South Metro's News Leader
The Pike County Pirates won the first game of the state AA finals, 10-3 in Buford Saturday.
Chris Long had 5 RBI’s on a pair of home runs. Kody Adams started and picked up the win.
Buford rallied to win the second game 14-4 in six innings to force a championship showdown Monday at 4pm in Buford.
ON MAY 24, THE THOMASTON UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION, ACTING ON A RECOMMENDATION BY SUPERINTENDENT DR. MAGGIE SHOOK, VOTED TO KEEP THE THOMASTON-UPSON PRE-K PROGRAM AT 180 STUDENT DAYS AND 190 TEACHER DAYS FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. UPSON-LEE PRE-K TEACHING ASSISTANTS WILL BE FUNDED FOR 182 DAYS.
ON MAY 17, GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD SIGNED THE $18.3 BILLION FY2012 BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDED CUTS TO THE LOTTERY-FUNDED PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THE STATE BUDGET REDUCED FUNDING OF PRE-K STUDENT DAYS FROM 180 TO 160, AND REDUCED TEACHER AND TEACHING ASSISTANT DAYS FROM 190 TO 169. THE MAY 25 BOE DECISION ALLOWS ALL THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS TO OPERATE ON THE SAME 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR.
A LOSS OF ABOUT $100,000 AFTER A SHOP AND CONTENTS WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE AT 2303 PICKARD ROAD, THE RESIDENCE OF JAMES CLARK ELLERBEE. THE ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT COST OF THE BUILDING IN THE BACK YARD, $48,000, PLUS THE VALUE OF THE CONTENTS WAS AROUND $50,000. AMONG THE LOST ITEMS IN THE SHOP, A $15,000 RANGER UTILITY VEHICLE , A GOLF CART AND ASSORTED POWER TOOLS. SOMEONE KNOCKED ON MR. ELLERBEE’S DOOR AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE FIRE, THURSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED.
A THOMASTON MAN, 53 YEAR OLD STEVE TURNER WAS PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY 16 BRIDGE IN GRIFFIN, THURSDAY MORNING BY GRIFFIN POLICE AFTER HE THREATENED TO JUMP. TURNER HAD A STEEL CABLE AROUND HIS NECK WHEN OFFICERS PULLED HIM OFF THE LEDGE. TURNER WAS TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION. THE INCIDENT BLOCKED TRAFFIC ON 19/41 BELOW FROM AROUND 6;30AM TILL 9AM. TURNER HAS MADE TWO OTHER SUCH ATTEMPTS IN THE LAST YEAR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THOMASTON POLICE RESPONDED TO HIS RESIDENCE ON AVALON ROAD. HE WAS OUT IN HIS YARD WAVING A PISTOL UNTIL OFFICERS CALMED HIM DOWN. LAST YEAR TURNER BARRICADED HIMSELF INSIDE THE FAYETTE COUNTY BUSINESS WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED FOR 18 HOURS, UNTIL THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED. HE UNDERWENT MENTAL EVALUATION AFTER THOSE INCIDENTS. TURNER IS A FORMER RECREATION UMPIRE, BUT HE NO LONGER WORKS GAMES REPORTEDLY BECAUSE OF THE FAYETTE COUNTY INCIDENT.
Monday is Memorial Day and Fun 101 salutes all veterans that have served.
There are no more living veterans of WWI and the number of those that served in WWII are declining daily.
We have posted a story on our Features Page as part of our salute to those that served.
Click the story or the link to the right.
THE GA. DOT ANNOUNCED THAT THE CITY OF THOMASTON IS AWARDED A $520,000 FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANT FOR ADDITIONAL WORK IN THE GREATEST GENERATION MEMORIAL PARK. THE CITY PLANS TO UTILIZE THE GRANT FUNDS TO DEVELOP TRAILS AND INCREASE PARKING IN THE PARK. PARK COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRPERSON KAY HIGHTOWER STATED “WE ARE DELIGHTED IN RECEIVING THIS GRANT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK. WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE OF MR. SAM WELLBORN IN OBTAINING THIS GRANT” THE GRANT BRINGS THE TOTAL OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS BY THE CITY IN RECENT YEARS TO A FIGURE IN EXCESS OF $5.4 MILLION.
THE EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATION IS SATURDAY, MAY 28, SPONSORED BY THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION COMMITTEE OF UPSON COUNTY. THE CELEBRATION WILL BEGIN WITH A PARADE AT 11;15AM FROM THE OLD THOMASTON MILLS PARKING LOT ON BETHEL STREET AND TRAVEL BETHEL STREET AROUND THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE AND ON TO LINCOLN PARK. THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT THE LINCOLN PARK SPEAKING GROUNDS AT 1PM. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL MANGHAM.
UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES SAID THE BOARD PLANS TO EXPAND THE HOURS OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR A 90 DAY TRIAL RUN. THE NEW HOURS WILL BE MONDAY-THURSDAY TILL 7PM, FRIDAY 8 TO 5 AND SATURDAY 8 TO 12. THE LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY SAID ADOPTIONS TRIPLED THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE YEAR WHEN THE SHELTER WAS OPEN AFTER HOURS.
AT THE MAY MEETING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR J.R. CHARLES MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO PAY OFF ITS INDUSTRIAL PARK DEBT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE RECOMMENDATION COMES AFTER CHARLES ATTENDED THE GEORGIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION SPRING CONFERENCE, WHERE HE LEARNED THAT PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRIES ARE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE THE COST OF INDUSTRIAL LAND, IF NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THOSE COSTS. CHARLES SAID “ IN THE WAKE OF THE RECESSION, COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO COMMUNITIES AS INVESTORS RATHER THAN AS HOSTS, AND IF UPSON COUNTY WANTS TO BE COMPETITIVE IN RECRUITING INDUSTRY WE MUST HAVE A PLAN TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY.”‘ THE IDA HAS A RETREAT PLANNED FOR JUNE 20TH AND PAYING DOWN PUBLIC DEBT IS ON THE AGENDA.
THOMASTON POLICE HAVE TWO SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY AFTER A SHOOTING SATURDAY AT 118 AVE G. THE VICTIM, A MAN IN HIS 20’S WAS TRANSPORTED BY AIR AMBULANCE TO THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA IN MACON AND TREATED FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST.
An early morning accident on Highway 36 in Lamar County has claimed the life of an Upson County man.
According to Lamar County Deputy Coroner Cindy Killingsworth, the victim has been identified as 20 year old Kenneth Matthew Lyons of Thomaston.
Lyons was apparently ejected from the extensively damaged vehicle Sunday morning and was pronounced dead at the scene.A SECOND ARREST HAS BEEN MADE BY THOMASTON POLICE IN AN INCOME TAX FRAUD CASE INVOLVING BOGUS INCOME TAX RETURNS. CRIMINAL WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR TWO MORE FEMALE SUSPECTS WHO ARE NOT IN CUSTODY. THE SECOND ARREST, BRANDY SEARCY HOWARD CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF I.D. FRAUD AND TWO COUNTS OF FORGERY. DEVONNY HARRIS OF COBBTOWN ROAD WAS THE FIRST ARREST. POLICE TOLD TGA NEWS THE WOMAN WERE PREPARING INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, SOME WERE UNEMPLOYED BUT ALLEGEDLY RECEIVED INCOME TAX REFUNDS RANGING FROM $400 TO $5000. POLICE SGT. TIM LEDBETTER IS WORKING WITH THE IRS AND SECRET SERVICE ON THE CASE.
THOMASTON POLICE ARE WORKING WITH IRS INVESTIGATORS AND THE SECRET SERVICE ON SEVERAL SUSPECTED TAX FRAUD CASES. ONE ARREST HAS BEEN MADE, DEVONNEY HARRIS OF COBBTOWN ROAD CHARGED WITH ID THEFT, FOR ALLEGEDLY PREPARING BOGUS INCOME TAX RETURNS. THE P.D. SAID OTHER ARRESTS ARE POSSIBLE AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
UPSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND SECOND IN THE NATION TO INVEST IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS UROLOGY PATIENTS.
THIS MONTH URMC COMPLETED A $600,000 RENOVATION OF ITS CYSTO-SUITE,ENLARGING THE SPACE AND ADDING THE UROSKOP OMNIA. THE NEW SURGICAL TABLE OFFERS AN IMAGING SYSTEM WITH A BROADER DEPTH OF FIELD,CRISPER IMAGES AND SMALLER BASE WHERE THE DOCTOR CAN OPERATE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PATIENT. IT FEATURES HIGH RESOLUTION X-RAY DETECTOR TO ENABLE COMPLETE URINARY TRACT IMAGING WITH JUST A SINGLE EXPOSURE. THOMASTON UROLOGIST DR. DAN BRIDGES SAID HE IS PLEASED WITH THE RENOVATION AND THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE IT INCREASES PATIENT COMFORT AND EXAMINATION TIME IS REDUCED.
THE THOMASTON UPSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS A BUSINESS LUNCH WITH STATE LEGISLATORS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18TH,11;50 AT URMC AUDITORIUM . STATE SENATOR GEORGE HOOKS, AND HOUSE MEMBERS BILLY MADDOX AND ROBERT DICKEY WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUES. RESERVATIONS $12, CALL THE CHAMBER.
THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SET MINIMUM ACREAGE FOR THE CONSERVATION USE PROGRAM AT 10 ACRES TUESDAY, MUCH LESS THAT THE BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS HAD SUGGESTED TO CURB ABUSE OF THE PROGRAM. THE STATE ALLOWS COUNTIES TO GO AS HIGH AS 25 ACRES, BUT SEVERAL SMALL FARMERS TOLD THE BOARD IT WOULD HARM AGRICULTURE IN UPSON COUNTY TO GO TO 20 OR 25 ACRES. COMMISSIONER RUSTY BLACKSTON MADE THE MOTION AND IT PASSED 4-0.
IN OTHER ACTION, WILLIE KENDALL WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS, ONLY TWO APPLIED.
MEMBERS OF THE UPSON HUMANE SOCIETY URGED THE COMMISSIONERS TO RETURN TO NIGHT TIME AND WEEKEND HOURS FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER, SOMETHING TRIED THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THEY TOLD THE BOARD ADOPTIONS TRIPLED DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE HAD TIME TO VISIT THE SHELTER. CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES SAID THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD TAKE THEIR REQUEST UNDER ADVISEMENT.
U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan will tour Spalding County with HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. and Spalding County Commissioner Eddie L. Freeman Tuesday morning.
The group will be at the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park on Patterson Road at 8:45 am.
A THOMASTON-UPSON SYSTEM SCHOOL BUS WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT SOUTH CHURCH AND LEE INTERSECTION. NO STUDENTS HAD INJURIES REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT, BUT THE FEMALE DRIVER OF A SMALL KIA AUTO WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY UPSON EMS. ACCORDING TO GSP TROOPER MITCHELL DAY THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER JOHN DUNCAN WAS CHARGED WITH FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE AFTER THE BUS REAR-ENDED THE KIA. THE BUS HAD SOME MODERATE FRONT FENDER DAMAGE. SCHOOL SYSTEM OFFICIALS SAID ANOTHER SCHOOL BUS WAS DISPATCHED TO TRANSPORT THE STUDENTS TO THEIR HOMES.
A MOTORIST WAS KILLED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON JEFF DAVIS ROAD NEAR TEN MILE CREEK. POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL IN THOMASTON IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AS JOHN DAVID THOMAS, 50 OF 421 JEFF DAVIS ROAD. THE REPORT SAID THOMAS LOST CONTROL OF THE 99 CHEVY BLAZER IN A CURVE AND HIT A CULVERT. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
Five more counties have been designated for disaster assistance for individuals, families and businesses as part of Georgia's federal disaster declaration, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The latest counties are Cherokee, Habersham, Newton, Upson and White.
Counties previously designated for individual assistance are Bartow, Catoosa, Coweta, Dade, Greene, Harris, Heard, Floyd, Gordon, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup and Walker.
Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Also low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to cover residential and businesses losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Affected survivors and business owners in the newly designated counties may apply for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing or speech impaired can use the TTY line at 800-462-7585. The registration lines are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. An application may also be completed online by going to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
A THOMASTON BUSINESS OWNER SAYS SHE HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF THREATS AND VILE RUMORS AFTER SHE TOLD THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ILLEGAL GAMBLING IS GOING ON AT BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY. DEBRA GENA, OWNER OF KELLY’S CORNER ON 74 EAST, TOLD TGA NEWS SHE HAS CONTACTED THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ABOUT THE VERBAL ATTACKS, SOME INVOLVING HER FAMILY, AND THE S.O. IS LOOKING INTO IT. MS. GENA TOLD THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THE LAST MEETING, SOME STORES IN UPSON COUNTY ARE INVOLVED IN CASH PAY-OUTS ON VIDEO MACHINES, JUST LIKE STORES IN SPALDING COUNTY THAT WERE RECENTLY RAIDED.
A Lamar County youth was injured in an ATV accident over the weekend.
Christie Sims son Taylor suffered multiple fractures and has undergone two surgeries at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta.
President Obama announced late Sunday night that Osama bin Laden has been killed and that the United States has his body. He was killed in a mansion outside Islamabad, Pakistan and his body has been moved to Afghanistan. The operation was carried out by U.S. military Special Operations personnel.
The announcement of Hitler’s death occurred on the first of May in 1945, 66 years ago to the day.
The National Weather Service has released the preliminary report on the tornado that struck Upson County Wednesday night.
A National Weather Service survey team determined that an EF2 tornado with winds of 130 MPH crossed Harris, Meriwether, and Upson Counties Wednesday night. The tornado touched down 2 miles northwest of Pine Mountain Valley around 1150 PM EDT Wednesday night and lifted about 9 miles northwest of Thomaston along Highway 74 around 1225 AM EDT. The path length was 24 miles long with an average width of half a mile. Its widest point was close to three quarters of a mile along Highway 354 just north of Pine Mountain Valley.
The information contained in the report appears accurate up to the point where the tornado crossed Highway 74. The NWS report says nothing about the damage to homes in the area from Weems Road to Day Road and on Trent Jones Circle.
The following information was released on the Lamar County tornado also.
A National Weather Service survey team determined that an EF3 tornado with winds of 140 MPH crossed Pike, Lamar, Monroe and Butts Counties early Thursday morning. The tornado touched down at approximately 1238 AM EDT Thursday morning along highway 19 about 4 miles south of Meansville in south central Pike County. Three houses were destroyed along Piedmont Road about three miles west of Barnesville. Two fatalities occurred when a house was destroyed along Grove Street in Lamar County. A Chevron gas station and a church were destroyed in Barnesville. Three tractor trailers were blown off the road near I-75 at approximately 102 AM EDT. Three houses were damaged, one of which was destroyed. Three people were injured in the damaged house. The tornado lifted in southeast Butts County at approximately 115 AM EDT. The tornado had a path length of approximately 30 miles and a maximum width of six tenths of a mile.
Putting the two side by side shows that this was likely the same tornado. Put the north Upson County damage on the maps and the two paths join.
