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Ashley Biles

Associate Editor

Ask any of the patrons of the Thomaston-Upson County Senior Center what they think of the center and they will quickly brag on Director Donna Auth and the job she does running the place. It is no secret that they enjoy time spent there with their friends. However, word is quickly spreading on what a great center it is with Auth being awarded “Host Agency of the Year” for senior centers throughout Georgia.

The award is given out each year to the director of a senior center, who the Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging (SCAAA) feels has done an outstanding job running their agency and working with the Senior Employment Program which provides job training and placement for seniors 60 years old and up. In the five years that Auth has been director, she has hired six employees from the program.

Auth was nominated for the award by Deloris Wood, Director of the Older Worker Program for SCAAA and was selected out of over 400 employment entities in the state who employ workers 60 and over. During the awards ceremony held Friday, January 18 in Stone Mountain, Wood told Auth that while everyone did an outstanding job of running their centers, she did it the best of everyone.

“I was very surprised to get the award,” said Auth. “I was just doing my job; I love the people that I work with.”

County Manager Jim Wheeless stated this is a great thing for both Auth and the Senior Center.

“We are all excited and proud for her and the center,” said Wheeless. “She does an excellent job of managing and operating the senior center.”

Auth told the Board of Commissioners at their meeting last Tuesday evening that Thomaston and Upson County was been mentioned on CNN that morning for receiving the award.

The Thomaston-Upson Senior Center offers a variety of activities for Upson County residents 50 years old and up, such as Fit and Fun exercise classes, bridge, bingo, arts and crafts, billiards and a meal program. It is located at 302 South Bethel Street in the old R.E. Lee Dining Hall (also known as Memorial Hall) and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.