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opinion
Thursday, March 4, 2021 • Page 4A
Send your letters to: Editor, Upson Beacon, 108 E Gordon Street, Thomaston, Ga 30286 or email to: dlord@upsonbeacon.com The opinions expressed on this page are
not necessarily the opinions of the Upson Beacon staff. Please limit letters to 400 words. All letters must be signed and accompanied by a telephone number for verification purposes.
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Letters to
The Editor:
Georgia’s
Albatross
To the editor:
Georgia’s education sys
tem and prison system have
become an albatross around
the necks of Georgia’s tax
payers and has morphed into
a Frankenstein of monstrous
proportions. This dark secret
Gov. Brian Kemp, Nathan
Deal, and Sonny Perdue have
shoved under the rag for dec
ades is what I want to talk
about.
First, the prison system
has reached a point where it is
eating up nearly all of the
state’s budget. This is because
Georgia is paying for another
healthcare system for prison
inmates plus illegal alien in
mates who came across the
border from Mexico and other
countries. We are having to
eat the cost for this.
As more people are being
imprisoned in Georgia’s state
prisons, this system will con
tinue to absorb more and
more of the state budget. If
this trend continues, by 2035
it will absorb all of the state
budget, which will take more
money from Georgia’s educa
tional system, thanks to these
incompetent leaders in At
lanta.
Georgia’s educational sys
tem, which I will call the
“beast,” is costing taxpayers
way too much and we’re get
ting very little in return, except
to make good little soldiers for
the Communist movement.
These tax breaks these
state universities receive on
property and other exemp
tions are passed on to the
Georgia property owners.
Also, taxpayers are paying for
education of illegal aliens in
Georgia, which most Geor
gians are biting the hit!
Why should a property
owner pay for the education of
someone who is not American
or a native Georgian?
Second, your tax money is
going to strengthen the Com
munist movement going on in
our public schools and col
leges in Georgia. This has
gotten out of hand because
our present and past gov
ernors have passed this dark
secret from governor to gov
ernor. What a piece of work!
This has become the ele
phant in the room. The news
papers in Georgia are dead
silent when it comes to these
two issues.
Four things need to
happen.
First, we need a complete
state audit every four years in
Georgia of all institutions that
receive taxpayer money to see
how our money is spent, and it
should be published in all
Georgia newspapers for the
public to see.
Second, get rid of all tax
exemptions for state colleges,
including property tax exemp
tions.
Third, a statewide prop
erty tax cut of 10 percent for all
property taxpayers, and make
it so counties can’t go through
the back door and raise prop
erty taxes again!
Fourth, Gov. Kemp should
sign into law that if any college
or public school teach Com
munist propaganda, they will
not receive a dime of Georgia
taxpayer money.
As for the prison system,
drastic steps need to be taken.
First, deport all felons or
inmates who are illegal aliens
and send them back to the
country of origin.
Second, stop contracting
out to the private hospitals to
treat state inmates. These hos
pitals are sticking it to the tax
payer. Have one central
hospital in the state to look
after inmates and purchase
the cheapest drugs on the
market.
Third, make Georgia in
mates work for their health
care like everybody else. Use
them to work on roads, fix
traffic signs, help restore pub
lic buildings in towns through
out the state. This teaches
them a trade and gives them
self-worth instead of doing
drags and committing violent
crimes.
Keep ‘em busy!
John Scott Pettis
Waine’s World:
Spring Has
Sprung and the
Crocuses are
Sprouting
Wake up, everybody
(trees, shrubs, flowers, and
grass), it’s a fresh start, hope
and optimism is renewed,
the earth is exploding with
life! We enjoyed a few days
over 70 degrees last week
with promises of better days
ahead. We need the spring
rains so don’t complain -
home grown tomatoes, corn,
radishes, sweet peas, and cu
cumbers will soon grace our
tables. While your allergies
may start to act up as the
trees pollinate, spring is still
a feast for our watery eyes.
Spring won’t officially ar
rive until March 20 at 5:37
(vernal equinox) but I like
the idea of hurrying things
along a little. Atlanta (Pied
mont Park) is one of the most
colorful places to welcome
spring, but we are just a little
ahead of them. So, go ahead,
walkabout (as they say in
Australia) and see for your
self. When nature shows off
like this with fruit trees
heavy with blossoms, I blush
inside even though I know
our driveways will soon be
painted yellow and there will
be long lines at Tidal Wave
car wash.
The trees are in leaf, the
flowers and tulips are being
roused from their sleep.
Thomaston comes to life and
is near perfection. Soon the
azaleas will reveal their
beauty along with red buds,
wisteria, crabapple, peach,
and dogwoods - just beauti
ful! If you are sentimental,
magnolias are also on the
menu. In this part of heaven,
we have an abundance of un
equal color and variety
framed by tall Georgia pines.
I have been taking pictures of
our flora and fauna and wish
my editor would publish
some of them. The entire
State of Georgia is lovely
(especially Augusta) in
spring, but I am still partial
to Middle Georgia. Raintree
golf course is a magnificent
place to enjoy the elegance of
our spring offerings.
I drove pass Anthony
South’s farm out on Moore’s
Crossing recently and could
just imagine fish jumping in
his lake where I hope he will
allow me to fish this summer
with my grandkids. I saw fat
cows grazing in the meadow
and green grass growing on
rolling hills. If you are lucky
enough to see his land when
the morning mist is rising,
you will want to commit the
scene to a canvas, but defi
nitely to your long-term
memory. Hidden from the
city, his family seems to be
surrounded by riches and en
joying an enviable life. I hope
he planted strawberries
again. Their ice-cream and
shakes are truly delightful
and to die for. There is no
countryside more appealing.
Everywhere you look, it is
lovely. We have so much for
which to be thankful, enjoy!
Don’t fight it, give in to your
appreciation. And while you
are at it, enjoy the full moon.
If you missed the “snow
moon” last week (Feb. 27),
the next full moon will be
March 28. (“Worm moon”)
All rivers become “Moon
Rivers” when it’s a full moon.
On a clear night, the view
from the bridge on Route 36
crossing Flint River is the
place to enjoy the company
of your family. Our skies are
not only spectacular with the
moon and stars, but our sun
rise and sunsets are also bril
liant with color.
Did you take time to look
at the pictures from Mars!!!
What an achievement! We
actually get to see the surface
on Mars up close and per
sonal. That’s a trip I would
love to take. Unfortunately,
my time is running out so I
will leave that adventure to
my grandchildren.
Spring and all its glory
are some of the things my
wife and I appreciate about
Upson County. As I absorb
all that God provides, I real
ize that we don’t get to enjoy
this pageantry anywhere
else. Whatever you find to
complain about, Spring
shouldn’t be one of them.
When I meet Him face to
face, I will thank Him for
smiling on us with so much
goodness and mercy.
Hello Everyone! At long
last, I am back to sharing my
office’s work with you after a
few weeks off.
As many of you already
know, I was recently elected
as your district attorney in a
special election on Feb. 9.
First and foremost, thank you
for choosing me to serve as
your district attorney! The re
sult was a resounding victory
for many reasons. First, I ob
tained 73 percent of the vote
across the circuit. Second, the
Marie Broder
District Attorney
Let’s Get
to Work!
district attorney’s race was the
only item on the ballot, after a
brutal political presidential
and senate runoff season - so
every person who came out to
vote was focused on making
their voice heard about who
they wanted as their DA.
Third, while this was a parti
san election, these results
show that people of different
political persuasions, gender,
and race made a reasoned
decision to choose an experi
enced candidate who aims to
serve all citizens with fairness
and a commitment to protect
ing society’s most vulnerable
people, the victims.
I am humbled and hon
ored to continue to serve as
your district attorney.
Throughout the election
season, many of you asked
why there was even an elec
tion for this position. The rea
son for the special election is
that I was appointed in 2020
to fill the remainder of the
former district attorney’s term
after he was appointed Super
ior Court judge. His term
ended on Dec. 31, 2020.
Our understanding was
that, by law, I would not be
called to ran until the 2022
election cycle. However, the
Georgia Supreme Court ruled
that the governor could not
extend the term and a special
election would be necessary. A
few days before Christmas, we
learned that there would be a
special election on Feb. 9 and
that I would face a challenger.
So, I was tasked with running
a campaign, over Christmas,
and after a very divisive and
exhausting Senate runoff elec
tion. Having never ran for po
litical office, it was trial by fire.
I learned a few important
things that I would like to
share from that experience.
First, I was able to meet so
many people that I would
never have met without the
election process. I was hon
ored to meet so many won
derful people from all walks of
life who truly cared about
their community. I learned
that there is still a lot of work
to do in my office to help
people understand what my
office does, what it does not
do, and ways to improve.
I was inspired by the sup
port I received from the
people of this circuit who of
fered their time, their finan
cial support, their votes, and
their prayers. I was blessed
through this process to feel
God’s hand guiding me with
the prayers and support of so
many amazing people. I found
affirmation in my belief that
this job is calling.
I learned what hard work
is required to run for office.
Our campaign made thou
sands of calls, put out thou
sands of door hangers, sent
thousands of text messages,
sent thousands of mail pieces,
and pushed videos and mes
saging on Facebook. Aside
from the “official” work of the
campaign, concerned citizens
made personal calls, texts,
and emails to their friends,
families, and contacts to urge
them to come out and vote in
this special election.
These profound endorse
ments, from many people I
have not had the pleasure to
even meet, has humbled me
and further encouraged me to
continue my efforts to protect
victims and keep this com
munity safe. “Thank you” to
all of you.
I am pleased to report that
with politics behind us, my of
fice is resuming grand jury
this month. The judges,
clerks, defense attorneys, and
my office are aiming to re
sume jury trials in April. After
a year of waiting for the pan
demic to subside, we are
about to get back to the busi
ness of trying cases. Being
called to ran for political office
is a hazard of my position, but
trying cases and fighting for
victims is my passion.
Thank you, from the bot
tom of my heart, for your sup
port. Let’s get to work!
Vaccinations,
Continued front Front
URMC, we estimate that 65
percent of Upson County res
idents age 65 and older have
now been vaccinated, at least
with their first dose, as of Fri
day, Feb. 26,” Tarrant said.
“Second doses will soon be
completed for the bulk of this
population.”
Tarrant added following
information:
•Both the local health de
partment and Upson Regional
are using only the Pfizer
COVID-19 vaccine. URMC
has not been notified as to
whether it will receive any of
the recently approved
Johnson & Johnson single
dose vaccine. Georgia is ex
pected to begin receiving its
allocation of the J&J vaccine
this week.
•Many vaccination sites in
Georgia are unable to accom
modate the Pfizer vaccine’s
ultra-low temperature storage
requirements and have been
limited to receiving only the
Moderna vaccine. For
tunately, URMC has a ULT
freezer enabling it to store the
Pfizer vaccine. In fact, URMC
has been storing not only its
own vaccine supply, but also
Pfizer vaccine inventories for
three area county health de
partments.
•In Upson and Lamar
Counties, Upson Regional is
vaccinating around 1,200
people per week. Currently,
local vaccine shipments are
averaging right at 1,200 doses
per week, keeping up with the
hospital’s weekly vaccination
schedule.
•Upson Regional is vacci
nating Thomaston-Upson
school district faculty and
staff on March 8 during an all
day dedicated vaccination
clinic - the first day that school
district staff are eligible to be
vaccinated in Georgia.
•Georgia is expected to ex
pand vaccine eligibility again
later in March. URMC has full
vaccination schedules for the
first half of March, but then
has appointment times avail
able. Once eligibility is ex
panded, it is anticipated these
open slots will quickly fill.
•URMC is able to admin
ister COVID-19 vaccine to all
eligible Georgians, regardless
of county of residence.
Upson Regional vaccine
clinics are available in Thom
aston on Tuesdays, Thurs
days, and Fridays from 7:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in Bar-
nesville on Thursdays from
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If eligi
ble for the COVID-19 vaccine,
please call 706-646-5727 or
770-872-5015 to schedule an
appointment.
For more information on
the COVID-19 vaccine and an
swers to frequently asked
questions, visit Upson Re
gional’s website at urmc.org.
Concrete Plant,
ment released by the facility.
“Once patients enter the
vaccine clinic - the hospital
auditorium - there several sta
tions that ran simultaneously
to facilitate vaccinations. Ap
propriate social distancing
and sanitizing guidelines are
uniformly followed,” URMC
officials explain. “After receiv
ing their vaccine, patients wait
in a socially distanced area for
approximately 15 minutes to
monitor for any possible side
effects.”
“Between Upson County
Health Department and
House Fire,
bedroom near the front of the
home.
The house was “engulfed in
flames and smoke” when TFD
personnel arrived at 1:24 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24, according to
the report. Fire fighters evacuated
residents in homes on both sides
of the affected structure, one of
which suffered siding damage
from the heat. The Lawsons’ ve
hicle also was destroyed.
A Thomaston Police Depart
ment investigator, state fire mar
shal’s officer, and the Upson
County coroner were at the scene,
and Red Cross was notified. TFD
remained on site until after 11
a.m. Wednesday to monitor re
maining hot spots.
Lawson’s body was trans
ported to the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation crime lab for au
topsy to determine the cause of
death, but arson is not suspected,
according to officials.
“It is with great regret that I
tell you the American Red Cross
of Central Midwest Georgia re
sponded to a home fire in Thom
aston that resulted in a fatality,”
Red Cross Chapter Executive Di
rector Holly Winner said in an
email to Mayor J.D. Stallings and
Upson County Commission
Chairman Norman Allen.
“Our team has assisted the
family with immediate financial
assistance and is also offering re
covery guidance, health services,
and mental health services to the
family in the coming days,” she
continued. “I share this with you
so you are aware of our presence
and services that we offer to all
victims of home fires in your
county.”
Winner offered the following
advice to avoid fire-related dis
asters.
“A home fire is the most com
mon, and most preventable, dis
aster that the Red Cross responds
to in Georgia and across the coun
try. Our mission at the Red Cross
is to alleviate human suffering,
which means working diligently
to prevent disasters where pos
sible,” she said. “Most people do
not realize if a fire starts in your
home you may have less than two
minutes to escape! There are sev
eral things we remind you and
your constituents to do to protect
your household and your prop
erty.”:
Continued from Front
•Have a plan and practice it
with everyone in your household
at least twice a year.
•Have two ways to escape
from each room in your home.
•Never leave something you
are cooking unattended. Cooking
fires are responsible for 49 per
cent of all home fires.
•Most importantly, make sure
your smoke alarms are working.
If you do not have working smoke
alarms, please contact us and we
can get you on a list for a free
smoke alarm installation.
“If you would like to schedule
a free “Be Red Cross Ready” pres
entation for your
organization/community or learn
how you can have smoke alarms
installed in your community for
free, please let me know and we
can schedule that immediately,”
Winner said. “We will teach you
how to prevent a home fire, how
to build a preparedness kit, and
how to create a home fire escape
plan.”
Anyone who has been affected
by a home fire, please contact the
American Red Cross at 855-891-
7325 for any immediate assis
tance needs.
and $2 million. More information about
the company is available at mrminc.us.
IDA members voted last week to
offer $50,000 in incentives to “Project
Echo,” which is expected to bring a $3.5
million investment and more than 50
new full-time and part-time jobs to
Upson County. Four of the jobs would
be managerial level, paying $55,000 an
nually, according to Fletcher.
Payout of incentive funds is based
on the industry meeting job creation
and investment goals by a specified
date, which will be determined in a fu
ture meeting with company representa
tives, Fletcher said.
Recently, Solutions Pest and Lawn
failed to meet its year four requirement
of 65 full-time employees and capital in
vestment of $250,000, forfeiting a con
ditional $50,000 incentive from the
IDA.
The board also voted to lease 150
acres in the Central Georgia Business &
Technology Park to Hugh Thompson
for $1,200 through October 2022. Vice
Chair Chase Fallin confirmed Thomp
son’s concern regarding erosion from
storm water drainage on the property,
and suggested the problem be ad
dressed immediately.
Continued from Front
County Commission Chairman
Norman Allen told fellow IDA members
the county will donate fill dirt and
Thomaston Finance Director Lonnie
Joyce said the city would spread and
compact the dirt, since Thomaston
owns the sewer easement in the park.
Two firms, Terracon and Cardno,
responded to a Brownfield “request for
quotes” posted by the IDA, and Fletcher
reminded board members that grant
money, if awarded, would be used for
environmental studies at various county
sites. Brownfields are commercial sites
where future use is affected by real or
perceived environmental contamina
tion.
“The money is not used for actual
cleanup, but it will identify what haz
ardous waste may be present and what
it would entail to clean sites,” Fletcher
explained.
Doug Strait with Cardno toured the
community in January to identify po
tential Brownfield sites.
Fletcher said she and City Manager
Russell Thompson participated in a
conference call with a site selector rep
resenting a restaurant considering lo
cating in Thomaston. The name of the
restaurant has not been released.