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219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382
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BEACON
Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community
Ellington Asserts Urgent Need to nelieve Ranew
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Amid delays in finaliz
ing a joint agreement for
wastewater service, James
Ellington emphasized to
fellow commissioners last
week the urgency to pro
vide relief to Ranew, which
has trucked effluent from
its local facility for weeks.
Citing changes in con
tract wording by city offi
cials, the commission
delayed action in its June
8 meeting to approve the
agreement which would
provide additional capac
ity for the manufacturing
and fabrication plant on
Delray Road. Ellington
said further delay is unac
ceptable.
“I think the agreement
has changed, and I’d like
the opportunity to sit
down with the city and
have that discussion, since
I was one who represented
the county during negotia
tions,” Ellington told com
missioners. “But the
urgency is the Ranew situ
ation.
“I have a personal rela
tionship with Lester
Ranew and I get calls ask
ing where we are [on the
issue],” he continued.
“When we have a business
employing that many
people and making a com
munity investment, we
don’t need to let dust settle
on this. He’s trying to ex-
Ranew, jA
Ranews Companies
on Delray Road
Photo by Luke Haney
Kendall Receives
Multiple Charges
After Chase, Crash
Damien Cortez Kendall of G Loop in
Thomaston was charged with multiple fel
onies last week following a vehicle chase,
crash, and foot pursuit, according to reports
from the Thomaston Police Department.
TPD’s Morgan Prosser initiated a traffic
stop for failure to wear a seatbelt when Ken
dall, 29, refused to stop and accelerated, ac
cording to Prosser’s report. Kendall ran a
stop sign at the intersection of West Walker
and Crawley Streets, left the roadway, and
wrecked into an embankment.
After returning to the roadway, Kendall
accelerated toward West Walker and again
lost control, crashing into a parked truck at
the corner of West Walker and Crawley, the
report stated. The driver then crawled out the
driver side window and fled on foot, and was
apprehended in a heavily wooded area adja
cent to nearby storage units.
Kendall, who had an outstanding proba
tion violation warrant at the time he fled, was
Chase & Crash, jA
Photo by Luke Haney
Freedom Fest is Sunday
The City of Thomaston will hold its annual Fourth of July Free
dom Fest this Sunday, from 7 to 10 p.m., which includes live
music, ice cream, and fireworks at the Greatest Generation
Memorial Park. City officials recommend that everyone con
tinues to follow social distancing guidelines. Feel free to bring
lawn chairs and coolers with food and beverages (no alcohol).
There will not be no vendors this year. Shown above, a young
girl receives an American Flag at the 2020 Freedom Fest.
T-U Civic Center Undergoes Renovations
Fall Sports Registration Now Open
8
10499 02461 2
Photo by Luke Haney
Summer Camp Attendees enjoy some of the new instillations at the Civic Center.
By Luke Haney
lhaney@upsonbeacon.com
In addition to the recent
unveiling of a new logo, the
Thomaston-Upson Recreation
Department members have
been busy with renovations
and hosting multiple events
for the summer.
Renovations recently com
pleted include a reflooring of
both floors of the civic center,
the addition of a new desk in
the main lobby, and new tech
nology.
The current computer lab
has been condensed and
moved into a more central lo
cation, while the former com
puter lab space will be
transformed into a fitness
area. Several game machines
and televisions were added in
the facility, and Director
Shaka Johnson says she is ex
cited to continue renovations,
which will include the gymna
sium.
Registration for Fall soc
cer, softball, and baseball is
open now.
Fall soccer registration is
open until July to for ages 3-
17. Fees range from $75 to
$95-
Fall softball registration is
Civic Center, 5A
Wilder Suggests
Makeup Holiday
for Juneteenth
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Commissioner Lorenzo Wilder suggested
last week that county employees should be of
fered a day off to make up for missing the re
cently approved Juneteenth holiday.
President Joe Biden signed a bill Thurs
day, June 17 establishing the June 19 federal
holiday which commemorates the end of
slavery in the United States. The City of
Thomaston recognized the holiday by closing
offices and giving employees a day off Mon
day, June 21.
“For us, that was too soon and not pos
sible,” County Manager Jason Tinsley said.
“We do understand the importance and sig
nificance, and I feel like I needed to address
it in tonight’s meeting.”
Commissioners typically approve the
county holiday schedule in December for the
following year.
“We will recommend a revised calendar to
the board that will include it,” Tinsley ex
plained, “but we already have 12, so we may
flex some holidays.”
Wilder was not satisfied with the timeline.
Juneteenth, 5A
Upson’s Tax
Digest Hits
Record High
Almost $812 Million
Upson County’s tax digest has increased
to a record high of $811,908,465 in 2021, ac
cording to information released by Tax Com
missioner Andy Chastain. The previous high,
12 years prior, was $789,677,033 in 2009.
There was a drop of $140 million from
2009 to 2016, credited to closures of local
businesses and industries and a slumping
real estate market during that period, accord
ing to Chastain. But thanks largely to a boom-
Tax Digest, 5A
UPSON COUNTY TAX DIGEST HISTORY
YEAR
GROSS DIGEST AMOUNT
MILLAGE RATE
2009
$789,677,033
27.27
2010
$776,796,090
27.27
2011
$775,346,638
27.27
2012
$735,198,300
23.27
2013
$728,538,187
31.99
2014
$711,337,316
34.24
2015
$666,231,164
34.19
2016
$649,502,252
34.18
2017
$651,248,781
33.62
2018
$710,917,694
30.66
2019
$715,625,781
30.64
2020
$757,106,315
28.21
2021
$811,908,465
27.37 (tentative)
COUNTY PROPERTY TAX LEVY
2009 $8,400,778 2021 $8,580,941 (isnmi.,)
SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX LEVY
2009—-$9,178,617 2021-—$9,139,759 ( tentative)
(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