A THOMASTON MAN DIED IN A FLORIDA TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THURSDAY NIGHT

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL, A THOMASTON MAN DIED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON I-75 SOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT IN ALACHUA, FLORIDA.

31 YEAR OLD ANTOINE ATWATER WAS DRIVING A SEMI-TRUCK AROUND 9PM THURSDAY WHEN HIS TRUCK LEFT THE ROADWAY AND RAN INTO THE PAYNES PRAIRIE SWAMP, BECOMING SUBMERGED IN W ATER.

ATWATER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. A 25 YEAR OLD THOMASTON WOMAN WHO WAS IN THE TRUCK WITH ATWATER WAS NOT INJURED.

FLORIDA AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE THOMASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

This department is currently investigating numerous reports of counterfeit money being passed at local businesses in the city of Thomaston, GA. The paper money has the words printed on the front and back indicating that it’s “For Motion Picture Use Only”. The font and size of the paper notes are extremely consistent with legitimate United States Currency notes and this has hurt several local business owners in Thomaston. Our investigation reveals that this money can be purchased online through several venders without any type of background check, to confirm that the buyer’s intentions are to use the documents solely for movies, TV, and or video advertising etc. One online vender sells this type of prop money for only $23.76, which can buy you $10,000 in prop $100 bills highlighting that it’s “The best and highest rated prop money in the USA and on the market”. We are advising the public to please be cautious and inspect the currency that is being passed through all businesses within Thomaston and the surrounding counties. This case is still active in our jurisdiction and we currently have several suspects that are involved in passing these notes with the intent of depriving the business owners. 

Our department has reached out to the United Stated Secret Service to gather more information on the legality of these types of notes being sold online.

EVENT AT UPSON LEE NORTH

Attention ULNE Parents – Would you like to learn about the curriculum at ULNE AND find out who will be your child’s teacher for 2016-17?

Then come to Upson-Lee North Elementary for Curriculum “Knight” on Tuesday, August 2, from 5:30-8 p.m. Teachers will lead informational sessions about the expectations for each subject. Parents/Guardians can ask questions about Reading and English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. It is important to be at ULNE at 5:30 p.m. so that you can rotate through each session.  This is not a drop-in event; you will need to attend the entire event from 5:30-8:00 p.m.  Parents/Guardians who attend each session during Curriculum “Knight” will be given the name of their child’s homeroom teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. If you are unable to attend Curriculum "Knight", you will receive class assignments at Open House on Thursday, August 4, from 6-8 p.m.

BEN COKER OF THOMASTON ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY

BEN COKER WON DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT WITH 57% OF THE VOTE.

COKER TOTALED 10,157, RUDYARD HAYES 7652—COKER WON BIG IN UPSON, PIKE, AND SPALDING BUT ONLY POLLED 33% IN FAYETTE—HAYES HOME COUNTY.

COKER WILL TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY.

DREW FERGUSON WON THE GOP NOMINATION FOR 3RD DISTRICT U.S. CONGRESS WITH 54% OF THE VOTE OVER MIKE CRANE.

IN SPALDING COUNTY DARRELL DIX WON THE GOP NOMINATION FOR SHERIFF DEFEATING INCUMBENT WENDELL BEAM 2875 TO 2523.

RUN OFF ELECTION RESULTS FOR UPSON COUNTY, TUESDAY

IN TUESDAY'S RUN OFF ELECTION---JAN STREETMAN WAS ELECTED CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF UPSON COUNTY AND IN A CLOSE RACE DAVID ANDY CHASTAIN WAS ELECTED TAX COMMISSIONER.

STREETMAN POLLED 64% OF THE VOTE TO WIN OVER TERRY SALTER FOR CHIEF MAGISTRATE 2092 TO 1192.

CHASTAIN GOT 51% OF THE VOTE TO DEFEAT DONNA SMITH—1465 TO 1402.

3320 VOTES WERE CAST, 25%, WITH OVER HALF CAST IN EARLY VOTING.

FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN UPSON, PIKE, SPALDING, AND FAYETTE COUNTIES—BEN COKER POLLED 95%, 2752 VOTES TO RUDJARD HAYES 133.

FOR THIRD DISTRICT CONGRESS, DREW FERGUSON GOT 66% 1854 VOTES TO MIKE CRANE 924.

UPDATE POLICE SHOOTING IN PIKE CO. TUESDAY NIGHT

The individual that was involved in the altercation with Pike County Deputies last night is identified as Dakota Caldwell,white male, 24 years of age. 

The preliminary investigation into the incident has shown the Deputies to be completely justified in their actions to defend their safety. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will continue with their inquiry into the actions surrounding the discharge of the Deputies weapons.

Caldwell was armed with an AR-15 and a semi automatic handgun at the time of the incident. His charges include aggravated assault on law enforcement, possession of a firearm during commission of a crime and interference with government property.

ROB BENNETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP TO PAUL FALLIN

The Flint River Area Auburn Club presented the 2016 Rob Bennett Memorial Scholarship to Thomaston native Paul Fallin. The scholarship is presented annually to an exceptional student in the Flint River area who attends or will attend Auburn University.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

PIKE COUNTY DEPUTIES INVOLVED IN A POLICE SHOOTING TUES. NIGHT

At approximately 11:21 p.m. Pike County Deputies responded to a domestic situation on Concord Road. Upon arrival Deputies were informed that an individual that had been involved in the incident had left the scene in his vehicle. The information given to deputies further stated that he was armed with a firearm.

Two Deputies located the suspect in his vehicle on Turner Road and attempted to make a traffic stop. The suspect was believed to be stopping and as the Deputies exited there vehicle to approach the vehicle he accelerated and rammed the front of the patrol vehicle causing extensive damage.

At this time the suspect was observed with an assault rifle in his hands and failed to comply with Deputies instructions. Due to the imminent threat against them the Deputies did shoot the suspect at this time. He suffered non life threatening injuries and was taken into custody.

EMS personnel transported the suspect to Spalding Regional Hospital for treatment. He has since been released and is currently in the Pike County Jail.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting . 

The suspect is not being identified at this time however he faces charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement, interference with government property and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime charges at this time. More charges could be forthcoming as Investigators continue to look into this incident.

The Deputies were not injured

A YATESVILLE HIGHWAY COUPLE ARRESTED FOR BURGLARIES IN THOMASTON, UPSON

Pike County Sheriff's Office Investigators have been working on a commercial burglary and several thefts that have taken place over the past several weeks. The diligence of Investigators paid off as a lead was developed on a suspect. Additional burglaries had been reported in Zebulon, Thomaston, Upson  County and Taylor County that were similar in nature during the same time frame. Valuable information was shared between the agencies that eventually lead to their capture.

The leads that developed were shared with all agencies as two suspects were identified. The suspects were found to be living in Upson County at 3997 Yatesville Highway. 

A search of the residence pursuant to a search warrant revealed numerous stolen items from multiple jurisdictions. A stolen vehicle from Pike County and one from Spalding County were located. The list of stolen items recovered included a handgun, 40 foot trailer, zero turn lawnmower, dirt bike and an all terrain vehicle. The scope of the stolen items recovered reached from Columbus to Barnesville.

The suspects arrested are Marcus Floyd , 38 years of age , and his wife Travanique Floyd , 30 years of age. They face numerous charges including burglary, theft by receiving stolen property , possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by taking motor vehicle. Both suspects have an extensive arrest record primarily for theft and burglary.

The arrests of the suspects was carried out by Pike County Sheriffs Office , Zebulon Police Department, Upson County Sheriffs Office and Thomaston Police Department. All of these agencies will have criminal charges on the suspects as well as Spalding County, Taylor County and Barnesville.

Both suspects are currently in the Pike County Jail  awaiting a bond hearing. 

GUILTY PLEAS IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT

Pleas – Judge Robert M. Crawford July 19, 2016 16R0145 Pam Sue Homman Ct. 1: Possession of Controlled Substance: Nolle Prosequi Ct. 2: Possession Methamphetamine: 3 Years probation; 80 hours community Service; Fine of $1,000 Ct. 3: Driving While License Suspended: Nolle Prosequi Ct. 4: Possession Marijuana Less Than Ounce: Nolle Prosequi Ct. 5: Failure to Maintain Lane: Nolle Prosequi 16R0162 James Tyrese Davis Ct. 1: Forgery 4th Degree: Time Served 16R0199 Kevin Dewayne Smith Ct. 1: Simple Battery, FVA: 12 months Probation; 80 hours community service; Fine of $500

A THOMASTON YOUTH KILLED IN ALABAMA ATV ACCIDENT

ONE YOUNG THOMASTON MAN WAS KILLED—ANOTHER CRITICALLY INJURED SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN AN ATV ACCIDENT IN TALLEDEGA, ALABAMA.

ACCORDING TO THE TALLEDEGA DAILY HOME NEWSPAPER, 24 YEAR OLD CURTIS SALTER OF THOMASTON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE---AND A PASSENGER ON THE RAZOR DUNE-BUGGIE TYPE ATV---NICK KENNEDY OF THOMASTON WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM WITH A LEG FRACTURE AND OTHER INJURIES.

TALLEDEGA COUNTY CORONER SHADDIX MURPHY SAID SALTER AND KENNEDY ROUNDED A CORNER AND STRUCK A TREE AT TOP TRAILS—AN ATV PARK WITH OVER 70 MILES OF TRAILS. THE TWO THOMASTON YOUTH HAD BEEN CAMPING-OUT AT THE PARK OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.

EARLY VOTING FOR THE JULY 26 RUN-OFF BEGINS JULY 5 AT THE CIVIC CENTER

ATLANTA – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp reminds Georgia voters that the polls open Tuesday, July 5 for advance in-person voting leading up to the July 26 General Primary and Nonpartisan Run-off Elections. Secretary Kemp encourages all voters to take advantage of Georgia’s advance voting period, which also includes absentee voting by mail, in these upcoming July contests.