SUICIDE ATTEMPT BEHIND COGGINS FUNERAL HOME

THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON TOLD ZOOM NEWS A 56 YEAR OLD WHITE MALE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE MEDICAL CENTER IN MACON EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AFTER HE SHOT HIMSELF IN THE CHEST IN AN APPARENT SUICIDE ATTEMPT.

WHEN POLICE UNITS ARRIVED AROUND 8AM --- THE MAN WAS CONSCIOUS AND ALERT AND SITTING IN A SILVER TOYOTA TACOMA PICK-UP PARKED BEHIND COGGINS FUNERAL HOME ON HANNAH'S MILL ROAD.

THE CHIEF SAID THE ROUND FROM THE 22 CALIBER PISTOL USED IN THE SHOOTING APPARENTLY DID NOT HIT ANY VITAL ORGANS IN HIS CHEST.

HIS WIFE TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE HAD LEFT HOME SEVERAL DAYS AGO—ACCORDING TO CHIEF RICHARDSON.

UPSON BURGLARY WITH $20,000 LOSS

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A REPORTED BURGLARY WITH A LOSS OF OVER $20,000 DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

WORKMAN FOUND THE DOOR OPEN AT EXTREME GYMNASTICS AT 281 KNIGHT TRAIL ON DECEMBER 26TH. A SCORING SYSTEM AND KEY BOARD VALUED AT $20,000, $2000 IN CASH AND TOOLS BELONG TO THE FLOORING COMPANY WAS MISSING.

THOMASTON MAN INJURED IN PIKE COUNTY WRECK WED.

THE OFFICE OF PIKE COUNTY SHERIFF JIMMY THOMAS HAS RELEASED DETAILS OF A WRECK WEDNESDAY EVENING ON U.S. 19 AT VEGA ROAD— INVOLVING MOTORISTS FROM UPSON AND SPALDING COUNTY.

THE DRIVER OF A 2006 CHRYSLER VAN—ROGER FLOYD PORTWOOD OF WILSON WAY IN THOMASTON—WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO GRADY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE AIR-FLIGHT MEDICAL WAS GROUNDED DUE TO WEATHER.

THE DRIVER OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER WITH A BACK HOE—BRENT RANDALL GOEN OF SUMMIT DRIVE IN GRIFFIN—WAS CITED FOR IMPROPER TURN AND A DRIVERS LICENSE CLASS VIOLATION.

THE PIKE S.O. REPORT SAID THE TRUCK WAS MAKING AN IMPROPER TURN AND WAS STRUCK BY THE VAN. THE WRECK CAUSED A TRAFFIC TIE-UP ON SOUTHBOUND AND NORTHBOUND 19 –JUST AFTER WORKING HOURS.

A NEW INDUSTRY LOCATING IN THOMASTON

Solutions Pest & Lawn Expanding Operations Thomaston, GA, December 15th, 2016- Solutions Pest & Lawn today announced that it purchased the 300,000 square foot Apollo Industries manufacturing facility located in Thomaston Georgia. This will be the 12th facility in the retailer's growing network of stores and warehouses and will be critical to supporting the rapid growth of Solutions’ direct to consumer pest control businesses. “We are excited about the opportunity to be opening one of the largest distribution facilities dedicated solely to the professional pest control industry.” said Zach Colander, CEO of Solutions Pest & Lawn. “Our sales have far outpaced our current facilities and this purchase will provide plenty of room for our forecasted growth.” “Kyle Fletcher with the Development Authority and Thomaston City Leadership were very supportive throughout the acquisition process and we are excited to be bringing more opportunity to the city of Thomaston.” said Richard Wilkinson, VP of Plant Operations at Solutions. The new location is expected to employ 70 people when fully staffed and will take advantage of advanced robotics and process engineering for maximum efficiency. The facility will manufacture and distribute for Solutions’ growing retail and e-commerce divisions as well as offer contract packaging to other companies in the industry. It is anticipated that this location will handle Solutions’ forecasted growth plan to $250 million in sales. About Solutions Pest & Lawn: “Ask us How, Then Do It Yourself” Solutions is a direct to consumer manufacturer of professional insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Unlike traditional box store retailers, Solutions sells professional insecticide concentrates, cutting out packaging costs and saving customers hundreds of dollars on pest & lawn care. Solutions’ products are sold through their brick and mortar retail stores and online at: www.solutionsstores.com and www.epestsolutions.com..

OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN HAMPTON

A HENRY COUNTY POLICE OFFICER SHOT A MAN IN DOWNTOWN HAMPTON TUESDAY MORNING DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE—AND THE MAN LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.

CAPTAIN JOEY SMITH SAID THE MCDONOUGH AREA MAN IN HIS 30'S WAS IN THE BACK ALLEY BEHIND ALLRED FAMILY DENTAL ON EAST MAIN STREET ATTACKING HIS EX- WIFE –AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE--- WHEN POLICE ARRIVED.

THEY ATTEMPTED TO INTERVIENE—BUT HE PULLED A PISTOL AND REFUSED COMMANDS TO DROP IT—AND THE HENRY COUNTY OFFICER FIRED ONE SHOT. NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT.

CAPTAIN SMITH SAID THE OFFICER INVOLVED IS A 10-YEAR VETERAN OF THE FORCE AND HAS BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY WHILE THE GBI INVESTIGATES THE INCIDENT.

PRIOR TO THE SHOOTING---WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD THE MAN KNOCKING ON THE BACK DOOR OF THE DENTAL OFFICE APPARENTLY TRYING TO GET IN. POLICE SAID THE COUPLE HAS A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC TROUBLES.  

THOMASTON-UPSON CCRPI SCORES IMPRESSIVE

T-U 2016 CCRPI Scores Among Top in Our Area

For the second consecutive year, Thomaston-Upson School System CCRPI scores are among the top in the Griffin RESA district and have exceeded the state average, according to the College and Career Readiness Index report released Thursday, December 8, by the Georgia Department of Education. The Thomaston-Upson district average is 75.6, two points higher than the state district average of 73.6. 

Of the eight school systems in the Griffin RESA, Thomaston-Upson posted the 2nd highest CCRPI scores again this year. Fayette County was the only school system that scored higher than Thomaston-Upson’s 75.6, posting a score of 87.4. Griffin RESA school district scores in descending order are:

Fayette:                               87.4
Thomaston-Upson:          75.6Newton:                              73.0
Henry:                                  71.1
Butts:                                    69.3
Pike:                                      68.9
Spalding:                              66.2
Lamar:                                  64.9

Other Area District Scores
Monroe County:                 75.5
Taylor:                                   69.5
Meriwether:                         57.8
Bibb:                                      61.4

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.

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THOMASTON WOMAN WINS $50,000 FROM GA. LOTTERY

Thomaston woman wins $50K prize playing Jumbo Bucks Classic  

                                              

ATLANTA – Christmas may have come early for Moneika Brownlee of Thomaston. Brownlee won a $50,000 prize Monday playing the Georgia Lottery instant ticket game Jumbo Bucks Classic.

Cook’s Market, 211 S. Center St. in Thomaston, sold the ticket.

Brownlee, 27, said that she purchased two Jumbo Bucks Classic scratchers and wound up winning a prize after scratching the first.

“Something told me to get two,” she said. “I didn’t expect to win on the first try.”

After realizing she had a winning ticket, Brownlee said that she immediately called her mother to tell her the news.

“She was shocked but happy,” she said. “I still can’t believe it, but I’m grateful.”

Brownlee, a forklift operator and part-time student, plans to use her winnings to purchase a new car and pay bills.

The lucky winner claimed her prize at the Georgia Lottery Macon District Office Monday.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $17.8 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.7 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.4 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

GORDON STATE COLLEGE FALL GRADUATION

Gordon State College is on track to award 354 degrees to 340 graduates during the Fall 2016 Graduation Ceremony, Friday, Dec. 9.

The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. in the Student Activities and Recreation Center.

Barnesville Mayor Peter Banks will deliver the commencement address.

“I am so excited, and a little nervous too,” said Brianna Harris who will receive a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. “My mom, grandmother and aunt will be here with other family members. I know there will be some tears from them and probably from me.”

Harris calls graduation a little bittersweet.

“I had so much fun here and made so many lifelong friends,” she said. “I really will miss it.”

Harris, a resident student who played both softball and soccer while at Gordon, has already secured a job in the health information management field.

“That’s exciting too,” she said. “I worked hard, but had plenty of help and support here.”

After the ceremony, brunch will be served starting at 10 a.m. in the SARC. The meal is available for $9.57 (including tax) for adults and $5.29 for children over 3.

At noon, approximately 40 graduates of the Gordon State College School of Nursing will participate in a candlelight ceremony during which they will receive their nursing pins and light their Florence Nightingale lamps.

“Graduation is a special time on campus not only for the graduates but for their families, friends and faculty and staff,” said Gordon State College President Max Burns. “We wish the graduates the very best as they start this new and exciting journey.”

For more information visit http://www.gordonstate.edu/graduation.