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FIREWORKS DURING UL GRADUATION UNDER INVESTIGATION

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE WANTS THE PUBLIC'S HELP ON A FIREWORKS DISPLAY DURING THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR UPSON-LEE HIGH SCHOOL FRIDAY EVENING AT MATTEWS FIELD.

THE SHERIFF SAID THE FIREWORKS DISCHARGED FOUR LOUD BANGS WHILE DIPLOMAS WERE BEING HANDED-OUT.

IT SEEMED TO BE LAUNCHED FROM THE BASEBALL FIELD NEAR MATTEWS FIELD -- HE SAID. CALL THE S.O. IF YOUR HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAYS AN 80 YEAR OLD BLACK RETIRED MARINE FROM HENRY COUNTY MADE HIS LAST CELL PHONE CALL IN UPSON COUNTY. BERTRAND CLARANCE BROWN HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE MAY 17TH—AND WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A SILVER 2015 TOYTOA TUNDRA PICK-UP WITH A RETIRED MARINE OFFICERS DECAL.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT MR. BROWN SHOULD CALL 911.

UPSON-LEE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

Upson-Lee High School graduation will be Friday night at Matthews Field. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8 p.m., and guests are asked to arrive early, since seating is limited. The Class of 2016 Valedictorian is Montana Shug, and Salutatorian is Cole Kilby. The ULHS Graduation is a private ceremony and tickets are required for entry into Matthews Field. Please remember that no balloons or tripods are allowed in the stands.

...............................................................

Karen F. Truesdale

NEW SPEED BUMP POLICY FOR CITY OF THOMASTON

THE CITY OF THOMASTON WILL IMMEDIATLEY BEGIN REMOVING TEMPORARY, PREFABRICATED SPEED BUMPS AND WILL BE INITIATING A PROGRAM CONSISTANT WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL STANDARDS FOR REQUESTING, INSTALLING, AND REMOVING ALL SUCH DEVICES IN THE CITY.

IN A PRESS RELEASE—INTERIM CITY MANAGER BILLY BECKETT SAID CITY HALL HAS LEARNED FROM GA. DOT THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR SPEED BUMPS AND SPEED HUMPS THAT APPARENTLY WERE NOT FOLLOWED AND IT COULD EXPOSE THE CITY TO LIABILILTY AND HAMPER STATE FUNDING FOR ROAD WORK.

WHILE REMOVING ALL PREFABRICATED SPEED BUMPS CITY HALL WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE MEASURES TO INSURE CITIZENS SAFETY AND DEVELOP STANDARD POLICIES FOR BOTH TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT DEVICES—THE MANAGER SAID.  

LATEST ELECTON RETURNS

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST TALLY FROM THE GA. SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE A RUN-OFF JULY 26TH IN THE 3RD DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE BETWEEN STATE SENATOR MIKE CRANE AND WEST POINT MAYOR DREW FERGUSON.

CRANE POLLED 26.92% AND FERGUSON GOT 26.77% OF THE VOTE.

JIM PACE WAS THIRD WITH 23%.

BEN COKER POLLED 46.78% OF THE VOTE FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND WILL BE IN A RUN-OFF WITH RUDJARD HAYS WITH 27.97%. CINDY MANNING RECEIVED 25%. COKER 11,389, HAYES 6809, MANNING 6150.

FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GRIFFIN CIRCUIT—MACK CRAWFORD RE-ELECTED WITH 64.8%, CATHERINE SANDERSON 35.42%. CRAWFORD 20,140, SANDERSON 11,147

DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTT BALLARD UNSEATED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE TOMMY HANKINSON 55.24% TO 44.71% IN UPSON, PIKE, SPALDING, AND FAYETTE COUNTIES.

BALLARD 17,527, HANKINSON 14,171.

UPSON COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS TUESDAY

NORMAN ALLEN WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION WITH 57% OF THE VOTE TUESDAY—COMMISSIONER STEVE HUDSON WAS DEFEATED BY JAMES ELLINGTON AND COMMISSIONER LORENZO WILDER WON RE-ELECTION.

THERE WILL BE A RUN-OFF FOR TAX COMMISSIONER JULY 26TH BETWEEN ANDY CHASTAIN AND DONNA SMITH AND JAN STREETMAN AND TERRY SALTER WILL RUN OFF FOR CHIEF MAGISTRATE.

JAY EUBANKS BEAT TERRELL JACKSON FOR DISTRICT 7 BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SHELIA HALL EDGED MICHAEL STEWERT FOR DISTRICT 3 BOE.

NORMAN ALLEN POLLED 1851 VOTES FOR CHAIRMAN, MAURICE RAINES 1087, BILL MAHER 301. JAMES ELLINGTON GOT 61%--784 STEVE HUDSON 493.

LORENZO WILDER RECEIVED 59% 331 CHRIS BIGGS 223.

FOR TAX COMMISSIONER DAVID ANDY CHASTAIN 36% 1272 VOTES DONNA SMITH 26% 926, SEAN TOWNSEND 642, RONNIE PORTWOOD 630.

CHIEF MAGISTRATE JAN STREETMAN 47.63%, 2174, TERRY SALTER 29.93% 1366, WILLIAM HUGHLEY 1024.

SHELIA HALL 50.34% FOR BOE DISTRICT 3 366, MICHAEL STEWERT 49.66% 361.

BOE DISTRICT 7 JAY EUBANKS 58% 392 INCUMBENT TERRELL JACKSON 276.

FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER 89%, FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE INCUMBENT MACK CRAWFORD 80%,

JUDGE TOMMY HANKINSON 65% SCOTT BALLARD 34%.

FOR 3RD DISTRICT CONGRESS—DREW FERGUSON 31%, JIM PACE 20%, CHIP FLANEGAN 16%, MIKE CRANE 13%.

THE TURNOUT IN UPSON WAS 35%

NOTICE FROM UPSON COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS

The Upson County Tax Assessors mailed a little more than 15,000 assessment notices on May 13, 2016. As of May 24, more than 175 were returned as undeliverable. The office has found new addresses for all but 141 and need help from these property owners to get their mail to them. If anyone owns property in Upson County and has not received an assessment notice this year, please call or come by the Assessors’ Office and give us your correct mailing address.

Pat Ferguson Fallin

Chief Appraiser

pfallin@upsoncountyga.org

PH; 706-647-8176

Fax: 706-647-7818

TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY IN GA.

TUESDAY IS THE GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN GEORGIA. THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN 7AM TILL 7PM.

FOR 3RD DISTRICT U.S. CONGRESS, JIM PACE, DREW FERGUSON, AND MIKE CRANE LEADING CANDIDATES.

FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT—BEN COKER, CINDY MANNING, RUDJARD HAYES

FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, INCUMBENT TOMMY HANKINSON, CHALLENGER SCOTT BALLARD

FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE INCUMBENT MACK CRAWFORD, CHALLENGER KATHRINE SANDERSON.

IN UPSON COUNTY CONTESTED RACES FOR COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, DISTRICT 2 COUNTY COMMISSION, CHIEF MAGISTRATE, TAX COMMISSIONER.

CURRENT CHAIRMAN RUSTY BLACKSTON IS ON THE BALLOT BUT HE HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE RACE.

A DRUG DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT

IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT, THURSDAY, A JURY DELIBERATED ONLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE FINDING A FLORIDA MAN, FRED LEE CROMARTIE GUILTY OF TRAFFICING IN COCAINE AND MARIJUANA.

JUDGE TOMMY HANKINSON SENTENCED CROMARTIE TO 30 YEARS, 20 TO SERVE IN PRISON AND A $200,000 FINE.

CROMARTIE WHO WAS STOPPED DRIVING A RENTAL CAR IN THOMASTON, DID NOT TAKE THE STAND DURING THE TRIAL.

6TH ANNUAL CHAMBER POKER RUN SATURDAY

THE 6TH ANNUAL THOMASTON-UPSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE POKER RUN IS SATURDAY, MAY 21. REGISTRATION AT SPREWELL BLUFF BEGINNING AT 10;30AM. PARTICIPANTS FLOAT THE FLINT RIVER WITH A CHANCE TO WIN GREAT PRIZES. TICKETS $40 TO $60.

FOR MORE INFO CALL THE CHAMBER 706-647-9686.

BUILDING SAFETY MONTH

UPSON COUNTY BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT                                      DRAKE BUILDING                             305 S. HIGHTOWER STREET, SUITE D-100                             THOMASTON, GA 30286-4170                                                                                      (706) 647-1297    FAX (706) 647-2693

Contact: Doug Currier II FOR RELEASE MAY 23, 2016

Upson County Building and Zoning Department, Director of Planning & Zoning

Tel. 706/647-1297

Email: DCurrier@upsoncountyga.org

  

Building Codes: A Smart Investment

  

WEEK FOUR // May 23–29, 2016

As part of its observance of Building Safety Month, Upson County through its affiliation with the International Code Council, is asking all of its residents and business owners to raise their awareness of building safety issues. A series of themed informative articles is being provided to remind and inform every one of those sometimes small, but important measures that must be taken to provide the highest level of safety and accommodation around our homes and business places.  

The biggest investment most people will ever make is when they buy a home. Homes represent security, a place where people will live, raise their families, and share life with others. Whether you own or rent a home, following the building codes during construction or remodeling can help protect your health and safety, and your investment as well.

The building codes include research from experts that help ensure every phase of the construction process is done correctly. In addition to helping make your home safe, the building codes can also help make your home more energy efficient, use less water, and conserve resources.

If your construction project does not comply with the codes adopted by the State of Georgia, the value of your investment could be reduced. Property insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. If you decide to sell a home or building that has had modifications without a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied, or make costly repairs. If you’re hiring someone to work on your home, hire a state-licensed contractor to pull the permit and do the work. Georgia statutes allow home owners to work on their primary residence on their own, with a permit. Make sure you are knowledgeable about the building codes before you make this decision.

A property owner who can show that code requirements were strictly and consistently met––as demonstrated by a code official’s carefully maintained records––has a strong ally if something happens to trigger a potentially destructive lawsuit. Your permit also allows the code official to protect the public by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction and ensuring public health, safety, and welfare. 

By following code guidelines, the completed project will meet minimum standards of safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, your friends, or future owners, plus you’ll benefit from the best energy efficiency construction techniques that will continue to pay you back for the life of your home.

Invest wisely in your home or remodeling project. It’s a smart investment to build and remodel your home to the latest codes.

Cost Implications in Areas Subject to Natural Hazards

While hazard mitigation can increase the costs of building in a hazard-prone area, benefits such as potential reductions in insurance premiums and reduced repair time following a natural disaster may offset the higher costs. In the floodplain, the latest building codes incorporate higher standards that reduce risk and can reduce insurance premiums. Examples in FEMA’s Coastal Construction Manual show that adding one foot of freeboard above the base flood elevation can reduce annual flood insurance premiums by approximately 20-45%.

Insurance should never be viewed as an alternative to damage prevention, but hazard insurance to offset potential financial exposure is an important consideration and sometimes a requirement for homeowners in areas subject to natural hazards. Flood insurance is offered through the NFIP in participating communities and is separate from homeowners insurance. Wind insurance coverage is generally part of a homeowners insurance policy, but private companies offer last resort insurance to homeowners in coastal areas in some states. Earthquake insurance is an addition to a regular homeowners insurance policy.

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If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Doug Currier or Building Official Phil Ellerbee, please call 706/647-1297 or email Doug at DCurrier@upsoncountyga.org.

THREE INJURED IN SUNDAY WRECK ON HANNAH'S MILL ROAD

ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL---THREE INJURED—ONE LIFE-FLIGHTED--- AFTER A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN UPSON COUNTY SUNDAY AFTERNOON-- ON HANNAH'S MILL ROAD NEAR NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH.

STATE TROOPER DON STEWERT TOLD ZOOM NEWS THE DRIVER OF A FORD EXPLORER—57 YEAR OLD SANDRA MCDUFFIE OF CHURCH ROAD CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND HIT A 2011 FORD PICK-UP HEAD ON—A TRUCK DRIVEN BY 68 YEAR OLD FRANCIS GORDY OF JEFF DAVIS ROAD.

MS. MCDUFFIE WAS AIR-FLIGHTED TO MACON MEDICAL CENTER.

MS. GORDY'S HUSBAND—72 YEAR OLD DAVID GORDY—A PASSENGER—WAS TRANSPORTED TO MACON MEDICAL CENTER BY AMBULANCE AND MS. GORDY WAS TRANSPORTED TO UPSON REGIONAL—THEN TAKEN TO MACON MEDICAL.

BOMB THREATS IN BARNESVILLE SUNDAY

The City of Barnesville Police Department received six separate 911 calls during the evening of May 15, 2016 through the Lamar County 911 Center. The calls were in reference to a bomb threat at the following locations. Roses Store 904 Veterans Parkway, Family Dollar 329 College Drive, CVS 622 Rose Avenue, McDonald’s 200 Forsyth Street, Hot Shot Gas Station 202 Veterans Parkway, and Pizza Hut 219 Forsyth Street. The incident locations were evacuated and safe distance was obtained for safety. The Barnesville Police Department was assisted by the Barnesville Fire Department, Lamar County Fire & Rescue, Gordon State College Police, Lamar County Sherriff’s Office, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9 Unit. The locations were cleared of any explosive devices, and turned back over to the mangers. The Police Department is also working with Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The incidents are still under investigations at this time.

ATLANTA BAR ASSOCIATION METRO JUDGES POLL

THE ATLANTA BAR ASSOCIATION HAS ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON THE 2016 JUDICIAL BAR POLL RESULTS FOR THE METRO COUNTIES —AND THE TWO JUDGES ON THE MAY 24TH BALLOT IN THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT—JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD AND JUDGE TOMMY R. HANKINSON OUT-POLLED THEIR OPPONENTS BY A 2 TO 1 MARGIN.

ON THE QUESTION OF BEST QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD OUTPOLLED CHALLENGER CATHERINE SANDERSON 131 TO 49.

ON THE BEST QUALFIED QUESTION—JUDGE TOMMY HANKINSON OUTPOLLED CHALLENGER SCOTT BALLARD 125 TO 57.

THE ATLANTA BAR ASSOCIATION NOTES THE RESULTS OF THE POLL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE.

NEWS FROM THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION

At the Tuesday, May 10, Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the following personnel recommendations from Superintendent, Dr. Maggie Shook:

• Stan Searcy was named Thomaston-Upson Director of Maintenance and Operations. Mr. Searcy, who currently serves as Assistant Principal at Upson-Lee South Elementary, will replace Mike Majors, who will be retiring in June. Searcy will move into this Central Office position on July 1, 2016. 
• Bryce Robinson was named Upson-Lee Athletic Director. Mr. Robinson, a teacher and assistant football coach at ULHS, will replace Stephen Boyd, who is taking an assistant principal position in Hawkinsville next school year. Robinson will move into this position on July 1, 2016.

CANDIDATES FORUM MONDAY, MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH

MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH NORTH HIGHTOWER STREET IN THOMASTON IS HOLDING A CLERY, CANDIDATES AND COMMUNITY FORUM MONDAY, MAY 9TH AT 7PM.

PUBLIC INVITED.

THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS POST IMPRESSIVE SCORES

T-U CCRPI Scores Among Top in Our Area

Thomaston-Upson School System CCRPI scores are among the top in the Griffin RESA district, according to the College and Career Readiness Index reports released Tuesday, May 3, by the Georgia Department of Education. The Thomaston-Upson District average is 75.4, almost equal to the state district average of 75.5. Upson-Lee High School scored 77, exceeding the state average of 75.8. Upson-Lee Middle School posted a score of 77.8, also above the state of Georgia average of 71.2.  Upson-Lee North scored a 74.5, slightly below the state average of 76. (Primary scores are not being reported by the state, which is why ULSE does not have a CCRPI report.)

Georgia schools implemented the CCRPI in 2012, replacing the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement used under No Child Left Behind. CCRPI measures schools and districts on a comprehensive 100-point scale.

Dr. Maggie Shook, Superintendent, stated, “We are pleased with the 2015 CCRPI scores, which include calculations from the new, more rigorous Georgia Milestones Assessments. However, we know that there is still work to be done and progress to be made. Our administrators and teachers will now take and analyze this data to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses and use this information to drive school and school district improvement efforts.”

Of the eight school systems in the Griffin RESA, Thomaston-Upson posted the 2nd highest CCRPI scores. Fayette County was the only school system that scored higher than Thomaston-Upson’s 75.4, posting a score of 81.9. 

Griffin RESA scores in descending order are:

Fayette:                               81.9
Thomaston-Upson:          75.4Henry:                                 72.9
 Pike:                                   70.7
Newton:                              70.3
Butts:                                   69.6
Spalding:                             67.5
Lamar:                                 66.7

Other Area District Scores
Monroe County:                73.1
Taylor:                                  68.9
Meriwether:                       61.7
Bibb:                                     60.8

THOMASTON HAS A NEW CITY MANAGER

THE CITY OF THOMASTON HIRED A NEW CITY MANAGER TUESDAY NIGHT, RUSSELL THOMPSON CURRENTLY CITY MANAGER OF SUMMERVILLE, GA.

THOMPSON WILL REPORT JUNE 6TH. COUNCIL MEMBER LAKETHIA REEVES VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION TO HIRE THOMPSON, COUNCILMAN JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS ABSTAINED BECAUSE HE SAID HE ONLY ATTENDED TWO OF THE FOUR INTERVIEW SESSIONS.

THOMPSON AROUND AGE 40 AND HIS WIFE JODY, NATIVES OF GRAY, GA. HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND HE TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE IS LOOKING FOWARD TO MOVING TO THOMASTON.

UPSON S.O. FOUND A BODY TUESDAY IN A BARN

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE CALLED IT A SAD ENDING TO A TRAGIC STORY, A YOUNG UPSON COUNTY MAN WAS FOUND HANGED IN A BARN OFF DEL RAY ROAD, TUESDAY AT LUNCHTIME, AFTER A TWO DAY SEARCH FOR HIM.

ACCORDING TO SHERIFF KILGORE, TREY GILBERT, AGE 22 HAD A PISTOL AND WAS THREATENING SUCIDE WHEN DEPUTIES RESPONDED OFF EAST COUNTY ROAD SUNDAY NIGHT.

GILBERT STARTED WALKING WHEN HIS CAR BROKE DOWN AND THOMASTON POLICE JOINED THE S.O. TO TRACK GILBERT TO BURNETTE ROAD.

GILBERT SUDDENLY TURNED AND POINTED A PISTOL AT A POLICE OFFICER WHO FIRED AT HIM AND MISSED.

THEN A DEPUTY SHOT GILBERT TWICE IN THE BACK WITH FOAM RUBBER BULLETS THAT SPUN HIM AROUND—AND HE FLED INTO THE WOODS. A GSP COPTER WITH THERMO IMAGING TRACKED HIM—THEN LOST HIM.

THE SEARCH CONTINUED INTO TUESDAY—WHEN LAWMEN ON THE GROUND FOUND HIS BODY IN THE BARN.

SHERIFF KILGORE THANKED THOMASTON PD, , GA. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THEIR BLOODHOUNDS, SPALDING S.O. AND GSP FOR THEIR COPTERS.

THOMASTON POLICE OFFICER BRUCE GILBERT SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN HE STEPPED OUT OF A MOVING S.O. SUV SHADOWING GILBERT AND AND WAS RUN OVER. POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON SAID OFFICER GILBERT UNDERWENT SURGERY AT MACON MEDICAL CENTER AND WILL BE OUT OF ACTION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE CALLED-IN TO INVESTIGATE A SUSPICIOUS FIRE AT THE OLD EAST THOMASTON SCHOOL ON PARK LANE JUST AFTER 10PM MONDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT---THE SOUTH BUILDING NEXT TO THE PARK LANE EVENTS VENUE

HAD FIRE DAMAGE TO A CLASSROOM ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR AND THE REST OF THE BUILDING SUSTAINED SMOKE DAMAGE.

PROPERTY OWNER MARK DAVIS TOLD ZOOM NEWS— DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE SOUTH BUILDING AND THE POWER WAS OFF TO THE BUILDING .