Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLUMBUS (WTVM) - A Tornado Warning issued around 9:25PM on Saturday night for Talbot County has expired as of 9:58PM ET Stay with WTVM and Storm Team 9 on-air and online for updates overnight Details: cache-fra-eddf8230128-FRA 1746539735 1726925975 (WGXA) — Four people were injured after a shooting in Thomaston including a 16-year-old who was run over by an SUV A large crowd was seen gathering in an open field across from Scrimmage Line Bar and Grill near Daniel Street DID YOU HEAR? | Trees, power lines, down in path of Sunday storm across Macon-Bibb into Twiggs County Authorities were patrolling nearby when they heard several rapid gunshots coming from the area When authorities with the Upson County Sheriff's Office and the Thomaston Police Department arrived at the scene they found two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old woman suffering from gunshot-related injuries All three were transported to a hospital for further care The incident with the SUV is currently believed to be unintentional and the minor was taken to a hospital trauma facility due to the severity of those injuries contact the Thomaston Police Department at (706) 647-5455 The Town of Thomaston invites all residents and community members to attend a Public Police Forum on Tuesday This forum is an opportunity for the public to share input and positive feedback regarding law enforcement services in the community In partnership with the Maine Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) Thomaston is undertaking an independent and comprehensive review of its police department’s operations MCOPA has provided professional development and operational assessments to law enforcement agencies across Maine Communities looking to evaluate and improve their police services have consistently turned to MCOPA for guidance and expertise The forum will offer a platform for residents to voice what they appreciate about the Thomaston Police Department and contribute to shaping the future of public safety in town Feedback is valuable; join in helping ensure Thomaston’s law enforcement continues to meet the needs of the community Thanks to our readers and especially our supporters who help to keep PenBayPilot.com an open and accessible community hub Your support is even more critical during rapidly changing times While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community We are grateful to those who already participate Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone X THOMASTON — The underground work preceding construction at 198 New County Road more than two years after contractors initially proposed their project to the Town the 8,035 sq ft structure being erected opposite the Walmart intersection on Route 1 with Starbucks and AT&T already committed to the location Jake Modesto of Stonefield Engineering and Design presented plans for that location along the Highway Commercial District with re-approval by the Planning Board due to the lengthy delay one minor detail of the elevation rendering has been altered according to Code Enforcement Officer Courtney Farnam of Transportation will make decisions regarding where the paved driveway will be and whether the traffic light will turn to four directions or remain as three the Town has not been provided with those details though the land on each side has been developed for many years The Town has not yet learned the estimated time frame for the building’s completion Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com Wednesday Monday Tuesday Thursday Thursday Tuesday Friday a division of the German company Heidelberg Materials has entered a purchase agreement to acquire Giant Cement Holding Dragon Products Company and Giant Resource Recovery Dragon Cement Heidelberg Materials North America is a supplier of cement and asphalt with more than 450 locations and approximately 9,000 employees in the U.S The parent publicly-traded company is in Heidelberg Heidelberg Materials does business in 50 countries in 2,700 locations There are additionally almost 420 production sites belonging to joint ventures Heidelberg Materials also tradies in cement and coal by sea Heidelberg Materials North America will own: We welcome the GCHI employees and customers to Heidelberg Materials and look forward to the opportunities and growth potential ahead.” “Our latest additions are yet another great strategic fit creating value in the near term through significant synergies with our existing assets on the East Coast. This move follows a series of key acquisitions this year that have already contributed to our consistently strong financial performance in North America,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, in another news release we are excited about taking further steps in building a sustainable future and positioning Heidelberg Materials as the front runner on the path to net zero and a circular economy in the key North American market.” What the acquistion means for Dragon Products in Thomaston remains to be seen and cement products for Maine markets has been shipped in for distribution Work in the quarries has likewise been idled Dragon Products was producing almost 300,000 tons of cement on an annual basis it employed approximately 88 people and actively mined its 130-acre open pit quarry In 2019, Dragon had submitted applications to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to modify licenses to allow combustion of asphalt shingles a fire at the plant shut it down for six weeks Dragon announced it would gradually idle production operations beginning in December at its Thomaston plant Giant Cement said persistent escalation of operating and logistical costs have exerted a negative impact on theThomaston plant's viability Dragon has been part of the Midcoast landscape for much longer when manufacturers first started mining limestone quarries and making Portland cement at the Thomaston facility the plant grew its footprint to 1,100 acres The plant itself sits on approximately 250 acres corporate communications director for Heidelberg Materials North America 2 email: "We are excited about the future opportunities that the GCHI businesses will provide for us But it is too early to speculate on any future use of these locations operations will continue as usual as we focus on working to close the transaction the Thomaston plant and other GCHI assets remain under the control of their current owners." who had been placed on unpaid administrative leave in October 2023 as the chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments in Thomaston pending an investigation of a sexual abuse case involving a teen and was reinstated by the town of Thomaston Nov Leo resigned from his position during an Executive Session of the Thomaston Select Board and town manager Nov Town Manager Kara George issued the following statement Nov “Fire/EMS Chief Anthony Leo submitted his letter of resignation as of November 13 2024 to the Thomaston Selectboard during an Executive Session meeting The Select Board expressed its gratitude to Chief Leo for his more than 30 years of dedicated public safety service to the community and extended its best wishes for his future endeavors The board plans to initiate the search for a new Fire/EMS Chief promptly.” Leo sent a letter to the members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments following his resignation at the executive session and then shared it on his personal Facebook page for his family and friends I've come to one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life In the best interest of the Fire and Ambulance Service as well as the townspeople I will be stepping down from my Chiefs Position with both departments The Love I have for both the town and the departments has made me rethink coming back You all do such a fantastic job that I don't want the bad cloud over your heads The town needs to feel safe and secure with their Fire and EMS departments I made it clear to the Selectboard that if I've lost the trust of the townspeople I absolutely appreciate all the support you have all given me over the last few years and I hope and pray you all continue to get on that truck and take care of our townspeople the way you'd want your families taken care of who was 14 when the offense occurred in 2003 notified police 20 years after the incident in the summer of 2023 the state and defense agreed to a plea deal on a single count of sexual abuse of a minor before Justice Jeffrey Hjelm in Knox County Court Leo will be on a deferred disposition for two years and the charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact were dismissed as part of the agreement A deferred disposition is a court-ordered postponement of sentencing after a defendant pleads guilty to a crime. The defendant must agree to a set of conditions and if the conditions are met during a specified period of time the charges may be dismissed or reduced. If the defendant fails to meet the conditions 31 agreement include that Leo must undergo sex offender counseling and have no contact with females younger than 18 unless supervised as part of his employment If Leo does not follow the terms of the agreement then he will undergo an open plea to sexual abuse of a minor and could end up serving a jail sentence The Thomaston Town Manager Kara George issued a statement Nov 7 on behalf of the town when the decision was made to reinstate Leo “Tony Leo joined the Town of Thomaston Fire & EMS Department in 1993 carrying forward a family legacy in firefighting Tony was a frequent visitor to the station spending countless hours alongside his father firefighting truly became a part of who he is Tony took on the role of Thomaston EMS Chief and quickly made a positive impact His forward-thinking ideas for sustainability commitment to increasing Fire and EMS training attendance and efforts to boost morale showcased his deep dedication to the department and the community he serves Tony was placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an investigation related to an alleged case from over 20 years ago the Town of Thomaston has reinstated Tony as the Fire and EMS Chief The town’s leadership and community continue to have full confidence in Tony's ability to lead the department and oversee future developments.” Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight After months of delays and unforeseen setbacks Fat Joe’s Burritos finally opened for business last week with a ribbon cutting held on Thursday Located on the downtown Thomaston square in the “Thomaston Marketplace” building the restaurant marks the second location for Fat Joe’s and Upson County Sheriff’s Office attended to show support Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular videos Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: MAINE – Thomaston Place Galleries’ Winter Enchantment auction took place from February 21 to 23 1924-2018) won the highest price of all three days at $137,500 with works by Auguste Herbin and John Marin taking second and third place More on these and other top lots to follow Tiffany Flatware Service Sets Table For Success At Nye Estate-Fresh Dzubas-Signed Painting Leads At Ralph Fontaine’s McInnis Gets Nearly $10K For Black Folk Art Doll Wednesday Friday Wednesday Monday Monday Wednesday Tuesday Friday Tuesday Tuesday Friday Friday Thomaston voters approved a warrant article at the polls that gives the town permission to borrow $3.5 million to help finance construction of a new fire/EMS station is contingent on receiving $3.5 million in Congressional directed matching funds The vote also gives the town permission to accept state and federal funds for the project Voter approval of the bond was required in order for Thomaston to apply for the $3.5 million federal grant The grant cycle opens in March and may represent the last chance to secure such funding according to Thomaston Town Manager Kara George Thomaston has produced a chart that outlines potential tax implications on property owners if the bond is approved The numbers are based on a 20-year bond with a 4.10 percent interest rate An example: For a homeowner with an assessed property value of $400,000 the project would increase annual property taxes by approximately $220 Thomaston needs a new fire and EMS station for four main reasons The town has also outline benefits of a new station: a Special Open Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday Ram Kumar’s “Urban Abstract” achieved $137,500 from an online bidder the highest price paid during all three days of the Winter Enchantment Auction ($100/500,000) MAINE — Thomaston Place Galleries hosted its Winter Enchantment Auction from February 21 to 23 drawing in an unexpected number of in-person bidders for the event the [winter] weather keeps people bidding at home or online but we had a full house all three days,” said an auction house representative With almost 1,500 lots in nearly every genre the rise in attendance and the auction’s overall results speak to the quality of the objects offered Thomaston Place reported a 90 percent sell-through rate and an overall total of $1.5 million in sales Fine art fetched most of the highest prices with “Urban Abstract” by Ram Kumar (Indian Kumar led the first generation of post-colonial Modernists following Indian independence and partition in 1947 separating India from Pakistan and from British dominion He studied economics at St Stephen’s College in New Delhi before pursuing painting in Paris between 1949 and 1952 with Andre Lhote and Fernand Leger as mentors “Kumar’s work predominantly comprises abstract renditions of landscapes with jagged topographic contours supplemented with a sense of ambient despair.” Dated 1969 “Urban Abstract” showed less structure and more indeterminable feeling surrounding the location than many other paintings in his oeuvre An untitled abstract painting by Auguste Herbin (France 1882-1960) followed in price and was a stark departure from Kumar’s neutral palette Herbin co-founded the Abstraction-Création and Salon des Réalités Nouvelles schools both promoting non-figurative abstract art His work is known for the colorful geometric shapes that place the pieces more in cubism rather than abstract expressionism This untitled abstract oil painting by Auguste Herbin was the second-highest bid lot of fine art at $37,500 The top lot of the auction’s second day took sales in a slightly different direction with a Maine seascape by John Marin (French Monhegan.” Despite his identifiable subject in this instance Marin was a modernist artist known for his abstract landscapes The painting is almost figurative compared to his other work exhibiting his method of using oils like watercolor paints After training in Europe and even exhibiting his work at the Paris Salon Marin’s most frequent subjects became Maine’s rugged terrain and New York City’s urban jungle this scene sold for $26,400 to a floor bidder especially after and from schools of well-known Eighteenth Century artists The school of Anton Raphael Mengs (German/Italian 1728-1779) produced a circa 1750 memorial portrait of a young lady that showed a label on verso from the Mayflower Hotel that sold for $22,500 against its $3/4,000 estimate A portrait of “Queen Henrietta Maria as Saint Catherine” by a follower of Sir Anthony van Dyke (Flemish/English One of the more unusual paintings in the auctions was titled “Legs of Sir Robert Napier Bart.,” created after a waist-length painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds (English the legs portrait multiplied its $800-$1,200 estimate to $8,400 Second place in the auction’s third day went to an 18K gold dual time Turkish market pocket watch surpassing its $2/3,000 estimate to achieve $39,000 This may or may not have something to do with the rear guilloche case’s decoration: an affixed crest of Abdul Hamid II His reign is considered to be the last overseeing a complete but rapidly fracturing state which would cease to exist under Sultan Mehmed VI following the end of World War I in 1922 The watch was in overall good condition with a “pristine dial,” having been kept in a family safety deposit box prior to the auction this 18K dual time and date pocket watch prompted an exchange of bids that resulted in $39,000 Classical marble statuary fragments were popular during the second day’s auction retained some of his robe and an original bronze fixture on his back the fragment won $23,750 against a $4/6,000 estimate The Hellenistic head of Aphrodite from the grouping known as “The Aphrodite Anadyomene” (drying her hair) was mounted on an Italian marble plinth and rose to $18,750 ($7/9,000) this time of a woman with a “very nice delineation of her thin robe clinging to her figure,” 400-300 BCE Ornate Nineteenth Century walking sticks topped the first day’s auction which offered a higher concentration of decorative arts Three group lots of these stood out: first in the sale at $3,438 was a pair of walking sticks with gold plated tops followed by a trio with ebony shafts for $2,625 Three more canes with gold filled tops and mother of pearl handles in a single lot also did well at $1,625 Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as given by the auction house. Thomaston Place Galleries’ 2025 Jewelry Auction will occur on March 21, with a preview beginning March 18. For information, 207-354-8141 or www.thomastonauction.com Across The Block Easter Weekend Auctions Bring ‘Hoppiest’ Bidders To Copake Fine & Fanciful Finishes In DuMouchelles’ April Auction UPDATE (4/14 – 8 p.m.): Water has been restored to the affected areas, according to an update Monday night from Macon Water Authority. MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The Macon Water Authority is currently on-site at 6210 Thomaston Road performing an emergency repair on a 12-inch water main. During the repair process, water service will be shut off, impacting nearby customers. Residents and businesses located from 6199 Thomaston Road through 6686 Thomaston Road may lose water service or experience significantly reduced water pressure. According to the authority, the repair is expected to take approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete. The outage will affect an estimated 23 customers. Residents are encouraged to prepare for the outage by storing water for essential use and monitoring updates from the Macon Water Authority. CBS13 and FOX23's annual Shred-A-Thon is Friday 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at our studios at 81 Northport Drive in Portland. Thomaston rehires EMS chief despite him pleading guilty to sexually abusing teenby Leela Stockley THOMASTON (BDN) -- Thomaston reinstated its EMS chief despite him pleading guilty to sexually abusing a 14-year-old Leo was charged in September 2023 with gross sexual assault unlawful sexual contact and sexual abuse of a minor for offenses that allegedly happened in 2003 against a 14-year-old girl Leo entered an Alford plea in Knox County court on a single count of sexual abuse of a minor meaning he didn’t admit to a crime but admitted that the court had enough evidence to convict him if the case went to trial the charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact were dropped the town officials said they had full confidence that Leo would show “dedication to the department and the community he serves,” in a Thursday letter to residents The town’s leadership and community continue to have full confidence in Tony’s ability to lead the department and oversee future developments.” Leo was granted a two-year deferred disposition following the plea deal He is also barred from spending time with women under the age of 18 and must complete a restorative justice program with the victim the sexual abuse of a minor charge will be dismissed after two years and he will be convicted of simple assault and imposed a $300 fine he will be sentenced on the sexual abuse of a minor charge and risks jail time Details: cache-fra-eddf8230079-FRA 1746539822 3099809338 The definitive guide to Portland's food scene New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know: For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties Do you have some details you’d like to pass on about an upcoming business or development in the Portland food scene? Then please fill out our Contact Form THOMASTON — The original fire that drew fire departments to 115 Booker Street the investigation into its cause may take some time A passerby reported smoke coming from the first floor of the vacant house at the corner of Booker and Thomas streets alert to fire crews hailing from Thomaston while Owls Head FD provided station coverage at the Rockland station the Fire Marshal's Office has been requested and will be working with the Thomaston Fire and Police departments Many fire crews were back at their individual stations by 7:20 p.m The Thomaston Select Board released the following letter after the resignation of Anthony Leo last week from his brief reinstatement as the town's Fire and EMS chief Leo, who had been placed on unpaid administrative leave in October 2023 as the chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments in Thomaston pending an investigation of a sexual abuse case involving a teen, and was reinstated by the town of Thomaston Nov. 7, submitted his letter of resignation Nov The Thomaston Select Board acknowledges that our recent hiring decision and subsequent resignation in our Fire Department and EMS Services reawakened old wounds especially for those who have experiences with sexual assault and added additional pain for some members of our community and beyond We are truly sorry for not fully understanding those possible impacts of our actions We have learned much from this experience and the Select Board is committed to working for the best interests of all our citizens but we strive to make sound decisions based on our varied knowledge These past couple of weeks have been no exception We will apply the recent lessons learned to our future actions We are in the search process for a new combined Fire and EMS Chief position and will make every effort to fill that role promptly We are seeking applicants from both in-state and out-of-state to be sure we have a pool of as many qualified prospects as possible We want to assure the town that they are on duty and ready to respond whenever a call comes in They risk their lives daily to protect us and keep our community safe and for that we are enormously grateful We have much to do over the next few months to heal our community and to move forward We assure you that we are up to the task and ask that you will join us in working together for the benefit of all 2024 — Three fires under investigation and a possible link to three stolen vehicles are keeping officials busy in Thomaston fire call to Thomaston FD that marked the departments’ third call of four in 24 hours was due to a furnace malfunction on Beechwood Street and was not related to the other three calls still under investigation by local officials and the Fire Marshal’s Office add to the significance of the personal and Town resources consumed by the volunteer fire service After the two calls from the prior evening some personnel were still impressed by the number of firefighters who again abandoned their regular jobs and home lives a short time later for the 9:26 a.m The Fire Marshals’ Office also came to Thomaston twice: first for the evening incidents on Oct the FD considered contacting Maine Forestry fire crews responded to an outside blaze at Flagship Cinema where they found and extinguished a 3 x 10 ft brush fire to which a call to 911 believed that from a distance fire and police encountered the shed fire on private property on Dexter Street “Human element is related in those 3 fires as with the house fire on Booker Street on October 12,” said Leo “The Fire Marshals Office and Thomaston PD are investigating.” Thomaston PD opted to call for a K9 search of the area which Rockland PD’s Tim Davis and Marek conducted two road vehicles and a golf cart were reported stolen at various different times during the midday hours of Oct A road vehicle was reported stolen from Lowe’s just after noon The golf cart had been stolen from a business some time during the morning though not reported until after the Lowe’s theft and an Enterprise rental car was reported stolen from that business’s lot at 1:20 p.m was identified as stealing all three vehicles He was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail by Thomaston Police 1 count each of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle Reports of sightings of the stolen vehicle were tracked into Rockland Atwood returned the stolen vehicle to the Lowe's parking lot where witnesses observed Atwood leave the vehicle and flee on foot “The vehicle was returned to the owner and the owner reported there had been significant damage done to it while it was missing,” said TPD “The owner also reported that there had been cash in the vehicle that was now gone.” Reports followed of Atwood subsequently being seen at McDonalds restaurant where he was taken into custody Atwood was then interviewed by investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a person of interest in the recent suspicious fires in the area Atwood was transported to the Knox County Jail “A reminder to all to please ensure that you remove the keys from and lock your vehicle when leaving it unattended,” said TPD Shed fire marks 4th Thomaston fire call in 24 hours now marks the fourth fire call in less than 24 hours for Thomaston FD and PD the departments responded to two calls within half an hour of each other both easy walking distance from each other Because of department meetings and active investigations this reporter has not yet gotten the details of the third fire call which was said to be very minor and occurred this morning prior to the shed fire around 9 a.m Along with notifying the Fire Marshal's Office police and fire authorities opted to request a K9 search of the area surrounding 63 Dexter Street a vehicle was also reported stolen from the Lowe's parking lot after noon Because the vehicle was believed to have been driven to Rockland Rockland police have been drawn into the case a golf cart was reported to have been stolen at some point today from Dexter Street Extension See info regarding the first two fires: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/concern-grows-after-two-small-fires-extinguished-thomaston-within-30-minutes/251837 The owner of the Dragon cement plant in Thomaston is acquired by a Texas-based construction corporation Heidelberg Materials North America announced over Thanksgiving that it would acquire Giant Cement Holding Last fall, Dragon Products announced the Thomaston plant would stop operations and lay off 65 workers by 2025. Earlier this year, Thomaston officials said the plant would be used as a distribution and storage hub for cement that had been imported from Spain It's unclear what the sale might mean for the Thomaston plant specifically which has a long history of safety and environmental violations A Heidelberg spokesman did not respond to a request for comment Heidelberg said the deal is valued at $600 million and is expected to close in the first quarter of next year Thomaston resident Chandler Breen pleaded guilty in U.S 31 to unlawful possessing a machinegun and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute the Thomaston Police Department received a tip thatChandler Breen A search of Breen’s vehicle revealed a firearm modified with a machinegun conversion device a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on the firearms charge; and up to 20 years in prison a maximum fine of $1 million and a minimum of three years of supervised release on the drug charge A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Thomaston Police Department Thomaston Post Office has not received mail from the processing facility and will not deliver mail today “We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause but the safety of all USPS employees must be taken into consideration,” officials added