Friday, April 3, 2026

MASTERS TOURNAMENT REPORTS ON FUN 101

 FUN101 FM  WILL   FEATURE  MASTERS  TOURNAMENT  COVERAGE  WED-SUN WITH  HISTORICAL  NOTES  FROM  KATIE  HILL SMITH--WHOSE  FATHER  WAS  AN ORIGINAL  VENDOR  AND  DOUG  AND  RUSS  HEAD  ON  MASTERS  AMATEUR  BILLY  JOE  PATTON.


REPORTS  BEGIN  WEDNESDAY  IN  THE   8AM  HOUR.

AJC REPORTS PERMANENTLY NIXED ON ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME BY GA. SOLONS

 The clock ran out on a bill aimed at moving Georgia to a new time zone, ending supporters’ hopes of abolishing the chore of changing the clocks twice per year.

House Bill 154 would have sought permission from the Trump administration to let Georgia leave the Eastern time zone, putting the state permanently on Atlantic Standard Time. The effect would have been to keep Georgia on daylight saving time year-round.

GA. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON PROPERTY TAXES

 After pinging back and forth between the House and Senate, lawmakers ultimately approved a scaled-back version of a property tax rewrite on Thursday night.

The bill lets counties and some cities offset homeowner property taxes with a new 1% local sales tax, while also tightening rules for when local governments and school districts can collect more property tax revenue without voter approval.

The measure failed in the Senate Thursday night, just before the legislature was set to adjourn for the session. But soon after senators voted down House Bill 1116, they stripped Senate Bill 33, legislation pertaining to synthetic THC, and replaced it with language reflecting HB 1116.

The revised SB 33 passed the Senate and headed back over to the House, where it also passed. The full bill text is not yet available.

HONOREES FROM BARNESVILLE-LAMAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET-4/2/26

 Farmer of the Year - Luke and Allie Andrews

Business Person of the Year - Thomas Boswell
Careerwoman of the Year - Kelly Page
Britton Cauthen Firefighter of the Year - Tanner Patterson
Police Officer of the Year - Patrick Saunders
Volunteer of the Year - Duane Davenport
Outstanding Citizen of the Year - Kathryn Green
Youth Leadership Award - Daylin Caslin
Star Student: 
Lamar County High School - William Hatch Woodall
Rock Springs High School - Tekay Trongthien Voong
St. George's High School - Robert Otis Hancher

Thursday, April 2, 2026

UPSON COUNTY ZONING ORDIANCE CHANGES WILL WAIT UNTIL A NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR IS ON SITE

 COUNTY   ATTORNEY  HEATH  ENGLISH  TOLD  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  AT  THE APRIL IST   WORK  SESSION  WORK  ON  CHANGES  TO THE   ZONING  ORDIANCE  SHOULD  BE  DELAYED UNTIL  THE  NEW  PLANNING  AND  ZONING  DIRECTOR  JEREMY  GILBERT  IS  ONBOARD  LATER  THIS  MONTH.   THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  CONTAINS  OVER  150  PAGES  BUT  THE  ATTORNEY  SAID  IT  APPEARS  ONLY  ABOUT 20  PAGES  WILL  NEED  CHANGING.  THE  PLANNING  COMMISSION  AND  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  HAVE  BEEN  DELIBRATING   ZONING  ORDIANCE  CHANGES  FOR  MONTHS  AND  MONTHS

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

ANNUAL FDR LECTURE AT GORDON STATE

   What: Gordon State College will host the 13th Annual Roosevelt Lecture Series, featuring a discussion on public health policy in Georgia and its connection to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The event will include a keynote lecture by William J. Todd of the Georgia Institute of Technology, followed by a panel discussion with Gordon State College faculty and Joseph W. Evans, a member of the Cadence Bank board of directors. When: Thursday, April 9, 2026 6 p.m. Where: Gordon State College Russell Hall, Room 211 419 College Drive Barnesville, Ga. 30204 Who: Gordon State College; featured speaker William J. Todd; panelists Samantha Bishop and Joe Evans. Why: To provide students and the community with an opportunity to engage in discussion on the historical and modern impact of public health policy. Admission: FREE and OPEN to the public

Monday, March 30, 2026

PIKE COUNTY TIMES. COM/ FATALITY FROM THOMASTON

 ZEBULON - On Saturday, March 28, a head on collision occurred on Hwy 19 near Oliver Road. A Ford F150 was traveling south on Hwy 19 driven by Edward Alverson of Thomaston. The F150 crossed into oncoming traffic striking a Honda Acura driven by Kristina Miller of Thomaston.

It is unknown at this time why the vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. Ms. Miller was deceased at the scene. Mr. Alverson was transported to a hospital by air ambulance. The accident occurred around 8:56 p.m

Friday, March 27, 2026

WRECK IN DOWNTOWN THOMASTON

 THOMASTON POLICE/FIRE  AND  EMS  RESPONDED  TO  A  TWO  PICK-UP  WRECK  AT  MAIN  AND  CENTER  STREETS  AROUND  10'30AM  FRIDAY--A  CITY OF  THOMASTON  PUBLIC  WORKS  PICK-UP  AND  ANOTHER  PICK-UP  INVOLVED--NO   ONE  TRANSPORTED.  AT  AVE. L.  AND  BARNESVILLE  STREET  ANOTHER MISHAP  AND  THOMASTON  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  REPORTED  AN  ADULT  FEMALE  AND  A  CHILD  TRANSPORTED  TO  THE  ER  BY  EMS.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

UPSON BOC RECOGNIZES 4H'ers 03/24/2026 WITH EXTENSION AGENT HAILEY PARTAIN & PROGRAM COORDINATOR ASHLEE LINDSEY

 

                                                          Photo Courtesy Cherie Spillers

PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL-REPORTER ON THE FLINT RIVER

 

Water from the Flint River and Molena reservoir will supply a Hampton data center after an agreement with the City of Griffin to provide 5 million gallons per day (after three years of 750,000 gallons per day). The deadline for public comment is March 27 (the link to officially comment is in the story).

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

T-U BOE CALLED MEETING 3/26/26

 THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  BOARD OF  EDUCATION  CALLED  MEETING  THURSDAY  (TODAY)  4PM  AT  THE  SOUTH  TEL  BUILDING  205  EAST  GORDON  STREET  TO  BEGIN  THE  INTERVIEW  PROCESS  FOR  A  HIRING  A  NEW  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDANT.   THE  APPLICATION  WINDOW    HAS   CLOSED   AND  THERE'S  REPORTEDLY  10  APPLICATIONS.

UPSON BOC 3/24/26

 THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  OKED  EXPANSION TO  THE  SHERIFF'S OFFICE  RENOVATIONS  AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING  ADDING JUST UNDER  $100,00  FOR  NEW  FLOORING--THE  ORIGINAL  CONTRACT  WAS  ABOUT  $100,000 FOR  THE  BUILDING  WITH PAINTING  AND  FURNISHINGS    AS  THE  BUILDING IS  SHOWING  ITS  AGE.


COMMISSIONERS  APPROVED  A  PERMIT  FOR  AN  A-R  SPECIAL EXCEPTION  FOR DENNIS RAUTH  OF  MILTON, FLORIDA FOR   A  REC  VEHICLE    TEMPORARY  HOUSING  FOR   12  MONTHS  DURING  CONSTRUCTION OF  HIS  HOME  AT  185  ROLAND  ROAD.


THE  BOC  RECOGNIZED  UPSON  EXTENSION  4-H  STUDENTS   DURING  GA.  AG  WEEK   FOR  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  FOR  THE  FIRST  QUARTER OF  2026  AND IT  WAS  STATED  1000  STUDENTS  ARE  INVOLVED IN  4-H.  


COUNTY  MANAGER  LONNIE JOYCE  SAID  NEW  FENCING  HAS  BEEN  INSTALLED  AT  THE  ANIMAL  SHELTER  .  AND  COMMISSIONER  CHRIS  BIGGS  WISHED  A  SPEEDING  RECOVERY  TO  CONSTITUENT  ALLEN  HILL  HOSPITALIZED  AT  THE  SHEPARD  CENTER  IN  ATLANTA  FOLLOWING   A  SERIOUS  ACCIDENT.


COMMISSIONER  JAMES  ELLINGTON   ASKED    THE  COUNTY  MANAGER  ABOUT  PAVING  PROJECTS  UNDERWAY  AND  SAID  HE  NO  LONGER  WILL  RESPOND  TO  THE  PUBLIC  ON  SOCIAL  MEDIA--BUT  HE  CAN  BE  REACHED  ANY  OTHER WAY. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

THOMASTON NIGHT AT THE BRAVES

 THOMASTON  NITE  AT  THE  ATLANTA  BRAVES IS  SATURDAY  APRIL  11TH--AIR  TIME  6PM  ON  FUN  101 7;15  FIRST  PITCH--TIX  ARE  ON  SALE  AT  CITY  HALL  UPSTAIRS  IN  THE  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX  $20 EACH. 

Monday, March 23, 2026

ULHS Soccer Team vs Whitewater 03.20.2026

Photos Courtesy of Cherie Spillers







THOMASTON POLICE BEAT

 ON  THE  THOMASTON  POLICE  BEAT--A  VEHICLE  RAN INTO  THE  SIDE OF  THE  BUILDING  CAUSING  DAMAGE  INSIDE AND  OUT 1030  BARNESVILLE  STREET--VALERO  EASY  STOP. 63  YEAR  OLD  MICHAEL  WATTS  CHARGED  WITH  DAMAGE  TO PROPERTY--AFTER  HE  SAID  HIS  BRAKES  FAILED  AND  HE  HIT  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  BUILDING  CAUSING  DAMAGE.


FORGERY  CASE  AT   A  LOCAL  BANK  AFTER  THE  SUSPECT  TRIED  TO  PASS  A  FORGED  CHECK   FOR  $2265   FROM  RUSSELL  WALTERS  TO 44  YEAR  OLD  JAMARR  D.  EVANS  WHO  FACES  A  WARRANT  FOR  FORGERY.  BANK  OFFICIALS SAID  THEY  HAD  RECEIVED OTHER   FORGED  CHECKS  FROM  EVANS. 


POLICE  SAID   61  YEAR  OLD  THOMAS  DUNN   WAS  TAKEN INTO  CUSTODY  FOR  A  COWETA  COUNTY  WARRANT  FOR  STALKING  AT  315  NORTH  CHURCH. 


TPD  AND  EMS  RESPONDED  TO  98  AVE.G.  AFTER A  MALE  SUBJECT  FELL  DOWN  SOME  STEPS  WHILE  DRUNK  AND  RECEIVED  A  DEEP  LACARATION  TO  THIS  HEAD--TRANSPORTED  TO  THE  E.R.  FROM  THE  BLOODY  SCENE. 

Sunday, March 22, 2026

LADY DAWGS LOST IN OT

 IOWA CITY, Iowa — Despite 27 points from sophomore forward Mia Woolfolk, the No. 7 seed Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team lost an overtime battle against No. 10 seed Virginia, 82-73, Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena