About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2021)
McFarlin Charged with Felony Murder in Dixon Johnny Edward McFarlin, 64, of North Main Street in Thomas- ton has been charged with felony murder in the March 15 stabbing death of 23-year-old Lazarion Dixon on G Circle, ac cording to a report from the Thomaston Police De partment. TPD Chief Mike Rich ardson said Dixon was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with McFarlin after a lengthy argument on social media involving a stolen volley ball net. Dixon was trans ported by emergency medical services to Upson Regional Medical Center, where he later died from the injuries. McFarlin also was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm or knife during commission of a felony. McFarlin’s girlfriend, Kimberley Johnson, 35, was charged with felony tampering with evidence. Dixon’s sister, 30-year- old Tamezeia Jashontay Moore, who was stabbed in the leg during the inci dent, was charged with misdemeanor affray. The investigation is active and ongoing, and additional charges may be brought pending further investigation, according to Richardson. Other recent unrelated arrests and charges in clude Marlon Dave Smith, felony probation violation for possession of cocaine. Stabbing Photo Submitted Johnny E. McFarlin City Moving Forward With Traffic Cams Middlebrooks Casts ‘No’Vote By Bridge Turner bturner@upsonbeacon.com Council members voted 4-1 last week to draft an agreement with Flock Safety to install license plate reading cameras on all major roadways leading into Thomaston. Using the same technology as cam eras attached to patrol cruisers, the Flock system will alert local law enforce ment immediately - day or night - if an illegally operating vehicle, or one sus pected in criminal activity, enters the city limits. “It’s manpower without the man,” City Manager Russell Thompson told Traffic Cameras, yA Driver Retires After 47 Years 40 Years as County Auditor Photo Submitted Wayne Driver of Driver Adams + Sharpe, CPAs and Consultants, with of fices in Upson and Pike Counties, is re tiring after 47 years of practice in audit and accounting. Driver is a native of Macon and grad uated from Lanier Senior High School in 1967. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and received his bachelor’s de gree in accounting from the University of South Florida in 1974. After complet ing his required two-year internship, he received his CPA certification from the Georgia State Board of Accountancy in 1976. In 1977, he moved to Thomaston and opened his CPA practice. Wayne served on the board of direc tors for C&S Bank, Colony Bank, Thom- Driver Retires, yA Photo by Luke Haney Spring SCas Sprung! Spring is in full swing and folks are noticing the warmer weather. Above, children enjoy a sunny Sunday atSprewell Bluff Park. Find tips for a successful spring in The Upson Beacon’s Home, Lawn, and Garden Section on Page lB. UCSO Will Host Food Distribution Event Tomorrow The Upson County Sheriff s Of fice will host a food distribution event Friday, March 26 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Soccer Complex behind the civic center, located at 101 Civic Center Drive. Participants should drive to the rear of the civic center and follow the signs to a distribution point, where 1,100 boxes of food weighing 25 to 30 pounds each will be pro vided on a first come, first served basis. Boxes will contain meat, vege tables, and dairy products. Volunteers from local churches will load boxes into vehicles using a drive-through format. Sheriff Dan Kilgore’s office is partnering with F.A.T. Ministries of Bolingbroke, the Farmers to Fam ilies Food Box Program, and the So- Photo by Luke Haney ciety of St. Andrew (endhunger.org) of Macon, along with local church partners, to sponsor the event. “We are honored to participate in this much needed event in our community,” Sheriff Kilgore said. “Please share this information so that we may reach as many people as possible.” The food distribution event will be held rain or shine. 8 10499 02461 2 Former Yatesville Councilman, Fire Chief, Ellington Dies at 82 Funeral services were held Wednesday for James E. Ellington, Sr., who died Sunday, March 21 at his res idence in Yatesville. Ellington, 82, was a long-time member of the Yatesville City Council, served as mayor pro tem pore of Yatesville, and re tired after years of service as chief of the Yatesville Fire Department. He was a member of Yatesville United Methodist Church. A 1957 graduate of Ya tesville High School, Elling ton’s lifelong dedication to public service began after he later graduated from Geor- Ellington, yA Photo Submitted County Eyes $20 Million ‘Court Facility’ By Bridge Turner bturner@upsonbeacon.com At a recent work ses sion, county commis sioners discussed the future construction of a multi-million-dollar jus tice center which could be tied to a special purpose local option sales tax for local voters to decide as early as November this year. The comprehensive project, which Chairman Norman Allen said he prefers to call a “court fa cility,” would exceed 50,000 square feet and in clude magistrate, probate, clerk, superior court rooms, and district attor ney’s offices. If all functions of county gov ernment are combined under one roof, as Com missioner Benjamin Wat son considered, necessary space could approach 80,000 square feet. Construction of a mod ern facility likely would be “a 50-year solution,” ac cording to Allen, who said estimates were in the $15- Court Facility, yA Council to Schedule Hearings on Alcohol License Suspensions Appointments Approved By Bridge Turner bturner@upsonbeacon.com Members of the Thom aston City Council agreed last week to schedule hear ings for the possible sus pension of alcohol licenses for 14 local businesses ac cused of selling alcoholic beverages to individuals under the age of 21. Violations resulted from an undercover oper ation conducted Feb. 12 involving the Thomaston Police Department and Narcotics Task Force. TPD Chief Mike Richardson said 14 of 21 convenience stores visited sold alcohol to an undercover officer under age 21 without re quiring proper identifica tion, violating Georgia law. Clerks that sold alcohol to the undercover officer were issued citations, ac cording to Richardson. The 14 alleged violators named in a TPD press re lease are 7/11 Food Mart, License Suspensions, yA TV AC Presents Dolly 9 Photo by Luke Haney The Thomaston-Upson Arts Council presented “Dolly,” a Dolly Parton Tribute Show, last Fri day at R.E. Lee Auditorium. Performers con tributed a range ofParton’s songs from her solo career, movie features, and more. See additional photos in next week’s edition of The Upson Beacon. (0 Griffin Ob-Gyn NOW SEEING PATIENTS IN THOMASTON 403 WEST MAIN STREET TUESDAY-THURSDAY 8:30-4:30 CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY: (770)227.5505 (706)646.2888 Leigh Ann Story, CNV; Bryan Krepps, HO; Jim Dunaway, MD; Lou Hameli, MO; Holly Harrison, PA-C; Nadine Nolting, CNH; Enid Lofters-Jones, MD; Megan Potter. MD; Katya Brickman. CNM; Ashley Johnson, PA
