About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2024)
JUSTICE SERVED WITH INTEGRITY * ELECT* HANNAH ELLINGTON ORNETTE CHIEF MAGISTRATE JUD Vol. 17, No. 16 Wednesday, April 17, 2024 UPSON BEACON Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community upsonbeacon.com 219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382 75 Cents Newsline April 17. 2024 Assessments Mailed Today Property assessment notices will be mailed today, according to Upson County Chief Appraiser Charles McKeehan. Deadline to submit ap peals is Saturday, June l, however in-person appeals will be accepted on Mon day, June 3 since June l falls on a weekend. Mailed appeals must be post marked by June l, McKee han said. Third Annual Art & Soul Fest Starts Thursday The third annual Thomaston Art & Soul Fest will be held Thursday-Sat - urday with events through out town. Start the weekend with the Junk Love Market at Lazy J Mercantile on Thursday, April 18 from 5- 10 p.m. Festivities continue downtown on Friday from 4-10 p.m., including a Sip & Stroll, live music, food trucks, and the Plein Air and Spoken Word compe- See Art & Soul, 5A Thomaston Braves Night Set April 20 Thomaston Night at Truist Park, featuring a 7:20 matchup between the At lanta Braves and Texas Rangers, is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, accord ing to City of Thomaston of ficials. All players and coaches of the Thomaston-Upson Recreation Department’s spring sports league will re ceive one free ticket, and extra tickets will be avail able for $20 through Wed nesday, April 17 at the city manager’s office, 106 East Lee Street. “Join your friends and fellow community members for a Braves game at Truist Park,” city officials urge. 8 10499 02461 2 5TON, GEORGIA Streamers soar as Tidal Wave Auto Spa employees celebrate the opening of the company's 250th car wash location. Luke Haney/Upson Beacon Tidal Wave Auto Spa Expands to 250 Locations Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the na tion’s fastest-growing express car wash companies, expanded its footprint to 250 locations this month with the opening of its newest location in Statesboro. This grand opening marks a major milestone for the company and is its 27th opening this year. "Opening our 250th location, especially in our beloved home state of Georgia, is a momentous occasion for Tidal Wave Auto Spa,” said CEO and founder Scott Black- stock. “I want to extend my deepest grat itude to our loyal customers and dedicated employees who have been instrumental in our success since the very beginning. To gether, we’ve built something truly re markable, and we’re looking forward to continuing to deliver an exceptional car wash experience as we grow and expand further.” During a celebration at the company headquarters in Thomaston last week, staff celebrated with a food truck, music, and streamers. Blackstock and other company executives gave thanks to 3,000-plus staff See Tidal Wave, 5A BOC Denies Yatesville Highway Variance Anneals Upholds Decision of Upson County Planning Commission Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com In a rare case of county commissioners hearing an appeal of variance decisions by the planning commission, board members voted unan imously last week to uphold the planning commission’s denial of two variance requests for a proposed busi ness on Yatesville Highway. Property owner Salim Thobani asked for a 14-foot reduction from the loo-foot arterial road, front yard set back requirement of the C-2 zoning district for installa tion of a gas pump, island, and canopy at 2015 Yates ville Highway, site of the former Mommie’s Trading Post. Thobani also requested elimination of the 30-foot green space buffer required by the GC-i (gateway corri dor) overlay district for the .70-acre tract. At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Upson Planning Com mission voted 4-0, with one member absent, to deny both requests. After filing an appeal within the 30-day re quirement, Thobaniadded a green space buffer prior to his appearance at the BOC meeting, according to Build ing and Zoning Director Doug Currier. In his staff presentation, Currier challenged Tho- bani’s appeal claim of “ex treme hardship,” which would deny all use of the See Variance, 7A Planning Commission Postpones Hearing for Hope of Generations Church Requests Rezoning for Proposed Development Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com The Upson County Planning Commission granted a request by a representative of Hope of the Generations Church for continuance of a pub lic hearing scheduled last week in connection to a proposed development off Highway 74 West. The representative cited traffic concerns ex pressed by area residents, and asked for additional time to prepare a more detailed plan when re questing the extension. The property at 212 McCard Road, approx imately 53.69 acres owned by Aired L. McCard, fronts on High way 74, Pickard Road, and McCard Road. It is pre dominantly a residential area, in proximity to a restaurant and hotel. The property includes three buildings, several cabins, and parking. Hope of the Genera tions Church plans to de velop a “ministry campus,” according to the representative, support ing the house of worship’s adjacent campus. The church property currently See Planning, 7A City Urban Redevelopment Public Hearing Set April 30 Resident Input Sought for Thomaston Plan, Project City officials will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 to obtain res ident input for the creation of an urban de velopment plan in the northeastern portion of Thomaston. The public hearing will be held in the city-county meeting room of the govern ment complex, 106 East Lee Street in Thomaston. The plan and potential project will focus on property east of Church Street/Highway 19 North in the Silvertown area. General scope of the project is to estab lish a plan to revitalize areas classified as “slum and blight” within the northeast quadrant of the city, according to officials. See Redevelopment, 5A Betsy Stewart performing "Don't You Forget About Me." Luke Haney/Upson Beacon Early Voting for Local Election Starts April 29 Advance voting starts Monday, April 29 at the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center for the May 21 local election which includes multiple county offices. In person early voting will be available at the civic center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, from April 29 through May 17. Saturday voting will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 and May 11. Friday, May 10 will be the last day to mail absentee by mail ballots. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7p.m. on election day, Tuesday, May 21. TUAC Presents 'Night at the Movies' Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com Dozens of eager attendees packed his toric Ritz Theatre in downtown Thomas ton last weekend to relive the magic of blockbuster hits during Thomaston-Upson Arts Council’s “Night at the Movies.” Twenty individuals/groups graced the stage to sing hit songs as scenes from the related movies projected behind per formers. Performers (and their song/movie of See TUAC, 5A Elizabeth McGregor singing Somebody to Love." Luke Haney/Upson Beacon ft) Griffin Ob-Gyn Holly Harrison, PA-C Nadine Noelting, CNM Abby Gibbs. CNM Accepting New Patients In Thomaston 403 West Main Street * Thomaston CAll (706)646-2888 or (770) 227-5505 for an appointment.
