About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2021)
Operation Crystal Web’ Results in 140 Warrants Upson Sheriff, DA Marie Broder Help Bust Meth Distribution Network The following story was submitted by Larry Stanford of the Rockdale Citizen: Butts County Sheriff Gary Long and officials from 16 other local, state, and federal law enforce ment agencies held a news conference Friday after noon to discuss the suc cess of “Operation Crystal Web,” a five-month inves tigation of a methamphe- tamine distribution network across middle Georgia that began in Butts County and culmi nated with multiple ar rests. More than 140 arrest warrants were executed Friday on 70 suspects in 12 counties believed to be part of the network, and on 20 more suspects in Spalding County. More than 125 deputies and po lice officers from the dif ferent agencies took part in the arrests. As of 2 p.m. Friday, 45 of 70 suspects had been taken into cus tody and brought to Butts County for booking, and 12 of 20 more suspects were arrested in Spalding County. Long said his office began the investigation last August and soon real ized the enormity of the operation. "We were targeting what we thought was a small group in our county," Long said. "It did n't take long at all to real ize how big this was going to be. I made the deter mination to partner with numerous other local, state, and federal agencies Crystal Web, 8A Jimmy C. Rogers English’s Cafe Falls Victim to Vehicle Collision The entrance of English’s Comer Cafe was destroyed after a Chevrolet Silverado ran into the building. See the story on Page 5A. Photo submitted. URMC Offering COVTD Vaccine to Ages 65 & Older First Responders Also Eligible Rendering of the southeast view of the proposed new fire department. City OKs Contract For $2.38 Million New Fire Station ‘Revitalization’Consultant Approved Thomaston City Coun cil members voted unani mously last week to authorize Mayor J.D. Stall ings to execute contractual documents with McWright, LLC for the construction of a new $2,382,110 fire station. Cost includes an added fifth bay for the new home 8 10499 02461 2 of Thomaston Fire Depart ment, which will be lo cated on North Church Street between West Cen tral Georgia Bank and Tidal Wave Auto Spa. Council members also approved selection of ELA Studios, the firm which de signed the Greatest Gener ation Park memorial, as consultant on a local downtown revitalization plan. The revitalization plan is a step toward Thomas ton applying for a rural zone application through the Department of Com munity Affairs, according to City Manager Russell Thompson. The applica tion is contingent upon a feasibility study which is See Fire Station, 8A Working in partnership with the Georgia Depart ment of Public Health, Upson Regional Medical Center began offering COVID-19 vaccinations Tuesday, Jan. 12 to indi viduals eligible under the CDC/DPH Phase la defini tions as follows: •Adults aged 65 and older •Law enforcement of ficers •Firefighters •First responders “Upson Regional is ex cited to expand our ability to vaccinate more of our middle Georgia population against COVID-19. We all look forward to the day when life seems normal again. Getting vaccinated is an important first step in achieving this. I believe the light at the end of this long tunnel is beginning to shine very brightly,” said URMC CEO Jeff Tarrant. URMC currently has supply of only Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and, at this point, does not antici- See Vaccine, jA URMC began offering COVTD-ig vaccinations Tuesday, Jan. 12 to individuals eligible under the CDC/DPH Phase la definitions. C@VID-19 Closures & Updates Upson County Limiting Public Access to Gov’t Buildings After reviewing guid ance from the Georgia De partment of Public Health and Upson Regional Med ical Center, Upson County has announced temporary changes in operations for public access to city and county government facil ities. Effective last Monday, county offices are open and will be available by ap pointment only. All offices may be reached by tele phone or email, according to local officials. A direc tory for Upson County can be found at www.upson- countyga.org. It is requested that face coverings be worn when in See County, 8A City Limiting Exposure in Local Offices In efforts to mitigate the potential exposure of coronavirus, city govern ment office physical loca tions are temporary closed to the general public, ac cording to an announce ment from the office of Thomaston Mayor J.D. Stallings. Staff will be available by telephone or by email to address any questions or to provide any information necessary concerning the provision of municipal services. City offices are open, but will be available by appointment only. Cit izens are urged to contact City Hall to schedule any such needs. These closures and re vised methods of contact shall remain in effect until further notice. See City, 8A Probate Judge McRae Continues Calendars Scheduled for January Upson County Probate Court Judge Danielle McRae released the fol lowing statement regard ing the January probate calendars: "Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Upson County, I feel it best to continue the court calendars that are scheduled for the month of January. This will be for both the arraignment cal endar and the contested calendar. Arraignment, which was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11, will be continued to Monday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. The contested calendar, which was scheduled for Monday, See Probate, 8A Car Tag and Tax Office Lobby Closed to Public Because of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the Upson County tag and tax office lobby will remain closed to the public until Jan. 19 or until further no tice, according to Tax Commissioner Andy Chas tain. The office will be staffed during the closure to handle all tag, title, and tax transactions by phone at 706-647-8931. Forms and envelopes needed for title work and payments are provided on a table located inside the doorway, and there is a drop box on the commis sioner’s door that may be used to submit paperwork and payments. Tag re newal stickers and plates will be mailed promptly on the day of completion. A See Tag/Tax, 8A (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
