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.
Monday, June 29, 2026
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
Friday, June 26, 2026
JULY 4TH THOMASTON FREEDOM FEST
THE 9TH ANNUAL CITY OF THOMASTON FREEDOM FEST JULY THE 4TH 4PM TILL 10PM AT GREATEST GENERATION PARK CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF USA FREEDOM. SILVERTOWN PARADE 4PM, FUN ZONE 706- 3;30 TO 9PM, UPSON LINE DANCERS 4;30 FOLLOWED BY STUDIO OF DANCE AND UPSON LINE DANCERS. LIVE MUSIC FROM MONTGOMERY PIKE AND THE FULL CIRCLE BAND, HOT DOG AND SUNDAE EATING CONTESTS, CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT, FIREWORKS AT 9;30. THOMASTON FREEDOM FEST JULY 4TH WITH A LIVE FUN 101 RADIO SHOW.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
LACY CRAIN NEW UPSON CFO
LACY CRAIN HAS BEEN NAMED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF UPSON COUNTY. COUNTY MANAGER LONNIE JOYCE ANNOUNCED THE PROMOTION AT TUESDAY'S MEETING. MS. CRAIN WAS TOP LIEUTENANT TO FORMER CFO ALLEN SALTER WHO ASSUMED THE SAME ROLE WITH THE CITY OF LAGRANGE.
Monday, June 22, 2026
TOBACCO/VAPE STORE NORTHSIDE THOMASTON IS CLOSED
THE TOBACCO/VAPE STORE IN NORTHSIDE IS CLOSED FOLLOWING A DECISION BY THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL TO REVOKE ITS VAPE PERMIT. CITY CLERK TAYLOR WHITE SAYS CITY HALL WILL MEET WITH THE STORE OWNERSHIP NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS WHAT CAN AND NOT BE SOLD AT THE BUSINESS.
TRAFFIC DEATH UPSON CO
ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL THOMASTON , FRIDAY MORNING JUST AFTER 7AM-- A MOTORIST WAS KILLED AND TWO CHILDREN TRANSPORTED TO A MACON TRAUMA CENTER AFTER A ONE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON POBIDDY ROAD JUST SOUTH OF ADAMS FERRY ROAD. THE FEMALE DRIVER IDENTIFIED AS 33-YEAR OLD IVESHIA DOZIER OF TALBOTTON,GA. WAS DECEASED AT THE SCENE AND TWO CHILDREN AGES 12 A MALE AND A FEMALE AGED 9 WERE TRANSPORTED TO A MACON HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.
STATE TROOPER DAVID JOSEPH SUTTON SAID THE 2017 FORD FUSION DRIVEN BY MS. DOZIER FAILED TO MAINTAIN LANE-- LEFT THE ROADWAY AND OVER CORRECTED--CROSSED BOTH LANES-RAN DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. MS. DOZIER WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED BY PIKE COUNTY DEPUTY CORONER GLENN WHITE AT 8;28AM.
Friday, June 19, 2026
UPSON/MERIWETHER UNDER TORNADO WARNING
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN UPSON AND MERIWETHER COUNTIES THURSDAY AT 6;34PM UNTIL 7PM. EMERGENCY SIRENS WERE DISCHARGED IN UPSON COUNTY. AT 7;42PM TORNADO WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL 8;15 FOR SOUTH WESTERN UPSON COUNTY NEAR THE SALEM COMMUNITY. PASTOR MAURICE RAINES OF SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH TOLD 101 NEWS FRIDAY MORNING THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN OR DAMAGE IN HIS COMMUNITY--ONLY ABOUT 8 MINUTES OF 45 MILE PER HOUR WINDS.
THERE WAS A REPORT OF STRAIGHT LINE WINDS OF 60 MILES PER HOUR IN THE MILNER, GA. AREA.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
FIRE REPORTED AT SPEEDWAY FOR GRIFFIN THURSDAY
A FIRE REPORTED IN THE SHOP AREA AT SPEEDWAY FORD IN GRIFFIN THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON. UNCONFIRMED REPORTS A BATTERY MIGHT HAVE EXPLODED.
CITY OF THOMASTON POWER BILLS GOING UP
THOMASTON'S CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON TOLD CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY A SHORTFALL OF $350,000 COULD
IMPACT THE CITY HALL BUDGET OVER INCREASED COSTS AND COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. EFFECTIVE WITH THE JUNE BILLING THE AVERAGE ELECTRIC BILL FOR CITY CUSTOMERS WILL BE $10.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
THOMASTON COUNCIL ACTION ON TOBACCO VAPE STORE
CITY OF THOMASTON ATTORNEY JOHNNIE CALDWELL TOLD 101 NEWS WEDNESDAY THE CITY MANAGER WILL DRAFT A LETTER TO THE TOBACCO/VAPE SHOP AT 1091 19 NORTH INFORMING THE BUSINESS IT IS NO LONGER LAWFUL TO SELL THC-TYPE PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEIR SPECIAL USE PERMIT ISSUED BY CITY HALL WAS REVOKED BY ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT TUESDAY'S MEETING. A VIOLATION OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS SET BY COUNCIL.
ATTORNEY CALDWELL TOLD US THE BUSINESS CAN REMAIN OPEN BUT CAN'T SELL ANY THC-TYPE PRODUCTS PROHIBITED BY THE COUNCILS SPECIAL CONDITIONS. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STORE TOLD THE THOMASTON ZONING COMMISSION MONDAY THE STORE WILL CONCENTRATE ON TOBACCO-TYPE PRODUCTS AND SELL NO HEMP-TYPE PRODUCTS IF CITY FATHERS ALLOW IT TO REMAIN OPEN.
STATE WIDE WINNERS IN TUESDAY'S RUNOFF
WITH THE FINAL TALLY FOR TUESDAY'S RUNOFF RICK JACKSON REPUBLICAN WILL FACE DEMOCRAT KEESHA LANCE BOTTOMS FOR GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER. FOR LT. GOVERNOR GREG DOLEZAL REPUBLICAN WILL FACE DEMOCRAT JOSH MCLAURIN FOR LT. GOVERNOR. INCUMBENT RICHARD BROOKS DEFEATED DR. BUBBA LONG LONGGREAR FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
UPSON CO ELECTION RETURNS
IN TUESDAY'S RUNOFF ELECTION IN UPSON COUNTY RICK JACKSON OUT POLLED BURT JONES FOR GOP GOVERNOR 1352 TO 1209. MIKE COLLINS EDGED DEREK DOOLEY 1493 TO 1051 FOR GOP U.S. SENATE, JOHN KENNEDY WON OVER GREG DOLEZAL 1535 TO 1001 FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AND NABILAN PARKES WON OVER JOSH MCLAURIN 285 TO 246 FOR THE DEMOCRAT NOMINATION FOR LT. GOVERNOR.
FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT BUBBA LONGGREAR OUTPOLLED INCUMBENT RICHARD WOODS 1633 TO 853.
Monday, June 15, 2026
THOMASTON ZONING COMMISSION TO FOLLOW CITY COUNCIL DECISION
THE THOMASTON ZONING COMMISSION PASSED A MOTION MONDAY TO RECOMMEND THE DECISION OF THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL REGARDING REVOKING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A TOBACCO AND VAPE STORE AT 1091 19 NORTH. THE STORE IS CHARGED WITH SELLING THC-TYPE PRODUCTS TO AN UNDERCOVER THOMASTON POLICE OFFICER, A MINOR, IN VIOLATION OF THEIR PERMITS AND ZONING CONDITIONS. ACTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT TUESDAY'S MEETING COULD CLOSE THE BUSINESS.
THE ZONINIG COMMISSION INDICATED THEY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATTER BEFORE STIPULATING ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STORE ADDRESSED THE ZONING COMMISSION AND STATED ITS THE FIRST TIME ITS BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
Friday, June 12, 2026
UPSON CO SHERIFF DAN KILGORE ON SHOOTING ARREST
On Thursday night, June 11, 2026 at 11:15pm deputies attempted to serve an Aggravated Assault arrest warrant at 220 Weems Road in northern Upson County. The warrant was for Jacey T. Posy, 18, of that address and was related to a shooting incident occurring in the City of Thomaston on the preceding day. Upon law enforcement encountering Posy in a bedroom inside the residence he produced a 9mm handgun and pointed it at his head and refused to surrender to deputies. Additional units responded and efforts to convince Posey to surrender were unsuccessful. Four family members were removed from the residence and relocated on the property. Prolonged negotiations continued and were unsuccessful A SWAT team from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist. A negotiator from that unit was also unsuccessful in convincing Posey to surrender. Posey demonstrated irrational behavior and held the gun to his head throughout the entire encounter. Posey ceased communication at around 4:30am on Friday morning and the SWAT team deployed chemical agents into the residence. As deputies were preparing to breach the doorway for entry Posey broke and climbed through a window and immediately reentered the window. He ultimately surrendered through the front door of the residence after being affected by the chemical agents.
EMS was on the scene and evaluated Posey before he was transported to the Upson County Jail.
Posey remains incarcerated and additional charges will be filed in relation to this incident.
We appreciate the efforts of all law enforcement on the scene. Special thanks to Sheriff Dix and Spalding SO’s SWAT team for their response.
TWO ARREST IN JUNE 4TH THOMASTON SHOOTING
THOMASTON POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTS IN A SHOOTING JUNE 4 IN THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH MAIN STREET . A JUVENILE IS BEING HELD IN YDC MACON AND A 2ND SUSPECT, KORIEN THOMAS OF THOMASTON IN THE UPSON COUNTY JAIL. THE VICTIM HAS BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL.
