News, Obituaries, & Sports

CITY  OF  THOMASTON  MAYOR  J.D. STALLINGS  HAD  TO  BREAK  A  2-2  TIE  TO  APPROVE  THE 2026  BUDGET  AT  A  BUDGET MEETING    THURSDAY- A   3-2  VOTE.  COUNCIL MEMBERS  JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS  AND  LAKETHIA  REEVES  VOTED  AGAINST  THE  MOTION  BY  MAYOR  PRO TEM  TROY  CHANEY  TO  APPROVE. COUNCILMAN  MIDDLEBROOKS  STATED  HE  OPPOSES  THE  UTILITY  INCREASES  IN  THE  BUDGET    AND    HIS  CONSTITUENTS  ARE   PAYING  FOR  SERVICES  THEY  DON'T  NEED WITH  GARABAGE  COLLECTION

Quad Media Statement Facility Closure Announcement December 16, 2025 Quad announced today that it has made the difficult decision to permanently close its printing  facility in The Rock, Georgia, in March 2026. This decision reflects ongoing industry declines in long-run print categories—like weekly magazines the plant was built to produce—driven by frequent postal rate hikes, which have exceeded inflation, as well as persistent U.S. Postal Service delivery delays.“Making dec

SILVERTOWN  BAPTIST  CHURCH  IN  THOMASTON HAS  POSTED ON  SOCIAL  MEDIA THAT  UNLESS  EXTRAORDINARY   RESOURSES  AND  OPPORTUNTIES  ARE  FOUND THE CHURCH WILL  CONTINUE  SERVICES THROUGH  JANUARY  AND  THEN  SETTLE  REMAINING     FINANCIAL  OBLIGATIONS  AND  TRANSFER  THE PROPERTY  AND  UNUSED  FUNDS  TO  THE  CENTENNIAL  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  THE  CHURCH  LISTED WHAT  IT  CALLS  A  PESSIMISTIC ACCOUNTING  OF  WHAT  ITS  TRYING  TO  OVERCOME   IN  REPAIRS  AND  RESTORATIONS

From the office of: MARIE G. BRODER DISTRICT ATTORNEY Griffin Judicial Circuit 12/11/25 On December 10, 2025, an Upson County jury convicted Frederick Bernard Durham of Malice Murder, Felony Murder (2 counts), Aggravated Assault (2 counts) and Concealing the Death of Another.  The Honorable Ben J. Miller of the Upson County Superior Court sentenced the Defendant to serve life in prison without parole followed by five years i

A  SPECIAL  ELECTION  WILL  BE  HELD   TUESDAY  JAN.  20,  2026   IN  UPSON, MONROE, CRAWFORD,  PEACH  AND PORTIONS OF  BIBB  AND  HOUSTON  COUNTIES FOR  GA.  SENATE  DISTRICT 18  WITH  THE  RESIGNATION OF  SENATOR  JOHN  KENNEDY  WHO  IS  RUNNING  FOR  LT.  GOVERNOR  IN  2026. QUALIFYING  WILL  BE HELD  MONDAY  DEC.  15TH THRU  WED. DEC.  17TH  AT  THE  GA.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE'S OFFICES IN  ATLANTA.  ACCORDING  TO  UPSON COUNTY  ELECTIONS  SUPERINTENDANT  PAM RELEFORD    Q

AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING  THE  UPSON COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  DENIED  AN  APPEAL  FROM  10  ACRES  LAKE  LLC  ON  ROLAND  ROAD   FOR  A  DECISION  BY  THE PLANNING  COMMISSION  ON  A  PRELIMINARY  PLAT  FOR  A  SUBDIVISON  PLAN. THE  COMMISSIONERS  ALSO  APPROVED  THE 2026  BUDGET  AT   THEIR  LAST  SCHEDULED  MEETING  OF  THE  YEAR.  COUNTY  MANAGER  LONNIE JOYCE  TOLD   101  NEWS  NO  PROPERTY  TAX  INCREASE  ANTICIPATED  IN  THE 26  BUDGET  BUT  SOLID  WASTE  COLLECTION  RATES

GRIFF IN, GA –  The Board of Education has named two finalists for the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS). The finalists are GSCS Interim Superintendent Dr. Donald Warren and Dr. Stephanie Johnson, current Georgia Department of Education Office of School and District Improvement Deputy Superintendent/Chief Turnaround Officer. A town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 6, from 6-8 p.m. in the Griffin Auditorium

State Senator John F. Kennedy Macon, GA –  Today, State Senator John F. Kennedy (SD-18) announced that he will be resigning his seat in the Georgia State Senate, effective immediately.  “It has been an incredible honor to serve and represent the 18th District in the Georgia State Senate these past 11 years,”  said Senator John F. Kennedy.  “I want to thank the people of Crawford, Monroe, Peach, Upson, Bibb and Houston counties for their trust and support as we’ve worked toget

Bishop Road, from Jugtown Road to Highway 19, will be closed to through traffic until further notice, for the repair of drain pipes underneath the roadway according to officials.

INCUMBENT  MUFFIN  GIBSON  WAS  ELECTED   AS  UPSON  COUNTY  PROBATE  JUDGE  IN  TUESDAY'S    RUN-OFF  ELECTION.  JUDGE  GIBSON  POLLED   1508  VOTES   57  POINT 45% AND  CHALLENGER  DUSTIN  FORDHAM  RECEIVED  1117  VOTES 42 POINT 55%.  GIBSON  CARRIED  EVERY  PRECINCT  EXCEPT  SALEM    AND  SHE  CARRIED  THE  EARLY  VOTING. JUDGE  GIBSON  WAS  SERVING  AS  INTERIM  PROBATE JUDGE  AFTER  PREVIOUS  PROBATE  JUDGE  DANIELLE  MCRAE   RESIGNED.   Upson County Probate Judge Muffin

INTERFOR  THE  CANADIAN  FORESTRY  PRODUCTS    COMPANY   WITH  A  LUMBER  SAW MILL OFF  36 EAST   IN  UPSON  COUNTY   HAS  ANNOUNCED  IT WILL  BE  SHUT DOWN   FRIDAY  NOV. 21ST  THRU   FEB.  7TH   AND    HAS  REQUESTED  A $165 MILLION   INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE   BOND   ISSUE  FROM  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  INDUSTRIAL  DEVELOPMENT  AUTHORITY  WITH    $85  MILLION  OF  THE   FUNDING  TO  BE  USED  FOR  A  NEW PLANER MILL  COMPLEX.  NEW  EQUIPMENT   INSTALLATION  REPORTEDLY  IS  PLANNE

AIR LIFE-1    A  HELICOPTER  MEDI-VAC  COMPANY  SERVING  UPSON  COUNTY  FOR   MANY  YEARS  IS  INVITING  THE  PUBLIC  TO A  GRAND  OPENING  OF  ITS NEW  BASE, WED. NOV. 19TH  11AM  TILL  1PM  AT  THE THOMASTON-UPSON  AIRPORT .  A  COPTER  WILL  BE  ON  SITE  FOR  THE  CELEBRATION.    Photo courtesy of John Spillers

Congressman Brian Jack welcomed the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner to Pike County. Together, they attended services at Christ Chapel and Harvest Time Revival Church in Zebulon. "I pledged to bring America's leaders to our communities to showcase the incredible things happening across Georgia's 3rd Congressional District," said Congressman Jack . "I'm honored to keep that promise, and we're already planning more visits in the coming months." During eac

Pike County deputies responded on Sunday , at 8:53a.m., to a report of an aircraft that had crashed at 4824 Highway 362. Responding deputies did locate a plane located in a field. The pilot was not injured and stated that he had taken off from Peachtree City, en route to Florida, when an engine failure occurred causing the plane to go down

PUBLIC NOTICE   CITY OF THOMASTON, GEORGIA   FISCAL YEAR 2026 (FY26) BUDGET REVIEW & ADOPTION (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026)   PUBLIC HEARING ON FY2026 BUDGET: A Public Hearing on the FY2026 Budget is scheduled for December 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the City County Meeting Room located at 106 East Lee Street on the main floor. At this meeting, the Mayor and City Council will receive comments about the Annual Operating Budget for the City of Thomaston.   PROPOSED BUDGET AVA

FAYETTEVILLE — On Nov. 14, Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Fletcher Sams announced his retirement effective Jan. 31, 2026. Sams previously served as the District Attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit and served as judge for the State Court of Fayette County. Since 2010, he has served as a Superior Court Judge for the Griffin Circuit. "There comes a time when older judges should step aside and encourage younger blood to carry the torch," Sams wrote in a lette

Lifetime Achievement Award Mr. Eddie Rogers  New Business of the Year - Fish Peddler Catering Small business of the year - Results by Patrick’s Here’s looking at you - Sunnyside Country Store Executive of the Year - Debbie Lord Outstanding Service Award - Brightmoor Hospice  Unity in the Community - Gavin Reid Mission  Lifetime Achievement Award Mr. Eddie Rogers

On Wednesday November 12, 2025 at approximately 6:38 a.m. Pike County deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Highway 74 near Dripping Rock Road. Reports indicated a passenger car struck a tractor trailer head on. Upon arrival the driver, Kaylee Harrison, 21, of Woodbury was found to be deceased.  The passenger in her vehicle, Dakota Anthony, 34, of Molena was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital by Air Life. The driver of the semi, Corwillieous McDowell, 45, of Jac