UPSON COUNTY TO HAVE FOUR VOTING PRECINCTS

AT  A  CALLED  MEETING  MONDAY,  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  BOARD  OF   ELECTIONS    VOTED  TO  COMBINE  YATESVILLE  AND  JUG  PRECINCTS  INTO  THE  YATESVILLE  PRECINCT  AND  SALEM  PRECINCT  WILL  CONTINUE  TO  OPERATE.

CHAIRMAN  ROBERT  HANEY  EXPLAINED  THE  CHANGE  WAS  MADE  TO  THE  ORGINAL  PLAN  BECAUSE  YATESVILLE  IS  AN  INCORPORATED CITY  THAT HAS  MUNICIPAL  ELECTIONS  AND  THUS  SHOULD  HAVE  A   VOTING  PRECINCT  IN  THE  TOWN  LIMITS.

THE  ORIGINAL  PLAN  WOULD  HAVE  COMBINED  YATESVILLE  AND  SALEM  AT  THE  JUG  PRECINCT—BUT HANEY  EXPLAINED  JUG  WOULD  BE TOO  FAR  FOR  SALEM  RESIDENTS  TO  TRAVEL.

THE  ORIGINAL  PLAN  COMBINES  THE  ROCK,  REEVES, AND  REDBONE WITH  ATWATER  PRECINCT AT  NEW HOPE  BAPTIST  CHURCH ON  HANNAH’S  MILL  ROAD  AND  LINCOLN PARK  WILL  VOTE  AT  THE  CIVIC  CENTER.

CHAIRMAN  HANEY  SAID  ABOUT HALF  OF  VOTERS  ARE  NOW  CASTING  BALLOTS  IN  EARLY  VOTING  SO  IT  WILL  BE  A  COST  REDUCTION  TO  REDUCE  THE  NUMBER  OF PRECINCTS.

ARREST IN ROBBERY/CAR THEFT

 

In the early morning hours of June 22, 2015 Upson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle near South Church Street in Thomaston. The vehicle fled and continued to travel down South Church and wrecked near the intersection of Wiley Street and South Church Street. Two black males exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Both the Thomaston Police Department and Upson County Sheriff’s Office gave chase on foot with negative contact with the males. Hours later a woman was approached on Upson Avenue by a black male who held a gun to her and demanded her car and other items while she was on her front porch. The victim was able to get free from the suspect and the armed suspect fled away running toward South Green Street. Several minutes later a male was approached while he was in his driveway on Greenwood Avenue in the city limits of Thomaston by a black male who pointed a gun at him and demanded his money and vehicle. The victim turned over an amount of currency along with his keys to his vehicle. The victim was placed in a room connected to his garage by the armed suspect and the suspect fled away in his silver 2011 Toyota Avalon.

This case is still active and the Thomaston Police CID Unit is still in the process of collecting evidence. A suspect has been identified in this case and arrest warrants are pending. This information will be released as soon as possible and we appreciate your patients in this matter. This department is dedicated and will utilize any and all resources necessary to ensure the individuals that committed these violent acts will be brought to justice.

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE

June 25, 2015

On January 23, 2015 the Thomaston Police Department CID Unit identified and took out felony arrest warrants against Terence BIGGERS Jr. of Columbus, GA for several offenses including two counts of Armed Robbery, two counts of Aggravated Assault, kidnapping, Motor Vehicle Hijacking, Criminal Attempt Armed Robbery, Theft by taking Motor Vehicle, Possession of firearm used in the commission of a crime, and possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Our Intel led us to believe that BIGGERS was headed to Columbus area after the theft of the vehicle on Greenwood Drive in Thomaston. The Thomaston Police Departments CID Unit made contact with the United States Marshalls Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force in reference to the apprehension of BIGGERS. On June 24, 2015 at approximately 10:30 p.m. the United States Marshalls office notified Lt. Pippin that BIGGERS has been captured and arrested in an apartment complex in the Columbus GA area.

FIRE AT FORMER YAMAHA PLANT WED

 

 

 

 

Late this afternoon, city firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the Animal Health and Sciences Plant off of Barnesville Highway. Fire Captain Renee Harris, Lieutenant Jeremy Walker, and Fire Chief Eddie Lifsey also responded to the scene. The call occurred when a 55 gallon drum of chemicals utilized in the manufacturing process overheated. Plant staff noted to city workers that a vent was not opened on the drum causing the drum to overheat. The pressure caused the drum’s vent to blow off releasing smoke and chemical particles into the air. City firefighters utilized their air masks and packs in response to the call and provided plant leaders with spare air masks and packs. City firefighters used fire extinguishers to cool down the 55 gallon drum. Captain Harris advised that water could not be used because of the chemical content of the drum. Chief Lifsey said fire fighters moved the drum to the outdoors to cool it down. The situation was resolved and the oversight of the tank was turned over to the plant staff for observation. There is no confirmed injury; however, a plant worker was taken by EMS to the hospital to be checked out.

Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold heard about the call and responded to the scene. Animal Health and Sciences Plant Manager Tommy Joiner thanked the mayor for the speedy and effective response of the city fire department. Mayor Arnold stated, “We are pleased with the quick and effective response of our city firefighters. We are proud to have one of the best equipped and well trained fire departments of any city our size.”

The City of Thomaston requires each firefighter to average 31 training hours a month, to perform pre-fire inspections of all commercial buildings semi-annually (every six months), and inspect and test each city fire hydrant semi-annually. Fire Chief Lifsey and Captain Harris reported that 10 city firefighters worked the scene with another reporting on a standby basis. Volunteer firefighters primarily from Rock Hill and Lincoln Park Volunteer Fire Departments also responded to the scene.

Mrs. Mae Smith Watson age 89 of Thomaston Ga, died Wednesday June 24, 2015 at Upson Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Mae Smith Watson age 89 of Thomaston Ga, died Wednesday June 24, 2015 at Upson Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Watson was born on May 16, 1926 in Cochran Ga, to the late Huey and Addie Lee Smith. She was formerly employed with Thomaston Mills where she worked as a spooler.

Survivors include her daughter Mrs. Glenda (McKenzie)Ellington of Thomaston Ga, son Mr. Bobby F. Watson of Thomaston Ga, grandchildren Mr. Kevin (Donna) Watson of Ludowici Ga, Mrs. Melinda (Paul) Rogers of Thomaston Ga, 6 Great Grandchildren. 3 Great Great Grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday June 27, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Coggins Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Crystal Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Coggins Funeral Home on Friday June 26, 2015 from 6-8 p.m.

Coggins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

Ms. Betty Faye Oliver, age 54, of Thomaston, died Monday, June 22, 2015 at her residence.

Ms. Betty Faye Oliver, age 54, of Thomaston, died Monday, June 22, 2015 at her residence.

Ms. Oliver was born on October 27, 1960 in Thomaston Ga, to the late Samuel and Doline Sears. She was formerly employed with DBB Records Management. Ms. Oliver was a member of Pritchett Memorial Baptist Church.

Survivors include her sisters Mrs. Joyce (Stevie) Earls of Thomaston Ga, Mrs. Ann (Ronnie) Burrell of High Falls Ga, brother Mr. Emory (Kathie) Sears of Thomaston Ga.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday June 27, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Coggins Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at Coggins Funeral Home on Saturday June 27, 2015 from 12-2 p.m.

Coggins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY UPSON AVE. ROBBERY/CAR THEFT GREENWOOD RD. EARLY MONDAY IN THOMASTON

ACCORDING  TO  LT.   ANDREW  PIPPIN, THOMASTON  POLICE  DEPARTMENT,  EARLY  MONDAY  UPSON S.O.  ATTEMPTED  TO  CONDUCT  A  TRAFFIC  STOP  NEAR  SOUTH  CHURCH  ST.  IN  THOMASTON.  THE  VEHICLE  FLED  AND  TRAVELED  DOWN  SOUTH  CHURCH  AND  WRECKED  AT  WILEY  ST. AND  SOUTH  CHURCH.  TWO  BLACK  MALES EXITED  THE  VEHICLE  AND  FLED  ON FOOT.

HOURS  LATER  A  FEMALE  WAS  APPROACHED  ON   HER  FRONT  PORCH  ON  UPSON  AVE.  AND  A  BLACK  MALE  HELD  A  GUN  TO  HER  AND  DEMANDED  HER  CAR  AND  OTHER  ITEMS.  SHE   MANAGED  TO  GET  AWAY  FROM  THE  SUBJECT,  WHO  FLED RUNNING  TOWARD  SOUTH  GREEN  STREET.

SEVERAL  MINUTES  LATER  A  MALE  WAS  APPROACHED  IN  HIS  DRIVEWAY  ON  GREENWOOD  ROAD  BY  A   BLACK  MALE  WITH  A  GUN  WHO  DEMANDED  MONEY AND  HIS  CAR  KEYS.  THE  VICTIM   HANDED OVER   CASH  AND HIS  CAR  KEYS  AND   WAS  PLACED  IN A  ROOM  CONNECTED  TO  HIS  GARAGE BY  THE  GUNMAN  WHO  FLED  IN  HIS  SILVER   2011  TOYOTA  AVALON.

LT. PIPPIN  SAID  A  SUSPECT  HAS  BEEN  IDENTIFIED  IN  THIS  CASE  AND  ARREST  WARRANTS  ARE  PENDING, AND   THE  INVESTIGATION  INTO  THE  CRIMES  IS  STILL  ACTIVE.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR A SOLDIER FROM GRIFFIN WHO DIED IN KUWAIT WILL BE HELD IN THOMASTON

ACCORDING  TO  PAUL  HARPER  OF  BENTLEY’S  FUNERAL  HOME  , THE  BODY  OF  PFC  MONTERRIOUS T. DANIEL,  AGE  19   WILL  BE  FLOWN IN  TO  THE THOMASTON-UPSON  AIRPORT  MONDAY  JUNE   22ND  AT  1PM. A  U.S. MILITARY  HONORS  TRANSFER  FROM  THE  AIRCRAFT  TO  THE  HEARSE  WILL  FOLLOW AND  THE  PATRIOT  RIDERS  MOTORCYCLE  GROUP  WILL  ESCORT  THE  BODY  TO  DOWNTOWN  THOMASTON,  AROUND  THE  COURTHOUSE  SQUARE   THEN  TO BENTLEY’S FUNERAL  HOME.

FUNERAL  SERVICES  ARE  SCHEDULED  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  24TH  AT  NOON  AT  THE  CIVIC  CENTER  IN  THOMASTON.

BENTLEY’S  FUNERAL  HOME  IN  CHARGE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS.

THE  U.S.  DEFENSE  DEPARTMENT  SAID  PFC  DANIEL  DIED  JUNE   12 IN  CAMP  BUEHRING, KUWAIT, IN  A  NON-COMBAT  RELATED  INCIDENT.

UPSON’S BRIAN OGLESBEE HAS WON THE NATIONAL BLIND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

ON  THURSDAY, BRIAN  WON  THE  TITLE   OVER   16  OTHER  GOLFERS,  WITH  HIS  BROTHER  ALEX   COACHING HIM,   AT  RIDGE  TOP  GOLF  CLUB, MEDINA, OHIO.  BRIAN  HAS  BEEN  AN  EDUCATOR  AT  UL  HIGH  SCHOOL  FOR   11  YEARS  AND  LAST MONTH  WAS  NAMED  BOYS  GOLF  COACH.

ARMED ROBBERY FRI. 9:30 PM DOLLAR GENERAL E. MAIN STREET

THOMASTON  POLICE  SAID  A   BLACK  MALE  IN  DARK  CLOTHING,   WEARING  A   BLACK  HOODIE  ,  ENTERED  THE  STORE  PRODUCED  A  HANDGUN  AND  DEMANDED  CASH  FROM  THE  FEMALE  CLERK.  HE  FLED  ON  FOOT WITH   $700  IN  CASH.
A  DOZEN  CUSTOMERS , INCLUDING  CHILDREN , WERE  IN  THE  STORE  AT  THE  TIME. NO  ONE  WAS  HURT.

TWO  OTHER  ARMED  ROBBERIES  IN  DOWTOWN  THOMASTON  ARE  CURRENTLY  UNDER  INVESTIGATION,  AT  COOK’S  MARKET  AND  BEST  VALUE  FOOD  STORE, BOTH  IN  APRIL.

MOVIE CREWS BACK IN THOMASTON

PIGGY  PARK  DRIVE-IN  IN  THOMASTON  AND  GRIFFITH’S  DRIVE-IN  IN  GRIFFIN  WILL  BE  RE-FITTED  TO  BE  MCDONALD’S  HAMBURGER  RESTAURANTS  IN  A  MOVIE  ABOUT  THE  LIFE  OF  MCDONALD’S  FOUNDER  RAY KROC.
THE  ACTORS  IN  THE    “FOUNDER”  INCLUDE  MICHAEL  KEATON,  OSCAR  WINNER  THIS  YEAR  FOR  “BIRDMAN”  AND  LAURA  DERN  OF  THE  JURRASSIC PARK  FILMS.