Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

'UPSETTING,' SAYS WITNESS TO ACCIDENT BOY HIT BY SUV, IN INDUCED COMA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A witness to Tuesday's tragic accident, during which a 5-year-old boy was severely injured when struck by an SUV outside a Tifton elementary school, says there has been a lot of misinformation around the community about what occurred.

"I just wanted to clear the air about what I witnessed," Chris Griffin of Tifton said when contacted by the Tifton Grapevine on Thursday. Griffin was in his vehicle in a line to pick up his daughter at Len Lastinger Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon when he saw the accident.

"It was upsetting; it was pretty rough to see it," Griffin said. "It was a tragic accident."

Isaiah Silva, 5, was hit by a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban as he ran across the street while leaving the school at approximately 2:55 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP). The SUV's 71-year-old female driver was not speeding at the time and had stopped to offer aid to the child after he was struck, the GSP said. No charges are anticipated.

Griffin said the black SUV had turned onto the street from a cul de sac. "I saw the little boy dart out of traffic. The SUV hit him and knocked him to the side of the road."

Griffin was the first person to get to the boy as he lay on the street.

"I checked on him and made sure he was breathing; I checked and made sure he wasn't choking," Griffin said. "I'm not sure if he was conscious, but I was talking to him and told him help was on the way."

Griffin said the boy had been walking with his sister, who was about 16 years old.

"The sister was hysterical. She kept begging me to pick him up, but I said we could hurt him worse if we did. I wanted to pick that little fellow up but I knew not to," Griffin said.

The SUV driver had stopped and was also checking on the boy. "She was pretty unstable, crying, and was hysterical," Griffin said.

The school's principal, Patsy Shivers and staff were immediately on the scene, Griffin said. "Mrs. Shivers took control."

In less than two minutes, the Tift County Fire Department was there, followed quickly by other first responders, Griffin said. He stayed with the boy until EMS personnel arrived.

The boy was taken to Tift Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to a hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. He has severe head injuries and is in a medically induced coma, his family said.

"I'm praying for him," Griffin said. "I hope to talk with him one day and get a hug. I'm praying for this family."

TIFTON MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Tifton man has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking and other charges, says the South Central Drug Task Force and the Irwin County Sheriff's Office.

Randary Crockett Jr., 29, of Tifton was arrested on the evening of April 18 by Drug Task Force agents, Irwin County deputies, and State Police during a highway safety checkpoint in Irwin County, authorities said.

According to the Irwin County Sheriff's Office, Crockett faces several charges, including two trafficking charges involving cocaine, meth, and opioids, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Recovered during the arrest were two sets of digital scales, cash, a stolen firearm, more than 26 grams of pressed tablets, and more than 101 grams of suspected cocaine, the South Central Drug Task Force said.

TIFTON RECYCLING 'PAUSED' AS RYLAND RELOCATES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Trash recycling in Tifton is paused while Ryland Environmental relocates to another location, officials say.

"It's a temporary pause while we get settled," said Ramona Cavazos with Ryland.

"We're in the middle of moving right now," she said Thursday.

Ryland is relocating from its Eastman Drive location to a site at 2508 S. Carpenter Road.

"We don't have definite date yet when we'll start (recycling) back up. We should know something next week," Cavazos said.

The City of Tifton released a statement Thursday noting that Ryland Environmental and the city "are planning to resume the recycling program. While Ryland is moving its home base ... the recycling site has not yet been decided. Officials from both organizations are meeting next week to secure a location that’s both secure and convenient. We will update city residents as soon as the new location has been finalized."

Ryland has the contract with the City of Tifton for garbage pickup and recycling. Through last Friday, it had been accepting recyclables 24 hours a day in its bins at its Eastman Drive location.

Local Ryland manager Aaron Sowa recently told City Council that the recycling program was being well-used and that residents, for the most part, were following guidelines for recyclable materials.

In state House District 170, Jaclyn Dixon Ford of Alapaha, left, is facing Donny Roberson of Nashville for the Republican nomination.

...In House District 169, William Roberts, an Ocilla farmer, faces Angie Butler ....O'Steen, a registered nurse in Coffee County, for the GOP nomination.

EARLY VOTING STARTS MONDAY FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Early voting begins Monday for the May 21 primary elections. In Tift County, advance voting will be available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through May 17. Saturday voting will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 4 and 11.

Early voting in Tift will be at the county election offices on Chesnutt Avenue. On Election Day, May 21, all ballots must be cast at a voter's assigned precinct.

Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes is facing retiree Cal Russell Thomas for the Democratic nomination for the District 2 seat: Daughtry Melton IV of Tifton said he plans to run as a write-in candidate for the seat in the November election.

The Democratic nominee will also face Republican Priscilla Prince in November for the seat on the Tift County Commission.

Tift County Board of Education incumbent Marilyn R. Burks is being challenged by Ambrose B. King Jr. for the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat on the school board. 

Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, has no opponent for the GOP nomination, but two candidates are vying for the Democratic nod to face Scott in November: Darrius Maurice Butler, a pastor; and retired writer/editor Vince Watkins.

In District 170 in the state Legislature, which includes part of Tift County, two candidates are seeking the GOP nomination: Jaclyn Dixon Ford of Alapaha, an agribusiness executive; and Donny Roberson of Nashville, a retired educator. 

In state District 169, which also includes part of Tift, two Republicans are seeking the nomination, and one Democrat – Theresa Rewis, a tax professional in Douglas. The Republican candidates are William Ernest Roberts, an Ocilla farmer; and Angie Butler O'Steen, a registered nurse in Coffee County.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES THROUGHOUT AREA COUNTIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County's unemployment rate rose during March from the previous month, as did all counties in the Tiftarea, according to data released Thursday by the Ga. Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County's jobless rate rose to 2.8% in March, up from 2.6% in February. One year ago in March, Tift recorded a 3.0% unemployment rate, according to the GDOL.

Tift County’s labor force – the number of people who are employed or are unemployed and seeking employment – was at 20,782 during the month, which is a decrease of 81 from a year ago, according to GDOL data.

March's jobless rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 3.8% vs. 3.7%; Worth, 3.5% vs. 3.3%; Irwin, 3.8% vs. 3.7%; Cook, 3.1% vs. 2.9%; Berrien, 4.0% vs. 3.8%; and Ben Hill, 4.5% vs. 4.0%.

Statewide, the March unemployment rate remained at 3.1%, said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson. The national jobless rate for March was at 3.8%.

South Georgia Banking Co.'s CEO Glenn Willis, from left, stands with local scholarship runner-up Sophie McCard, SGBC President Sam McCard, SGBC's local scholarship winner Cameron Smith, and SGBC Marketing Specialist Libba Johnson. The two students, Cameron and Sophie, will compete statewide for one of four Community Bankers Association $1,000 scholarships.

SGBC NAMES LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER, RUNNER-UP FROM TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A panel of judges has selected South Georgia Banking Co.'s (SGBC) local scholarship winner and runner-up for this year.

Cameron Smith, a senior at Tift County High School, has been selected to receive SGBC's $500 scholarship award. He and Sophie McCard, the local runner-up from Tifton, will both move on to compete in the Community Bankers Association statewide competition for one of four $1,000 scholarships.

The Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship is to assist deserving high school seniors in their first year of college at a Georgia institution and to promote community banking.

Students competing statewide are sponsored by a local community bank, must have completed an activity record expressing their leadership activity in school, wrote a short essay on community banking, and provided teacher recommendations as well as a high school transcript. Awards are based on academic merit and not on financial need.

The Tiftarea Auto Club donates 'Teddy Care Bears' to the Tift County Sheriff's Office, Tifton Police Department, Tifton Fire Department, and Georgia State Patrol to help them interact with children in stressful situations.

TIFTAREA AUTO CLUB DONATES 'TEDDY CARE BEARS' TO FIRST RESPONDERS

FOR DEALING WITH CHILDREN

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tiftarea Auto Club donated "Teddy Care Bears" to local first responders this week for help in comforting children who may be confused or scared in stressful situations when interacting with authorities.

The Auto Club donated the stuffed bears to the Tift County Sheriff's Office, Tifton Police Department, Tifton Fire Department, and Georgia State Patrol.

A child receiving one of these bears may be momentarily comforted and distracted from whatever situation they are facing, officials said.

The Tiftarea Auto Club and its President Derick Snow and Vice President Gary Grimes donated a total of 41 Teddy Care Bears to each of the local law enforcement agencies and fire department.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

OLD TIRES MAY BE DROPPED OFF SATURDAY

As part of Georgia Cities Week, the City of Tifton is sponsoring a free tire drop-off from 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday in the Cato Knight Parking Lot in Downtown Tifton. City residents may drop off up to 10 tires. Only tires up to 22 inches can be accepted, and residents will need to unload their own tires. For information, call 229-391-3970.

HELPING TO KEEP A CLEAN COMMUNITY

Melody Cowart, Tiffany Lanier, and Betty Morgan Cooksey, from left, of the Tifton Junior Woman's Club observe Earth Day this week by picking up trash along Carpenter Road, an area where the Junior Woman's Club has "adopted a mile" to clean up.

TIFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT JOINS MEMORIAL FOR FIREFIGHTER

The Tifton and Sylvester city fire departments join their ladder trucks to honor late firefighter Matthew Cirullo, 50, at his memorial service Monday in Sylvester.

Cirullo lived in Worth County for nearly 25 years and had retired from the Albany Fire Department. He moved to Bonaire last year and began working for the Houston County Fire Department.

FORMER MAYOR POPS UP AT 'POP-UP' ART EXHIBIT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Former Tifton Mayor W.P. "Squire" Brown Jr. was among those in attendance recently when his daughter Kaycee Brown exhibited some of her art at a "Pop-Up Exhibition" at Colony Bank in Tifton. Brown was a Tifton city commissioner for more than a decade, also serving as a two-term mayor in the early 1970s.

In photo at left, Brown poses with his daughter Kaycee and family friend Michelle McDonald Woodard. In photo at right, the former mayor points to his daughter's depiction of the Fulwood Park stone arch, constructed by his father, W.P. Brown Sr., in 1934.

The Pop-Up Art Exhibit is sponsored by the South Georgia Artist Guild. Kaycee Brown's art will be on display at the bank through April 30.

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Statewide influenza data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of week ending April 13:

Since Seasonal Tracking Beginning Oct. 23, 2023:

TOTAL INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS: 195 ............................................... LATEST WEEK: 0

TOTAL METRO AREA HOSPITALIZATIONS: 4,292 ............................LATEST WEEK: 16

TOTAL INFLUENZA-ASSOCIATED DEATHS: 57 ................................. LATEST WEEK: 0

In Georgia, influenza is not a reportable condition, with the exception of influenza-associated deaths and outbreaks.

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

This Sunday, April 28, is National Superhero Day, celebrating those who serve and protect – not only fictional superheroes but real-life heroes in our midst. Of course, when most folks think about superheroes, fictional characters such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman come to mind. But National Superhero Day also recognizes those whom we look up to every day, no matter if they wear masks, capes, scrubs, or uniforms, or fight crime, or educate our children.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

• Explore Your Local Airport, 2-5 p.m., 125 Terminal Drive, Fitzgerald
• Touch-a-Truck, 4:30-6 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton
• "Free Movie Day" showing "Big Hero 6," 6 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

• Free Tire Drop-Off, 8:30 a.m.-Noon, Cato Knight Parking Lot, Downtown Tifton
• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Plein Air Workshop with Cris Lawson, 9 a.m., Knotted Pines Stables, 72 Stripling Jones Road, Chula
• Tifton Super Saturday! hosted by Child Care Resource & Referral of Southwest Georgia, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 3004 U.S. Highway 41, Tifton
• Horse Creek Wine Run 5K, 9 a.m., Horse Creek Winery, Sparks
• Plant Cutting & Seed Exchange, Noon-2 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton
• International Food Festival, 6-9 p.m., Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church, Tifton

YOUR YARD SALE

HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Stallone" is a friendly, happy-go-lucky fellow ready to become your next pet. Come visit him and other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).