Fire In Yatesville

The Yatesville Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire at 110 Empire Street during Sunday night’s storm.

Aaron Kinney, his wife Tiffany and their two year old son were in the home when thunder shook the entire structure, moments later the smoke alarms sounded.

 

Everyone, including their two dogs immediately left the home and within minutes the fire department was on the scene.

The home was apparently struck by lightning and the fire appeared to be located under the floor and in the walls.

Upson Resident Seriously Injured In Auto Accident

An accident in Henry County earlier today has left an Upson County man on life support.

Joe Wright of Burkett Road reportedly pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle and was struck head on. Wright is listed in critical condition and is on life support at this hour, his wife Brenda has complained of a possible head injury but appears to have no life threating injuries.

Safety Training At The Rock Ranch

Safety personnel at The Rock Ranch held a training session Saturday for area first responders, EMS, rescue volunteers, deputies and the Emory Air Life Ambulance.

Safety coordinator Jeff Sanders conducted a tour of the facility to highlight potential areas of concern and designated landing zones for the helicopter.

Attendees were given the opportunity to experience the Cow-A-Bunga Zip Line.

(left) Major Dan Kilgore on the zip line.

(right) Emory Air Life Ambulance, click picture for a larger view.

Propane Leak

The Rock Hill Fire Department responded to a propane leak at the Ferrell Gas facility on Barnesville Highway Saturday around noon.

Several of the tanks were venting propane through the pressure release valves due to the intense heat. The smell of propane lingered in the air for hours but there was no fire danger.

Fire department personnel remained on the scene until Ferrell Gas employees arrived to lower the pressure in the tanks.

Why Not Pay A Supplier?

Walker Concrete of Stockbridge has been in business since 1953 and was one of the first companies involved in the construction of the church on Highway 36.
They sold the general contractor, Patmac Contracting, the concrete used in the foundation. Their trucks delivered the concrete on time to the location and they were not responsible for any of the finishing work, their only involvement was as a supplier.

Walker guarantees their product and if a faulty material claim is filed, engineers will take samples of the concrete on site and test it, then the batch machines at the plant are checked to insure that they were set up correctly for the job. The mixers are checked routinely to satisfy the requirements of the Department of Transportation prior to doing DOT work, but in the event of a claim, they are checked again. After all the steps have been taken and the concrete on site is checked for any signs of lack of strength or other faults, the engineers will determine if the claim is justified and the concrete needs replacing or if the customer has no claim.

According to company spokesman Lou Martin, Patmac did not file a complaint, the concrete passed inspection and is supporting the structure today.

Walker has not been paid and the company filed a lien in the amount of $13,544.87, it includes $12,897.69 for the concrete, $427.18 in service charges plus a $200 lien and release fee. It does not include $375 in attorney fees or interest accruing on the debt. P.C. Frailey, owner of Patmac, personally guaranteed payment on the order and collection efforts may eventually proceed against his personal assets. Attempts to collect the debt from the bonding company have been unsuccessful.

Why has Patmac failed to pay a supplier that delivered exactly what was purchased, on time and performed no other work?  How can the bonding company shown below deny payment when Patmac failed to raise any issues about the quality of the product?

Are funds being diverted from one job to pay contractors and suppliers liens on a previous contract? Was there a notarized lien release signed and presented to the church to obtain payment on the concrete?

Patmac officials on site are not answering questions and referring all inquires to their corporate office or their attorney. Phone calls to Patmac’s corporate offices have not been returned.

Former Clerk Adams Stricken

Former clerk of superior court Nancy Adams suffered a heart attack earlier today. She has been transferred to a Macon area hospital.

Contractor Resumes Work

Athens-Atlanta Asphalt Company was back on the job today at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints construction site on Highway 36. The company was hired by Patmac Contracting, the general contractor for the project, to pave the parking area

Earlier this year Athens-Atlanta Asphalt Company filed a lien against the property in the amount of $122,235.00 for work already completed. According to the job supervisor, the company was paid $80,000.00 of the amount within the past two weeks and resumed work.

Upson Today was told by supervisors from both Athens-Atlanta Asphalt and Patmac that there were no issues regarding the quality of the work performed by Athens-Atlanta Asphalt Company. Patmac’s supervisor stated that all other questions should be directed to the company’s attorney.

Fire On Midway Road

The home of Kerry and Angela Brown at 197 Midway Road was heavily damaged by fire this morning around 10 am. The fire started in the master bedroom and appears to be electrical in nature.

The Browns own Pro Tek Auto Glass and were in Thomaston on a job when they received a call that their home was on fire. By the time they arrived, the Lamar County, Rock Hill and Yatesville fire departments were all battling the blaze.

About 40% of the home suffered fire damage while the entire structure suffered smoke and water damage. The family lost all of their clothing but were able to salvage some of the contents from other areas of the home.

Midway Road is located off of Willis Road on the Upson-Lamar county line south of Highway 36.

Mr. Tony McCard

Retired Thomaston Police Chief Tony McCard, 75, of Thomaston, died Wednesday evening at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.

For more, click the obituary link on the right.

Fraud Investigation Underway

The building east of Thomaston on Highway 36 is nearly complete and about ready for it’s new owner The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to move in. The church members will enjoy the spacious sanctuary, the new offices and rooms, the basketball goal behind the sliding wall and plenty of parking.

It’s doubtful that anyone will complain about shoddy workmanship or question the appearance of the structure. It’s unknown how many will even be aware of the heartaches and financial hardships the construction of the church has caused.

Seventeen contractors and vendors that worked on the project have not been paid by the general contractor, sixteen liens to date have been filed against the property and more may be forthcoming. The total amount owed is more than $340,000.

Three homes have been foreclosed on, vehicles have been sold and upwards of 50 jobs have been lost because the general contractor, Frailey and Associates, doing business as Patmac Contracting, from Grayson, Georgia claims the work was substandard and refuses to pay.

The unsettling aspect of this is that it appears that Frailey and Associates has a track record of questionable business practices and has had to pay off liens on another LDS project in Monroe, Georgia over the past several months.

According to the companies website Patmac focuses on new construction and remodels.
They specialize in athletic fields, churches, commercial offices and build-outs, medical offices and build-outs, parks, prime electrical and prime roofing work. The company holds licenses in 6 states, and has more than 100 years of combined experience.

Locally, Tim McKissick owns and operates Electrical Advantage/Design Construction Technologies. The company was contracted by Patmac and begin working on the church project in April of 2010. On June 21st the work was stopped due to nonpayment. Patmac paid $12,000 and asked the company to resume working on the site. On January 25, 2011 work was again interrupted due to a lack of payment. On February 2nd the company pulled off the job permanently with Patmac owing them $57,504.07.

Tim has been forced to lay off 16 employees, lost two company trucks and his home due to the failure of Patmac to pay for work that was inspected and approved by local building and zoning officials. Upson Today was told in the building and zoning office that all of the work inspected met required building codes and no substandard workmanship was observed.

Bob Swetnam is the liaison between the church headquarters in Utah and the general contractor. According to McKissick, Swetnam assured all the contractors bidding on the project that the Church of Latter Day Saints had no problem paying for any aspect of construction. LDS officials have stated that any issues are between Patmac and the subcontractors since the church has already paid Patmac a major portion of the $1.7 million dollar project.

The question is, who signed the notarized lien releases that are normally required for funds to be paid to the general contractor and was there a deliberate effort by Patmac to defraud the subcontractors?

The Upson County Sheriff’s Department has initiated an investigation into the matter and have asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist due to the large number of interviews throughout the state that will be conducted.

There will be more to this story as the investigation continues.

The Rock Post Office On Closure List

The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that it is considering closing approximately 3,700 post offices nationwide in the next year, including the one located at The Rock.

The postal service is facing an $8.3 billion deficit and has also proposed halting Saturday delivery of mail. The post offices on the closure list were selected based on the amount of business generated and the hours the facility is open as well as it’s proximity to other available post offices.

Mail volume nationwide has dropped 20% in the last 5 years and the postal service now has 170,000 more employees than it needs to deliver mail. There are currently more than 32,000 post offices, more than all the Wal Marts, McDonald’s and Starbucks combined.

No date has been set and since the postal service is not supported by tax dollars, no approval by congress is needed to implement the changes other than the five day delivery schedule.

USPS will create Village Post Offices that are privately operated and offer stamps and limited other mail services in areas that are not located near larger facilities.

There are a total of 45 Georgia post offices on the list, click HERE to see the list.

Wreck On 36 West

Troopers are looking for the driver of an overturned vehicle near the intersection of Antler Drive and Highway 36 west.

The late model Isuzu Rodeo appeared to be traveling east and left the roadway during a severe thunderstorm, ending up on it’s side in the ditch on the west bound side of the road.

A passing motorist called 911 and reported the accident but could not locate the driver.

 

County Commission Meeting

The Upson County Commission held a regular meeting Tuesday night and recognized Sybil Lovejoy as the Employee of the Month for July. (For more on Sybil, click HERE)

The commission approved a resolution authorizing the charge of .75 cents on each sale of prepaid wireless service in Upson County. The fee is for 911 service and the state requires each county to adopt and submit a resolution before implementing it, the charges will not be effective until 2012.

The commission discussed the process for potential changes to the county voting district map. The county population is 444 residents lower than the 2001 census and the following changes were suggested:

• Commissioner Sandra Trice’s district will gain approximately 430 voters.
• Commissioner Steve Hudson’s district will lose approximately 100 voters.
• Commissioner Rusty Blackston’s district will lose approximately 465 voters.
• Commissioner Frank Spraggins district will gain approximately 140 voters.

The proposed changes will be reviewed by Representative Robert Dickey, then presented to the General Assembly and finally must be approved by the Justice Department.

County Manager Kyle Hood told the commission that vacancies on the Transportation Committee, the Department of Family and Children’s Services Board and the Department of Behavioral Health Committee need to be filled.

Hood announced a new program to recognize county employees. The county will continue to award the Employee of the Month certificate but will also recognize employees that go above and beyond in the workplace or in the community.

This month’s Top Performers are:

• Mrs. Bonnie Smith and Mr. Claude Burgess from the Thomaston-Upson Archives
• Mr. Clint Watson of the Building and Zoning Department
• The entire kitchen staff at the Senior Center

In a work session prior to the regular meeting, commissioners discussed proposed changes to the county personnel policy, specifically mentioned were the areas of sick leave, disciplinary actions, internet usage and the county drug policy.

A small group of concerned citizens questioned the board on the location of the proposed county recreation complex and the type of facilities that will be constructed. The board had announced at the last meeting that the location would be on county owned property on Highway 74 east near the old work camp. Chairman Raines advised the group that the county owns acreage on both sides of Highway 74 and that the exact location of the facility has not yet been determined.

The county intends to construct multi-purpose fields for baseball, softball, football and soccer along with practice fields, restrooms, parking and spectator seating. The facility will encompass about 40 to 45 acres.

Former Nutrition Director Out On Bond

The former director of the Thomaston-Upson School System nutrition program was released on bond Tuesday.

Brenda Deann Scruggs, 36, was arrested Monday and charged with 62 counts of financial transaction card fraud and theft by deception. Scruggs is accused of writing checks on the petty cash account she controlled and using a school system credit card for personal purchases.

A $16 discrepancy on a travel form caught the attention of finance manager Kathy Matthews, she began an internal audit of the nutrition program and discovered more than $31,000 in missing or misappropriated funds.

Scruggs resigned Monday in lieu of termination. The felony charges involve federal funds and there is still a question as to which court she will be tried in, state or federal. The bonds totaled over $43,000.

Upson County Commission Meets Tonight

The Upson County Commission will hold a work session at 6 pm followed by their regular meeting at 7 pm tonight in the government complex.

On the agenda:

• Recognition of the county Employee of the Month.
• Approval of a resolution authorizing the imposing of a 911 charge on prepaid wireless services in Upson County.
• Discussion of redistricting maps from the 2011 Census.

Thomaston Man Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Accident

Twenty eight year old Cory Virdin of 106 Summer Trace Drive was riding his 2009 Harley Davidson north on U.S. 19 Wednesday night, it was just a few minutes before midnight and he had driven by an Upson County deputy operating his radar unit north of Potato Creek. Cory was not speeding and he was wearing a helmet.
As he reached the driveway into the Shell station across from the Waffle House, a southbound 2009 Chevrolet Impala sitting in the turning lane pulled into his path. Cory had no time to react and struck the car near the right front wheel. He was thrown over the vehicle and landed in the middle of the highway. The car continued into the parking lot while patrons of the Waffle House called 911 then rushed out to aid Cory and prevent oncoming traffic from hitting him.

Moments later the deputy heard the call over his radio that a motorcycle accident had occurred up the street and realized it was likely the rider that he had seen pass by.

Cory was treated at the scene by Upson EMS and life-flighted to the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon where he remains in serious condition.
Cory has undergone surgery for a fractured vertebra in his neck and his ruptured spleen. He also is suffering from five compressed discs, a fractured hip, shoulder and foot as well as battling an infection and pneumonia. Cory is conscious and communicating with family members.
Jessica Howard, 20, of 109 West County Road, has been charged with failure to yield while making a left turn.

Police Beat

City

An Upson County resident, George Flowers of 1120 Day Road has reported the theft of over $13,000 from his checking account at Colony Bank. Authorities believe that an east coast credit card fraud group may be involved since the account was charged the maximum daily limit from May 22nd until July 8th. The charges were processed from several different states.

Local businessman Eugene Berle Gilbert of 2066 Jeff Davis Road, was issued a citation for unsafe/unsanitary property after the city issued warning letters in May, June and July for the old service station located at 407 Barnesville Street, this is the second offense for this property.

Local attorney John Miller has been issued citations for unsafe/unsanitary properties located at 149 and 153 G Circle, he had been issued warning letters on the latter property on May 19, 2009 and July 12, 2011.

Burglary at 109 West County Road, apartment 16-B, an L.G. flat screen TV valued at $800 was taken.

County

Deputies have identified Todd Jones as a suspect in the theft of an antique four row planter and an old single mule plow. The planter was taken from the residence at 2125 Jeff Davis Road and sold to Teal Recycling.

Burglary reported at 312 Waverly Way, a 22 caliber Beretta pistol, black with wood grips valued at $250 was stolen. One of the pistol grips has a chip in it. Rings and jewelry valued at $1,000 and three black leather jackets worth $600 were taken.

Illegal Workers Arrested

Thomaston police arrested two illegal Hispanic construction workers at the old Martha Mill facility last week.

Audoro Fernandez and Flores Santiago Vazquez were employed by 325 East Goodrich, LLC and were observed  by officers removing flooring. The two were using false social security numbers and false employment information. Fernandez and Vazquez have been turned over to immigration officials.

Mathew Molenkamp the supervisor on the site was arrested and charged with operating the demolition without a permit. The work had been ongoing for months after the permit expired in 2010. Piles of lumber and debris litter the site and in addition to the lack of a permit, the company had no bond to protect the city in the event the company failed to clean up properly.

325 East Goodrich, LLC is owned by Mathew P. Appelget of Richmond, Virginia.

United Bank Sponsors Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

On Sunday, July 10 the signature Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
tour bus rolled into Madison, Georgia where Ty Pennington and the EMHE design team were onboard with the Rucker family.  Earlier this year, the eldest of three girls, Anaiah Rucker, jumped in the path of an oncoming truck pushing her younger sister, Camary, to safety.  The accident cost Anaiah her left leg, a kidney
and a multitude of other medical complications.  Undaunted by this trauma, the rising fifth-grader has spent much of the summer regaining her strength so that she can continue playing sports, singing in the chorus and making straight A's in school. United Bank, in partnership with Pilot Builders, Smart Properties and other local area sponsors, launched the seven-day construction effort after the Rucker Family was whisked away to sunny Orlando's Disney World Resort.  

As Anaiah's heroic news unfolded, celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Dwight Howard reached out to her.  Following an airing of her story on the Today Show and a link listed on Yahoo news, United Bank's Chairman John Edwards began receiving the first phone calls and emails requesting information about donating to the family.  An account at United Bank was immediately established and continues to accept donations for Anaiah Rucker and this recent building effort.

The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designers and crew had only one week to build a brand new home for The Ruckers that was safe, secure, ADA-accessible and free of obstacles where Anaiah can continue to adapt to her new prosthesis.  The 2,300 square foot, three bed room, three bath, Craftsman bungalow features overhanging easements and exposed cedar detail.  The landscaping includes a two-story playhouse with built-in hydraulics for boosting Anaiah in her wheelchair and a miniature "Centennial Park-like" sprinkler fountain for quick, hot afternoon cool downs.  The house is equipped with the most efficient, energy-saving appliances and utility solutions on the market including four solar panels mounted atop the roof.

This is EMHE's first build project in the Madison-Lake Oconee area.  The Emmy-award winning reality program changes lives, families and inspires remarkable community support.  United Bank's Madison Division President, Russell Carter, commented, "I’ve always been proud to be an employee of United Bank.  When Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Madison, we had the chance to step up and truly show that we are indeed about supporting our communities.  The participation came from our senior management team and throughout the organization – all because of one very brave and beloved little girl."

United Bank hosted the "Rest and Relaxation Tent" on the construction site providing a shady retreat, cool drinks, snacks and first aid supplies to workers and volunteers. Among the 300+ daily volunteers, the bankers also fulfilled a variety of jobs both on and off the camera during the 24/7 timeline. 
On Saturday, July 16 a huge crowd assembled along the corner of Commerce Street for the home's final reveal. Following the show's trademark chant, "Move that bus," the Ruckers stood in awe of their newly constructed dwelling.

The Emmy award-winning reality program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, now entering its 9th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It is executive-produced by Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The new season premieres Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. on ABC.  Watch for The Rucker Family/Georgia Build Project episode sponsored by United Bank mid-October.  United Bank operates 21 offices in Butts, Coweta, Henry, Lamar, Morgan, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties.

Heather Adams (left) shares a laugh with the film crew.

Lane Coggins (right) chatting with Extreme Makeover designer Michael Maloney.

Below, Travis Weed (left) and Clay McDaniel (right) rest during lunch on the set.

Troup Wins Championship

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars battled Troup National in LaGrange Saturday for the state championship.

For more on the game, click the Sports link on the right.

All Stars Lose To Troup

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars lost to Troup National 6-2 in the opening game of the best of three state championship.

For more on the game, click the Sports link on the right.

Police Beat

Burglary being investigated at 242 East Peachtree Street, deputies are looking for a white male driving a gold Ford Fusion with a #9 Kasey Kane tag on the front. Radio equipment, tools and a boat motor were taken. The total value is $1,102.00.

A trailer was taken at 1731 Delray Road, the trailer was designed for a pontoon boat but had been converted to transport other items, valued at $500.

Thomaston police are searching for an older black couple driving a silver Ford Expedition with tinted windows in connection with a burglary at 312 Magnolia Avenue. A TV and DVD’s were taken, total value of $550.00. The female is described as petite and was wearing a Burger King employee uniform shirt.

All Stars Play For Championship

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Wrens 5-3 Thursday to advance to the state championship series.

For more, click the sports link on the right.

Updated - Housing Authority Arrest

The executive director of the Thomaston Housing Authority, Sherry Darlene McDaniel, 43, and her husband Lance McDaniel, 57, were arrested Monday following their indictment by a federal grand jury in Macon on fraud charges. Steven Wayne Williams, 49, an employee of Lance McDaniel Painting, was also named in the indictment and arrested. The 30 count indictment was signed on July 14, 2011. McDaniel has been placed on administrative leave.

The Thomaston Housing Authority Board will hold a called meeting later this week to determine McDaniel’s status and possibly name an interim executive director. McDaniel has been the executive director since October 1, 2009.

Board Chairman, Jim Richards said the indictments are a result of an investigation that has been ongoing for about a year and that no board members or other employees of the Housing Authority have been involved.

Williams allegedly conspired with Lance McDaniel to create a fictitious paint contracting company known as Steve Williams Painting. The two used the fictitious company to obtain contracts with the Thomaston Housing Authority during the period of time from September 3, 2007 until July 8, 2010. Steve Williams Painting received 28 checks totaling $137,155.00 that the indictment alleges he turned over to Lance McDaniel.

All three have been charged with theft from an organization receiving federal funds and theft of government money. Sherry Darlene McDaniel was also charged with using a Thomaston Housing Authority Visa card to make personal purchases of $2,632.00. The card was used at various businesses in the Thomaston area, the purchase of airline tickets from Delta, Hertz Rental Car and for expenses at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica, Mississippi on Monday, April 19, 2010.

Thomaston City Council Meeting

At Tuesday nights meeting, the Thomaston City Council voted to keep the city voting districts as they currently are drawn. The districts fall within the permissible variance without changing anything and City Manager Patrick Comiskey advised the council that the problems and potential confusion among the residents involved simply was not worth making the minor adjustments.

The council approved a change in the city’s alcohol ordinance to allow the issuance of a one day license to charitable organizations provided they meet the IRS criteria for what is known as a 501(c)(3) charity. The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Council approved two routine items, the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund Application for reimbursement on the Zorn Street landfill and the Town Branch easements.

The council will have to address the vacancy created by the death of Councilman Ed Bell either at the next regular meeting or at a special called meeting. A special election to fill the remaining two years of Bell’s term must be held with 60 days of July 19, 2011. The council will have to establish the qualifying dates and advertise for an election to be held no later than September 17, 2011.

Difficult Night For The Thomaston City Council

In a somber council chamber, with a very obvious empty chair, Mayor Hays Arnold called to order the Thomaston City Council for the first time without Ed Bell sitting to his left. Council member Patsy Perdue took a moment to read a poem that she adapted from one by Robert Browning in honor of Bell.

I walked a mile with him,
He chatted all the way,
He left us more the wiser with all he had to say,
We now walk a mile with sorrow,
And never a word said he,
But oh the things we learned from him,
When sorrow walked with me.

Mayor Arnold had to excuse himself for a few moments to gather his emotions, each council member spoke of their experiences and how Ed Bell had impacted their lives, not only on the council but personally.

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Head said that Bell was, “An incredible community supporter, kind and generous and that time will magnify what he has done for this community.”

Councilman Gary Atwater said that he would miss Bell’s council and guidance that he had come to count on so much for the last ten years.

City Attorney Joel Bentley lives next door to Bell and stated that he already misses him in a way that he wouldn’t have thought possible. He ask that everyone reach out to the Bell family and support them as Ed always did to everyone in the community.

Mayor Arnold spoke about how sometimes you stumble onto people that you wish you had known better, “Ed Bell had become a close friend over the past eight to ten years and had a tremendous impact on me personally. He was a political force in the community and had the audience of governors, senators and representatives. The rest of us will have to pick up and try to fill the void of the vacancy left by Ed Bell.”

Thomaston Councilman Ed Bell Dies

Thomaston City Councilman J. Ed Bell, 81, died at his residence early this morning. Shown here (center) with Mayor Hays Arnold, Council members Patsy Perdue and Wallace Rhodes and City Manager Patrick Comiskey. Bell represented District 3 and was serving his fourth term on the Thomaston City Council.

Mr. Bell retired from State Farm Insurance as an Agency Director in December 1995. He began his career with State Farm as an agent in Thomaston in August 1958. He is a graduate of Georgia State University, and he served in the United States Navy as an aviation ordnance man for 4 years during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Bell served 7 years on the Thomaston City School Board, and he has served as a past president of the Lions Club. He was currently serving as a member of the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council, a deacon at First Baptist Church and on Congressman Lynn Westmoreland's Small Business Committee. In 2009, Mr. Bell was awarded the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Patricia Bell, two daughters, one son, and six grandchildren.

Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold said of Bell, “We have lost a true leader and a genuine public servant that gave tremendously to the community and to the state of Georgia, his loss creates a huge void that will be difficult to fill, he will be missed greatly.”

County Commission Chairman Maurice Raines issued the following statement on behalf of the commission;

It is with heavy hearts that the Board of Commissioners has learned of the passing of a great man, Councilman Ed Bell. Mr. Bell was a local legend; a champion of this community for many decades. Although Mr. Bell is no longer with us, his legacy and his impact will live on for ages, both in his capacity as a member of the City Council and in the lives of all the people who have had the pleasure of working with him through the years he was with State Farm.

Councilman Bell was a devoted family man, leaving behind a wife that he loved dearly and a family that he bragged about almost constantly. Mr. Bell’s influence and successes were recognized not only locally, but on state and national levels, as well. Mr. Bell has for years been one of the warmest and most welcoming members of the local elected delegation, making sure to always be in attendance to meet with visitors or representing the city at functions of importance.

On behalf of the County Commissioners, I would like to send out sincere remorse to the family and friends of Ed Bell on their loss. His life’s work has had a positive impact on us all, and we are all grateful to have been able to serve this community alongside him.

The city council meeting scheduled for this evening will be held. 

Funeral arrangements are on the obituary page, click HERE.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Remain Undefeated

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Mountain View 6-2 Monday night in LaGrange.

Zach Gooden picked up the win and Nathan Pollard homered, the All Stars play Donalsonville at 8 pm Tuesday evening in LaGrange.

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars and Troup National are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the tournament, both are two wins away from meeting each other for the state championship.

Special Sales Permit

The City of Thomaston has announced that any person or organization that holds an event or offers for sale any item for money must obtain a Special Sales Permit. The permit is not required for yard sales held on private property by residents of the location. Activities such as door to door sales, car washes or fund raising at a location other than an individual’s private residence would require a permit.

The permit is $10.00 and may be obtained at City Hall, failure to do so may result in being charged with Soliciting or operating a business without a permit.

Local Club Owner Arrested

Tameka Danelle Smith, 36, of 405 Barnesville Street was charged over the weekend with the sale or consumption of alcohol after hours and the consumption of alcohol outside of an establishment by customers. Smith operates the Good Times Lounge located at 1108 South Church Street. The arrest report will be forwarded to the Georgia Department of Alcohol and Tobacco by the Thomaston Police Department.

Upson County deputies arrested Octavious Ford, 23, of 160 Tyler Lane in Talbotton at 1:20 am Monday following a disturbance at 1104 South Church Street. Ford was told to either leave the premises or go inside the building after officers had dispersed a crowd. Ford agreed to a search of his vehicle after marijuana was observed on his clothing, he was found to be in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and transported to the Upson County Jail.

A burglary reported at 1272 Pickard Road, various tools valued at $620.00 were taken from a home under construction.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Win

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Newton County 16-1 in the second round of the Dixie Youth State Baseball Tournament Sunday afternoon.

Click HERE for more on Sports.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Win

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Albany Dixie 7-4 in the opening round of the state tournament in LaGrange today. They will play Newton County Sunday at 4 pm.

Police Beat

CITY

Thomaston police had a busy week at Walmart, charging two with shoplifting and one with theft by taking.

Henrietta King Johnson of 508 Beverly Drive was charged with shoplifting on July 13th after she attempted to leave the store with $121.84 in merchandise, Devontae Cortez of 207 Willow Street was arrested the following day for taking items valued at $17.16.

Bill Whitley of 29 Rose Hill Road was charged with theft by taking after confusing a Walmart cashier and getting $65.00 returned to him that he was not entitled to.

Thomaston officers arrested Sonyia Jackson on July 7th for attempting to cash two checks at the West Central Georgia Bank for $70.00 each on the account of a deceased person.

County

Upson County deputies made three drug related arrests, Phillip Franklin Harley, 28, of 745 Stevens Street and Kelly Glenn Bradshaw, 37, of 645 Cook Road were charged with possession of methamphetamine. James Aaron Hood, 18, of 1839 Waymanville Road was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Investigators from the Upson County Sheriff’s Department are looking for a white male that took $100.00 on July 7th and $50.00 on the 12th after confusing the clerks at the Community Superette on Jeff Davis Road.

Local attorney John Miller was issued a citation by Upson County deputies for violating county ordinance 175 (Care Of Premises) due to the condition of a rental house located at 1309 Grantling Street. Miller was cited three times by Thomaston police last week for properties located within the city of Thomaston.

Burglary reported at 75 1/2 McGrath Road, $4,600.00 in jewelry missing from the residence. A mower, weed eater and a swing taken from the yard of a home at 467 Colquitt Street, the home has not been occupied since a fire on June 19th.

Residents at 415-B West County Road returned from a week out of town and discovered someone had entered the residence, three containers for prescription drugs were on the floor.

Steve Daniel Named Provost Of SCTC

Thomaston native Steve Daniel has been appointed permanent provost of Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) effective August 1st. His primary office will remain on the Thomaston campus although his duties will require some travel to SCTC’s other locations.

Daniel oversaw the Kia Project and the Kia Georgia Training Center in West Point as director of Georgia QuickStart. He was also vice president of economic development programs at Flint River Technical College.

Steve said, “I’m very excited about this role and look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of Southern Crescent Technical College, I am thankful to have the opportunity to return to this region and support the college’s mission for economic development.”

Daniel earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in human resources management from Troy. He has 20 years of private industry experience with Boeing, Lucas Aerospace and TRW where he held executive management positions.

SCTC President Randall Peters stated, “I’m very happy that Steve has agreed to join the Southern Crescent Technical College executive leadership team, and I look forward to his able assistance in moving our college forward in these demanding and challenging times,” .

Steve and his wife Debra have two sons, Blake and Christopher.

City Street Or Driveway?

At the June 28th meeting of the Upson County Commission, Yatesville resident Gary Campbell requested that the county make repairs to Chase Street.

He stated that the county had maintained the street in the past but had not done so in several years. County attorney Edward Trice told Upson Today that he could not confirm that the county had ever maintained the street.

The map on the county tax assessors web site indicates that Chase Street, as originally planned, would intersect a horseshoe shaped street off of Abercombie Street that is not named and was never constructed.

According to Trice, the fact that a street is shown on a plat does not necessarily mean that it had been deeded to or accepted by either the county or a city. It is the county’s position that this street lies entirely within the city limits of Yatesville and is not the property of Upson County, therefor the county has no responsibility or right to maintain it unless assistance is requested by the City of Yatesville.

Lithonia Bentley has owned the property and home on the left in the above picture since April of 1928.

Wanda Carter owns the property where the street actually ends since the horseshoe shaped street indicated on the map was never built. The map also indicates a street that begins in the curve on Pine Grove Road that was not constructed.

Campbell has had many discussions with Yatesville authorities over the years about the status of the street.

The street in question is located within the city limits of Yatesville and in the opinion of some residents is a driveway.

The as yet unanswered question is, is the map on the tax assessors site correct?

If Chase Street and the proposed horseshoe shaped street were deeded to the city or county, the property has been used by local residents for years and they may have done so without paying any property taxes. If that is the case, Campbell has a legitimate complaint, if the property was never conveyed to the city or county, he has a long driveway to keep up.

Jim Cavan Memorial Parkway

It took twenty seven years and a couple of former residents to finally recognize the work Coach Jim Cavan accomplished for this community.

State Representative Len Walker played for Coach Cavan back in the ‘60’s and felt that it was time to honor his legacy. Walker teamed with Representative Billy Maddox to pass the necessary legislation to name the portion of State Highway 74 from Church Street to Holston Drive, the “Coach Jim Cavan Memorial Parkway.”

Among those in attendance for the dedication were two of Coach Cavan's five children, Mike and Joanie.

For more pictures, click HERE.

Several of Coach Cavan’s former players were also in town, Terry Osbolt, Hugh Nall and Joe Jones joined a host of local players and coaches to hear Representative Maddox read the following resolution.

Honoring the life of Coach Jim Cavan and dedicating a road in his memory; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Jim Cavan was born in Decatur, Georgia, in 1913; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from high school, he received a football scholarship to the University of Georgia where he played on Coach Harry Mehre's last team at Georgia; and

WHEREAS, after college he started coaching high school football, first at Gainesville High School and then at Rome High School where his team won the state championship in 1942; and

WHEREAS, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; while in the Navy he was a coach at the Iowa Pre-Flight School where he worked with such football legends as Bud Wilkinson, Jim Tatum, and Johnny Vaught; and

WHEREAS, he was named as the head football coach and athletic director at R.E. Lee High School in 1953 and remained in those positions until he retired in 1976; and

WHEREAS, during his 23 year career at Lee his football record was 140-84-14; his teams won region championships in 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1970; the Rebels played Valdosta for the AAA state championship in 1961 and his 1970 team was Lee's first regular season undefeated team; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cavan was named as Georgia's high school coach of the year in 1961 by the Atlanta Touchdown Club; and

WHEREAS, he was a contemporary of such legendary Georgia high school coaches as Wright Bazemore, Oliver Hunnicutt, Calvin Ramsey, Weyman Sellers, and Billy Henderson, and Coach Cavan's name is always mentioned when the subject of Georgia's greatest high school coaches comes up; and

WHEREAS, while at Lee, he was also the head coach of the Lady Rebels basketball team and they had great success as his teams won 14 region titles and captured state championships in 1963 and 1966; the 1962-63 team had a perfect 32-0 record and the 1963-64 team won its first 27 games, to run their streak to 59 consecutive wins, before losing in the state championship game; and

WHEREAS, he met his wife, Dot, at the University of Georgia and they were married for 44 years until Coach Cavan passed away in 1983; and

WHEREAS, during his coaching career at Lee, Coach Cavan had the privilege of coaching each of his five children; he coached Dottie and Joanie in basketball, and Jimmy, Mike, and Pete in football; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cavan was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1961 and into the Thomaston-Upson Inaugural Induction Hall of Fame in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Coach Jim Cavan continues to be a positive influence in the lives of thousands of graduates of R.E. Lee High School; he consistently exhibited the character traits of discipline, perseverance, loyalty, faith, and dedication to everyone he touched; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting and proper that a lasting memorial to this great man and coach be established.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that this body joins in honoring the life of Coach Jim Cavan and dedicates the portion of SR 74 in Thomaston, Georgia, in Upson County, from its intersection with Church Street to its intersection with Holston Drive as the Coach Jim Cavan Memorial Parkway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Coach Jim Cavan Memorial Parkway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the family of Coach Jim Cavan and the Department of Transportation.

Thomaston Mural Signed And Sealed

Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold congratulated Griffin artist Shannon Lake for an exceptional job in bringing to life a 1920’s era photograph of the Thomaston Square. Lake was on hand to sign the mural painted on the wall of English’s Café but before doing so he added another feature.

The Cherokee Rose Quilt Guild was instrumental in raising some of the funds needed to finance the project and Lake added a quilt to the wagon in the painting.

Anne Kelley served as Chairperson of the Thomaston Mural Committee, other members included Debbie Bowles, Lila Bryan and Charlotte Hancock. The Historical Preservation Commission was also involved in the project. Sylvia Chapman served as Downtown Manager for the City of Thomaston and was responsible for starting the project. The English family has operated a restaurant at the location for many years and were happy to deed the wall to the city to make the painting possible.

Lake has painted murals in Barnesville, Hapeville, Griffin and other surrounding areas during his career. The project took six months to complete and is the first of several planned for the community. Lake stated that the painting should last a minimum of 10 years and that the paints used today usually last much longer. The most difficult part of the painting was the courthouse due to the angles needed to give the proper perspective.

Kool Aid…..Hot Temper

Upson County deputies were called on to sort out a Kool Aid fight that occurred Saturday night on Solomon Street.

Valandrea Kendrick, 22, of 1203 Solomon Street was wanting to make some Kool Aid, she had the packet of mix but needed some water. Teava Head, 30, of 315 North Street apparently didn’t like the idea and assaulted Kendrick.

Kendrick stated that she didn’t have access to a phone following the fight so she waited until Sunday afternoon to call 911. Deputies took her statement and made pictures of a knot on her head while being treated at the Upson Regional Medical Center. Deputies are still searching for Head to obtain her side of the story.

Mural Dedication

The official dedication of the mural on the side of English’s Cafe will be held Tuesday, July 12th at 10 am.

Griffin artist Shannon Lake painted the mural using archived photographs of the square and will be at the dedication to sign the painting.

The Thomaston Mural Committee was formed to help raise money for the mural. Members of the committee were Anne Kelley, Chairman, Debbie Bowles, Lila Bryan and Charlotte Hancock.

The Downtown Business Association partnered with the Mural Committee in several fundraising efforts and the Cherokee Rose Quilt Guild made a quilt that was raffled to raise the money to begin the mural project.

For a slideshow of the mural, click HERE.

Police Beat

The Upson County Sheriff’s Department investigated what was first thought to be a shooting that occurred around 1 am Saturday morning at 657 Walton Street in Lincoln Park.

A fight involving up to five individuals resulted in 31 year old Santonio Darrell Thomas being cut in numerous places on his arm, shoulder and neck, injuries that deputies thought were the result of a shotgun blast. Thomas was treated at Upson Regional Medical Center and then arrested along with Ron Terreal Ellerbee, 33, and Melvin Snipes, 40. The three were charged with disorderly conduct after deputies determined that they had attacked two other men.

Donald Willis of 109 West County Road Apartment 3-G was arrested and charged with felony shoplifting after taking a cell phone case from Fred’s at 1093 Highway 19 north.

City of Thomaston officers have issued citations to Christy Michelle Booth, 36, after her two pit bull dogs attacked a neighbors dog at 14 Avenue D. Booth had recently moved from a Delray Road address where she had been ticketed by Upson County Animal Control two weeks ago for the same dogs killing animals in that neighborhood.

The dogs have been classified as dangerous by the City of Thomaston Police Department. The dogs have been returned to Booth and she was ordered not to allow them back into the city. The male is red, the female is black and white, Booth now resides at 13 Avenue D.

Accident On North Church Street

Thomaston police and Upson EMS responded to an accident around 1 pm Sunday on North Church Street. Marjorie Tallini was traveling southbound near Tire & Auto Master when a large deer darted into the path of her 2009 Toyota Camry. Tallini was treated at the scene for minor injuries, her car suffered extensive damage to the right front, the windshield and the top.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Win

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars won the district tournament by defeating Pike County 9-3.

For more click HERE or the sports link on the right.

Local Attorney Receives Multiple Citations

Local attorney John Miller of 414 Thurston Avenue has been cited three times by the Thomaston Police Department for unsafe/unsanitary property this week.

On June 15, 2011 a written warning was issued allowing seven days to correct the deficiencies for a tenant house located at 439 B Street. (right)

Miller did not comply and a citation was written on July 5, 2011.

The fine for the first citation is $365.50.

 

Also on July 5, 2011, Miller was issued a citation for his property located at 214 Beall Street. (left)

The police report stated that this was the second citation issued for the location and that Miller had failed to comply with the one issued on July 15, 2010.

The fine for a second citation is $703.00.

Miller was cited for the third time on July 5, 2011 for a house at 99 Pasley Street.

This is the third citation since September of 2010 for this property.

The fine for a third citation is $1,015.00

A fourth citation issued to a property owner for a specific location would carry a fine of $1,328.00.

Officials with the city office of building and zoning are currently investigating the need to strengthen the ordinance to provide for more recourse against owners that allow their properties to fall below current minimum standards.

Pike County All Stars Win

Pike County defeated the Thomaston-Upson All Stars 5-1 to force a deciding game Friday evening at 7 pm.

More on Upson Today Sports, click the link on the right.

All Stars Play Pike County

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars will play Pike County this evening at 7 pm in the championship game of the Dixie Youth District Baseball tournament for 11 and 12 year olds.

Pike County defeated Troup American Wednesday 4-3 in the semi-final round of the double elimination tournament.

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Pike County Tuesday 8-6 and can win the district with a victory today, if Pike County wins, the final game will be played Friday evening.

The games are played at the Little League Field across from Upson EMC.

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for ages 6-15. 6 & Under no charge.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Win

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Pike County Tuesday evening 8-6 to advance to the championship game of the Dixie Youth District Baseball tournament for 11 and 12 year olds.

For more click HERE or the Sports link on the right.

Police Beat

An Upson County man was attacked Saturday night. Tony Fagan, 45, of 256 Edna Circle told police that he had worked all day and fell asleep in a chair in the driveway of a home located in Lincoln Park. He was awakened by a blow to the face and knocked to the ground, Fagan stated that he recognized the three men attacking him but had no idea what provoked the assault.

Deputies met Fagan at the Upson County Regional Medical Center and were able to get a statement from him, he was treated for numerous blows to the face and head.

Marcus Antonio Harvey, 34, of 927 Palmer Drive, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Decassious Derrons Walker, 34, of 1109 Solomon Street, Thomaston were arrested later Saturday night and charged with battery.

A warrant was issued for the third assailant, Tonasis Evay Walker, 30, of 1227 Spring Street and he is still being sought by deputies.

An out of town guest staying at the Econo Lodge on US 19 north reported missing clothing from his room. Howard Griffin of Nashville, Tennessee told police that he checked out of room 134 at 10 am Sunday morning and didn’t realize that he had left two suits in the room, he returned to the motel at noon and was advised by the manager that the room had been cleaned and there were no clothes. The suits were valued at $180.00.

A counterfeit $100 bill was passed at the South Side BP Saturday. Security camera footage showed a heavy build, bald, white male wearing a green shirt and jeans enter the store and make a small purchase. He departed the parking lot in a red vehicle.

Fireworks

The Upson-Lee Athletic Boosters fireworks fundraiser continues in the Walmart parking lot.

The golf team will benefit from the efforts and are helping staff the location.

Kevin Strom won $200 worth of fireworks in the drawing held Monday afternoon.

Receive $10 off of any purchase of $50.00 or more (limit one per customer). Sale continues until noon Tuesday.

Thomaston Gymnasts Competes Nationally

Eight year old Daisy Rogers traveled to ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando over the weekend to compete in a national gymnastic competition.

Daisy scored a 9.350 on the balance beam and finished as the 11th all around champion in the level 2 competition.

This is her first year of gymnastics, she attends Legions of All Stars in Griffin and is training under the tutelage of Jodi Matthews.

Daisy qualified for nationals by winning the first meet she entered and has received awards from 10 different events throughout the state.

Team Georgia had over 100 girls competing against teams from Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, the Cayman Islands as well as areas in New England and the South Pacific. Two of Daisy’s teammates, Kaylan Andrews and Maya Harding won National Championships.

Spalding Sheriff Dies

Spalding County Sheriff Dee Stewart, 63, died early Sunday morning as a result of injuries sustained in an accident on June 23rd.

Stewart was on patrol in his pickup and was struck by his grandson Deputy Chad Gasaway in his personal vehicle at the intersection of Moose Lodge Road and US 19/41. He was flown to the Atlanta Medical Center and had been in a coma since the accident.

Stewart has been in law enforcement for over 40 years and was a close personal friend of Upson County Sheriff Don Peacock.

Thomaston-Upson All Stars Win

The Thomaston-Upson All Stars defeated Troup American 9-2 Saturday in the opening round of the Dixie Youth Baseball District Tournament for 11 and 12 year olds.

For more on the game click HERE or our Sports link on the right.

Drexel Daniel Update

Tuesday afternoon around 2 pm, Drexel Daniel, 64 of 118 Waller Road was seriously injured in an accident on US 19 north of Thomaston. He was life-flighted to the Atlanta Medical Center where he underwent surgery Wednesday morning to set a fractured femur and foot.

Daniel is currently in a medically induced coma but showing small signs of improvement each day and doctors are optimistic that he will be removed from the ventilator early next week.