TREE AT RITZ THEATER COMING DOWN

THOMASTON CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON SAID A TREE NEAR THE MARQUEE OF THE RITZ THEATER IS COMING DOWN TUESDAY --A TREE THEATER OWNER MALCOLM NEAL SAYS HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET REMOVED FOR 13 YEARS BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS THE MARQUEE.

AT THE LAST MEETING—THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVE THE TREE TO ALLOW FOR FACADE AND MARQUEE UPGRADES AND CITY MANAGER THOMPSON REVIEWED THAT DECISION WITH THE TREE BOARD LAST THURSDAY.

THE MANAGER TOLD ZOOM NEWS, THE TREE BOARD WAS HESITANT TO SUPPORT THE IDEA NOTING—EVERY BUSINESS MIGHT WANT THEIR THE TREES REMOVED —BUT THE CITY MANAGER SAID ANY MORE CREPE MYRPLE REMOVALS WILL COME TO THE TREE BOARD FOR A RECOMMENDATION. THE MANAGER TOLD US THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL DECISION ON TREE REMOVAL.

RITZ OWNER NEAL SAID HE GOT SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE TREE BOARD'S DISCUSSION, THURSDAY, HE LEFT THE MEETING.

THE CITY COUNCIL WAS ACTUALLY REENFORCING A 2008 DECISION BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE DOWN THE TREE. NEAL SAID IMPROVEMENTS WILL TOTAL $35,000 AND WORK WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.