UL WINS OVER E. PAULDING 28-27

UPSON-LEE RECOVERED A FUMBLE INSIDE THE KNIGHTS 10 WITH SECONDS LEFT AND WON OVER EAST PAULDING 28-27 FRIDAY NIGHT AT MATTEWS FIELD.

UL TRAVELS TO HARRIS COUNTY FRIDAY NIGHT. HARRIS CO. BEAT WESTSIDE MACON 48-37.

OTHER GAMES FRIDAY—LAMAR COUNTY OVER GREENVILLE 27-0, FAYETTE COUNTY BEAT PIKE CO. 34-31, MARY PERSONS BEAT JACKSON 36-29, CARTER-ATLANTA OVER SPALDING 50-14, ST. ANN PACELLI 20-19 OVER CRAWFORD CO.

ONE CANDIDATE DROPS OUT PIKE CO. BOC DIST 3

FOR PIKE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3, BOBBY WILKERSON HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE RACE TO FILL THE SEAT HELD BY THE LATE TOMMY POWERS.

OTHERS IN THE RACE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT—JASON PROCTOR, MISTY MEEKS, JEROME FINLEY, AND ROBBY KENDRICK.  

THREE RIVERS EMPLOYMENT A NEW RECORD

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Three Rivers region set a new record for employed residents in July.

Preliminary results showed the 10-county area also posted an increase in labor force and a drop in its unemployment rate.

“Georgia continues to perform well in terms of jobs, claims and other data I’m seeing,” said Butler. “Georgia’s strong economy was also clear in our local communities in July, a month that saw several again set records.”

Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged in July at 3.7 percent. Georgia’s rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to settle at 3.6 percent. A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.8 percent.

Rates fell or held steady across nine of Georgia’s 12 planning regions.

In Three Rivers, the unemployment rate decreased in July by 0.2 percentage points, settling at 3.7 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.3 percent.

The labor force went up in July by 499 to reach 249,216. That number is down by 271 from the total from July 2018.

The Three Rivers region ended July with 240,011 employed residents – a new record high. The number increased by 900 in July and went up by 1,218 as compared to lastJuly.

The number of unemployment claims rose in July by about 90 percent. When compared to last July, claims were up by about 2 percent.

The Three Rivers area includes Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

SENATOR ISAKSON RESIGNING

GEORGIA'S SENIOR U.S. SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY HE IS RESIGNING AT THE END OF THE YEAR DUE TO HEALTH REASONS.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP WILL APPOINT SOMEONE TO SERVE UNTIL THE 2020 ELECTION.

IT MEANS THERE WILL BE TWO U.S. SENATE SEATS ON THE BALLOT IN 2020 —JUNIOR SENATOR DAVID PERDUE WAS IN THOMASTON LAST WEEK FOR THE OPENING OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT.

A 3RD DEMOCRAT HAS ENTERED THE RACE AGAINST PERDUE —BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SARAH RIGGS AMICO—WHO RAN FOR LT. GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED TUESDAY . TWO OTHER DEMOCRATS WERE ALREADY IN THE RACE—FORMER COLUMBUS MAYOR TERESA TOMLINSON AND CLARKSTON MAYOR TED TERRY.   

5G FOR THOMASTON AND GRIFFIN?

TUESDAY THE CITY OF GRIFFIN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE AT&T AND VERIZON 5G HIGH SPEED CELLULAR. IT WAS TABLED AT THE LAST MEETING SO MORE INFORMATION COULD BE OBTAINED.

CITY ATTORNEY DREW WHALEN EXPLAINED GRIFFIN WILL GET $100 PER UTILITY POLE FOR INSTALLATION OF THE ANTENNA AND TRANSMISSION GEAR AND $40 PER POLE IN RENT. SOME AREAS HAVE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AND UTILITY POLES WILL BE INSTALLED THERE.

THE FCC HAS GIVEN AUTHORITY FOR CELLULAR COMPANIES FREEDOM TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

THOMASTON CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON SAID THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE SINGULAR AND VERIZON 5G INSTALLATION IN JUNE—WITH THE ELECTRIC CITIES OF GA. HANDLING THE NEGOTIATIONS . CITY HALL WILL GET SOME FUNDS FROM THE COMPANIES BUT IT WON'T BE BIG BUCKS HE SAID.

THE MANAGER SAID IT COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE 5G IS INSTALLED IN SMALLER CITIES—METRO AREAS WILL GET IT FIRST.

GORDON STATE IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE

Gordon State College contributed nearly $137 million to the regional economy and provided 1,368 jobs in fiscal year 2018, according to a report released Tuesday by the University System of Georgia.

The fiscal year spanned July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.

Of the college’s total job impact, 331 exist on campus with 1,037 off-campus jobs that exist due to institution-related spending.

According to the report, which showed a slight increase over the last fiscal year, spending by GSC students accounted for $80 million of the $137 million contributed to the regional economy.

There are 3,663 students enrolled at Gordon State College.

“Gordon State continues to be an economic contributor to the region,” said GSC President Kirk A. Nooks. “The expanded partnerships that our new Strategic Plan calls for will continue to serve as conduits for deeper future investments. This is what our college calls “The Power of WE.”

The report shows that the University System of Georgia had a $17.7 billion economic impact on the state, that the USG created 168,284 jobs last year, and that 2.3 of those jobs were created for every one USG job in an institution’s home town.

“While we remain focused on graduating more students, keeping college affordable and increasing our efficiency in delivering a quality education, we are proud our colleges and universities help power Georgia’s economy,” said USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “USG and its 26 institutions play an important role in generating jobs and boosting businesses across the state, befitting the investment Georgia’s leaders have made in us.”

The annual study is conducted on behalf of the Board of Regents by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D. director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

The entire study can be found here: http://bit.ly/30r7al6

IDA DIRECTORS REPORT FOR AUGUST

IN THE AUGUST DIRECTOR'S REPORT THOMASTON-UPSON IDA CHIEF EXECUTIVE KYLE FLETCHER REPORTS NEW PROSPECTS ARE GIVING THE COMMUNITY A LOOK. AUGUST 8TH A PROSPECT WAS IN TOWN LOOKING AT AN EXISTING BUILDING AND COULD HAVE A HIGH COUNT FOR JOB CREATION. THE STATE IS BEING CONSULTED IN HOPES OF ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE OPTIONS.

AUGUST 12TH IDA MEMBER STEVE RUSH JOINED MS. FLETCHER TO DISCUSS ACREAGE AT THE T-U PARK AND THE COUNTY'S ENGINEERING FIRM EMC HAS PREPARED A CONCEPTUAL REPORT FOR THE COMPANY.

SEVERAL PRIVATE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD TO POTENTIALLY SAVE A RETAIL PROJECT—AN ISSUE WITH A DECEL LANE THAT INVOLVED A PARCEL NOT WANTED BY THE DEVELOPER AND SOME OTHER ISSUES. G-DOT AND ATTORNEYS FOR THE PRIVATE LAND OWNER ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION.

UPSON-LEE SPORTS REPORT

Last week the volleyball continued their win streak by beating Pike, Tattnall Square, and CGA. The softball team beat Hardaway. The boys cross country team finished 4th out of 20 teams in their race. The girls cross country team finished 6th out of 18 teams in their race.

This week's events:

Tuesday:

Softball at Perry JV at 4:30/V at 5:55

Volleyball home vs Lamar Co JV at 5/V at 6

Wednesday:

Cross Country at Stratford Invitational(Macon) at 4:30

Thursday:

Football(JV) at Spalding at 5

Softball home vs Mary Persons JV at 4:30/V at 5:55

Volleyball at FPD JV at 6:30 and 7:30/V at 6:30 and 7:30

Friday:

Football home vs East Paulding at 7:30

UPSON EMA WATER OPERATIONS TEAM HAS GROWN

THOMASTON, GA, August 26, 2019 ― Our Water Operations Team has grown. The initial group that trained in Georgetown, Texas in November 2018 welcomes four new Technicians to the team.
The ‘A Team’ returned Saturday night after two days of grueling training at Fathom Academy in Georgetown, Texas. The newest members to achieve Technician certification are Adam Bedford (Northside Fire/Rescue), Austin Bell (Lincoln Park VFD/Thomaston Fire Department), Andy Davison (Yatesville VFD) and Alex Boyd (Thurston Fire/Rescue). And Alex makes it a first, being one of the first females to train to Technician level.
Upson EMA’s Search and Rescue Department has made it a goal to establish a certified swift water team for the area. County Rescue Chief Eddie Singletary’s goal has been to create a highly-trained, ready to respond group that can handle anything on the Flint River as well as other bodies of water. You will recall, the initial group of Technicians – Chief Richard Hickmon (Thurston), Adam Hay (Northside/Thomaston), George Sanders (Yatesville) and Zach Spillers (Northside) – put their skills to the test in January 2019, rescuing three stranded kayakers on flooded Potato Creek, right at a month after receiving their training at Fathom Academy in Texas.
The ‘A Team’ trained with other responders from Texas, Idaho, and the National Guard, learning water dynamics, rescue techniques for swift water, still water, submerged vehicles, rope work and developing team skills to ensure safety of all involved.
EMA Director Martha Anne McCarty points out that Upson County’s Search and Rescue Team is noted as the “Go To” agency by many surrounding counties, as the expertise that has been in place for years and is being continually developed is available not only to Upson County, but to area counties that may have a need for specialized responses. McCarty adds, “I am glad we gave the opportunity to train to these volunteers. It speaks volumes of their dedication to serve the communities of Upson County. And being able to send them to the premier indoor, controlled environment training facility comes from the support of our County Commissioners. Fathom Academy is a one-of-a-kind world-class training facility that provides a true ‘bang for the buck.’ These gentlemen understand the value that these volunte

MEETING ON UPSON CO. HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

Upson County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is nearing. This plan is updated every five years to reflect changes in hazards faced by Upson County, whether of a natural or man-made cause. This plan is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Having a robust Hazard Mitigation Plan ensures compliance with multiple grant opportunities available from the Federal government.
The plan involves not only government and public safety officials, but also from industry, utilities, local businesses, schools, housing, healthcare, houses of worship, civic organizations, volunteer agencies and organizations as well as members of the general public. Our Kick-off meeting planned in mid-September.
All citizens are welcome and encouraged to attend the Upson County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Kick-off Meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, from 10:30-11:30 am. The meeting will be held in the Meeting Room of Upson Electric Membership Corporation Annex – located at 615 E. Main St. in Thomaston. For more information, please contact Martha Anne McCarty, Director of Upson County Emergency Management, at mamccarty@upsoncountyga.org. or call 706/741-1407.

SCTC RED CARPET GALA

The Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation has made plans to host the fourteenth annual Red Carpet Gala on Saturday, August 24, 2019 in the Event Center on the Griffin Campus.

The Red Carpet Gala is and evening of dinner, dancing, raffle, love and silent auction to raise funds to benefit the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation for special projects such as student scholarships and campus expansion.

Proceeds from last year’s event were roughly $55,000 with organizers hoping to top that number for this year’s event. Tickets for this event are $85 each and corporate sponsorships are available. For more information, please contact 770.229.3417 or foundation@sctech.edu.

UPSON DRUG CASE ON ROLAND ROAD

UPSON SO WENT TO A RESIDENCE ON ROLAND ROAD LOOKING FOR A MAN WITH AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT AND ALSO ARRESTED A FEMALE ON DRUG CHARGES.

THEY GOT THEIR MAN EDWARD LITTLE AND ALSO ARRESTED 40 YEAR OLD CHRISTY LEANN HUCKABY OF NORTH MAPLE STREET FOR HAVING TWO XANAX BARS IN HER POCKETBOOK

BOBBY BICKLEY NEW VP AT UNITED BANK PIKE

FORMER PIKE COUNTY MANAGER BOBBY BICKLEY HAS JOINED UNITED BANK IN PIKE COUNTY AS VICE PRESIDENT AND COMMERCIAL/CONSUMER LENDER.

BICKLEY CAME TO PIKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FROM A BANKING CAREER.

THE PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS EXTENDED THE WINDOW FOR APPLICATIONS FOR HIRING A NEW COUNTY MANAGER UNTIL THE END OF APRIL.

MEANTIME ACCORDING TO PIKE CO. TIMES DOT COM-- TWO PERSONS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE LATE COUNTY COMMISSIONER TOMMY POWERS---

JASON PROCTOR AND BOBBY WILKERSON BOTH OF MEANSVILLE.

CITY OF GRIFFIN STILL OUT $800,000

THE FBI IS REPORTEDLY HOT ON THE TRAIL OF COMPUTER HACKERS WHO STOLE $800,000 FROM CITY OF GRIFFIN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS— SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND THE SPALDING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HEARD FROM BEN JOHNSON OF LIBERTY TECHNOLOGY AT MONDAY'S MEETING ABOUT THE COUNTY'S I.T. SECURITY.

HE NOTED THE CITY OF ATLANTA WAS HACKED AND HELD RANSOM FOR $52,000—BUT BALKED ON PAYING AND HAS SPENT $17 MILLION SO FAR REBUILDING THEIR I.T. SYSTEM.

JOHNSON SAID SPALDING COUNTY'S SYSTEM HAS BEEN HIT DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR—BUT SO FAR HIS DEFENSIVE PROTECTION HAS WORKED. HE SAID AUGUST 13TH 23 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TEXAS WERE HACKED—THE HACKERS ARE ATTRACTED TO GOVERNMENT WEB SITES—HE TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS.

UPSON- LEE A.D. BRYCE ROBINSON HAS RESIGNED

ULHS Athletic Director Bryce Robinson submitted his resignation on Monday, August 19. Robinson, who has been honored as the 2018 and 2019 Region 2-AAAA AD of the Year and the 2018 State Class 4A AD of the Year, will be accepting a job as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Harris County High School. 

ULHS Assistant Athletic Director Wayne Puckett will serve as interim Athletic Director.

A COMEBACK FOR THE TOUR DE PIKE?

THERE IS A MOVE AFOOT TO JUMP START THE TOUR DE PIKE -- THE BIKE EVENT THAT HAS BEEN ABSENT FOR TWO YEARS.

TIM CANNADY WITH GET SET GROW APPROACHED THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ABOUT IT AT THE LAST MEETING.

THE PROPOSED NEW START/FINISH LINE WOULD BE ON U.S. 19 IN ZEBULON AT THE NEW CHRIST CHAPEL CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE DATE WOULD BE MARCH 21ST 2020 9;30AM TILL 2;30PM WITH ROUTES OF 20,35, 65, AND 100 MILES—A FUND RAISER FOR BACK PACK KIDS OF CHRIST CHAPEL.  

TWO FATALITIES IN GRIFFIN EARLY TUESDAY

ACCORDING TO THE GRIFFIN POST GA. STATE PATROL, TWO YOUNG SPALDING COUNTY MEN WERE KILLED EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WEST OF GRIFFIN-- WHEN A CORVETTE WENT OUT OF CONTROL—IN A CURVE , FLIPPPED TWICE --- HIT A TREE—AND THEY WERE EJECTED.

THE FATALITIES IDENTIFIED AS DAKOTAH GARNER, AGE 20 AND WILLIAM SLIGER, AGE 19—DECEASED AT THE SCENE ON STATE ROUTE 92—APPARENTLY NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS.

INDICATIONS ARE THEY WERE SPEEDING

SERVICES FOR FORMER THOMASTON MAYOR HAYS ARNOLD JR.

Former Thomaston mayor and businessman Hays L. Arnold, Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at the age of 80, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. Memorial services for Mr. Arnold will be held Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 2:00 PM at The Gathering, 456 Hannah’s Mill Road, Thomaston, GA, where Hays and Anna have been faithful members. The Rev. Charles Bennett will officiate.

Hays was a man of devoted faith and held a deep love for God and his family. He was a true American patriot and fervently loved his country and his community with steady conviction. He was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a true friend. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Anna Cowart Arnold of Thomaston; his four children, Dr. Hays (Kristen) Arnold, III of San Antonio, TX; Jennifer (Brett) Walton of Rockwall, TX; Karen (Joey) Lisicia of Fayetteville; and Kristi (Greg) Smith of Atlanta; and 11 grandchildren: Camp, Canon, Briggs, Cole, Alex, Lizzie, Sophia, Shane, Sam, Ben, and Anna.

Born October 2, 1938, in Thomaston to Hays Arnold, Sr. and Mary Weaver Arnold, Hays attended R.E. Lee Institute and graduated from Florida Southern College where he was a founding chapter member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the Coast Guard Reserve receiving an honorable discharge in 1968. The years that followed involved establishing a successful career as a realtor, builder and developer, and business owner. His local investments changed the face of his community in many ways including bringing major franchises that have continued to thrive.

Hays began serving in Thomaston city politics as Mayor Pro Tempore in 1999 and in 2003 was elected Mayor, serving three consecutive terms through 2015. He was elected to office an impressive five times. During Hays’s historically successful tenure as mayor, he made a major impact on local politics. At the helm, Hays showed thoughtful integrity and genuine concern in his tireless pursuit to better his community. He relentlessly lobbied for Thomaston all over the state. His greatest political legacy, the 40-acre Greatest Generation Memorial Park, stands as a testament of his love for Thomaston. Some other significant accomplishments as mayor include: a record 12 years with no city property tax increase, a reduction in local government in size and cost, a balanced city budget every year in office, a more than doubled city capital assets and acquisition of over $8 million in federal grants, an increased acre in downtown parking, an enlarged city water supply - developing the city reservoir to an impressive one-half billion gallons of water, paving over one-third of the city’s streets, replacing over 8.2 miles of city sewer lines, creating and/or refurbishing over half of the city’s sidewalks, replacing over thirty-five percent of water lines, and performing major capital upgrades to city parks.

Hays also served on numerous local boards including president of the Thomaston Board of Realtors, president of the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce, and an ex-officio Board of Directors member. He was a Southern Crescent Foundation Board member, a West Central Georgia Work Force Investment board member, Chairman of the T-U Transportation Committee, a member of the T-U Industrial Development Authority, Chairman of the T-U Office Building Authority, a member of the Upson County Board of Health, a member of Kiwanis, a Mason, and a Shriner. In 2018, Hays was honored with the Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Award for his exemplary leadership in politics, civics, and business, and loyalty to his scouting council.

Hays’s public service went well beyond the city borders in representing Thomaston, including being a voting delegate of the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, the Chairman of the Board for the Three Rivers Regional Commission, Chief Local Elected Official for the ten-county Workforce Investment Board, a regional T-SPLOST Executive Committee member, the past district president and member of the Georgia Municipal Association Board of Directors, as well as serving on the Legislative Policy Council, the GMA Transportation Committee, and the Environment & Natural Resources Committee. He was notably an appointee of Gov. Sonny Perdue as a member of the Georgia 2010 Complete County Census Committee and an appointee of Gov. Perdue to the Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council and was reappointed twice by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Upon Hays’s retirement from politics, the Georgia House of Representatives established House Resolution 791 recognizing Hays’s contributions, summarizing, “BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Hays Arnold for his commitment to improving the quality of life in the Thomaston-Upson County Community.” He was praised for spending his “entire personal and professional life supporting the Thomaston-Upson County Community” and for demonstrating his “love for his community by working in all areas of his life to improve the quality of life in the Thomaston-Upson County Community”.

It has been said of Hays that he always “did things for the right reasons”. He passionately conducted his professional and political interactions as such but more importantly he did so also in his personal relationships, which he valued most dearly. His heart always guided his actions.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gathering, 456 Hannah’s Mill Road, Thomaston, GA 30286, or to Thomaston Hospice Foundation, 512 S. Center Street, Thomaston, GA 30286. Fletcher-Day Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.

IN THOMASTON ALL 3 INCUMBENTS HAVE QUALIFIED

QUALIFING OPENED MONDAY FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IN THE C ITY OF THOMASTON AND ALL THREE INCUMBENTS QUALIFIED FOR RE-ELECTION TO A FOUR YEAR TERM —MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS JEFF MIDDLEBROOK AND LAKEITHA REEVES.

QUALIFYING FEE FOR MAYOR IS $108 FOR COUNCIL $72—QUALIFYING CLOSES FRIDAY AT 4;30.

Guilty Plea Entered In Multi-County Car Chase

On Monday, August 19, 2019, Rodriguez Kemp entered a guilty plea to the following felony offenses: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Use of a Sawed-off Shotgun during the Commission of a Crime and Fleeing and Attempting to Elude. For these crimes, Chief Judge Christopher C. Edwards sentenced the defendant to 35 years with the first 21 years to be served in prison without parole.

On December 21, 2018, Kemp led officers on a dangerous multi-county, high-speed, car chase on Georgia Highway 85, which ended in Fayette County. Kemp fired a sawed-off shotgun at Fayette County Sheriffs Lieutenant, Cody Benslay when the chase concluded. District Attorney Ben Coker, represented the State, Lt. Benslay and other members of law enforcement were present in court for the plea.

District Attorney Coker said of the plea, ''First and foremost, I am very thankful that no members of law enforcement were seriously injured as the result of Rodriguez Kemp's actions on December 21, 2018. Law enforcement officers suit up for duty every day to protect us, and this case is an example of the very real danger they face. I cannot thank them enough for what they do. Let this sentence send a message to those who assault a law enforcement officer in my circuit. Violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated, and the punishment for said acts will be severe."

UPSON-LEE SPORTS UPDATE

Last week the volleyball team won its season opener against Tattnall Square Academy. The softball team won their home opener vs Troup Co. The boys and girls cross country teams opened their season with nice performances at Perry Invitational.

This week's events:

Monday:

Softball home vs Hardaway JV at 5/V at 6

Tuesday:

Volleyball home vs Pike Co. JV at 5/V at 6

Thursday:

Volleyball at Tattnall Square Academy and CGA V at 7 and 8

Friday:

Football at Veterans(Houston Co) at 7:30

Saturday:

Cross Country at Furlow Fast Feet Invitational(Amercus) at 9

MICK & JIM WOODSTOCK SPECIAL SUN. AUGUST 25, 6PM FUN 101FM

MICK SAYS THEY HAVE ENOUGH CONTENT FOR THREE DAYS, THE LENGTH OF THE EVENT, BUT THEY WILL EDIT IT INTO 4 OR 5 HOURS. 

DON'T MISS IT SUNDAY AUGUST 25TH 6PM.

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT T-U AIRPORT SAT.

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DISPATCHED TO A PLANE CRASH AT THE THOMASTON-UPSON AIRPORT SATURDAY—THE LANDING GEAR ON A 1968 TWIN ENGINE BEECH B90 FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE PILOT HAD TO DO A BELLY LANDING. IT WAS MAKING ITS 9TH TRIP OF THE DAY FOR SKY DIVE ATLANTA.

THE REPORT SAID THE PILOT—RICHARD ANTARA OF BROOKHAVEN, GA. ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PLANE SKIDDED INTO THE GRASS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PAVED RUNWAY.

A DEPUTY SAID THE PILOT WAS VISIBLY UPSET AND HE SCORED A ZERO ON A PORTABLE ALCOHOL BREATH TEST ADMINISTERED BY THE S.O.

AIRPORT MANAGER MITCH ELLERBEE CONTACTED THE FAA ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.

UPSON CO. 2019 TSPLOST PROJECTS

At the August 13 meeting of the Upson County Board of Commissioners the Board voted unanimously to award the bid for the first phase of Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Referendum (TSPLOST) projects. Paving and Construction firm C. W. Matthews Contract Company Inc. won the bid for project that includes 31 miles of road resurfacing and restriping at a cost of $5,384,226.

Primary factors used to determine TSPLOST Phase One projects included a countywide road assessment study completed in 2018 and a secondary usage and impact review completed by EMC Engineering Services Inc. (EMC). EMC serves as the primary engineering consultant for Upson County.

According County Commission Chairman Norman Allen this is the largest resurfacing project undertaken by the county in recent history. Upson County has 505 roads that make up the nearly 420 miles of paved surfaces. This project represents 7 percent of the county road inventory.”

This project is a culmination of efforts that began only 11 months ago with the TSPLOST. Voters overwhelmingly approved this additional 1% sales tax dedicated solely to improving local transportation infrastructure.

Allen also remarked “County Manager Jason Tinsley and City Manager Russell Thompson spearheaded efforts to make this possible and I want to thank them for their expertise and efforts. EMC provided us with excellent service in putting together this phase of the TSPLOST project and I am very pleased to have them onboard to assist us with project oversight. The team provided the Commissioners with excellent data and advice and we are confident that Upson will get the most out of these dollars. We look forward to the next phase of TSPLOST projects which are expected to be decided in spring of 2020.”

Board members are reviewing future paving projects but the commissioners and staff are also reviewing other preservation methods.

According to the 2018 Road Assessment Study approximately 60 percent of the roads in Upson County were assessed at “fair, poor or very poor. This is simply our first step in addressing our paving needs” added Allen

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR UPSON ELECTION INFO

ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR STACEY ABRAMS HAVE FILED AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR ALL 159 COUNTIES IN GEORGIA SEEKING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE PURGING OF VOTER ROLLS AND OTHER INFORMATION FROM JAN. IST 2011 TO THE PRESENT.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ROBERT HANEY SAID THE BOARD AND THE REGISTRARS OFFICE ARE COMPILING DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN UPSON COUNTY AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE—THAT OVERSEES ELECTIONS IN GA. THE LAW FIRM IS BASED IN ATLANTA AND MARYLAND.

CHAIRMAN HANEY SAID STATE LAW REQUIRES VOTERS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VOTING ROLLS IF THEY FAIL TO VOTE IN TWO CONSECUTIVE ELECTIONS—AND HE SAYS ABRAMS ISSUES ARE WITH STATE LAW NOT BOARDS OF ELECTIONS.

ABRAMS WHO HAS CLAIMED IRREGULARIES WITH THE ELECTON THAT PUT GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IN OFFICE , RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE.

ONE MOTORIST LIFE FLIGHTED ON 74 EAST FRIDAY AM

ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL IN THOMASTON TWO INJURED—ONE LIFE FLIGHTED AFTER A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT FRIDAY MORNING 6AM ON 74 EAST AT ANDREWS CHAPEL ROAD.

THE DRIVER OF A WHITE SATURN—SHEKEMA ZORN OF THOMASTON WAS TRANSPORTED BY AIR AMBULANCE TO A MACON HOSPITAL, ANOTHER MOTORIST DRIVING A 2011 NISSAN

ALTIMA —KIMBERLY COCHRAN OF THOMASTON WAS TRANSPORTED TO URMC BY EMS.

THE THIRD DRIVER IN A FORD PICK-UP WILLIAM BENNETT WAS NOT INJURED.

TROOPER THOMPSON TOLD 101 NEWS---THE SATURN WAS WESTBOUND AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN LANE AND CLIPPED THE NISSAN AND THEN HIT THE 1995 FORD PICK-UP HEAD-ON.

THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.  

GBI PRESS RELEASE ON SPALDING CO OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting. Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 9:00 p.m., Spalding County 911 received an emergency call in reference to a suicide threat made by Neil Bond, 33. Deputies David Porter and Nicholas Gatlin responded to Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park, 1301 Cowan Road, and located Bond sitting in the driver’s seat of his truck which was parked forward into a parking space facing away from Deputies Porter and Gatlin.

Deputies Porter and Gatlin approached Bond’s truck from the rear. As they were instructing civilians to get out of the area, Deputies Porter and Gatlin heard a single gunshot coming from Bond’s truck. At the time, Deputies Porter and Gatlin believed that Bond had shot at them or a civilian. Deputies Porter and Gatlin subsequently returned gunfire towards Bond. Bond was struck once by the officers’ gunfire.

A GBI autopsy of Bond has been conducted and preliminary findings are that Bond died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No officers or civilians were injured during this incident.

The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

SPALDING S.O. POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING

On August 14, 2019 at approximately 8:52pm, Deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suicidal man with a gun sitting in a vehicle at Wyomia Tyus Park. When Deputies arrived, they located the vehicle and found it occupied by a white male fitting the description that they had been given. While crossing the parking lot on foot, they began clearing the men, women, and children that were using the recreation facility away from the area to keep them out of any potential danger. When they got to the vehicle’s side window to talk to him, he raised his handgun, and fired a shot. The Deputies retreated and fired rounds at the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene by Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster’s Office.

According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, “We immediately notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, they responded to the scene, and are conducting the investigation into this incident. I also contacted District Attorney Ben Coker who personally responded to the scene along with his investigators. There were multiple witnesses to the incident who have been interviewed, and it was also captured on body cam. The names of the Deputies involved, and the suspect will be released by the GBI as the investigation continues.”

“We always want to make the attempt to de-escalate these situations, however in incidents such as what these Deputies faced last night, the suspect did not allow that to happen. Based on his sudden actions and what the Deputies saw, it forced them to make a split-second decision, contain the incident, and protect the people in the park and themselves.”

Any further questions regarding this incident should be directed to Public Information Officer Nellie Miles at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (404)-270-8330.

19 NORTH WIDENING PROJECT IS NOW DELAYED

COUNTY MANAGER JASON TINSLEY TOLD THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AT TUESDAY'S MEETING, THE 19 NORTH WIDENING PROJECT IS NOW DELAYED BECAUSE OF COUNTY WATER LINES UNDER THE ROADWAY—AND ISOLATING THEM WOULD STOP SERVICE TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. IT COULD COST UP TO $1.4 MILLION FOR RELOCATION BUT HE SAYS THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY.

HE SAID GA DOT HAS SENT PLANS TO STATE ENGINEERS TO BE REDRAWN AND POSSIBLY MOVING THE LINES TO THE NEW RIGHT OF WAY.

COULD CHIC FIL A LOCATE IN NORTHSIDE?

A MEETING MONDAY OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY LIMITS OF THOMASTON OF 4.9 ACRES ON 19 NORTH ACROSS FROM HOME DEPOT--- WAS SHORT AND SWEET AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF CHIC FIL A. THAT SITE IS RUMORED TO BE THE LOCATION OF A NEW CHIC FIL A RESTAURANT FOR THOMASTON.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND THE ANNEXATION TO THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL WITH C-2C—CONDITIONAL ZONING BECAUSE A BILLBOARD ON THE SITE IS STILL UNDER LEASE BY THE VINNING FAMILY, ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY THAT INCLUDED THE NOW CLOSED RABBIT BOX BAR.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CURRENT OWNER STAFFORD PROPERTIES OF ATLANTA ,WILL EUART ATTENDED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION, BUT NO ONE ASKED ABOUT CHIC FIL A. STAFFORD ALREADY OWNS 2.6 ACRES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THAT SITE—A TOTAL OF 8 ACRES THAT COULD INCLUDE A HOTEL/MOTEL . AFTER THE MEETING 101 NEWS ASKED EUART IF CHIC FIL A WOULD LOCATE THERE , BUT HE WOULD ONLY SAY HE WAS PRESENT TO REPRESENT THE DEVELOPER .

THOMASTON CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON AND CITY ATTORNEY JOEL BENTLEY WERE AT THE MEETING BUT WHEN WE ASKED IF THE SITE WAS FOR A NEW CHIC FIL A—THEY DECLINED COMMENT.

NO ONE WOULD CONFIRM CHIC FIL A IS COMING TO THOMASTON BUT WE CAN CONFIRM THIS WEEK THE COMPANY HAS ADDED THE FIRST NEW SIDE TO THE MENU SINCE 2016. SAY HELLO TO MAC AND CHEESE.

KIDNAPPING CLAIM IN JOHNSTON HTS. WAS A HOAK

THOMASTON POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON SAYS KIDNAPPING CLAIMS BY AN 11 YEAR OLD WHITE MALE IN JOHNSTON HEIGHTS MONDAY—WAS A HOAK.

THE CHIEF SAID THE CHILD FLAGGED DOWN A MOTORIST AND REPORTED A CAR HAD STOPPED AND SOMEONE HAD JUMPED OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO NAB HIM.

911 WAS CALLED AND POLICE SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS ON THE CASE BEFORE HE CONFESSED TO INVESTIGATORS HE MADE IT ALL-UP.

THE CHIEF SAID HE WAS TURNED OVER TO HIS MOTHER WITHOUT ANY CHARGES.

UPDATE ON UPSON-LEE SPORTS

The softball team went 1-2 last week beating Strafford Academy. This week we have other fall sports starting their seasons. Please come out and support these student athletes.

This week's events:

Tuesday:

Volleyball at Tattnall Square JV at 5:00 V at 6:00

Thursday:

Softball home vs Troup Co. JV at 4:30 V at 5:55

Saturday:

Cross Country at Midstate Cross Country Classic(Perry) at 8:00

BOMB THREAT GRIFFIN-SPALDING SCHOOLS LAST FRIDAY

A joint press release from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Griffin-Spalding County School System regarding last week’s bomb threat at Rehoboth Road Middle School: On Friday August 9, 2019, a bomb threat was received via an electronic device by staff at Rehoboth Road Middle School. The school was placed on a level 2 lockdown and administrators notified the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. The school was searched by RRMS staff and SCSO deputies. The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Instructional Technology Department immediately began tracking the source of the threat and pinpointed that it came from within the school system. Based on the information provided by IT staff, investigators responded to A.Z. Kelsey Alternative school where a juvenile was taken into custody less than 2 hours of posting the threat. According to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, “The suspect taken into custody was the same individual that was taken into custody for a series of threats called in to schools across the county last school year. Due to his age, the court system was limited in what they could do to him as punishment. By order of the court, he was restricted from using electronic devices of any kind and could not attend any school in the system other than the alternative school until given permission by the court. It appears that in this case he used a school system device to log in and send the threat, then immediately logged back out.” “After he was taken into custody, he was carried in front of Juvenile Judge Ben Miller who ordered that he be detained until a hearing for him could be set up. He has been in a juvenile justice facility since Friday afternoon awaiting his hearing” added Dix. GSCS Superintendent Jim Smith added, “For me, the real story is the rapid and effective response of the Rehoboth Road Middle School staff, Griffin-Spalding County Schools’ IT Department, and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office in unraveling the threat so quickly. The Griffin-Spalding County School System will continue to partner with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office in doing all we can to keep our schools a safe environment for students, parents, and staff.” Superintendent Smith added “For the safety of everyone, we are asking all families to please take this opportunity to talk to their child about the danger and consequences of making threats, as well as using electronic devices inappropriately that could cause disrupt the learning environment.

UPDATE ON THE JQC CASE AGAINST JUDGE MACK CRAWFORD

THE HEAD OF THE STATE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION BEN EASTERLIN ANNOUNCED FRIDAY HE IS RESIGNING FROM THE WATCH DOG AGENCY ONCE A REPLACEMENT IS FOUND.

EASTERLIN WHO IS PROSECUTING THE CASE AGAINST PIKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD TOLD THE AJC HE HAD NOT ANTICIPATED STAYING ON LONGER THAN TWO YEARS WHEN HE TOOK OVER THE THEN TROUBLED AGENCY.

LAST MONTH, THE GA. SUPREME COURT DELAYED MAKING A DECISION ON JUDGE CRAWFORD'S REMOVAL, IN A COURT ORDER CRITICAL OF THE JQC'S LEGAL FILINGS IN THE CASE.

JUDGE CRAWFORD'S LEGAL TEAM--FORMER GA. GOVERNOR ROY BARNES AND ZEBULON ATTORNEY VIRGIL BROWN FILED A CHALLENGE TO THE J.Q.C.'S COMPOSITION IN COBB COUNTY AND LOST—BUT HAVE APPEALED TO THE GA. COURT OF APPEALS—SOMETHING THAT COULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A DECISION. THEY CLAIM THE JQC WAS IMPROPERLY CHOSEN AND SWORN-IN.

IN THAT ORDER THE GA. SUPREME COURT CALLED THE ISSUE OF THE VALID COMPOSITION OF THE JQC CLEARLY A THRESHOLD QUESTION AND ITS RESOLUTION WILL DETERMINE THE COURSE OF THE MATTER.

LAST YEAR THE JQC BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE CRAWFORD, ACCUSING HIM OF THE THEFT OF MORE THAN $15,000 IN COURT FUNDS—FROM A REAL ESTATE CASE WHEN HE WAS AN ATTORNEY. THE JQC'S HEARING PANEL RULED THAT JUDGE CRAWFORD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

UPSON GOP PARTY MEETING

August 26th at 6:30 P.M. Upson Republican Party will have our monthly meeting at The Pie with guest speaker, Mike Crane, 3rd District Chairman of the Repulican Party. 

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR MONROE CO. JAIL

MONROE COUNTY JAIL AWARDED ACCREDITATION FROM NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE Forsyth, Ga – Monroe County Jail has earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s Standards for Health Services in Jails. Accreditation recognizes Monroe County Jail’s dedication to compliance with the most respected standards in correctional health care. The Monroe County Jail underwent a rigorous on-site survey in March 2019. An experienced physician and other experts in correctional health care surveyed the facility for compliance with standards on safety, personnel and training, health care services and support, patient care and treatment, health promotion, special needs and services, health records and legal issues. "We have a legal obligation to provide inmates with health care, and we will do our job with innovation, excellence and efficiency on behalf of the taxpayers,” says Sheriff Brad Freeman. “I salute the supervisors, officers and health care staff for their hard work, which involves knowledge of health care delivery in a secure environment.” NCCHC has surveyed and accredited jails, prisons and juvenile detention and confinement facilities for more than 30 years. The NCCHC standards used in accreditation are developed with input from the nation’s experts in correctional health care. "In achieving NCCHC accreditation, Monroe County Jail has demonstrated its commitment to meeting constitutional requirements for health care delivery for incarcerated individuals,” said Thomas Joseph, MPS, CAE, president of NCCHC. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and we commend Monroe County Jail for successfully undertaking this challenge to provide quality health care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

UPSON EMA HEAT ADVISORY

UPSON EMA DIRECTOR MARTHA ANN MCCARTY URGES THE PUBLIC TO STAY HYDRATED—HEAT INDEX COULD HIT 107 MONDAY. POP-UP THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

IN THE PIPELINE--DAVE'S ALASKA ADVENTURE

SADLY, OUR DEPARTURE DATE IS THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE OF COACH JAMES DAWKINS. MY FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB AS A PREP RADIO SPORTS REPORTER, COACH DAWKINS WAS MY FIRST INTERVIEW. ALWAYS WAS MY FAVE.

NINE HOURS DOMESTIC FLIGHT TIME ATLANTA TO ANCHORAGE, BOUT EQUAL TO INTERNATIONAL , SO THE GAME PLAN IS TO PURCHASE THE NEW GEORGE WILL BOOK AT THE AIRPORT TO COVER THE DISTANCE.

HOWEVER, ITS NOT AVAILABLE, ONLY SOME FICTION, SELF HELP AND HOWARD STERN. NO G.W. AT THE AIRPORT. ADD THAT TO THE REASONS I SUPPORT STATE TAKEOVER.

GOT A LUCKY BREAK, THREE ACROSS SEATING IN THE HOLE (COACH) AND I'M ALONE. GRAB A PILLOW AND BLANKET AND SACK OUT AS IF ITS ONE OF THOSE BUNK/SEATS DELTA IS PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS.

A 9 HOUR FLIGHT AND NO MEAL SERVICE? YES, DELTA SERVICE HAS TAKEN A DOWNTURN, BUT THAT'S THE REALTY OF AN AIRLINE MAKING MORE $ FROM A CREDIT CARD DEAL THAN FLYING PASSENGERS. A RETIRED FLIGHT ATTENDANT FLEW FIRST CLASS TO MUNICH LAST MONTH AND CLAIMED THEY USED ONE HEAD OF LETTUCE FOR ALL SALADS IN IST CLASS AND SERVED HIM TWO QUARTER-SIZED CRAB CAKES. PASSENGERS MIGHT QUESTION BIG ED CEO BUT NOT SHAREHOLDERS, AFTER ALL HE DIDN'T BUY THE MAX.

NO MATTER—OUR FEARLESS TOUR GUIDE ALWAYS LAUNCHES HIS GLOBAL ADVENTURES AT P.F. CHANG CHINA BISTRO AT THE AIRPORT , SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN IS THE MENU CHOICE.

AND THE BOY WONDER OF THE TRAVEL CONNECTION HAS A JOELESS JOLT AT BREAKFAST, HE'S GOTTA HAVE A COKE.

WELCOME TO ALASKA WHERE NO ONE WEARS COWBOY BOOTS OR CAMO , BUT TATS ARE EVERYWHERE. LOTS AND LOTS OF TATS.

ANCHORAGE, THE LARGEST CITY IN ALASKA , ON ATLANTA TV NEWS IF IT BLEEDS IT LEADS , BUT ALASKA IS KINDA QUIET AND HOMEY. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 6PM NEWS, BETWEEN THE WEATHER AND SPORTS, THEY INSERT THE BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES. JUST SEND IN YOUR PHOTO AND ITS GETS ON AIR.

TODAY'S TREND IN TV NEWS, WEATHER BABES , GORGEOUS TYPES TO PREDICT THE HIGHS AND LOWS BUT CHANNEL 2 EXECUTIVES IN ANCHORAGE DIDN'T GET THE MEMO—THEIR WEATHER GAL HAD THE PROFILE OF AN NFL DOWN LINEMAN.

ORDER A LEMONADE IN ALASKA AND THEY WILL PROBABLY BRING YOU A MIKE'S. AND THE ENVIRO-NAZIS HAVE ELIMINATED STRAWS. ORDER A BEVERAGE, GOTTA HAVE A STRAW. TRACED IT BACK TO A HOWARD HUGHES TIC I PICKED-UP DURING A STAY AT THE DESERT INN IN VEGAS WHEN HOWARD WAS LIVING IN THE PENTHOUSE.

ON TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK BY TRAIN WHERE WE SEE THE PEAK OF WHAT ONCE WAS MT. MCKINLEY, NOW DENALI .ODDLY, THE SHOWCASE OF THIS NATIONAL PARK IS ONLY VISIBLE 30% OF THE TIME. THEY SAY ITS THE COLDEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD.

DO U HAVE RAISIN BRAN?—A QUESTION FOR THE CUTE JAMAICAN COLLEGE STUDENT GREETING BREAKFAST PATRONS AT DENALI NATIONAL PARK. HER REPLY-- WHAT'S RAISIN BRAN?

LANDING BY CHOPPER ON A GLACIER, RUSS, CHRISTY, DRENNAN, AND I FEEL AS REMOTE AS NEIL AND BUZZ ON THE LUNAR SURFACE . A BUMMER SUMMER FOR THE FLOAT PLANE COMPANIES, TWO SHUT DOWN AFTER CRASHES THAT CLAIMED ALMOST 10 TOURISTS AND A PILOT. OUR FLIGHT— SUPER.

THANKFUL WE DIDN'T SCORE A 10. THE BIGGEST EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH AMERICAN SHOOK ALASKA FOR FOUR MINUTES ON GOOD FRIDAY IN 1964 , JUST UNDER A 10. SEVERAL STREETS DROPPED 4 FEET IN FAIRBANKS .

DAWSON CITY, YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA, HOME OF THE GOLD RUSH OF THE LATE 1800'S. SOMEONE FOUND A FROZEN TOE IN AN OLD SHED AND MADE IT INTO A RITUAL AT A LOCAL BAR. THEY LINE UP EVERY NIGHT AT 9 TO ENJOY THE SOUR TOE COCKTAIL. THE ATTENDANT UNLOCKS THE CHEST THAT HOUSES THE TOE, RUBS IT IN SALT AND PLOPS IT INTO A SHOT OF WHISKEY , YA KNOCK IT BACK AND YOUR LIPS MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TOE TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE BROTHERHOOD AND GET YOUR CERTIFICATE. STEVE AND MICHAEL REPRESENTED THE TOUR/YA KNOW A UK GRAD LIKE STEVE KNOWS HIS SPIRTS.

A BUSINESSMAN IN NEWNAN, GA. DROPPED EVERYTHING AND HEADED FOR THE YUKON GOLD RUSH. WHEN HE ARRIVED HE FOUND TOO MANY BODIES LOOKING FOR GOLD, SO HE OPENED A HOTEL/CAT HOUSE AND MADE A FORTUNE.

SOMETHINGS ODD ABOUT DAWSON CITY, SEEMS EVERY BUSINESS IS FOR SALE. AND MANY FOR SALE ALL OVER ALASKA, GUESS THE REASON IS THE TOURIST SEASON IS ONLY APRIL TO SEPTEMBER. ON THE COAST JEWELRY STORES OUTNUMBER OTHER RETAILS 5 TO 1. A STORE MANAGER FROM INDIA LET ME HOLD A $10,000 GOLD PENDANT (STUFF IS HEAVY). HE HAS A GOOD GIG, RUNS THE STORE IN SCAGWAY IN SUMMER, A STORE IN ST. THOMAS IN WINTER.

ALASKA'S POPULATION ONLY 800,000—NEEDS MORE PEOPLE. IN THE 70'S THE STATE GAVE AWAY 5 ACRES IN THE BOONIES TO COUPLES WHO WOULD COME TO LIVE IN ALASKA. THEY SAY THE WIVES ALL WENT BACK TO THE LOWER 48 AFTER THE FIRST WINTER.

A FEMALE CABBIE SAID ALASKANS CONSUME MORE ICE CREAM THAN ANY OTHER STATE AND SHE KEEPS HERS ON THE PORCH FROM OCTOBER TO SPRING AND IT NEVER MELTS.

A CANADIAN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DISLIKE TRUMP BUT DESPITE JUSTIN BEING ON THE COVER OF ROLLING STONE SEVERAL ISSUES BACK, THEY DON'T LIKE THEIR YOUNG PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU, EITHER.

THE GUIDE ON OUR GLACIER SIGHT-SEE BOAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE GLACIAL MELT FOR YEARS, IS CONVINCED ITS GLOBAL WARMING AND SHE'S BACKING LIZ WARREN TO STOP IT.

LIKE EUROPE, ALASKA IS EXPERIENCING A HEAT WAVE THIS SUMMER. YES, A LITTLE BIT OF PARIS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE YUKON. A HOTEL ROOM W/O AC.

WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO FIND A KLONDIKE BAR IN THE KLONDIKE. IT WAS AND THEN ONLY THE ORIGINAL FLAVOR. AT THE OLD MEDIA CENTER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL THE ICE CREAM BOX STOCKED ALL THE FLAVORS , 8 TO 10 OF THEM AND I CONSIDERED IT ONLY PROPER TO SAMPLE THEM ALL DURING THE TOURNAMENT.

NEVER BOARDED A CRUISE SHIP BEFORE BUT WELCOME ABOARD THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE WITH MORE JAPANESE THAT WE HAD FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE YAMAHA PLANT IN THOMASTON, YEARS BACK. JAPANESE AND CHINESE TOURISTS ARE THE TOAST OF THE ALASKA COAST.

THE CRUISE SHIP BUFFET—THINK GOLDEN CORRAL ON STEROIDS. ONLY THING MISSING THAT CHOCO FOUNTAIN AT THE CORRAL MY NEPHEW BABY JAMES CRAVES.

THE FANCY DINING ROOMS ON BOARD OFFERED OVER THE TOP SERVICE, BUT THERE WAS ONE DISAPPOINTMENT, A FILET OF SEA BASS MIGHTA BEEN SHIPPED IN FROM 10 MILE CREEK.

OUR BOAT WAS THE SMALLEST ONE IN PORT BUT THE SHIP'S ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER FROM NORWAY CONFIRMED IT WAS SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE TITANIC

SIGNAGE ENROUTE TO THE VANCOUVER AIRPORT—VANCOUVER IS A GLOBAL EVACUATION CITY. DOES THAT MEAN WE GATHER THERE IF WE'RE EXITING THE EARTH?

NPR DISCOVERED TOM BODETTE BUILDING HOUSES IN AN ARTSY FISHING VILLAGE, HOMER, ALASKA. HIS WITTY STORIES CAUGHT THE EAR OF A BIG AD AGENCY AND HE WAS HIRED AS PITCHMAN FOR THE MOTEL 6 LODGING CHAIN. YA KNOW HIS STOCK LINE--”WE'LL LEAVE THE LIGHT ON FOR YOU.” WELL, WE DIDN'T NEED TOM TO LEAVE THE LIGHT ON FOR US— DURING OUR TOUR--IT NEVER GOT DARK IN ALASKA.

TAX HIKE PROPOSED BY LAMAR CO BOE

THE LAMAR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL HOLD THE FIRST OF THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TUESDAY AT 6PM AT THE COURTHOUSE REQUIRED FOR A PROPOSED ONE MILL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

ACCORDING TO SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT DR. JUTE WILSON THE TAX HIKE WILL FUND A PAY INCREASE FOR ALL CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM , MOST OF WHOM ARE RESIDENTS OF LAMAR COUNTY.

HE POINTED TO VARIOUS TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE DECREASED THE NET LAMAR COUNTY TAX DIGEST--$25 MILLION LESS PER YEAR AND NOTED TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET THIS TAX MILLAGE ADJUSTMENT IS NECESSARY.

A NEW CHIC FIL A FOR THOMASTON?

THE THOMASTON-UPSON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS MONDAY AT 4;30 IN THE CITY-COUNTY MEETING ROOM TO CONSIDER THE ANNEXATION OF ALMOST 5 ACRES OF PROPERTY ON HIGHWAY 19 NORTH ACROSS FROM HOME DEPOT—RUMORED TO BE THE SITE OF A NEW CHIC FIL A RESTAURANT IN THOMASTON AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE REQUEST IS MADE BY STAFFORD PROPERTIES OF ATLANTA.

THE REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION IS APPARENTLY TO RECEIVE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE FROM THE CITY OF THOMASTON.

PROPOSED ZONING IS C-2-C CONDITIONAL, AS A BILLBOARD ON THE PROPERTY WILL REMAIN SINCE ITS UNDER LEASE BY THE VINNING FAMILY , ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE TRACT.

THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS A HOTEL/MOTEL MIGHT LOCATE NEXT TO CHIC FIL A—WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION BY NEXT SUMMER.

TPD PROMOTION CPL. MATT ALLEN TO SERGEANT

TPD PROMOTION SGT. BRIAN HAMMOCK TO LIEUTENANT

TPD PROMOTION PTL. CHRIS MOSELY TO CORPORAL

SCHOOL BOMB THREAT IN SPALDING CO. FRIDAY

IN GRIFFIN A BOMB THREAT FRIDAY MORNING PLACED REHOBOTH ROAD MIDDLE SCHOOL ON A LEVEL 2 LOCK DOWN.

SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF DARRELL DIX SAID THE SCHOOL RECEIVED IT VIA AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE. ALL SCHOOL ENTRY POINTS WERE SECURED A SWEEP WAS CONDUCTED AND THE SCHOOL WAS CLEARED, THE SHERIFF SAID.

NEW DEVELOPMENT IN JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD'S CASE

A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASE OF PIKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD.

THE GA. SUPREME COURT IS DELAYING A DECISION ON WHETHER TO PERMANENTLY REMOVE JUDGE CRAWFORD WHO IS FACING A CRIMINAL INDICTMENT—UNTIL THE STATE COURT OF APPEALS DECIDES WHETHER THE STATE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION—THAT RECOMMENDED THE ACTION -- IS LEGAL.

CITY AND COUNTY HALT SPALDING SCCI INMATE CREWS

THE CITY OF THOMASTON AND COUNTY OF UPSON HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED ALL OPERATIONS INVOLVING THE TWO INMATE WORK DETAILS FROM THE SPALDING COUNTY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE AFTER TWO CONVICTS ESCAPED FROM A WORK DETAIL AT THE CITY BARN AND STOLE A CITY PICK-UP—LAST WEEK.

CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON AND COUNTY MANAGER JASON TINSLEY SAID IT WILL ALLOW TIME FOR THE SPALDING SCCI TO REVIEW OPERATING PROCEDURES AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS.

THE TWO INMATES TOOK THE PICK-UP PARKED AT THE ARMORY WITH THE KEYS IN IT AND DROVE TO DALTON, GA. WHERE ONE OF THEM HAD FAMILY.

THEY WERE ARRESTED THERE AND THE TRUCK WAS RECOVERED IN GOOD SHAPE.

THE INMATE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE FOR CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS—THEY PAY THE GUARDS SALARY AND BENEFITS OF ABOUT $55,000, AND THE GOVERNMENTS FURNISH A VAN AND THE EQUIPMENT USED IN CLEAN-UP DETAILS. 

HIGH SPEED CHASE IN UPSON CO.

UPSON COUNTY DEPUTIES WITH HELP FROM LAMAR COUNTY S.O. ARRESTED A MOTORCYCLE RIDER TRAVELING 115 MILES PER HOUR ON THE BARNESVILLE HIGHWAY.

A DEPUTY SPOTTED THE BIKER WITH NO TAG, AND JAMES CARSON CARTER OF TRICE ROAD WAS ARRESTED AFTER THE BIKE SPUN OUT ON WILLIS ROAD AND LANDED IN A DITCH.

CARTER TOOK OFF TO THE WOODS ON FOOT BUT WAS CAPTURED.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION METH, POSSESSION FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON, FLEEING THE LAW, SUSPENDED LICENSE AND NO TAG.

CARTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ER BY EMS WITH LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.

ARREST IN MANCHESTER MURDER

On Monday, August 5, 2019, GBI agents arrested Zy’Kevious D. Copeland, 19, of Warm Springs, GA., for the murder of K’myre Jernard “KJ” Couch, 24, of Manchester.

Copeland was arrested without incident in Manchester, GA.

On Friday, August 2, 2019, GBI responded to Manchester to investigate a homicide at the request of Manchester Police Department. At approximately 10:50 p.m., Manchester Police responded to the area of 111 Trigville St. in reference to a 911 call reporting shots fired in the area. When officers arrived on scene, the shooting victim, K’myre Jernard “KJ” Couch, had already been transported to the hospital by an associate. It became known that Couch was shot during an altercation in this area that led to the shooting and 911 call. Couch was later pronounced deceased by a doctor at Warm Springs Medical Center in Warm Springs, GA.

The following agencies assisted the GBI Region 2 (Columbus) Office:

Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, Manchester Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, GBI West Metro Regional Drug Office, and the newly formed GBI Gang Task Force.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI at 706-565-788 or the Manchester Police Department at 706-846-3155

SPALDING CO. BOC MEETING MONDAY

COMMISSIONER DON HAWBAKER AND THE SUN CITY PICKELBALL ASSOCIATION REQUESTED $2000 FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST WYOMIA TYUS OF GRIFFIN TO BE THE SPECIAL GUEST AT THE BIG EAST COAST PICKELBALL TOURNAMENT IN GRIFFIN SEPT. 15 THRU 19 –AND PLANS CALL FOR THE MS. TYUS TO BE HONORED DURING SEVERAL APPEARANCES .

THE VOTE WAS 3-2, BART MILLER AND GWEN FLOWERS TAYLOR VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION—FLOWERS-TAYLOR WANTED TO TABLE TO FIND OUT IF HOTEL-MOTEL TAX OR PARKS AND REC COULD PROVIDE THE FUNDS.

THE REQUEST GOT SOME PUSH BACK FROM A CITIZEN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT— JASON MADDOX WHO OBJECTED TO THE REQUEST NOTING SEVERAL SPLOST PROJECTS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED THUS THE COUNTY DID NOT NEED TO SPEND THE $2000. 

DETOUR IN HENRY CO. FOR NEW BRIDGE BLACKHALL RD.

Georgia DOT crews building a new bridge over Rum Creek on Blackhall Road/CR 661 in Henry County will install a full closure at the work site starting Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. The closure will be in place for 60 days and a detour will be installed to direct motorists.

While the detour is enacted, only local residents will be able to access Blackhall Road. The detour will prompt drivers to utilize Walt Stephens Road, Flippen Road and Jodeco Road to get from one end of Blackhall Road to the other. By state policy, all roads in Georgia DOT detours must be able to accommodate large truck traffic and may not go through neighborhood subdivisions.

Signage will be placed on Blackhall Road intersections and along the detour route in advance of the road closure. Motorists are advised to be alert to the signage and to moderate their speeds while driving through the detour.

When: Starting Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 and continuing for 60 days

The full road closure is at the work site for the construction of the new bridge over Rum Creek on Blackhall Road/CR 661 in Henry County. The detour route includes Jodeco Road, Flippen Road and Walt Stephens Road.

UPSON BOC RETREAT AGENDA WED. 8/7/19

Board of Commissioners Retreat August 7, 2019 Thomaston-Upson County Airport 9:00 am

1. Presentation on alternative road patching and resurfacing solutions (Bill Evans)

2. Highway 19 waterline relocation (EMC, Water Department)

3. Thurston Well assessment (EMC)

4. TSPLOST Phase 1 update (EMC)

5. Take home vehicle assignments update (County Manager)

6. Combined utility billing project update (County Manager)

7. Courthouse roof replacement project update (County Manager)

8. Duplaineville Rd railroad crossing maintenance and improvements (County Manager & County Attorney)

9. Service delivery discussion/review proposed agreement modification from City Attorney (County Manager & County Attorney)

DAWGNATION PROFILES UL'S TRAVON WALKER

Travon Walker is a name that will always stand out among UGA’s 2019 signing class.

The homegrown Georgia boy was a win for the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail. Clearly. Yet is the type of prospect that is so talented, he can help reset the narrative for the program in a lot of areas.

Consider the following:
Walker signed with Georgia as the nation’s No. 3 defensive tackle. He was the first 5-star DL prospect to sign with Georgia during the Kirby Smart era. It was a big recruiting win for Bulldogs defensive line coach Tray Scott.

While the Bulldogs had run up the score at other positions on the trail, the interior DL was an area the Bulldogs had not signed the elite players. The recent stings of in-state losses included Derrick Brown (Auburn) and Aubrey Solomon (Michigan), along with an out-of-state target in Rick Sandidge (South Carolina) over the first two full cycles. 

The Upson-Lee graduate was an All-State level performer in basketball, football and track at the prep level. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound athlete was a key cog as an athletic post defender, scorer and rebounder for back-to-back state championship basketball teams in high school. With regards to football, the 6-foot-5 freshman is still more than agile enough to play out on the edge at defensive end. He has lost some weight from when he reported and is right at 280 pounds. He was up to 290 pounds at the end of his senior basketball season but was back down to 280 at last April’s G-Day. 

When Walker takes the field for the first time at Georgia, he will do so as a prospect that has clear NFL potential. Well-respected scouting analyst Barton Simmons of 247Sports even looks to Walker as a prospect that has all the physical attributes to be seen as a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2022 or 2023