| NAME | ASSESSMENT | COUNTY TAX AMT | % TOTAL LEVY |
| Southern Natural Gas | 20,412,405 | 250,879 | 2.71 |
| Solo Cup | 23,390,326 | 233,456 | 2.52 |
| Interfor | 17,797,235 | 200,091 | 2.16 |
| Quad-Graphics | 17,885,014 | 198,621 | 2.14 |
| West GA Generating | 30,453,522 | 196,425 | 2.12 |
| GA Powering | 15,101,064 | 156,039 | 1.68 |
| Southern Mills | 19,104,705 | 96,603 | 1.04 |
| Ranew’s | 4,219,311 | 48,902 | 0.53 |
| Wal-Mart | 6,220,026 | 40,119 | 0.43 |
| Upson EMC | 3,341,855 | 37,694 | 0.41 |
South Metro's News Leader
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
TOP TEN CORPORATE TAXPAYERS FOR UPSON COUNTY-2023 TAX YEAR
Ed Searcy II, Announces Candidacy for Upson County Commission Chairman
I mentioned my accomplishments not to inflate myself but to show my leadership skills and abilities on various local, state, national, and international levels. I am currently working with State Elected Officials from Atlanta to Washington, DC on Congressional Funding for our community. My work and I are no strangers to our City and County Officials, our Schools System, our Juvenile Court Officials, most business owners, and citizens. The experience that I bring with positive established relationships in and around our county engenders building collaborations, which can bring unity, socioeconomic strengths, and growth to our community, while keeping our small-town appeal and agricultural presence with a modern-day feel without taxations will be my goal. My pledge is to do my best to bring our county generational inclusiveness by grooming our young people to work collaboratively with our seasoned citizens which includes listening to the people, educating the people, and doing right by the people of Upson County to progress our county. Education will come by soliciting donated time from professionals in areas of concern by holding community forums, town hall meetings and other unifying activities creating transparency. Together we can make Upson County, “The County that Cares!” Please remember, "A vote for Ed moves Upson ahead."
NEW INFO IN THE DEATH OF LAKEN RILEY ON UGA CAMPUS
A man accused of killing a nursing student on the campus of the University of Georgia also allegedly "disfigured her skull," according to new arrest affidavits.
Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old who federal officials said entered the country illegally, is facing multiple murder and assault charges in the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley. The new court documents also show he is accused of dragging Riley to a secluded area and is facing a charge of concealing the death of another person.
Authorities have not released details on how Riley was killed, only saying that her death was caused by blunt force trauma and that Ibarra allegedly used an object for a weapon. They did not specify what type of object was used. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said that an autopsy report will become available in the next several weeks.
Court documents say the crimes were committed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday.
T-U IDA CALLED MEETING WED
THE THOMASTON-UPSON DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL HAVE A CALLED MEETING WEDNESDAY 8AM AT THE UP ON THE SQUARE RESTAURANT NEAR SLICES PIZZERIA ON WEST GORDON STREET. IT WILL BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE IDA IS IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A NEW DIRECTOR AND REPORTEDLY IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS.
TWO NEW FOOTBALL COACHES UGA
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia football is adding James Coley as wide receivers coach and Josh Crawford as run game coordinator/running backs coach, according to an announcement from head coach Kirby Smart Monday.
Coley is replacing Bryan McClendon, who is now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers coach, and Crawford is filling the spot vacated by Dell McGee, who is Georgia State’s new head coach
PIKE CO FIRE DEPART REPORTS
Pike County Fire Department responded to a reported fire at 1316 Smyrna Church Road, Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 4:15 pm. Residents stated they started a fire to burn off some brush. The wind changed direction several times causing fire to spread rapidly. PCFD fire personnel and Northside Volunteer Fire Department units worked to control the fire spread until Georgia Forestry Commission arrived to contain the fire.
PCFD personnel responded to multiple outdoor burning calls over the weekend. As of July 1, 2021, the Georgia outdoor burning requirements have changed. No permit is required for hand-piled natural vegetation/yard debris meaning leaf and limbs only. Although no permit is required, citizens are encouraged to always check the Fire Weather Forecast and Current Fire Danger Rating for their area before initiating any type of outdoor burn. Please visit Georgia Forestry Commission’s website, gatrees.org Burn Permits and Notifications for more information.
Monday, February 26, 2024
UPSON EMC WASHINGTON YOUTH TOUR/LILY BAITY
Upson County resident Lily Baity has been chosen to participate in the 2024 Washington Youth Tour, an all-expense-paid leadership experience sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, including Upson EMC. For more than 50 years, the tour has helped promising student leaders to become exceptional young adults. According to Brooke Parrott with Upson EMC, the Youth Tour was established to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour offers opportunities for students to meet policymakers, tour historic monuments and participate in leadership experiences, all while making new friends from across the state and the nation. Teens on the tour are challenged to consider the part they play in government and to understand the cooperative business model to become engaged citizens and to learn about careers in public service. 5 students from the Youth Leadership Upson program were interviewed by out-oftown judges. After completion of the interviews, Lily was selected and will join other Georgia high school students who have been selected by their local EMCs. Georgia’s tour delegates will convene with more than 1,800 youth representing electric cooperatives across the nation and exchange views concerning local and national issues. The 4 other students who completed interviews were Aisha Derico, Chacie Bailey, Gracie Daniel, and Sarah Kate Bennett.
UPSON CO REPUBLICAN PARTY MEETING
Our March 14th meeting will begin at 6 pm. Dinner will be served from 6-6:30, meeting to begin at 6:30pm. Come and meet Representative Robert Dickey, Philip SIngleton running for House District 3, Heather Rush, running for Tax Commissioner!! It is an exciting year to be involved in your local Republican Party.
The District Convention will be on March 23rd. This is where we nominate district, state and national delegates.
Our location for both events is 103 E Thompson Street, Thomaston.
Gordon State College Enhances Student Leadership Academy, Welcomes New Cohort
BARNESVILLE, Ga.,–Gordon State College Division of Student Affairs sought out aspiring student leaders in the fall of 2023 to join its revitalized Student Leadership Academy. A handpicked cohort of 30 individuals were awarded the opportunity to partake in a program designed to cultivate deeper understanding, purposeful action, and a stronger sense of community.
“The pandemic created a significant gap in recruiting and retaining student leaders causing many higher education professionals to think differently about how we train our student leaders. This provided us with an opportunity to review our current practices and find ways to improve them to fit today’s students,” said Dr. LaToya Stackhouse, GSC dean of students.
There are several leadership roles available at the Academy, such as Community Leaders, Gordon Orientation Leaders (GOL), Campus Activity Board (CAB), and the Student Marketing Team. Each division necessitates specific skills and offers a diverse range of responsibilities. This program was a collaborative effort between all departments across the Division of Student Affairs that consists of Counseling and Accessibility Services, Student Life, Housing and Residence Life, Student Health, and the Dean of Students. The team worked together to establish a curriculum centering the five pillars -The Five C’s: change, communication, caring, connection and character.
“Students who hold leadership positions on campus develop a strong sense of belonging and purpose which increases their chance of graduating from college,” Stackhouse said.
The latest program model comprises of eight interactive lessons and discussions spanning over one hour each. These sessions foster servant leadership and involve student leaders and their instructors. Currently, the Student Affairs team takes on the role of instructors, guiding different groups through each session.
Current Student Leadership Academy cohort includes: Latayla Billingslea, Faith Wilson, and Dionna White from Newton County; Saray Castro, Haja Kamara, Janaya Jean, I’sis Robinson, Kelly Sarmiento, Kiarra Thomas, William Shiflett, and Michelle Mills from Henry County; Makayla Dorsey from Coweta County; Sabrina Fania from Rockdale County; Doyd Fletcher and Lashaunda Turnipseed from Dekalb County; Peige Davis-Hudson, Ashley Giles, Trevion Harris, Jada Maddox, Makaylah Somuah, Mahki Stephens, and Khalil Washington from Clayton
County; Idaya Hales, Alyssa Reisen, and Noel Henderson from Fayette County; Jacquelyn Harris from Athens-Clarke County; Shakerria Hudson from Hall County; Nathaniel McDougall from Spalding County; and Ryann Simmons and Elicia Williams from Bibb County.
Founded in 1852, GSC is a member of the University System of Georgia. The college has a distinctive legacy of excellent scholarship and service. GSC offers nearly 30 degrees, which includes multiple associate and baccalaureate pathways for students. With an enrollment of over 3,100 students, GSC offers an intimate academic setting with state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories. In this setting, students receive individualized attention that only a small college with dedicated faculty and staff can provide
DPH Recognizes URMC for Completing Maternal Levels of Care Verification
Thomaston, GA February 26, 2024 – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has recognized Upson Regional Medical Center for successfully completing the Maternal Levels of Care II verification.
Each level of care provides guidelines to help ensure mothers and infants receive care in a facility that has the personnel and resources appropriate for their level of risk. The maternal levels of care range from basic care (level I), specialty care (level II), subspecialty care (level III), and regional perinatal health care centers (level IV).
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Hospitals seeking maternal verification through DPH are required to complete a site survey led by the Joint Commission every three years.
“The Georgia Department of Public Health congratulates Upson Regional Medical Center for successfully completing the Maternal Levels of Care designation process. It is DPH’s hope that other birthing hospitals will also consider the designation process. Working together we can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Georgia mothers and babies," said Erin Smith, RN, BSN, Program Manager, Maternal and Neonatal Designation Center at DPH.
Upson Regional Medical Center is one of four hospitals in Georgia to be listed as a verified Maternal Levels of Care II facility on the Department of Public Health website. For more information about maternal levels of care, visit dph.georgia.gov/maternal-and-neonatal-center.
To learn more about Upson Regional Medical Center and the services offered, visit, urmc.org and follow Upson Regional Medical Center on Facebook and Instagram.
Thomaston's Colonel Brue Announces Campaign for Chairman, Board of Commissioners
Retired Colonel and Thomaston resident, Dan Brue, has announced that he will be on the Republican Primary Ballot as a candidate to be the next Chairman of the Upson County Board of Commissioners.
His statement follows:
“I am asking for your support to become the next Chairman of the Upson County Board of Commissioners. I feel honored by the citizens of Upson County who have reached out and encouraged me to run. I do not think of this election as running against others; rather, I am running for the citizens of Upson County.
As Chairman, I promise to be a public servant and a transformational leader. People who know me know I have no desire to be known as a politician. Politicians are generally not leaders. I have spent my adult life leading diverse organizations both in the military and corporate America. I build teams; I solve problems, and I find efficiencies to save resources (people, time, and money---our tax dollars). People who have worked for me before generally want to work for me again. Those are qualities we should expect from leaders. My goal is to provide the right organizational leadership to establish a shared vision, set policies, manage priorities and resources, and enable our community to thrive.
I mentioned our tax dollars earlier. I want to be clear that those are our (the taxpayers’) dollars. I always want the best deal possible no matter what I am purchasing; I have worked too hard to provide for my family to be frivolous. The government should want the same whether it is purchasing goods, services, or real property. We probably all know someone who overextended themselves on a financed purchase who then was ill prepared to deal with an unexpected or emergency expense. Maybe you helped them out and hoped they learned a life lesson. Unfortunately, it seems governments never learn life lessons because they have the power to tax. As your Chairman, I will never forget whose tax dollars are being spent, and I will keep that foremost in my mind when making decisions about budgets, projects, and making Upson County a place where people want to live, work, and enjoy. And then, if something does happen to break and need repairs or replacement, we’ll be in a better position to provide options for our citizens.
Twelve years ago, while serving in Italy, I found a house in Upson County on the Internet. My wife, Dana, said, "That's our house." We researched Thomaston and found that it was once named one of the best small towns in America. We purchased our forever home just a few
months later. I truly want Thomaston and Upson County to be a thriving, welcoming community with that small-town USA feel---that is why we made it our home.
After moving to Thomaston in 2012, Dana and I opened Southern Stitches Quilt Shop. I also renovated four store fronts downtown, providing Dana a new quilt shop location and other small businesses quality retail locations at affordable prices. To me, it was about improving our community, revitalizing the downtown and providing opportunities. I am also a farmer; we raise American Dairy Goat Association registered Nigerian Dwarfs. Being a husband, a father, a grandfather (Papa), a veteran, a small business owner, a developer, and a farmer and oh, by the way, I have a full-time job----that is who I am. What I am not----is a politician. And that fact alone probably makes me more qualified to represent the people of Upson County than anything else.
Many in our community know that I am a retired Army Colonel. Some will certainly ask, “How does being a Colonel make you the perfect candidate to be our Chairman.” The short answer is being a Colonel in and of itself---doesn’t. No military rank does. However, my life experiences which allowed me to rise to the rank of Colonel---leading and caring for Soldiers and Civilians and their families at home and abroad, leading complex organizations, managing budgets exponentially larger than that of our county, planning and executing large scale operations, solving problems, and building and inspiring teams to believe and do things they thought were not possible---those things do.
I promise the citizens of Upson County that I will be available. I will be transparent. I will be who I have always been. You can learn more about me at www.brueforga.com. I humbly ask for your support, your prayers, and your vote during the upcoming Republican Primary.”
Sunday, February 25, 2024
U.S. ATTORNEY ON FAKE GREEN CARD
Undocumented Venezuelan Man Charged with Possessing
Fake Green Card
ATHENS, Ga. – An undocumented man residing in Athens—who is the brother of the suspect
charged with murdering a woman on University of Georgia’s campus—was charged tonight by
federal criminal complaint with possessing a fraudulent green card and is currently being held in
state custody.
Diego Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela, is charged by criminal complaint with possession of a fraudulent
document. Ibarra’s initial appearance has not yet been scheduled. 
If convicted, Ibarra faces a
maximum of ten years in prison. Diego Ibarra is the brother of Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of
Venezuela, who is facing state charges for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery,
aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death
of another in the death of Laken Hope Riley.
According to the criminal complaint and sworn affidavit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
was made aware of Ibarra’s undocumented presence in the United States on Feb. 23, 2024. An
Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer approached Ibarra earlier today
because he matched the description of a suspect in the homicide investigation. Ibarra presented
the officer with a U.S. permanent resident card (also called a green card) as identification. The
card was determined to be fraudulent. Ibarra is a citizen of Venezuela and was processed for
expedited removal but claimed a credible fear of return to Venezuela. He was consequently
released from immigration custody pending adjudication of his claim for asylum on April 30,
2023.
According to the criminal complaint and sworn affidavit, since entering the country, Ibarra has
been arrested three times by Athens law enforcement: on or about Sept. 25, 2023, Ibarra was
arrested by ACCPD for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license; on
or about Oct. 27, 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD for theft by shoplifting; and on or about
Dec. 8, 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD for failure to appear for a fingerprintable offense.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with critical assistance
from FBI, GBI, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, University of Georgia Police
Department and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case.
A
BOND DENIED SUSPECT IN NURSING STUDENT DEATH ON UGA CAMPUS
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR LAKEN RILEY
FUNERAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR LAKEN RILEY, THE NURSING STUDENT FOUND DEAD ON THE UGA CAMPUS IN ATHENS. VISITATION WILL BE NOON TO 2PM MARCH I, WITH SERVICE AT 2PM AT WOODSTOCK CITY CHURCH. POOLE FUNERAL HOME IS SERVING THE FAMILY.
Friday, February 23, 2024
UPDATE: Woman Found Dead on the Campus of UGA
Friends reported Laken Riley missing after they say she went for a jog Thursday near the university’s intermural fields and never returned.
Police found her unconscious and injured in a wooded area behind the fields around 12:30 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police have ruled her death a homicide. Police said Riley died of blunt-force trauma.
On Friday, police swarmed an apartment complex off S. Milledge Avenue.
Police have since confirmed the arrest of 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who is expected to be charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.
Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and was not a student at UGA, according to UGA police.
Police said Iberra and Riley did not know each other and called it a “crime of opportunity.” They said they believe Ibarra acted alone.
“This is an individual who woke up with bad intentions on that day,” UGA police chief Jeff Clark said.
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