T-U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GRAND OPENING THURSDAY 4/30/26

 THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  CHAMBER OF  COMMERCE  WILL  HOLD  RIBBON  CUTTING   THURSDAY   FOR  ITS  NEW  HOME  IN  THE  FORMER  THOMASTON  FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  NORTH  CHURCH  AND  THOMPSON  AT  4;30.

ADAMS FERRY ROAD CLOSED WEDNESDAY FOR BRIDGE REPAIRS

UPSONIAN COY BOWLES OF ZAC BROWN BAND IN TOWN THIS WEEK

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I’ll be at the Upson Lee Primary School all day Tuesday promoting Literacy in collaboration with Upson Lee Primary School. I’ll also be playing music during each class visit.

Parents will receive a slip of paper in their kids folder with a purchase order form. Those books will be sold to the kids on Wednesday during the school day. I’ll be signing the books that are sold as well as taking photos with kids and hanging out Wednesday.

I’m excited to be back in my home town supporting the commmunty community and bringing awareness to the importance of Literacy in collaboration with Uspon Lee Primary School. I’d like to thank Suzy Burgess for helping with all of this. I’d also like to thank the community of Thomaston and Upson county for their support through all the years. For more information on all the projects I’m working on or to order books if you missed out go to Coybowles.com for more details. 

THOMASTON-UPSON BOE TO ANNOUNCE SUPERINTENDANT LONE FINALIST TUESDAY

 THE  THOMASTON-UPSON   BOARD OF  EDUCATION  WILL  HOLD  A  CALLED  MEETING   TUESDAY  6PM  TO  ANNOUNCE  THE  LONE  FINALIST  FOR  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDANT.  AFTER  THE  INDIVIDUAL  IS  NAMED  THE  SCHOOL  BOARD  WILL  HAVE  A  14  DAY  PERIOD  TO  MAKE  IT  OFFICIAL. THE  SCHOOL  BOARD HAS  HELD  A  SERIES OF  CALLED  MEETINGS  OVER  THE PAST  FEW  WEEKS TO  INTERVIEW  THE  APPLICANTS.

EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY IN GA.

 EARLY  VOTING  IS  UNDERWAY   IN  GA.   FOR  THE  MAY 19TH  GENERAL  PRIMARY,  WITH  GOVERNOR  ON  THE  BALLOT.  EARLY  VOTING  CONTINUES  IN  THOMASTON  AT  THE  CIVIC  CENTER  THROUGH  MAY  15TH  MONDAY-FRIDAY  8;30AM   TO   5PM  AND  SATURDAY  VOTING  MAY  2ND  AND  MAY  9TH.  OTHERS    SHOULD    CHECK  WITH   YOUR  COUNTY  ELECTION  OFFICIALS  TO  SEE  THE  DATE  ,  TIMES  AND  PLACE    FOR  EARLY  VOTING.

NEW DAWG VOICES ON FUN 101FM

 

Dantzler, Stinchcomb to Lead Georgia Football Radio Coverage

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Georgia Sports Communications

April 24, 2026

 

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia Athletic Association and its partner, Georgia Bulldog Sports Marketing, announced Friday that Jeff Dantzler -- one of the most recognizable voices for Georgia Athletics over the last three decades -- and Jon Stinchcomb -- a former Bulldog All-American, Southeastern Conference and Super Bowl Champion --  will take over football broadcast duties for the Georgia Bulldog Radio Network, beginning with the 2026 season. 

Dantzler, who will also maintain his play-by-play responsibilities for Georgia baseball and Lady Bulldog basketball, replaces Scott Howard, who will continue his role as the men’s basketball play-by-play announcer, along with other special projects.

Howard has served as the play-by-play voice for Georgia football over the past 18 years and been a part of the broadcast crew for over 30 seasons. Howard has called several big moments in Bulldog history, including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. 

Stinchcomb replaces Josh Brock in the analyst spot. Former Georgia All-SEC quarterback D.J. Shockley will remain as the Bulldogs’ sideline reporter

THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR S. GA FIRE VICTIMS THROUGH SUNDAY

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DONATION REQUEST:

ACTS Outreach Of Georgia Is taking Donations for the First Responders and Families affected by the fire in South Ga. The Donations can be taken to the Thomaston Fire Department on South Church Street.

PLEASE NO CLOTHES!!!

IREMS NEEDED:

Small coolers

Twin size air mattresses 

Twin size sheets

New underwear

Electrolytes to add to Water

Energy drinks

Jerky

Totes

Hydration packets (like liquid IV)

Prime

Protein Drinks

Protein Bars

Chapstick, Tylenol or Advil, Eye drops, Wet wipes, and face mask. Items for families who have lost their homes: Baby supplies, 

Will take Monetary donations. Please ask how you can do that.

Last day is Sunday to drop off

CITY OF GRIFFIN TAKEN TO COURT

 

Wednesday the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a Clean Water Act Citizen Suit on behalf of the Flint Riverkeeper against the City of Griffin for discharging polluted wastewater and sewage from its sanitary sewer system into a tributary of the Flint River, putting downstream communities and waterways at risk.    The City of Griffin owns, controls, manages, and operates a sanitary sewer system to route wastewater through the city and to its wastewater treatment facilities. Over the past several years, the city’s failing and deteriorating sanitary sewer system has caused untreated sewage and stormwater containing sewage to discharge from various manholes around the city into the Potato Creek Basin, which flows directly into the Flint River and also supplies drinking water to communities downstream.    SELC filed the suit along with private attorneys at Evans Bowers representing nearby homeowners. Since 2019, the homeowners have documented repeated overflows from the city’s sewer system manholes that discharge directly onto their property and into Ison Branch, a tributary of Potato Creek. Water quality sampling data from many of these incidents has shown elevated E. coli counts that are harmful to human health and wildlife.   “The City of Griffin cannot continue to pollute Potato Creek and other tributaries at the expense of communities who rely on the Flint River,” said Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper. “Downstream communities shouldn’t have to worry about raw sewage contaminating their drinking water and the areas where they fish, swim, and paddle. We know that the City has already performed the engineering and budgeting for the needed work; we are filing this suit in part to ensure that they fund what they already know they need to do and are hopeful that this legal action can lead to an early resolution.”   “The City of Griffin’s ongoing, illegal discharges of raw sewage and other pollution threatens the health and safety of everyone who depends on the Flint River for clean water,” said Joe DeGaetano, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “The City must take responsibility for bringing its failing sewer system into compliance with federal law. Seven years of allowing raw sewage to flow into the river is enough.”

TRAFFIC FATALITY IN UPSON CO

 UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF  DAN  KILGORE  SAID  THE  DRIVER  OF  A  1971    TRIUMPH  CONVERTIBLE  WAS  KILLED  AND  THE  OTHER  MOTORIST   HAD  MINOR  INJURIES  APRIL  18TH  AT  DELRAY  ROAD  AND  TYLER  LANE--AND  HE  TURNED  THE  INVESTIGATION  OVER  TO  POST   26  GA.  STATE PATROL.  THE   FATALITY--29  YEAR  OLD  DANIEL  JACKSON  BLOUNT   OF  47  SKELTON  ROAD  WAS  DECEASED  AT  THE  SCENE  AND  THE  OTHER  DRIVER  31  YEAR  OLD  SARAH  DANIEL  OF  BARNESVILLE  TOLD  INVESTIGATORS  SHE  WAS  ATTEMPTING  TO  PASS  A  TRUCK  IN  A  NO  PASSING  ZONE   IN  A  HONDA  ACCORD  AND  HIT  THE  SPORTS  CAR  HEAD-ON.

THE  WRECK  REMAINS  UNDER  INVESTIGATION  BY  GSP.

TWO  FEMALES  GOT  INTO-IT   REPORTEDLY  OVER  A   MAN   AT  THE  HOME DEPOT  TRAFFIC  LIGHT  IN  NORTHSIDE  AND  CONTINUED  ON  TO  ATWATER  ROAD  WHERE  ONE  OF  THEM  GOT  RUN-OVER. THE  VICTIM,  22-YEAR   OLD DESTINY NICOLE  COOPER  OF  DELUXE  CIRCLE  WAS  LIFE-FLIGHTED  TO  A  MACON  TRAUMA   CENTER  AND  A   HENRY  COUNTY  MOTORIST--27  YEAR  OLD BRITTANY  BRENNA  WATKINS  WAS  CHARGED  WITH  AGGREVATED  ASSAULT  AND  CRUELTY  TO  CHILDREN.

THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA 4/23/26

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MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL 

APRIL 23, 2026 – 7:00 P.M. 

CITY-COUNTY MEETING ROOM – MAIN FLOOR 

THOMASTON-UPSON GOVERNMENT COMPLEX 

AGENDA 

 

A. Call Meeting to Order / Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance

B. Approval of Minutes for April 7, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting

C. Adoption of Agenda

D. City Attorney’s Report

E. City Clerk’s Report

F. City Manager’s Report

1. Public Hearing and First Read of Rezoning Request for Multiple Parcels on Cottage Court (Parcel Nos. 

T21 182, T21 183, T21 184, T21 184A, T21 186, T21 187, T21 193, T11 140A)

2. Public Hearing and First Read of Special Use Permit Request of 328 N Hightower Street (Parcel No. 

T22 100) to Operate as a Used Merchandise and Thrift Store

3. Discussion and Potential Approval of Plat for Cottages at Silvertown

4. Discussion and Potential Approval of Human Resources Director

G. Other Business

H. Executive Session

GRIFFIN HIGH OK AFTER POSSIBLE BOMB THREAT

 On April 20, 2026, the Griffin Police Department received a call reporting a possible bomb threat at Griffin High 

School. Officers from Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office 

immediately responded and began an investigation.

The investigation has determined that the call was a hoax, consistent with a “swatting”-style incident. At this time, 

there is no danger to the school, its students, or the community.

We appreciate the cooperation and patience of the public as we worked through this matter

PIKE COUNTY'S COLEMAN CROW IN THE MAJORS

 PIKE COUNTY'S  COLEMAN  CROW  WAS  CALLED  UP  AS  STARTING  PITCHER  FOR  THE  MILWAUKEE  BREWERS FRIDAY  AND  HE  WAS  EXCELLENT  IN  HIS  MLB  DEBUT.  CROW  ALLOWED  FOUR  HITS  AND  TWO  RUNS  ON  ONE  WALK  AND  FOUR  K'S  IN   5  AND  A  THIRD.  HE  KEPT  THE  BREWERS  IN  THE  GAME  BUT  RECORDED A  NO  DECISION.   CROW  TOLD  REPORTERS  AFTER  THE  GAME   " THIS IS   DEFINITELY  WHAT  YOU  DREAM  ABOUT  GROWING  UP, "CROW   SAID. "IT  WAS  EVERTHING  THAT  I  IMAGINED--SO  MUCH  FUN." 

GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL IN LOCKDOWN

 GRIFFIN, Ga. — Griffin High School is currently on a Level 2 Lockdown.

The Griffin-Spalding County School System informed parents on Monday morning that a lockdown was in place and law enforcement was working to determine if the threat was credible.

In a letter to parents, the district said the lockdown started after police received a threatening phone call form someone not in the area.

UPSON CO GOP MEETING

 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, Matt Young & Thomas Brown (new owners of the Tasty Shoppe) have graciously allowed us to meet there on the 23rd.

Food available for purchase.

UGA RED TEAM WINS G-DAY FOOTBALL GAME

 Georgia Sports Communications

April 18, 2026

 

FB: Red Squad Prevails In G-Day Game

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s Red and Black football teams piled up exactly 700 yards of offense combined in a busy and entertaining G-Day spring football game on Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium. The Red team jumped out to a 17-0 lead and went on to win 27-17.

The Red team featured the first-team offense, along with featured backups, while the Black squad included the first-team defense and primary backups. Some players, such as backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi and running back Dante Dowdell, floated between the teams. The Red offense had 385 yards, while the Black generated 315. The Red team’s rushing attack generated 129 on the ground, while the Black was held to 64.

Red starting quarterback Gunner Stockton saw limited action in the exhibition, completing 7 of 12 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Puglisi was much busier, completing a combined 8 of 19 for 86. Seven different quarterbacks threw at least one pass.

Running back Nate Frazier got the carry on the first play from scrimmage in the game, picking up five yards before being swarmed. He limped off after the play and was replaced by Chauncey Bowens, who is now wearing No. 5 instead of the No. 33 jersey he wore his first two seasons.

Frazier didn’t return to the game, and Bowens had a light day with nine carries for 42 yards, with a long of 18. Among non-quarterbacks, nine Bulldogs had rushes in the game, with the Red squad rushing 27 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns (by Dowdell and Dwight Phillips, Jr.). The Black team had 20 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown.

The Red squad was the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 3-0 lead with 5:04 left in the first quarter on a Peyton Woodring 26-yard field goal. A couple of good plays got the Red team deep into Black territory, including a 15-yard rush up the left side by Phillips and a completion from Stockton to receiver Craig Dandridge for a 33-yard gain up the left side, down to the 16.

On the Red side’s next drive, Bowens took a handoff and initially went right before cutting back to the left for an 18-yard gain. Two plays later, Stockton hit Phillips on the right side for a 19-yard gain to the Black 30. In the first play of the second quarter, Jaden Reddell ran the ball 23 yards down to the Black 9-yard line. Two plays later, Reddell, a 6-foot-4 and 240-pound redshirt sophomore tight end, scored on a 7-yard rush for a 10-0 lead with 13:37 left in the half.

The Black team’s first big offensive play came on a 27-yard run up the left side by Dowdell, a recent transfer from Kentucky. The Red defense forced a turnover on downs later in the drive, when freshman defensive lineman AJ Lonon stopped running back Bo Walker for no gain on third-and-2, and then freshman safety Blake Stewart broke up a pass on fourth down.

Backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi led the Red offense on the ensuing drive and hit wideout Talyn Taylor for a 32-yard gain to the Black 33. A few plays later, Bowens ran for 10 yards to the 20. Soon after, Puglisi hit Reddell for a 16-yard gain to the 2. Phillips later scored from the 1 for a 17-0 lead with 1:31 to go in the half.

The Red offense was soon back on the field, following an interception by Todd Robinson on a deep pass from Black QB Ryan Montgomery. Stockton returned as the red quarterback on the ensuing drive, but the Black defense forced a quick three-and-out.

Redshirt freshman Hezekiah Millender took over as the Black team quarterback on the final drive of the half, completing a short pass to Walker and then a 20-yarder to tight end Ethan Barbour, to the Red 41. The drive ended on a 58-yard field-goal attempt by Harran Zurreikat that came up short.

The Black team got the ball to start the second half, and Millender was back in at QB. His second pass of the drive went for 10 yards to Jeremy Bell. A few plays later, he hit Brayden Fogle for a 32-yard gain. Millender later ran the ball in from the 1 to cut the Red lead to 17-7 with 9:32 left in the third quarter.

Montgomery played QB for the Red team on the next drive and hit wideout CJ Riley for a 26-yard gain. Two plays after that, Dowdell, now also running for the Red, broke free for 28 yards. A Woodring 38-yard field goal made it a 20-7 lead for the Red with 5:38 on the clock.

On the final play of the third quarter, Bryson Beaver entered the game at quarterback for the Black squad and hit wideout Will Taylor for a 43-yard gain to the Black 27. The Black team made it a 20-10 game with a Zurreikat 28-yard field goal with 11:20 remaining.

Montgomery took the field for the Red on the ensuing drive and hit tight end Colton Heinrich for a 48-yard gain on first down. On the next play, he found receiver Landon Roldan for 23 yards. Dowdell capped the drive with a 1-yard rush for a 27-10 Red lead. with 6:17 to play.

With 3:18 to go, Beaver, who ran for 23 yards on the preceding play, tossed a soft pass to the right side for a 6-yard touchdown to tight end Kaiden Prothro, cutting the Red lead to 27-17. Red safety Tyriq Greene intercepted a deep Beaver pass in the final minute.

Millender finished 9 of 15 for 103 yards, Montgomery was 10 of 18 for 132 combined in his stints with the Red and Black, and Beaver, a freshman, was 9 of 13 for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The two-time defending SEC champion Bulldogs open their season on Sept. 5 against Tennessee State on Dooley Field.

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.