THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF ED SETS 2016 TAX MILLAGE RATE

AT A CALLED MEETING—TUESDAY, THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SET THE 2016 TAX MILLAGE RATE AT 15.421 MILLS—A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT RATE OF 15.38 MILLS.

HOWEVER , THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NOT COLLECT ANY MORE MONEY THAN IT DID LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE TAX DIGEST FELL BY $9.3 MILLION.

STATE LAW PROVIDES FOR A ROLLBACK FOR A SCHOOL BOARD TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES IN AN UPCOMING YEAR ON THE RE-ASSESSED VALUES AS WERE COLLECTED THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE IMPACT ON A HOMEOWNER WITH A $100,000 HOME AT 40% OF ASSESSED VALUE WOULD BE AN INCREASE $1.60.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED

THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR CITY OF THOMASTON CUSTOMERS HAS BEEN LIFTED.

THE NOTICE WAS ISSUED FRIDAY BUT HAS BEEN RESCINDED FOLLOWING THE SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY SHOWING THAT THE WATER IS SAFE.

ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO VICTORY COZART, THOMASTON WATER DEPARTMENT, 706-647-9694.

UPSON LEE WINS OPENER

UPSON LEE KNIGHTS OPENED THE FOOTBALL SEASON WITH A 23-13 WIN OVER SHAW FRIDAY NIGHT. UL IS AT HOME AGAIN THIS FRIDAY NIGHT TO PLAY COLUMBUS HIGH, A 7;30 KICK ON 105-9/101-1.--PREGAME SHOW AT 6PM.

THOMASTON MAN ENTERS GUILTY PLEA AFTER GBI STING IN MACON

A THOMASTON MAN CAUGHT-UP IN A GBI STING ON INTERNET CHILD PORN ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA IN BIBB COUNTY MONDAY AND IS AWAITING SENTENCING.

IN 2014 37 YEAR OLD BENJAMIN CRAIG STANDARD JR. THOUGHT HE WAS MEETING A 14 YEAR OLD AT A MACON MOTEL BUT THE GBI SHOWED-UP INSTEAD.

STANDARD HAD POSTED AN AD ON THE BACKPAGE INTERNET CLASSIFIEDS SOLICITING SEX.

HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MONDAY AND WILL BE SENTENCED AFTER A PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION.

THE CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED CHILD MOLESTATION AND INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY CARRY UP TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON. 

TRAFFIC ISSUES AT PIKE COUNTY SCHOOLS

The congestion and safety concerns related to the school traffic on US 19 have been a concern to the citizens of Pike County, the Pike County Board of Commissioners, the Pike County Board of Education, and the Georgia Department of Transportation over the past several years. The Pike County Board of Commissioners and the Pike County Board of Education are working collaboratively with the Georgia Department of Transportation toward a solution to provide much needed relief as it relates to safety concerns and congestion on US 19.  

The County is in the process of constructing a new drive from Old Meansville Road that will serve as the entrance to the High School that is projected to open this Fall.  We will share more on the new traffic plan in the weeks to come as the construction of this drive progesses.  Please continue to be patient as we work together to address school traffic concerns.

-- 

Pike County Board Of Commissioners

John Hanson

County Manager

Tel:  (770) 567-3406 

Fax: (770) 567-2006

pikecoga.com

GAS LEAK ON NORTH GREEN MONDAY

MONDAY AROUND 2;45PM NORTH GREEN STREET FROM GORDON TO MAIN STREET WAS BLOCKED OFF BY THE THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AFTER A GAS LEAK NEAR ACE CLEANERS. ACE CLEANERS, THE LAW OFFICES OF MALLORY AND TRICE AND SOUTH CREST BANK WERE EVACUATED AS A PRECAUTION.

THOMASTON FIRE CHIEF EDDIE LIFSEY TOLD ZOOM NEWS—CITY OF THOMASTON ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT WAS SETTING A UTILITY POLE WHEN CREWS APPARENTLY HIT A GAS LINE.

THOMASTON POLICE MAKE ARMED ROBBERY ARREST

In the early morning hours of August 16, 2016 a customer leaving a local convenience store was walking back to his vehicle when he was approached by a black male who pointed a handgun at him, demanding money out of his pocket. The victim gave the suspect $120 in cash and then the suspect demanded the victim’s wallet from his front pocket. The victim refused to turn his wallet over to the suspect and the victim successfully obtained the gun from the suspect after a brief altercation. The suspect fled on foot with the victims $120 in US currency. The gun that was used in the armed robbery was in fact a pellet handgun and was turned over to law enforcement by the victim on scene. This incident occurred at Mickey’s Grocery located at 703 Bethel Street in Thomaston Upson County Georgia 30286.  

The criminal investigation led to the arrest of Demarcus Jermaine Griggs, 17 years of age from Thomaston who was apprehend at his parents residence located in the Lincoln Park area in Thomaston, GA on August 17, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. Griggs is currently being held without bond at the Upson County Sheriff’s Office Jail and is charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activities, and Influencing a witness. 

CHILD MOLESTATION ARREST IN UPSON COUNTY

NEWS RELEASE

On August 16, 2016 investigators from the Upson County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation based on information received from the local Department of Family and Children Services. The allegations were that a seven years old female had been molested. Investigators discovered evidence resulting in the arrest of Ronnie Lamarr Blankenship, 58, of 327 Bishop Road, Meansville. These acts occurred between November of 2015 and April of 2016 at a residence in Upson County.  Blankenship is charged with two counts of Aggravated Child Molestation. Blankenship is held in the Upson County Jail without bond.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

August 19, 2016

UPSON COUNTY JURY SAYS ACCUSED DEPUTY KILLER CAN STAND TRIAL FOR MURDER

AN UPSON COUNTY JURY HAS RETURNED A VERDICT THAT CHRISTOPHER CALMER—ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF MONROE COUNTY DEPUTY MICHAEL NORRIS—IS COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.

THE UPSON COUNTY PANEL DELIBRATED AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES THURSDAY MORNING AT THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE-- BEFORE DETERMINING THAT CALMER IS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY FIT TO STAND TRIAL FOR MURDER NEXT YEAR.

DEFENSE LAWYERS ARGUED CALMER AGE 48-- SUFFERS FROM BACK AND NECK PAIN THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO ASSIST WITH HIS DEFENSE IN A MURDER TRIAL.

DURING THE TRIAL -A STATE OF GA. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST TESTIFIED SHE BELIEVES CALMER IS COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.

CALMER WHO CUSSED AT THE JUDGE EARLIER IN THE WEEK BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO LIE ON A GURNEY---IN THE COURTROOM-- HAD NO REACTION TO THE VERDICT.

DEPUTY NORRIS AND DEPUTY JEFF WILSON WERE RESPONDING TO A CALL ABOUT SOMEONE THREATENING SUCIDE IN BOLINGBROKE—WHEN NORRIS WAS SHOT AND KILLED AND WILSON WAS WOUNDED.

BATS NESTING IN THE FORMER DOT BUILDING

UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RUSTY BLACKSTON SAYS THE COUNTY OFFICE COMPLEX IN THE FORMER DOT BUILDING ON ANDREWS DRIVE IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF BATS NESTING IN THE OFFICES.

THE CHAIRMAN SAYS THE COUNTY HAS HIRED A PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO REMOVE THE BATS —A PROTECTED SPECIES.

PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SEVERAL OTHER OFFICES WERE TOLD TO VACATE THE BUILDING FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

CHAIRMAN BLACKSTON WAS TOLD --- TUESDAY WAS THE FINAL DAY OF MATING SEASON FOR BATS.

PIKE COUNTY RECENTLY HAD TO HIRE A COMPANY TO REMOVE BATS FROM THE COURTHOUSE

ARMED ROBBER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

THE GUNMAN IN AN ARMED ROBBERY AT THE HANNAH'S MILL CONVIENCE STORE IN 2014 WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 25 YEARS TO SERVE— BY JUDGE MACK CRAWFORD---AFTER A JURY IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT RETURNED A GUILTY—ON--ALL--COUNTS VERDICT—THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

JODI LEE ELLERBEE, AGE 22 WAS CHARGED WITH ARMED ROBBERY—7 COUNTS OF AGGREVATED ASSAULT AND ONE COUNT OF POSSESSION OF FIREARM DURING A CRIME.

3 CO-DEFENDANTS WHO WERE SENT TO JAIL FOR THE ROBBERY-- -TESTIFIED FOR THE STATE DURING THE TRIAL.

AFTER GUILTY PLEAS---DENTRAYEOUS MALONE WAS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS—10 TO SERVE.

DEVARIOUS SULLIVAN AND MICHAEL WALKER JR. — EACH 10 YEARS—FIVE TO SERVE.

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASHTON FALLIN SAID ---WALKER DROVE THE GET-A-WAY CAR, SULLIVAN WAS THE LOOK-OUT AND MALONE GOT THE CASH FROM THE REGISTER—WHILE ELLERBEE HELD THE GUN ON EVERYONE IN THE STORE.

SGT. JEFF TAYLOR—UPSON S.O. WAS THE PROSECUTING OFFICER.

THE BLUES IS RETURNING TO SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE ZOOM

PROGRAM NOTES ON THE NEW ZOOM 105-9/101-1. THE BLUES IS RETURNING TO SUNDAY NIGHTS WITH BLUES DIVINE AT 7PM, FOLLOWING D-ROCK WITH LOCALS, LEGENDS, AND SOME THAT WILL BE, FROM 5 TILL 7PM.

LATER, ITS CELO'S SUNDAY NITE THROW-BACK MIX 9 TILL MIDNIGHT.

SUNDAY WRECK IN PIKE COUNTY

On July 31st at 1:22 p.m., Deputies responded to the area of HWY 109 and McCard Lake Road, in reference to an overturned vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and the preliminary investigation has shown an over correction by the driver caused it to leave the opposite side of the road and roll over. The driver was transported to Spalding Regional Hospital with minor injuries and has since been released. The investigation is still on going by Sheriff's Office Traffic Investigators.


David

UPSON SO ARRESTS TWO FROM MILNER, GA. FOR SALE OF METH AND POT

ACCORDING TO THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, A COUPLE FROM MILNER, GA. WERE ARRESTED FOR SELLING METH AND MARIJUANA AFTER DEPUTIES AND THE AREA DRUG TASK FORCE EXECUTED A DRUG BUST AT A MOTEL ON 19 NORTH.

THE TWO ARRESTED -- 25 YEAR OLD JOSHUA RYAN WINDOM AND 24 YEAR OLD CANDACE MICHELLE MCDOWELL BOTH OF WELDON ROAD—MILNER—CHARGED WITH SELLLING DRUGS OUT OF THE MOTEL ROOM—AFTER INVESTIGATORS BROKE THE DOOR OPEN TO THE UNIT.

LAWMEN FOUND SEVERAL BAGGIES OF METH AND POT, GLASS SMOKING PIPES AND DIGITAL SCALES.