Two Tifton men are among the 87 people whose names are under review for renaming nine Army bases, currently named for Confederate generals.

The late Lt. Col. Harold Cohen, a decorated World War II hero and successful Tifton businessman, has joined retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., a Tifton native, on the list. (To read the article on Puckett's nomination, Click Here.)

A federal commission is charged with recommending new names for all military installations and assets that honor the Confederacy, which include Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia. The commission will send its final recommendations to Congress by Oct. 1.

For his service during WWII, Cohen was awarded the Legion of Merit, four Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts, and was decorated by the governments of France, Czechoslovakia, and Luxembourg.

In 1996, Cohen was belatedly awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, whose citation reads that Cohen was recognized "for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 25 February 1945, in Germany.

"When the situation became untenable during the battalion's attack upon Brecht, Germany, because of small arms, artillery and direct fire that came from all directions, Lt. Col. Cohen took a position on high ground in plain view of the enemy and oblivious to all danger and constant fire that fell all about him, directed tank fire, lifted friendly artillery fire that was falling too close, and by personal bravery, inspiring leadership, and tactical skill, retained the initiative and gained the important objective," the citation reads.

"Lieutenant Colonel Cohen's intrepid actions and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Armored Division, and the United States Army."

Cohen commanded one of the battalions of the 4th Armored Division, led by Gen. George S. Patton. Cohen, along with Creighton Abrams’ 37th Tank Battalion, spearheaded the drive of Patton’s Third Army across Germany.

The Abrams-Cohen team were part of the many famous victorious actions of the 4th Armored Division, including the battles of Arracourt, Lezey, Juvelize, the Moselle-Rhine-Saar campaign, the crossing of the Rhine, and the relief of Bastogne.

Residents of the small town of Chaumont, Belgium, have named a road, leading through the village toward Bastogne, in honor of Cohen, the “Rue Du Col. Harold Cohen,” a man whom they call their “liberator.”

In December 1944, as Cohen's battalion advanced toward Bastogne, he came under intense resistance at the village of Chaumont. A tank attack by the accompanying tank battalions was repulsed; it was then decided that Cohen would lead his 10th Armored Infantry Battalion into the village and root out the Germans one house at a time, including a Tiger tank hidden in a barn.

Cohen led his troops into the fray and was successful, but the victory was costly; he lost 62 men in his battalion during the battle.

A South Carolina native, Cohen moved to Tifton in 1950 and joined his brothers in the family business, Cohen’s Department Stores. Cohen later founded his own outdoor advertising company. He died in Tifton in 2006 at age 89.

Two other former officers being considered on the federal list for renaming Army bases also have somewhat of a Tifton connection – Ed Freeman and Bruce Crandall. Freeman was the uncle of former Tifton resident and community volunteer Becky Mann, who began Tifton's Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration.

Crandall, who was Freeman's best friend and fellow Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, was Mann's godfather. Crandall and Freeman are part of a book and a subsequent film starring Mel Gibson, "We Were Soldiers," which dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang in 1965.

Tifton City Council on Monday placed numerous restrictions on any potential cryptocurrency mining operations with the city.

"It's going to be difficult to find a spot within the city limits without rezoning," said Mayor Julie B. Smith.

Cryptocurrency mining facilities handle digital currency, such as Bitcoin, using specialized, high-powered computers, servers, and software to verify and secure the currency. The operations use a high volume of electrical power. A cryptocurrency facility in Adel has prompted complaints by nearby residents of constant noise coming from the operation, akin to a constant whir of helicopters.

Under an amendment to Tifton's land development code, any cryptocurrency mining operation would have to be within an area zoned for heavy industrial and the operation has a minimum site requirement of 50 acres.

Among other restrictions: Noise levels cannot exceed 90 decibels (about the sound of a normal lawnmower) from a distance of 25 feet from the property line, a minimum six-foot-high fence must be installed around the site, a 25-foot landscaped buffer is required, and all equipment must be housed within a structure and no type of storage container is allowed outside the building.

"Rather than using conditional zoning, we tied this thing up by using supplemental standards," said City Attorney Rob Wilmot. "It is locked down on supplemental standards."

Currently, there are only two areas within the city zoned heavy industrial, with the larger area off Armour Road.

Two applications for cryptocurrency mining facilities outside the city have been filed with Tift County. The County Commission has begun discussing the issue but has not taken any formal action.

Tift County's positive COVID-19 cases rose slightly during the past two weeks, totaling 21; the number was 20 in the previous two-week period, according to data Thursday from the state Department of Public Health (DPH).

The total positive cases represent confirmed and probable results from both PCR and Antigen rapid tests. Tift County’s total positive cases represent 51 cases per 100,000 population, the measure used across the country to compare case rates among communities and states.

Confirmed cases were eight, and Tift's testing positivity rate for the period was 7.3%, an increase from the previous 4.4%, the DPH reported. An additional five confirmed cases and no related deaths were reported in the past week among Tift County residents.

Tift has seen a total of 6,276 cases with 163 related deaths, the DPH said.

On Thursday, the state reported 835 new confirmed and probable cases across Georgia with 44 additional deaths and 124 new related hospitalizations. The state has recorded a total of 1,924,327 confirmed cases and 30,856 related deaths, the DPH said.

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Ashburn's 26th Annual Fire Ant Festival is this weekend, based at Heritage Park on East College Avenue and Lamont Street.

This year's theme is "Dolly Part-ANT." The festival will include a Dolly Parton impersonator, performing Saturday afternoon.

"Known for its wacky and off-the-wall activities, the festival offers family-oriented fun for all ages," organizers said. "Come fill up on your favorite fried treats, buy from a local artisan, or just enjoy the many different events."

Also scheduled are a Pet Parade in the Park, a fire ant calling contest, a 5K and one-mile fun run, a "Manty Hose" contest, a fire ant barrel race, live entertainment, food, arts & crafts, and fireworks. 

Information is available at www.fireantfestival.com

To Bid, Click Here!

Tiftarea Academy recently won the 2022 Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) AAA State Literary Championship, defeating teams from all over Georgia.

Team members who are individual state champions in their categories are Ansley Hutto – dramatic interpretation, Chandler Livingston – spelling, and Collin Reese/Sarah Hutto – Duo Interpretation.

Individuals placing second in the state were Thomas Holt – Impromptu, and Reid Phillips – Humorous Interpretation. Placing third were John O'Quinn – Boys Solo, and Meredith Morgan – Personal Essay.

Natalie Rippy is the team coach. Sheri Wyles worked with the students on musical selections.  

The Kiwanis Club of Tifton has named local artist Jennifer Buckley McCall the Art Citizen of the Year.

McCall was surprised with the award Friday during the Kiwanis Art and Music Showcase, held annually for more than 35 years to showcase the talents of local youth.

Kiwanis President Barbara Wilber made the presentation. McCall's name has been placed on the award's perpetual plaque, which honors past recipients and hangs in the Tifton-Tift County Public Library.

"Thank you Kiwanis Club of Tifton for this special award; I’m still pinching myself to wake up," McCall said. "I’m beyond grateful and honored."

The Kiwanis Club of Tifton President Barbara Wilber, left, presents a club donation to Dustin McAlpin with the Tiftarea YMCA for the Y youth programs. The Kiwanis Club meets at noon on the second and fourth Thursday each month at the Leroy Rogers Center. Guests are welcome.

A retirement reception for Dr. David Bridges, president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, will be held from 5-7 p.m. April 7 in the atrium of ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture on Whiddon Mill Road.

Sponsored by the ABAC Foundation, guests should RSVP for the event here. The reception is a drop-in event with a program planned for 6:15 p.m.

Bridges is the longest-serving president in ABAC history, beginning his tenure on July 1, 2006, and is planning to retire this spring. He is also the longest-serving president among the 26 colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia.

A native of Parrott, Bridges is the only ABAC president to have once been an ABAC student, receiving his ABAC associate degree in 1978 before completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Auburn University and his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University.

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Today, March 25, is

International Waffle Day, a day to celebrate waffles, which date back to the 1600s. While Europe may have Belgian waffles everywhere, here in America we have waffles available 24 hours a day at Waffle Houses, first opened in Avondale Estates, Ga., in 1955. At last count, there were 2,100 Waffle Houses in 25 states, with the most, of course, in Georgia with 439. They can be found as far north as Pennsylvania, which has 11 Waffle Houses, and as far west as Arizona, with 15.

"Benjie," a male pooch, is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).

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

A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC, Tifton, Georgia