West Central Georgia News
Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold has announced his intention to seek re-election this November.
Qualifying begins Monday and continues for city elections. Council seats 1, 2 and 3 will also be on the ballot.
The driver of a newly purchased 2006 Buick swerved to miss an oncoming log truck, lost control and finally came to a stop in the trees on the opposite side of the road.
The accident occurred Friday afternoon on Triune Mill Road near the intersection of Andrews Chapel Road. The female driver of the car was transported to Upson Regional Medical Center by EMS with non life threatening injuries.
An Upson County school bus was involved in a minor accident with three vehicles while leaving Upson-Lee High School Friday afternoon.
The three cars had stopped in the drive leading out to Knight Trail, the bus driver made a left turn and couldn’t stop in time, he struck the car pictured at right and created a chain reaction that involved the two in front of it.
Two students in the cars complained of neck and back injuries and were transported to Upson Regional Medical Center, none of the students on the bus complained of injuries. The driver, Eddie Singletary has been with the school transportation department for 3 years.
There was minor damage to the bumper of the bus.
The Upson County Sheriff’s Department, Georgia State Patrol and Upson EMS responded.
The House and Senate passed the proposed redistricting maps late Thursday.
The biggest change occurred in the Senate, Upson County will no longer be in District 14 held by long time Democratic Senator George Hooks of Americus. Upson moves to Senate District 18 along with all of Crawford and Monroe counties as well as portions of Bibb, Peach and Houston counties. Republican Senator Cecil Staton of Macon currently holds the seat.
On the House side;
Republican Representative Billy Maddox will continue to represent Upson County although the number will be different, the 131st District will be comprised of Upson, Pike and the southern half of Lamar County.
The House map now goes to the Senate and the Senate map goes to the House, it’s doubtful that either chamber will do anything other than vote to pass them as submitted, the maps are then sent to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature and finally to the U.S. Department of Justice for their approval.
The Fairburn Police Department is requesting assistance from the public in reference to the murder of Angela Williams age 56 who was killed by gunfire in Fairburn, Georgia on June 30th.
Ms. Williams was currently residing in Manchester but is from the Molena area. Ms. Williams was the current spouse of Thomaston resident “Joe” Mattei.
Ms. Williams was shot several times in an industrial area and managed to drive nearly a mile to a Citgo station on Georgia 74
at I-85.
There, Williams got out of her car and asked a customer pumping gas for help before she collapsed, the customer called police and Williams was transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Anyone who has information that investigators might need to know are asked to contact Detective Sargent C. Israel at 770-683-4096.
By Debbie Lord
How much better can it get? Thomaston and Upson County truly have the best people in the world. No matter how hard the economy gets, the citizens and businesses of this town continue to give.
Boobie Ball 2011 was held at Hickory Ridge this year and it was a huge success. Close to 400 people attended S.U.P.P.O.R.T.’s annual fundraiser. The staff at Hickory Ridge served up some great food and the hospitality was second to none. New owners Jamie and Ashley Eubanks and Tony and Sonya Nicholson and their families made this year extra special. We can’t thank them enough for all their hard work. I encourage everyone to support the owners at Hickory Ridge. The food, beverages, the view and atmosphere will make for a fantastic evening.
Our volunteers show up early and leave late. They are all dedicated to helping improve the lives of our local cancer patients and their families. These folks literally pay to volunteer, to work long hours in the heat and they never complain. Unfortunately, everyone is affected by cancer, and our volunteers know how important it is to be able to lighten the load of our friends, family and neighbors while they are fighting for their lives. A special thanks to Sertoma Woman of Upson and Sertoma Men, the folks at Thomaston Ford (Jane, Royal, Earl and Molly Peavy and everyone else), Chris English with Custom Z Knives, Adam and family at Northside Pawn, Mark and Jeff at the Potting Shed, Johnny at Cart Mart, Pete at Reem's, WalMart, Jason Weems- I know I am leaving some folks out- But you all know who you are!
Our entertainment is the finest Upson County has ever seen. The entertainers volunteer too. They bring their bands at their own expense and rock the night away. This year we heard HR’s Classic Party Tunes, Due South, Sol Junky, Ben Ratliff, Connor Christian and Loose Change.
They were all amazing.
The fourth annual Boobie Ball netted close to $22,000 thanks to our sponsors, volunteers and the attendees. In the past three years S.U.P.P.O.R.T. has been able to offer financial assistance to 49 families who are battling cancer. The money raised this year will allow us to continue our efforts.
Below is our mission statement, which will tell you exactly what S.U.P.P.O.R.T. is and what it means to our community.
S.U.P.P.O.R.T. Supporting Upson Patients Properly Over Rough Times
Cancer… a disease. a destroyer of dreams, a break in your stride, unpredictable with uncertain outcomes.
Our mission… is to raise money for the purpose of aiding when personal finances fall short, splurging when smiles are few, assisting when the bills are many & improving the overall daily quality of life so that Upson County cancer patients can concentrate on what really matters, surviving.
Who we are… S.U.P.P.O.R.T. is a non-profit, local-formed organization. Candidates will be reviewed by our funds allocation committee & funds will be dispersed at our discretion yet kept within our community, Upson County.
We’re different… there is no lack of organizations trying to find a cure for cancer by raising money. We support, donate & volunteer to those causes without hesitation, every year. we encourage you to do the same. Our crusade is a little different in that we believe until there’s a cure, life with cancer is still a life worth living. While therapy, medicines & rehabilitation have their effects, so does the fulfillment of paying the utilities department a little sooner, taking the kids to the beach or enjoying a simple dinner for two.
What we do… Each year we hold an annual cancer relief fund raiser called Boobie Ball. The generous donations raised help us host an all day event of fun, food, music & most importantly an opportunity of hope for our friends fighting cancer. All proceeds are donated to a quality of life fund benefitting local Upson County cancer patients. You can donate year round at one of the following bank locations: Bank of Upson, Colony Bank, West Central GA Bank and United Bank.
On a personal note, S.U.P.P.O.R.T. was inspired by my little sister who is still fighting breast cancer. After witnessing her struggle first hand, I came back home to Thomaston and told my friends that I could not stand the idea that someone battling cancer was more worried about the financial burden than surviving. Because of my friends, S.U.P.P.O.R.T. was formed and the Boobie Ball has been embraced by our community.
Important information to know is the unique thing about our cancer relief fund is that anyone, with any type of cancer will qualify for assistance. If you know anyone who is battling cancer in Upson County and they need a little help or just some cheering up please email me at dlord@upsonbeacon.com.
Debbie Lord
Publisher
Upson Beacon
Earlier today a personal message was received by an Upson County resident on Facebook stating that a man had been mugged and robbed while on vacation in London, that all of his cash, credit cards and passport were stolen. There was a request for money to be sent to aid him in getting to the airport to come back to the United States and that the “loan” would be repaid tomorrow. The request was from a “friend” in Mosinee, Wisconsin on Facebook but completely unknown to the Upson county resident.
Major Dan Kilgore of the Upson County Sheriff’s Department told Upson Today that this type of scam is typical of request that appear frequently on the internet and cautioned residents to never send money or divulge personal information to anyone over the internet. Hackers will gain access to Facebook accounts and use them to send thousands of false messages without the owner being aware of the intrusion.
It is very common for Facebook users to “friend” total strangers while playing the popular games offered through the site but security settings should be adjusted to protect sensitive information. Never publish your complete date of birth, phone number or home address and do not post information that would alert anyone to the fact that you are not at home for an extended period of time.
Thirty year old Trushil Gupta of Thomaston was arrested around 3:40 pm this afternoon and charged with selling alcohol to a person under the age of 21.
The Upson County Sheriff’s Department had received a number of complaints concerning under age purchases of alcohol from the Sunoco at the intersection of East Moores Crossing Road and Barnesville Highway.
Deputies made the arrest after an undercover purchase from the location earlier today.
City
A city of Thomaston officer on routine patrol Tuesday spotted a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup with no license plates. The vehicle pulled into Ingles parking lot and the driver, Irvin Dexter Smith, 42, of 606 Denton Street got out and ran. Officers caught Smith and discovered that the vehicle was stolen from Terry’s Auto Sales on South Center Street. Owner Terry Peek found that the office door had been pried open and the keys taken from a desk drawer. Smith has been charged with theft by taking and burglary.
Upson EMC has reported the theft of five rolls of copper from a fenced area at their facility, the copper is valued at $148.90 per roll.
Thomaston detectives are investigating the purchase of a Maytag refrigerator for $899.10, a Maytag electric range for $673.20 and a Maytag washer for $710.10 using stolen credit cards. The refrigerator and range were purchased using a Visa reported stolen in California, the merchandise was ordered online from Home Depot in April and delivered to 42 Barnesville-Yatesville Road in Yatesville. The washer was also purchased online from Home Depot in April and delivered to 121 Lincoln Park Circle in Thomaston.
Burglary reported at 209 Jefferson Street, 3 Rocawear outfits and 5 gold rings with diamond clusters valued at $950.00 missing.
The West Village Retirement Home reported the theft of eggs and a watermelon from their cooler, security video showed two black juveniles enter the facility and leave with the items. Several of the eggs were broken on the grounds and the remains of the watermelon were found nearby.
The Thomaston City Council met Tuesday evening, Jim Davis of the Tax Assessors office presented the council with an overview of changes in the laws affecting the tax digest.
Changes of note included:
Davis advised the council that the valuation freeze that had been in effect for the past 3 years will not apply to the 2012 digest, but due to the economic downturn’s impact on values, the digest is likely to be lower next year.
City Clerk Dennis Truitt announced the qualifying dates and fees for the general election, they are as follows for council seats 1, 2, 3 and the mayor’s seat:
Mayor Hays Arnold congratulated Sarah Armstrong on the opening of her new dance facility located at 203 East Main Street.
The Upson County Commissioners held a called meeting Monday to set the 2011 millage rate.
At last Tuesday’s regular meeting, Commission Chairman Maurice Raines announced that the unused funds from the 2005 SPLOST would be refunded to taxpayers in the form of a rollback in this years property tax millage rate. The reduction would lower the rate approximately 18% to 19% below last years 12.72 mills.
The discovery of a Georgia Supreme Court ruling from a 2004 case, Haugen v. Henry County, that stipulates “excess” SPLOST funds cannot be declared until all projects identified in the SPLOST resolution have been completed, prohibits the commission from applying the refund until at least 2012.
With a 4-1 vote, the commission approved keeping the rate at 12.72 mills. Commissioner Spraggins cast the dissenting vote, stating that he felt the rate should be lower.
County
Deputies arrested 31 year old Gregory Alan Evans of 421 Jeff Davis Road and charged him with violation of Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property after answering a call at 1664 Hendricks Church Road early Sunday morning. Evans was discovered by the resident standing in his kitchen looking for something in the refrigerator and ordered at gunpoint to leave the premises. Evans then went outside and was sitting in a Ford Mustang belonging to the resident when deputies arrived.
Evans attempted to flee but was chased down and cuffed after being hit with one dart from a deputies Taser and getting entangled in a large vine. Evans was also charged with knocking out several windows in a vehicle located next door to the Hendricks Church Road home. A small amount of suspected methamphetamine was found in Evans pocket.
A 911 call Saturday afternoon reporting shots fired at 114 Vine Lane had both city and county officers responding to the scene, the first deputy to arrive discovered 65 year old Horace Bloodworth standing in the middle of the road with a hunting rifle in his hands. Bloodworth eventually put the weapon away and told deputies that he was protecting himself from two local funeral homes that were attempting to get him into a car to conduct his funeral. Bloodworth was transported to the Upson Regional Medical Center by EMS for an evaluation due to auditory and visual hallucinations but was dismissed later that evening.
Shortly after midnight, deputies were called to a neighboring address at 117 Maynard Drive where Bloodworth was reportedly threatening the residents with a piece of plastic pipe. Bloodworth was arrested for disorderly conduct and booked into the Upson County Jail.
A theft reported at 498 Lanier Road, a John Deere riding mower valued at $900 was taken.
The first incident occurred at 102 West County Road where David Michael Carter, 58, shot his estranged wife 47 year old Sandra Gail Carter twice with a 38 caliber handgun.
Carter then went to a friends residence at 328 Odom Road and shot himself in the front yard with the same weapon.
Carter had been living with his daughter
in Williamson since the couple separated.
Bo Story’s courageous battle with cancer ended today.
Bo is the three year old son of Scott and Britney Story, he was diagnosed with a Posterior Fossa Brain Tumor in August of 2009.
Surgery at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital successfully removed 99% of the tumor but doctors were forced to leave a small piece that was attached to Bo’s brainstem.
Following an aggressive chemotherapy regime, Bo developed a host of other health problems. In February of this year a second brain tumor was discovered and removed, this one much smaller than the original.
The cancer spread to Bo’s spine and liver, eventually overwhelming his young body, but not his soul. His life touched many people, some that never met him but became aware of his fight. Bo’s family spent the final hours of his life comforting him and preparing themselves for the inevitable.
Bo’s journey was short and difficult, his spirit transcended his illness, the legacy of his life is visible in his smile.
A memorial Service will be Saturday, August 20th at 3pm at Mountain View Baptist Church.
Charles Aaron Harrell, 55, of 430 Rose Creek Road lost control of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in a curve at 2020 Rocky Bottom Road and left the roadway.
Harrell is an experienced rider and was wearing a helmet, he suffered an injury to his nose and his shoulder. He was transported to the Upson Regional Medical Center by EMS.
The Rock Hill Fire Department, Upson County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia State Patrol responded to the accident scene.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) new location on Highway 36 east has passed it’s final inspection and received a certificate of occupancy.
At least one of the outstanding contractor liens on the property has been paid in full. K & S Lighting of Farmington, Utah has been paid the $27,551.98 owed the company. K & S owner Rob Kunzler is a member of the church.
Of the remaining outstanding liens, Complete Drywall of Molena, Georgia is owed $9,300.50 and has had no contact with the general contractor Patmac since April. Owner Ricky Boutwell told Upson Today that the company begin working on the project in January of this year and was paid $2,000 after submitting the first draw on the job. A second draw of $7,000 was submitted and the company was paid $5,000 of that amount.
In April a group of non-English speaking day workers were brought onto the job site and Boutwell was told that they would be working with him. Boutwell did not hire the workers and refused to be responsible for them due to insurance concerns and the inability to communicate with the workers. Boutwell advised Patmac that the company was pulling off the job for non-payment the same month.
Complete Drywall was never advised by Patmac that any of the work performed by the company was substandard nor was the company required to replace or redo any of the drywall installed. Since filing the lien, attempts to contact Patmac have been unsuccessful.
Virginia Well Company of Thomaston was contracted by Patmac to cap an abandoned well on the property. Owner Randy Chastain stated that his company filled the well with gravel, added a ten foot concrete cap and sealed the well as required by state law. The well was located where the main entrance to the church property has been constructed. Patmac owner P. C. Frailey personally assured Chastain, while on the church property, that he would be paid but Patmac has failed to do so.
Burt Steel, of Montgomery, Alabama has been in business since 1945 and for the past 30 years has specialized in the fabrication of custom steel systems for large buildings and shopping centers. The company was contracted by Patmac to fabricate and erect the structural steel used in the building.
The company performed the work to the specifications provided and has been forced to file two liens on the property in an effort to collect what is owed them. One lien is in the amount of $11,546.37 for the steel and the other is $5,470.00 for the erection. Company spokesman Bo Burt stated that the company has not heard from Patmac since efforts to collect the debt have been underway.
Local Thomaston attorney Mark Irvin has been hired by Frailey and Associates, D/B/A Patmac Contracting to work with their regular attorneys and represent them locally in a suit against Electrical Advantage and owner Tim McKissick.
Upson Today will have more from an interview with Irvin in a follow-up story.
The Sarah Armstrong School Of Dance and the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce held an emotional ribbon cutting this morning at the school’s new location.
The building at 203 East Main Street once housed Belk’s and Otasco but had been vacant for several years. A summer long remodeling project transformed it into the perfect setting for the school and provided a breath of life into an entire city block.
Chamber President Lori Smith told the group of around 45 that having the school locate downtown is critical to revitalizing the area and attracting future businesses.
Sarah stated that it’s the realization of a dream and gave a heartfelt thanks to a number of attendees that were instrumental in obtaining the new location.
Classes start on August 15th, the Christmas Recital is scheduled for December 10th.
For more information go to the schools website at www.saraharmstrongschoolofdance.com or click HERE.
The Upson County Sheriff’s Department has apprehended the
“Red Bull Bandit.”
Thirty five year old Melissa Ann McCormick of 109 Thompson Lane was arrested and charged with shoplifting after deputies identified her from
a security video taken at Flash Foods.
McCormick put the $4 can of Red Bull in her pocket and placed another one on the counter, she told the clerk that she had to go outside to get
her money and never returned.
Thomaston police have issued a citation to Eugene F. Nowicki of 1929 Yatesville-Barnesville Road for unsafe/unsanitary property.
Nowicki was issued a verbal warning on July 12, 2011 and failed to make any improvements to the property, his court date has been set for September 13th at 1:00 pm.
The tenant property is located at 105 G Circle.
The widening of U.S. 19 north has gotten underway, the first phase of the project will be the removal of the barrier wall and sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.
Construction crews were on the site this morning installing silt screen and preparing for the equipment to arrive that will be used to clear the right-of-way. The clearing work should begin by Monday.
The next step will be relocating the utility lines and installing a temporary wall from just south of Thomaston Ford across the bridge to a point near the Bank of Upson location. The actual demolition work on the bridge can not begin until early September due to insects that nest underneath the structure.
Traffic flow will not be interrupted during the construction and Department of Transportation engineers plan to keep two lanes open in each direction by shifting the lanes slightly during the addition on each side of the bridge then splitting the lanes to rebuild the middle of the bridge. The elevation of the bridge will not change.
The additions shown below were added to the bridge in 1978, the new bridge will be 72 feet wide and although it will still be two lanes in each direction, the lanes will be wider.
The contract for the bridge replacement is $4,218,979.00 while the widening of the road, with the addition of a concrete median, from the bridge to near Garner Street will cost $7,463,571.00, the general contractor is C. W. Matthews from Marietta.
The scheduled completion date for the project is
June 30, 2013.
The name on the bridge will remain the same.
City
A two vehicle accident at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and North Church Street resulted in three injuries Saturday afternoon. Martha Jones Marshall of 1546 Triune Mill Road driving a 1999 Chevrolet C15 pickup pulled into the path of a 1988 Chevrolet Fleetside pickup driven by Timothy Edward Patrick of 1836 Waymanville Road. Upson EMS transported both the drivers along with 60 year old Willie Marshall, a passenger in the 99’ Chevy. Rescue personnel used the “Jaws of Life” to access the Marshall vehicle.
Thomaston police have charged Ariel M. Sherlock, 19, of 218 E Street with shoplifting at Wal Mart after store security personnel found she had taken 7 DVD’s.
Zylorrean White and Jasmine Grantling, both 18, of 505 East Gordon Street were charged along with a juvenile after taking several pairs of shoes from Shoe Show on North Church Street.
$600 in copper stolen from A & B Heating and Cooling at 110 Crawley Street.
Anthony Mashaw Foster of 109 Avenue K was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects following a traffic stop at the intersection of North Church and West Walker Streets.
County
Deputies are investigating the theft of an 800 watt amplifier, 12 inch speaker and a 50 pound drum of Freon taken from a 1995 GMC Yukon at 1625 Roland Road. The passenger side window was shattered to gain access to the vehicle.
Deputy Kody Kennedy was forced to use his taser to subdue a suspect wanted on a Superior Court Bench Warrant. Jason Jones was spotted at Kelly’s Truck Stop on Highway 36 east and attempted to flee, Jones’ shirt was ripped off during a struggle and Kennedy followed him outside. When Jones did not comply with an order to stop, Kennedy fired his taser and applied a full four second charge. Jones was cuffed and transported to the Upson County Jail. Deputies later discovered several packages of methamphetamine left in a cooler by Jones and charged him with a violation of Georgia’s Controlled Substance Act and intent to distribute.
Georgia State Patrol
Post 26 investigated a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 36 and Rest Haven Road. Darell Brice, 36, of Mulberry Street was charged with following too close after the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup he was driving rear-ended a 1994 Ford Mustang driven by 30 year old Joseph Robert McGouirk of Green Forest Road, Yatesville. McGouirk and Brice were traveling westbound on Highway 36, McGouirk was attempting to make a left turn onto Rest Haven Road when the accident occurred. McGouirk complained of a neck injury and was taken to the Upson Regional Medical Center by EMS, Bates suffered a minor leg injury and refused to be transported.
The Thomaston-Upson County School Board held it’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the board approved the fiscal year 2012 budgets to be advertised. The proposed budget indicated a shortfall of $2,571,721.00. The budget can be viewed HERE.
Also on the agenda was the first reading of a revised medication policy and approval of a resolution for a new five year facilities plan completed the new business.
Medication Policy – Click HERE and scroll down to read the new policy.
The board designated November 21st and 22nd as furlough days for all personnel that work over 190 days.
The board approved the appointment of Enrique Ralls and Tammy Phagan as assistant principals at the high school.
With a three to one vote, the Upson County Commission denied the conditional use permit for a 250 foot cell tower on Lindsey Road in the northeast corner of the county. Local resident Robert Richardson (right) spoke against the tower, questioning the potential effects of radiation, the addition of tower lights to the skyline and the need for the tower, his property adjoins the proposed tower site and has been in his family since 1825.
Commissioner Rusty Blackston questioned the tax implications of including the entire 18.08 acre tract, he abstained from the vote to avoid any conflict since he owns nearby property with a cell tower located on it.
The board will hold a public hearing on September 13th at 7:00 pm on the potential closing of Langford Drive. The dead end road is off the east side of Spring Creek Road.
The commissioners will meet Monday to set the 2011 millage rate, a one time reduction of 18% to 19% is expected due to the return of unused 2005 SPLOST funds. Chairman Raines stated that the county has already experienced a $10,000,000 reduction in the tax digest due to reduced property values and that a millage increase in 2012 is inevitable.
The county owned property adjacent to 105 Summer Trace will be sold, the tract is near the Silvertown Ball Park and is no longer needed. The property will be advertised before bids are accepted.
The board accepted a proposal by the Three Rivers Regional Commission to begin replacing all the road signs in the county that don’t currently meet reflectivity guidelines. In addition to being easier to see at night, the signs will have larger letters on them.
Commissioner Blackston asked the board to send a letter to postal authorities encouraging the continued operation of the post office at The Rock.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Upson County until 4:45 pm this afternoon.
County
A Savannah skydiver, 24 year old Joshua Robert Peterson, suffered a leg injury Saturday afternoon after making a hard landing near the entrance to the Solo facility on Del Ray Road. He was transported to Spalding Regional Medical Center by Upson EMS.
Deputies have taken two warrants for Jason Hill, 38, of 1625 Roland Road for theft of electricity from Upson EMC. The meter had been tampered with and by-passed twice. Hill fled out the rear of the dwelling when deputies arrived to arrest him.
Theft reported at 615 Fire Tower Road, a tenant moved out of a house and the owner discovered that the central air conditioning unit was missing along with a 4X4 trailer, a mobile home hitch and an antique bicycle, the total value of all the items is $6,520.00.
Air conditioning unit valued at $5,000 reported stolen at 143 Church Road, the vacant property is owned by the Bank of America.
A three vehicle accident occurred around 5:45 pm this afternoon on Highway 74 West.
Kendra Nash of 4473 Highway 74 was traveling westbound in a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo and attempted to turn left into the driveway of her home.
Nash pulled into the path of a 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup traveling eastbound driven by 42 year old
Stacy Becerra of Pitts Drive.
The third vehicle involved, a 2006 BMW X-3 driven by 18 year old Haley Hirsh of Macon was traveling westbound when the Grand Cherokee was knocked into her path by the impact.
Hirsh is a student at Auburn University and was on her way to school, her father was a passenger in the BMW and was not injured.
The Thurston Fire Department, Upson County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia State Patrol responded to the accident.
Alltel Wireless will be the newest addition to the business community in the Northside area. Construction is underway to remodel the old Bank of Upson location.
Alltel will open the retail store in early September and expects to hire 4 to 6 staff members with sales and management experience.
According to a company spokesperson, Alltel is excited to offer their products and services in the Thomaston area and is expecting to significantly expand their market share in the community.
Their “Best Value Unlimited Plans” offer the most affordable and flexible options for those who love to talk, text and browse the web. Alltel Wireless also provides customers its exclusive “My Circle” feature – unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15 or 25 numbers on any network and unlimited texting and data to their circle on select plans – as well as the innovative “Free Fridays” feature, where all calls on Friday are free on select plans.
Thomaston Police Chief Dan Greathouse was recognized for his outstanding dedication and commitment to law enforcement by the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC) at their Annual Summer Training Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
ROCIC is an organization representing approximately 250,000 sworn law enforcement officers in the southeastern and southwestern states, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Their law enforcement agencies work together to combat multi-jurisdictional criminal activities and to promote officer safety. ROCIC’s member agencies are represented throughout all levels of government – municipal, county, parish, judicial, district, state, tribal and federal.
Chief Greathouse is a 37 year law enforcement veteran, he begin his career in 1974 with the Upson County Sheriff’s Department as Captain of the Investigative Division and Commander of a Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 132nd session.
In addition, Chief Greathouse served as vice president of the Georgia Narcotics Officers Association and he is the Georgia Delegate to the National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition. He previously served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Network through membership with the Georgia State Intelligence Network.
Chief Greathouse was elected to the ROCIC Board of Directors in 1996, he served two terms as Chairman of the Board from June 2000 to June 2001 and from July 2010 to July 2011. He also served two terms as Board Vice Chairman and Secretary.
ROCIC was created in 1973 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It serves as a vehicle for the collection, evaluation, analysis, dissemination and storage of intelligence regarding the multi-jurisdictional activities of organized crime.
ROCIC offers a variety of services to it’s members, including automated, centralized law enforcement databases with nationwide connectivity using internet technologies, intelligence analysis, bulletins and publications, surveillance equipment loans, confidential funds, long distance call patching as well as law enforcement and other safety training. In 2010, member agencies used ROCIC services to recover more than $1.8 billion in stolen property and narcotics related assets.
ROCIC is one of six Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) centers located across the United States which are funded through the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The Thomaston-Upson County School Board held a called meeting Thursday night to set the millage rate for 2011. The board voted to remain at 14.3 mills, the same rate as 2010.
A marker recognizing the history of R. E. Lee Institute was dedicated Thursday evening on the grounds of the former school.
Historical Society Vice President Gary Self introduced the speakers, Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold, County Commission Chairman Maurice Raines and society secretary Sue Grubb to the group of approximately 40 that included several former teachers.
The marker states the following:
R.E. Lee Institute
1875 – 1992
“Proud To Be From R. E. Lee”
Education in Upson County grew from small private schools in 1824 to a public school that was charted R. E. Lee Institute in 1882. Graduates distinguished themselves by becoming doctors, lawyers, Senators, State Representatives, athletes, famous soldiers and one an Assistant Attorney General of the United States. There were literary figures, who claimed national fame, and a few were presented at the White House; some on national news, in the motion picture business and others became authors of several books.
Football reigned as king of sports winning one state championship, two state runners-up and 12 regional championships. Baseball produced two national league players while basketball provided the school with the Jaycee Invitational and one state championship. Lee’s ROTC rifle team won eighteen state and eleven national championships. After integration in 1970 and consolidation in 1973, Lee closed it’s doors in 1992. Three of the nine buildings became the Thomaston-Upson Government Complex in 1998. The remaining buildings are currently serving in community capacities.
Upson Historical Society
For a slideshow of more pictures, click HERE.
Burglary reported at 500 Rose Creek Road, the owner had been out of town for an extended period of time and returned to find that the hot water heater, electrical switches and outlets, a vanity and light fixtures had been removed from the home.
An orange Handler 140 welder and an H-10052 gun valued at $300 taken from a storage shed at 477 Emmaus Church Road.
More mail box vandalism, this time at 195 Peachbelt Road where a fire was started in the box before it was knocked down.
A dedication ceremony will held for the placement of a historical marker in front of the government complex this evening at 6 pm.
A heat advisory means that a period of dangerous heat is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will create heat index readings of at least 105 degrees and very warm overnight temperatures. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of direct sunshine. Remember the elderly, very young and people with heart conditions are most at risk in extreme heat. Friends, relatives and neighbors should check on people who may be at risk. Never leave any persons, especially infants or young children or animals in a closed parked vehicle.
When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing
when possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, OSHA recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool
and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency - call 911.
Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold said, “This would have made Ed Bell happy, the last thing he would have wanted was to cost the city any money.” With that, the council approved putting Bell’s unexpired term on the general election ballot for November 8th. Qualifying will be held along with the regular election and the city will have no additional expense to fill the vacancy.
Seats held by council members Patsy Perdue and Gary Atwater will also be on the ballot along with the mayor’s.
Council approved the expenditure of $40,000 to install security cameras at City Hall, Weaver Park, The Greatest Generation Park and at the Park Street Park.
A city ordinance was approved to allow for the buying of electricity from customers that install solar panels, wind turbines and other energy generating equipment. The ordinance is required by state law and spells out the specifics on how much may be purchased and minimum equipment needed to connect to the city electric grid.
The Electric Cities of Georgia awarded the City of Thomaston the System Achievement Award at Tuesday’s meeting. It had been three years since a city was recognized with the award. It is recognition of the capital and maintenance improvements the city has made over the past decade. The city has reinvested approximately $1.6 million into the electric system infrastructure and an additional $468,000 to acquire new, heavy duty trucks for line work. In addition to that, the city has implemented several annual maintenance programs such as tree trimming, pole inspections, pole maintenance, pole replacement, transformer upgrades and meter testing. The city has expended, on average, more than $125,000 annually on such programs over the past decade.
Dan Thompson, ECG Senior Engineer stated, “The City of Thomaston has done a tremendous job improving their utility system. The city takes it’s responsibility to provide reliable power to it’s customers seriously and it shows through the major improvements they have made.”
Mayor Hays Arnold said, “We have made infrastructure maintenance and replacement a top priority in Thomaston. This is a positive recognition of the leadership provided by Electric Superintendent Cornelious Ivy and the city electric department staff.”
This recognition is especially remarkable considering that the average household in Thomaston using 1,000 KWH would have paid $27.85 more last winter if paying Georgia Power Company rates. The dollar savings amount is more during a summer month. Small businesses pay less also depending on their level of usage and power demand factor.
It’s seclusion was part of what the family enjoyed.
Sometime over the past 48 hours a fire started and consumed the entire structure without anyone seeing or hearing a thing.
A family friend that helps keep the grass mowed discovered the smoldering ashes late Tuesday afternoon.
The Thurston and Northside Fire Departments responded to the call but could do nothing more than put out a couple of old railroad ties that were still smoking.
Upson County deputies have taken a warrant for Thomas Allen Teague of 190 Green Forest Road in Yatesville, charging him with theft of services for by-passing the electrical meter at the residence.
Southern Rivers Energy discovered the illegal splices and determined that $734.00 in electricity had been used during the past few months.
Mrs. Rushie Dykes Starley died Monday, two months past her 108th birthday. She held the title of Upson County’s oldest resident and one of just two or three her age to survive statewide.
Mrs. Starley was born May 29, 1903 in Bleckley County, Georgia. Her mother died when she was five years old and she lived with various relatives as a young child. She remembered picking cotton as early as age seven and could recall the harsh times that were typical of farm life in the early 1900’s. She retired from B. F. Goodrich after working over twenty years at Martha Mills.
Mrs. Starley’s husband Charlie died in 1941 and she never remarried. They had two children and four grandchildren. The great and great-great grandchildren number around 45 today.
Mrs. Starley lived at 200 Garner Street and until recently was still very mobile, just a couple of days ago she was sitting in her chair and enjoying being with her family. She was very humble and kind, the type of person that would help a stranger without hesitation.
Funeral arrangements are on the obituary page.
Retired clerk of superior court Nancy Adams died this morning at the Medical Center of Central Georgia. She had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack last Friday.
Funeral arrangements are on the obituary page.
The 1998 Dodge Dakota belonged to James Helms of 2347 Triune Mill Road and had been left at the residence earlier in the day, it was extensively damaged.
According to Rock Hill Fire Chief Nicky Hamby, the fire was likely started by an electrical shortage.
City
Thomaston police arrested a 14 year old juvenile after security personnel at Wal Mart observed the young man remove the tags from a back pack and attempt to leave the store, the back pack is valued at $26.88.
Officers have identified Diane Marie Gordy of 214 B Street as the person in a security video seen taking fruit and candy from a closed area at Upson Regional Medical Center, she had previously been seen in the emergency room with a male patient.
Theft reported at 411 Eleventh Avenue, rings valued at $1,400.00 missing from a jewelry box. A black Dell desktop computer reported stolen at 108 Avenue J and $760.66 in cash disappeared from a deposit bag in the safe at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
County
Upson County deputies along with personnel from the Thurston Fire Department rescued a group on the Flint River over the weekend. Donald Hunt, Wesley Hunt, Dylan Nelson and Jason Ruffin had been stranded just above Table Rock for several hours. The four had been floating the river with friends when they encountered a woman and a child that had been left on a rock following an argument with her companion. The woman and child were transported by canoe to the Highway 36 bridge and authorities were alerted to the condition of the four men. Firemen used four wheelers to reach the group, Wesley Hunt was treated at the scene for dehydration.
Deputies arrested Brandon John Jones of 115 Reeves Terrace and charged him with the theft of a 2003 Honda 4-wheeler from 2392 Crest Highway.
Mailbox vandalism reported at two locations on Rest Haven Road, the boxes at 953 and 959 were damaged.
Theft reported at 37 Rose Creek Road, a 20 foot aluminum ladder was taken. Seven auto batteries stolen from The Cart Mart at 1773 Highway 19 North and an LG flat screen TV valued at $600.00 was taken from a residence at 104 Robinson Street.
