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WRECK DOWNTOWN THOMASTON

 A  TWO  PICK-UP  CRASH  AT  MAIN  AND  CENTER  STREETS-SNARLED  TRAFFIC  IN  DOWNTOWN  THOMASTON  AT  10'30  FRIDAY  MORNING.  THOMASTON  POLICE  AND  EMS  RESPONDED.  NO  OTHER  DETAILS  AVAILABLE.

UPSON BOC RECOGNIZES 4H'ers 03/24/2026 WITH EXTENSION AGENT HAILEY PARTAIN & PROGRAM COORDINATOR ASHLEE LINDSEY

 

                                                          Photo Courtesy Cherie Spillers

PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL-REPORTER ON THE FLINT RIVER

 

Pike County Journal-Reporter

16h ·

Water from the Flint River and Molena reservoir will supply a Hampton data center after an agreement with the City of Griffin to provide 5 million gallons per day (after three years of 750,000 gallons per day). The deadline for public comment is March 27 (the link to officially comment is in the story).

https://pikecountygeorgia.com/molena-reservoir-flint.../

T-U BOE CALLED MEETING 3/26/26

 THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  BOARD OF  EDUCATION  CALLED  MEETING  THURSDAY  (TODAY)  4PM  AT  THE  SOUTH  TEL  BUILDING  205  EAST  GORDON  STREET  TO  BEGIN  THE  INTERVIEW  PROCESS  FOR  A  HIRING  A  NEW  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDANT.   THE  APPLICATION  WINDOW    HAS   CLOSED   AND  THERE'S  REPORTEDLY  10  APPLICATIONS.

UPSON BOC 3/24/26

 THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  OKED  EXPANSION TO  THE  SHERIFF'S OFFICE  RENOVATIONS  AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING  ADDING JUST UNDER  $100,00  FOR  NEW  FLOORING--THE  ORIGINAL  CONTRACT  WAS  ABOUT  $100,000 FOR  THE  BUILDING  WITH PAINTING  AND  FURNISHINGS    AS  THE  BUILDING IS  SHOWING  ITS  AGE.

COMMISSIONERS  APPROVED  A  PERMIT  FOR  AN  A-R  SPECIAL EXCEPTION  FOR DENNIS RAUTH  OF  MILTON, FLORIDA FOR   A  REC  VEHICLE    TEMPORARY  HOUSING  FOR   12  MONTHS  DURING  CONSTRUCTION OF  HIS  HOME  AT  185  ROLAND  ROAD.

THE  BOC  RECOGNIZED  UPSON  EXTENSION  4-H  STUDENTS   DURING  GA.  AG  WEEK   FOR  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  FOR  THE  FIRST  QUARTER OF  2026  AND IT  WAS  STATED  1000  STUDENTS  ARE  INVOLVED IN  4-H.  

COUNTY  MANAGER  LONNIE JOYCE  SAID  NEW  FENCING  HAS  BEEN  INSTALLED  AT  THE  ANIMAL  SHELTER  .  AND  COMMISSIONER  CHRIS  BIGGS  WISHED  A  SPEEDING  RECOVERY  TO  CONSTITUENT  ALLEN  HILL  HOSPITALIZED  AT  THE  SHEPARD  CENTER  IN  ATLANTA  FOLLOWING   A  SERIOUS  ACCIDENT.

COMMISSIONER  JAMES  ELLINGTON   ASKED    THE  COUNTY  MANAGER  ABOUT  PAVING  PROJECTS  UNDERWAY  AND  SAID  HE  NO  LONGER  WILL  RESPOND  TO  THE  PUBLIC  ON  SOCIAL  MEDIA--BUT  HE  CAN  BE  REACHED  ANY  OTHER WAY. 

THOMASTON NIGHT AT THE BRAVES

 THOMASTON  NITE  AT  THE  ATLANTA  BRAVES IS  SATURDAY  APRIL  11TH--AIR  TIME  6PM  ON  FUN  101 7;15  FIRST  PITCH--TIX  ARE  ON  SALE  AT  CITY  HALL  UPSTAIRS  IN  THE  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX  $20 EACH. 

ULHS Soccer Team vs Whitewater 03.20.2026

Photos Courtesy of Cherie Spillers

THOMASTON POLICE BEAT

 ON  THE  THOMASTON  POLICE  BEAT--A  VEHICLE  RAN INTO  THE  SIDE OF  THE  BUILDING  CAUSING  DAMAGE  INSIDE AND  OUT 1030  BARNESVILLE  STREET--VALERO  EASY  STOP. 63  YEAR  OLD  MICHAEL  WATTS  CHARGED  WITH  DAMAGE  TO PROPERTY--AFTER  HE  SAID  HIS  BRAKES  FAILED  AND  HE  HIT  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  BUILDING  CAUSING  DAMAGE.

FORGERY  CASE  AT   A  LOCAL  BANK  AFTER  THE  SUSPECT  TRIED  TO  PASS  A  FORGED  CHECK   FOR  $2265   FROM  RUSSELL  WALTERS  TO 44  YEAR  OLD  JAMARR  D.  EVANS  WHO  FACES  A  WARRANT  FOR  FORGERY.  BANK  OFFICIALS SAID  THEY  HAD  RECEIVED OTHER   FORGED  CHECKS  FROM  EVANS. 

POLICE  SAID   61  YEAR  OLD  THOMAS  DUNN   WAS  TAKEN INTO  CUSTODY  FOR  A  COWETA  COUNTY  WARRANT  FOR  STALKING  AT  315  NORTH  CHURCH. 

TPD  AND  EMS  RESPONDED  TO  98  AVE.G.  AFTER A  MALE  SUBJECT  FELL  DOWN  SOME  STEPS  WHILE  DRUNK  AND  RECEIVED  A  DEEP  LACARATION  TO  THIS  HEAD--TRANSPORTED  TO  THE  E.R.  FROM  THE  BLOODY  SCENE. 

LADY DAWGS LOST IN OT

 IOWA CITY, Iowa — Despite 27 points from sophomore forward Mia Woolfolk, the No. 7 seed Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team lost an overtime battle against No. 10 seed Virginia, 82-73, Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

GORDON STATE AWARDED BIG GRANT

 BARNESVILLE, Ga., – Gordon State College has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce to expand and strengthen its nursing and health care programs, addressing the growing demand for qualified professionals across the state.

This investment will strengthen Georgia’s health care pipeline by expanding educational capacity, enhancing training quality and addressing the state’s nursing shortage.

“This investment will enhance our nursing program, expand access for students, and prepare highly skilled, compassionate health care professionals to address the growing needs of communities across Georgia,” said Natalie Rischbieter, GSC executive director of advancement.

Key components of the initiative include hiring an additional nursing faculty member, replacing outdated medical manikins, upgrading seven simulation vox stations, and implementing advanced AI-assisted simulation management and electronic health record training systems.

“It is essential that students train in environments that reflect the complexity of modern clinical settings,” said Dr. Samantha Bishop, GSC interim dean of the School of Nursing, Health and STEM. “High-fidelity simulation will allow students to safely practice critical decision-making and clinical skills, ultimately improving patient safety and outcomes.”

This grant will expand program capacity to 275 students, with the potential to reach 300 through continued strategic investment. The funding will also enhance faculty support, improve student retention, and strengthen clinical preparedness in high-demand areas such as pediatrics and adult acute care.

The impact of this funding extends across the surrounding community. Approximately 70% of GSC nursing students live within the college’s immediate service area, and many graduates remain local to serve as health care professionals.

GOV. KEMP SUSPENDS GAS TAX

 Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday suspended Georgia’s gas tax for 60 days, making the Republican-led state among the first to respond to surging fuel prices after the Trump administration’s military strikes on Iran.

The suspension will save drivers 33 cents per gallon on gas and 37 cents per gallon on diesel — costing the state up to $200 million a month. Georgia has billions of dollars in reserve it can use to cover the lost revenue.

THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL 3/17/26

 AT  THE  MARCH  17THE  MEETING  OF  THE  THOMASTON  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL  THEY  GOT  A  PITCH  FROM LAINE DUPREE  OF  AIREVAC LIFETEAM  AIR  AMBULANCE  TO  COVER  EMPLOYEES  FOR  LIFE-FLIGHT  SERVICES. CITY  MANAGER  RUSSELL  THOMPSON  SAID  CITY  HALL  EMPLOYS  ABOUT   90  EMPLOYEES   AND  COUNCIL  WAS  TOLD    THE  MEMBERSHIP  PROGRAM  WOULD  COST $6.25  PER  FAMILY  ANNUALLY  --SOMETHING  MOST  INSURANCE  DOES  NOT  FULLY  COVER..  COUNCIL  TOOK   IT   UNDER  ADVISEMENT.

IN  OTHER  ACTION , COUNCIL LIFTED  THE  MORATORIUM  ON  VARIANCES  EXCEPT FOR SIGNAGE.  THE  MANAGER  SAID  SEVERAL  BUSINESSES  WISH  TO  OPEN   AND   THE  MORTORIUM  HAS  PREVENTED  IT. 

COUNCIL  AGREED  TO ISSUE  EMANCIPATION  CELEBRATION  SPECIAL  EVENT  PERMITS,  ONE  FOR  THE   PARADE  SATURDAY  AT  11AM  AND  ANOTHER    SATURDAY  NIGHT   AT  THE  FUN  FEST  AT  BETHEL AND  DANIEL  STREETS,  BUT  POLICE  CHIEF MIKE  RICHARDSON  SAYS  THE  PD  IS  ENLISTING  THE  HELP  OF  PATRONS  OF  THE  EVENT  TO  HELP  CLEAR  THE  CROWD  ONCE  THE  EVENT  ENDS  AT   9PM--A  BIG  PROBLEM  LAST   MAY.  

INP. DROPS OUT OF SPALDING COUNTY COMMISSION DIST 5 RACE

 AN  INDEPENDENT  RUNNING  FOR  DISTRICT  5  SPALDING  COUNTY  COMMISSIONER,  DAN HUNT,   DROPPED  OUT    OF   THE  

RACE  TUESDAY.  CHAIRMAN  CLAY  DAVIS  IS  THE  INCUMBENT  AND  HE  IS  CHALLENGED  BY  HARVEY  CLARK  ALSO  A  REPUBLICAN  AND  RANDY  HAMILTON  A  DEMOCRAT.

UPSON CO STORM DAMAGE

 UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF  DAN  KILGORE  SAID ASSESSMENT  OF  DAMAGE  CONTINUES  AFTER  MONDAY'S  EARLY  MORNING  STORM.  TREES FELL  ON A  HOUSE  AND  A  CAR  ON  GOODEN  ROAD,  AND  ROOF  DAMAGE  TO  HOUSES ON  DEL  RAY  ROAD,  RU  AL  MAIN  AND  MAYNARD  STREET  IN  LINCOLN  PARK  AFTER  TREES FELL ON  THEM. 

UPSON CO MANAGER LONNIE JOYCE HAS NAMED JEREMY GILBERT NEW PLANNING/ZONING DIR.

 Upson County Press Release

Upson County Manager Names Jeremy Gilbert as New Planning and Zoning 

Director

Upson County Manager has announced the hiring of Jeremy Gilbert as the county’s 

new Planning and Zoning Director, effective April 6, 2026.

Mr. Gilbert brings more than 20 years of experience in planning and zoning to Upson 

County. His professional background includes positions in Henry County and most 

recently Pike County. Gilbert has extensive experience in drafting and modifying zoning 

codes and comprehensive plans. In addition to his planning and zoning work, Jeremy 

also serves as the Building Official for Pike County.

During the search for a new Planning and Zoning Director, the county’s goal was to 

identify a leader who could bring stakeholders together and help align community goals 

with county laws to support a strong future for Upson County.

County leadership believes Jeremy Gilbert is the right candidate for this role and looks 

forward to working with him as he begins this important work for the county.

Lonnie Joyce,

County Manager