CITY OF THOMASTON FLUSHING HYDRANTS

 E.S,G,  THE  CITY  OF  THOMASTON  WATER/WASTE  WATER  CONSULTANT  IS  CURRENTLY  FLUSHING  FIRE  HYDRANTS  AND  WILL  CONTINUE  MONDAY  ON  SOUTH  GREEN  AND  JOHNSTON  HEIGHTS.  IT  CAN  CAUSE  SOME   DISCOLORATION  OF  WATER FROM  FAUCETS.

ITS  RECOMMENDED  TO  RUN  AN  OUTSIDE  FAUCET  TO  CLEAR  IT  UP.

GA. CITIES WEEK OBSERVANCE CITY OF THOMASTON

THE CITY OF THOMASTON OBSERVANCE OF GEORGIA CITIES WEEK OCTOBER 3-9 STARTED WITH PAINTING DESIGNS OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS DOWNTOWN.

THANKS TO A DONATION FROM THOMASTON HARDWARE. THERE WILL BE A " IF I WERE MAYOR CONTEST" FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A YOUTH ART WALL WILL BE FEATURED IN THE ALLEYWAY OF BABY LANE'S CONSIGNMENT STORE ON SOUTH CENTER.

THE GRAND OPENING OF LAKE THOMASTON PARK ON THURSDAY OFF COUNTY ROAD.

DOWNTOWN HISTORY TOURS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 4, 6, AND 8, AND THE UPSON-LEE HOMECOMING PARADE THURSDAY.

A KIDS FISHING DEBRY SATURDAY OCTOBER 9. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CITY OF THOMASTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR TAYLOR SMITH AT 706-647-4242.

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Head Seeks Reelection

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Head

The City Council, together, has accomplished a lot in the last 5 years. But there is more to do and the best is yet to come. I would like to look at what I think is important and some of what we have accomplished in the last 5 years regarding Finances, Public Safety, Infrastructure and Quality of life:

Finances:

The city has 7-9 months’ worth of unrestricted operational reserves for primary government. A goal for many governments is 3-6 months so we are in good shape financially to run our everyday operations and deal with emergencies that could come up. My 38 year banking career gives me the experience, knowledge and skillset to be able to read and understand financial statements, cash flows and financial projections.

Public Safety:

Police: We have enacted a take home policy for cars for officers and worked on pay and classification plans to help recruit and maintain adequate staff. We are seeking to set up a Crime Suppression Unit to deal with increasing gang and violent crime activity.

Fire: We anticipate finishing our new Fire Station by Christmas. We have purchased a new aerial Ladder truck and will add a new much needed replacement pumper truck. We hope to continue the training that has helped us lower our ISO rating from 4 to 3. I want to encourage our working toward being certified as a Licensed Medical First Responder Unit to help in critical care needs of our constituents, particularly when the ambulance service needs help.

Infrastructure:

We have executed a long needed Intergovernmental agreement between the city and county to upgrade and increase the capacity of our sewer system to take care of current needs and to help facilitate recruitment of future industries.

We have made $20 Million worth of upgrades in Sewer, $3 Million in Storm water upgrades, and $3 Million in paving of streets. We also got, with the help of taxpayers, a TSPLOST passed to help further paving of streets.

Quality of Life

We have completed Phase 2 of the Greatest Generation Park and looking forward to the October 8 ribbon cutting to open Lake Thomaston to the public. That is exciting!

We are also working toward the redevelopment of Downtown Thomaston by commissioning the first ever master plan of downtown, authorizing a Façade Grant program, working toward Rural Zone designation, and commissioning the redrafting of both alcohol and zoning ordinances. I believe that these things will lead to investment downtown that has simply not had as much interest before.

There is a lot more that we have done in the last several years that has been made possible with the great team of our council, our city manager, our financial officer, and all of our city employees. Yes, we have done a lot, but I am here to say that there is still more to do and believe me when I say that the best is yet to come!

UPSON COUNTY COVID HOSPITALIZATION UPDATE

Upson Regional Medical Center reports a total of 21 COVID patients currently hospitalized. That’s down from 24patients reported yesterday. The COVID census peaked at 57 patients a month ago on August 30. Of the 21 patients in the hospital now, 100% of them are unvaccinated. Average age is 56.

A POLICE OFFICER FROM THOMASTON HAS PASSED AWAY

SGT. TODD THOMAS, A CITY OF GRIFFIN POLICE OFFICER, WHO LIVES IN THOMASTON, HAS PASSED AWAY OF COVID-19.

POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON, WHO WORKED WITH SGT. THOMAS AT GRIFFIN PD SAID HIS UNITS ESCORTED THE BODY OF SGT. THOMAS FROM URMC TO FLETCHER-DAY FUNERAL HOME TUESDAY.

SGT. THOMAS BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WITH GRIFFIN PD IN 1999, WAS 52 YEARS OLD AND PLANNING TO RETIRE IN EARLY 2022.

WEEKLY COVID-19 REPORT – THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOLS

 For the week ending September 24, 2021

Upson schools saw a significant drop in COVID cases among students and staff last week. There were only 6 reported student cases compared to 13 the week before, and only 4 staff cases compared to 9 the week before. 

A mask mandate has been in effect for the past 3 weeks. The Board of Education meets on Tuesday, September 28, to discuss the termination or extension of the mandate, which is currently set to expire on Friday, October 8.

The CDC has not relaxed its beginning-of-the-school year recommendation for universal indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-through-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. This recommendation was made in response to the highly transmissible Delta variant. Upson County has consistently had a High Level of Community Transmission since the end of July.

http://www.upson.k12.ga.us/202122_covid_information

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

URMC OFFERING COVID BOOSTER SHOTS

 

Fun 101 Phone Problems

 Fun 101 is experiencing phone problems with our primary line 706-647-7121.

To reach the station, please call on 706-938-0686.

We are working to restore the primary line and hope to have it operational by tomorrow.

TWO WRECKS OCCUR IN PIKE COUNTY FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Pike County Deputies worked two separate vehicle accidents today that both involved a structure. The first was located at 12572 Highway 18 at 2:50 p.m. a pickup truck traveling westbound crosses the oncoming lane of traffic and then left the roadway. The vehicle then struck a building adjacent to the residence and exited out of the rear of the building before coming to a stop. The driver was transported by ambulance for treatment and no one else was injured.

 

At 4:36 p.m. deputies responded to Highway 19 near the Upson County line. A Chevrolet Suburban had been traveling southbound when it crossed into the oncoming lanes of traffic. The vehicle left the roadway striking a power pole and a citizen that was in their yard cutting grass. The vehicle then struck the residence before stopping. The homeowner was transported to Macon by ambulance. The driver was transported to Upson regional hospital for treatment. The driver stated to deputies that he believed he had fell asleep before the accident. The investigation will continue as deputies await blood toxicology results.

Arrest Made In Playground Shooting

THOMASTON POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE SHOOT OUT AT THE PARK STREET PLAYGROUND ON SEPTEMBER 5TH.

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR MONICA SNIPES IDENTIFIED THE SUBJECT AS AHMAN CALDWELL, AGE 17 OF THOMASTON.

CALDWELL IS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BUT OTHER CHARGES INCLUDING AGGREVATED ASSAULT COULD BE FILED. OTHER ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED.

POLICE SAID SEVERAL MALES FIRED WEAPONS AND DAMAGED TWO VEHICLES BUT NO ONE WAS WOUNDED. AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE AND A HANDGUN WERE RECOVERED AT THE SCENE BY THE P.D.

THE SHOOTING ALARMED THE COMMUNITY AND LEAD TO THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVING $250,000 TO FUND A 4 OFFICER -CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Dawgs 2022 Football Schedule Released

A season opener against Oregon in Atlanta, eight Southeastern Conference games and the annual tilt against Georgia Tech highlight the 2022 Georgia football schedule announced Tuesday by the SEC.

Click HERE for the entire schedule

UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

THE UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETS MONDAY SPET. 27TH AT 7 PM AT THE ARCHIVES.

LINDA JONES BEST AND ZAC JONES WILL PRESENT THE PROGRAM ON O.W. JONES AND SON HARDWARE. 

PUBLIC INVITED.

FDR DOC TO REPLAY ON GPB

UPSON COUNTY NATIVE DAN WHITE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM ON PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND HIS LIFE IN THIS AREA, SAYS THE FILM WILL REPLAY ON GA. PUBLIC TV CHANNEL 8 THIS SATURDAY AT 6 AM.

DAN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH BARNESVILLE MAYOR PETER BANKS WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE FILM THE MAYOR VIEWED AND ENJOYED TUESDAY EVENING. FDR'S SPEECH AT GORDON MILITARY COLLEGE SUMMERS FIELD AUGUST 11TH , 1939 IS CENTRAL TO THE FILM, AS THE PRESIDENT TOUTED THE R.E.A  AND TURNED ON THE LIGHTS IN RURAL MIDDLE GA.

DAN TOLD US HE HOPES TO HOLD A SCREENING OF THE FILM IN THOMASTON AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

UPSON CO. COVID-19 WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL

Jeff Tarrant, CEO of URMC reported:

As of 7AM this morning:

31 Covid positive patients (down from 46 last week) with 9 on vents (down from 12 last week)

Since 7/1/21-as of yesterday about 93% of patients have been unvaccinated. The Regeneron Monoclonal Antibody treatment continues to be used with stellar results, especially if given at early onset. Again this is the treatment that was given to President Trump. This treatment reduces Covid hospitalizations by 70% and reduces duration of the Covid symptoms by up to 4 days if given early. Its affect is good at keeping people out of the hospital.

No word yet on the booster for 65 and older other than immuno-compromised people. We continue to wait on word from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. We hope to be giving the booster next week and have a good inventory ready when we hear the rules to go by.

T-U SCHOOLS COVID REPORT

As Upson schools completed their second week with some students in remote learning and a mask mandate for in-person learning, COVID cases among students have continued to decline. There were 27 student cases the first week after the changes and only 13 this past week. Staff cases have been flat, totaling 9 for each of the past two weeks. Student cases had peaked at 88, and staff cases at 24 the week before the changes were made.

The mask mandate remains in effect through Friday, October 8, and remote learning continues through the end of the First Semester.

Arkansas Kickoff Set

The Saturday, October 2nd, Southeastern Conference football game between Georgia and Arkansas in Athens will kick off at 12:00 noon ET and be televised by ESPN according to an announcement Monday by the SEC office.

Georgia’s all-time record on ESPN is 54-34-1.

FDR DOC HAS SCENES FILMED IN UPSON CO

AN HOUR-LONG DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S LIFE IN GEORGIA WILL AIR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 7 PM ON GA. PUBLIC BROADCASTING. 

YATESVILLE NATIVE DAN WHITE IS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE FILM. SOME SCENES WERE FILMED IN UPSON COUNTY.

Missing Person In Meriwether County

The Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing 26 year old Olivia S. Fowler. She was last seen around 2:00 AM on August 13, 2021 leaving a residence on Long Road in Manchester, GA. Olivia was seen again that morning around 10:30 AM walking along Pebble Brook Road in Meriwether Co., GA. She was wearing a tie-dye shirt, white cut-off shorts & black flip flops. Olivia is 5’2”, 100 lbs with blonde hair & hazel eyes. She has a tattoo on her right arm that says “I love you” & she is missing her right “fang/canine” tooth. If anyone has any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office at (706)-672-6675,

CASE# 21-08-00110.

Mid September COVID-19 Report

COVID cases in Upson and all of the surrounding counties seem to have peaked the last half of August, and September is welcoming the beginning of a downward slide. Upson’s new confirmed cases declined from an all-time high of 331 in August to 219 the first half of September; 219 is still the third highest half-month case count on record, and a long way from the record low of only 2 cases the first half of June.

Average two-week test positivity in Upson is the highest it’s ever been at 26%. Upson’s case rate for the last 7 days ranks as the #9 highest case rate in the State. Pike County ranks #14, Spalding #25, and Taylor County #26. Upson’s overall case rate per 100,000 people indicates that 1 out of 10 Upson residents have tested positive for COVID-19; if antigen tests are included, that ratio goes up to 1 out of 5.

New hospitalization admissions for Upson residents are down from a record high of 18 the last half of August to only 6 the first half of September. Upson Regional Medical Center reported a daily census of 57 COVID patients at the end of August, and that’s down to 46 for mid-September.

28 deaths were reported for the combined 8-county area, the highest half-month total since early February. A normal lag time of one to three weeks exists between the date of death and the date it is recorded, so we may see even higher death numbers on the Georgia Department of Public Health website over the next few weeks. There are many steps to filling out and submitting a death certificate. Then the death has to be coded. This is usually done electronically; however, for COVID-19, the deaths are reviewed and coded by a person. All of this takes time but ensures that the death count is accurate.

 

New COVID-19 Cases (2021)
COUNTY	Jul 1 - 15	Jul 16 - 31	Aug 1 - 15	Aug 16 - 31	Sep 1 - 15
Upson	4	33	142	331	219
Pike	12	48	103	264	202
Lamar	10	56	220	312	159
Monroe	18	42	162	259	194
Crawford	5	19	59	78	76
Taylor	3	6	26	96	56
Talbot	0	11	32	47	38
Meriwether	4	39	110	168	153
Spalding	22	144	362	739	700
Source: GA Dept of Public Health Daily Reports

Upson-Lee Player Injured

In the 4th quarter of Friday night's Upson-Lee / Pike County football game, UL's punter Ethan Davis was injured while covering a fumbled snap.

Ethan was taken by ambulance to the Upson Regional Medical Center where x-rays indicated that there were no fractures and that his injury was likely attributed to a pinched nerve.

GRIFFIN-SPALDNG SCHOOLS UPDATE

All grade levels will resume in-person learning this Monday, September 20.

Face coverings are required to be worn at all times on buses and in school buildings. Failure to wear a mask on a bus may result in losing transportation privileges.

Parents who have the ability to transport their students are still encouraged to do so. We will continue to work to improve our transportation services. We are providing retention incentives to our transportation staff and hiring incentives for new drivers.

CANDIDATE FOR CITY OF THOMASTON MAYOR PRO-TEM SHARON KING HAS LAUNCHED HER CAMPAIGN

 

New Distribution Process for Monoclonal Antibody Treatments in Georgia

The federal government has changed the way COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments will be distributed in the United States, including Georgia. The decision announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the result of supply shortages and extraordinary demand for the treatments across the country, particularly due to the rapid spread of the delta variant. Health care providers will no longer be able to order the treatments directly.

HHS will determine each state’s weekly allocation of monoclonal antibody products based on use and the number of new COVID cases. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will identify which sites in the state will receive the product and the amount each site receives. Healthcare providers must record their administration of the products in order to be eligible to receive additional shipments.

DPH will work to provide monoclonal antibody treatments quickly and equitably to as many Georgia providers as possible. The Department will also address the backlog of requests previously made to HHS, which DPH was not made aware of until yesterday.

Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic, laboratory-created antibodies. They help people at high risk for severe COVID illness, individuals who have recently tested positive (within 10 days) for the virus, or people who are close contacts of persons who have tested positive for COVID. They do not teach a patient’s body how to create its own antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody treatments are not a replacement for COVID-19 vaccination.

“We have safe and highly effective vaccines to protect against COVID-19. It is much easier to get a vaccine than risk becoming seriously ill with life threatening complications,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Monoclonal antibodies are in short supply and high demand and hospital beds are full. What Georgia does have is enough vaccine for all Georgians aged 12 and over to be vaccinated.”

As of today, 53% of Georgians have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 46% of Georgians are fully vaccinated. COVID vaccine is available statewide and is our best tool for ending this pandemic and reducing the overwhelming strain on EMS, the healthcare system and healthcare providers. To find a COVID vaccination location, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.

There are currently 136 locations in Georgia where monoclonal antibody treatments are being administered. https://protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/therapeutics-distribution. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about monoclonal antibody treatments and must have a prescription or physician’s referral to receive the treatments.

For updates on COVID-19, follow @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Facebook.

JOB FAIR IN THOMASTON OCT. 13

A Job Fair will be held at the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center on Wednesday, October 13 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Any businesses in Upson or surrounding counties may participate in the Job Fair. The Job Fair is Free for any businesses that would like to participate, but they must register online on the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce’s website.

Please visit thomastongachamber for all of the information.

Job Seekers, if you are looking for a job or just a new line of work, please join us on Wednesday, October 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center. A list of businesses that will be present at the event will be announced closer to the date of the event.

This Job Fair Event is sponsored by the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce and the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center.

For more information on this event, you may call 706-647-9686 ask for Lori Smith (TU Chamber) or call 706-647-9691 and ask for Kimberly Raines (TU Civic Center)

THREE WRECKS IN 24 HRS. DOWNTOWN THOMASTON

A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN DOWNTOWN THOMASTON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER 3 PM BUT NO SERIOUS INJURIES AT THE GORDON-CENTER INTERSECTION, THE THIRD DOWNTOWN IN 24 HOURS , THAT SLOWED TRAFFIC ON NEAR-BY STREETS. A FEMALE MOTORIST APPARENTLY RAN A RED LIGHT AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR. THAT FEMALE MOTORIST HAD A HAND INJURY WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

EARLIER WEDNESDAY AT GORDON AND CHURCH, POLICE CHIEF MIKE RICHARDSON SAID A FEMALE MOTORIST RAN THE LIGHT ON GORDON AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ONE FEMALE REPORTEDLY TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY EMS TO BE CHECKED-OUT.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT THAT SAME INTERSECTION A U-HAUL MOVING VAN ON GORDON RAN UP UNDER AN 18 WHEELER AND THE U-HAUL DRIVER WENT TO THE E.R. TO BE CHECKED OUT.

Kickoff Set For Vanderbilt Game

The Saturday, September 25th, Southeastern Conference football game between Georgia and Vanderbilt in Nashville will kick off at 12:00 noon ET and be televised by the SEC Network according to an announcement Monday by the SEC office.

Georgia’s all-time record on the SEC Network is 23-3.

Patriot Day In Thomaston

Left to right: Engineer Jim Daniel, Mayor J.D. Stallings, Dravian Ivey, Mayor Pro-Tem Doug Head, Captain Lee Brown

Mayor J.D. Stallings and Mayor Pro-Tem Doug Head delivered pizza to the Thomaston Fire Department and the Thomaston Police Department on Patriot's Day, September 11th to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, PA.

Mayor Stallings signed a proclamation declaring September 11, 2021 as Patriot Day in Thomaston, asking that all flags be lowered to half staff.

Patriot Day honors the 2,996 lives lost on that tragic day, the thousands that followed during the ensuing 20 year war as well as those that serve and protect today.

THOMASTON PD CRIME STATS

The following chart is for 18 months of crime statistics in Thomaston. These numbers are indicative of crime rates across the country and would indicate that Thomaston is not immune to the problem.

Incidents:	1/2018 – 8/2019	1/2020 – 8/2021	Difference (%)
Shots fired calls	78	120	54% increase
Incidents with a gun involved	47	75	60% increase
Homicides	1	6	600% increase
Aggravated assaults	45	79	76% increase

 

Our call volume has increased over the years yet our staffing remains the same. Even though our general productivity numbers are up across the board in Patrol. A good example is that our part I crimes over a 12 month period are up 16% but during the same period our arrests are up 33%. We are averaging between 20,000 and 22,000 calls for service a year. With our current staffing the officers are averaging about 7.5 calls per shift.

COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE

The CDC’s COVID Data Tracker shows the United States at 53% of its total population fully vaccinated. Georgia lags behind at 42%, and our local counties show even lower percentages. Upson is the local leader at 30%, followed by Talbot at 24%, Taylor 23%, Meriwether 20%, Crawford 14%, Spalding at 12%, Pike and Lamar Counties 10%, and Monroe at the bottom of the list with only 8%.

According to the AMA, earlier in the pandemic, it was estimated that 70% of the population would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to establish herd immunity. The more highly transmissible Delta variant, which now accounts for 96% of COVID cases in Georgia, has changed that estimation. Epidemiologists are now saying it will take 85% immunity to halt viral transmission in the community.

% Total Population Fully Vaccinated
2021	June 7	Sept 7
United States	42%	53%
Georgia	33%	42%
Upson County	25%	30%
Talbot County	18%	24%
Taylor County	18%	23%
Meriwether County	14%	20%
Crawford County	11%	14%
Spalding County	6%	12%
Pike County	6%	10%
Lamar County	5%	10%
Monroe County	5%	8%
Source: CDC COVID Data Tracker