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TWO DIE IN TIFTON IN SEPARATE SHOOTINGS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Two shooting incidents within two days have left two people dead in Tifton and another woman with critical injuries.

Tifton Police are investigating one incident Wednesday in which a 77-year-old woman died and a woman was in critical condition.

Bobby Rene Williams, 77, of Tifton, died of multiple wounds, police said. The other female was life-flighted to another hospital after being taken to Tift Regional Medical Center and was in critical condition with multiple wounds.

An adult male was taken into custody for questioning, but Tifton Police said that as of Thursday afternoon, "no official charges" had been made. Detectives are still working to determine the sequence of events, police said.

Tifton Police said a female had flagged down an officer at about 7:57 a.m. Wednesday regarding "a disturbance that had just occurred" at 307 West 11th St. Once at the residence, Tifton Police officers discovered two females suffering from multiple wounds and apparent gunshots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Sydney Greene at the Tifton Police Department, 229-382-3132.

Then, on Thursday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said it is investigating a fatal shooting on Birch Drive in Tifton.

Although details were limited late Thursday, authorities said that Larry Johnson, 68, was found dead at the scene with gunshot wounds.

His body has been transported to GBI’s Macon crime lab for an autopsy.

File Photo by Frank Sayles Jr.

Senior Judge Larry Mims and his late wife Joyce are named to the Tift County "Wall of Fame" during the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet Thursday night.

TIFTON-TIFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NAMES MIMS COUPLE TO TIFT 'WALL OF FAME'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The late Joyce Mims, who was an educator and community advocate, and her husband retired Tift County State Court Judge Larry Mims were named to the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce's Wall of Fame during the Chamber's Annual Meeting & Banquet Thursday night at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Other honorees Thursday included Rotary Ethics in Business Award: Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals; Stafford Award: Former Tift County Commissioner Frankie Mathis; Prince Business Woman of the Year: Debbie Edenfield, regional administrator for Abide Home Care; John Hunt Entrepreneur of the Year: Tom Riddle and Tyler Riddle of MRS Homecare; J. Lamar Branch Award: Evangela Hampton of Abide Home Care; and Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Kayla Gaskins of Haley Roberts State Farm.

The Chamber's Wall of Fame recognizes those individuals who are integral to the history of Tift County.

In 1994, Joyce Mims and her husband Larry founded Mims Kids Inc. with the goal to mentor and expose local youth to the arts, travel, and diversity in the world.

Joyce Mims had been an active board member with Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC), serving as board secretary for many years. In 2014, she received TRMC's John B. Prince Distinguished Service Award.

Larry Mims served as judge of the State Court Of Tift County from 2000-2014. For 11 years prior he served as solicitor of the State Court and formerly ran a private law practice.

In 2022, Gov. Brian P. Kemp appointed Larry Mims as a senior judge, and he serves as a mediator and arbitrator. Mims has served on the boards of the Tiftarea YMCA, the Tift County Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Tifton Housing Authority.

At the banquet Thursday, outgoing Chamber Chair Charlie Yawn of Coca-Cola United passed the gavel to incoming Chair Becky Smith of Ameris Bank.

Greg Daniels of Comfort Inn and Suites/Williams Hotel Group is chair-elect. Other 2025 Chamber board members include Derek Sumner of AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Cindy Evers-Peake of Alliance for Children, Beth Lewis of Creative Initiatives, and Tyron Spearman of The Spearman Agency.

Among Chamber of Commerce award recipients are Rotary Ethics in Business Award to Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals, with Rotary Club President Cindy Evers-Peake, left, presenting the award to William Bowen; and two representatives of Abide Home Care in photo at right: Evangela Hampton receiving the J. Lamar Branch Award, and Debbie Edenfield being named the Prince Business Woman of the Year.

TIFT TAX COMMISSIONER SAYS PROPERTY BILLS DUE ON MARCH 25

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County Tax Commissioner Chad Alexander on Wednesday visited the Tifton Rotary Club to answer questions and discuss the property tax bills recently sent to county property owners. 

He told the club that if a tax bill has a highlighted section with red text noting that the bill is calculated at 85%, that means the value of the property is under appeal.

“If you have that, you are under appeal,” Alexander said. “If you don’t have that, you are not under appeal.”

State law sets the tax at 85% of the property's value if it is under appeal. After the appeal is decided, the property owner must pay any difference by March 25 or will receive a refund if overpaid. 

Anyone who did not attempt to appeal the new 2024 values after the recent revaluation will not be able to appeal this year but may appeal their 2025 assessment when it's sent later toward the end of the year, Alexander said.

“When your assessment notice comes out,” he said, “you have 45 days to actually go there (to the assessor’s office) or go online and appeal through the assessor’s office. The 2024 deadline has been passed.” 

He added that those who live in a subdivision may have a line item on their tax bills that reads “Lighting District.” These are home owners who pay for street lights in their subdivision. If it says "late fee," Alexander said that is not accurate. They will not be assessed a late fee. “Nobody has a late fee for lighting district, I promise,” he said.

The only reason for a late fee would be if the property owner had not paid the 2023 bill.

Alexander noted that “We have not had a county property revaluation in 20 years. We had a complete revaluation” in 2024. “The assessors went through every single property in the county. That’s the reason our bills were delayed as much as they were.

“If you’re under a total county reval, you cannot have more than 8% of your bills under appeal,” Alexander said. “We had over 12%. We had to get that down before we could send out the bills.”

The tax bills for 2024 went out in the past 10 days, and they are due March 25. Mobile homes tax bills are due April 1.

Residents can visit a website, tiftcountypay.com, to access their tax bill. “All you do is type in the address or a name. You can find your bill, print your bill, and pay your bill,” Alexander said. There is a surcharge for paying by credit card, so Alexander said that taxpayers may come to his office and pay by check or may send payment through the mail.

“You can make weekly payments, monthly payments, but after March 25, interest will start accruing on the balance,” he said.

In past years, when payments were usually due in November, Alexander said he gave taxpayers 90 days to pay their bills. However, this year the bills were delayed because of the revaluation and ensuing appeals. The law requires at least 60 days to pay the bill. 

“If you have a mortgage company, we are suggesting you contact them and send that bill to your mortgage company. More than likely, they already know. If you have a mortgage company and escrow, they will pay the very last minute,” Alexander said.

He said his office doesn’t know if people have a mortgage company or are paying the bill themselves. “All we know is you owe this money.”

Alexander said that because 2024’s taxes are being paid in 2025, they cannot be listed on 2024’s income tax returns. They will have to be listed on 2025's income tax return as that is when they are actually paid.

TIFTON RECEIVES NEARLY $112,000 IN OPIOID SETTLEMENTS TO COMBAT DRUG ADDICTION EPIDEMIC

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton, which joined more than 3,000 state and local governments that are participating in opioid-related lawsuits nationwide, has received $111,894.06 in opioid settlement funds during the past 22 months.

Acting City Manager Larry Lawrence says that Tifton has received settlements from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and Allergan, among others.

The opioid settlements refer to offers from opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies to settle various lawsuits against their companies for their roles in the opioid addiction epidemic.

Opioid settlement funds are an opportunity to support communities affected by the drug overdose epidemic. Settlement funds must be spent on “opioid remediation efforts” by addressing the misuse and abuse of opioid products, by treating or mitigating opioid use or related disorders, or by mitigating other alleged effects of, including those injured as a result of, the opioid epidemic.

Tifton Fire Chief Bobby Bennett is spearheading the city's effort to eradicate the opioid epidemic in Tifton.

”We have partnered up with Oasis Recovery Community Organization (RCO) of Tifton to support them on a monthly basis to help people with addiction problems. We are also providing education yearly to the Tift County School System on the opioid epidemic and also classes on the use of Narcan. We are making Narcan available anywhere and everywhere for the treatment of possible opioid overdose,” Bennett said.

Acting City Manager Lawrence said that the City of Tifton has thus far expended $15,194 of the funds: Oasis RCO – $5,000; Narcan (naloxone) used to treat known or possible opioid overdose – $7,122; and Tift County Schools – $3,072, teaching Narcan classes yearly.

In 2021, nationwide settlements were reached to resolve all opioids litigation brought by states and local political subdivisions against the three largest pharmaceutical distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, and against manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company Johnson & Johnson.

The national settlements have been finalized, and payments have begun; distributors will pay up to $21 billion within 18 years, and Johnson & Johnson will pay up to an additional $5 billion during no more than nine years.

Brent Conner, Exchange Club Public Safety chair, left, with Tifton Police Detective Roberto Torres – the club's Officer of the Year – and Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

EXCHANGE CLUB NAMES TIFTON OFFICER OF YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Exchange Club of Tifton has named Detective Roberto Torres with the Tifton Police Department as this year’s Officer of the Year.

Torres began his career in law enforcement in 2013 with the sheriff’s office and joined the Tifton Police Department in January 2022. His supervisors say Torres has shown dedication and perseverance in his career as he transitioned from patrol to investigations.

He played a critical role in resolving the unsolved murder of a 22-month-old infant. His collaboration with the GBI was pivotal in identifying and apprehending the offender. Torres also successfully assists with gang operations in the area, prosecuting those involved in criminal activity. His collaborative efforts extend to neighboring agencies and jurisdictions.

Torres also led the investigation into a string of high-value bicycle thefts that targeted hotel guests. His determination and persistence resulted in an arrest and recovery of stolen property, police said. He also showed determination when spending countless hours and riding hundreds of miles by bicycle to catch the crews responsible for entering autos around town, the police department said. 

Torres has completed specialized training in crimes against children, which proved vital during his investigation of a school-related threat of violence, where his swift actions ensured the safety of students and staff, authorities said. He also aids the department in interactions with the Hispanic community, helping improve communications.

GBI CHARGES PEARSON MAYOR WITH RECEIVING KICKBACKS, THEFT OF CITY LAND, BRIBERY OF CITY EMPLOYEES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested Pearson Mayor Robert “Buster” Johnson on numerous charges related to a scheme to release from jail an incarcerated person through fraudulent documentation, obtaining kickbacks from city contracts, theft of municipal land, and bribery of city employees. 

Pearson is just east of Willacoochee on U.S. Highway 82.

According to the GBI, Johnson, 49, of Pearson, faces the following charges:

• Criminal attempt to commit hindering or apprehension or punishment of criminal;
• Three counts of influencing witnesses;
• Criminal solicitation to commit false statements and writings;
• Criminal solicitation to commit false official certificates or writings by officers or employees of a state and political subdivision;
• Two counts of false statements and writings;
• Criminal attempt to commit theft by taking;
• Conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition;
• Four counts of conspiracy to defraud state and political subdivision;
• Theft by deception;
• Three counts of bribery;
• Two counts of theft by taking;
• Fraud, forgery, and theft in connection with registration of title to land;
• Filing false documents;
• Four counts of violation of oath of office by public officer.

The investigation began when the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office received complaints of the mayor participating in fraudulent activities. The district attorney requested the GBI to look into the allegations. The charges resulted from the investigation, the GBI said.

Johnson was booked into the Atkinson County Jail and is currently being housed in Coffee County. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, the GBI said Thursday.

Proud New Member of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

The grounds crew at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans prepares the field for Sunday's Super Bowl. The artificial turf was manufactured in North Georgia by a Dalton company.

NO TIFWAY BERMUDA GRASS FOR SUNDAY'S SUPER BOWL FIELD BUT ARTIFICIAL TURF STILL COMES FROM GA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Many past Super Bowls have been played on Tifway 419 Bermuda grass, developed at Tifton's Coastal Plains Experiment Station. Although this year's football championship won't be played on natural grass, the artificial turf being used Sunday in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans still came from Georgia.

The synthetic turf for Super Bowl LIX is made by Turf Nation of Dalton, which proclaims itself the "Carpet Capital of the World" where 75% of the world's carpets and rugs are produced.

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will be playing on Turf Nation's TN-S5 turf system manufactured in the North Georgia city. The company says the synthetic turf is engineered to have superior traction in wet and dry conditions and is made to be firm enough for running yet soft enough for player safety.

According to LawnStarter.com, the 2.5-plus acres of turf contain 115 million blades of “grass” which are each 2.5 inches tall. They’re made from polyethylene and surrounded by nearly 395 tons of shock-absorbing infill.

The backing system is made of a titanium shield formed from three layers of material to ensure durability, grass blade retention, and surface stability.

Still, a survey last year conducted by the NFL Players Association found that 92% of players prefer competing on natural grass.

Here in Tifton, being the "Turf Grass Capital of the World," we believe there's no better playing field than a "Tif" grass developed right here, which has been the popular choice for decades.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

H&C CONSIGNMENT

361 S. Main Street., Tifton

Feb. 4

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To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, Feb. 9, is National Pizza Day. It’s hard to imagine that before World War II, pizza was little known outside Italy or outside Italian immigrant communities. It wasn't until the mid 1940s that pizza started becoming popular in the United States, having been brought here by immigrants from Naples. And this year, National Pizza Day just happens to fall on Super Bowl Sunday; about 12.5 million pizza pies are estimated to be consumed during the Super Bowl in the U.S.

FRIDAY, FEB. 7

• Sylvester Housing Authority Ribbon Cutting, 11:30 a.m., 609 & 611 N. Jefferson St., Sylvester
• Tift County High Lady Devils basketball vs. Camden High girls, 6 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils basketball vs. Camden High Wildcats, 7:30 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• "Night to Shine," prom night experience for ages 14 and older with special needs, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, 6-9 p.m., Northside Baptist Church, Tifton

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

• "Love Local" Second Saturday, live music, sip & stroll, storewide sales, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• Love Local Shopping Event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Street, Adel
• Saturday Fun Run Barrel Racing, Arena Racing, Pole Bending, 11 a.m., ABAC Rodeo Arena, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• Tift County High Lady Devils basketball vs. Valdosta High girls, 6 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• Scouting America-South Georgia Council Annual Banquet, 6:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils basketball vs. Valdosta High Wildcats, 7:30 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• "Cry, Cry, Cry – The Johnny Cash Experience," 7:30 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

• Super Museum Sunday – Fitzgerald, The Blue and Gray Museum and the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Fitzgerald are participating in the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Blue and Gray Museum; 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Fitzgerald

YOUR YARD SALE

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"Mighty Max" is a cute guy who lives up to his name. This handsome, charming boy is about a year and a half old, full of love, energy, and endless playfulness. He is hoping to soon find his forever home. Come visit him and see 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).