About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 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 Vol. 17, No. 18 Wednesday, May 1, 2024 UPSON BEACON Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community upsonbeacon.com 219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382 75 Cents Newsline May 1. 2024 Early Voting for Local Election Started Monday Advance voting opened 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. Sat urday voting will be avail able from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 and May 11. Voters must choose a Republican, Democrat, or non-partisan ballot style at the time of voting. Please note that all non-partisan See Voting, 6A Assessments Not Tax Bills Tax assessments re cently mailed from the Upson County Tax As sessor’s Office are not tax bills, according to Tax Commissioner Andy Chastain. “It’s important to note that the taxes on this notice are estimated amounts based on this year’s assessment value and last years’ millage rates,” Chastain re minded. “This is not your See Assessments, 5A Assessment Appeals Must Be Mailed by June 1 Deadline The deadline to submit appeals for property as sessment is Saturday, June 1, however in-person ap peals will be accepted on Monday, June 3 since June 1 falls on a weekend, ac cording to Upson County Chief Appraiser Charles McKeehan. Mailed appeals must be postmarked by June 1, McKeehan said. 8 10499 02461 2 Upson-lee Boys’ Golf Wins Area Title Hawkins Takes Individual Honors with Two-Under-Par 70 The Upson-Lee golf teams celebrate a successful day at state with some new hardware. Andrew Carroll/Upson Beacon Brighlmark to BOC: ‘Honored... to be Here’ Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com Following Brightmark’s announced intention last week to invest almost $1 billion locally, a company representative addressed Upson County Commis sioners. “We would like to thank the com munity. We are honored and privileged to be here,” Brightmark’s business devel opment leader said at the board’s April 23 regular meeting. “We looked at other places to invest, but we found you to be incredibly wel coming and collaborative in sharing the vision of creating a facility that promotes environmental stewardship and circular ity,” he continued. “It took us a long time, but we got here, and we’re proud to be here. We hope to be a beacon for you, for growth... and prosperity.” The first location Brightmark consid ered was Macon, where proposed devel opment ended after community pushback related to environmental con- Andrew Carroll Sports Editor acarroll@upsonbeacon.com A long day at Raintree Golf Club proved fruitful for Upson-Lee golf as the boys’ team bested the Columbus Blue Devils by two strokes to win the AAA Area l Cham pionship and advance to the state tournament in Lafayette on May 20 and 21. Whitaker Hawkins led the way for the Knights with two- under-par 70 over 18 holes, four strokes better than sec ond place which featured a tie between Ethan Pham of Co lumbus and Trent Coker of U- L. Third place for the Knights was Cason Blakely, who over came a rough start on the front nine to shoot even par on the last seven holes and finish with a score of 80. Teamwise, the Knights de feated Columbus by a score of 306-308, with Thomasville finishing a distant third at 339. Mary Persons just missed the cut with 342, and other teams at the tournament in- See Golf, 6A Submitted Heroes Get Remembered But... legends Never Die! ASOD Presents Spring Recital Series Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com Armstrong School of Dance held its spring recital series, “Legends Never Die,” last weekend, with four shows featuring countless young dancers performing to hit songs from legends like The Pointer Sisters, Aretha Frank lin, Nirvana, Metallica, Whit ney Houston, Michael Jack- son, Prince, and more. From three-year-olds to seniors preparing to graduate, performers danced in the styles of ballet, jazz, jallet, auxiliary, company, pointe, tap, and hip hop. Senior dancers, gracing the stage for the final time with their partners, include Jayme Carroll and Bradyn Davis, Kami Leigh Cathcart and Jer- miah Searcy, Theresa Colston and Jacob Corwin, Mayah Fry and Trent Coker, Ella Kate Hinson and Campbell Hinson, Azzyria Holmes and Angel Montford, Lauren Jenkins and Brianna Jenkins, Jessi McGouirk and Esteban Mal donado, Lily June Prewitt and Cohen Ivie, Alexis Ryals and Logan Teal, Lizzie Stewart and See Legends, 7A See Brightmark, 6A Residents Vent Brightmark Fears on Social Media Company Responds to Concerns Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com Social media has been abuzz with com ments, both negative and positive, since Brightmark announced its intention last week to construct a facility in Upson County. Concerns include environmental im pact, health effects, by-products, unin tended costs associated with emergency management, and a 2021 fire at the com pany’s Ashley, Ind. Plant, where plastics reportedly were converted to wax and fuel. Company officials have monitored so cial media, and submitted the following re sponses to several concerns expressed by residents: Topic: The Thomaston Circularity Center will release toxins into our air and water. •Response: According to Brightmark, they will invest over $1 million to enable a Zero Liquid Discharge technology to en sure that all process wastewater is man aged and processed on-site, preventing any contact with any municipal water supply, including drinking water, groundwater, the Flint River, and other local waterways. The company will have all the appropriate air permits in place that comply with local, state, and federal law, including the EPA’s Clean Air Act. Their circularity center is considered a “synthetic minor emitter” under the EPA’s Clear Air Act, meaning it has established emission and operational controls to limit emissions. For more in formation, visit Brightmark’s FAQ page [link on upsonbeacon.com]. See Fears, 6A k li f • /• Holly Harrison. ill Grit tin Ob-Gyn Accepting New Patients In Thomaston 403 West Main Street • Thomaston CAU (706)646-2888 or (770) 227-5505 for an appointment.
