THOMASTON POLICE PLAN TO FILE CHARGES

THOMASTON  POLICE  PLAN  TO  FILE  CHARGES     AGAINST  A  MAN  WHO  HAD  A  PISTOL IN   HIS  YARD  AT  702  AVALON  ROAD,  MONDAY  MORNING,  THREATENING  TO  TAKE  HIS  LIFE.  STEVE TURNER,53, WAS TASERED  AND  TAKEN  INTO  CUSTODY.  HE  WAS  TRANSPORTED  FOR  MENTAL    EVALUATION  .  THE  P.D.  TOLD  TGA  NEWS THE  DISTRICT  ATTORNEYS  OFFICE  HAS  BEEN  CONTACTED  TO  DETERMINE  THE  CHARGES IN  THE  CASE. 

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LATEST BURGLARY OF COUNTY OFFICES

  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  MAURICE  RAINES  TOLD  TGA  NEWS  THURSDAY, HE  IS  DISAPPOINTED  WITH  A  BURGLARY  AT  THE  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX  DISCOVERED  BY  THOMASTON  POLICE  LAST  SUNDAY. THE  SECOND  AT  COUNTY OFFICES  IN A  MONTH.  BURGLARS  WENT  BACK  TO  THE  WATER  DEPARTMENT  BUT  APPARENTLY  GOT  NO  MONEY  THERE,  BUT  THE  CONTENTS  OF  THE  SAFE  IN  THE  PROBATE  COURT  WAS  REMOVED.  PROBATE  JUDGE  GARY HAMBY  SAYS SOMEONE  HAD  THE  COMBINATION  TO  THE  SAFE. CHAIRMAN  RAINES  SAID  CHANGES  ARE  BEING  MADE,  COUNTY  OFFICES  WILL  NO  LONGER  KEEP  CASH  OVERNIGHT. HE PRAISED THE  THOMASTON  POLICE  DEPARTMENT  FOR   CHECKING  THE  BUILDINGS  AND  COMMENDED  THE  UPSON  SHERIFF’S OFFICE  FOR  RUNNING  DOWN  SOME  PROMISING  LEADS. THE  BUILDING  APPARENTLY  WAS  ENTERED  THROUGH  A  BASEMENT  WINDOW  AT  THE I.T. OFFICE OF  ROBERT  HANEY,  THAT  OFFICE  WAS  ALSO  DISTURBED.

SOUTHWEST WATER RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS

GLEN  FOUNTAIN  PROJECT  MANAGER  FOR  SOUTHWEST  WATER  PRESENTED  THE  THOMASTON  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL  WITH  A  TWO  PAGE  RESPONSE   TUESDAY,   TO  A  LETTER  GIVEN  TO  THEM  AT  THE  PREVIOUS  MEETING,  BY  AN  EX-EMPLOYEE. FOUNTAIN  CALLED  ALLEGATIONS   BASELESS  BY  FORMER  EMPLOYEE  GARFON  JUNG  WHO  WAS  TERMINATED  BY  SOUTHWEST  IN SEPTEMBER  OF  2008. FOUNTAIN SAYS JUNG’S STATEMENTS  ARE  FALSE AND  MISLEADING,  AND JUNG  IS  COMPLETELY UNINFORMED  ABOUT  CURRENT  OPERATIONS.  FOUNTAIN  ADDED  THAT GA.  EPD INSPECTED  THE  BELL CREEK  PLANT  ON  APRIL  5TH  AND  FOUND NO  DISCREPANCIES. SOUTHWEST   HAS   ADEQUATE  STAFFING  AND  TRAINED  PERSONNEL  FOR  TESTING,  ACCORDING  TO  FOUNTAIN,  SOMETHING  JUNG  QUESTIONED  IN  HIS  LETTER. MAYOR  HAYS  ARNOLD  TOLD  FOUNTAIN  THE  GOVERNING  BODY  WOULD  REVIEW  HIS  LETTER.

ANOTHER BURGLARY AT THOMASTON-UPSON GOVERNMENT COMPLEX

THE  UPSON  COUNTY  SHERIFF’S  OFFICE   IS  INVESTIGATING  ANOTHER  BURGLARY  AT  THE  CITY-COUNTY  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX   THAT  WAS  DISCOVERED  SUNDAY,APRIL   17.  BURGLARS  BROKE  INTO  THE  SAME  COUNTY OFFICES  AS  A  RECENT  BURGLARY. UPSON  COUNTY  PROBATE  JUDGE  GARY  HAMBY  SAID  SOMEONE  APPARENTLY  GOT  THE  COMBINATION  TO  HIS  OFFICE SAFE AND  STOLE  AN  UNDISCLOSED  AMOUNT OF  CASH,  AFTER  THEY  PRIED  OPEN  A  DOOR  TO  HIS  OFFICE  SUITE. THE  DOOR  TO   THE  COUNTY  WATER  DEPARTMENT  ALSO WAS  PRIED  OPEN  BUT  NO  MONEY REPORTEDLY  WAS  TAKEN.  INVESTIGATORS  BELIEVE  THE  BUILDING WAS ENTERED  THROUGH  A  WINDOW  IN  THE  I.T. OFFICE OF  ROBERT  HANEY  IN  THE  BASEMENT,  SAME  WAY    AS    THE  PREVIOUS  CRIME.  THOMASTON  POLICE  WERE  DISPATCHED  TO  CONDUCT  AT   WALK  THROUGH  AT  THE   NEAR-BY  ARCHIVES   OFFICE  ON  FRIDAY  AFTER   A   DISCOVERY  THE  BREAKERS  TO  THE  SECURITY  ALARM    HAD  BEEN   TURNED OFF.

SEVERE WEATHER OVERNIGHT IN UPSON

MARTHA  ANNE  MCCARTY,  PUBLIC INFORMATION  OFFICER  FOR  UPSON  EMERGENCY  MANAGEMENT   HAS  BEEN  IN  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIONAL  WEATHER  SERVICE. EXPECT   A  STRONG  SQUALL  LINE  AHEAD  OF  A  COLD FRONT  TO ENTER  THE  FUN  101 LISTENING  AREA BEGINNING  LATE    FRIDAY.   UPSON  EMA  EXPECTS  THE  WORST OF  THE  WEATHER  TO BE  UPON US IN  THE  EARLY  MORNING  HOURS—AROUND  1  TO  2AM AND  STORMS  SHOULD  PUSH  ON  THROUGH  BY  6AM.  SPECIFICALLY,  UPSON  EMA IS  LOOKING  AT  DAMAGING  STRAIGHT LINE  WINDS, LIGHTNING  AND  UP  TO  AN  INCH OF  RAINFALL.  JUST  AFTER  4PM   FRIDAY   9  ACTIVE  TORNADO  WARNINGS  WERE ISSUED IN  ALABAMA.

EMA NEW WEATHER STATION FOR UPSON CO.

ACCORDING  TO  MARTHA  ANNE   MCCARTY,  PUBLIC  INFORMATION  OFFICER  ,  UPSON  EMERGENCY  MANAGEMENT   HAS  A  NEW  WEATHER  STATION  WITH  CURRENT  LOCAL  WEATHER  CONDITIONS  FOR  UPSON  COUNTY,  INCLUDING  REAL  TIME  NATIONAL  WEATHER  SERVICE  RADAR.  TO  ACCESS  THE  WEATHER  INFORMATION  GOOGLE  F I N D U   DW7348, CLICK  THE  LINK,  AND  YOU’LL SEE  WEATHER  STATS AND  GRAPHS FOR  THE  THOMASTON AREA.

ULHS PRINCIPAL CLEVE HENDRIX LEAVING

ULHS  PRINCIPAL  CLEVE  HENDRIX  HAS  ACCEPTED A  POSITION  AS  DEPUTY SUPERINTENDANT WITH  THE  LAMAR  COUNTY  SCHOOL  SYSTEM  AND  WILL  BE  LEAVING  UPSON-LEE HIGH SCHOOL AT  THE  END  OF  JUNE,  AFTER  28  YEARS WITH  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  COUNTY  SCHOOLS.  AT  THE  APRIL  12TH  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  MEETING, THE  BOARD  UNANIMOUSLY   APPROVED    TRACY CALDWELL AS  THE  NEW  PRINCIPAL FOR  ULHS,EFFECTIVE JULY  IST. HE  HAS  SERVED  AS  PRINCIPAL  OF UL  NORTH  ELEMENTARY  SINCE  2007.

GILMORE CENTER BENEFIT AT THOMASTON FORD

FUN 101  WILL  BE  LIVE  AT  THOMASTON  FORD  SATURDAY  10 TO 1,  A  BENEFIT FOR  THE  GILMORE  CENTER  THAT HAS  SUFFERED  STATE  BUDGET  CUTS. STOP  BY  AND  MAKE  A  DONATION.

74 WEST CLOSED 3 HOURS-TUES.

HIGHWAY  74  WEST  JUST  BEFORE  SUNNYSIDE  WAS  CLOSED  FOR ABOUT  THREE  HOURS  TUESDAY  AFTERNOON  AFTER  A  GDOT  PICK-UP  LEFT  THE  ROAD  AND  CLIPPED  A  UTILITY POLE. NO  ONE  WAS  HURT  IN  THE  ACCIDENT,  BUT ACTIVE POWER LINES  FELL  ACROSS  THE  ROADWAY  AND  UPSON  EMC  CREWS  WERE DISPATCHED  TO CLEAR  THE  ROAD  AND  INSTALL  A  NEW  POLE. POWER  IN  THE  AREA  WAS  OUT  AFTER  THE  MISHAP.

ULHS VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN

UPSON-LEE  HIGH  SCHOOL  HAS  ANNOUNCED  THAT  STEPHANIE  ERIN  BROWN  IS  THE  VALEDICTORIAN  AND  CHELSIE  ELIZABETH  ROGERS  IS  THE  SALUTATORIAN  FOR  THE  SENIOR  CLASS  OF  2011. STEPHANIE   IS  THE  DAUGHTER  OF  STACYE   BROWN  AND  STEVE  BROWN.   CHELSIE IS  THE  DAUGHTER  OF EDDIE  AND  TINA  ROGERS.  THE  VALEDICTORIAN IS  THE  SENIOR WITH THE  HIGHEST  NUMERIC  AVERAGE, THE  SALUTATORIAN HAS  THE  SECOND  HIGHEST  NUMERIC  AVERAGE.

THOMASTON SEWER SYSTEM INVESTIGATION

THE  MANAGING  PARTNER OF  AGRI CYCLE SAYS  ALLEGATIONS  THAT  THE  NOW  DEFUNCT  BUSINESS  ENGAGED IN  ILLEGAL  WASTE  DUMPING  IN  THE  CITY  OF  THOMASTON  SEWER SYSTEM  IS  A   “LIE.” RICHARD  HARVILLE   OF  THOMASTON  SAYS THE  COMPANY  PAID   CITY  HALL  $800,000 OVER  TWO  YEARS  OR  SO  TO  DUMP   LEACHATE    FROM  THE  TAYLOR  COUNTY  LANDFILL  IN  DESIGNATED  LOCATIONS OF  THE  SEWER  SYSTEM.  AT  ONE  TIME,  AT  THE  END  OF  NORTH  GREEN  STREET, AT  THE  PLANT  ON  GOSHEN  ROAD,  AND  FINALLY   A  SITE  WAS  CREATED  AT THE  FORMER  THOMASTON  MILLS  TREATMENT  PLANT  ON  BARNESVILLE  STREET. HARVILL  TOLD  TGA  NEWS  THE  AGREEMENT  WITH  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  WAS  TRANSPARENT,  ABOVE BOARD, AND  APPROVED BY  THE  GOVERNING  BODY. ASSISTANT  DISTRICT  ATTORNEY HEATH  ENGLISH  SAYS  CITY  HALL  HAS  BEEN  COOPERATING WITH  AN  INVESTIGATION  LAUNCHED  LAST     FALL        INTO   THE  ALLEGATIONS,  BUT  HE  SAYS  HE  CAN’T  COMMENT  FURTHER BECAUSE  ITS  AN  OPEN  PROBE. TWO  FORMER  EMPLOYEES  OF  THE  CITY’S  WATER/SEWER  MANAGEMENT  COMPANY,  GARFON  JUNG AND  JAMES  HARRIS—WHO  WERE  TERMINATED  BY  THE    COMPANY  , MADE  THE  ACCUSATIONS  AGAINEST  THE  CITY  IN  THE  UPSON  BEACON  NEWSPAPER. 

Sunday Accident Injures One

The female driver involved in a single vehicle accident on Hendricks Church Road was transported to Upson Regional Medical Center by Upson EMS Sunday evening.

The accident occurred around 8 pm when the vehicle left the road in a curve about a mile south of U.S. 74 in western Upson County. The late model Dodge Caravan sustained heavy damage to the front of the vehicle.

The Georgia State Patrol, Upson County Sheriff’s Department, Thurston Fire Department and a rescue unit all responded to the accident scene.

For additional pictures, click here.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust

A traffic stop by a Thomaston Police Officer led to the arrest of a Griffin man for possessing marijuana, growing marijuana and illegally possessing firearms.

Thomaston Police K-9 Officer Josh Speelman stopped a Mitsubishi Eclipse for a traffic violation on March 28, 2011 on North Center Street, Thomaston.

After further investigation by Police, it was determined that Shane David Martin possessed a quantity of marijuana, firearms, and $1621 cash during the traffic stop. Officer Speelman contacted Narcotics Task Force Agents Brian Hammock and Chuck Farr to assist with the investigation.

Further investigation led to a search at a residence in Spalding County where agents seized 67 marijuana plants, approximately 20 pounds of marijuana, guns, scales, and ammunition.

A second man was arrested at the scene and transported to Spalding County Jail. Martin is being held in the Upson County Jail pending bond.

For additional pictures, click here.

BICKLEY’S LAKE UP FOR AUCTION?

A  SIGN  ADVERTISING  AN  AUCTION  FOR  BICKLEY’S  LAKE  OFF  36  EAST  WAS  POSTED  LAST  WEEK AT  ROCK  HILL  SCHOOL  ROAD.   THE  SIGN SAYS THE  AUCTION IS  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  U.S. BANKRUPTCY  TRUSTEE  AND  INCLUDES  51 PLUS  ACRES  INCLUDING  THE  LAKE, PAVILION  AND  HOUSE.  ROWELL AUCTIONS  OF MOULTRIE, GA.  LISTED  AS  AGENT FOR  THE  AUCTION.  NOT  DATE  FOR  THE  AUCTION  IS  GIVEN  THE  SIGN  JUST  SAYS  ITS  UPCOMING.

BURGLARY AT CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX

BURGLARY  DISCOVERED  SUNDAY  MORNING  ON  THE  COUNTY  SIDE  OF  THE  THOMASTON  UPSON  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX.  PROBATE  JUDGE  GARY  HAMBY  FOUND  HIS  OFFICE  ENTERED  AND  MONEY  MISSING  FROM  A  SAFE. SGT. JEFF  LITTLE  OF  THE  THOMASTON  POLICE  DEPARTMENT  TOLD  TGA  NEWS,  SOMEONE  ENTERED  THE  OLD  LEE  GYM  AND  TOOK  TOOLS, INCLUDING   A   GAS-POWERED  CONCRETE  SAW THAT  WAS  USED   TO   CUT  INTO  THE  SAFE  AT  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  WATER  DEPARTMENT.  AN  UNDETERMINED  AMOUNT  OF  MONEY MISSING  FROM  THE  PROBATE  COURT  AND  THE  WATER  DEPARTMENT.  THE  COUNTY  I.T. OFFICE  WAS  ALSO  ENTERED  AND  THERE  WAS  AN  ATTEMPT  TO  ENTER  THE  DRAKE  BUILDING. SGT. LITTLE  SAID  A  WINDOW  WAS  OPEN  IN  THE  BASEMENT  ABOVE  THE  CITY-COUNTY  MEETING  CHAMBER. THERE  WAS  A  BURGLARY  AT  THE  CITY  OF  THOMASTON  FINANCE  OFFICE  IN  THE  GOVERNMENT  COMPLEX, JANUARY  15TH  AND  $2700  WAS  TAKEN.

6th Annual Spring Cleaning Yard Sale

The city of Thomaston held it’s 6th annual spring cleaning yard sale recently at the Greatest Generation Park, click here for a slideshow of some of the pictures.