TWO ARMED ROBBERIES IN GRIFFIN CHRISTMAS NIGHT

SPALDING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LOOKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP AFTER TWO ARMED ROBBERIES , AT SAM'S CHECK CASHING ON NORTH HILL AND THE RACE TRACK ON NORTH EXPRESSWAY TUESDAY NIGHT.

A TALL, THIN, DARK SKINNED-MALE WEARING A MASK AND POINTING A PISTOL ROUGHED-UP BOTH CLERKS DURING THE STICK-UPS.

SPORTS LINEUP ON ZOOM 105-9/101-1.

HERE'S THE SPORTS LINEUP ON ZOOM RADIO FOR THE NEXT WEEK. ATLANTA FALCONS—TAMPA BAY SUNDAY AT ONE, FOLLOWED AT 6 BY UL'S TYE FAGAN AND THE GA. BULLDOGS VS. UMASS IN ATHENS.

MONDAY NIGHT AT 7PM A SUGAR BOWL SPECIAL FEATURING COACH KIRBY SMART AND TUESDAY ITS THE SUGAR BOWL GEORGIA VS. TEXAS, PRE-GAME AT 4;30, KICK-OFF AT 8;30PMon 105-9/101-1.

ALL THE LATEST GA. BULLDOGS INFO AT DAWN OF THE DAWG ON OUR NEW WEBSITE myzoomradio.com.  

GA DOT AWARDS $15 MILLION FOR ATWATER ROAD

Georgia DOT has awarded 14 construction contracts for statewide transportation projects totaling $60,807,761. These projects were advertised on October 19, bids were received on November 16 and contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidder on November 30.

The largest single investment is a $16.5 million contract to resurface and rehabilitate 31.7 miles of roadway on I-16/State Route 404 in Bulloch and Candler counties from the Emanuel County Line to west of SR 67. This contract was awarded to Interstate Improvement, Inc., and is one of eight resurfacing projects across the state, representing 56 percent of the awarded funds, or $34.2 million.

A construction project to widen and reconstruct 1.88 miles of roadway on US 19/SR 3 from north of West County Road to Atwater Road in Upson County represents 25 percent of the awarded funds, or $15 million. The remaining 34 percent of awarded funds – or $21.7 million – include safety enhancement projects and bridge construction and rehabilitation at various locations throughout the state.

The awards bring the total construction contracts for Fiscal Year 2019 to $276 million. Fiscal Year 2019 began July 1, 2018.

GENERAL MILLS COMING TO HENRY CO. 50 NEW JOBS

The Henry County Development Authority announced today that General Mills, manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods, will invest $8.5 million in its new state-of-the-art distribution facility located on Westridge Parkway in McDonough, Georgia. 

The project will create more than 50 new jobs.

General Mills, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, serves the world by making food people love. Following the company’s acquisition of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. earlier this year, they are also a leading manufacturer and marketer in the wholesome natural pet food category. The 408,000 sf McDonough facility will distribute the General Mills Blue Buffalo family of products throughout the Southeast.

“Blue Buffalo is the #1 Wholesome Natural pet food brand in the U.S. and we are pleased to be expanding with the addition of the facility in McDonough,” said Billy Bishop, President of General Mills Pet Segment. “This facility will enable us to better serve consumers, pet parents and pets in the southeast with the BLUE brand of products.”

“With the addition of Blue Buffalo to our community, Henry County has shown once again that we are a great place for business,” said June Wood, Chair of the Henry County Board of Commissioners. “We are thankful for the company’s investment and job creation. The County has outstanding food companies for people, and now we have the premier food company for pets.”

“We are excited that General Mills and Blue Buffalo has selected Henry County for its new facility,” said David Gill, Chair of the Henry County Development Authority. “They are a great addition to the outstanding food related production and logistics operations in Henry County. We look forward to working with General Mills and Blue Buffalo to successfully grow in Henry County.”

HONORS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS

SPALDING COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER SYLVIA HOLLUMS HAS BEEN NAMED 2018 GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF GA.

UPSON COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE DANIELLE MCRAE WAS ONE OF THE FOUR NOMINEES FOR THE HONOR.

MS. HOLLUMS HAS BEEN TAX COMMISSIONER IN SPALDING COUNTY FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

UL'S TRAVON WALKER SIGNS TO PLAY FOR UGA

WEDNESDAY WAS NATIONAL EARLY SIGNING DAY FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND UPSON-LEE'S TRAVON WALKER SIGNED WITH THE GA. BULLDOGS. D.J. DANIEL OF GA. MILITARY WHO PLAYED FOR SPALDING HIGH ALSO HEADED TO UGA AND SPALDING QUARTERBACK ZION PUCKETT TO AUBURN AS A DEFENSIVE BACK.

TRAVON WALKER WHO STARS FOR THE KNIGHTS BASKETBALL TEAM SAYS HE WILL ONLY PLAY FOOTBALL FOR THE DAWGS.

TRAVON'S FORMER HOOPS TEAM MATE TY FAGAN OF THE DAWGS IS NOT THE SAME SLENDER ROUNDBALL ACE WE KNEW . HE'S ADDED 11 POUNDS SINCE HE'S BEEN IN ATHENS AND IT APPEARS TO BE MOSTLY MUSCLE.

WE'VE GOT UGA AND GA. TECH SATURDAY AT NOON, ON ZOOM 105-9/101-1.

DUNKY D'S / BASKIN ROBBINS COMING TO THOMASTON

Press Release

The City of Thomaston and Thomaston-Upson County Development Authority are excited to announce that a combination store of Dunkin & Baskin Robbins will be coming soon to Thomaston.

The store’s proposed location is on Hwy 19 between McDonald’s and Waffle House.

According to Thomaston City Manager Russell Thompson, “the Dunkin & Baskin Robbins combo store will invest approximately $1,400,000 and create 35 new jobs”. Thompson added that the franchisee indicated that the goal is to hire locally.

Dunkin’ Donuts recently announced that starting in January, they will drop the “Donuts” from ads, packages and signage. More details on the store will be coming in the near future.

One of the goals of the Development Authority as well as the City of Thomaston is to create investment and retail jobs along our commercial corridors. The Development Authority is working to reach out to developers as well as research which retail stores would be a good match with our demographics.

 “The City of Thomaston is committed to economic development and is proud to welcome this latest business to our community.  The City will continue to work with existing businesses as well as strive to attract new development opportunities.” – Mayor J.D. Stallings

THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL PASSES 2019 BUDGET

THE THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE 2019 BUDGET BY UNANIMOUS VOTE TUESDAY, A BUDGET THAT CONTAINS A ONE MILL TAX INCREASE, BUT MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS IS TRUSTING IT WON'T BE NEEDED—AFTER ALL , HE SAID A MILL AND A HALF TAX BOOST WAS IN THE 2018 BUDGET BUT IT WAS NOT TRIGGERED. THAT ONE MILL OF TAX REVENUE WOULD BE $217,000.

THE TOTAL BUDGET IS $27.9 MILLION UP $130,000 AND THE GENERAL FUND IS $7.8 MILLION UP $281,000.

IN THE 2019 BUDGET , COUNCIL IS BACKING-OFF PULLING MAJOR FUNDS FROM THE RESERVE FUND, $993,000 WAS TRANSFERED IN 2018, ONLY $215,000 TARGETED FOR 2019-- SOMETHING THAT PLEASED COUNCILMAN RYAN TUCKER—WHO HAS SAID CITY HALL IS USING TOO MUCH OF ITS RESERVE TO BALANCE ITS BUDGETS.

TRANSFERS TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM WATER, ELECTIC, SANITATION AND HOTEL/MOTEL TAXES ARE UP $490,000 AT $2.9 MILLION.

TWO OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS IN THE BUDGET, $260,000 FOR WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, MOSTLY AT LAKE THOMASTON AND ROAD PAVING IS $230,000.

COUNCIL POSTPONED APPOINTMENT OF A NEW MEMBER TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CITY MANAGER RUSSELL THOMPSON SAID MAYOR STALLINGS HAS BEEN TALKING WITH A PROSPECT.

JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD SUSPENDED BY J.Q.C.

GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD HAS BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE STATE'S JUDICIAL WATCHDOG AGENCY, AFTER BEING INDICTED FOR FELONY THEFT AND VIOLATION OF OATH OF OFFICE BY THE PIKE COUNTY GRAND JURY.

ACCORDING TO ATLANTA'S LEGAL NEWSPAPER, THE DAILY REPORT, THE THREE-MEMBER HEARING PANEL OF THE STATE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION NOTIFIED JUDGE CRAWFORD DECEMBER 3RD THAT HE WAS FORMALLY SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

JUDGE CRAWFORD'S ATTORNEY VIRGIL BROWN SAID THE J.Q.C. FILED NOTICE OF THE ACTION WITH THE STATE SUPREME COURT UNDER SEAL WITHOUT A HEARING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT A HEARING BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT REVERSED THEM THE FIRST TIME LAST JULY.

JUDGE CRAWFORD HAS SOME 200 TO 300 PENDING CIVIL C ASES ASSIGNED TO HIM, CASES THAT APPARENTLY WILL HAVE TO BE HEARD BY ANOTHER JUDGE.

THE JUDGE IS CHARGED WITH THE THEFT OF OVER $15,000 FROM THE PIKE COUNTY REGISTRY, FUNDS HIS ATTORNEYS SAY WERE CRAWFORD'S LEGAL FEES OWED FOR OVER 15 YEARS.

TWO FROM THOMASTON KILLED IN COLUMBUS

The second of two people who were aboard a motor scooter struck from behind by a small sport-utility vehicle on Macon Road, or U.S. 80, has succumbed to his injuries at a Columbus hospital.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed Sunday that Jeremy Blankenship, 30, was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. Sunday at Piedmont Columbus Regional’s midtown campus.

Blankenship’s death follows that Saturday of Toni McChargue, 33, who also was on the scooter that was smashed from behind by a Jeep Renegade compact SUV in the Upatoi area — on Macon Road just past the Jenkins Road intersection — at 2:14 p.m. Saturday. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Freeman Worley.

Bryan said Columbus police investigators still are not sure if McChargue or Blankenship was driving the scooter.

YEAR IN REVIEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER

Note from Ben Coker,
Your District
Attorney
2018 was quite the year for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. We tried a 34
year old cold case, and cleared 10 murder cases off of the docket.
These two accomplishments are impressive standing alone, but I am
also happy to report that my offices diligently worked to reduce the
backlog. Most cases in my offices are seeing a courtroom within 12
months. That is an exceptional improvement. We will continue to
work to reduce that time period even more.
I asked my staff members, and especially the attorneys in my offices,
to accomplish some daunting goals this year. They impressed me with
their dedication to the job. We tried an incredible amount of cases this
year. For some perspective, in 2017, we tried 10 cases as a circuit. This
year, we DOUBLED that number with 21. Our conviction rate is 95%.
It’s a staggering statistic and a great testament to the people that
work for me. Thank you will never be enough to them, but thank them
I do. They are warriors.
As I enter my third year as District Attorney, I am honored to work
alongside these people. Their work in the community and in the courtroom
is unmatched. I proudly give you this 2018 Year in Review. It was
a year for the books. This review is a snapshot of our year. If you want
more information about any of the cases or events in this newsletter,
please visit my website at www.dagriffincircuit.org or my Facebook
page, @gjcdistrictattorney.
As a circuit, we are ready for 2019. We continue to grow in our
knowledge and abilities. Please know how much your trust in me
means. I appreciate the opportunity to work for you, and I will continue
the fight to keep you safe. Happy Holidays, and I hope you all have
a blessed 2019.

TWO TIX FOR SALE FOR THE SUGAR BOWL

TWO TICKETS FOR SALE FOR THE SUGAR BOWL IN NEW ORLEANS, TUESDAY, JAN IST. CALL WTGA AT 706-647-7121.

UPSON CO CROSSING GUARD INJURED FRIDAY

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAYS A SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD WAS INJURED WHEN STRUCK BY A VEHICLE FRIDAY AROUND 7;30AM AT KNIGHT TRAIL AND TOM MCKINLEY ROAD. ---58 YEAR OLD WILLIAM OTIS DENBY OF A ROBIN STREET ADDRESS .

CROSSING GUARD DENBY—ONE OF TWO AT THAT INTERSECTION WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. BY EMS --- TREATED AND RELEASED FOR INJURIES TO THE ARM, HIPS, AND LEGS.

SHERIFF KILGORE SAID THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION WAS TURNED OVER TO POST 26 GA. STATE PATROL.

THE GSP TOLD US A VEHICLE REFUSED TO YIELD ON KNIGHT TRAIL WHEN SIGNALED TO STOP BY THE CROSSING GUARDS—AND HIT A CAR WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY ON TOM MCKINLEY ROAD. THE DRIVER AT FAULT—ROSHA K. WALKER OF ANN ARMS COURT WAS CHARGED WITH FAILURE TO OBEY AN AUTHORIZED TRAFFIC OFFICER AND THE DRIVER SHE HIT IDENTIFIED AS KATHERINE B. WILLIAMS OF SHASTA DRIVE.

ACCORDING TO THE TROOPER-- MR. DENBY WAS SCRAMBLING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE TWO VEHICLES AND ITS UNCLEAR WHICH ONE OF THEM HIT HIM.

ARRESTS IN STOLEN CAR CASE PIKE COUNTY

An early morning report of a stolen car in Williamson on Vaughn Lane has lead to the arrest of Austin Brazel, 20 years of age, Rodney Miller, 19 years of age, Tristian Montfort, 21 years of age, and Travis Hoard, 22 years of age. The victim in this case reported that he had been visiting a residence on Vaughn Lane when another suspect took his car keys and was attempting to take his vehicle during which time the suspects produced a handgun and ordered the victim to move away from his vehicle. Investigators are working to identify the suspect that drove away in the vehicle at this time.

Brazel, Montfort and Hoard were located by Deputies near the Dollar General in Williamson. A handgun was recovered that was concealed in Hoard's pants, which was consistent with the gun the victim had described. Miller was found hiding in a closet at a residence on Vaughn Lane. All four are currently in the Pike County Jail and will be facing various charges including armed robbery, theft by taking motor vehicle , possession of a firearm during commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

GRIFFIN PD WORKING AN ARMED ROBBERY

 On December 13, just after 1130 hours, uniform patrol officers of the Griffin Police Department responded to the Dollar General (1019 Memorial Drive Griffin, Ga.) in reference to an armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the employees of the business. The suspect in this crime is a slender black male 6’00 to 6’03 in height and had a beard at the time of this incident. The suspect used a handgun during the commission of the crime. One of the employees was treated at the scene by EMS for none life threatening injuries. The suspect is still at large.

   The investigation is still ongoing. If anyone has any possible information in regards to the armed robbery, please contact Griffin Police Department Criminal Investigative Division with any information in connection to this crime.

NEW MEMBER OF THE IDA

AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING, THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARK IRVIN TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AS DR. LARRY DERICO IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER BEING NAMED SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT.

RETIRING COUNTY COMMISSIONER FRANK SPRAGGINS GOT A BIG SEND-OFF AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING—RETIRING AFTER SERVING FOR 20 YEARS. BENJAMIN WATSON WILL ASSUME THE 4TH DISTRICT SEAT IN JANUARY.

THOMASTON MAYOR J.D. STALLINGS READ SPRAGGINS A RESOLUTION OF COMMENDATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL—AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS READ LETTERS FROM U.S. SENATORS JOHNNY ISAKSON AND DAVID PERDUE, GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT DICKEY AND CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN READ A PROCLAMATION FROM THE BOARD

SPRAGGINS SAID A BIG MOVE FOR THE COUNTY IS NOT HAVING TO BORROW MONEY TO OPERATE NEXT YEAR AND HE NOTED CITY COUNTY RELATIONS HAVE IMPROVED.

HIS PARTING GIFT WAS AN ALMOST BILLBOARD-SIZED PHOTO OF THE UPSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. SPRAGGINS CHAIRED THE EFFORT WHEN IT WAS RENOVATED SEVERAL YEARS BACK.

HE GAVE CREDIT FOR HIS SUCCESS TO HIS WIFE BRENDA, WHO WAS PRESENT.