$1,000 Bonus for Tift School Workers

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

BOE OK's $1,000 BONUS FOR ALL TIFT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) has approved a $1,000 one-time bonus to all employees of the school system, full-time and part-time.

The BOE OK’d the measure Thursday night so that the bonus can get in employees’ March paycheck before spring break. Gov. Brian P. Kemp, in his State of the State Address in January, had called for the $1,000 bonus for all K-12th grade teachers and staff for their efforts in the pandemic during the past year.

On Feb. 15, Kemp signed a supplemental midyear state budget with the bonuses to be paid, directly or indirectly, from federal COVID-19 relief funds. Tift County Schools Superintendent Adam Hathaway recommended that the bonuses be paid to the "entire team," all employees.

"We know that the state will not reimburse us for everyone," Klinton Guess, the system's chief financial officer, told the school board members. But Hathaway said every school employee has stepped up during the pandemic, including teachers, staff, food service workers, bus drivers – everyone.

"This is a token of appreciation for the hard work all of our staff has done since the beginning of the pandemic," Hathaway said.

During the board's work session earlier in the week, Hathaway noted that "what our teachers in Tift County have done through the pandemic has been nothing short of greatness."

The BOE unanimously approved the bonuses.

"Everybody has definitely earned it," said Board Chairman Jonathan Jones.

Also Thursday, the BOE approved a 2021-2022 school calendar that contains no half days for students next school year. School officials said half days present issues for both parents and teachers. The first day of school will be on July 30, and the last day of classes will be May 20 next year.

TIFT COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO DROP, BUT GOV NOTES VACCINE 'HESITANCY'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County’s average daily cases of COVID-19 have now dropped to a level that hasn’t been seen since last May but state health officials say the pandemic is still with us, and the governor is concerned about the lower vaccination demand in South Georgia.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp said during a press conference Tuesday that the demand for coronavirus vaccinations is "significantly lower" in South Georgia below Macon than in the rest of the state.

Kemp said he is concerned about the "hesitancy, or lack of initiative" among South Georgians in getting vaccinated. He admonished eligible South Georgians to take advantage of the vaccines while they they are available, warning that "We are going to move doses to where the demand is."

The governor also reiterated that the state will expand vaccine eligibility criteria in the coming weeks as more vaccine supply is available.

According to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH), as of Tuesday afternoon, Tift County has administered 11,347 first doses of vaccines and 8,660 second doses. During the past week, Tift has seen 10 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional related death.

In the past two weeks, Tift County registered 16 cases, which is 39 per 100,000 population, and a 3.1 percent testing positivity rate, the DPH said.

Tift's average daily cases now stand at 6.7 per 100,000 population, according to data from Emory University. That is the lowest average daily cases in the county since last May 2.

Statewide, Georgia on Tuesday reported 1,129 new cases within the previous 24 hours with 16 additional deaths and 130 new hospitalizations. In total, Georgia has recorded 837,443 cases with 15,928 related deaths of state residents, the DPH said.

ABAC FOUNDATION SETS RECORD IN FUNDRAISING FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Despite not having an in-person gala because of the pandemic, the ABAC Foundation set a record in February for raising funds virtually for student scholarships at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

ABAC Arts Connection Director Wayne Jones, who coordinated "A Week for ABAC," said the foundation set a record of nearly $130,000 for more than 50 student scholarships.

“When we first realized we would not be able to host an in-person event, there was no question that we would push forward and reimagine the event virtually,” Jones said. “It’s just too important for our students.

“With the uncertainties the pandemic created for many parents with their jobs and businesses, a scholarship for their college-bound student often meant the difference between being able to attend or postponing their educational dreams.”

In recent years, the ABAC Foundation focused on sponsorships with a dinner and dance band for guests. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the annual dinner became a week-long series of activities this year which centered around ABAC’s 113th birthday Feb. 20.

“We were not sure how a virtual event would perform, but we were overwhelmed by the reaction of our sponsors and all those who participated in the online auction and donation appeal during A Week for ABAC,” Jones said.

For All Open Tifton Positions:

Sales, Warehouse, CDL and Service

Saturday, March 20

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Special Military-only Hour: 8-9 a.m. for active, reservists & veterans

UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center

15 RDC Road, Tifton, GA

To be considered, all applicants must apply online before the event.

Apply by Clicking Here!

The home of Doug and Julie Smith at 610 N. College Ave. is the 'Beauty Spot of the Month' for March.

KEEP TIFTON BEAUTIFUL NAMES MARCH'S 'BEAUTY SPOT'

AND OVERALL 2020 WINNER

The Keep Tift Beautiful (KTB) board has named Doug and Julie Smith's home at 610 N. College Ave. in Tifton as the "Beauty Spot of the Month" for March.

The Smiths will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to Bob's Flowers.

KTB recently notified the Jason and Cynthia Hendricks family at 1008 Hall Ave. in Tifton that they won the drawing for the $50 gift certificate for 2020, drawn from all residential Beauty Spots named last year.

Keep Tift Beautiful is a Tifton citizen advisory board working to preserve and improve the quality of life through litter clean-ups, recycling, community gardening, and beautification projects. KTB is an affiliate group of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful.

The Hendricks family on Hall Avenue won the 2020 drawing for a $50 gift certificate.

TIFTON EXCHANGE CLUB HONORS

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

The Exchange Club of Tifton recently presented the 2021 Youth of the Year award at a special luncheon.

The Youth of the Year program recognizes 12 seniors from Tift County High School and Tiftarea Academy. Each student prepared an essay to be judged, as well as included information about their extracurricular activities and volunteer service.

The seniors recognized were: Hannah Abell, Allison Carter, Allee Cooper, Marshall Corkern, Jaden Godwin, Seth Jones, James Kemerait, Kathryn Rowe, Sarabeth Royal, Marlee Taylor, Macy Weldon and Dana Wells.

The 2021 Youth of the Year is Sarabeth Royal, a senior at Tiftarea Academy. She is the daughter of Jason and Melanie Royal. Sarabeth will represent the Tifton club in the state's Youth of the Year competition.

OMEGA ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES OPENING BOOK VENDING MACHINE

The confetti flew after Principal Jim Byers, at right, cut the ribbon Friday on Omega Elementary School's new Book Vending Machine.

Students are able to purchase books from the vending machine with tokens that they earn for both academic and behavioral achievements. As part of the event, members of the Tift County Blue Devils football team read books to the students.

Holding the silver awards at the District meeting in Valdosta are, from left, Tifton club members Bonnie Sayles, President Genie McCook and Jamie Stewart.

TIFTON WOMAN'S CLUB WINS

SEVERAL DISTRICT AWARDS

Members of the GFWC Tifton Woman’s Club went home with their hands full of certificates and awards Saturday, March 13, after the spring meeting in Valdosta of the Southwest District of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – Georgia.

The club was recognized along with 10 other clubs in Southwest Georgia for community activities in 2020 despite the pandemic.

The Tifton club was recognized for first place in its membership size category and over all the clubs for service programs and activities in the Arts and Culture (Shirene Daniell Arts & Culture silver tray); first place in its category and best overall for Civic Engagement and Outreach; second place for work in Education and Libraries; and first place in its size and best overall for the GFWC Southwest District Best Overall Award.

In addition, the Tifton club’s president, Genie McCook, won the Poetry Award.

CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION OPEN TO HIGH-SCHOOL ARTISTS

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, has announced the start of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.

All high school students in the 9th-12th grades who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District may participate.

The winning entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country.

“The Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to feature the incredible creativity and talents of high school students right here in Middle and South Georgia. I look forward to seeing what our students create and displaying the winning pieces in the U.S. Capitol and my offices for all to see,” Scott said.

The first-place artwork will be displayed at the Capitol for an 11-month exhibit beginning in June. The winning student will receive two airline tickets to Washington, D.C., for the national ceremony and ribbon cutting of the exhibit, COVID-19 regulations permitting. Second- and third-place winners will be displayed in Scott's Tifton and Warner Robins congressional district offices.

In addition to community professionals judging the top artwork, Scott will continue the popular “People’s Choice Award.” All submitted entries will be posted on his Facebook page, giving constituents the opportunity to choose their favorite. The “People’s Choice Award” winner’s artwork will be displayed in Scott’s Washington office, unless it is the same piece that wins the overall competition.

This year, the congressman is asking students and teachers to submit a high-resolution photo via email of the artwork by April 16. Additional details, including a release form for participants to complete and the email address to submit artwork, can be found on Scott’s website here. For information, call 229-396-5175.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Dental Partners of Southwest Georgia

200 West 12th St., Suite A, Tifton

March 8

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Violet," a four-to-six-month-old female tortoiseshell, is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt her and to see other pets available, visit the Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055

SOUTH TIFTON RECREATION CENTER

NEARS COMPLETION

– MARCH 17, 1962

According to press reports of the day, a $30,000 steel recreation building for the youth of South Tifton was being constructed and nearing completion on March 17, 1962, on a 14-acre tract off Industrial Boulevard.