UPSON BOC AND THOMASTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE AT IT

 A  VERBAL  RUMBLE-ROOSKI  BROKE-OUT  AT  A  JOINT  MEETING  OF  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  AND  THOMASTON  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL--TUESDAY-  ON  THE  2025  JOINT PROJECTS  BUDGET---MOSTLY  CENTERED  ON  THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  DECLINING  TO  FUND  THE  IDA  IN  2025--AS  IT  DID   IN  2024.

AT  ONE  POINT  THOMASTON  MAYOR  J.D.STALLINGS SUGGESTED  JOINT  PROJECTS  BE  DISSOLVED  AND  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  NORMAN  ALLEN  RESPONDED  THE  IDA  IS NO LONGER  IN  JOINT  PROJECTS  BECAUSE   THE  COUNTY   HAS  DECLINED  TO  FUND  IT.

CHAIRMAN  ALLEN   EXPLAINED    THAT  THE  IDA  ALREADY  HAS  ABOUT  $3  MILLION  IN  THE  BANK  SO  WHY  SHOULD  TAXPAYERS  GIVE  THEM  MORE  MONEY.

WHEN IT  WENT  TO  A  VOTE--THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  UNANIMOUSLY  APPROVED  THE   2025  BUDGET  AND  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  VOTED  2  TO  1  TO  APPROVE--REEVES  AND  GREATHOUSE  VOTING  YES  HEAD-NO.

UGA-GA. TECH FRIDAY ON FUN 101

 THE  ANNUAL  GA--GA  TECH  FOOTBALL  GAME  IS  FRIDAY  WITH  AIRTIME  ON  FUN   101  3;30PM.  REMEMBER--ONLY  RADIO  AIRS  THE  GAME  IN  REAL-TIME.  YOU  SEE  PLAYS  ON  TV  2  TO  3  SECONDS  AFTER  THEY HAPPEN--AS IT  TAKES  TIME  FOR  VIDEO   TO   BROADCAST.

TWO UPSONIANS OF NOTE HAVE PASSED AWAY

 TWO  NOTABLES IN  UPSON  COUNTY  HAVE  PASSED  AWAY,  RETIRED  YATESVILLE MAYOR  WALTER  BOYT  AND  EX-UPSON  COUNTY  CORONER  DANNY  BROWN.

FUNERAL  SERVICES  FOR  MAYOR  BOYT  WILL  BE  TUESDAY 1PM  AT  YATESVILLE  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  VISITATION  MONDAY,  NOV.  25 , 5  TO  7PM  AT  FLETCHER-DAY  FUNERAL  HOME.

MEMORIAL  SERVICES  LATER  FOR  DANNY  BROWN, COGGINS  FUNERAL  HOME  IN  CHARGE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS. 

THOMASTON PD BEAT

 THOMASTON  POLICE  INVESTIGATED  A  CASH  REGISTER  ROBBERY LAST  SATURDAY  AT  DOLLAR  GENERAL  ON   19  SOUTH.  THE  REPORT  SAID  A  BLACK  MALE  WITH  A  GOTEE  AND  WEARING  SUNGLASSES  30  TO  40  YEARS OF  AGE-  WEARING   RED  GYM  SHORTS  -REACHED  OVER  THE  COUNTER  AND  GRABBED  CASH.  HE  FLED  IN  A  BLACK  JEEP  LIBERTY  THAT  HAD   NO  TAG.

A  VETERAN  WHO  RECEIVES    MEDICATION  FROM  THE  VA  SAID  HIS  MEDICATION  FROM  THE  VETERANS  ADMISTRATION  WAS  STOLEN.  FEX  X  RECORDS  SHOWED IT  WAS  DELIVERED  TO  107  HABITAT  COURT  BUT  THE  PACKAGE  HAD  BEEN    OPENED  AND  THE  MEDICATION  WAS  MISSING.

A  FEMALE  REPORTED  TO  TPD  THAT  HER  BANK  ACCOUNT  HAD  BEEN  HACKED  OF   OVER  $900  AND  THE  MONEY  WAS  TRANSFERRED  TO  BIT  COIN--CRIPTO-CURRENCY.

POLICE  SAID  THREE  FEMALE  JUVENILES    FROM  UPSON-LEE  MIDDLE  SCHOOL  WERE  CAPTURED  ON  VIDEO  BREAKING  THE  LATCHES  ON  THE  RESTROOMS  AT  WEAVER  PARK.  THE  LATCHES  COST   $8  EACH.

UPSON CO TAX DEADLINE

 THIS  MONDAY,  NOVEMBER 25TH  IS  THE  DEADLINE  TO  PAY  2024  UPSON  COUNTY  PROPERTY  TAXES  WITHOUT  PENALTY.

ADAMS CABIN 36 WEST TOTALLY INVOLVED

 THURSTON  FIRE  CHIEF  RICHARD  HICKMON   REPORTS  UNITS  RESPONDED  TO  A  FIRE  AT  THE  ADAMS  CABIN   IN  UPSON  COUNTY   NEAR  THE  POTATO  CREEK  BRIDGE  ON  36  WEST,  AROUND   5;30AM  FRIDAY  MORNING  BUT  IT  WAS  A  TOTAL  LOSS.  DICKSON  ADAMS  WHO  REPORTEDLY  LIVES  IN  THE  CABIN  SUFFERED  BURNS  TO  HIS  BACK  AND  WAS  TREATED  BY  AMERI-PRO  EMT'S  AT  THE  SCENE.

CHIEF  HICKMON  TOLD   101  NEWS ADAMS  WAS  PULLING  OUT  OF  THE  DRIVEWAY  WHEN  THURSTON  UNITS  ARRIVED--BUT  THE  PAVED  DRIVE-WAY   ABOUT  A  HALF-MILE  LONG   WAS  TOO  NARROW  FOR  FIRE  TRUCKS  TO  ACCESS  AND  THE  CABIN  WAS   DESTROYED .   THE  GA.   FORESTRY  UNIT  ALSO  RESPONDED.

UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF DAN  KILGORE  SAID  THE  STATE  FIRE  MARSHALL'S  OFFICE  WAS  NOTIFIED  AND  OPENED  AN  INVESTIGATION  INTO  THE  CAUSE  FRIDAY. CHIEF HICKMON  WARNED  OF  NARROW  DRIVEWAYS  LEADING  TO  RESIDENCES--FIRE  ENGINES  NEED  ROOM  TO  TRAVEL--HE  SAID.

THERE  ARE  LEAST  TWO  OTHER  HOUSES  DOWN  THE  DRIVEWAY--WTGA  WAS  TOLD. 

UPSON TAX COMMISSIONER WANTS PUBLIC INPUT

 UPSON  COUNTY  TAX  COMMISSIONER  ANDY  CHASTAIN  SAYS  HE  WANTS  TO  IMPROVE  CUSTOMER  SERVICE--PERHAPS  BY  ADJUSTING  THE  HOURS  OF OPERATION  FOR  WORKING  FOLK.  CURRENT  OFFICE  HOURS   8AM  TILL   4;45PM  AND  OTHER  COUNTIES  HAVE  ADJUSTED  THEIR  HOURS  7AM  TO   6PM  AND  ANOTHER 7;30AM  TO  5;30   4  AND  A  HALF  DAYS  A  WEEK.  HE'S  NOT  IN  FAVOR  OF  A  4  DAY  WORK  WEEK--BUT  HE'S  LOOKING  FOR  PUBLIC  FEED-BACK  AND  WHAT'S  BEST  FOR  HIS  STAFF.  SEND  YOUR  SUGGESTIONS  TO  THE  COUNTY  WEBSITE  UNDER  OFFICE  OF  TAX  COMMISSIONER.  THE  TAX  COMMISSIONER  SAYS  ITS  ALL  ABOUT  BETTER  CUSTOMER  SERVICE. 

URMC NEW CEO

 Thomaston, GA, November 18, 2024 – With current CEO Jeff Tarrant’s plans for retirement in early 2025, the Upson County Hospital, Inc. Board of Directors would like to announce that Daniel S. Owens, MBA is the finalist candidate for Upson Regional Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer. Owens is from Lilburn, GA. He most recently served as CEO at Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory University Hospital Smyrna where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of a 605 licensed bed academic teaching hospital, 48 bed Level 3 NICU and an 88 licensed bed community hospital. Owens is a Georgia native who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration from Brenau University. He is recognized as a Fellow of the Woodruff Leadership Academy and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Course in Managing Healthcare Delivery. Throughout his career, Owens has been active in the Atlanta healthcare community, serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Hospital Association, as a board member and on the executive committee of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, as a member of the American College of Health Care Executives, and as a member of the Atlanta Rotary Clu

Q&A THOMASTON CITY HALL

 MONDAY,  NOVEMBER   25TH   9  TO 5  ITS  Q & A  AT  CITY  HALL     WITH  THOMASTON'S  CITY  MANAGER  RUSSELL  THOMPSON.  THE  PUBLIC  IS  INVITED  TO  DROP-BY  HIS   2ND  FLOOR  OFFICE  AND ASK  ANY  QUESTIONS  ABOUT  THE  HOTEL  PROJECT,  THE   PROPOSED   2025  BUDGET  OR  ANY  OTHER  PROJECT.  

WRECK DT THOMASTON

 TWO  VEHICLE  WRECK  DOWNTOWN  THOMASTON  AT  CENTER  AND  MAIN  AROUND  9;30AM  THURSDAY-- INJURED  A  WHITE  FEMALE  MOTORIST.  EMT'S  FROM  AMERI PRO  EMS  TREATED  HER  AT  THE  SCENE.   TPD  TOLD   101  NEWS    A  BIG  RIG  WAS  INVOLVED  IN  THE  COLLISION  BUT  IT  WAS  RELEASED  FROM  THE  SCENE.  THE  OTHER  VEHICLE,  A  LATE  MODEL  TOYOTA  CAMRY   HAD  A  SMASHED-IN  PASSENGER  SIDE.

THOMASTON COUNCIL MOVING FOWARD ON DT HOTEL

 THE  THOMASTON  CITY  COUNCIL  IS  MOVING  FOWARD   ON  A   90  ROOM   $20 MILLION  DOWNTOWN HOTEL PROJECT--AFTER   A   PUBLIC  HEARING   AT  TUESDAY'S   MEETING.  BUT   THE  PUBLIC  WAS  A  NO  SHOW.  CITY  MANAGER  RUSSELL  THOMPSON  SAID  DETAILS  NEED  TO  BE  FINALIZED  ON  THE  FRANCHISE  FEE  WITH  MARRIOTT  HOTELS   FOR  A  FAIRFIELD  INN  AND  SUITES.  ITS  A  POPULAR  BRAND  THERE'S  ONE  GOING  UP  IN  MADISON, GA.  ACROSS  FROM  THE  NEW  HOSPITAL.  

UPSON CO. PLANNING COMMISSION NOV. MEETING

 UPSON  COUNTY  PLANNING  DIRECTOR  DOUG  CURRIER  SAID  THE   PLANNING  COMMISSION    WILL  MOVE   INTO NEXT  YEAR   CONTINUING  PUBLIC  HEARINGS  ON  TEXT AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  AND  THE  SUB  DIVISION  ORDIANCE .AT  THE NOVEMBER  MEETING--  THE  PLANNING  COMMISSION  ACKNOWLEDGED THE   BOC    TABLED   THE  CHANGES   AFTER  PUBLIC  BLOW-BACK  AND  THEIR  GROUP-THOUGHT WAS  DEAL  WITH  IT  IN   2025 --BUT  IN  THE MEANTIME  HELP  THE  PUBLIC  LEARN  THE  COMPLICATED   PROVISIONS  OF  THE  DOCUMENT.  THE  BOC  LIFTED  THE  MORATORIUM   ON  NEW  SUB DIVISIONS  AT  THE  SAME  TIME  THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  CHANGES WERE  TABLED.  

THE PLANNING COMMISSION  TOOK  NO  STAND  ON  THE  CITY  OF  THOMASTON'S   ELIMINATION  OF    THE CITY-COUNTY  JOINT PLANNING  COMMISSION   IN  ITS  REVISED  ZONING  ORDIANCE .   IT  MEETS  FOR  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  REZONINGS  OR  ANNEXATIONS  WITHIN   300  FEET  OF A  JURISDICTION.   IT  RARELY  MEETS  AND   THERE  HAVE  BEEN  COMPLAINTS  THE  JOINT  BODY  HAS A  HISTORY  OF  NO       QUORUMS  WHEN  ITS  NEEDED.  

SPALDING BOC DENIES REZONING FOR EVENT CENTER

 THE  SPALDING  COUNTY  BOARD OF  COMMISSIONERS  DENIED  A   REZONING  FOR  AN  EVENT  CENTER   AT 2160  ROCKY  CREEK ROAD  IN  NORTH  SPALDING  BY  A   4-1  VOTE,  MONDAY.  APPLICANT  IRIS  HERNANDEX  WANTED   REZONING  FOR    HER  30  ACRE  PROPERTY  BUT  NEIGHBORS  SPOKE  AGAINST  IT--CITING  TRAFFIC  AND NOISE CONCERNS.

COUNTY  MANAGER  STEVE  LEDBETTER  IS  A  FORMER  MAYOR  OF  WOODBURY  AND  SHERIFF  DARRELL  DIX  SAID WOODBURY  NEEDS    TWO  2014 DODGE  CHARGERS  WORTH  ABOUT   $5000  EACH--  FROM  THE  SO--  ONE  NEEDS $3500  WORK  ON  THE  ENGINE. COMMISSIONERS  AWARDED  THEM  TO  WOODBURY    AND  ALSO  APPROVED  9  NEW  DODGE  DURANGO  SUV  SHERIFF'S  PATROL  UNITS  FOR  SHERIFF  DIX.  THEY  WILL  BE  FINANCED  OVER  5  YEARS  THROUGH  A  GA.  ACCG  PLAN.

BRIGHTMARK DRAWS A CROWD FOR BREAKFAST AT THOMASTON HARDWARE

 BRIGHTMARK    CIRCULARITY  CENTER  LLC  CEO  BOB  POWELL  AND  STAFF  HELD  A   BREAKFAST    FOR  LOCALS  SATURDAY  AT  THOMASTON  HARDWARE      TO  CORRESPOND    WITH  THE  PUBLIC  ABOUT  THE PROPOSED  PLASTICS    PROJECT  PLANNED  AT  THE  BIZ-TECH  PARK  AT THE  AIRPORT. BOB  TOLD   101  NEWS  THE  PERMITTING PROCESS  INVOLVING  STATE  AND  FEDERAL  AGENCIES   IS  JUST  BEGINNING  AND  COULD  TAKE  SOME  TIME  BUT  HE IS  OPTIMISTIC   ABOUT   IT.  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  IDA  HAS  INDICATED  SUPPORT  WITH  A  REVENUE  BOND OF  ALMOST  $1 BILLION   WITH   200  HIGH  PAYING JOBS  BUT  CHAIRMAN  CHASE  FALLIN  SAYS  THE  COMPANY  WILL  HAVE  ITS  OWN  FINANCING    AND  TAXPAYERS  WILL  NOT  BE  ON  THE HOOK  FOR    FUNDING   IN  ANY  WAY.  

LINEMAN DEATH IN GRIFFIN

 On November 13th 2024 Griffin Fire, Police, and Wellstar EMS were called to Spalding and Little Streets in reference to a tragic accident. Two Griffin Linemen who were actively working on a power project were injured as a result of an equipment failure. Sadly one of the linemen succumbed to his injuries on scene. The workers names are not being released at this time pending notification of family. At this time the street in the area of the incident is closed to through traffic. Please keep the Griffin Linemen and their families in your prayers at this time. Those currently without power will remain without power until further notice. Thank you for your understanding

UPSON BOC TABLES CHANGES TO ZONING ORD

 AFTER  HEARING  FROM  ABOUT  A  DOZEN  CITIZENS  OPPOSED  TO  BIG  CHANGES  TO  THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  VOTED  TO  TABLE  THE  CHANGES  AND  DROP  THE  MORATORIUM  ON  NEW  SUBDIVISIONS--AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING