HEAVEN SCENT Come See What’s New 1440 Hwy 19 North • Thomaston • 706|648|6082 00622807 The Thomaston Times Your Hometown Newspaper for 145 years www.thomastontimes.com Weather Congrats! Sports Chance of ULHS Cadets com- Wes predicts the up- thunderstorms all plete Leadership coming College Football week. Page 2A Academy season Page 6A Page 1B 145TH YEAR NO. 58 TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013 2 SECTIOns, 10 PAGES Upson County commits $50,000 to new emergency sirens pending grant approval Ashley Biles McCarty continued saying she wants to of Thomaston around the public works and grant and she stated that she felt they were Associate Editor use the funding to place additional emer- forestry area. fairly good. gency sirens in the unincorporated areas of For the additional sirens, McCarty would “I think we have a fairly good chance given After hearing from EMA Director Martha Upson County; noting that while there hasn’t also like to use the old “thunderbolt” sirens, we can take something that is already being Anne McCarty, the Upson County Board been a lot of population growth over the which are much larger and louder. There used and refurbish it,” said McCarty. “They of Commissioners signed a letter commit- years, there has been an increase of people used to be two in the county, but former are really looking to see if you are able to ting $50,000 for six new emergency sirens moving from the city to the rural areas of the EMA Director Billy Mitcham told her that reuse something that is already out there; it’s pending the approval of a Response and county. Currently, there are 15 sirens in the they were taken down because replacement a way of going green. And if they see that the Recovery grant through FEMA and GEMA. county, with nine of those being in the City parts were no longer made. However, she grant process already has the support of the If awarded, McCarty stated the competitive of Thomaston. has found a contractor in Dodge County who county commission then they are more likely grant would have an 85-15 split due to Upson “I feel we need to make sure those areas refurbishes the thunderbolt sirens, which are to pick that application also.” being ranked as one of the 37 poorest coun- are covered by the sirens,” said McCarty. less expensive to fix than the newer fully The grant application has to be turned in ties in the state. Because of this the county “We want to replace the sirens at The Rock electric type of sirens, especially if they get by August 2 and then if awarded it would would only actually have to cover $7,500 and Yatesville with bigger, louder sirens and struck by lightning. McCarty added that probably be September or October before and GEMA and FEMA covering the rest take the existing ones and relocate those in another bonus with this contractor is that he they could get the money to start. and she noted she possibly has a donor lined other places.” uses local businesses to purchase the parts McCarty told the board the project would up to cover the county’s portion. However, She stated the places in need of the sirens and is keeping money in our community. need to be completed by June of next year the county would have to front the whole include: Atwater, Country Village, Ben Hill Commission Chairman Rusty Blackston and then she thinks at most it would take $50,000 for the project and then be reim- area, Roland, Hendrix Church/Crest area, asked McCarty what she thought the chanc- a year and a half for the county to be reim- bursed once it is completed. Indian Trail/Po Biddy Road area and east es were of Upson County being awarded the bursed. BOC signs contract A shady spot for lunch with Safebuilt; makes New pavilion now available at Sprewell Bluff plans to renovate old DOT building Ashley Biles Associate Editor During a work session last week, the County Commissioners voted to execute a contract with Safebuilt to do inspections for Upson County’s Building and Zoning Department. The company has been doing inspections for the county on an emergency basis since the February of this year since the department was short staffed due to one employee resigning and one being out due to health issues. The annual contract will have a $50,000 a year retainer, which Commissioner Steve Hudson noted is cheaper than what it would cost to hire two new employees. County Manager Jim Wheeless told the board that he has always heard that Safebuilt is very thorough in their inspections and they have been doing a wonder- Ashley Biles | The Thomaston Times ful job for the county the past few months. The only A new pavilion has been completed at Sprewell Bluff and houses several picnic tables, offering visitors a shaded place for lunch while complaint he said he has heard is if the inspectors have visiting the Upson County Park. County Commission Chairman Rusty Blackston stated recently that he has heard nothing but good things from the community about the new addition and that most people have requested that another one be added as well. The already left town and a job cannot be completed until county constructed the structure using money which was designated for Sprewell Bluff in the 2011 SPLOST. the next day. A representative from Safebuilt was present at the meeting and told the board that when the company is called they can be in town within 24 hours and City Council approves revisions to ADA transition plan are capable of adjusting their schedules to meet the county’s needs. He also noted that customers will be By Sheila A. Marshall plan’s revision. able to get in touch with the company to answer any Staff Writer Bell said among the efforts undertaken were revisions questions they might have about an inspection or to handicapped parking spaces at the Thomaston Police building code issue. The Thomaston City Council has unanimous- Department, Thomaston Fire Department and Weaver While there are offices located throughout the state, ly approved revisions to the city’s Americans with Park, and the pull force on the City Hall entrance door. the office that will be serving Upson County is located Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan, which is a The plan will now be kept on file not only in city offices, in Tyrone, Georgia. requirement of the federal government. but must also be submitted to state and federal officials. See SAFEBUILT | 5A Originally enacted in 1990 and revised in 2010, According to Bell, municipalities in noncompliance Thomaston officials were tasked with revising the city’s with the ADA could face enforcement action from the plan to indicate it is in compliance with the federal leg- United States Department of Justice. islation designed to ensure equal access to the disabled. However, he said with the minor changes made locally, Kindergarten According to Will Bell, a Georgia Southern student Thomaston is in full compliance with the legislation. who is pursuing a master’s degree in public administra- At Tuesday evening’s meeting, Councilmember Patsy tion who is serving as an intern to City Manager Patrick Perdue praised Bell’s efforts on the revision plan, a senti- Registration to be Comiskey, he dedicated approximately one month to the ment that was echoed by the entire board and Comiskey. held tomorrow Summer registration for children who will be Muddy Guy to play historic 40 Watt Club attending Kindergarten in the Thomaston-Upson School System this year but have not yet registered Local musi- will be held on Wednesday, July 24, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Upson-Lee South Elementary, located cians make their at 172 Knight Trail. Parents are asked to bring their child to registra- Athens debut tion for a short screening test. Along with the child, the parent or legal guardian must bring the following documents: Ashley Biles n Associate Editor Child’s birth certificate (Note: Child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2013.) Local band Muddy Local band, Muddy Guy, will make their Athens debut this Saturday, July 27 at the historic 40 Watt n Immunization certificate on Georgia Form 3231 Guy will be making Club which has served as home base for bands such as R.E.M. and the B-52’s. Pictured are band n Ear, Eye, and Dental Screening Certificate on their Athens debut this members (l-r) Greg Gordy, Jeremy Akins, Zach Dawson and Andy Johnson. Georgia Form 3300 n Child’s Social Security Card Saturday, July 27 at the band, which consists of groups Lazy Locomotive to introduce several new historic 40 Watt Club, n Proof of Upson Co. Residency (Acceptable Thomaston natives Andy and Street, Rhythm and original songs as well as proof of residency includes a rental/lease agreement, which has served as home Johnson, Greg Gordy, Rhyme. This will be the a few of their favorite cov- base to bands such as mortgage document or current real property assess- Jeremy Akins and Zach first gig that Dawson has ers at the 9 o’clock show. ment document in the parent/guardian’s name or a R.E.M., the B-52’s and Dawson, will be playing played since joining the Drive-By Truckers. The utility bill for water, electricity, or gas in the parent/ alongside Athens based group and they have plans See MUDDY | 5A guardian’s name and a valid Upson County address.) Page 2A THE THOmastON TIMES Tuesday, July 23, 2013 Day by Day This Week’s Local Forecast • Meetings • Fundraisers • Classes • Programs • Announcements The Happenings You Want To Know About Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday to list an evet, fax it to 706-647-2833 Scat’d T-storms Isolated T-storms Isolated T-storms Isolated T-storms Isolated T-storms Scat’d T-storms Isolated T-storms 88/71 90/71 91/70 91/71 90/71 86/68 88/69 and will be closed July Precip Chance: 50% Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 30% Precip Chance: 50% Precip Chance: 30% Upcoming 1-5.