Newspaper Page Text
County Continues to Debate Fate of Historic School
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Discussion continued
last week among Upson
Commissioners concern
ing the fate of Andrews
Chapel School, a historic
structure “gifted” to the
county and now in need of
costly repairs.
Local surveyor and
engineer Gary Self, who
called himself a “driving
force” in having the build
ing donated, said he
“would like for it to stay in
the county’s ownership”
during public comments at
the meeting.
“It has some shortcom
ings, but it is a great thing
- a unique thing - prob
ably in the state of Geor
gia,” Self told
commissioners. “It just
needs some work out
there.
“I want it to stay in its
pristine state. It does not
need to come up to code. It
was never up to code,” he
continued. “The bouncing
in the floor needs to stay
just like it is, because that’s
how it was all the time.
The floor is not dangerous
- it’s not going to fall in.
You need to feel that when
you go in it because that
makes it authentic.”
Self added that he
would be willing to spear
head an effort to solicit do
nations for maintenance of
the one-room school,
which sits on one acre in
the eastern portion of the
county.
“There has been some
discussion about dona
tions to help,” he said, “but
there’s no way anyone will
donate if y’all are going to
County, 4A
Photo by Luke Haney
Andrews Chapel School
Sheriff, Chief
Warn Against
Street Mischief
Upson County Sheriff Dan Kil
gore and Thomaston Police Chief
Mike Richardson warned that illegal
operation of vehicles on area road
ways will not be tolerated and “will
be prosecuted to the fullest extent
permitted by law,” according to a
joint statement released last week.
The statement reads:
“In recent weeks we have had sev
eral incidents of dirt bikes and four
wheelers riding and racing on city
and county roadways. In most cases,
the vehicles are being recklessly and
illegally operated. There also have
been recent flyers circulating on so
cial media about a street “takeover”
event planned in Thomaston.
“Anyone who plans to participate
in a street “takeover” at any time
should know that if caught operating
a vehicle illegally, the vehicle will be
impounded and the driver of said ve-
Sheriff, Chief, 4A
City Announces
Summer Activities
for All Age Groups
The City of Thomaston has an
nounced the opening of a “kids’ inter
active fountain” and senior fishing at
Greatest Generation Memorial Park,
along with “Thomaston Night” at
Truist Park in Atlanta for the Braves’
game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The interactive fountain opened
May 1 with hours of operation Mon
day through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. and Sunday from 2-7 p.m.
through Sept. 6. City officials remind,
“If the fountain is not running during
normal operating hours, press the
red button in the fountain area near
the parking lot side to start the water
flow.”
Senior fishing starts Monday,
May 10 from 5-9 p.m. Mondays and
Thursdays, weather permitting, at
the GGM Park pond across from In
gles. Senior fishing will be available
through Thursday, Oct. 28.
Pond rules are as follows: must be
50 years or older or disabled; may be
Summer Activities, 4A
Photo by Luke Haney
Mayor J.D. Stallings, Sandra and Steve Keadle perform a ribbon cutting
ceremony after the state marker was unveiled.
Silvertown Receives
State Marker
By Luke Haney
lhaney@upsonbeacon.com
The Historic Silvertown Mill Village
Marker dedication was held last Fri
day, just 25 days after Silvertown
was listed on the National Register
of Historic Places.
The dedication, led by Thomaston-
Upson Archives Director Jamesan
Gramme and Georgia Historical So
ciety President Dr. Todd Groce, took
place at the North Island of Park
Drive, which serves as the entrance
Silvertown, 5A
Food Distribution
Event Slated May 14
The Upson County Sheriffs Office
will host a food distribution event May
14, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the
Thomaston-Upson Soccer Complex be
hind 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 provided on a first come,
first served basis. Boxes will contain
meat, vegetables, and dairy products.
Volunteers from local churches will
load boxes into vehicles using a drive-
through format.
Sheriff Dan Kilgore’s office is part
nering with F.A.T. Ministries of Boling-
broke, the Farmers to Families Food
Box Program, and the Society of St. An
drew (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 com
munity,” 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
Sarah Armstrong School of Dance Presents
The Wonders of Walt Disney
Armstrong School
of Dance held its
Spring Recital
Series last weekend,
themed “The Wonders
of Walt Disney. ”
See highlights,
gA and 10A.
Photo by Luke Haney
Allen Invites Input
for Courthouse
Landscape
Commission Honors Local Nurses
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
County Commission
Chairman Norman Allen
issued an open invitation
to anyone with ideas for
improved landscape op
tions surrounding the
courthouse in downtown
Thomaston.
Allen’s invitation fol
lowed comments from
Commissioner James El
lington, who said he was
“going to go ahead and
open a can of worms” dur
ing last week’s meeting.
Ellington suggested remo
val of trees to improve vis
ibility of the courthouse
renovation project.
“Traveling north, you
won’t be able to see our
building or the roof, and
it’s because of overgrown
magnolia trees,” Ellington
said. “I’m not saying strip
it bare and just have grass,
but we’ve invested a lot of
money, and people need to
be able to see it.”
Current upgrades ex
ceeding $1 million include
roof replacement and in
stallation of a newly fab
ricated, historically
accurate clock tower atop
the courthouse.
“We have proof that
those trees are causing
damage to the structure
and infrastructure,” El
lington said, adding that
Courthouse, 4A
Photo by Luke Haney
Griffin RESA Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Gordy
presents Dr. Larry Derico with the GSSA President's Award.
Superintendent Derico
Awarded GSSA
President’s Award
At the spring Bootstrap
Conference in Savannah,
the Georgia School Super
intendents Association
recognized Dr. Larry De
rico, superintendent of
Thomaston-Upson County
Schools, for the 2021
GSSA President’s Award.
The award is given to su
perintendents for out
standing leadership in
their school systems and
communities.
Dr. Derico has targeted
three major goals in ad
dition to student achieve
ment and student success,
including school safety, lit
eracy, and building posi
tive relationships. He has
realized significant accom
plishments while pursuing
these goals, according to
the press release.
Other noteworthy ac
complishments include:
•School Safety: During
Dr. Derico’s tenure, the T-
U School System has ex
panded its partnership
with the Upson County
Sheriff s Office and Upson
County Commissioners to
increase the number of
school resource officers.
Derico, 4B
ft) 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
