SEWER OVERFLOW AT WALMART LIFT STATION

Public Notification Sanitary Sewer Overflow at Collection System Walmart Lift Station Force Main County: Upson Date of Release: 10/28/2017 Contact Person: Brian Kelly Phone: 706-646-8031 Mailing Address: 340 N Center Street City: Thomaston Zip: 30286 On October 28, 2017 ESG responded to a call from a customer stating there was a sewage leak behind the Walmart department store. After investigating we found the pipe leaving the Walmart lift station was compromised allowing sewage to leak when the pumps were running. We shut the lift station down and started repairs at 2:50 pm. We contacted Upson County Water and Sewer department asking if they could shut down their lift station that feeds the Walmart lift station to reduce the incoming flow to the lift station. They were able to comply. The repairs were made and the station was brought back on line at approx. 5:40 pm. Thanks to diligent work and cooperation from the County we were able to make the repairs without having an overflow at the Walmart lift station. There was a release of 2500 gallons due to the broken force main pipe with 2000 gallons reaching a tributary of Potato Creek and 500 gallons were able to be remediated. A spill notice sign has been posted at the site. 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.

UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY VETERANS PROGRAM

PUBLIC INVITED TO THE UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY VETERANS PROGRAM SATURDAY NOV. 4TH 11AM AT THE THOMASTON UPSON SENIORS CENTER.

NATIONAL GUARD VETERAN OFFICER DAVID MCDONALD WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER ON THE HISTORY OF THE LOCAL NATIONAL GUARD.

30 NEW JOBS FOR THOMASTON UPSON

AT OCTOBER'S MEETING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON IDA --TUESDAY--- THE INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED ITS AGREED TO SELL THE SPEC BUILDING IN THE CENTRAL GA. BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK NEAR THE AIRPORT FOR $600,000 TO GOLDEN STAR , A FIRM BASED IN OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS .

THE IDA APPROVED THE CONTRACT DURING THE MEETING TUESDAY AND THE DEAL IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE IN 30 DAYS, A DEAL THAT INCLUDES 25 ACRES IN THE PARK.

GOLDEN STAR PLANS TO INVEST ABOUT $5 MILLION TO BUILD OUT THE FACILITY AND PURCHASE MACHINERY AND INITIALLY HIRE 30 EMPLOYEES. THE COMPANY MANUFACTURES INDUSTRIAL CLEANING SUPPLIES SUCH AS WET MOPS, DUST MOPS AND TEXTILE CLEANING SYSTEMS—A COMPANY IN OPERATION SINCE 1908.

THE SPEC BUILDING, BUILT IN 2004 HAS NEVER BEEN OCCUPIED-- AND THOMASTON MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS TOLD ZOOM NEWS HE'S DELIGHTED TO FINALLY GET IT ON THE TAX BOOKS. 

GUN FIGHT AT THOMASTON CONVIENCE STORE

A MAN WANTED IN THOMASTON AND ZEBULON IS ON THE RUN AFTER A GUN BATTLE WITH ANOTHER MAN OCT. 10TH AT THE QUICK MART ON TRIUNE MILL ROAD.

THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON SAID 29 YEAR OLD TEREL MAURICE KING OF G. CIRCLE SHOT ANOTHER MAN, 37 YEAR OLD MARKEITH DERRELL REVIERE OF BUCKLES ROAD IN THE ABDOMEN, THEN FLED THE SCENE.

REVIERE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY EMS AND UNDERWENT SURGERY AT URMC, AND ITS BELIEVED KING W AS SHOT IN THE LEG.

ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF, KING ALLEGEDLY REACHED IN REVIERE'S POCKET AND ROBBED HIM OF ABOUT $50 AND THAT TRIGGERED THE ALTERCATION--- BOTH FIRED HANDGUNS. A STRAY ROUND HIT A NEAR-BY CAR.

KING HAS OVER A DOZEN CRIMINAL WARRANTS FOR HIS ARREST IN THOMASTON AND ZEBULON—EVERYTHING FROM DRUG VIOLATIONS TO FIREARMS CHARGES.

CHIEF RICHARDSON SAID ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT KING'S LOCATION SHOULD CONTACT THE P.D.

TWO ARRESTED FOR FUENTES MURDER

ALBANY POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTS IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 27 YEAR OLD TOBY FUENTES OF THOMASTON AT AN ALBANY MOTEL, SATURDAY NIGHT.

CHARGED WITH MURDER---19 YEAR OLD DAVID QUIMBY AND 21 YEAR OLD COURTLAND HUGHLEY, IN WHAT POLICE ARE CALLING A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD.

A COMPANION OF FUENTES, 21 YEAR OLD KEDRAVIOUS WEB OF THOMASTON WAS ARRESTED FOR FELONY TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.

ALBANY P.D. SAID FUENTES WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF THE QUALITY INN IN NORTHWEST ALBANY SATURDAY NIGHT AROUND 7;30PM.

WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW A WHITE CHEVROLET IMPALA LEAVE THE SCENE MOMENTS AFTER SHOTS WERE FIRED AND THE CAR WAS FOUND ON THE CAMPUS OF ALBANY STATE COLLEGE THE NEXT DAY.

MAN ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING AT PIKE DEPUTIES

Pike County Deputies responded yesterday afternoon to a report of a citizen’s car being shot on Bankston Road. Upon arrival it was learned that the victim had sustained a flat tire while driving on the roadway and had pulled over to change the tire on her vehicle. While outside of the vehicle gunshots were heard by the victim and a bullet struck her car going through a window and in to the interior of the car.

Investigators were able to narrow down the location from which the gun had been discharged to the area of 1927 Bankston Road. Initial attempts to contact anyone at this residence were unsuccessful. Several hours later two Deputies returned to the address to follow up on the initial complaint. 

Deputies observed a door standing open to the residence and tried to contact anyone inside the residence through the open door. During this time the resident , Timothy Jones (60 years of age), began to verbally threaten the Deputies and fired a rifle at the Deputies narrowly missing them.

The Deputies were able to get to a safer location and request for additional personnel to assist them. A stand off ensued during which Jones refused to come out of the residence and told Deputies that he was armed and ready to fight.

Jones eventually came out on to the front porch of his residence at which time Deputies were able to deploy a taser and incapacitate him. He was taken into custody and transported to the Pike County Jail.

A search warrant conducted in the residence resulted in numerous firearms being recovered. Several spent shell casing were recovered that are believed to be from Jones shooting the vehicle earlier in the day and at the Deputies.

Charges for Timothy Jones include the following : two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement , aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime

TWO INJURED IN MONDAY ACCIDENT S. CHURCH

TWO FEMALE MOTORISTS INJURED, ONE TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. AFTER A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT, AT LUNCHTIME MONDAY ON SOUTH CHURCH STREET, JUST PAST SOUTHSIDE BP.

THOMASTON FIRE CHIEF RENAY HARRIS SAID ONE CAR WAS ON ITS SIDE AND THE DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE BY SOMEONE PASSING-BY. THAT FEMALE MOTORIST WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY EMS.

THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BY EMT'S.

THOMASTON POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND EMS RESPONDED.

THE ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THOMASTON P.D.  

A THOMASTON MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN ALBANY

A   THOMASTON  MAN  DIED  OF  GUNSHOT  WOUNDS  AT  AN  ALBANY  MOTEL  SATURDAY  EVENING  AND POLICE ARE  LOOKING FOR  THE   SHOOTER.

ACCORDING  TO  ALBANY  POLICE , ZEMAL  TOBEY  FUENTES, AGE   27  DIED  AT  THE  HOSPITAL  AFTER  THE  SHOOTING  AROUND  7;30PM  SATURDAY NIGHT  AT  THE  QUALITY  INN  IN  NORTHWEST  ALBANY.

HOTEL  GUESTS  SAID  THEY  HEARD  TWO  OR  THREE  GUNSHOTS  AND  WERE  NOT  ALLOWED  TO  LEAVE  THE  INN  FOR  TWO  HOURS  SATURDAY  NIGHT,  AS  POLICE   INVESTIGATED  THE  CASE.

POLICE SAID FUENTES  WAS  VISITING  FOR THE  HOMECOMING OF  ALBANY  STATE  COLLEGE.
A  THOMASTON  COMPANION, KEDRAVIOUS  DARNELL  WEBB,  AGE  21  IS   LISTED  IN  THE  ALBANY  JAIL  ON  CHARGES  OF  FELONY  TAMPERING  WITH  EVIDENCE.

THE  SUSPECTED  GET A  WAY  CAR,  A  LATE  MODEL  CHEVROLET  IMPALA  WAS  LOCATED  BY  POLICE  LATER  THAT  NIGHT  ON  THE  CAMPUS  OF  ALBANY  STATE.

  IN  HIGH  SCHOOL  TOBEY  FUENTES   PLAYED  FOOTBALL  FOR  UPSON-LEE.

TWO CONVICTED OF MURDER IN SPALDING CO.

BENJAMIN D. COKER

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Griffin Judicial Circuit

October 10, 2017

PRESS RELEASE

On October 3, 2017, the State began trying a murder case against two defendants, William Moore and Todd Jones, in front of the Honorable W. Fletcher Sams. Both defendants were charged with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Battery, two counts of Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Crime. On October 10, 2017, a Spalding County jury returned a verdict of guilty on all 7 counts against both defendants. Judge Sams sentenced the defendants to two sentences of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years in prison. Moore and Jones will serve the rest of their lives in prison under this sentence.

The State in the case was represented by District Attorney Benjamin D. Coker and Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder. The State tendered 296 exhibits over the 6 day trial. The jury deliberated for over two hours before reaching the guilty verdict, today.

The jury convicted Moore and Jones for brutally murdering Kevin Harmon in a vacant lot of Runaway Lakes subdivision back on February 14, 2011. According to testimony during trial, the victim sustained 58 injuries, 40 to his head and face. Moore and Jones used a knife and baseball bat to kill Harmon. Both defendants were convicted at a previous trial in front of a different judge. A new trial was ordered on July 13, 2017 after legal issues with the first trial became obvious. Moore and Jones were retried over the past several days. Cody Tuggle, another defendant was also convicted at a prior trial. His motion for new trial is pending in front of Judge Sams.

District Attorney Coker said of the verdict, “the retrial of Moore and Jones was a difficult task for my office, and I am proud of the way that they handled it. The Spalding County District Attorney’s Office proved to its community that despite adversity, it would stand strong, press on, and continue to fight against those that insist upon doing evil. We would like to thank law enforcement for their hard work, the citizens that testified, and the jury for what was a difficult trial and verdict. Together, we ensured that justice and good prevailed today. We will continue to fight for justice, every day, in Spalding County and throughout the circuit. Our hearts are with the Harmon family.”

OFFICERS FOR THOMASTON KIWANIS 17-2018

Kiwanis Club of Thomaston

Officers and Directors

President Frank King

Vice President Ed Searcy, II

Secretary Mike Jones

Treasurer Mike Jones

Past President Mark Cotney

    Directors 2017-2018

Glenn Gilstrap

Jerry Helms

James McGill

Directors 2017-2019

     Ruth Hatchett

Ted Kandler

Lynwood Pressley

  

CONGRESSMAN FERGUSON VOTES FOR THE BUDGET

WASHINGTON D.C. –Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), a member of the House Committee on the Budget, released the following statement after voting in support of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution:

“This budget is a critical step to getting our economy growing and our national debt under control. Not only does it balance in ten years, provide an increase in funding to our nation’s military and put our country on the path to fiscal stability, it also lays the groundwork for tax reform. By passing this budget today, we are demonstrating that it is possible to have fiscal discipline and keep our promises to the American people.”

“We can no longer continue to kick the can down the road on our mandatory spending crisis. We are accumulating more and more debt for our children and grandchildren, and it is morally wrong. This budget doesn’t solve our mandatory spending crisis overnight, but it begins that process by calling for $203 billion in mandatory spending savings. Passing this budget also moves us one step closer to reforming our broken tax code. Meaningful economic growth is key to solving our budgetary challenges, and the best way to promote sustained economic growth and restore our fiscal health is comprehensive tax reform. I was excited to support this budget to build a better America.”

The budget resolution passed by a vote of 219-206.

ZEBULON P.D. NABS TWO THIEVES

On October 4, 2017 at approximately 4:00pm Officers with the Zebulon Police Department responded to a Theft in progress call at Eye Can See 2 located at 16004 Barnesville Street located on the square in Zebulon Georgia.  Pike County Dispatchers advised responding officers that a black male and black female had just fled the store and had taken approximately $2000.00 dollars in glasses from the store without permission of the owners and had fled the store in a Silver Crown Victoria and was headed out Highway 18 East towards Lamar County.  Lamar County Sheriff Department was notified on the radio and was advised of the incident and that the suspects were traveling on Hwy 18 towards Lamar County.  PFC Trustin Brazier and Officer Chad Morris caught up with the suspects about two miles inside of Lamar County on Highway 18 and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and was able to apprehend both subjects.  Lamar County Deputies was immediately on the scene and assisted the officers in the search of the suspect’s vehicle.   Five pair of sunglasses was recovered in the clothes of the female passenger by Sgt. Laura Clark with the Lamar County Sheriff Department.  Both subjects were placed under arrest at the scene and were transported back to the Zebulon Police department.  At the department they were identified and both gave a written confession to the incident and were charged with felony theft by taking.  The driver of the vehicle was Walter Lee Harden of Macon Georgia and the female passenger was Carolyn Stapleton of also of Macon Ga.  Due to such a timely response of the Zebulon Police Department and the Lamar county Sheriff Department both subjects was taken in custody just minutes after the crime was committed. 

Sincerely,

Chief Jonathan Hemphill

UPSON LEE GRAD RATE RISING

ULHS Graduation Rate Continues to Rise - T-U Among Highest in Griffin RESA District

The Georgia Department of Education has released graduation rate data for the class of 2017, and Upson-Lee High School has exceeded the state average for the third consecutive year. Upson-Lee High School posted a rate of 87.4%,significantly higher than the state of Georgia overall graduation rate average of 80.6%. Thomaston-Upson School System’s 2017 graduation rate came in as the third highest in our Griffin RESA district, with only Fayette County (89.3%) and Lamar County (87.9%) scoring higher.

Other 2017 graduation rates in the Griffin RESA District are:

Henry 86.3%
Butts 84.4%
Newton 83.5
Pike 83.3
Griffin/Spalding 81.5%

59 Dead 527 Injured

A shooter on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas opened fire with an automatic weapon on the crowd at a Jason Aldean concert Sunday night.

The shooter, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nevada, was identified by local police. Mesquite is located 82 miles northeast of Las Vegas along Interstate 15. More than ten weapons were discovered in the hotel room along with Paddock's body. Police have stated that reports of multiple shooters and explosives being involved are false.

The crowd was estimated at over 30,000 as the first rounds of fully automatic fire started. Witnesses stated that the shooting lasted approximately ten minutes as the shooter reloaded several times.

Aldean was on stage performing at the time of the shooting, he later tweeted that he and his crew were safe.

The FBI is assisting with the investigation that is now the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

This story is updated as information is released by local law enforcement.