UPSON COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER ANDY CHASTAIN HAS ANNOUNCED A 3RD TOWN HALL MEETING ON HB 581 PROPERTY TAX MEASURE, HOW IT AFFECTS PROPERTY VALUES, THE FLOST SALES TAX MEASURE TO POSSIBLY BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND A Q&A SESSION. HE WILL BE JOINED BY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN DAN BREU AT SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH MAY 8TH AT 6;30PM AND AT OTHER MEETINGS--APRIL 17TH 6;30PM AT FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH AND AT THURSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING HALL APRIL 24TH 6;30PM.
South Metro's News Leader
Friday, April 4, 2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
MAYOR STALLINGS BROKE TIE VOTE ON REZONING FOR APARTMENTS 74 EAST.
THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED TWO REZONING ISSUES FOR HOUSING BUT MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS HAD TO BREAK A TIE AND DEFEAT A REZONING FOR A CAIRO,GA COMPANY TO BUILD APARTMENTS ON 74 EAST. ALSO AT TUESDAY'S MEETING COUNCIL APPROVED A REZONING FOR CHARLIE DANIEL'S PROPERTY NORTH CHURCH/NOTTINGHAM FOR AN ATLANTA METRO HOME BUILDER TO CONSTRUCT UP TO 100 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON THE ACREAGE.
REZONING TO ALLOW 4 APARTMENT UNITS AT 615 WEST MAIN WAS APPROVED.
LAMAR COUNTY MAN WRECKS IN UPSON CO
A LAMAR COUNTY MOTORIST LEFT DEL RAY ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES SATURDAY WHEN HE DOZED-OFF. ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL--27 YEAR OLD DARIUS HUDSON PENN OF EDGEWOOD CIRCLE-BARNESVILLE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO A MACON TRAUMA CENTER. THE HONDA CIVIC HE WAS DRIVING HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND STARTED FLIPPING--THEN HIT A FENCE.
THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES GOLF CART ORDIANCE
THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL TABLED TWO BIDS FOR THE PROPOSED FARMERS MARKET AT EAST GORDON/HIGHTOWER--LOW MCELROY COMPANY$2.6 MILLION COGGINS CONSTRUCTION CO $2.64 MILLION--BOTH EXCEED THE STATE GRANT AMOUNT OF $2.3 MILLION--BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO WORK THINGS OUT.
THE NEW GOLF CART ORDIANCE PASSED-- EFFECTIVE MAY IST--25 MPH SPEED LIMIT --NO TRAVELING ON STATE ROUTES OR DOWNTOWN -- ALL CARTS MUST BE INSPECTED/APPROVED BY THE PD .
UPSON CHAIRMAN SAYS VOTERS WILL APPROVE A SALES TAX MEASURE TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES
UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN DAN BREU PRESENTED HIS HB 851 GAME PLAN TO THOMASTON KIWANIS, TUESDAY, AND SUGGESTED THE COUNTY SPLIT 75-25 WITH THE CITY OF THOMASTON ON A $5.1 MILLION SALES TAX FLOST ALLOWED BY THE BILL TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES. THE BOC'S COUNTY MANAGER HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF THOMASTON MANAGER ON THE ISSUE AND THE CHAIRMAN SAID THE SOONER THE BETTER TO GET THE ISSUE BEFORE THE VOTERS. HIS PLAN CALLS FOR AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH CITY HALL TO GET THE ITEM ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. SOME OF THE SALES TAX COULD BE COLLECTED AS EARLY AS 2026 WITH THE FULL COLLECTION IN 2027. HE TOLD 101 NEWS HE IS CONFIDENT VOTERS WILL APPROVE THE FLOST THAT WOULD SCRAP PROPERTY TAXES IN THE CITY OF THOMASTON AND PROVIDE NEEDED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF COUNTY WIDE INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN HOMESTEAD.
THE CHAIRMAN TOLD KIWANIS -- THOMASTON IS A SHOPPING HUB FOR THE AREA AND THAT RESULTS IN SALES TAX DOLLARS FROM AREA COUNTIES--MANY CHOOSE TO SHOP IN THOMASTON RATHER THAT TRAVELING TO GRIFFIN THAT OFFERS THE SAME RETAILERS. ONE ESTIMATE IS 35% OF SALES TAX DOLLARS SPENT IN THOMASTON ARE FROM SHOPPERS OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
ACCORDING TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL-THOMASTON--A LAMAR COUNTY MOTORIST WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO A TRUMA CENTER AFTER HE WENT TO SLEEP AND FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES ON DEL RAY ROAD NEAR ROCKY BOTTOM ROAD-- SAT. MARCH 29TH. THE DRIVER OF A HONDA CIVIC, 27 YEAR OLD DARIUS PENN OF EDGEWOOD CIRCLE, BARNESVILLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURN SEVERAL TIMES AND HIT A FENCE.
THOMASTON NATIVE DEMOCRAT GAY GILLESPIE VALIMONT LOST THE DISTRICT ONE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN FLORIDA TUESDAY 57% TO 42.2 % BUT MANAGED TO CUT HER PREVIOUS LOSS IN HALF. GAY WON ONE COUNTY OUT OF FOUR IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY THE PENSACOLA AREA HOME BASE OF THE BLUE ANGELS. THE OTHER FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ALSO WAS WON BY A REPUBLICAN.
GORDON STATE HAS A NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
BARNESVILLE, Ga., – Gordon State College has named Omar ‘Quiz’ Quisenberry as head football coach, marking his second year coaching at the collegiate level with the Highlanders.
Before joining Highlander Nation, Quisenberry spent more than a decade developing athletes and leading successful teams at various levels of football. His expertise in line play, play calling, and special teams coordination was shaped through years of coaching in his local community.
“I believe coaching is about more than just the scoreboard. It's about helping young men develop into disciplined, confident leaders,” Quisenberry said. “My coaching style is rooted in grit, accountability, and a focus on the details. I set high standards for my players and provide them with the tools to succeed both on the field and in life.”
In 2024, he joined GSC as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach before stepping in as interim head coach midseason. Under his leadership, the Highlanders' defense closed out the year ranked in the top three nationally in the NCFA.
Quisenberry will lead the Highlanders into their first full season as a member of the National South Athletic Conference (NSAC).
“We're building a legacy founded on hard work, trust, and a solid commitment to improvement. As we step into the NSAC and begin our inaugural conference campaign, I'm honored to lead this team into the next chapter of Highlander football,” Quisenberry said.
Throughout his coaching career, Quisenberry has helped athletes earn scholarships to play at top-tier institutions, including Division II, Division III, and NAIA programs. Known for his strategic approach to coaching, Quisenberry has built competitive teams and fostered player growth, contributing to the development of both individual athletes and successful football units.
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Tuesday, April 1, 2025
SHOTS FIRED AT BOATER ON FLINT RIVER
A 41 YEAR OLD MAN SAID A WHITE MALE SHOT AT HIM AS THE FLOATED THE FLINT RIVER NEAR PASLEY SHOALS ON MARCH 29TH. HE SAID THE MAN DISPLAYED A PISTOL AND FIRED 3 TO 4 SHOTS IN FRONT OF HIS KAYAK. THE MAN WITH THE GUN HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN WITH HIM AND A BLACK AND GREEN ATV. UPSON SO IS INVESTIGATING THE COMPLAINT.)