FIRE DAMAGE AT 103 PINEVIEW DR. IN UPSON COUNTY

ACCORDING TO UPSON S.O., ITS SPECULATED LIGHTNING CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE WEDNESDAY AT 103 PINEVIEW DRIVE . IT DESTROYED THE CARPORT AND LAUNDRY ROOM AND CAUSED SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE  THROUGHOUT THE HOME OF JOHN AND FERN SMITH.

THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM IN THE AREA AND FERN SMITH AND HER 11 YEAR OLD GRAND-DAUGHTER WERE ALONE—WHEN THEY HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND SMELLED SMOKE.

THEY MANAGED TO ESCAPE UNHARMED BUT THE CARPORT AND LAUNDRY ROOM WERE FULLY INVOLVED WHEN UNITS ARRIVED—UNITS FROM NORTHSIDE, ROCK HILL, YATESVILLE AND LINCOLN PARK. THEY MANAGED TO PUT IT OUT.

THE BOOM WAS ALSO HEARD BY A NEIGHBOR. THE PROPERTY WAS UNINSURED.

GA. DOT HAS CLOSED 109 DUE TO FLOODING

Lamar and Pike Counties…

SR 109 Closed Near Meansville Due to Flooding

What:         State Route 109 near Meansville is closed due to flooding that has eroded the inlet approaches to the bridge over Gola Creek. The bridge is structurally sound and has not been topped by water. However, increased water flow has caused the embankments on both ends of the bridge to begin to erode. Georgia Department of Transportation crews are on scene assessing the damage and will determine how to proceed with repairs. GDOT estimates the road in that area will be closed for five days.

Where:         SR 109 about one mile east of Meansville, bridge over Gola Creek. The road is closed between mileposts 14 and 18. Suggested alternate routes are U.S. 19/SR 3 and SR 18.

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TRAFFIC FATALITY IN UPSON CO. MONDAY NIGHT

ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL, A LAMAR COUNTY WOMAN WAS KILLED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT MONDAY NIGHT ON LINDSEY ROAD IN UPSON COUNTY.

STATE TROOPER DON STEWART TOLD ZOOM NEWS, A PASSENGER , 60 YEAR OLD DEBRA LUNDBLAD OF 872 FORSYTH-YATESVILLE ROAD WAS PRONOUNCED DECREASED AT URMC.

THE DRIVER OF THE FORD EXPLORER, RHONDA JACKSON, AGE 40 OF 864 FORSYTH-YATESVILLE ROAD WAS UNHURT.

TROOPER STEWART SAID THE SUV LEFT THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HIT A TREE AND CAME TO REST. CHARGES ARE PENDING.

THE GSP SKIRT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS TEAM IS INVESTIGATING.

SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAID HIS DEPUTIES REPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT JUST BEFORE 8PM AND THEN TURNED THE INVESTIGATION OVER TO THE GSP

POWER OUTAGE UPSON EMC DAY ROAD AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON

UPSON EMC RESPONDED TO A POWER OUTAGE IN NORTHERN UPSON COUNTY TUESDAY AFTERNOON—AN OUTAGE THAT KNOCKED 105-9 AND 101-1  RADIO   OFF THE AIR.

UPSON EMC CHIEF EXECUTIVE NEAL TRICE REPORTED A TREE FELL OVER POWER LINES IN THE DAY ROAD AREA.

NEW JOBS FOR THOMASTON

THOMASTON' S ECONOMY IS GETTING A BOOST HEADED INTO THE NEW YEAR. AT A CALLED MEETING MONDAY THE THOMASTON-UPSON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APPROVED A RESOLUTION FOR A $7 MILLION BOND FOR STANDARD TEXTILES—FOR MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. THE COMPANY IS PLEDGING TO CREATE 59 ADDITIONAL JOBS BY THE END OF THE BOND IN 2017.

IDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KYLE FLETCHER SAID STANDARD TEXTILES HAS EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF JOBS PROMISED IN A 2013 BOND. IT ADDED 25 JOBS IN 2014 AND 49 IN 2015.

THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL HIKES WATER AND SEWER RATES

ON A  2-1 VOTE THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND SEWER AT A CALLED MEETING MONDAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM DOUG HEAD AND OUTGOING COUNCILMAN GARY ATWATER WERE ABSENT. PATSY PERDUE MADE THE MOTION AND COUNCILMAN RYAN TUCKER VOTED FOR IT. DON GREATHOUSE WAS OPPOSED— AND HIS OPPOSITION BROUGHT A STRONG RESPONSE FROM MAYOR HAYS ARNOLD  WHO  FAVORED  IT.

 IT   TOOK TWO MOTIONS TO GET IT PASSED . AFTER SOME DISCUSSION COUNCILMAN TUCKER ADDED A 2ND AND VOTED FOR IT. HE AGREED —PROVIDED COUNCIL SITS DOWN WITH CONSULTANT JOHN HEWITT IN THE NEW YEAR AND CONSIDERS A POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN ELECTICAL RATES.

THE NEW RATE EFFECTIVE JAN. 1ST WILL INCREASE WATER AND SEWER 78 CENTS A MONTH FOR A 1000 GALLON CUSTOMER AND AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD USE OF 5000 GALLONS WILL GO UP $3.90 PER MONTH. CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY SAID HEWITT'S LATEST FIGURES SHOW A NEED FOR AN EVEN STEEPER HIKE IN WATER AND SEWER RATES THAN THE ONE PASSED MONDAY.

MAYOR ARNOLD SAID THE RATE HIKE IS NEEDED SO THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT CAN MOVE CLOSER TO PAYING ITS OWN WAY—SOMETHING COUNCILMAN TUCKER AGREED WITH.

THE CITY MANAGER POINTED TO A SHRINKING CUSTOMER BASE TO JUSTIFY THE RATE INCREASE —WATER USE IS DOWN 37% SINCE 2007—YET INFRASTRUCURE COSTS ARE ON-GOING.

UPDATE ON TORNADO WARNING FOR UPSON, LAMAR, AND MONROE, THURSDAY PM

EMERGENCY SIRENS WERE ACTIVATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON —AFTER THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING— FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES JUST AFTER 1PM. INCLUDED IN THE WARNING AREA--- EAST CENTRAL UPSON COUNTY, SOUTH EAST LAMAR COUNTY, NORTH WEST CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL OF MONROE COUNTY.

THE WARNING WAS CANCELLED AROUND 1;45PM.

UPSON EMA DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MCCARTY TOLD US THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REPORTED A TORNADO SIGNATURE ON RADAR IN EAST CENTRAL UPSON COUNTY SOUTHEAST LAMAR AND NORTH MONROE COUNTY—BUT SO FAR NO CONFIRMATION OF A TOUCHDOWN.

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAID HIS DEPUTIES ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AND IF THERE IS DAMAGE.

THE SHERIFF SAID ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES WHO LIVES IN MONROE COUNTY REPORTED HIGH WINDS AT HIS RESIDENCE BUT NO CONFIRMATION OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN.

EMA DIRECTOR MCCARTY SAID A HOUSE WAS FLOODED AT 410 EAST THOMPSON STREET IN THOMASTON AND EMA WAS PLACING SAND BAGS AT A RETENTION POND IN FRONT OF GOLDEN LIVING CENTER ON AVE. F.   TO KEEP WATER OUT OF THE NURSING HOME.

UPDATE ON UPSON CO. ROADS

WEST MOORE'S CROSSING ROAD IN UPSON COUNTY IS OPEN AGAIN—AFTER FLOODING WEDNESDAY WHEN DEBRIS CLOGGED UP A PIPE UNDER THE ROAD.

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAYS DRIPPING ROCK ROAD IS CLOSED DUE TO HEAVY RAINS AND THE SHERIFF URGES MOTORISTS TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS PLACED UPSON COUNTY UNDER A FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10PM SATURDAY, MONROE COUNTY UNTIL 10AM SATURDAY. 

ROAD CLOSED IN UPSON COUNTY

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS DUE TO SEVERE FLOODING WEST MOORE'S CROSSING ROAD IS BEING CLOSED FROM EAST MOORE'S CROSSING AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS ALL THE WAY BACK TO COBBTOWN ROAD.

THE COUNTY ROADS DEPARTMENT HAS ERECTED BARRACADES DUE TO THE FLOODING NEAR THE PROPERTY OF ANTHONY SOUTH ON WEST MOORE'S CROSSING.

EMILY OXFORD APPOINTED TO UPSON TAX ASSESSORS BOARD

AT TUESDAY'S MEETING—THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAD TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO CHANGE ANAT APPOINTMENT TO THE UPSON BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS.

EMILY OXFORD WAS APPOINTED TO REPLACE GAINES WILSON WHO WAS RECENTLY NAMED TO THE BOARD.

GAINES WILSON IS A LEGAL RESIDENT OF FLORIDA AND THUS IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE UPSON BOARD. 

TOBIN INVESTIGATION STILL ON SAYS D.A. BALLARD

GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTT BALLARD TOLD ZOOM NEWS FRIDAY—HE IS CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE OFFICER PHLLIP TOBIN CASE—BUT HE DECLINED TO SET A TIME-TABLE ON WHEN IT MIGHT BE COMPLETED.

THERE WERE OVER 75 CITIZEN COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST TOBIN'S POLICING METHODS AND THE THOMASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR HAS BEEN ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR OVER A YEAR.

THE GBI CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION THEN TURNED ITS FINDINGS OVER TO THE D.A.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY BALLARD TOLD US—WITH SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE REVIEWED IT HAS BEEN TIME  CONSUMING.

HE WENT ON THE SAY—THIS IS REALLY NOT HIS  PURVIEW —BUT HE AGREED TO TAKE ON THIS PHASE OF THE TOBIN CASE BECAUSE THE GBI HAS BEEN SADDLED WITH SO MANY OTHER INVESTIGATIONS—SO  HE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP THEM OUT.

THREE CITIZENS WHO HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH TOBIN WERE INDICTED BY THE UPSON COUNTY GRAND JURY—AFTER THE GBI PRESENTED EVIDENCE . ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENTS-- BETTY SNIPES FOR POKING HER FINGER IN TOBINS FACE AND HER DAUGHTER TAMMY DAWSON FOR JUMPING ON HIS BACK.

CONVICTED DRUG DEALER KELSEY ROCKEMORE FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO KICK TOBIN WHEN THE OFFICER RESPONDED TO A CALL AT HANDY MART ON EAST WALKER—A COMPLAINT THAT ROCKEMORE WAS TRYING TO DEAL DRUGS.

ROCKEMORE IS SUEING THE CITY OF THOMASTON FOR A MILLION DOLLARS CLAIMING HE WAS TASERED WITHOUT CAUSE.

NEW COACH AT GA. SOUTHERN IS MARRIED TO A THOMASTONIAN

THE NEW GA. SOUTHERN FOOTBALL COACH HAS STRONG CONNECTIONS TO THOMASTON.

TYSON SUMMERS, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR COACH MIKE BOBO AT COLORADO STATE-- THE SON-IN-LAW OF PATTI AND FRANK KING—IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED AT GA. SOUTHERN ON SATURDAY. HE IS MARRIED TO BETH KING SUMMERS OF THOMASTON. THEY HAVE THREE BOYS—AGES 7, 5 AND 3.

COACH SUMMERS FROM TIFTON IS TAKING OVER FOR COACH WILLIE FRITZ WHO IS THE NEW COACH AT TULANE.

TYSON  COACHED AT GA. SOUTHERN IN 2006 AND THEN AT UAB AND CENTRAL FLORIDA BEFORE JOINING COACH BOBO. HIS DEFENSE AT COLORADO STATE RANKS 20TH IN THE NATION IN PASS DEFENSE.

GA. SOUTHERN PLAYS BOWLING GREEN IN THE GODADDY BOWL IN MOBILE, ALABAMA WEDNESDAY AT 8PM ON ESPN.

FRANK KING IS THE RETIRED SUPERINTENDANT OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY SCHOOLS AND WHEN ZOOM SPORTS SPOKE WITH HIM MONDAY—HE SAID HE WAS  ALREADY    WEARING A SHIRT WITH A GA. SOUTHERN LOGO.

POWER OUT IN NORTHSIDE FOR TWO HOURS MONDAY AM

POWER  WAS  OUT  IN  THE   UPSON COUNTY NORTHSIDE  AREA  FOR  ABOUT  TWO  HOURS   EARLY  MONDAY—AFTER  A   PICK-UP  TRUCK  LEFT   19  NEAR  ATWATER  ROAD—CLIPPED A   UTILITY  POLE  AND    CRASHED    ON THE  PORCH  OF  GINGER'S  PLACE.

ACCORDING  TO  POST   26  GA.  STATE PATROL—THE   DRIVER  OF  THE  FORD  PICK-UP  GEORGE  W. HORTMAN  OF  BUTLER—WAS  NOT  INJURED.   HORTMAN  WAS  SOUTH-BOUND   AT  5;30AM   ON  19  WHEN THE  TRUCK  LEFT  THE  ROAD  AND SNAPPED    THE    POWER  POLE..

THREE WRECKS IN PIKE COUNTY SATURDAY, DEC. 19

THREE ACCIDENTS WITH 3 FATALITIES IN PIKE COUNTY SATURDAY . ACCORDING TO THE PIKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE—A 5TH GRADER AT SKIPSTONE ACADEMY IN GRIFFIN WAS KILLED IN A 4-WHEELER ACCIDENT .

11 YEAR OLD LANE FORREST BRANNON OF GRIFFIN WAS OPERATING A 4-WHEELER WHEN IT OVERTURNED ON HIM CAUSING NUMEROUS INJURIES. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. AT SPALDING REGIONAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED.

TWO PIKE COUNTY RESIDENTS . DIED WHEN A TOYOTA SCION LEFT PEDENVILLE ROAD AND HIT A TREE—JUSTIN TURNER AND DEVEN MILLER DIED AT THE SCENE. TOXICOLOGY REPORTS ARE PENDING.

ALSO SATURDAY ON HUTCHINSON ROAD A HONDA ACCORD HIT A POWER POLE—SHEARING IT IN HALF. THE DRIVER 56 YEAR OLD STEVE BLANTON WAS AIR FLIGHTED TO GRADY HOSPITAL. BLANTON HAD A SUSPENDED DRIVERS LICENSE AND RESULTS OF THE BLOOD TOXICOLOGY ANALYSIS IS PENDING AT THE GBI CRIME LAB—ALCOHOL BELIEVED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE  ACCIDENT  

TWO FINALISTS FOR POLICE CHIEF IN THOMASTON

THE CITY OF THOMASTON HAS RELEASED THE NAMES OF THE TWO FINALISTS FOR CHIEF OF POLICE . MICHAEL RICHARDSON, A LIEUTENANT WITH THE GRIFFIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO CURRENTLY SUPERVISES THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION. RICHARDSON WAS SELECTED AS THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT 2015 OFFICER OF THE YEAR AND LIVES IN MEANSVILLE.

THE OTHER FINALIST IS H.C. “SKIP” CLARK, FORMER POLICE CHIEF OF PEACHTREE CITY WHERE HE SERVED AS CHIEF FROM 2008-2014. PREVIOUS TO PEACHTREE CITY, CLARK WAS CHIEF OF POLICE IN JUNO BEACH, FLORIDA FOR EIGHT YEARS. CLARK CURRENTLY RESIDES IN PEACHTREE CITY.

CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY SAYS THE NEW CHIEF WILL BE NAMED BY THE END OF THE MONTH, POSSIBLY AT A MEETING ON DECEMBER 28TH.

THOMASTON TIMES TO CLOSE DEC. 29

THE PUBLISHER OF THE THOMASTON TIMES NEWSPAPER , RICK THOMASON , HAS CONFIRMED THE TIMES WILL CEASE PUBLICATION DECEMBER 29TH.

MR. THOMASON TOLD US WHEN THE COMPANY WAS DEVELOPING ITS BUDGETS FOR 2016  IT COULD NOT JUSTIFY CONTINUING TO OPERATE IN A TWO NEWSPAPER TOWN WITHOUT SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

HE SAID CLOSING THE TIMES IS THE HARDEST THING HE HAS EVER HAD TO DO, THE FIRST TIME IN HIS 35 YEAR NEWSPAPER CAREER HE HAS HAD TO SHUT DOWN A PAPER.

THE THOMASTON TIMES CURRENTLY HAS 5 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1869.

THE TIMES AND THE LA GRANGE NEWSPAPER ARE THE ONLY TWO NEWSPAPERS IN GEORGIA IN THE   CIVITAS   MEDIA   CHAIN BASED IN DAVIDSON, NORTH CAROLINA. THE COMPANY PUBLISHES DOZENS OF PAPERS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, ILLINOIS, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, AND MISSOURI.

PUBLISHER THOMASON URGED THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE REMAINING NEWSPAPER, THE UPSON BEACON.

QB EASON WILL PLAY FOR UGA

THE NATION'S TOP QUARTERBACK PROSPECT HAS REAFFIRMED HE IS COMING TO PLAY FOR THE GA. BULLDOGS.

JACOB EASON OF WASHINGTON STATE COMMITTED TO UGA MONTHS AGO, BUT THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AFTER COACH MARK RICHT LEFT AND HE MADE A RECRUITING VISIT TO FLORIDA.

THE DAWGS NEW COACH KIRBY SMART HAS HIRED PITTSBURG'S OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JIM CHANEY WHO HAS A HISTORY OF DEVELOPING QUARTERBACKS, INCLUDING DREW BREES AT PERDUE.

SEC CLAIMS FRAUD IN SALE OF PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS CHARGED ATLANTA-BASED BUSINESSMAN CHRISTOPHER BROGDON OF MISUSING INVESTOR FUNDS RAISED TO BUY AND RENOVATE SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES—ONE OF THEM PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE 1011 SOUTH GREEN STREET IN THOMASTON.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CLAIMS BROGDON AMASSED NEARLY $190 MILLION THROUGH DOZENS OF MUNICIPAL BOND AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT OFFERINGS IN WHICH INVESTORS SUPPOSEDLY EARN INTEREST FROM REVENUES GENERATED BY THE SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES BUT BROGDON SECRETLY   COMMINGLED   INVESTOR FUNDS INSTEAD OF USING THE MONEY TO FINANCE THE PROJECT DESCRIBED TO INVESTORS.

THE THOMASTON-UPSON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SERVED AS THE ISSUER OF $8.9 MILLION IN BONDS TO GORDON JENSON HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION—A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION , TO PURCHASE PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE IDA—THE AUTHORITY, THE CITY OF THOMASTON, AND UPSON COUNTY ARE NOT FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLAYMENT OF THE BONDS , BUT THE IDA IS MONITORING THE SITUATION AS IT DEVELOPS.  

PIKE CO. YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARADE SUNDAY, DEC. 13

THE ANNUAL PIKE COUNTY YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARADE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 3PM IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST EVER WITH ACTIVITIES 2 TO 6PM ON THE ZEBULON SQUARE—WITH SPECIAL GUEST SANTA CLAUS.

UNITS INCLUDE THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY PACE CAR AND GRAND MARSHALL WILL BE PIKE COUNTY'S 18 YEAR OLD MADELINE -- MAD MADDIE CRANE -- WHO EARNED HER NASCAR LICENSE EARLIER THIS YEAR. MADDIE WILL BE A GUEST ON THE ZOOM'S MICK IN THE MORNING SHOW FRIDAY IN THE 9 O'CLOCK HOUR—TO DISCUSS HER RACING CAREER AND THE PARADE.

MADDIE'S BIGGEST FAN IS HER GRANDFATHER—NOTED ZEBULON ATTORNEY VIRGIL BROWN.

87 YEAR OLD CRASHES INTO A NAIL SALON IN GRIFFIN

AN EMPLOYEE OF J AND J NAIL SALON AT THE ROSE'S SHOPPING CENTER IN GRIFFIN WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO AN ATLANTA HOSPITAL, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON---AFTER AN 87 YEAR OLD FEMALE MOTORIST SLAMMED INTO THE BUILDING.

THE 38 YEAR OLD EMPLOYEE WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH HEAD AND LEG INJURIES AND THE CHAIR SHE WAS SITTING-ON MIGHT HAVE SAVED HER LIFE.

GRIFFIN POLICE SAID THE CHAIR BRACED THE VAN UP-IN-THE-AIR A BIT SO SHE WAS NOT PINNED TOTALLY UNDER THE VECHILE. THE VAN SMASHED THROUGH THE STORE-FRONT AND DRAGGED THE EMPLOYEE INTO THE VACANT SUITE NEXT DOOR.

THE FEMALE MOTORIST WAS TAKEN TO THE E.R. BY HER FAMILY TO GET CHECKED-OUT. SHE WAS BACKING HER VAN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL.

LT. MICHAEL NATALE OF GRIFFIN P.D. SAID THE SHOP WAS BUSY WHEN THE CRASH HAPPENED JUST AFTER 4PM AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE VICTIMS IF THE VAN HAD GONE STRAIGHT INTO THE STORE.

THE DRIVER WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF CITATION FOR THE INCIDENT—BUT SOME QUESTIONED WHY AN 87 YEAR OLD IS STILL ALLOWED TO DRIVE. UNDER GEORGIA LAW—THE LAST TIME AN 87 YEAR OLD WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO TAKE A DRIVING TEST WOULD HAVE BEEN DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN.

MURDER IN UPSON COUNTY

NEWS RELEASE

On Monday, December 7 2015 at approximately 7:45 pm Deputies from the Upson County Sheriff’s Office responded to 440 West Moore’s Crossing Road in reference to a 911 call of a domestic disturbance in progress. Upson arrival, deputies observed Eric “Redd” Manuel, 43, of Thomaston standing across the road holding a .22 rifle. Manuel, who was covered in blood, was ordered to drop the rifle and surrender to deputies. Randy Raines, 48, of 440 West Moore’s Crossing Road was found lying in his driveway at 440 West Moore’s Crossing Road with a large laceration to his neck. Raines died from his injuries soon after deputies arrived. A 42 year old female was also in the driveway. She was not injured.

Our preliminary investigation indicates that the female is the estranged wife of Manuel and she and Raines now have a relationship. There is  an order from Magistrate Court that prohibits Manuel from contacting the female. Evidence indicates that Manuel went to the residence of Raines and a confrontation ensued resulting in the death of Raines.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to assist with the crime scene investigation. The Griffin District Attorney’s Office responded to assist.  This investigation is active and ongoing.

Eric “Redd” Manuel is being held in the Upson County Jail. Warrants will be sought charging Manuel with Murder.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

December 8, 2015

GEORGIA'S NEXT HEAD COACH

NUMEROUS SOURCES SAY UGA'S NEXT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH WILL BE ALABAMA DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR KIRBY SMART, WHO PLAYED DEFENSIVE BACK FOR THE BULLDOGS.

ITS EXPECTED TO BE OFFICIAL AFTER THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SATURDAY, BETWEEN ALABAMA AND FLORIDA.

MEANWHILE, COACH MARK RICHT, WHO WAS DISMISSED, APPEARS TO BE THE TOP CHOICE TO BE HEAD COACH AT MIAMI, WHERE HE PLAYED QUARTERBACK.

FROM THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS

Parents, Stakeholders, and Interested Citizens are invited to a Reception with theUpson Lee Middle School Principal Rhonda Gulley on Wednesday, December 9, at 12:00 Noon in the school media center. Come enjoy refreshments and learn about some of the great things going on at ULMS. Mrs. Gulley will also discuss the Milestone test results and how the test affects your child and our school. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions, give input, and make suggestions. We want to hear from you!