MRS.LUCY SPILLERS DUNAWAY

Mrs. Lucy Spillers Dunaway age 94, formerly of Thomaston , died Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at Gwinnett Extended Care Center.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Fletcher-Day Funeral Home.

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE REPORTS A MISSING PERSON

Missing Juvenile: Please be on the lookout for Sixteen year old Ridge Pearson. He is described as a white male, six feet tall, 130 pounds with Brown Hair. He was last seen at his residence near Tom McKinley Road in Upson County in the early morning hours of September 28, 2015.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Sheriff's Office at 706-646-7912.

URMC CEO RESIGNS

Upson Regional Medical Center confirmed today the resignation of CEO David Castleberry.  Mr. Castleberry has given 90 day notice before his departure to a career advancing opportunity in Savannah. 

Since joining the hospital in October of 2008, Mr. Castleberry has led the hospital to state and national recognition for quality of care and patient satisfaction and growth in facilities as well as providers. 

Mr. Castleberry has also overseen the construction of the Medical Office Building in Barnesville, renovation of the Tyler Building in Thomaston, and the construction of a new hospital cafeteria. New and ongoing projects include the construction of a new Medical Office Building in Thomaston, and the addition of a cardiac catheterization lab.

Most notably, Mr. Castleberry is responsible for the recruitment of needed primary care and specialty providers, including the addition of an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, Dr. Nancy Butler, who will start in December of this year. 

The hospital board will convene within the coming week to discuss transition plans and next steps. Board Chairman Bill Hightower said, "We appreciate David's service to our hospital and community and wish him well in his new role."  Hightower added, "The board's focus is to ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in hospital leadership going forward."

DOC HOLIDAY BLUES FESTIVAL MOVED INDOORS, SATURDAY

ACCORDING  TO  THE  GRIFFIN-SPALDING  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  THE  BAR   B  Q  EVENTS  STARTING  AT   10;30AM    WILL  STILL  BE  DOWNTOWN--BUT  THE  BLUES CONCERT  HAS  BEEN MOVED  TO  THE  EVENT  CENTER  AT  551  NORTH  EXPRESSWAY IN  GRIFFIN  DUE  TO  WEATHER  CONCERNS.

DOORS  OPEN  AT 4,  SHOW  AT  5,  $5  ADMISSION FOR  ADULTS, $1 FOR CHILDREN  12 AND  UNDER.

SHERIFF DAN KILGORE ANNOUNCES DRUG ARRESTS

NEWS RELEASE

On September 17, 2015 at approximately 1:30 AM the officers from Upson County Sheriff's Office, Thomaston Police Department, Meriwether County Sheriff's Office and the Taylor County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at the residence of 1226 A Spring Lake Drive in Thomaston, Upson County, Georgia .During the search of the residence an approximate weight of 83.9 grams (@ 3 ounces) of Methamphetamine was recovered inside of a safe that was in the interior of the residence along with multiple sets of digital scales and a glass smoking device. A .25 caliber handgun was also recovered at the residence during the search.  

The following subjects were arrested and charged with Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act offenses:

Ronald Houston Nicholson, 43 of 1226 A Spring Lake Drive Thomaston, Ga. was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Crime and 2 counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance Repayment

Benajah Ross Wainwright, 50 of 1236 Delray Road Thomaston, Ga. was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute and Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Crime

Erica Lynn Sanders, 38 of 418 Rose Creek Road The Rock, Ga. was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute 

Angela Jo Tompkins, 51 of 435 B Street Thomaston, Ga. was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute 

All subjects are currently being held at the Upson County Sheriff's Office Jail Division without bond.

UPSON COUNTY TAX BILLS ARE IN THE MAIL

UPSON  COUNTY  TAX  COMMISSIONER  BERRY  COOK  HAS  NOTIFIED  THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  THAT  THE  GA.  DEPARTMENT  OF REVENUE  HAS  APPROVED  THE    2015  UPSON  COUNTY  TAX  DIGEST.

2015  TAX  BILLS  HAVE  BEEN  MAILED  AND   ARE  DUE  NOVEMBER  24TH.

GBI CRIME LAB ISSUES AN AUTOPSY REPORT

THE GBI CRIME LAB HAS RELEASED THE AUTOPSY REPORT INVOLVING THE DEATH OF ALLISON MARIE MCELHENNEY IN A RENTED CABIN AT CAMP THUNDER, MAY 23, 2015.

OUR NEWS STORY,  BASED ON INFORMATION FROM THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, INDICATED MS. MCELHENNEY

FELL IN THE BATHROOM AND HIT HER HEAD. NO FOUL PLAY WAS SUSPECTED, BUT SOME MEDICATION ISSUES COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

THE AUTOPSY REPORT SAID MS. MCELHENNEY DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES. SHE BECAME ILL IN THE BATHROOM, FELL AND HIT HER HEAD, NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT AND SHE DIED DURING THE NIGHT DUE TO DYPERTENSIVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

THE GBI CRIME LAB REPORT SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ETHYL ALCOHOL, NO ILLICIT DRUGS, AND NO ABNORMAL AMOUNTS OF PRESCRIBED MEDICATION.

ARREST FOR BURGLARY AT GA. AVE CAFE

September 14, 2015 ta 5:30 am the Thomaston Police Department responded to a commercial burglary that occurred at 102 Georgia Avenue being the  “Georgia Café” Officers noticed that two windows had been broken and that someone gained entry to the business. Once investigators arrived and observed the surveillance cameras it showed a white female enter the business around 10:00p.m who had her face concealed with a red blanket going in the registers and other area of the business taking approximately $350 in currency. The female was apprehended at 400 Denim Street in Thomaston around 12:00 p.m. on September 14, 2015 and identified as Amanda Elliot,31 of Thomaston. Elliot was a former employee of this business and was attempting to leave town when she was arrested. Also recovered during the arrest was a stolen laptop and methamphetamine. This department would like to commend both Sgt. Tim Ledbetter and Officer Jeremy Blount on their swift actions in making the arrest on this commercial burglary. Elliot was charged with Commercial Burglary, theft by taking, and possession of an imitation substance with the intent to distribute.  

LT. Andrew Pippin

CID Commander

Thomaston Police Departmen

DRUG ARRESTS BY THOMASTON P.D.

On September 4, 2015 a search warrant was conducted by the Thomaston Police Department and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office at 131 G Circle in Thomaston in reference to drug activity located at that residence. During the search of 131 G Circle 5.9 grams of methamphetamine was recovered with a street value of $600.00 and four subjects were arrested related to the narcotics that was recovered. Joshua Shane Powell 24, Jordan Powell 23, Kevin Booth 48, and Marilyn Nipp 53 were all charged with possession of methamphetamine and transported to the Upson County Jail.    

LT. Andrew Pippin

CID Commander

Thomaston Police Department

T-U SS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

The Thomaston-Upson School System has announced the school Teachers of the Year. 

Individual school Teachers of the Year include: 

Tiffany Bentley, a special education teacher at Upson-Lee South who is currently a 3rd grade co-teacher.

Donna Gravitt, a 4th grade English/Language Arts teacher at Upson-Lee North. 

Stephanie Brodnax, a 7th grade Science teacher at Upson-Lee Middle School.

Angel Kelly, a Career, Technical and Agricultural Education teacher at Upson-Lee High School who teaches Law & Justice career pathway courses.  

These teachers were chosen by their peers to represent their schools and will now compete for the title of T-U System Teacher of the Year. The system Teacher of the Year contest is judged by a panel of school and community members. Teachers must complete a written application, personal interview, and a classroom observation. 

The system Teacher of the Year will be announced in December and will represent Thomaston-Upson Schools in the Georgia Teacher of the Year contest

THOMASTON'S JON PERDUE ON CNBC WED. AT 10PM.

JON WILL  BE  ON  THE  NEW  SHOW "MAKE ME  A  MILLIONAIRE  INVENTOR."  INVENTORS GET  HELP  WITH  THEIR  INVENTIONS  AND  PITCH  THEM  TO  INVESTORS.

TRAFFIC FATALITY IN PIKE CO. MONDAY

Pike County Sheriff's Office Traffic Investigators responded to a head on collision on Highway 19 near McKinley Road at approximately 3:45 p.m.. There was three vehicles involved in the incident. A vehicle traveling northbound crossed the median striking an oncoming vehicle head on. 

Two patients were transported to Spalding Regional Hospital. Pike County resident Lassandra Buttman was pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

The collision remains under investigation as any and all possible causes are looked into.

SHERIFF KILGORE RESPONDS TO INTERNET THREATS

UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF  DAN  KILGORE  SAYS  HE  WILL  HAVE  EXTRA  DEPUTIES POSTED  AT  ALL  SCHOOLS  FRIDAY,  SEPT.  11TH  AFTER   NATIONAL  THREATS  ON  SOCIAL  MEDIA  TARGETING  SCHOOLS.

THE  SHERIFF  TOLD  US  THERE  HAVE  BEEN  NO  SPECIFIC  THREATS  AIMED  AT LOCAL  SCHOOLS,  BUT  CITIZENS  HAVE  EXPRESSED  CONCERN,  SO HE  IS  TAKING  ACTION  TO  PROTECT  SCHOOL  CHILDREN.

Pike Traffic Accident

Pike County Sheriff's Office Traffic Investigators responded to a collision that occurred on Sunday at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Highway 18 at Reidsboro Road. The initial investigation has shown that a Jeep Compass crossed the center line striking a Nissan Altima traveling in the opposite direction. 

The driver of the Jeep was transported by life flight to Atlanta Medical Center. The occupants of the other vehicle where taken by ambulance to Upson Regional Hospital.

Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor as open alcohol containers were located in the Jeep. A blood sample was obtained from the driver , Eddie Beckham, and is being sent to the crime lab for analysis. Any appropriate charges will be made once the investigation is complete.

QUALIFIED IN THE NOV. CITY OF THOMASTON ELECTION

FOR   MAYOR, FORMER  COUNCILMAN  J.D. STALLINGS  OPPOSED  BY  PASTOR  COLEMAN  DUMAS  THE  THIRD.

FOR  DISTRICT  TWO  CITY  COUNCIL, INCUMBENT  PATSY PERDUE  OPPOSED  BY JEFF  MIDDLEBROOKS,  EMPLOYED  BY  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  RECREATION  DEPARTMENT  AND  CARL  MCKINNEY, UPSON  COUNTY  911  DIRECTOR.

FOR  DISTRICT  ONE  COUNCIL,  INCUMBENT  GARY  ATWATER  CHALLENGED  BY  FORMER  COUNCIL  MEMBER  LAKEYTHIA  REEVES.

CITY  CLERK  CLINT  CHASTAIN HAS  ANNOUNCED  QUALIFYING  FOR  J.D.STALLINGS  3RD  DISTRICT POST  WILL  BE  SEPTEMBER   17TH,  18TH AND  21ST  FOR  THE  SPECIAL  ELECTION  IN  NOVEMBER.

QUALIFYING CITY OF THOMASTON NOV. 3RD ELECTION

  BOTH       THOMASTON  CITY  COUNCIL INCUMBENTS    HAVE  OPPOSITION  IN  THE NOVEMBER 3RD  ELECTION.

WEDNESDAY ,   DISTRICT  TWO  COUNCIL  MEMBER  PATSY  PERDUE  QUALIFIED AND  SHE  IS  CHALLENGED BY   JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS,  EMPLOYED  WITH  THE   UPSON  COUNTY  RECREATION  DEPARTMENT.

DISTRICT  ONE  COUNCILMAN   GARY  ATWATER  IS  OPPOSED  BY  EX-COUNCIL  MEMBER  LAKEYTHIA  REEVES.

J.D. STALLINGS  QUALIFIED  FOR  MAYOR,  TUESDAY  AND  HAS  RESIGNED  HIS  DISTRICT  THREE COUNCIL    SEAT.  IT  WILL  BE  FILLED  DURING  A  SPECIAL  ELECTION  ON NOVEMBER  3RD.