About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2024)
If « i'u| * Vote Associate Chief Magistrate Judge'. C" CECIL HUTCHINS . \Upson County Chief Magistrate Judge . v ' Thank you for your support! Currently serving as Upson Magistrate Court Associate Judge 32 Years Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent: GBI Special Response Team, Counter Terrorism Task Force, Dignitary Detail with Secrete Service and the Capital Police, Internet Crimes Against Children, and the Major Theft Unit Retired Veteran from the United States Army Reserve 23 Years District 6 representative for the Magistrate Judges within this district in Georgia Servant and pastor for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Husband, Father, Grandfather Purl MHcal ArKwibumert Vol. 17, No. 17 UPSON Wednesday, April 24, 2024 BEACON Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community upsonbeacon.com 219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382 75 Cents Newsline April 24. 2024 Political Profiles: Learn About Local Candidates Learn about local can didates and where they stand in The Upson Bea con’s 2024 Political Pro files, beginning on Page lB. The question-and-an- swer forum includes com ments of those running for county commission chair, county commission, tax commissioner, chief mag istrate judge, clerk of su perior court, and the board of education. Rally Held for Duke's New Store Reporters from At lanta’s 11 Alive visited Thomaston last week dur ing a rally for the state to give Duke’s Wine and Spirits its license. The show will air this Thurs day, April 25 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. 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 mul tiple county offices. In person early voting will be available at the civic See Early Voting, 5A City Urban Redevelopment Hearing April 30 City officials will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tues day, April 30 to obtain res ident input for the creation of an urban development plan in the northeastern portion of Thomaston. The public hearing will be held in the city-county meet ing room of the government complex, 106 East Lee Street in Thomaston. The plan and See Redevelopment, 5A 8 10499 02461 2 $950 Million investment Commits to llnson Brightmark Plans 2.5 Million-Square-Foot Facility and Almost 200 Full-Time Jobs Brightmark LLC, a circular so lutions company with a mission to Reimagine Waste®, announced plans Tuesday to develop a 2.5 mil- lion-square-foot circularity center in Upson County with the capacity to repurpose over 400,000 tons of plastic per year. It will be the company’s second Circularity Center® in the U.S. and largest facility to date, ac cording to company officials. Con struction will start in 2025 and is set to be completed in 2027. Brightmark selected Thomas ton because of its desire to grow alongside a strong community partner and responsible corporate actor, according to the announce ment. Brightmark’s dedication to economic advancement in the Peach State is highlighted by a $950 million investment, which will bring nearly 200 advanced manufacturing jobs, improvements to regional infrastructure, and sup port economic growth and devel opment in rural West Central Georgia. “We are pleased to welcome Brightmark to the Thomaston- Upson County business com munity,” said Thomaston Mayor J.D. Stallings. “As Thomaston ap proaches the 200th anniversary of our founding, we look to the future and welcome business partners like Brightmark who are focused on See Investment, 6A Andrew Carroll/Upson Beacon Children popping bubbles during Thomaston's annual Art & Soul Fest. Thomaston Holds Largest Art & Soul Fest Yet Andrew Carroll Sports Editor acarroll@upsonbeacon.com Thomaston’s 2024 Art & Soul Fest drew thousands to the city last Thursday through Sat urday. The festival started on Thursday night as Lazy J Mer cantile hosted its Junk Love Market. Live music, food trucks, and more than a dozen vendors filled the outdoor space around the building. On Friday, the festival shifted to downtown with The Boswells headlining live music for the second day of the festi val. The Ritz Film Awards were held inside of The Ritz Theater while Slices Pizzeria held a sip and stroll event along the south side of the square. Saturday’s events started with the first “color run” held at Lakeside Park. More than 25 competitors took part in the 5K See Art & Soul, 7 A 8 Arrested for inciting Riot’ at UIHS Note Detailing Plan for Shooting Found at ULMS Eight teens were arrested and charged Thursday when a fight occurred at the Upson-Lee High School bus ramp and a 12- year-old was taken into custody Friday and referred to juvenile court in connection to a note de tailing a potential school shoot ing, according to statements from Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore. When the fight began at ap proximately 3:15 p.m. last Thursday, a school resource deputy at the bus ramp immedi ately intervened and attempted to restore order, Sheriff Kilgore said. The resource officer was assisted by school staff members and other UCSO deputies were called to assist. According to Kilgore, four individuals ages 17 or older were charged as adults and identified as Jaquan Lamar Alston, Zyon See Riot, 6A UCSO Jacob N. Millan Jayden Washington Two Teens are Charged in Shooting 31 Rounds Fired at House Two Thomaston teens were arrested and charged after allegedly firing more than 30 rounds at a Wiley Street residence where a mother and three children were sleeping around 3:20 a.m. last Thursday, according to Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore. “Numerous rounds struck the home, causing damage, but thankfully not striking anyone,” Sheriff Kilgore stated. Jayden Washington, 19, and Jacob Na thaniel Millan, 17, have been charged with four counts of aggravated assault and posses sion of a firearm while in the commission of a crime. Both are held in custody without bond, Kilgore said. Deputies responded to the scene at 3:23 a.m. and found 31.223-caliber rifle shell cas ings in front of the residence, according to the sheriff. A 37-year-old mother and her three children - ages 12,16, and 17 - were inside the residence at the time of the shooting. During the arrest, a Palmetto Arms AR-15 rifle and a Ruger LCP pistol were recovered by UCSO. “This incident apparently initiated be cause of a social media post involving a family member who was erroneously be lieved by the shooters to be at the residence,” Kilgore said. “The [targeted] family member was elsewhere at the time of the shooting.” The investigation is active and ongoing, according to UCSO. TPD: Drug Bust Results in Four Felony Charges Dontavious Shamar Walker of Thomaston was arrested and charged with four felonies last Thursday after receiving a package containing multiple pounds of illegal narcotics and a “haz ardous” lab used to manufacture syn thetic marijuana, according to Thomaston Police Chief Mike Richard son. Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force agents, with the assistance of Thomaston Police Department and Georgia State Patrol, executed a search warrant at an East Lee Street address after TPD Sgt. Matt Allen and Upson County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Mario Cromer received information that the package was being delivered. Agents dis covered approx imately 9.5 pounds of mari juana, four ounces of mush- Dontavious S. Walker rooms, and an “extremely hazardous, clandestine lab used to manufacture large amounts of synthetic marijuana,” according to See Drug Bust, 6A Agents discovered approximately 9.5 pounds of marijuana, four ounces of mushrooms, and an "extremely hazardous, clandestine lab used to manufacture large amounts of synthetic marijuana." TPD (0 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.
