THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF THANKS PUBLIC

We would like to thank the community, players, PD staff and all the volunteers that helped and participated in the Thomaston Police Department’s 3rd Annual Youth Awareness Basketball Tournament. 

One of the main goals of the tournament is to provide face time between our officers and the youth of our City.  Our target audience is boys and girls ages eleven (11) to fourteen (14).  Our hope is that this annual event will help build trust and respect between our youth, the community, and local law enforcement officers.  Each year we provide tournament t-shirts, lunch and numerous giveaways to all the kids that participate. Through our many local business sponsorships we are able to provide a great experience for the kids.  This year we gave away a PS4, headsets, ball caps, gift certificates, sporting goods and much more.  As you can imagine the kids were very excited about the prizes.   

This year’s tournament was a great success and for the third year in a row we grew in size.  This year we had approximately 100 girls and boys participate in the tournament.  A special thanks to DJ Smooth and our guest speaker, former Harlem Globetrotter and Head Coach of the men’s basketball team at Gordon State College, Coach Bruce Capers, who wowed the kids with his talents and teaching skills.  Again, I would like to thank all of our local businesses that helped sponsor the event, the players, family and friends that supported and attended the event and all the PD staff and volunteers that worked hard to make the event successful.  I know my staff and I had a great time with the kids and enjoyed some good competitive basketball.  We look forward to making next year’s event even bigger and better for our community youth.      

This year’s sponsors:  Thomaston Ford;  The English Law Group, LLC;  United Bank;  Game Castle; South Crest Bank;  Caldwell & Lowry, LLC;  Papa Johns;  KFC;  Zaxby’s;  The Pie;  Slices;  Big Chic;  Pizza Hut;  Little Caesars;  Piggly Wiggly;  Ingles;  State Farm – Trennis Dumas Agent;  Walmart;  Domino’s;  Afford-A-Bail Bonding Company, LLC;  Zoe Pediatrics;  Northside Drugs, Inc.;  Trice Funeral Home;  Virgil L. Brown & Associates, LLC;  DJ Smooth;  Coggins Funeral Home;  Bentley’s & Sons Funeral Home; Hibbett Sports;  Eric’s Detailing;  First Choice Bonding Company.

Sincerely,

Michael Richardson

Chief of Police

Thomaston Police Department

THREE ARRESTED FOR POT NEAR NORTHRIDGE CHURCH

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THREE YOUTHS WERE ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION LESS AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA AFTER OFFICIALS AT NORTHRIDGE CHURCH ON HICKORY RIDGE ROAD REPORTED SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE PARKING LOT LATE AT NIGHT.

RESPONDING OFFICERS FOUND A JAR OF SUSPECTED MARIJUANA ON THE GROUND NEAR A KIA OPTIMA.

ARRESTED; 19 YEAR OLD CHLOE VIA WALKER OF GREENWOOD ROAD, 21 YEAR OLD BRADY PAUL JOINER OF TUXEDO DR. AND 21 YEAR OLD DALTON WAYNE STROM OF THE ROCK ROAD.

ACCORDING TO THE S.O. REPORT---THE TRIO CLAIMED THE POT DID NOT BELONG TO THEM.

TAX MILLAGE DECISION BY TU BOE

The Thomaston-Upson Board of Education approved a lower millage rate for taxpayers at Thursday’s called meeting. The board set a tentative rate of 15.118 mills for calendar year 2017. Last year’s rate was at 15.42 mills. 

There will be a called Board of Education meeting at 8 AM on August 10 for the final approval of the lower school millage rate.

NO TAX MILLAGE HIKE CITY OF THOMASTON?

IT APPEARS THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND NOT RAISE TAXES.

CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON TOLD ZOOM NEWS THURSDAY HE IS RUNNING A LEGAL AD SETTING THE 2017 MILLAGE RATE AT THE ROLL-BACK RATE OF 3.77 MILLS.

COUNCIL WILL TAKE FORMAL ACTION ON THE MILLAGE RATE NEXT MONTH.

MANAGER THOMPSON SAID THE COUNCIL WILL NOT HAVE A QUORUM —FOR NEXT TUESDAY'S MEETING—SO ITS BEING MOVED TO THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD AT 7PM.

AM RED CROSS BLOOD STORTAGE

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS ANNOUNCED A BLOOD SHORTAGE—YOU CAN GIVE IN PIKE COUNTY MONDAY AUGUST 7TH 2 TO 7PM AT THE A.B. EDWARDS SENIOR CENTER ON 19 NORTH IN ZEBULON.

WED. AUGUST 9TH IN THOMASTON 10AM TILL 3PM AT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS ON HIGHWAY 36 EAST.

MONDAY AUGUST 14TH AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GRIFFIN WEST TAYLOR STREET 1 TO 6PM.

UPSON BOC NO TAX MILLAGE HIKE

THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL KEEP THE SAME MILLAGE RATES FOR 2017—BUT AT TUESDAY'S MEETING THEY LET IT BE KNOWN TAXES WILL LIKELY RISE IN 2018.

—THE BOARD ADOPTED A COUNTY-WIDE MILLAGE RATE OF 9.52 MILLS FOR 2017 DOWN FROM 9.77 IN 2016—A ROLLBACK BASED ON THE REVALUATION OF PROPERTY. THAT'S ESTIMATED TO YIELD JUST UNDER $10 MILLION. SOME TAX BILLS MIGHT GO UP DUE TO REVALUATION —BUT THE COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT HAVE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED BY THE STATE FOR A TAX INCREASE.

UNINCORPORATED AND JOINT PROJECTS MILLAGE RATES REMAIN THE SAME.

CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN SAID THE UPCOMING EMPLOYEE SALARY STUDY BY THE UGA VINSON INSTITUTE WILL PROBABLY IMPACT THE 2018 BUDGET—PLUS HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT COULD GOBBLE-UP 2 MILLS OF TAX.

COMMISSIONER JAMES ELLINGTON STRESSED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS NEED TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE BOARD WITH THEIR 2018 BUDGETS .

PEDESTRIAN HIT BY A CAR NEAR 36 E.

UPSON COUNTY S.O. SAID A PEDESTRIAN WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO AN OUT OF TOWN HOSPITAL —AFTER HE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR TUESDAY EVENING AT 36 EAST AND EAST MOORE'S CROSSING NEAR CHATFIELD'S STORE.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT--42 YEAR OLD CHARLES MICHAEL ELDER OF MULBERRY STREET WAS LYING IN A POOL OF BLOOD WITH A LARGE GASH ON HIS FOREHEAD—AND REPORTEDLY SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND FRACTURES.

THE MOTORIST INVOLVED—KAREN ORRELL OF D. STREET TOLD DEPUTIES—MR. ELDER WAS IN THE ROAD—BUT SHE DIDN'T SEE HIM.

RELATIVES SAID ELDER SUFFERED MULTIPLE BEE STINGS EARLIER IN THE DAY AND ONE SIDE OF HIS FACE WAS SWOLLEN—BUT HE WOULDN'T SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION

THE ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION

THOMASTON P.D. UPSON S.O. AND GSP RESPOND TO FIGHT

THOMASTON POLICE, UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND THE GA. STATE PATROL RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A RUMBLE AT FAR VIEW APARTMENTS ON AVE. F. SATURDAY—AFTER SOMEONE FIRED A GUNSHOT THRU A CAR WINDOW.

NO ONE WAS INJURED—BUT A CROWD HAD GATHERED AND FIGHTS BROKE-OUT—ACCORDING TO SHERIFF DAN KILGORE.

DEPUTIES ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTS AFTER A STRONG ODOR OF MARIJUANA AND A 40 CALIBER HANDGUN WAS FOUND IN THEIR CAR—AND CLOSE TO A POUND OF WEED WAS SEIZED.

THOSE ARRESTED—36 YEAR OLD EDDIE LAMAR REVIERE OF TRICE ROAD---POSSESSION MARIJUANA WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND 24 YEAR OLD DEMOND WILSON OF MICHAEL STREET CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN IN COMMISSION OF A CRIME.

THOMASTON NITE AT THE ATLANTA BRAVES AUG.5

SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 5TH IS THOMASTON NITE AT THE ATLANTA BRAVES—KIDS PARTICIPATING IN SPRING SPORTS CAN PICK-UP FREE TICKETS AT THE CIVIC CENTER---PARENTS CAN PURCHASE TICKETS AT CITY HALL IN THE GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.

HOUSE FIRE TUESDAY IN UPSON

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS A HOUSE FIRE AT 2732 19 NORTH TUESDAY AFTERNOON NEAR SHILO BAPTIST CHURCH—THAT CLOSED NORTHBOUND LANES ON 19.

THE REPORT SAID CHARLIE FIELDS WAS SMOKING IN BED --FELL ASLEEP AND SET HIS OXYGEN LINE ON FIRE WHICH IGNITED HIS BOX SPRINGS. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS RESPONDED TO ASSIST.

FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN LAMAR COUNTY

ACCORDING TO POST 44 GA. STATE PATROL FORSYTH—A MILNER MAN DIED OF INJURIES IN A MOTORCYCLE WRECK TUESDAY EVENING IN LAMAR COUNTY ON HIGHWAY 18 NEAR CANNIFAX ROAD AFTER HE WAS REAR-ENDED BY HIS FIANCE.

TROOPER JASON STONE IDENTIFIED THE FATALITY AS 28 YEAR OLD WILLIAM CHRIS STANFIELD—WHO WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO GRADY HOSPITAL IN ATLANTA BUT DIED OF SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA.

TROOPER STONE TOLD ZOOM NEWS—HIS BRIDE-TO-BE, LORA WYNNE , AGE 28 OF GRIFFIN WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND STANSFIELD AS THEY LOOKED AT HOUSES FOR SALE. HE STOPPED THE BIKE SUDDENLY—BECAUSE HE MISSED A TURN—AND THE TOYOTA COROLLA—MS. WYNNE WAS DRIVING—STRUCK THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE REAR—AND KNOCKED STANSFIELD OFF THE BIKE.

THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION—ACCORDING TO TROOPER STONE.

NO HIKE IN TAX MILLAGE IN 2017

AT TUESDAY'S MEETING—THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO HOLD THE LINE ON THE TAX MILLAGE RATE FOR 2017—BUT WARNED A TAX INCREASE IS LOOMING IN 2018.

D.A. COKER , GBI AND SPALDING S.O. COLD CASE

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker’s Office have reopened the investigation in to the 34 year old cold case murder of Timothy Coggins.

On October 9, 1983, the body of Timothy Coggins was found on a power line off of Minter Road in Sunnyside. Investigators at the time gathered evidence from the scene, questioned suspects and witnesses but were unable to make arrests in Coggins’ death. The case has remained unsolved to this day.

In June of 2017, spurred by information forwarded to the GBI through various sources regarding Coggins’ murder, Agents and Investigators began re-examining the case and all of the information gathered at the time of the original investigation. Investigators began re-interviewing old witnesses, conducting interviews with newly discovered witnesses, and gathering new evidence. Investigators from the GBI and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office working in unison have been literally going door to door in their efforts to solve this crime. Based on their findings they believe that they are close to making arrests for Coggins’ murder.

According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, “We have been in contact with a representative from Coggins’ family and they have been briefed on where we are at in the investigation. Unfortunately, both of his parents are deceased, and we wish we would have been able to give them closure before they passed away. The GBI, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, and District Attorney Ben Coker’s Office will do all we can to ensure that Timothy Coggins and the remainder of the Coggins family receive justice. It does not matter who he was, or where he was from, this man died a horrible death and those responsible for his murder need to be held accountable. I can say without a doubt that if Mr. Coggins was murdered today, in 2017, it would absolutely be classified as a hate crime. 34 years have passed since this horrible crime was committed and those who killed him have believed that they would remain untouched until literally just a few days ago.”

Sheriff Dix continued, “We understand that over the years those suspected of being involved in the murder of Timothy Coggins have threatened and intimidated potential witnesses. We believe that there are people with pertinent information regarding this case that are still out there and we are asking them to come forward. We are asking for anyone who may have information about this murder, especially the hours leading up to the discovery of Coggins’ body, to contact the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office at (770)-467-4282 and ask to speak to Lt. Mike Morris or GBI Agent Jared Coleman.  Any detail, no matter how small you may think it is, could be valuable in bringing Coggins’ killers to justice.

THOMASTON-UPSON KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten Registration for the 2017-18 school year will be held on Tuesday, July 25, from 8:30 - 11:30 in the Upson-Lee Primary School Media Center. No appointment is necessary. 

The parent or legal guardian should bring the child to register, along with the following documents: child's certified birth certificate; child's social security card; child's immunization record on GA form 3231; Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Record on Form 3300; Parent/Guardian Photo ID; Proof of Residency (2 of the following items in parent's name - gas/water/electric bill, lease contract, or property tax bill); Proof of guardianship. The child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2017. 

This registration is for children who have not previously registered for Kindergarten in the Thomaston-Upson School System.

FORMER GRIFFIN HIGH TEACHER INDICTED

ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE OF GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER----THE SPALDING COUNTY GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED FORMER GRIFFIN HIGH TEACHER—BRANDY NICKELS, AGE 41 OF WILLIAMSON ON TWO COUNTS OF STATUTORY RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A STUDENT, CHILD MOLESTATION , ENTICING A CHILD FOR INDECENT PURPOSES, AGGREVATED CHILD MOLESTATION AND INFLUENCING A WITNESS.

MS. NICKELS—WHO RESIGNED FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM--- HAS BEEN ARRESTED TWICE BY GRIFFIN POLICE WITH MALE JUVENILES IN HER CAR—THE FIRST TIME MAY 18TH AND AGAIN JUNE 13TH AND THE 2ND TIME A LOADED PISTOL AND SOME MARIJUANA WAS FOUND—AND HER BOND WAS REVOKED.

MS. NICKELS IS IN JAIL AWAITING A NOVEMBER TRIAL DATE.

INJURIES IN A PIKE COUNTY WRECK

On 7/17/2017 at 8:06p.m., Deputies responded to a traffic accident on Highway 19 ,near Gresham road. A Dodge Magnum driven by William Rice, 57, from Spalding County was traveling northbound , crossed over into the southbound lane and struck a Chevrolet Traverse driven by Kristen Golden,26, of Pike County, head on. The Traverse was also occupied by a two year old child. Mr. Rice was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital and Ms. Golden and the two year old were taken to Spalding Regional by ambulance for treatment. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by Sheriff's Office Traffic Investigators.

JOB OPENINGS AT UPSON SO

THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR CROSSING GUARDS AND JAIL OFFICERS. APPLY AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 8AM TILL 5PM.

UPSON CONVICT SOUGHT IN SPALDING CO

SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD POSTED A LOOK-OUT FOR A WANTED SUSPECT—BUT IT TURNS OUT HE'S IN STATE PRISON FOR AN UPSON COUNTY CASE.

28 YEAR OLD ADONIS CORDELL COLQUITT IS WANTED IN SPALDING COUNTY ON KIDNAPPING AND OTHER CHARGES—BUT HE'S SERVING A 5 YEAR SENTENCE IN THE STATE PEN FOR STATUTORY RAPE IN UPSON COUNTY FOR A CRIME IN AUGUST OF 2012.

UL HEAD FOOTBALL COACH STRICKEN ILL

UPSON-LEE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH TOMMY PARKS IS REPORTED IN GOOD CONDITION AT THE MACON MEDICAL CENTER INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AFTER SUFFERING AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK AT HOME FRIDAY MORNING .

A MEMBER OF COACH PARKS STAFF TOLD ZOOM NEWS—HE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. COACH PARKS IS STARTING HIS 4TH YEAR AS HEAD COACH OF THE KNIGHTS FOOTBALL TEAM.

PD CHIEF SAYS BROTHER MURDERED BROTHER

On July 01, 2017, between the hours of 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, Officers from the Thomaston Police Department responded to 450 B Street, Thomaston, Upson County, Georgia in reference to a verbal domestic between brothers. Prior to the officer’s arrival on the scene Blake Ashley Hancock 39 years of age obtained a firearm and discharged the firearm inside the residence striking his brother Talvin Harold Robbins 52 years of age in the head. The call was upgraded to a possible subject shot and a subjected barricaded in the residence.   Shortly after TPD officers arrived on the scene along with deputies from the Upson County Sheriff’s Office Blake Hancock exited the house un armed and was taken into custody without further incident.  Officers then made entry into the residence where they found a male subject identified as Talvin Harold in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head.   Upon securing the scene EMS arrived and transported the Talvin Harold to URMC where he was pronounced dead from the fatal gunshot wound by the Assistant Coroner. Blake Hancock was transported to the Upson County jail where he is being held without bond.   He has been charged with Murder, Malice Murder, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime. At the request of Chief Richardson the GBI Region 2 Crime Scene Unit responded and assisted TPD Investigators process the scene for evidence.  This incident is still under investigation at the time of this release.