UPSON CO DONATES OVER $200K IN GOODS TO HELENE VICTIMS

FORMER UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RUSTY BLACKSTON TOLD 101 NEWS VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED OVER $200,000 WORTH OF RELIEF SUPPLIES TO HELENE VICTIMS IN ECHOLS COUNTY IN SOUTH GEORGIA, SUNDAY-- COLLECTED FROM A 53 FOOT TRAILER THAT HAD BEEN PARKED AT THOMASTON WAL MART. RUSTY SAID THE TRAILER WAS 90% FULL AND A FARMER IN STATENVILLE,GA. VOLUNTEERED HIS MIGRANT LABOR TO UNLOAD IT.

THE ECHOLS COUNTY SHERIFF WAS INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT IN A COUNTY WHERE MANY SECTIONS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER -- BUT POWER CREWS WERE EVERYWHERE AT WORK. ONE LADY WHO FINALLY GOT POWER TOLD RUSTY SHE GOT HER FIRST HOT BATH IN 9 DAYS. HE DESCRIBED THE DEVASTATION TO THAT AREA AS UNBELIEVABLE.

RUSTY WENT ON TO THANK ALL THE THOMASTON CHURCHES, VOLUNTEERS, AND THOSE WHO DONATED SUPPLIES.