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

gpolk@spaldingcounty.com

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.

Guilty Pleas Upson Superior Court

 


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.