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.
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.
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.)
Monday, March 31, 2025
UPSON EMANCIPATION COMMITTEE SELLING T-SHIRTS APRIL 5
The emancipation committee of Upson County will be selling T-shirts on Saturday, April 5 at fast stop in Lincoln Park from 10 to 2. Shirts are also available for sale at Ryan’s print. The Youth Alive will have their pancake breakfast at Chili’s on April 19 from 8 to 1030 tickets are seven dollars. You can see any member of the emancipation for tickets
UPSON SO INVESTIGATES LIFE-LIKE FEMALE DOLL
UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE REPORTS AN AN ANATOMICALLY CORRECT HUMAN-TYPE FEMALE DOLL WAS FOUND WRAPPED IN A TARP MONDAY MORNING AT OLD TALBOTTON ROAD AT PO BIDY ROAD. COUNTY CREWS WERE CLEANING UP SOME DEBRIS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THEY UNWRAPPED THE TARP AND DISCOVERED A HEADLESS DOLL AND NOTIFIED THE SO.
BAD WRECK SAT IN UPSON
POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL THOMASTON WORKED A WRECK SATURDAY ON DEL RAY ROAD WITH THE MOTORIST APPAENTLY GOING TO SLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND FLIPPING OVER--LIFE FLIGHTED TO AN OUT OF TOWN TRAUMA CENTER
SPALDING HIGH EX-HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHARGED WITH MURDER
THE FORMER HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT SPALDING COUNTY HIGH HAS ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO MURDER CHARGES IN MARYLAND FOR THE CHOKING DEATH OF 38 YEAR OLD PATRICIA BEST. COACH CARL KEARNEY WILL BE SENTENCED JUNE 2ND FOR THE FEB. 2024 MURDER.
FEMALE MOTORIST FELL IN WELL AND DIED IN CULLODEN
A FEMALE MOTORIST FELL IN A WELL IN CULLODEN, SATURDAY, IN MONROE COUNTY. THE VICTIM 67-YEAR OLD SHIRLEY OBERT WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT NEAR ABERCROMBIE AND OXFORD ROAD IN CULLODEN. MONROE COUNTY SO SAID SHE APPEARED TO BE LOOKING FOR HELP AND THE WELL WAS SURROUNDED BY VERY THICK BRUSH NEAR WHERE THE CAR WAS FOUND.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
PASTOR JOHN A BIG WINNER IN COLUMBUS
CONGRATULATIONS TO PASTOR JOHN HALLEY OF THOMASTON FIRST METHODIST CHURCH--HE FINISHED FIRST PLACE IN THE MASTERS DIVISION OF THE HEROS OF AMERICA MARATHON LAST SATURDAY IN COLUMBUS WITH A TIME OF 2-HOURS 49-MINUTES 8-SECONDS FOR 26-POINT 2 MILES. HE PLACED 2ND OVERALL.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
TOWN HALL FROM UPSON CO TAX COMMISSIONER ANDY CHASTAIN
Two town hall meetings have been scheduled in April to inform and discuss with taxpayers what can be expected for this year’s property tax valuations due to House Bill 581 and the effects of local governing bodies opting in or opting out. We’ll also be discussing changes in tax assessment notices that are due to come out in a few weeks, state legislation that will affect local property taxes should it pass this year, the Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) that can be used to offset property taxes should citizens vote for approval of that measure, school taxes, and there will also be a question/answer session. In order to be more informed and to better understand these important tax issues, all citizens are encouraged to attend one of these meetings.
The first meeting will be at Fellowship Bapt. Church in their fellowship hall on April 17th at 6:30 pm and the second meeting will be at Thurston Volunteer Fire Dept meeting hall on April 24th at 6:30 pm.
IN THE PIPELINE/DAVE IN PARIS NEXT TO GENE HACKMAN
YES, PARIS--THE CITY OF LIGHTS/ON THE ROAD WITH RUSS JUST AFTER LADY DIANA WAS KILLED. I QUIZZED THE FEMALE CLERK AT THE JEWELRY STORE NEXT TO THE HOTEL WHERE DODI BOUGHT HER THE RING--BUT SHE WOULD NOT ADMIT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO SOLD IT TO HIM. LODGING AT THE HISTORIC TIMHOTEL. HISTORIC BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL WW II SHRAPNEL LODGED IN THE LOBBY WALLS.
FRANCE , THE CULINARY CAPITAL OF THE GLOBE--SO WHY WAS THE WORST MEAL I EVER HAD WAS IN FRANCE? ON THE MENU FOR THE DINNER CRUISE ON THE SEINE WAS GOOSE GIZZARD ABOUT $150 A POP. DIDN'T ORDER IT.
YEAH, THAT GUY STANDING NEXT TO ME IN THE PARIS ART MUSEUM WAS THE ACTOR GENE HACKMAN WITH HIS WIFE. DIDN'T SPEAK TO HIM ALTHOUGH I LONGED TO YELL OUT HIS GREAT LINE IN THE MOVIE "THE FRENCH CONNECTION". AS NYC NARCOTICS COP POPEYE DOYLE HE WALKS INTO A DRUGGIE BAR AND STARTS ACCUSING THE PATRONS OF PICKING THEIR FEET IN POUGHKEEPSIE. THAT'S HOW THEY HIDE THEIR SHOOT-UP DRUG MARKS ON THEIR ARMS BY SHOOTING-UP BETWEEN THEIR TOES. HE ROUGH-HOUSES THE GUYS IN THE BAR AS THEY DROP ALL THEIR STASHES ON THE FLOOR. THAT FLICK HAS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT CHASE SCENES AS POPEYE CHASES DOWN A BAD DUDE ON THE SUBWAY AND PUTS HIM AWAY. ANOTHER GREAT ROLE FOR HACKMAN WAS LITTLE BILL IN THE CLINT EASTWOOD MOVIE " UNFORGIVEN." CLINT TAKES CARE OF HIM,TOO.
I PREVIOUSLY NOTED I HAD A FRIENDLY EXCHANGE WITH YOKO ONO ON THE STREETS OF PARIS, SO THAT WAS TWO CELEB ENCOUNTERS IN ONE TRIP. THIS BREAKING STORY JUST IN. THE LIZARD KING FRONTMAN OF THE DOORS, JIM MORRISON IS BURIED IN A PARIS CEMETERY--WE THOUGHT -- WHEN WE VISITED THE GRAVESITE. A REPORT JUST BROKE THAT MORRISON FAKED HIS DEATH AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN WISCONSIN WORKING AS A SCHOOL JANITOR FOR DECADES.