NOTARY TRAINING THURSDAY DEC. I

TERESA HARPER—CLERK OF UPSON SUPERIOR COURT IS SPONSORING TWO NOTARY PUBLIC TRAINING SESSIONS THURSDAY AT THE URMC AUDITORIUM.

10AM TILL 11;30PM AND 1 PM TILL 2;30PM. ITS FREE JUST SHOW-UP.

A NEW INDUSTRY FOR THOMASTON

AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON IDA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KYLE FLETCHER ANNOUNCED A NEW INDUSTRY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE FORMER THOMASTON MILLS LAKESIDE FACILITY WAS SOLD TO A THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDER ON OCT. 31ST. IT WILL BE A WAREHOUSE/DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR CABINETS AND APPLIANCES MADE IN THIS REGION. NO INCENTIVES WERE OFFERED FOR THIS PROJECT AND AN OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE WILL BE PROVIDED ONCE STORM DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT THE SITE AND THE IDA GETS APPROVAL FROM THE NEW TENANT.

THE BUILDING RECEIVED ROOF AND WALL DAMAGE FROM A STORM A WHILE BACK.

IN UPSON CO. A DEER HUNTER HAS DIED

ACCORDING TO UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE, A 70 YEAR OLD CALIFORNIA MAN DIED WHEN HE FELL OUT OF A DEER STAND AND PLUNGED 16 FEET TO THE GROUND AT 374 GORDON SCHOOL ROAD, OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

THE BODY OF SHERRON JONES OF CARSON , CALIFORNIA WAS ORDERED TO THE GBI CRIME LAB FOR AUTOPSY BY STATE D.N.R.

ACCORDING TO PROPERTY OWNER GLENN CHANEY, JONES VISITS HIM EVERY DEER SEASON AND HUNTS FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS.

CHANEY HAD LEFT JONES IN THE DEER STAND NEAR DUSK TO GO TO HIS VEHICLE AND WENT BACK TO CHECK ON HIM WHEN HE DIDN'T SHOW UP.

HE FOUND JONES ON THE GROUND UNRESPONSIVE WITH HIS RIFLE NEAR-BY. THE DEER STAND HAD NO SIDE RAILING.

ALMOST 80% OF 2016 UPSON COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED

VTHE DEADLINE HAS PASSED TO PAY 2016 UPSON COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT A PENALTY.

TAX COMMISSIONER ANGELA RAINES REPORTS THROUGH DECEMBER 21 , A TOTAL OF $14.2 MILLION IN TAXES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY HER OFFICE. THAT REPRESENTS A COLLECTION PERCENTAGE OF 79.87.

fFORMER TEACHER SENTENCED TO PRISON

A FORMER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER IN THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY SCHOOLS ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO CHARGES OF CHILD MOLESTATION MONDAY AND WAS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS—3 TO SERVE IN PRISON.

JENNIFER LYNN ROBINSON ADMITTED TO HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A 14 YEAR OLD MALE—NOT HER STUDENT. AS PART OF THE SENTENCE FROM JUDGE TOMMY HANKINSON—MS. ROBINSON MUST REGISTERED AS A SEX OFFENDER AND SERVE 12 YEARS PROBATION AND PAY A $1500 FINE.

TWO OTHERS ENTERED A GUILTY PLEAS AND WERE SENTENCED TO FINE , PROBATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

TROY M. PIPER—THEFT BY TAKING AND CONNIE CHARLES MCMILLAN—POSSESSION METH AND POSSESSION MARIJUANA LESS THAN AN OUNCE. MCMILLAN ALSO BANNED FROM THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

JON PERDUE OF THOMASTON ON TRUMP TRANSITION TEAM

AN UPSON COUNTY NATIVE—JON PERDUE— WHO LIVES IN PUERTO RICO—IS A PART OF THE DONALD TRUMP TRANSITION TEAM AS HE HEADS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN JANAUARY.

BUSINESSMAN PERDUE WAS BROUGHT ON  BOARD THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN DURING THE PRIMARY AS AN INTERNATIONAL POLICY ADVISOR AND WAS ON THE FRONT ROW AS TRUMP MADE HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH EARLY WEDNESDAY IN NEW YORK. VIDEO SHOWS TRUMP SHAKING HANDS WITH JON AS HE LEFT THE STAGE.

JON—THE SON OF FORMER UPSON-LEE/RE LEE FOOTBALL COACH TOMMY PERDUE -- PLANS TO RE-LOCATE TO WASHINGTON AS PART OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AN INVENTOR—JON APPEARED ON THE NETWORK TV SHOW MAKE ME A MILLIONAIRE—WITH HIS INVENTION THE PUCK BOW—SCHEDULED TO GO TO MARKET IN MID-2017.

JON AND HIS WIFE—A PHYSICIAN—HAVE LIVED IN PUERTO RICO FOR SEVERAL YEARS.   

SEXUAL ASSAULT ARREST

News Release

On November 8, 2016 deputies responded to the area of Indian Trail in Upson County in reference to a report of a sexual assault.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke to a 21 year old female who reported that around 3:00a.m. she had been abducted at knifepoint in Spalding County , bound and transported to an abandoned house located at 6325 Indian Trail in Thomaston. The male was known to her from a relationship. While at the house on Indian Trail the female reported being raped. The female reported that she was able to flee once her attacker fell asleep. She took her cell phone and ran to another residence where she called 911. As deputies were speaking to the victim, the attacker rode by in the vehicle reportedly used in the abduction.  Deputy Gerren Vining pursued the vehicle and took Adonis Colquitt, 27, of Thomaston into custody. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to assist with the crime scene in Upson County. 
Colquitt remains in the Upson County Jail charged with Rape, False Imprisonment and Aggravated Assault for the offenses occurring in Upson County.

The abduction complaint has been referred to the Griffin Police Department.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

November 9, 2016

TUESDAY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS IN UPSON CO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST TURN-OUTS IN YEARS FOR TUESDAY'S GENERAL ELECTION AND DONALD TRUMP TOOK UPSON COUNTY WITH 66% OF THE VOTE—HILLARY CLINTON GOT 31%.

11,022 VOTES WERE CAST—U.S. SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON GOT 68% BARKSDALE 28%

3RD DISTRICT U.S. CONGRESS DREW FERGUSON 69% PENDLEY 30%.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ONE—STATE TAKE-OVER OF FAILING SCHOOLS 62% NO 37% YES.

AMENDMENT 3—RE-DO OF THE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION 58% YES 41% NO.

NEW PRESIDENT SOUTHERN CRESCENT TECH COLLEGE

Dr. Alvetta Thomas Named Next SCTC President

Griffin, Georgia, November 3, 2016 –

Commissioner Gretchen Corbin has announced that Dr. Alvetta Peterman Thomas has been named the next president of Southern Crescent Technical College. The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) voted unanimously during its monthly meeting held on November 3, 2016 to approve Commissioner Corbin’s recommendation.

  

Dr. Thomas, currently president of Atlanta Technical College, becomes president of Southern Crescent effective December 1, 2016 following the retirement of Dr. Randall Peters, who has been the college’s president since 2010.

  

“Dr. Thomas is a high achiever who brings exceptional abilities in both academics and workforce development,” said Commissioner Corbin. “Atlanta Technical College and Southern Crescent Technical College are top resources for skilled talent in their regions. I know they and their students will continue to thrive and reach new heights of excellence under their new proven leaders.”

Dr. Thomas has served at Atlanta Technical College (ATC) since 1997 and as president of the college since 2008. She leaves a legacy of spirited service, open doors, and deep concern for students, faculty, and staff. Under her leadership, the college saw unprecedented growth, achievement, and national recognition. Among her many accomplishments are the expansion of student services, corporate partnerships, global initiatives, program offerings, facilities improvements, and financial support of the college. In 2012 the college was named the Technical College System of Georgia College of the Year. 

Dr. Thomas previously served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at ATC. Prior to her arrival at Atlanta Technical College, Dr. Thomas served as Executive Director at Skills for Tomorrow Charter High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Instructional Support Services Coordinator at the Technical College System of Georgia, then known as the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE); Education Specialist at the US Department of Defense; teacher and curriculum specialist in the Savannah Chatham County Schools; and adjunct assistant professor at Alabama State University.

GRAD RATE TOPS STATE AVERAGE

ULHS Graduation Rate Tops State Average Again

The Georgia Department of Education has released data on the graduation rates for the class of 2016, and Upson-Lee High School has exceeded the state average for the second consecutive year. Upson-Lee High School posted a rate of 84.5%, significantly higher than the state of Georgia overall graduation rate average of 79.2%. Dr. Maggie Shook stated, “When I arrived at the Thomaston-Upson School System in 2007, the high school graduation rate was 65.0%. Student success, which culminates in high school graduation has been a priority, and our scores for the past two years are a tribute to the focus and hard work of our teachers, students, staff, and administrators. High school graduation is a team effort that begins in elementary school, and I want to thank the entire Thomaston-Upson School System team for continually supporting the overall mission of our school system, which is “Excellence in education…every individual, every day.” 

Melissa Bedford Selected T-U System Teacher of the YearMelissa Bedford, an 8th grade English Language Arts teacher, has been selected as the 2017-18 Thomaston-Upson School System Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Bedford, who has been at Upson-Lee Middle School since 2007, was selected for the system honor by a panel of school and community judges. Areas of judging included a written application, classroom observation, and a personal interview. Her written application will now be sent to the Georgia Department of Education, and she will represent the Thomaston-Upson School System in the 2018 Georgia Teacher of the Year competition. 

Marching Knights have Successful Competition Season

The Upson-Lee Marching Knights ended their competition season with an impressive performance on Saturday, November 5, at the 36th annual Old South Marching Band Festival at Newnan High School.  Once again, the Marching Knights were awarded all Superior ratings in all categories. In their division, the Upson-Lee Marching Knights secured the 1st place award, with additional division awards going to Drum Major Malik Blasingame: 1st place, colorguard: 1st place, drum line: 2nd place. The UL Marching Knights placed first in their division but also ranked in fifth place out of all bands competing in all divisions that day. Jeremy Stanley is the Upson-Lee High School Director of Bands. 

ZOOM RADIO ON GPB-TV FRIDAY NIGHT

ZOOM RADIO'S PLAY BY PLAY BROADCAST OF FRIDAY'S UPSON-LEE REGION GAME WITH SPALDING HIGH AT MATTEWS FIELD WILL BE ONE OF SEVERAL GAMES FEATURED ON GA. PUBLIC TV'S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SHOW FRIDAY FROM 7 TILL 10PM.

THE TV SHOW THAT AIRS ON CHANNEL 8 IN THIS AREA—WILL ALSO BE CALLING THE VOICE OF THE KNIGHTS-- MICKEY THRASHER BETWEEN 10 AND 11PM FOR A POST GAME WRAP-UP OF U.L.--SPALDING.

THE TOMMY PALMER GA. HIGH SCHOOL SCOREBOARD AIRS AFTER ALL UL GAMES ON 105-9/101-1.