UPSON CO. ARSONIST SENTENCED TO FED PEN

A CONVICT DOING TIME FOR SERIAL ARSON IN UPSON COUNTY HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO TWO MORE YEARS IN PRISON FOR MAILING BOGUS ANTHRAX THREATS—USING THE NAME  AND  ADDRESS    OF SHERIFF DAN KILGORE ON THE ENVELOPES SENT TO THE STATE BAR OF GA., THE AJC NEWSPAPER, AND THE MORMAN CHURCH.

50 YEAR OLD TRAVIS BALL OF WARNER ROBINS WAS SENTENCED JUNE 23RD IN FEDERAL COURT—TWO YEARS IN PRISON PLUS THREE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE AND —RESTITUTION OF $10,700.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAID BALL WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF ROBINS AIR BASE WHO HAD FRIENDS IN THOMASTON—AND LOCATED VACANT RESIDENCES IN WESTERN UPSON CO. IN REAL ESTATE MAGAZINES AND TORCHED THEM.

THE FBI CONTACTED THE SHERIFF OVER A YEAR AGO—ABOUT THE THREATS—JUST AS BALL WAS UP FOR PAROLE FROM A SOUTH GA. PRISON. NOW HE GOES INTO THE FEDERAL PENAL SYSTEM.

THE SHERIFF SAID BALL WROTE COUNTLESS LETTERS TO HIS OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE , AND OTHER OFFICIALS COMPLAINING ABOUT HIS MIS-TREATMENT BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SHERIFF  KILGORE  TOLD  ZOOM  NEWS   HE   IS  PUZZLED  BY  BALL'S  ACTIONS.

THE ROCK RANCH CANCELS CELEBRATE AMERICA-SAT.

TWO CANCELLATIONS SATURDAY—THE ROCK RANCH HAS CANCELLED CELEBRATE AMERICA SATURDAY DUE TO WEATHER THREATS. THE FRED IN PEACHTREE CITY SAYS PAUL ANKA HAS CANCELLED HIS SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT AND OTHER SHOWS DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS.

CITY OF THOMASTON NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR HIRED

THE CITY OF THOMASTON HAS HIRED A NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR, LONNIE JOYCE, A C.P.A. MR JOYCE HAS BEEN WORKING AS CONTRACT INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR SINCE FEBRUARY. HIS SALARY WILL BE $92,000 ANNUALLY.

CITY COUNCILMAN JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION TO HIRE THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR FOLLOWING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, TUESDAY NIGHT.

UPSON JURY SPLIT 9-3 IN FAVOR OF DEATH PENALTY

AFTER DELIBRATING 30 MINUTES WEDNESDAY AN UPSON COUNTY JURY SENTENCED CHRISTOPHER CALMER TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR THE MURDER OF DEPUTY MICHAEL NORRIS—THE UPSON JURY WAS REPORTEDLY SPLIT 9 TO 3 IN FAVOR OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE FATHER OF DEPUTY NORRIS---BENNETT NORRIS TOLD THE TELEGRAPH HE BELIEVES THE JURY WOULD HAVE REACHED A DIFFERENT VERDICT—IF THEY COULD HAVE HEARD THE FAMILY SAY THEY WANTED THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW SUCH TESTIMONY DURING THE SENTENCING PHASE OF A DEATH PENALTY CASE.

HBO CASTING CALL FOR ACTORS IN BVILLE

ANOTHER OPEN CASTING CALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE HBO SERIES— -- SHARP OBJECTS --- STARRING AMY ADAMS THAT BEGINS FILMING THE FIRST OF THE WEEK IN BARNESVILLE AND MCDONOUGH.

NEEDED; A CAUCASIAN FEMALE WHO HAS THE BODY OF AN 18 YEAR OLD, A CAUCASIAN BOY AGES 7 TO 9, A CAUCASIAN MALE AGES 50 TO 65, CAUCASIAN FEMALE AGES 50 TO 60 AND 18 TO 21 YEAR OLD CAUCASIAN MALES.

FOR MORE INFO LOG ON TO BARNESVILLE DOT COM.  

MOTORCYCLE WRECK CLAIMS A SON OF UPSON

A YOUNG MAN ORIGINALLY FROM THOMASTON WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT TUESDAY EVENING ON DUNBAR ROAD IN HOUSTON COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO HOUSTON COUNTY S.O.---27 YEAR OLD JEREMY WRIGHT OF MILLEDGEVILLE, GA. WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE AFTER AN APPARENT HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A PICK-UP TRUCK.

JEREMY'S MOTHER SHARON—TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL CHURCH MUSICIAN AND MUSIC PRODUCER.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR JEREMY WRIGHT WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH AT 12 NOON AT MARY LIZZIE BAPTIST CHURCH IN THOMASTON --- TRICE FUNERAL HOME IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TILL 11PM

MARTHA ANN MCCARTY—UPSON EMA DIRECTOR SAYS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THIS PART OF GA. UNTIL 11PM THURSDAY NIGHT. MARTHA ANN SAID THUNDERSTORM CELLS AROUND THE ATLANTA METRO AREA COULD TRACK A PATH SOUTH AND IMPACT THE ZOOM RADIO LISTENING AREA.

UPSON CO. JURY GIVES CALMER LIFE W/O PAROLE

WEDNESDAY IN MONROE COUNTY, AN UPSON COUNTY JURY SENTENCED CHRISTOPHER CALMER TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR THE MURDER OF MONROE COUNTY DEPUTY MICHAEL NORRIS IN 2014. THE STATE WAS SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE JURY FOUND CALMER GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS TUESDAY AFTER JUST 30 MINUTES OF DELIBRATIONS.    

THREATS TO INTERFOR ALERT UPSON S.O.

THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS OBTAINED A CRIMINAL WARRANT FOR TERRORISTIC THREATS AFTER A CULLODEN MAN ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TO BLOW-UP INTERFOR—THE FORMER KEADLE LUMBER ENTERPRISES—AND KILL HIS FORMER BOSS.

SHERIFF DAN KILGORE TOLD ZOOM NEWS WEDNESDAY--- 63 YEAR OLD WILLIAM FREDRICK HARRIS OF BILLY HARRIS ROAD IN MONROE COUNTY IS HOSPITALIZED IN MACON—BUT ONCE HE IS RELEASED DEPUTIES WILL PICK HIM UP AND BRING HIM TO THE UPSON COUNTY JAIL FOR BOOKING.

HARRIS WAS REPORTEDLY DISMISSED FROM INTERFOR ON JUNE 5TH AND MONROE COUNTY S.O. GOT WORD HE WAS THREATENING THE COMPANY AND NOTIFIED UPSON S.O. HARRIS WAS REPORTED MISSING LAST WEEK BUT TURNED-UP OVER THE WEEKEND.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAID--ONCE NOTIFIED OF THE THREATS, UPSON DEPUTIES MET WITH SUPERVISORS AT INTERFOR AND ALERTED THEM OF THE SITUATION.   

THOMASTON P.D. K-9 UNIT NABS ESCAPEE

THE THOMASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT TRACKED DOWN A FEMALE INMATE WHO ESCAPED FROM CITY COURT —TUESDAY—FOUND HER IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE AT GORDON AND SOUTH BETHEL.

POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON SAID 35 YEAR OLD RHONDA BRADSHAW—FACING A RAP FOR SHOPLIFTING, MANAGED TO EXIT THE COURTROOM UNDETECTED AT THE GOVERNMENT COMPLEX DURING RECESS.

K-9 RYDER WAS DISPATCHED—PICKED-UP BRADSHAW'S TRAIL AND FOUND HER HIDING IN THE BACK OF THE RESIDENCE NEXT TO H & R BLOCK.

SHE FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES—AND THE CHIEF HAS ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE.

2-2 TIE VOTE FOR POULTRY HOUSES

BEFORE A FULL HOUSE, THE UPSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED 2-2 ON A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR 6 POULTRY HOUSES FOR BILL THOMPSON ON REST HAVEN ROAD, MONDAY. THE ITEM WILL BE ON THE JULY MEETING AGENDA.

CHAIRMAN PAUL JONES AND VICE CHAIR JOEL PITTS VOTED FOR THE MOTION TO APPROVE. ALICIA MCKINLEY AND JEFFREY HILTON VOTED AGAINST, THE 5TH MEMBER MIKE RAINES WAS ABSENT.

LIFE IN PRISON FOR RUBY KATE COURSEY

ACCORDING TO GRIFFIN CIRCUIT DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER—A THOMASTON WOMAN WILL SERVE LIFE IN PRISON FOR LEAVING HER EX-BOYFRIEND TO DIE OF HYPOTHERMIA IN A WOODED AREA IN UPSON COUNTY. 27 YEAR OLD RUBY KATE COURSEY ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TUESDAY IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT.

COURSEY HAS ADMITTED USING METH AND MARIJUANA WHEN SHE PUSHED 33 YEAR OLD TROYMAIN JOHNSON OF FT. VALLEY OUT OF THE CAR AND LEFT HIM TO DIE. JOHNSON WAS A PARAPLEGIC WHO REPORTEDLY ONLY HAD USE OF THREE FINGERS.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TUESDAY MARCH 14TH—BUT SHE WAITED TILL FRIDAY TO REPORT IT.

D.A. COKER SAID ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCE FROM JUDGE CHRIS EDWARDS—COURSEY MUST SERVE 30 YEARS OF HER SENENCE BEFORE SHE IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.

DURING THE GUILTY PLEA PROCEEDING—MS. COURSEY SOBBED THAT SHE REGRETED HER ACTIONS AND ASKED JOHNSON'S FAMILY TO FORGIVE HER.

PROSECUTOR COKER CREDITED COOPERATION BETWEEN HIS OFFICE, THE GBI, UPSON S.O. AND THOMASTON P.D. FOR THE QUICK RESOLUTION OF THE CASE. 

DROWNING AT SPREWELL BLUFF

A COLLEGE PARK TEEN APPARENTLY DROWNED SATURDAY AFTERNOON WHILE SWIMMING AT SPREWELL BLUFF PARK. UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AS 18 YEAR OLD SANTIAGO NICKOLAS RAFEL BERNABE WHOSE BODY WAS SENT TO THE GBI CRIME LAB FOR AUTOPSY.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAID BERNABE WAS WITH A GROUP OF ABOUT 40 PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM SOUTH ATLANTA TO ENJOY THE FLINT RIVER. NO ONE SAW HIM GO UNDER BUT HIS BODY WAS SPOTTED FACE DOWN NEAR A ROCK AND IT WAS ALREADY STIFF.

IN ANOTHER WEEKEND INCIDENT ON THE FLINT, A THOMASTON WOMAN WAS FORCED TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN THE WOODS AFTER SHE GOT SEPARATED FROM HER FLOATING COMPANIONS .

THE SHERIFF SAID 35 YEAR OLD CASEY LEE ANN BROOKS HOBBS OF COBBTOWN ROAD DEVELOPED A HOLE IN HER TUBE PAST YELLOW JACKET SHOALS AND HAD TO GO TO THE BANK.

SHE WAS CONTACTED BY CELL PHONE AND CONFIRMED SHE WAS O.K. SHE BUILT A FIRE IN A CLEARING AND WAITED OUT THE NIGHT, AND WALKED OUT ON ROLAND ROAD THE NEXT MORNING. 

SERVICES FOR LT. OXFORD

LT. ROBERT EUGENE OXFORD---A PIKE COUNTY AIRMAN WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS DURING WORLD WAR TWO IS LYING IN STATE AT MOODY-DANIEL FUNERAL HOME IN ZEBULON AND VISITATION IS SCHEDULED FRIDAY 5 TO 8PM AND SATURDAY 10AM TILL 4PM AT THE FUNERAL HOME.

A VIDEO OF THE RECOVERY OF LT. OXFORD'S REMAINS IN INDIA IS PRESENTED IN THE CHAPEL AND PHOTOS OF LT. OXFORD AND THE 7 OTHERS WHO PERISHED IN THE CRASH ARE DISPLAYED NEXT TO HIS CASKET—ALONG WITH A PHOTO OF —THE LATE SUSAN BROWN OF ZEBULON, HIS FUTURE BRIDE.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE IS SCHEDULED SUNDAY 2PM AT THE PIKE COUNTY SCHOOL AUDITORIUM WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AT MAGNOLIA CEMETERY IN CONCORD. OFFICIATING—REV. BOB MCCOMBS, REV. JEFF OVERTON AND REV. BILL BARBER, SOLOIST KEITH JOHNSON.

TIM DANIEL TOLD US VINTAGE AIRCRAFT FROM THE CANDLER FIELD MUSEUM WILL DO A FLY-OVER AT THE CEMETERY SERVICE.

THE FUNERAL HOME HAS PROVIDED 700 YELLOW RIBBONS TO WELCOME HOME LT. OXFORD AND TIM SAYS THEY ARE DISPLAYED ALL OVER PIKE COUNTY.

D.A. COKER ANNOUNCES DAVID GIBSON GUILTY PLEA

ACCORDING TO BENJAMIN COKER, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN SPALDING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, A RETIRED CAPTAIN WITH THE SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, DAVID WAYNE GIBSON ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO TWO COUNTS OF VIOLATION OF OATH OF OFFICE AND WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS, 3 TO SERVE IN PRISON.

GIBSON WAS INDICTED FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES OF THE SPALDING S.O. DURING THE SERVICE OF SHERIFF WENDELL BEAM. THOSE FEMALES HAVE FILED AN EEOC LAW SUIT AGAINST GIBSON , FORMER SHERIFF BEAM AND THE COUNTY OF SPALDING SEEKING AT LEAST $8 MILLION IN DAMAGES. ONE NON-EMPLOYEE OF THE S.O. IS ALSO A PARTY TO THE LAW SUIT.

NEW CONTRACT FOR THOMASTON'S CITY MANAGER

THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL VOTED 4 TO 1 TO APPROVE A NEW CONTRACT FOR CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON AFTER A CLOSED DOOR SESSION —TUESDAY--WITH A 5% PAY RAISE—BUT COUNCILMAN JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE CAST THE LONE VOTE AGAINST THE $6300 PAY BOOST.

COUNCILMAN MIDDLEBROOKS SAID HE OPPOSES ANY INDIVIDUAL PAY RAISES BEFORE THE FINAL REPORT FROM THE CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT STUDY ON PAY AND CLASSIFICATION OF CITY EMPLOYEES. THE MANAGER'S BASE SALARY IS NOW $131,000.

MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS TOLD US THE 5% PAY HIKE WITH THE MANAGERS BENEFITS PACKAGE WILL PUT HIS TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE AROUND $150,000. ITS A 4% PAY HIKE PLUS THE 1% ALL CITY EMPLOYEES GOT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

THE MAYOR SAID ITS IN LINE WITH WHAT SIMILAR-SIZED CITIES ARE PAYING THEIR MANAGERS. HE COMMENDED THOMPSON FOR DOING A TERRIFIC JOB AND CALLED HIM A GOOD FIT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TUESDAY WAS RUSSELL'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY AS THOMASTON'S CITY MANAGER.  

UPSON JURORS ON MONROE COUNTY MURDER CASE

12 JURORS AND 6 ALTERNATES FROM UPSON COUNTY HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY TRIAL OF CHRISTOPHER CALMER INDICTED FOR THE MURDER OF MONROE COUNTY DEPUTY MICHAEL NORRIS.

AS THE TRIAL GOT UNDERWAY MONDAY AT THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE—SHERIFF JOHN CARY BITTICK AND THE NORRIS FAMILY REMINDED THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM ANY OUTWARD SIGNS OF SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT—SUCH AS BLUE RIBBONS OR CLOTHING ITEMS FROM THE BACK THE BLUE MOVEMENT.

NORRIS WAS SHOT AND KILLED AND DEPUTY JEFF WILSON WAS WOUNDED IN SEPT. OF 2014 WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO A CALL ABOUT A MAN THREATENING SUICIDE.