Boss Hog BBQ

Boss Hog BBQ and City Fest Car Show will take place Saturday, September 24th from
10 am to 3 pm at the Greatest Generation Memorial Park.

Contact the City of Thomaston for more information, 706-647-4242.

Westwood Lending Hands Serve-a-Thon and Clay Shoot

Westwood students will be completing service projects on campus and around Thomaston the week of September 19. The school will host its first-ever clay shoot on Friday, September 23 at the Big Red Oak Plantation in Gay, GA.

Corporate sponsors donating $250 or more may participate in the clay shoot. Ammunition and lunch will be provided as well as door prizes.

Contact Derek Pardue at 770-845-8965 if you are interested in being a corporate sponsor for any amount.

If you are interested in being a shooter, contact Brent Daniel at 706-975-6150 or Greg Boyt at 706-765-8488.

Business After Hours Tailgate

The Sertoma Women of Upson will host the September 20, Business After Hours from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. The theme this year is Tailgate.

There will be a 50/50 drawing, a $400 cash pot drawing and the Sertoma Women have football tickets to raffle off. You can't win if your name is not in!

Call us today and let us know if you will be attending!

It will be a great time to network with your business peers, win prizes and of course BRAG about your favorite team! Dress is Casual, but wear your Favorite Team Colors!

Call the Chamber to register, 706-647-9686.

3rd Wednesday Wake-Up Call

The Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce held its first 3rd Wednesday Wake-Up meeting on August 17 at the Chamber office. Those present for the meeting were Lisa Ellington, Bank of Upson; Mike Reeves, 5 Star Tire & Auto; Lucy Chaney, The Thomaston Times; Wynn Trice, Edward Jones Investments; Bob Fletcher, Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home; Pam Little, Workforce Development; Neal Trice, Upson EMC; Robin Aylor, Georgia Independent School Association; Hoppy Hopkins, Upson Regional Medical Center; Rebecca Calcattera, The Thomaston Times; Laurie Holmes, Colony Bank and Jennifer Greathouse, Robinson State Farm Insurance. Not pictured, Mitch Ellerbee, Thomaston-Upson County Airport.

Sponsors for the August 3rd Weds Wake-Up were The Wellness Center of Upson Regional Medical Center and Kenneth Hatchett.

Each month the Chamber will invite members to attend the 3rd Weds Wake-Up meeting to learn about upcoming events, Chamber committees and membership benefits.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21 and the following businesses will be invited to attend: PetSense, The Alexander Resource Group, Bill Roberts Electrical, Designsoft.com, Extreme Gymnastics & Cheer, Trennis Dumas State Farm Insurance, Gardner Veterinary Services, XGS Computer Repair, Middle Georgia Carpets, Sweet Georgia Tea Room Antiques and Ladies Consignment, KOTA Bows Boutique Gifts and Angela Clark Insurance.

Class of ‘76

The R.E. Lee class of 1976
held their 35th reunion this weekend.

The group gathered at the Woodall House on West Main Saturday evening for dinner and a chance to share some old memories.

The class of ‘76 was the 100th anniversary class to graduate from Lee. Sixty five members of the class attended the reunion.

Click on above pictures for a larger view, for a slideshow of more pictures, click HERE.

Fun Day At Weaver Park

The Thomaston-Upson Recreation Department held a Summer Fun Day at Weaver Park Saturday.

Over 200 attended the festivities that included lunch and the water slides.

Veterans Seminar

Thomaston Hospice attended Thursday’s Department Of Labor Veterans Seminar held at Southern Crescent Technical College’s Community Development Center on East Main Street.

Veterans from Upson and the surrounding counties learned about different resources that are free and available to all Veterans.

Resources included; State Benefits, Disabled Veterans Outreach programs, Education Programs, and Health programs.

The response was great and the most asked question that was, “When is the next Seminar?”

Screen On The Green

The first Screen On The Green was held Friday night in front of the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center. The event was sponsored by Windstream and although rain threatened, a crowd of about 300 was on hand to see the movie Rio.

Vendors were set up around the track, the Northside Fire Department brought a fire truck and a mobile Fire Safety House to teach children what to do in the event of a fire.

Windstream held a drawing for a number of prizes, the winners were: Fischer Williams – MP4 Player, Susan Rogers – GPS, Stacy Townsend – Snap Camcorder, Noah Townsend – Surround Sound System, Lee McKissick – Digital Picture Frame, Tammy Fallin – Digital Camera and Shawn Townsend won the 30” Flat Screen TV.

For more pictures, click HERE.

The Big Bird Bash

The Hummingbird Stage & Tap Room, 430 Cherry Street in Macon, will host it’s third quarterly Big Bird Bash.  

The event will be held on Saturday, July 16th from noon to 2:00 am. Proceeds benefit local musicians and Central Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The first two events have raised over $4,000 for local musicians and over $3,000 for Central Georgia CASA. Tickets/armbands are $10 and can be purchased at the door or through any band member.

Local talent you may know includes, Hunter Price at 1:30 pm, Mystery Road at 2:15 pm, Will Stevens at 3:15 pm and The Dirty Sound Professors at 8:45 pm.  Along with eleven other bands and performers it promises to be an exciting evening of musical entertainment.

School Supply Drive

Starting today, July 12th, it is time for Thomaston Ford's annual school supply drive.

They will be collecting donations at the dealership during business hours. All the school supplies that are collected will be distributed to students in the Upson County School  system that need them.

Thomaston Ford
1011 Hwy 19 N
Thomaston Ga. 30286
Ph. (706) 648-2191

Summer Sizzle

Summer Sizzle at The Ritz - in Barnesville on July 16, 2011.

Come and join the fun! A1A Band (Official tribute band for Jimmy Buffett) will be there along with Thomaston’s own Loose Change band. Sure to be a great time.

Gates open at 6 pm. Bring your friends, blankets or chairs, and your ID. No coolers. For more information, contact the Barnesville Chamber of Commerce at 770-358-5884. Admission is $10.

Screen on the Green

Looking for something fun to do?

This Friday, July 15th bring a picnic, blanket or lawn chairs, gather all of your family and friends and enjoy Screen on the Green at the Thomaston Civic Centers track and field.

Sponsors will be there beginning at 7:30 pm with prizes and giveaways.

The movie RIO begins at 9 pm.

Blood Drive

The Sertoma Women of Upson will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross this Tuesday, June 12th.

Hours are from 2:30 pm until 7:30 pm, at the Thomaston Civic Center.

To The Rock Ranch…..And Beyond!

The Rock Ranch has announced a partnership with NASA that will make the ranch one of seven Space Farms in the country this fall. The other locations will be in Texas, California, Utah, Nebraska, New York and the Washington DC area.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of man’s first space flight and to celebrate the occasion, this years corn maze will have a space theme. NASA will have a mobile classroom set up at the ranch as part of their goal to educate at least one million children nationwide about the space program.

In addition to the classroom, NASA will have an actual astronaut at the ranch in October along with a moon rock.

NASA’s involvement will attract national media attention to the Upson county area and The Rock Ranch is preparing for the largest crowds since the property was purchased by Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy in 1989.

The addition of a dining hall capable of handling over 300 guest at a time has made the ranch a group tour destination.

The 50 Years of Space Exploration Corn Maze will kick off the Fall Family Fun Days on September 24th.

For additional information, contact The Rock Ranch at (706) 647-6374 or visit them online at www.therockranch.com

Celebrate America

The Rock Ranch is ready for one of it’s biggest weekend’s of the year, the 12th annual Celebrate America is this Saturday from 4 until 10 pm. Admission is $25.00 per car regardless of the number of passengers. One lucky guest will win a year’s supply of free Chic-fil-A meals.

Festivities include live music featuring the Cow Chip Band from Griffin along with Thomaston’s Due South bluegrass group playing all afternoon at the log cabin.

The Atlanta Braves Fan Team will be giving away Braves gear and the University of Georgia will have a working bee hive exhibit to view.

An aerial parade of vintage planes will conduct a fly-over at 7:30 pm

Admission includes unlimited access to attractions like the rock climbing wall, paintball shooting range, watermelon cannon, pony rides, paddle boats, jumping pillow, pedal carts and the Rock Ranch Train.

Tiny Town is the perfect place to let a big imagination in a tiny tot run wild. For a slideshow of Tiny Town and more, click HERE.

For an additional fee, guest may also experience the new Cow-A-Bunga Zip Lines that will allow you to step off of a 60 foot tower and travel down a 1300 foot cable at 35 miles per hour.

In the past decade, The Rock Ranch has become a major tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors to Upson county from throughout the country. Saturday’s Celebrate America event will draw another 6,000 to 7,000 guests who will witness one of the largest fireworks displays in the south.

The finale at Disney World uses three 10 inch displays that burst in the shape of a willow tree over Cinderella’s castle. The Rock Ranch will use five 10 inch willows for the finale. The fireworks show is so large that the ranch was required to obtain a special permit from the FAA.

The Rock Ranch will also be open from July 5th to July 30th, Tuesday through Saturday each week from 10 am to 4 pm for it’s Fun in the Summer Time season. All the standard ranch attractions will be available as well as educational stations like the Georgia Wildlife Station and the Cow Milking Simulator.

Sertoma Officers Sworn In

For more than nine decades a special group of individuals have strived to uphold the creed “Service To Mankind,” they are Sertoma. The first official meeting of the service club was in 1912, women became a part of the organization in 1985.

In 2008 a group of hard working women in Upson county who wanted to be a part of this organization got together and decided to form their own Sertoma Club.  They told some friends and they told some friends and before long the Sertoma Women of Upson was formed.  The Charter had a total of 58 members making it the largest club charter in 10 years for both the men and women's Sertoma clubs nationally.

Newly elected officers of the Sertoma Women of Upson were sworn in by North Georgia District Governor Steve Brodie Tuesday evening at The Woodall House on West Main Street. Steve is from Thomaston and is a past president of the local men’s Sertoma club.

Kim Tyson was sworn in as president. She is employed by Amedysis Health Care.

Jennifer Greathouse will serve as vice-president. She is employed by State Farm.

Jennifer McGaha will assume the post of secretary, she is employed by United Bank.

Heather Adams was elected treasurer and is also a United Bank employee.

Lisa Marshburn, a cosmetologist with Hair Trends, is the new Sergeant at Arms.

Shannon Spraggins, outgoing president, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board, vacated by Lane Coggins. Shannon is employed by Caterpillar.

The three new members of the board are Julie Peoples, Kim Hubbard and Melissa Thomas.

Congratulation ladies and best of luck in your new positions. Anyone interested in joining the Sertoma Club or wishing to obtain more information may contact them at swupson@charter.net

Spay/Neuter Clinic

The Atlanta Humane Society will be back June 29th at the First United Methodist Church parking lot with their mobile surgical unit for another low cost spay/neuter clinic.

There is still space left. Appointments and prepayment are required.

Call 404-974-2885 between 8-10 am and 2-4 pm and leave a detailed message. Remember to speak slowly and clearly, especially your phone number, if you do not hear from AHS, please contact Kay Dunaway via Facebook.

Female cats - $50; Male cats - $40; Female dogs $65-85; Male dogs $55-65. Free rabies shot and microchip included.

Zac Shumate Benefit

The Zac Shumate benefit was held Saturday.

The Poker Run motorcycle ride raised over $1,000 and was won by Jeffery Parrott who donated the winnings back to the Shumate family.

Stops included the Pike Depot in Zebulon, Extreme Rider Leather Shop in Warm Springs, Tha Deli in Manchester and Chalybeate Springs.

Tony Edmonson of Hampton, Georgia ran the 5K race three times, once to warm up before the start and again after finishing the official race, he placed his medal around Zac’s neck after Zac presented it to him.

The overall winners were Caleb Teachout and Jennifer Parker.

 

Due South performed at noon followed by Chris and Brandon Moss.

Hunter Price of Barnesville and Mark Johnson took the stage at 3 pm, Price performed later that evening in Barnesville for the tornado relief BENEFEST. Triple ThreaT closed the show.

 

The car show drew 25 entries from as far away as Savannah. Taking the People’s Choice award was Jesse Littlejohn with his 1970 Chevy Pickup. Best of Show-Car went to Larry Myers and his 1961 Chevrolet Impala, Best of Show-Truck was Anthony Johnson’s 1980 Chevrolet El Camino.

The T-Town Toyz Car Club donated $200, the Zac Brown Band autographed guitar was won by Bobby Fitzmayer of Savannah.

The benefit raised over $5,000 to help defray the expenses incurred by Zac and his family.

Dewayne and Casey Shumate were very appreciative of the efforts on behalf of Zac, who has been suffering the last 4 years from a form of epilepsy called Pharmacoresistant Complex-Partial Seizures. He has cycled through all antiepileptic drugs approved for his age, which have failed to fully control his seizures. He’s currently on 4 seizure medicines that help control his seizures to 1 to 2 a week.

A little over a year ago Zac entered into a surgery candidate study at the Medical College of Georgia. After many different tests, his neurologists have confirmed that surgery is the best option to try and resolve the seizures. There is a possibility that Zac will have to undergo up to 3 surgeries to resolve his epilepsy.

Zac showed the bravery to face his coming challenges when, at the end of the day, he stepped up to the mic and told the crowd that he appreciated everything and everyone that had been involved with “the best day of my life…….so far.” 

Visit Zac's website at www.allforzac.blogspot.com

For a slideshow of the activities, click HERE.

Children's Summer Theatre Camp

The Thomaston Upson Arts Council will hold auditions for Disney’s The Jungle Book for grades rising K through 5th grade and Shakespeare’s Inferno “A Divine Comedy” for rising 6th graders through high school seniors.

Auditions begin Monday, June 20th for “A Divine Comedy” and Tuesday, June 21st for The Jungle Book, both will be held at 6 pm at the R.E. Lee Auditorium.

Camp dates for The Jungle Book are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am to noon and from 1 pm to 4 pm for “A Divine Comedy” beginning July 11th.

The performance dates are August 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th.

Sweet Corn Festival June 18 - 24

The Rock Ranch will celebrate the arrival of their homegrown sweet corn crop beginning Saturday, June 18th and continuing Tuesday, June 21st through Friday, June 24th, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the family for fun attractions, corn themed games, activities, special corn concession items and freshly picked sweet corn at the produce stand.

Attractions such as train rides, pony rides, Tony Town, the giant jumping pillow, paddle boats, pedal carts and much more are included in the $10 per person admission price. Children age 3 and under are free. Guests may also choose to ride the new Cow-A-Bunga zip lines for an additional ticket price of $12 or $7 for the different zip line runs.

Corn themed fun includes: corn hole, sweet corn eating contest, corn cannons, corn shucking contest, sack races, relays, corn craft project, corn blasting, corn grinding, corn golf and the naming of the Sweet Corn King and Queen for best corn themed costume (age 2 and under and age 3 and 4 are only two age groups that may participate.) Also enjoy corn on the cob, roasted corn, fried corn, corn dogs, popped corn and corn nuggets.