GRIFFIN CITY MANAGER DISMISSED

 THE CITY  MANAGER  OF  GRIFFIN,  JESSICA  O'CONNOR  HAS  BEEN  FIRED  WITHOUT  CAUSE.    ACCORDING  TO  AN  EMERGENCY  RESOLUTION  THE  GRIFFIN   BOARD OF  COMMISSIONERS  VOTED  4-3  TO  APPROVE  A  MOTION  TO  TERMINATE  THE  CONTRACT OF  MS. O'CONNOR    AT A  CALLED  MEETING  TUESDAY.

JENNIFER FREEMAN,  ASSISTANT  CITY  MANAGER OF  UTILITIES  AND  KELSEY  CARDEN,  ASSISTANT CITY  MANAGER  OF  DEVELOPMENT  SERVICES  WILL  HANDLE  MS. O'CONNOR'S DUTIES.   A   PRESS  RELEASE  FROM  CITY OF  GRIFFIN  SAID  THE  BOARD  WILL  DISCUSS  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF AN  INTERIM  CITY  MANAGER  AT  A  CALLED  MEETING  THURSDAY  9AM  OCT.  IST.

GRIFFIN-SPALDING SCHOOL GRAD RATE

 Griffin, GA – Griffin-Spalding County Schools (GSCS) is proud to announce the district’s 2026 graduation rate rose to 94.5 percent, reflecting the continued commitment of students, educators, families and the entire community to student success. GSCS performed above the State of Georgia graduation rate of 88.5 percent.

Graduation rates across the district’s high schools demonstrate strong outcomes for the Class of 2026. Griffin High School achieved a 96 percent graduation rate, A.Z. Kelsey Academy achieved a 95.7 percent graduation rate, and Spalding High School achieved a 92.4 percent graduation rate.

UPSON-LEE GRADUATION RATE

 Thomaston-Upson Schools Graduation

Rate Reaches New All-Time High of 92.6%

Thomaston-Upson Schools is proud to announce that the district’s graduation rate has reached

92.6% for 2026, establishing a new all-time high and continuing a multi-year trend of strong

graduation outcomes for Upson-Lee High School students.

The district’s graduation rate increased from 91.6% in 2024 to 92.5% in 2025 and 92.6% in

2026. The 2026 rate is also 4.1 percentage points higher than Georgia’s state average of

88.5%.

The continued increase reflects the collective efforts of students, teachers, counselors,

administrators, support staff, families, and community partners who work throughout a student’s

educational journey to keep students engaged, provide needed support, and prepare them to

successfully complete high school.

“This accomplishment is something our entire school system and community can celebrate,”

said Superintendent Dr. Travet “Tret” Witherspoon. “A graduation rate of 92.6% represents

students who have worked hard and persevered to reach an important milestone. It also

represents the teachers, staff members, families, and community members who have supported

those students along the way. We are extremely proud of our graduates and remain committed

to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

While the district celebrates another record-setting graduation rate, Thomaston-Upson Schools

remains focused on continued improvement. District and school leaders will continue working to

identify and support students who may be at risk of not graduating while strengthening

academic opportunities, student engagement, and college and career readiness.

The district recognizes that graduation is the culmination of years of work that begins long

before students enter high school. From early learning and elementary education through

middle and high school, employees across Thomaston-Upson Schools play an important role in

preparing students to reach graduation.

The 92.6% graduation rate marks the second consecutive year Thomaston-Upson Schools has

established a new all-time high, building on the district’s 92.5% rate in 2025

THOMASTON KIWANIS 5K SIGN-UP

 

The direct link to register for the Thomaston Kiwanis Kreepy 5k is https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Thomaston/ThomastonKiwanisKreepy5kRoadRace26

I have also attached a flyer with a QR code that can be scanned to register. This flyer has been shared on our Kiwanis Facebook page. Please share on your personal pages or anywhere else you see fit.

UPSON BOARD OF ELECTIONS

 The Upson County Board of Elections will have their regular meeting Tuesday, October 6th @ 3:00 PM in the Elections Office Meeting Room located at 305 South Hightower St. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the upcoming November 3, General Election. For more information contact the Elections Office at 706-647-6259. Pam W. Releford Elections Supervisor

PIKE COUNTY LIONS CLUB BBQ

 PIKE COUNTY  LIONS  CLUB  BBQ   SAT. SEPT. 26TH  11AM  TILL  2PM  ZEBULON  TRAIN  DEPOT. $12  PER  PLATE.

CITY OF THOMASTON RETREAT/WORK SESSION

 CITY OF THOMASTON

RETREAT / WORK SESSION OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY AIRPORT

Beginning September 24, 2026

12:00 pm

The Thomaston Mayor and City Council will hold a strategic planning retreat on Thursday and Friday, September 24-25, 2026, at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport located at 2347 Delray Road, Thomaston, GA 30286. The retreat is for strategic planning purposes only. No official or legally binding action will occur at this retreat.

Tentative Retreat Schedule

(Changes may occur.)

Thursday, September 24, 2026

12:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Friday, September 25, 2026

8:30 am to 5:00 pm

UPSON CO REPORTS SCHOOL THREAT

 News Release

On Friday, September 11, 2026 deputies were made aware of a threatening social media post made against Upson Lee Middle School. An investigation was begun and confirmed the identity of person making the threat to be a 13 year old male student from Upson Lee Middle School. The student, who was absent from school today used a fictitious name to make the post.

The post claimed that the student was " Finna blow up Mrs (----) classroom".

The student was referred to juvenile court on charges of Terroristic Threats and acts. The student will also face disciplinary consequences from the school system.

Dan Kilgore, Sheriff

Sept 11, 2026

UPSON CO COMMISSIONERS MEETING 9/8/26

 IT  WAS  AN  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  MEETING   STRAIGHT  OUT   OF  THE   TWILIGHT  ZONE,  TUESDAY.   THE  BOC  UNANIMOUSLY  APPROVED    IDA     REZONING  ON  RACE  TRACK  ROAD  FOR  A  FUTURE  INDUSTRIAL  PARK,  SOMETHING  CRITICIZED  BY  EX-CHAIRMAN  RUSTY   BLACKSTON-DURING PUBLIC  COMMENT--  SET  THE  TAX  MILLAGE  AT  THE  RATE  PREVIOUSLY  DISCUSSED  AND   A  FEMALE  WAS  ESCORTED     TO       THE  DOOR      BY  A  DEPUTY  AFTER COUNTY  MANAGER   LONNIE  JOYCE  DEFENDED  THE  S.O. USE OF  FLOCK CAMERAS  AND  WARNED   MARY ALICE  ADAMS      TO  STOP  INTERRUPTING  HIM  WITH   NEGATIVE  COMMENTS  ABOUT  THEIR   USE.

T-U BOE SETS TAX MILLAGE AND THOMASTON COUNCIL CUTS TAXES

 THOMASTON'S CITY  MANAGER   RUSSELL  THOMPSON    SAYS   WATER  IS  CLEAR  LEAVING   THE    TREATMENT     PLANT       AFTER  A   TEMPORARY  PUBLIC   NOTICE  ABOUT      DISCOLORATION  DUE  TO  MANGANESE.  THE  WATER   REMAINED  SFE  FOR  DRINKING,  COOKING, BATHING  AND   OTHER  USES.

MAYOR  JD  STALLINGS  WAS  GUSHING   AT   TUESDAY'S  COUNCIL  MEETING--NOTING    THE  CITY  COUNCIL  CUT  TAXES  DURING  THE  MEETING.

IN   HIS  TESTIMONY  BEFORE  THE  T-U-  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION-PUBLIC  HEARING   PRIOR   TO  SETTING  THE  TAX  MILLAGE  DR. KEN  MORGAN    URGED  COMPROMISE   AND  THE  BOARD  VOTED  TO  DROP  THE  MILLAGE  RATE  ABOUT  ONE MILL    AND   UP  THE FUND  BALANCE  CONTRIBUTION   TO  $567,000  TO  BALANCE  THE  BUDGET--A  6-1   VOTE  . BRENT  KING  VOTED  NO--TELLING  101  NEWS  HE  OPPOSED  BECAUSE  TOO  MANY  CITIZENS  ARE  STRUGGLING  FINANCIALLY.

WARM SPRINGS POLICE OFFICER KILLED/SHOOTER SHOT HIMSELF AFTER A CHASE

 A   FATAL SHOOTING  OF  A  WARM  SPRINGS  POLICE  OFFICER   ON  DUTY--CHRIS  FISHER   TUESDAY  NIGHT       HAS  LEAD  TO   THE  REPORTED    SHOOTING    OF   THE  SUSPECT  IN  THE  SHOOTING.  THE  GBI  ISSUED  A  BLUE  ALERT  FOR  23  YEAR  OLD  JIMMIE   STEVERSON  WHO  MIGHT  HAVE   AMBUSHED   OFFICER   FISHER  AND  FIRED   THE   FATAL  SHOT  TO  THE  HEAD.  

BREAKING  NEWS--THE  ALLEDGED  SHOOTER  REPORTEDLY  GOT   IN  A  CHASE   WITH  THE   LAW  IN  GEORIGIA  AND  SHOT     HIMSELF       WED    IN  SOUTH CAROLINA.   THIS   IS  BREAKING  NEWS  FROM  101  NEWS.

KIWANIS CLUB OF THOMASTON 5K /WALK

 THOMASTON  KIWANIS  CLUB  KREEPY  5  K  ROAD  RACE/WALK.  OCT.  24, 2026

5 K RACE  $35  ENTRY  FEE      $40  DAY  OF   RACE.  SUBMIT   ENTRIES  KIWANIS  CLUB  RACE,  101  NORTH  GREEN  ST.   THOMASTON,  GA.   30286.

CITY OF THOMASTON WATER DEPARTMENT NOTICE

 City of Thomaston

Telephone 706-647-4242 Fax 706-646-2653

106 East Lee Street

P.O. Box 672

Taking The Time To Serve 

Office of the City Manager

PUBLIC NOTICE

City of Thomaston Water Department 

Water Quality Notice: Temporary Water Discoloration Due to Naturally Occurring 

Manganese 

September 1, 2026

The City of Thomaston Water Department is aware that some customers may notice a slight 

brown, yellow, or tea-colored tint in their tap water. This temporary discoloration is the 

result of elevated levels of naturally occurring manganese entering the treatment plant from 

the source water supply.

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral commonly found in soil, groundwater, and 

surface water. While it can affect the appearance of drinking water, it does not necessarily 

indicate health concern. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a 

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L for manganese based on 

aesthetic considerations such as color, taste, and staining potential.

Current manganese levels in the City's water system remain below EPA’s secondary 

aesthetic standard. However, concentrations have been elevated enough to cause minor 

discoloration in portions of the distribution system. Probable causes include prolonged 

periods of extreme heat combined with rapid temperature changes to the water source 

onset by cooler rain events and cooler mornings. The temperature swings affect the water 

chemistry. Crews are aware and are undertaking efforts throughout the system to abate the 

issue 

Is the Water Safe? 

Yes. The water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other household uses. This 

situation does not constitute a health emergency and is not a violation of any primary 

drinking water regulations. The primary impact is limited to the appearance of the water.

 

City of Thomaston

Telephone 706-647-4242 Fax 706-646-2653

106 East Lee Street

P.O. Box 672

Taking The Time To Serve 

Office of the City Manager

What Customers Can Do 

If you experience discolored water, we recommend the following:

• Run cold water from a faucet, bathtub, or utility sink for approximately 2 to 5 minutes 

or until the water clears.

• Delay washing light-colored laundry until the water runs clear to prevent potential 

staining.

• There is no need to boil water or purchase bottled water as a result of this issue.

• Customers with specific health concerns should consult their healthcare provider.

 

Actions Being Taken 

The City of Thomaston Water Department is actively working to restore normal water 

appearance by:

• Adjusting treatment processes to optimize manganese removal.

• Enhancing oxidation and sequestration treatment measures as needed.

• Conducting targeted flushing of water mains throughout the distribution system.

• Continuing routine water quality monitoring to ensure compliance and track 

improvements.

We anticipate conditions will improve over the next 24 to 72 hours as these corrective 

measures take effect.

 

 

 

City of Thomaston

Telephone 706-647-4242 Fax 706-646-2653

106 East Lee Street

P.O. Box 672

Taking The Time To Serve 

Office of the City Manager

Contact Information 

Due to the increased number of customer inquiries, response times may be slightly longer 

than normal. If discoloration persists after flushing your lines, or if you have any questions, 

please contact:

City of Thomaston Water Department

Heath Jarriel, Project Manager

Phone: 706-646-8031

Email: hjarriel@azuria.com

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue and 

maintain the high quality of service our customers expect.

Sincerely,

Heath Jarriel

Project Manager

City of Thomaston Water Departmen