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STD and teen pregnancies are above state averages in Upson
Editor’s note: The following is Part Two of a two-part series on the Community Health Needs Assessment of Upson County. Part One, which was in the Tuesday, March 12 edition, dealt with the rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory problems, and accidents. Part Two deal s with the rates of sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancies, and drug use in Upson County. Ashley Biles Associate Editor One of the top honors...
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Law enforcement, BOE discuss using private drug dog for searches
Local law enforcement agencies, along with the District Attorney, met with the Thomaston-Upson School Board at a called work session last week to discuss the school system’s use of Interquest Canine Detection for drug searches in the local schools. Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore, Thomaston Police Chief Dan Greathouse, District Attorney Scott Ballard and Assistant District Attorney Ben Coker told the BOE they had reservations about using the...
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Westmoreland remarks misinterpreted at rally; Congressman says background checks would be for people in foreign countries
Third District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland was one of several guest speakers talking about the Second Amendment at a “Day of Resistance” Rally at Bickley’s Lake in Thomaston on Saturday, Feb. 23. During his remarks, in which he referenced the United States giving assault weapons to Libya, Congressman Westmoreland stated, “If there is a bill that comes to the floor of the House, I’m going to try to put an amendment on it that says, anybody t...
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Local businesses donate to annual Easter Egg Hunt
Ashley Biles/ Thomaston Times The annual community Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Thomaston-Upson Business Association (TUBA) and its partners, the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) and the City of Thomaston, will take place this Saturday at the Greatest Generation Memorial Park from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with more than 4,000 eggs being hidden for the hunt. Winners of the prize egg in each age group will receive a brand new bicycle donated by St...
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Kids love it when the carnival comes to town
James Morton/The Thomaston Times The brightly colored lights of the carnival flash by in a blur as an excited youngster and his unknown companion take a turn on the Spinning Hearts ride at the carnival, which was on Highway 19 North in Thomaston last week.
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Four ULHS students perform with GMEA All-State Chorus
Submitted photo Four Upson-Lee High School students participated in the Georgia Music Educators Association’s All-State Chorus February 21-23 in Savannah, Georgia. Sarah Jordan, Reid Hightower, Grace Wolverton, and Brooke Barker were selected to participate in the prestigious All-State Chorus following a rigorous two-step audition process. The students performed for the public on Saturday, February 23, at the Savannah Civic Center. Prior to...
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February Employee of the Month
Ashley Biles | The Thomaston Times June Smith of the Probate Office was selected as the Upson County Employee of the Month for February 2013. Probate Judge Danielle McRae had the following to say about Smith: “It has been my absolute honor to work with Ms. June Smith. She started working with Upson County in December of 1985. That’ll be 28 years this December and that is impressive! I’m sure she has seen many interesting things in her time ...
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Sequestration hits Thomaston as U.S. Air Force Band cancels concert
Staff report While the full impact of sequestration won’t take effect until the end of this month, Thomaston is being affected by one of its first hits on the United State military. The United States Air Force Academy Concert Band, which was scheduled to play at the Greatest Generation Memorial Park on Saturday, March 23, has had to cancel its concert. The City of Thomaston and the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council, which were co-sponsoring th...
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Georgia’s first lady coming to read to pre-K students
Submitted Georgia’s first lady, Sandra Deal, will be visiting Upson-Lee Pre-Kindergarten on Thursday to read to the students. Deal’s education initiative, Read Across Georgia, was launched in 2012 in support of Governor Deal’s administrative goal of increasing the number of Georgia students reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Mrs. Deal will be reading to students across the state throughout the month of March. On March 14,...
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Upson-Lee High teacher Jim Argroves remembered
Larry Stanford Editor Hundreds of friends, parents, teachers, students, and former students filled the bleachers at Matthews Field Sunday afternoon to remember Upson-Lee High School teacher James R. “Jim” Argroves, who passed away at his home Friday morning. All had fond memories and stories of Mr. Argroves, one of the most beloved teachers at ULHS. Mr. Argroves was in education for 30 years, with the majority of that time spent at ULHS...
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Upson County ranks low in quality of health
Editor’s note: The following is Part One of a two-part series on the Community Health Needs Assessment of Upson County. Part One deals with the rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory problems, and accidents. Part Two, which will be in the Friday, March 15 edition, will deal with the rates of sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancies, and drug use in Upson County. Ashley Biles Associate Editor Every year Upso...
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Clearwater Paper announces closing of Thomaston plant
Clearwater Paper Corporation announced Wednesday morning they would be permanently shutting down the Thomaston plant, affecting a total of 150 employees. The tissue converting and distribution facility stated in a press release they would begin gradually shutting down equipment throughout the rest of this year, with operations being totally shut down by the first quarter of 2014. Most of the equipment from Thomaston will be integrated into th...
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Westmoreland remarks misinterpreted at rally; Congressman says background checks would be for people in foreign countries
Third District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland was one of several guest speakers talking about the Second Amendment at a “Day of Resistance” Rally at Bickley’s Lake in Thomaston on Saturday, Feb. 23. During his remarks, in which he referenced the United States giving assault weapons to Libya, Congressman Westmoreland stated, “If there is a bill that comes to the floor of the House, I’m going to try to put an amendment on it that says, anybody t...
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Change your clock, change your battery Sunday
ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens reminds Georgians that when they change their clocks to daylight saving time this Sunday, they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms. Hudgens said the annual change from standard time to daylight saving time is a great opportunity to make sure your smoke alarm is working as it should. “Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have s...
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Dual enrollment to be offered by ULHS and Southern Crescent Technical School
The Thomaston-Upson School System is pleased to announce the establishment of the Upson-Lee High School (ULHS) and Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) Dual Enrollment initiative for the fall of 2013. This initiative will allow qualified ULHS juniors and seniors to take college-level courses at SCTC and earn high school and college credits simultaneously, providing them with a head start on their post-secondary education while still in ...
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Heart 2 Heart Quilt takes shape on field
Larry Stanford/The Thomaston Times The Heart 2 Heart Quilt project organized by the Upson-Lee High School Beta Club held its first display of the donated quilt squares at Matthews Field Wednesday afternoon. The project is a way for the club to raise money for local and national charities while promoting a positive image for the community. For a $10 donation, a person, family or business could purchase a square, decorate it, and return it to...
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First Presbyterian of Thomaston debuting new organ in recital Sunday
Five months after static electricity from a lightning storm destroyed their old organ, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston invites the community to come and enjoy their new organ with them. Steven Woodell, organist/music director, at First Presbyterian Church, Rome, Georgia, will be presenting the dedicatory concert of the First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston’s new organ at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 10, 2013. Jim Capel,...
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Beloved teacher and mentor Jim Argroves passes away at the age of 63
Mr. James R. Argroves, age 63, of 353 Easy St. Thomaston, died at his home, Friday morning March 8, 2013. Mr. Argroves, taught Liturature, English and the Arts for 30 years, most of which was within the Upson County School System. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Argroves is the son of the late Jacob Carl Argroves and Mabel Collier Argroves Mullins. Mr. Argroves, is predeceased by his brother, Jerry Argroves, and sister, Carol ...
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Education board backs ‘Return to Play Act’
Larry Stanford Editor At their work session last week, the Thomaston-Upson Board of Education unanimously approved sending a message to State Representative Johnnie Caldwell that they are fully in support of House Bill 284, the “Georgia Return to Play Act.” If approved by the General Assembly and Governor Deal, the bill would require schools and organizations dealing with youth sports to provide concussion recognition education for coache...
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BOC approves TUIDA contract
Ashley Biles Associate Editor After tabling the issue of a one year contract with the Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority at their last meeting, the Upson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the document last Tuesday. Questions had been raised by Commissioner Steve Hudson about the language of the contract that alluded to the authority being cooperatively funded by both the county and the City of Thomaston, whe...
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Wind advisory in effect Wednesday until 7 p.m.
Upson County EMA Director Martha Anne McCarty issued the following release: A wind advisory for Upson County will be in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Small trees may be easily uprooted. weakened branches may fall. High profile vehicles should use caution as driving conditions will be hazardous. Wind advisory means that sustained winds of 20 mph or greater will persist. Expect gusts to be as high as 40 mph.
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More walking trails among planned park improvements
Ashley Biles Associate Editor Plans for the next phase of the Greatest Generation Memorial Park have been made with the hopes of breaking ground on the project beginning within the next year, thanks to funding from a grant with the Georgia Department of Transportation. A little over $600,000 is earmarked for this project and it is set to include three new walking trails, a pavilion, landscaping and two entryways to the park. The park co...
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Thomaston Church of Christ puts teachings into action
Ashley Biles Associate Editor There is a lot of truth to the saying “actions speak louder than words;” such as sometimes no matter how much you tell someone you care about them, if you never show them that you do, it doesn’t have as much of an impact. That was the way of thinking six ladies from the Church of Christ in Thomaston had at the beginning of the year, when they set about the task of making clothes to send to Honduras. Sarah a...
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Sertoma presents 4th graders with Declaration of Independence
Larry Stanford/The Thomaston Times As it does every year to celebrate Presidents Day, the Thomaston Sertoma Club visited the fourth grade classes at Upson-Lee North Elementary last week to talk about the Declaration of Independence and hand out copies of it. Standing with Mrs. K. Bentley’s 4 th grade class are Sertoma members (left to right) Shane Phillips, Phil Hancock, Al Brannan, Darren Day, Ronald Johnston, Russ Bridges, Timmy Daniel, ...
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