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IMMEDIATE OPENINGS
on Dedicated 911 Ambulance Shifts
• UPSON COUNTY •
Paramedics $18.00/hour ($61,000 annually)
AEMTs $16.00/hour ($54,000 annually)
EMTs $14.00/hour ($47,000 annually)
Apply at ourcommunityambulance.org
Council OKs $69,000 for Downtown ‘Master Plan’
Rural Zone Designation Would Expedite Redevelopment ofThomaston DDA
By Bridge Turner
Managing Editor
City council members
approved almost
$300,000 in expenses last
week, including a down
town “master plan” and
market analysis necessary
for Thomaston to achieve
“Rural Zone Designation”
by the state of Georgia.
Rural Zone Designa
tion would enable devel
opers, property owners,
and employers to apply for
tax credits after purchas
ing property and making
capital improvements or
creating jobs, according to
City Manager Russell
Thompson, thereby en
hancing the revitalization
of the downtown area.
WLA Studio submitted
a $69,000 bid for the proj
ect, which must be com
pleted by the Rural Zone
application deadline of
September, then credits
likely would not be issued
until 2022. Thompson
called the bid “pricey,” but
recommended approval by
the council.
“The city has never had
a formal downtown master
plan other than Street-
scape,” he said, adding
that the affected area
Master Plan, 8A
Residents Rally to Reverse
Increasing Rate of Litter
Community Clean Up(son) Held, Set to Regroup Feb. 20
Dozens of individual and group volunteers gathered Saturday to “Clean Upson County” as part
of the Community Clean Upson initiative. See the story and photos on Page 7A.
Commission Eyes
‘Broadband Ready’
Status as Priority
Upson County Com
missioners recognized the
importance of being certi
fied as a “broadband
ready” community during
a work session last week,
aligning with Tuesday’s
announcement by Gov.
Brian Kemp that plans are
under way to provide rural
middle Georgians with
high-speed internet serv
ice.
Providing enhanced in
ternet service has been a
priority at the state level,
according to County Man
ager Jason Tinsley, who
told commissioners that
becoming a “broadband
ready” community would
qualify Upson for grant
funding. Acquiring status
would require a collective
effort involving the county,
the City of Thomaston,
and the City of Yatesville,
Tinsley said.
Commissioners likely
will consider a resolution
this month that outlines a
“plan objective” involving
broadband service, includ
ing an ordinance that pro-
Broadband, 8A
Completing Nearly 5 Decades,
Rex King Retires
After 47 Years in Ministry, King is ‘Immensely Blessed’
‘Do Good by My House’
1920s Shotgun House Preserves Upson’s Black History
More than 100 years ago, Frances Walker began settling into her
three-room shotgun house on King’s Avenue. At the time, Walker had
no idea that her humble three-room home would later be preserved
and serve her community as the Thomaston-Upson African American
Museum. See the story on Page 2B.
City Mails Adjusted Bills
After Electric Rate Error
By Luke Haney
Lifestyles Editor
The boisterous echoes
of Dr. Rex King’s expres
sive, broadcaster-like
voice, which filled the
sanctuary of Mountain
View Baptist Church for
the past 43 years, will soon
diminish as King retires on
Feb. 14. King, who began a
pastoral transition a year
and a half ago, welcomes
Ryan Christopher, incom
ing senior pastor, into the
pulpit. Members of the
8 10499 02461 2
congregation celebrated
King’s tenure this past
Sunday.
Although King spent
the majority of his years in
ministry at 2569 Jeff Davis
Road, his calling came sev
eral years earlier.
Growing up, King
dreamed of being a radio
broadcaster and began
working at WSFT during
high school. After obtain
ing two degrees in engi
neering, his dreams had
not faded and he returned
to WSFT as a disc jockey.
“The Lord called me to
preach and it all changed,”
said King. The first 16
years of King’s ministry
were also spent utilizing
King Retires, 8A
For the City of Thom
aston billing cycle that was
mailed on or around Feb.
1, an error has been identi
fied in the rate application,
according to a press re
lease from the office of
City Manager Russell
Thompson.
The city council ap
proved a power cost ad
justment to electric rates
that became effective Jan.
1. However, the numerical
value was incorrectly en
tered into the city’s billing
software and all city bills
were affected. Values have
been corrected in the city’s
billing software, and new
utility bills were printed
and mailed Friday, Feb. 5.
For customers who al
ready have paid their util
ity bill, at their option they
City Bills, 8A
Dr. Rex King
(0 Griffin Ob-Gyn
NOW SEEING PATIENTS IN THOMASTON
CALL TO MAKE AN
APPOINTMENT TODAY:
403 WEST MAIN STREET
TUESDAY-THURSDAY 8:30-4:30
(770)227.5505
(706)646.2888
Leigh Ann Story, CNM; Bryan Krepps. HO; Jim Dunaway, MD; Lou Hameli, MO; Holly Harrison, PA*C;
Nadine Nolting, CNH; Enid Lofters-Jones, MD; Hegan Potter. HD; Katya Brickman. CNM; Ashley Johnson, PA
