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The Upson Beacon
The Gordy Files
The Debbie McClain Version
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NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY
AND NATIONAL POLICE WEEK... In 1962, President
Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Me
morial Day... May 9-15 is National Police Week. Established
by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police
Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement of
ficers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the
safety and protection of others... National Police Week is a
collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to hon
oring America’s law enforcement community... Thank you
to our law enforcement officers who protect and serve our
community. Your dedication to our safety is appreciated
more than you could know.
THE THOMASTON-UPSON COUNTY ANNUAL
FLINT RIVER POKER FLOAT IS BACK... The event
will be held Saturday, June 12 beginning at 10 a.m.
at Sprewell Bluff Park and ending at the Flint River
Outdoor Center (Highway 36 River Bridge)... best
hand wins a new kayak - second and third best
hands win cash prizes... come and float down the
beautiful, free-flowing Flint River in Upson County
and play poker for a chance to win some great
prizes... different card packages available for this
event - $40, $50 and $60 ticket packs... call the
chamber at 706-647-9686 for more information
and to register.
THE EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION IS A GO
FOR THIS YEAR... May 29 beginning at noon at Lincoln
Park Playground... They will not have a parade this year due
to Covid-19 precautions... Just glad our events are starting
to make a comeback.
HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY TO THE BEACON’S
OWN, DELLA JO TURNER, MAY 14... We love you,
Mrs. Della Jo, and hope your birthday is as wonder
ful as you are.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES ARE EXTENDED
TO... Judy Ingram, Laura Allen, Angela Vessell, Chad
Baker, Connie Hasty, Sheena Beckom, Steve Blackston, May
13... Our Upson County Tax Commissioner, Andy Chastain,
Hannah Glover, Marvin Ingram, Stan Johnson, Bill Haege,
Cindy Massey Williams, Stephanie Wilson, Todd Pippin,
Amy Presley, Leah Smith, May 14... Dallas Hemby, Katie
Green, Audra Bridges, Ashley Wilder, Rita Rohleder, Mike
Hoover, Allen Ellington, Justin Alexander, Lauren Lin-
dauer, May 15... Stacy Haygood, Kenny Murphy, Candace
Streetman, Lynn Molanders, Bruce Shiflet, Anny Kelly, Billy
Lumpkin, Stacy Harper, Casey Ellerbee, Tara Behm, Tara
McWaters, Lynsey Hester, Burdie Brannon (turning 92),
May 16... Michele Barber, Allen Ragsdale, Arch Kennedy,
Alicia McKinley, Corey Ray, Doreen Pittman, Melba Brown,
Gail Wilson Sanders, Michael Nance, Jazmine Harris, Mac
kenzie Lowe, May 17... Bill Wheeless, Polly foster, Carol Gil
lespie, Janie Clopton, Tanner Crews, May 18... Tyler
McCullough, Elisa Bloodworth, Rinda Hamilton, twins
Robin Buffington and Billene Kelly, Sarah Beohm, Lexi Bell,
Jason Nichols, Brenda Pacatte, May 19... Star Wilson, Dar
lene Hamon, Jane Harness, Shanda Sanders, Savannah fox,
Ashley Lindauer, May 20... We wish for all celebrating birth
days, many more happy and healthy ones.
MAY 14,1796... Smallpox vaccine was developed by
Dr. Edward Jenner, a physician in rural England.
He coined the term vaccination for the new proce
dure of injecting a milder form of the disease into
healthy individuals, resulting in immunity. Within
18 months, 12,000 people in England had been vac
cinated and the number of smallpox deaths
dropped by two-thirds.
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Thursday, May 13, 2021 Page 3A
Council OKs New Tasers for TPD Officers
Middlebrooks Restates Objection to RedSpeed
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
City council approved
the purchase of 25 new
tasers for Thomaston Po
lice Department last week,
but member Jeff Middle-
brooks objected to the
means of funding, cita
tions generated by Red-
Speed traffic cameras
located in local school
zones.
“I think it’s good that
we’re getting tasers and
we’re getting cameras on
poles at Northside, but it’s
RedSpeed funding this,
and I have a problem with
that,” Middlebrooks said.
“We say we’re trying to
[keep kids safe] during
school hours, but we’re
finding ways to buy our
toys with this money we’re
taking in.”
Middlebrooks’ com
ments followed a presenta
tion by TPD Chief Mike
Emancipation
Program to Be
Held May 29
The Emancipation
Committee of Upson
County will host an eman
cipation program at noon
Wednesday, May 29 at the
Lincoln Park playground,
“The Bottom.” Speaker
will be Rev. McArthur
Childs.
Due to COVID-19 rec-
ommendations by the
Centers for Disease Con
trol, there will be no
parade this year. Masks
will be required and social
distancing is requested.
Richardson, who told
council members the
$78,000 cost for new
tasers, which would be
paid over a five-year term,
would be covered by pro
ceeds from RedSpeed cita
tions.
“I disagree with this
radar being run while
school is in session. I still
have a problem with it,”
Middlebrooks continued.
“I’m not saying we don’t
need [new equipment],
but we need to find
another way of doing it in
stead of the public paying
their money into it. To me,
I feel like it’s a trap.”
Middlebrooks said he
has received complaints
from residents of multiple
districts and said at the
time of the initial vote to
approve cameras, he be
lieved he was voting for
cameras to be active only
during pickup and delivery
of students. Cameras are
active throughout the
school day.
“Your statement is mis
leading,” Richardson said
to Middlebrooks. “It was
clearly spelled out.”
“And I don’t consider
any of these things toys,”
the chief continued. “The
only other way to [pay for
it] is to raise taxes on ev
erybody.”
For more information,
please contact Brenda
Hobbs on Facebook or one
of the Emancipation Cele
bration committee
members.
The Emancipation
Celebration in Upson
County is the longest con
tinuously running celebra
tion in the United States.
Last year’s event was can
celled because of the pan
demic, but did not change
the status of the event held
locally.
COVID-19 Update
Upson County reports
3>465 positive COVID-19
cases with 126 deaths as of
noon last Tuesday, accord
ing to the Johns Hopkins
University & Medicine Co-
ronavirus Resource
Center.
Numbers reflect 16 new
cases (down from 29
last week) and no new
deaths (no change from
last week) since Tuesday
one week prior. During
that time, Upson’s per cap
ita infection rate increased
from 13.15 to 13.21 cases
per 100 residents, more
than i-in-10. Pike County,
at 12.41 per 100 residents,
and Lamar County, at
10.94 per 100, are the only
Upson-adjacent counties
exceeding i-in-10 infection
rate. Taylor is at 9.82,
Monroe at 9.71, and Meri
wether at 9.5 per 100.
A consensus of online
sources report Georgia
with 1,084,835 (up 5,657
for the week) positive
cases and 19,731 (up 130
for the week) deaths as
of noon last Tuesday. New
cases decreased from
9,683 and new deaths de
creased from 244 the pre
vious week.
Johns Hopkins lists the
following confirmed cases
for counties bordering
Upson: Monroe, 2,639 ( U P
17) cases with 100 (no
change) deaths; Pike,
2,275 ( U P 14) with 40 (no
change) deaths; Lamar,
2,042 (up 14) with 57 (no
change) deaths; Meri
wether, 2,006 (up 14) with
85 (up one) deaths; Tay
lor, 798 (up one) with 25
(no change) deaths; Craw
ford, 663 (no change) with
19 (no change) deaths; and
Talbot, 477 (up three) with
18 (no change) deaths.
By: Rev. Dean Hemphill
Clarks Chapel
Baptist Church
176 Mathis Lake Rd.
Thomaston, GA 30286
When two Christians have
a verbal battle, there is only
one way that matter can be
settled. The Christian involved in that situation that
will do what God says will win, and the one that in
sists on doing it their way will lose.
The one that forgives the other and the one that
prays for the other and the one that will place that
matter in God’s hand walks on in victory. Jesus gives
us the remedy in Luke 6:27, 28. “Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you. Bless them that
curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you.”
Sadly, most Christians will fuss and argue and
light Facebook up with all kinds of hateful com
ments. I ask individuals that get all crossed up, do
you want to win? Matter of fact, both can win if they
do it God’s way, but both may not choose to do that.
But, keep in mind the Christian that always falls in
behind the instructions of God’s Word will experi
ence the peace and joy of life that only God can give.
Battles can be won, if we simply do what God
says.
Clarkschapelchurch.com
Our Patient Safety
Is Top Rated...
MINI
At Upson, our patients'safety is always a critical component in everything we do.
This dedication to keeping our patients safe has just been recognized with a Leapfrog Score of"A"for safety.
Patient safety and our resulting A Score means protecting our patients from errors, injuries,
accidents, and infections. And to that end, two major accomplishments we've attained are:
No Ventilator Associated Events or Hospital Acquired C. Diff cases.
Receiving such a high score makes us proud. Keeping you safe also makes us very happy.
Average SAT score: 1202
Over 1,700 Hours of Service
6 All-State Athletes
12 Advanced Placement Classes Taken
Episcopal School
College Acceptances
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