MISSING HENRY CO. SENIOR CITIZEN FOUND IN UPSON

A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH ALZHEIMERS FROM HENRY COUNTY TURNED-UP MISSING FROM HIS HOME IN MCDONOUGH OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY —AND WAS FOUND WALKING NEAR THE FLINT RIVER CAMPUS OF S. C.T.C. BY THOMASTON POLICE THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON— TOLD ZOOM NEWS 83 YEAR OLD THOMAS MILTON MARSHALL APPARENTLY GAVE OUT OF GAS IN HIS S-10 PICK-UP IN THE ALLEN ROAD AREA IN SOUTHERN UPSON COUNTY AND WALKED SEVERAL MILES BEFORE HE WAS FOUND. HE SEEMED CONFUSED SO POLICE CHECKED HIS I.D. AND DISCOVERED HE WAS MISSING.

HENRY COUNTY POLICE ISSUED A MISSING PERSONS BULLETIN FOR MR. MARSHALL THURSDAY MORNING—NOTING HE MAY BE DISORIENTED.

THE CHIEF SAID --MR. MARSHALL APPROACHED A THOMASTON POLICE OFFICER THURSDAY MORNING AT A GAS STATION AND ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS TO MOLENA—BUT THE OFFICER WAS UNAWARE HE WAS A MISSING PERSON.

D.A. BEN COKER ANNOUNCES SENTENCE IN OFFICER JORDAN CASE

IN SPALDING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT—MONDAY--CHANTELL MIXON ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH FELONY MURDER OF GRIFFIN POLICE OFFICER KEVIN JORDAN—ENTERED A PLEA TO LESSER CHARGES OF FELONY OBSTRUCTION, PUBLIC DRUNK, AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND WAS SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS—3 YEARS IN PRISON BY JUDGE FLETCHER SAMS.

EVIDENCE IN THE TRIAL OF HER THEN BOY-FRIEND MICHAEL BOWMAN --- SHOWED SHE WAS UNRULY AT THE WAFFLE HOUSE ON THE NORTH EXPRESSWAY IN GRIFFIN AND WHEN OFFICER JORDAN TRIED TO ARREST HER—SHE RESISTED AND BOWMAN SHOT AND KILLED THE OFFICER.

BOWMAN IS SERVING LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE—BUT HIS ATTORNEY'S ARE SEEKING A NEW TRIAL.

AFTER MIXON'S SENTENCING—GRIFFIN CIRCUIT DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER SAID MIXON'S ACTIONS WERE DESPICABLE—BUT THE STATE WOULD BE UNABLE TO PROVE THAT SHE COULD HAVE FORESEEN THAT STRIKING THE OFFICER WOULD HAVE LEAD TO BOWMAN'S SHOOTING OFFICER JORDAN IN THE BACK.

COKER ADDED –ITS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT THE STATE MADE THIS OFFER TO MIXON—BUT IT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE PROSECUTION TEAM AND THE JORDAN FAMILY—AND WE CAN ONLY HOPE IT GIVES CLOSURE TO THE FAMILY, THE SPALDING COUNTY COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS AT CARVER ROAD MIDDLE SCHOOL

SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF DARRELL DIX SAYS HIS OFFICE COOPERATED WITH THE GRIFFIN-SPALDING COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM TO INVESTIGATE SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS MADE BY SOME CARVER ROAD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS— BUT ANY ACTION TAKEN WOULD BE UP TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE SHERIFF SAID TWO STUDENTS HAD WORDS AND POSTED THREATS TO BRING GUNS TO SCHOOL TO SETTLE THE ISSUE.

HIS OFFICE INTERVIEWED THREE STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED WITH THEIR PARENTS CONSENT—AND THEY SEEMED TO GET THE MESSAGE OF THE SEVERITY OF THEIR ACTIONS.

THE SHERIFF ADDED ANY SUCH THREATS WILL BE INVESTIGATED QUICKLY BY THE S.O. AND SCHOOL SYSTEM—GETTING INVOLVED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE KEY TO AVOIDING A POTENTIAL TRAGEDY. 

SCTC GROUNDBREAKING IN GRIFFIN APRIL 26 10AM

Southern Crescent Technical College has just announced plans to hold a Groundbreaking Celebration for the Education and Training Complex at Ellis Crossing to be held on April 26, 2017 at 10am.

The Education and Training Complex was made possible through funds raised in the 2008 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for Spalding County.   In 2015, the property was purchased and work on the redesign began shortly thereafter.

Lord, Aeck, & Sargent Architects redesigned the nearly 45,000 square feet in the first phase of the property which consisted of an abandoned grocery store and several retail locations to house the Southern Crescent Technical College Film Technology programs, classrooms and labs. Eventually, the additional 20,000 square feet will be renovated to house the Economic Development and Adult Education programs at the College although the infrastructure, mechanical and electrical improvements for the second phase will be completed during initial construction.  Parrish Construction Group began demolition in early March and they estimate that construction will be completed near the end of 2017.  The first classes will be held in the space Spring Semester 2018.

The Education and Training Complex at Ellis Crossing has been a collaborative project many years in the making between Southern Crescent Technical College, Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation, and the governments and citizens of the City of Griffin and Spalding County. In addition, Southern Crescent Technical College is one of a select few partner schools offering Georgia Film Academy courses which will be taught at this new location.

Southern Crescent Technical College President, Dr. Alvetta Thomas stated, “A project of this magnitude with multiple partners requires much planning and collaboration. We are beyond excited to finally see the construction underway on this important asset to our community.  We cannot thank the citizens of Griffin and Spalding County enough for creating this opportunity for our students and our community, for they will be the true winner with this addition.”

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NOTICE FOR UPSON CO. PROPERTY OWNERS

ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN UPSON COUNTY WILL BE RECEIVING THEIR 2017 ASSESSMENT NOTICE THIS WEEK. MOST PROPERTIES WILL SHOW AN INCREASE IN VALUE DUE TO A RISE IN SALE PRICES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE 45 DAYS IN WHICH TO APPEAL THE VALUE ON THEIR PROPERTY WITH THE LAST DAY BEING JUNE IST. TO FILE AN APPEAL GO BY THE TAX ASSESSORS' OFFICE IN THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX OR MAIL IN A WRITTEN APPEAL.

PIKE CO. FAMILY DIES IN FLA PLANE CRASH

ACCORDING TO THE GAINESVILLE FLORIDA SUN NEWSPAPER---MORE THAN 20 PILOTS FLEW OUT OF THE WILLISTON, FLORIDA AIRPORT BEFORE ONE OF THEM NOTICED THE WRECKAGE OF A PLANE THAT KILLED A PIKE COUNTY COUPLE AND THEIR TWO SMALL CHILDREN SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

NATHAN ENDERS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLER , HIS WIFE LAURA AND THEIR TWO SMALL KIDS PERISHED IN THE CRASH OF A VINTAGE CESSNA THAT WAS DISCOVERED 21 HOURS AFTER IT WENT DOWN. AN OLDER SON WAS NOT WITH THEM ON THE TRIP.

THE AIRPORT HOSTED A BAR B Q FLY-IN EVENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND POLICE SAID THE PLANE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AT 3;10PM AND CRASHED ABOUT 150 FEET BEFORE THE TREE LINE AT THE NORTH END OF THE TAXIWAY.

BETWEEN 20 AND 30 AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT AFTER THE CRASH SATURDAY BUT IT WAS A JET PILOT LEAVING THE AIRPORT SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHO FIRST ALERTED AUTHORITIES.

ACCORDING TO THE NTSB---THE CESSNA WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER THAT CONTINUED TO SEND A RADIO SIGNAL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED BY PILOTS WITHIN 2 OR 3 MILES EVEN IF THE ANTENNA WAS DAMAGED.

IT WILL BE A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE CRASH IS AVAILABLE FROM THE NTSB—BUT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GOOD AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.

NATHAN ENDERS IS A FORMER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

CITY OF THOMASTON SEWER OVERFLOW

Public Notification Sanitary Sewer Overflow at Collection System 408 Barnesville Highway County: Upson Date of Release: 4/17/2017, 1:03 pm Contact Person: Brian Kelly Phone: 706-646-8031 Mailing Address: 340 N Center Street City: Thomaston Zip: 30286 ESG responded to an odor complaint. As part of our investigation we walked the sewer line and discovered sewer leaking from an abandoned sewer tap due to a line blockage. The leak was discovered at 1:03 pm and ceased at 1:48 pm when our crews cleared the blockage. There was approximately 675 gallons of waste water released. The sewage discharged into a storm water runoff ditch that flows to Bell Creek. The leak was estimated at 15 gpm from the time it was discovered. There is evidence that the leak had happened prior to our finding but we have no way to calculate the amount. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has been notified and the affected area has been treated within the regulations of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the above listed contact persons.

SENIORS HONORS AT UL HIGH

Upson-Lee High School has announced honor seniors from the Class of 2017, and the highest honor goes to Natalie Elizabeth Miller, Upson-Lee High School’s 2017 Valedictorian. Natalie is the daughter of Judge and Mrs. Ben Miller Jr.

Valedictorian is the honor graduate with the highest overall numeric grade point average who has also completed all available Honors courses. In addition, at least three of the Advanced Placement (AP) courses in different core areas must also be completed. 

Hannah Kaitlyn Giles has earned the second highest honor as the 2017 Salutatorian, she is the daughter of Angela Fulcher and Lee Giles. 

Salutatorian is the honor graduate with the second highest overall numeric grade point average who has completed the same courses described for eligibility of the Valedictorian. 

A POSSIBLE TORNADO IN UPSON CO. MONDAY

UPSON, LAMAR, SPALDING, MONROE, MERIWETHER AND HENRY COUNTIES WERE UNDER A TORNADO WARNING MONDAY AT LUNCHTIME . UPSON EMA DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MCCARTY SAYS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, A TORNADO MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED DOWN IN SOUTHERN UPSON COUNTY . DAMAGE REPORTED ON JOHN B. GORDON ROAD, PO BIDY ROAD, LOGTOWN ROAD, KENDALL ROAD, BENTLEY ROAD, PLEASANT GROVE ROAD, AND YATESVILLE HIGHWAY COINCIDE WITH THE STORM TRACK.

MOST OF THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE STORM MOVED INTO MONROE COUNTY WHERE A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN WAS SUSPECTED EAST OF FORSYTH, AND POSSIBLY A TOUCHDOWN NEAR JACKSON.

EMA DIRECTOR MCCARTY SAYS PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR A SECOND ROUND OF STORMS EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AND ANOTHER STORM CELL , POSSIBLY LATER IN THE DAY.

SIGN-UP FOR WEATHER ALERTS

UPSON EMA ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO SIGN-UP FOR -- UPSON ALERTS -- TO BE NOTIFIED BY PHONE, TEXT, OR E-MAIL OF SEVERE WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES.

GO TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE—upsoncountyga.org AND CLICK-ON CITIZENS ALERTS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER—PHONE 706-741-1407

CHARGES FILED IN FT. VALLEY DEATH IN UPSON CO.

On April 3, 2017 we received information from the GBI State Crime Lab in reference to the death of Troymaine Johnson. The GBI Medical Examiner declared the cause of death to be homicide as a result of hypothermia. 

Ruby Kate “Katie” Coursey, 27, of Thomaston will charged with Neglect of a Disabled Adult (felony) and Felony Murder. 

Johnson who was a paraplegic was last seen with Coursey on March 14, 2017. Johnson was found deceased around 1:30 a.m. on March 17 off of Triune Mill Road in southern Upson County. During the investigation Coursey stated she “put Johnson out of her car and left him in the woods” 

Deputies, assisted by Thomaston police, were able to determine an approximate location and locate Johnson’s body.  Coursey has been in custody since March 17 on unrelated Probation Violation charges and will remain in the Upson County jail.

I wish to thank District Attorney Ben Coker and staff along with GBI Director Vernon Keenan for their assistance with this investigation.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

Upson County Ga.