South Metro's News Leader
THE UPSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL SALUTE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF MARGARET MITCHELL’S GONE WITH THE WIND WITH A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY GONE WITH THE WIND EXPERT, HERB BRIDGES, MONDAY OCT. 24, 7PM AT THE THOMASTON-UPSON SENIORS CENTER.
MR.. BRIDGES IS THE AUTHOR OF SIX BOOKS ON GONE WITH THE WIND AND HIS MEMORABILIA COLLECTION IS ON PERMANENT EXHIBIT AT THE ROAD TO TARA MUSEUM IN JONESBORO. THE PROGRAM IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES AND THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ARE ADDRESSING THE ONGOING CONCERNS CITIZENS HAVE HAD OVER THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE VEOLIA GARBAGE COLLECTION BILLS. THE BOARD UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL BURDENS THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF UPSON COUNTY ARE FACING RIGHT NOW, HOWEVER EVERY ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW OF THE FORTHCOMING $3 PER QUARTER INCREASE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST BILLS GOING OUT.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, VEOLIA BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE PRICES BASED ON THE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT THE COMPANY WAS INCURRING DUE TO THE RISING PRICE OF FUEL AND SERVICE PROVISION TO THE COMMUNITY. SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE INCREASES, BUT THE CONTRACT THAT THE COMPANY HAS WITH THE COUNTY ALLOWS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL INCREASES YEAR TO YEAR AS THEY ARE NECESSARY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS, THE COUNTY MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO DELAY AND REDUCE THE CHANGES TO THE COST OF HAVING RESIDENTIAL TRASH PICK-UP.
WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME TO INCREASE THE COSTS TO CUSTOMERS, THE COUNTY STANDS BEHIND THE PROFESSIONAL APPROACH AND ADVANCED WARNING THAT WAS GIVEN BY VEOLIA PRIOR TO THE INCREASES. THE COMPANY HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE SERVICE AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS ARE VASTLY IMPROVED OVER PRIOR YEARS. VEOLIA HAS PLEDGED TO THE COUNTY THAT IF AND WHEN THEIR COST OF PROVIDING SERVICE TO UPSON COUNTY HAS DECREASED THEY WILL PASS THOSE SAVINGS ALONG TO CUSTOMERS, AS WELL.
THE THOMASTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM WATER AND SEWER OPERATORS TO MANAGE THOMASTON’S WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS. COMPANIES SUBMITTING PROPOSALS INCLUDE SEVERN TRENT SERVICES, CLEARWATER SOLUTIONS, UTILITY PARTNERS, AND ESG OPERATIONS INC. THE CITY ALSO HAS AN OPTION TO RENEW THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY FOR THE YEAR 2012 IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO EXERCISE THE OPTION, A CONTRACT AT $1.3 MILLION PER YEAR.
THE CITY HALL REVIEW TEAM HEADED BY MAYOR HAYS ARNOLD AND COUNCILMAN DOUG HEAD INCLUDES REPS FROM TWO ENGINEERING FIRMS, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER. INTERVIEWS WITH THE PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 24TH.
CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY SAID THE CITY IS LOOKING TO SECURE THE BEST PROPOSAL AND NOT THE LOW BID, AND PLANS TO IDENTIFY A COMPANY BY EARLY NOVEMBER AND WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT TO TAKE EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 31ST.
THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA WEDNESDAY NAMED MAX BURNS, DEAN OF THE MIKE COTTRELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY IN DAHLONEGA SINCE 2008, AS THE THIRD PRESIDENT OF GORDON COLLEGE IN BARNESVILLE. DR. BURNS WILL ASSUME HIS POST ON JANUARY I, 2012.
BURNS WILL REPLACE INTERIM PRESIDENT SHELLEY NICKEL, WHO HAS SERVED SINCE JULY 2010 AFTER DR. LAWRENCE WEILL RETIRED IN JUNE 2010.
MAJOR WENDELL BEAM WON TUESDAY’S RUN-OFF IN SPALDING COUNTY TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE LATE SHERIFF DEE STEWART. MAJOR BEAM RECEIVED 4644 VOTES, 67%. CAPTAIN KEITH DUNCAN GOT 2284 VOTES, 33%. A TOTAL OF 6928 VOTES WERE CAST, A TURNOUT OF 21.2%.
EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOV. 4 FOR THE CITY OF THOMASTON GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 8. TWO CANDIDATES ARE ON THE BALLOT FOR DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL, JIM RICHARDS AND SAM COKER, THE SEAT HELD BY THE LATE ED BELL.
EARLY VOTING AT THE UPSON REGISTRAR’S OFFICE IN THE DRAKE BUILDING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON GOVERNMENT COMPLEX, FROM 8;30AM TILL 4;30PM, M-F. VOTERS WHO NEED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, BUT WHO CANNOT COME TO THE OFFICE TO GET ONE, SHOULD WRITE A LETTER TO THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE AND THE ABSENTEE BALLOT CAN BE MAILED.
THE COUNTY REGISTRAR’S OFFICE HANDLES CITY OF THOMASTON ELECTIONS AND IS REIMBURSED BY CITY HALL.
FUN 101FM WILL HOST A MEET THE CANDIDATES PROGRAM, MONDAY, OCT. 24TH AT 7PM FEATURING CANDIDATES SAM COKER AND JIM RICHARDS.
THE UPSON-LEE KNIGHTS CAME BACK FROM A 14-7 SCORE TO BEAT FAYETTE COUNTY FRIDAY NIGHT , 21-14 DURING THE HOMECOMING GAME. NEXT WEEK AT HARRIS COUNTY , A LOSER TO NORTHGATE 35-0.
PIKE COUNTY LOST TO MORGAN COUNTY, THE FOX 5 GAME OF THE WEEK, ALSO HOMECOMING. NEXT WEEK PUTNAM COUNTY AT HOME.
LAMAR COUNTY CONTINUED UNBEATEN , BLANKING SOUTHWEST MACON 34-0.
GRIFFIN OVER UNION GROVE 42-14
AT THE TUESDAY, OCT. 11 MEETING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION , THE BOARD REVIEWED THE POLICY ON SCHOOL CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES. THE BOARD TABLED THIS POLICY UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AT WHICH TIME THEY REQUESTED 2 SEPARATE VERSIONS OF THE POLICY FOR REVIEW. THIS REQUEST WAS MADE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE GA. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION TESTING. STUDENTS WHO FAILED THE GRADUATION TEST HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO WALK IN GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
AT TUESDAY’S MEETING THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED TO SPEND UP TO $215,000 IN SPLOST FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT NEW CONCESSION STANDS AND RESTROOMS ON THE VISITORS SIDE AT MATHEWS FIELD. THE CURRENT BUILDING WILL BE RAZED, AND AND IT WILL BE READY FOR NEXT FOOTBALL SEASON. WORK COULD BEGIN RIGHT AFTER FOOTBALL SEASON.
THE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DENIED A REZONING REQUEST AT 2009 YATESVILLE HIGHWAY, FORMERLY SWEET RETURNS RECYCLING, FOR A SCRAP METAL RECYCLING BUSINESS, TUESDAY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED IT BE REJECTED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SPOT ZONING.
A GRIFFIN COMPANY SAID IT PLANNED TO CLEAN-UP THE SITE AND OPEN A SCRAP METAL BUSINESS, THE SAME THING IT DID WITH THE SWEET RETURNS PROPERTY IT PURCHASED IN SPALDING COUNTY, BUT NEIGHBORS TURNED OUT IN FORCE AND SPOKE AGAINST IT. THEY HAVE CALLED EPD AND TOLD THE BOARD THE STATE COULD BE COMING TO LOOK AT THE SITE.
CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES URGED THE BOARD TO REJECT IT. $3000 IN BACK INVENTORY TAXES IS OWED ON THE PROPERTY AND THE CHAIRMAN SAYS IT IS NOT UP TO CODE AND THE COUNTY PLANS TO TAKE ACTION.
THE FORMER OWNER OF THOMASTON MILK COMPANY, KIM MONTGOMERY, 51 , IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT GRADY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN ATLANTA AFTER A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FRIDAY IN FAYETTE COUNTY. ACCORDING TO FRIENDS AND FACE BOOK POSTINGS, HE SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY, A BROKEN HIP AND FRACTURED RIBS, AND WILL UNDERGO SURGERY.
TGA NEWS WAS TOLD THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON GA. 92 BETWEEN FAYETTEVILLE AND GRIFFIN, WHEN KIM TRIED TO AVOID A DRIVER OVER THE YELLOW LINE AND HIS PICK-UP FLIPPED OVER. HE WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO GRADY.
FRIDAY NIGHT THE UPSON-LEE KNIGHTS WERE DELT A BIG BLOW TO PLAY-OFF HOPES BY LOSING TO UNDEFEATED NORTHGATE OF NEWNAN 48-0 AT MATHEWS FIELD. THE KNIGHTS HOST FAYETTE COUNTY NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT ON FUN 101FM.
PIKE COUNTY LOST ON THE ROAD TO NORTHEAST MACON 14-7. NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT MORGAN COUNTY COMES TO ZEBULON FOR A REGION GAME ON THE LIVE STREAM AT FUN 101 FM .COM. DOWNLOAD THE TUNE-IN RADIO APP TO LISTEN TO THE GAME ON YOUR SMART PHONE AT FUN 101FM.COM.
THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE THREE FINALISTS FOR PRESIDENT OF GORDON COLLEGE IN BARNESVILLE.
DR. MAX BURNS, DEAN, MIKE COTTRELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY IN DAHLONEGA,GA. FROM 2008.
DR. DELMAS CRISP JR., EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND ACADEMIC DEAN, METHODIST UNIVERSITY, FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. FROM 2007.
DR. DONNA HENRY,DEAN, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY, FORT MEYERS, FLA, FROM 2005.
DR. SHELLEY NICKEL HAS SERVED AS INTERIM PRESIDENT SINCE DR. LAWRENCE WEILL STEPPED DOWN IN 2010.
IN PIKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TUESDAY, TERESA BUROUSAS WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE SHOOTING DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, JIMMIE BUROUSAS. COWETA CIRCUIT JUDGE QUILLIAN BALDWIN JR. HEARD ALL TESTIMONY IN THE BENCH TRIAL AND RETURNED A VERDICT OF GUILTY OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME.
BUROUSAS WAS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS, 10 TO SERVE , WITH CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED, TWO YEARS. SHE DID NOT TAKE THE STAND. DEFENSE ATTORNEY RICKY MORRIS PRESENTED A DEFENSE BASED ON BATTERED WIFE SYNDROME.
GEORGIA HAS RELEASED THE STATEWIDE SAT SCORES FOR THE CLASS OF 2011, AND UPSON-LEE HIGH SCHOOL’S SAT AVERAGE WAS 1323, A 2% DECREASE IN COMPARISON TO THE 2010 AVERAGE SCORE OF 1350. THE 2011 STATE AVERAGE FOR ALL GEORGIA SAT TEST TAKERS ALSO DECLINED TO 1445, 8 POINTS LESS THAN THE 2010 AVERAGE.
THE SAT HAS THREE SECTIONS—CRITICAL READING, MATH, AND WRITING. IN 2011 UL HIGH’S CRITICAL READING SCORES AVERAGED 449 FOR ALL STUDENTS, MATH AVERAGE WAS 455, WRITING AVERAGE WAS 446
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING THE SAT INCREASED BY 28% TO 193 FROM 2010 TO 2011.
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
UL SOUTH ELEMENTARY—ROBIN SMITH, FIRST GRADE
UL NORTH ELEMENTARY—MARJORIE TALLINI,5TH GRADE MATH
MIDDLE SCHOOL—BETH WALL, 6TH GRADE MATH
UL HIGH—JOHN HAGIN, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
THE SYSTEM TEACHER OF THE YEAR WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER.
THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS CALLING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN A CRIME WATCH FOR AIR CONDITIONER VANDALS. LOSSES HAVE BEEN IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SEVERAL CHURCHES , BUSINESSES AND HOMES, RECENTLY. MAJOR DAN KILGORE URGES CITIZENS TO BE AWARE OF SUSPICIOUS VEHICLES OR INDIVIDUALS, AND KEEP A CLOSE CHECK ON AC UNITS. THE S.O. HAS STEPPED UP PATROLS BUT THE PUBLIC’S HELP IS NEEDED, TOO, ACCORDING TO MAJOR KILGORE.
IF ANY UNUSUAL ACTIVITY IS OBSERVED CALL 911 ASAP AND YOU CAN REPORT ANY INFORMATION TO THE S.O. AT 706-646-7904.
LOSS OF $14,000 AT FRIENDSHIP PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, 644 THURSTON SCHOOL ROAD, TWO UNITS WITH MISSING PARTS. LOSS OF $15,000 AT SUPER FUN SAFARI, 746 WEST MOORE’S CROSSING ROAD. AN AC UNIT DISASSEMBLED AND PARTS MISSING.
AT A FORECLOSED HUD HOME, 500 FESCUE ST, TWO AC UNITS DISMANTED AND THE COPPER CUT AWAY.
