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.

FETE FOR DEPARTING PRESIDENT GREEN

 Gordon State College to Host Farewell Celebration Honoring President Donald J. Green

What: Gordon State College will host a farewell celebration honoring President Donald J. Green and recognizing his service, leadership, and contributions to the college community. Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the institution are invited to join in expressing gratitude and wishing him well in his next chapter.

When: Thursday, June 25, 2026 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: Gordon State College Melton Hall/Nursing Building Courtyard 419 College Drive Barnesville, Ga. 30204

Who: Gordon State College; President Donald J. Green; faculty, staff, alumni, students, and community members.

Why: To celebrate President Green's tenure at Gordon State College and thank him for his leadership as he prepares to begin his new role as president of Valdosta State University.

Admission: Free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to RSVP to officeofthepresident@gordonstate.edu

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.

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.

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.

  

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.

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

 

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.

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.

SHOOTER ARRESTED IN UPSON CO

 THE  SHOOTER  AT  A  LATE  NIGHT         INCIDENT  THIS  WEEK    IN  THE  PARKING  LOT  IN  FRONT  OF PLANET  FITNESS  HAS  BEEN  ARRESTED--ACCORDING  TO  CAPTAIN  BRIAN  HAMMOCK  OF  THE  THOMASTON  POLICE  DEPARTMENT.  THE  SHOOTER  IDENTIFIED  AS  18  YEAR  OLD  JACEY  POSEY  WHO  WAS  ARRESTED  BY  UPSON COUNTY  DEPUTIES  IN  THE COUNTY  THURSDAY  NIGHT .  THE  SPALDING  COUNTY     SWAT  TEAM  HAD  TO BE  DISPATCHED   TO  ASSIST  AT     220  WEEMS  ROAD  TO   TAKE   HIM   INTO  CUSTODY.  THE  VICTIM   IDENTIFIED  AS CADEN  WELLMAKER  OF  THOMASTON  WHO  LEFT  THE  SCENE    AFTER  BEING  SHOT   IN  THE  LEG  AND  TRANSPORTED HIMSELF  TO  THE  E.R.

POLICE  CHIEF  MIKE  RICHARDSON  SAID  THE  SHOOTING  RESULTED     FROM    AN  ONGOING  DISPUTE  BETWEEN   AN  INDIVIDUAL  RIDING  A  BICYCLE  AND  SEVERAL  OCCUPANTS  IN  A  WHITE  VEHICLE.

IT  WAS  THE  2ND  SHOOTING  IN  A  WEEK IN  THE  CITY OF  THOMASTON.

IN THE PIPELINE-DAVE WILL NEVER BE A JEDI

 I'LL  NEVER  BE  A  JEDI   BUT  I  ADMIT  I  HAD   NEVER  HEARD  OF  ONE  AS  RBLACK  AND I  HURLED  TOWARD  LA  VIA  A  DELTA  JET. "STAR  WARS" THE  MOVIE  WAS  UNHEARD-OF  BUT  IT  WAS  ON  THE  COVER OF  TIME  AND  NEWSWEEK    THAT  WAS  BEING PASSED  AROUND  IN  FIRST  CLASS.  RBLACK   WAS  WORKING  THE  FLIGHT  SO  I  GOT  BUMPED-UP WITH  THE  HIGH  ROLLERS. ONCE  IN  THE CITY OF  THE  ANGELS WE  MADE  A  B-LINE  FOR  A   MOVIE  HOUSE  ON  WILSHIRE  BLVD. AND  THERE  WERE  SO  MANY  PEOPLE  TO  SEE  THE  FLICK  THEY  HAD  TO  MARCH  US    TO  A  PARKING  LOT DOWN  THE  STREET  FROM  THE  MULTIPLEX , THEN  MARCH  US  INSIDE.    I  HAD  NEVER   SEEN  A   MOVIE  HOUSE  WITH  MULTIPLE  SCREENS   BUT  THEY  WERE  ALL  SHOWING  "STAR  WARS".

WHEN  THE OPENING  CREDITS  ROLLED  IT  WAS  OBVIOUS THIS  WAS  SOMETHING  SPECIAL   AND  SO  I  REFLECT  BACK  ON IT  WITH  A  NEW  "STAR WARS"  DEBUTING  THIS  MONTH.

THE  CLEAN-UP  CREW  AT  THE  HOLLYWOOD  BOWL  DIDN'T  SEEM  TO  MIND  AS  WE  WONDERED IN  AND  TOOK  TO  THE  STAGE  JUST  LIKE WILLIE  AT   90 .  YES,    I  HAVE  BEEN  ON  STAGE  AT THE  HOLLYWOOD  BOWL. COULDN'T  LOCATE  OUR  VEHICLE   IN  THE  ENDLESS  PARKING  LOT  AT  DISNEYLAND  AND  AND  SAW  THE  LA ANGELS  LOSE  ONE  IN  THE  9TH.

BACK  IN  THE  DAY  THE  DELTA  AIRLINES  CREW  LODGED   AT  A  HOTEL   ON  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD  BUT  IT  DOUBLED  AS  THE  HOODS  HIDEOUT IN  A  MOVIE  STARING  LEE MARVIN  "THE KILLERS". OF  INTEREST  BECAUSE  A  B-ACTOR   NAMED  RONALD  REAGAN  DROVE  THE  GET  AWAY  CAR.

DID  I  TELL  YOUR  ABOUT  THE  RED  EYE  FLIGHT  WE  MADE  TO  PHILLY?  STAY  TUNED    AS  I  REFLECT  ON  A  BEST  BUD

RBLACK.

NEW PRESIDENT NAMED AT GORDON STATE-BARNESVILLE

 THE  BOARD  OF   REGENTS OF  THE  UNIVERSITY SYSTEM  OF  GA.  HAS  NAMED  DR.   RUSSELL  CRUTCHFIELD, CURRENTLY  CHIEF  OPERATING  OFFICER FOR  GOV.  BRIAN  KEMP  AS  THE  NEW  PRESIDENT OF  GORDON  STATE  COLLEGE  IN  BARNESVILLE, EFFECTIVE  AUG. IST.   HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED  AS  CHIEF  OF  STAFF  AND  ASSOCIATE  VICE  PRESIDENT  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  WEST  GA.