Fulton)- Possession of firearm by convicted felon, Possession of Schedule 

II, Theft by receiving, Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Richard Painter W/M 29 (Fayette)- Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession with the intent to 

Distribute Methamphetamine

FUN 101 MOTHER OF THE YEAR

 NOMINATE  YOUR  MOM  FOR   FUN  101  FM  MOTHER OF  THE  YEAR  ON  OUR  WEBSITE.   OFFER  A  SENTENCE OR  TWO  ON   WHY  SHE  SHOULD  BE SELECTED,   YOUR  CONTACT  INFORMATION  AND  MOM'S  AND  ENTER  PRIOR  TO  MAY  10TH  MOTHER'S  DAY AND  IF  SELECTED SHE  WINS  A  BASKET  OF   PRIZES  FROM  AREA  MERCHANTS.

PIKE CO CHANGE ADVANCE VOTING LOCATION

 — The Pike County Board of Elections and Registration announces that the Advance Voting location has been relocated from the Board of Elections Office to the J. Joel Edwards Public Library, located at 7077 Highway 19 South, Zebulon, Georgia. This relocation is intended to provide voters with a more accessible and accommodating facility, including improved parking and increased space to better serve the public during the Advance Voting period. All Advance Voting dates and hours will remain the same. Voters who typically vote early at the Board of Elections Office should report to the new location at the J. Joel Public Library. Voters are encouraged to plan accordingly and allow extra time if needed to familiarize themselves with the new location. Clear signage will be posted to assist voters. For additional information regarding Advance Voting, including dates, times, and sample ballots, please contact the Pike County Board of Elections and Registration at 770.567.2003 or visit https://govotepikecoga.wixsite.com/mysite.

THOMASTON'S TASTY SHOP BEING SOLD

 A  LONG-ESTABLISHED  EATERY--THE  TASTY  SHOP  ON  EAST  MAIN  IS  ABOUT  TO  HAVE  NEW  OWNERSHIP--OWNER  EARNIE  VAUGHN  HAS  BEEN  IN  BUSINESS   OVER 40  YEARS  BUT  NEW  OWNERS  MATT YOUNG  AND  THOMAS  BROWN  WILL  ASSUME  OWNERSHIP  APRIL   20TH.

MASTERS TOURNAMENT REPORTS ON FUN 101

 FUN101 FM  WILL   FEATURE  MASTERS  TOURNAMENT  COVERAGE  WED-SUN WITH  HISTORICAL  NOTES  FROM  KATIE  HILL SMITH--WHOSE  FATHER  WAS  AN ORIGINAL  VENDOR  AND  DOUG  AND  RUSS  HEAD  ON  MASTERS  AMATEUR  BILLY  JOE  PATTON.

REPORTS  BEGIN  WEDNESDAY  IN  THE   8AM  HOUR.

AJC REPORTS PERMANENTLY NIXED ON ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME BY GA. SOLONS

 The clock ran out on a bill aimed at moving Georgia to a new time zone, ending supporters’ hopes of abolishing the chore of changing the clocks twice per year.

House Bill 154 would have sought permission from the Trump administration to let Georgia leave the Eastern time zone, putting the state permanently on Atlantic Standard Time. The effect would have been to keep Georgia on daylight saving time year-round.

GA. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON PROPERTY TAXES

 After pinging back and forth between the House and Senate, lawmakers ultimately approved a scaled-back version of a property tax rewrite on Thursday night.

The bill lets counties and some cities offset homeowner property taxes with a new 1% local sales tax, while also tightening rules for when local governments and school districts can collect more property tax revenue without voter approval.

The measure failed in the Senate Thursday night, just before the legislature was set to adjourn for the session. But soon after senators voted down House Bill 1116, they stripped Senate Bill 33, legislation pertaining to synthetic THC, and replaced it with language reflecting HB 1116.

The revised SB 33 passed the Senate and headed back over to the House, where it also passed. The full bill text is not yet available.

HONOREES FROM BARNESVILLE-LAMAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET-4/2/26

 Farmer of the Year - Luke and Allie Andrews

Business Person of the Year - Thomas Boswell

Careerwoman of the Year - Kelly Page

Britton Cauthen Firefighter of the Year - Tanner Patterson

Police Officer of the Year - Patrick Saunders

Volunteer of the Year - Duane Davenport

Outstanding Citizen of the Year - Kathryn Green

Youth Leadership Award - Daylin Caslin

Star Student: 

Lamar County High School - William Hatch Woodall

Rock Springs High School - Tekay Trongthien Voong

St. George's High School - Robert Otis Hancher

UPSON COUNTY ZONING ORDIANCE CHANGES WILL WAIT UNTIL A NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR IS ON SITE

 COUNTY   ATTORNEY  HEATH  ENGLISH  TOLD  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  AT  THE APRIL IST   WORK  SESSION  WORK  ON  CHANGES  TO THE   ZONING  ORDIANCE  SHOULD  BE  DELAYED UNTIL  THE  NEW  PLANNING  AND  ZONING  DIRECTOR  JEREMY  GILBERT  IS  ONBOARD  LATER  THIS  MONTH.   THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  CONTAINS  OVER  150  PAGES  BUT  THE  ATTORNEY  SAID  IT  APPEARS  ONLY  ABOUT 20  PAGES  WILL  NEED  CHANGING.  THE  PLANNING  COMMISSION  AND  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  HAVE  BEEN  DELIBRATING   ZONING  ORDIANCE  CHANGES  FOR  MONTHS  AND  MONTHS

ANNUAL FDR LECTURE AT GORDON STATE

   What: Gordon State College will host the 13th Annual Roosevelt Lecture Series, featuring a discussion on public health policy in Georgia and its connection to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The event will include a keynote lecture by William J. Todd of the Georgia Institute of Technology, followed by a panel discussion with Gordon State College faculty and Joseph W. Evans, a member of the Cadence Bank board of directors. When: Thursday, April 9, 2026 6 p.m. Where: Gordon State College Russell Hall, Room 211 419 College Drive Barnesville, Ga. 30204 Who: Gordon State College; featured speaker William J. Todd; panelists Samantha Bishop and Joe Evans. Why: To provide students and the community with an opportunity to engage in discussion on the historical and modern impact of public health policy. Admission: FREE and OPEN to the public

PIKE COUNTY TIMES. COM/ FATALITY FROM THOMASTON

 ZEBULON - On Saturday, March 28, a head on collision occurred on Hwy 19 near Oliver Road. A Ford F150 was traveling south on Hwy 19 driven by Edward Alverson of Thomaston. The F150 crossed into oncoming traffic striking a Honda Acura driven by Kristina Miller of Thomaston.

It is unknown at this time why the vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. Ms. Miller was deceased at the scene. Mr. Alverson was transported to a hospital by air ambulance. The accident occurred around 8:56 p.m