About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2021)
‘Black Militia’ Group Trained in Upson County Leader: 'We aren't protesters... demonstrators. We don't come to sing... chant. That's not what we do' Members of the Not F***ing Around Coalition, a black nationalist para military organization, con ducted firearms training exercises on property on Kendall Road in Yatesville early last month, accord ing to a report from the Upson County Sheriff s Of fice. The group left without incident at the property owner’s request, the report stated. On March 6, UCSO Deputy Zachary Wall met with the owner, who had complained of “unwanted subjects on the property.” The owner told Deputy Wall a “distant cousin in vited the group... to the land to shoot guns, but the cousin did not have his permission to invite them,” according to the re port. The property owner said, “Everything was fine, there was just a misunder standing.” In his report, Walls wrote he “observed ap proximately to black males in tactical uniforms with AR style weapons and handguns... pallets of am munition... and out-of- state tags on some of the vehicles.” He told Sgt. Neill Sanders, “I did not have a good feeling about the subjects, and was Members of the NFAC in training. going to wait around in the area until the last one left.” The property owner told Walls when he ini tially spoke with the sub jects, they told him “they were a militia and were preparing for a race war.” The owner said he imme diately asked that they leave the property. While waiting, Walls said he “observed approx imately to black males standing alongside the roadway... they had ra dioed the others that were still on the property, tell ing them to load the stuff and leave.” A total of 15 to 20 individuals were among the group, accord ing to the report. Walls said he spoke with one of the subjects that “seemed to be in NFAC, 4 \ Photo Submitted. Dr. Larry Derico, 2021 STAR Student Lance Greene, 2021 STAR Teacher Brian Sanders, and ULHS Principal Dr. Jarvis Price. Greene and Sanders Named 2021 STAR Student and Teacher Upson-Lee High Senior Colton Keith Greene was recently named the 2021 STAR Student for the Thomaston-Upson School System and he selected Brian Sanders as the 2021 STAR Teacher. The announcement was made last Friday, and the program is locally sponsored by Thomaston Kiwanis Club. Greene was awarded STAR Student for achiev ing the highest score in one sitting of the Scholas tic Assessment Test taken through the November test date of his senior year. The STAR Student must also be in the top 10 percent of his or her class, based on grade point average. The STAR Student is given the opportunity to select a STAR Student, aB Lake Thomaston Closed to Public The City of Thomaston has announced that Lake Thomaston is not open to the public, according to a press release from City Man ager Russell Thompson. The city currently is “in the planning phase” of de termining necessary im provements to help ensure safety, ingress, and egress in the area, the release states. “Until further notice, please note there is no cit izen access to the facilities of Lake Thomaston,” Thomp son said. 8 10499 02461 2 Fire fighters tackle the fire from the south west side of the house. Photo by Luke Haney Local House Fire Results in Total Loss Thomaston Fire De partment was dispatched to a structure fire at 403 North Church Street last Wednesday, which re sulted in a total loss of the structure, according to TFD Chief Renee Harris. TFD arrived on scene to find flames on the rear side of the house. A female tenant was inside the res idence and advised fire House Fire, 5A Upson, Thomaston, & Yatesville Officials Open SPLOST Talks Projected Revenue: $23 Million Officials with Upson County, the City of Thom aston, and the City of Ya tesville participated in a “2020 SPLOST Kickoff Meeting” last week as the first step toward funding a projected $20 million judi cial facility which could serve the entire county. The current special purpose local option sales tax, which added one penny to every dollar of consumer spending start ing mid-2016, expires June 30, 2022. The issue must appear on the No vember 2021 ballot to avoid a lapse in collection at the eight percent level. “We’re all here today SPLOST, 5A Local Man Charged With Felonies After Indecent Kelton Raines, 24, of West Moores Crossing Road in Thomaston, was charged with obstruction of law enforcement of ficers and destruction of government property last week after exposing him self to a clerk at Shell gas station and convenience store at Northside, accord- Exposure ing to a report from the Thomaston Police Depart ment. The clerk said she was in the interior checkout counter when Raines at tempted to open a locked door leading to the se cured area. “The suspect Indecent Exposure, 5A McGee Retires After 45 Years Photo Submitted Russ McGee recently retired after working in emergency medical servicesfor 45 years. McGee’s last day with Georgia EMS was March 30. McGee, who began working in EMS services at the age of 18, worked while continuing his education, graduated Gordon College in 1978, and the University of Georgia in 1981. McGee and his wife Cindy celebrate 40 years of mar riage next month. (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
