UPDATE; A 5TH TORNADO IN UPSON ?

UPDATE; AID TO S. GA. TORNADO VICTIMS IN UPSON CO.

UPSON COUNTY'S EFFORT TO AID TORNADO VICTIMS IN SOUTH GEORGIA HAS BEEN PICKING-UP .

CITY OF THOMASTON EMPLOYEES TAKING DONATIONS UNTIL 6PM WEDNESDAY AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE GREATEST GENERATION MEMORIAL PARK AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDANT NEIL IVEY SAYS HE HAS ADDED A 2ND TRAILER FOR DONATIONS AND IS HEADED FOR ALBANY ON THURSDAY MORNING.

FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER RUSTY BLACKSTON SAYS DONATIONS HAVE BEEN SLOWER AT THE CIVIC CENTER FOR COOK COUNTY VICTIMS—BUT HE PLANS ON PLACING ANOTHER TRAILER AT THE GREATEST GENERATION PARK ON THURSDAY, AND DONATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BOTH PLACES---AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE PARK 9AM TILL 6PM DAILY —TRUCKS LEAVING SATURDAY AT NOON FOR SOUTH GA.

THEY NEED BOTTLED WATER, PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, DIAPERS, BLANKETS, TOWELS, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, TOILETRIES AND CASH DONATIONS ARE WELCOMED.

DRUMMER BUTCH TRUCKS OF ALLMAN BROS. HAS DIED

ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND—DRUMMER--BUTCH TRUCKS HAS DIED IN FLORIDA AT AGE 69.

THE MICK IN THE MORNING SHOW HAD INTERVIEWED BUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ZOOM WILL BE REPLAYING BUTCH'S COMMENTS – THIS WEEK--- 6 TO 10 IN THE MORNING AND ON --LUNCHING WITH THE CLASSICS—NOON TO ONE -- AT 105-9/101-1.

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NWS SAYS 3 TORNADOS IN UPSON SAT.

EMA DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MACCARTY REPORTS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED THREE TORNADOS IN UPSON COUNTY SATURDAY, AFTER SURVEYING DAMAGE IN UPSON TUESDAY.

TWO CAME OUT OF TALBOT COUNTY WITH WINDS OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR. ONE TRACKED TO THE SPREWELL BLUFF AREA OVER PASTURE AND WOODS.

ONE TRAVELED TO THE RIVERBEND RESTAURANT AREA AT 36 WEST AND TRACKED TO 74 WEST, SUNNSIDE ROAD AREA WINDS UP TO 120 MILES PER HOUR. RIVERBEND RESTAURANT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

A THIRD IN THE NORTH DEL RAY ROAD AREA, ORGIN UNKNOWN, WINDS UP TO 120 MILES PER HOUR, ON THE GROUND FOR 1.8 MILES AND THEN MOVED INTO LAMAR COUNTY.

EMA DIRECTOR MCCARTY SAID THE NORTH DEL RAY STORM COULD HAVE TRAVELED OVER THE CITY OF THOMASTON, AS SHE HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS OF SIGHTINGS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD.

THAT COULD BE THE STORM THAT TRAVELED INTO MONROE COUNTY AND STAYED ON THE GROUND FOR 10 MILES NEAR FORSYTH.

FOR MORE DETAILS LISTEN TO 105-9/101-1 FM

CITY THOMASTON EMPLOYEES HELPING ALBANY VICTIMS

CITY OF THOMASTON EMPLOYEES ARE MOBILIZING TO HELP TORNADO VICTIMS IN ALBANY, GA.--- TAKING DONATIONS AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE GREATEST GENERATION MEMORIAL PARK TODAY TILL 6PM AND WEDNESDAY 8AM TILL 6PM—BOTTLED WATER, PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, DIAPERS, BLANKETS, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, TOILETRIES.

ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT CHIEF NEIL IVEY TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE HOPES TO TRANSPORT DONATIONS TO ALBANY ON THURSDAY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL CITY OF THOMASTON ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.    

UPSON CO. RELIEF EFFORT FOR S. GA. TORNADO VICTIMS

FORMER UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RUSTY BLACKSTON AND OTHER FARMERS AND FAMILIES HAVE STARTED A RELIEF EFFORT AT THE CIVIC CENTER TO HELP COOK COUNTY, GA. AFTER WEEKEND TORNADOS.

TAKING DONATIONS 9AM TILL 6PM WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 9AM TILL THE TRUCKS ROLL AT NOON.

JUST DRIVE-UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CIVIC CENTER AND VOLUNTEERS WILL TAKE YOUR DONATIONS.

NEEDED---CLEANING SUPPLIES, TOILETRIES, WASH CLOTHS, TOWELS. LAUNDRY DETERGENT, PILLOWS, LINENS, PLASTIC CONTAINERS, PAPER PRODUCTS, BLANKETS, UNDER GARMENTS, WATER, PET SUPPLIES , CHILDREN'S TOYS . FOOD PRODUCTS INCLUDING PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY AND CASH DONATIONS WILL BE WELCOMED.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS RELIEF EFFORT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 706-975-9598

TWO TORNADOS REPORTED BY EMA IN UPSON SAT AM

EMA DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MCCARTY SAYS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE IN UPSON COUNTY MONDAY TO DETERMINE THE CATAGORY OF TWO TORNADOS THAT HIT UPSON COUNTY SATURDAY MORNING JUST AFTER 11AM.

ONE ON HIGHWAY 36 WEST NEAR RIVERBEND RESTAURANT KNOCKED DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES AND BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY.

ANOTHER STORM HIT HIGHWAY 74 WEST BETWEEN SUNNYSIDE ROAD AND PICKARD ROAD AND IT WAS BLOCKED BY TREES AND DOWNED POWER LINES.

SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES RESULTED, BUT SHERIFF DAN KILGORE TOLD US NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

DAMAGE REPORTED AT THE RESIDENCE OF ROD AND KRISTIE PITTS ON SUNNYSIDE ROAD, FALLEN TREES KNOCKED DOWN THE OVERHANG ON THEIR HOUSE AND HEAVY DAMAGED THEIR PICK-UP TRUCK.

IN THE SHADOWWOOD LANE AREA, MAGGIE GILBERT REPORTED SOME HOUSE DAMAGE, AND ON PALLET MILL ROAD A GARAGE WAS DESTROYED.

IN THE CITY OF THOMASTON, WEST MAIN STREET NEAR GREEN STREET WAS BLOCKED WHEN POWER LINES FELL IN THE STREET AND A TREE BLOCKED COUNTY ROAD NEAR BEAVER RUN TRACE.

THE STORM CELL MOVED INTO LAMAR COUNTY AND A TORNADO WARNING WAS ISSUED. DESPITE ROTATION ON RADAR LAMAR COUNTY SHERIFF BRAD WHITE TALKED TO ZOOM NEWS LIVE ON THE AIR AND SAID HE HAD NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

UL SCHOOLS WATCHED PRES TRUMP INAUGURATION

STUDENTS IN THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM WERE ALLOWED BUT NOT MANDATED TO WATCH THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP , FRIDAY. IN A LETTER TO FACULTY MEMBERS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT DR. LARRY DERICO NOTED GA. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS INCLUDE A GOVERNMENT/CIVICS THREAD SO THE EVENT WAS AN INSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY.

ANY STUDENT WHO CHOSE NOT WATCH WAS ALLOWED TO OPT-OUT—DR. DERICO SAID IN THE MEMO.

UPDATE PIKE COUNTY PET DEATH INVESTIGATION

As an update to the incident at 536 Williams Mill Road on December 24, 2016. Pike County Animal Control has received a growing amount of correspondence from the media and individuals in the community with regards to this incident. Although we cannot release any information on this case at this time due to the active investigation, we would like to assure the community that we are continually pursing evidence that we hope will lead to the resolution of this case and the prosecution of any individuals responsible for the violation of Pike County Codes & Ordinances. If anyone in the community has information that is relevant to this case, please contact Pike County Animal Control at 770-567-2007.

FRIDAY MORNING WRECK ON 74 WEST

POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL THOMASTON WORKED AN ACCIDENT FRIDAY MORNING WITH A MOTORIST INJURED AT 74 WEST JUST EAST OF SUNNYSIDE ROAD.

TROOPER T.C. LEDBETTER TOLD ZOOM NEWS—THE DRIVER AJA MILEY AGE 20 OF THOMASTON, WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. WITHOUT LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

THE REPORT SAID MS. MILEY TRAVELED TOO FAST INTO A CURVE-- LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CULVERT OF A PRIVATE DRIVE-WAY -- WENT AIRBORN AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED.

RAIDS ON TWO CONVIENCE STORES IN GRIFFIN

“JUST GOT SNAPPED” the Griffin Police Department, United States Department of Agriculture- Office of Inspector General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Lottery Commission conducted a joint operation in which search warrants and arrest warrants were served concerning EBT card fraud, Financial Transaction Card Fraud, Commercial Gambling and lottery violations at two local stores, Ma and Pa Grocery, located at 1137 Meriwether Street, Griffin Food Mart, located at 888 Meriwether Street and the residences of both owners of the stores.

The Griffin Police Department and the USDA-OIG, started the investigation in September of 2016 concerning the EBT card fraud at the two stores. As the investigation progressed, other criminal activity concerning the coin operated amusement machines (gambling machines) and the Georgia Lottery came to light and the GBI Commercial Gambling Unit and Georgia Lottery Commission were called and joined the investigation.

The four month investigation ended this morning when all of the participating departments came together and served the search and arrest warrants.

The following people were arrested:

Khalid Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of Ma and Pa Grocery was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), two counts of financial Transaction Card Fraud, three counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and four counts of keeping a Gambling Place.

Uzma Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), seven counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, eight counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and one count of Commercial Gambling and three counts of Transactions in Drug Related Objects.

Rajendra Oza of 319 Crossing Place, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of the Griffin Food Mart, was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), eight counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, one count of Financial Transaction Card Theft, eleven counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and two counts of Transactions in Drug Related Object“JUST GOT SNAPPED” the Griffin Police Department, United States Department of Agriculture- Office of Inspector General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Lottery Commission conducted a joint operation in which search warrants and arrest warrants were served concerning EBT card fraud, Financial Transaction Card Fraud, Commercial Gambling and lottery violations at two local stores, Ma and Pa Grocery, located at 1137 Meriwether Street, Griffin Food Mart, located at 888 Meriwether Street and the residences of both owners of the stores.

The Griffin Police Department and the USDA-OIG, started the investigation in September of 2016 concerning the EBT card fraud at the two stores. As the investigation progressed, other criminal activity concerning the coin operated amusement machines (gambling machines) and the Georgia Lottery came to light and the GBI Commercial Gambling Unit and Georgia Lottery Commission were called and joined the investigation.

The four month investigation ended this morning when all of the participating departments came together and served the search and arrest warrants.

The following people were arrested:

Khalid Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of Ma and Pa Grocery was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), two counts of financial Transaction Card Fraud, three counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and four counts of keeping a Gambling Place.

Uzma Mirza of 1147 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), seven counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, eight counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and one count of Commercial Gambling and three counts of Transactions in Drug Related Objects.

Rajendra Oza of 319 Crossing Place, Griffin, Georgia, the owner of the Griffin Food Mart, was arrested and charged with Racketeering- Influence and Corrupt Organization (RICO), eight counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, one count of Financial Transaction Card Theft, eleven counts of Fraud in Obtaining Public Assistance and two counts of Transactions in Drug Related Object

HOUSE FIRE SATURDAY IN UPSON COUNTY

WHEN AN UPSON COUNTY DEPUTY ARRIVED AT 121 HICKMON DRIVE— SATURDAY THE LEFT SIDE OF A HOUSE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES—THE RESIDENCE OF THE EDWARD WALKER FAMILY. A 1993 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WAS ALSO DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.

MR. WALKER SAID A BEDROOM AND OFFICE CAUGHT FIRE POSSIBLY FROM A SPACE HEATER IN THE OFFICE.

MR. WALKER, HIS WIFE AND GRAND SON MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITHOUT INJURY—AS THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY.

UNITS FROM ROCK HILL, YATESVILLE AND NORTHSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED.   

GORDON STATE COLLEGE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Beat Winter Doldrums with Courses Offered By

Gordon State College Community Education

Gordon State College Community Education is offering a variety of courses to help you beat the winter doldrums ranging from computer basics to conversational French.

“You can teach your dog some manners, learn calligraphy, and even take a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden,” said Debbie Christian, program administrator, Gordon State College Community Education.  “Our classes are varied with some offered in a classroom setting, some online and others at fun locations near campus. The classes are convenient, enriching and fun!”

Some of the classes offered include:

· Adobe Photoshop

· Basics of Music Theory and Ear Training

· Bloom’n Georgia Field Trip to Atlanta Botanical Garden

· Computer Basics

· Conversational French

· American Heart Association BLS – CPR Training

· Defensive Driving

· Fearless French Cuisine

· Fire Safety Caregiver Certificate Course

· Fitness Swim for Seniors

· Medical Administrative Assistant

· Microsoft Excel, Level One & Level Two

· Microsoft Publisher

· OSHA Training

· Pottery with Bob Detamore

· Private K-12 Tutoring

· Private Violin Lessons

· Sea Glass Wire Wrapping Jewelry

· Smart Phone User Workshop

· That’s Amore (Italian Cooking)

· The Art of Collecting

· The Taste of Mardi Gras

For more information on the classes, or to register, visit http://www.gordonstate.edu/commed/home You can also follow GSC Community Educ

UPDATE ON WINTER STORM ADVISORY

3RD DISTRICT GA. DOT SPOKES-PERSONS KIMBERLY LARSON TOLD ZOOM NEWS FRIDAY NIGHT—TRUCKS HAD BEEN OUT ALL DAY FRIDAY-- SPREADING THE BRINE MIXTURE ON MAJOR ROADS IN THE DISTRICT.

WHEN A NEW SHIFT TOOK OVER AT 7PM FRIDAY THEY SWITCHED OVER TO SALT IN RAIN HEAVY AREAS—AS IT WOULD MIX WITH RAIN AND FORM BRINE.

COLD RAIN COULD TURN TO SLEET AND THEN SNOW OVERNIGHT. SATURDAY MORNING WIND CHILL TEMPS COULD BE BELOW 15 DEGREES. SUNSHINE SATURDAY BUT NOT MUCH WARMUP. EVEN COLDER OVERNIGHT SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO UPSON EMA.

GARAGE DESTROYED BY FIRE ON MINOR ROAD, CULLODEN

ACCORDING TO THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT---A FIRE AT THE RESIDENCE OF JEFFREY AND CARLENE ROGERS—1760 MINOR ROAD DESTROYED A DETACHED GARAGE, WITH A SHOP, A TRUCK AND AN UPSTAIRS FURNISHED APARTMENT—AND THERE WAS MINOR FIRE DAMAGE TO THEIR HOME.

JEFFREY ROGERS TOLD UPSON S.O. HE WAS WATCHING A BOWL GAME ON TV FRIDAY NITE—WHEN HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SHOOK THE HOUSE—AND NOTICED THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE—A GARAGE LINKED TO THE HOUSE BY A WALK-WAY.

WHEN FIRE UNITS ARRIVED—THE COUPLE WAS REMOVING VALUABLES FROM THE HOME—AND SOME AMMO STORED IN THE GARAGE WAS GOING-OFF.

A 1992 CHEVROLET 1500 4 BY 4 TRUCK PARKED IN THE GARAGE WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE SHOP AND TOOLS.

ZOOM NEWS WAS TOLD—THE EXPLOSION WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE TRUCK CATCHING FIRE.

SALEM, THURSTON, AND NORTHSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED. THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL HAS BEEN CALLED-IN TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.