2 Charged in Toddler Assault

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

FABIAN CROOM

JERRY MONFORT

PAIR CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING TIFTON TODDLER

CHILD IN CRITICAL CONDITION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

While two Tifton men sit in the Tift County Jail both charged with felony assault and cruelty to children, a Tifton toddler lies in a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital in critical condition.

Tifton Police have arrested and charged Fabian Deshan Croom, 23, with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, and Jerry Bernard Monfort, 25, with two counts of party to crime of aggravated assault and one count of party to crime of cruelty to children first degree.

All of the charges are felonies.

At approximately 7:20 p.m. Feb. 4, Tifton Police responded to the 1600 block of Carpenter Road regarding a 22-month-old child breathing but unresponsive. Officers on the scene observed visible injuries to the child. In a preliminary investigation Tifton Police detectives determined that some type of physical abuse had occurred.

The toddler, Rahmel Cruz, was initially taken to Tift Regional Medical Center but because he had severe life-threatening injuries, he was transported to a Jacksonville hospital.

His mother, Erika Johnson, said she had left her son in the care of a family member.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tifton Police Detective Sgt. Sydney Saylor at 229-382-3132. An anonymous tip may be submitted using the Tifton PD Tip411 app. Text TIFTONPD and the tip to 847411, or visit www.tifton.net, click tip411, and complete the online form.

A 22-MONTH-OLD TODDLER DIES

IN SEPARATE, UNRELATED TIFT COUNTY CASE

In an unrelated case, an autopsy is scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 14, on a different 22-month toddler who died Sunday night, says Tift County Deputy Coroner Melissa Scott Carroll.

Tifton Police were dispatched to the hospital at about midnight Monday morning regarding the death of a toddler. Carroll declined to give the name of the female toddler in deference to the family's privacy.

ROSWELL MAN DIES, WIFE INJURED IN I-75 WRECK IN TIFT COUNTY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An Atlanta-area man died and his wife was seriously injured in an accident during a rainstorm Monday on Interstate 75 in Tift County, authorities say,

Frederick S. "Rick" Winn, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Sandy, 61, is in intensive care at Tift Regional Medical Center, officials said.

The Roswell couple were heading north on I-75 near mile marker 55 during heavy rain at approximately noon Monday when their Ford F-150 truck struck an unoccupied bobtail rig – a semi without a trailer – that was parked in the emergency lane.

The collision caused the Winn's vehicle to catch on fire, the Georgia State Patrol said.

Two northbound lanes of I-75 were shut down at Omega Eldorado Road for nearly two hours as the accident was cleared.

CHARITIES BENEFIT THROUGH PROBATION PROGRAM IN COOK COUNTY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Cook County Probate Court has sent a total $154,531.97 to charities through the court's program allowing probationers to buy out their community service hours by donating to charity.

“It had become apparent that it was difficult for probationers to find an entity in which they could perform the community service hours. The roadblocks ranged from the probationer’s work obligations to liability concerns by the non-profits. Taking that feedback into consideration, we determined it would be benefitting to the probationer if they had the ability to pay, and to our community to implement this buyout program," said Cook Probate Judge L. Chase Daughtrey.

"I am proud to announce that since the inception of this program, $154,531.97 has been collected and donated to various charities,” Daughtrey said.

In 2013, after the General Assembly made significant changes to misdemeanor probation, Daughtrey created the buy-out program.

Community service is defined as work with any private or public entity or organization that provides services to the public and enhances the social welfare and general well-being of the community, including educational institutions and religious organizations that are nonprofit or tax exempt.

Using the conversion rate of minimum wage ($7.25 an hour) and considering the federal criteria, the Probate Court identified nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations in which misdemeanor probationers could buy out their community service hours.

Since the program's inception, the funds collected and disbursed are:

Toys for Cook Kids: $44,818
Shriners Hospital for Children: $60,046.64
Boys & Girls Club of Cook County: $49,422.33
4-H/UGA Extension: $245

HOUSE OK'S BILL REQUIRING LAND RESTORATION AFTER SOLAR FARMS LEAVE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The state House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Monday requiring that land leased for solar farms be restored to its natural state after the lease expires.

Ga. House Bill 300 now heads to the state Senate for deliberation.

There have been concerns about the impact of solar farms on the landscape, particularly in rural areas. The bill's sponsors said that as Georgia moves toward a more sustainable future, it is important that a trail of "permanent scars" aren't left on the landscape.

Under the legislation, companies leasing property for solar farms will be required to restore the land after the lease expires by removing solar foundations, filling holes, and removing all cables. Companies must also provide financial assurance for restoration costs.

If approved by the General Assembly, the solar landscape restoration bill would be the first such legislation in any state.

TWO RR CROSSINGS TO CLOSE FOR MAINTENANCE IN TURNER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Norfolk Southern Railroad plans to temporarily close two railroad crossings in Turner County to conduct maintenance, according to Georgia Department of Transportation.

The first closure is scheduled from 8 a.m. Feb. 26 to 6 p.m. Feb. 27 on State Route (SR) 7 in Ashburn. The traffic interruption northbound will be at the intersection of SR 32/112 and SR 7 in Ashburn, and southbound it will be at the intersection of SR 7 and SR 33 in Crisp County.

The second closure is scheduled from 8 a.m. Feb. 28 to 6 p.m. Feb. 29 on SR 32. The traffic interruption westbound will be at the intersection of SR 112 and SR 7, and eastbound it will be at the intersection of SR 33 in Sylvester.

Detour routes will be marked.

The maintenance work was originally planned for January but was postponed.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

CONGER LP GAS OPENS SYLVESTER SITE

Tifton-based Conger LP Gas has its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday at its new Sylvester location. The ribbon cutting with the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce will be at 11 a.m. at the new Conger location, 306 S. Main St. in Sylvester. Following the ribbon cutting, Conger will be offering a free lunch of hotdogs, chips, and bottled water until 1 p.m. Thursday at the Sylvester location.

THE FIRST BANK recently donated $62,500 to Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) through the Georgia HEART program. TRMC is the main hospital for Southwell. “We appreciate The First for this generous contribution and for supporting our mission,” said Christopher Dorman, Southwell president/CEO. Individuals, married couples, and organizations may make a contribution through Georgia HEART to TRMC in Tifton and/or Southwell Medical in Adel and receive a 100% tax credit.

RED OWL COFFEE CO., established in 2016 in Valdosta, is planning to open a drive-thru coffee shop at the corner of Hazel Avenue and S. Jefferson Street in the Berrien County seat of Nashville. The shop is expected to be about 704 square feet. Red Owl Coffee, which has a location in Tifton, has expanded to several cities in Georgia, Florida, and Chattanooga, Tenn.

PRECIOUS MELTON MONTGOMERY KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT TIFTON CHURCH'S

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Tifton’s oldest predominately black congregation, will feature Precious Melton Montgomery as keynote speaker for its annual Black History Month program.

A Tifton native, Melton Montgomery will speak during the morning worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, in the church at 2113 Southern Ave. in Tifton.

Melton Montgomery’s speech will enable the church to continue its tradition of presenting a Tift County High School graduate as its keynote speaker during Black History Month. A 2014 honor graduate of TCHS, Melton Montgomery has been playing the piano and singing for years and recently released her latest recording, “Victory,” which she wrote.

She is a 2018 honor graduate at Valdosta State University, where she majored in early childhood education. She taught for three years at Sallas Mahone Elementary School in Valdosta and is in her fourth year of teaching at J.T. Reddick Elementary in Tifton.

Melton Montgomery is currently enrolled in a master’s of education program at Georgia Southern University.

Each year during February, Shiloh Missionary Baptist celebrates black history and focuses on achievements of notable African Americans.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Snowbelle" is a cat for all seasons, and she's ready for spring to begin. Come visit Snowbelle and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

MORE THAN AN INCH OF SNOW

FALLS ON TIFTON

~ FEB. 13, 1958

Tifton had its heaviest snowfall in decades on Thursday, Feb. 13, 1958 when nearly 1¼ inch of snow fell on the Friendly City. It was the most snow Tifton had seen since 1934. Schools were closed, and local children spent the day sliding on makeshift sleds.