Friday, April 19, 2019 Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

The photos show the Fine Arts Building on Thursday being built on the ABAC campus.

... BOTH INSIDE & OUTSIDE

By FRANK SAYLES JR. Tifton Grapevine ABAC President Dr. David Bridges ticked off several advances at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College while hosting the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. At the Chamber's membership meeting at ABAC's restored Tift Hall, Bridges noted the ongoing construction of the Fine Arts Building, which he said completes the college's "Sweetheart Circle" at the front of campus. He also told Chamber members that ABAC will graduate its first class of future agriculture education teachers next month. The 25 future teachers are expected to teach agriculture education in middle and high schools, which, Bridges said, direly need such educators. He expects ABAC's ag education program to produce double the number of teachers next year. ABAC is also home to the state's new Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, and Bridges serves as its director. He said the center will soon be expanding, opening an office in Ellijay to serve rural North Georgia. "It's hard to serve North Georgia from Tifton going through that roadblock known as Atlanta," Bridges said. Bridges also noted how ABAC has expanded its footprint in Southwest Georgia after taking over the campuses of the former Bainbridge State College and merging the two schools.

CITY AWARDS NATURAL GAS SCHOLARSHIP TO TCHS SENIOR

Macie A. Merritt , a Tift County High senior , center left, is this year's James E. Dove Memorial Scholarship recipient by the City of Tifton . The $1,000 scholarship, awarded annually since 2002 , is paid from the city's natural gas fund's marketing program in honor of the late James E. Dove , who joined the city in 1959 and helped it establish its natural gas operation . Macie plans to attend Georgia College & State University after her graduation from TCHS this spring. She is pictured with, from left, her mother Kelly Merritt , her father Ray Merritt, Donna Pate with the natural gas staff and Ernest Dove representing the Dove family.

GA COLLEGES TO SEE TUITION HIKE BEGINNING WITH FALL SEMESTER

Tuition at Georgia's public colleges and universities will rise by 2.5 percent this fall for a full-time, in-state undergraduate student. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) on Tuesday approved the tuition hike for the 2019-2020 academic year. Under the new schedule , tuition for full-time in-state students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will increase from $1,563 a semester to $1,602. Similarly at the University of Georgia , basic tuition goes from $4,776 to $4,895 per semester. The board did not raise tuition in 2016 or 2018 . According to a recent report by Georgia’s auditor , tuition rates charged by USG institutions averaged 25 percent less than rates charged by peer institutions in other states .

Downtown Tifton

MIKE DAVIS

PATRICIA BROOKS

BUTCH DAVIS

COLONY BANK NAMES MIKE DAVIS AS MARKET PRESIDENT

Colony Bank has named J. Mike Davis as market president for Tifton . He will be joined in Tifton by Patricia Brooks , who comes to Colony as a commercial banker .   "It is my pleasure to welcome Mike back to the bank. As a third-generation banker, Mike brings to Colony and Tifton two decades of banking experience , an in-depth knowledge of our banking products and strong support for the community," said President & CEO Heath Fountain.   Butch Davis , Mike's father, has been appointed to serve on the Community Advisory Board for the Tifton market. He is a lifelong member of the Tift County community and has more than 50 years of banking experience . Mike Davis began his banking career in 1996 at Colony Bank , serving the Sylvester community, and retired in 2016 as president & CEO of First Community Bank/Synovus in Tifton. He has served as past chairman of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence . He also has served as president of the Tifton Rotary Club , the Tifton Sertoma Club and the Tift County High School Athletic Booster Club. Brooks has more than 25 years of banking experience in the areas of finance, management, deposits and lending. She is a board member of the Tiftarea YMCA and Ruth’s Cottage/Patticake House , and is a member of the Tifton Rotary Club .

The Tifton Merchants Association is partnering with the City of Tifton to present the    Great Egg Hunt April 15-19th.   The event includes Special Eggs that are hidden in historic downtown Tifton before to be discovered by customers and visitors during the week before Easter. When an egg is found, the finder will take their egg to City Hall to claim their prize. Each egg will contain a number that corresponds to a particular prize that will be given by supporting members of TMA.   TMA and the Main Street Office is funding the Gold Prize Egg at $100 with a certificate good at any TMA member business.   Please contact:: Brandon Howard | Administrative Assistant City of Tifton 130 East 1st Street  Tifton, Georgia 31794 Tel: 229-391-3937 | Fax: 229-391-4722 bhoward@tifton.net

Participating in the planting of the new black walnut tree at ABAC are, from left, Timothy Nelson, Kip Hall, Wanda Golden, Brad Barbee and Dr. Jaibun Earp.

SEEDLING TAKES PLACE OF ABAC's HISTORIC BLACK WALNUT TREE

Roaring winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Michael last October took a toll on the landscape at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College , claiming a legendary black walnut tree in front of the Health Sciences Building . “That particular tree’s origin on the campus was said to be the work of Dr. Vernon Yow, professor of forestry and former dean of men at ABAC,” said Dr. Doug Waid, professor emeritus of wildlife and forestry. “The black walnut he planted stood outside what was once the women’s dormitory, later renamed Creswell Hall.” When Creswell Hall was razed in 2005 for the Health Sciences Building , the tree barely survived the impact of the heavy construction equipment. In fact, Wanda Golden , former head of the nursing program, went to great lengths to make certain that Grounds Superintendent Brad Barbee and his team kept the tree alive . “Against all odds, Brad and the ABAC personnel were able to revitalize the tree, and its fruit provided new trees to beautify the campus,” Waid said. “It continued as a living record for those who shared and cared.” Waid and other faculty and staff members nurtured seedlings from the tree after Barbee’s team initially saved the historic black walnut.  Even though the original black walnut tree didn’t make it through the hurricane , Waid knew there was a seedling just waiting to start a new generation . On a recent spring morning, that fresh start came when Barbee put shovel to dirt in front of the Health Sciences Building. “ Hurricane Michael got the original but we’re hoping this seedling has a long life ,” Barbee said. “We’re going to do our best to take care of it .”

TIFTAREA AUTO CLUB SHOW GOES 'HOG WILD'

The Tiftarea Auto Club last weekend judged 47 entries, presented 29 plaques, one Best of Show trophy and gave $500 in cash awards during its 27th  annual Goin' Hog Wild Car, Truck & Bike Show. The show at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center raised funds donated to various local organizations , including Ruth's Cottage/The Patticake House , the American Legion and the local Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. The Tiftarea Auto Club is a member of the national Antique Auto Club of America (AACA). Ed Branch of Tifton is the region AACA club president.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Bula's Antiques & Collectibles 323 South Main St., Tifton April 11

ARTS IN BLACK FEST RETURNING

The 33rd annual Arts in Black Festival will take place May 3-4 in Tifton . The festival is just one of the events sponsored by PLIGHT (Proud Loving Individuals Giving a Hand to Teens) Inc., a local organization offering activities that enrich and help shape the minds of youth since 1988 . The festival weekend kicks off with a talent show at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts featuring performances from area students. A full day is scheduled for Saturday, May 4 , in Fulwood Park , including a p oetry competition, food, arts and crafts, children's activities and music; the Soweto Street Beat , a South African world dance theater company based in Atlanta and Soweto, South Africa, is among the performers . Arts and crafts, and food vendors are still being sought. Applications are available at  www.tiftontiftonartsinblack.com   The vendor deadline is April 26.  For information , call 229-326-0241 .

BLUE RIBBONS SHOW SUPPORT FOR ABUSE PREVENTION April is national Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month , and the Tift County Council on Child Abuse is selling blue ribbons to raise money and awareness. Businesses and others may purchase blue ribbons for $20 to display their support for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. To obtain a blue ribbon , call 229-388-1000 or email tc3y@friendlycity.net

A JAZZY DAY IN TIFTON

Internationally renowned trumpeter Byron Stripling performed Thursday night with the ABAC Jazz Ensemble at Howard Auditorium . The concert capped the A BAC Jazz Festiva l on campus during which 11 high school jazz bands performed. The students got an opportunity to attend a workshop with Stripling during the afternoon.

U.S. Marine Corps photo U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Austin Youngblood, who grew up in Tifton, poses in a maintenance bay at Camp Lejeune on April 11. Youngblood is a light armored vehicle mechanic. (U.S. Marine Corps photo

FORMER TIFTONITE COMPLETES MARINES LEADERSHIP & ETHICS SEMINAR

Marine Lance Cpl. Austin Youngblood , who grew up in Tifton , spends a lot of time in a maintenance bay working to ensure light armored vehicles are ready to deploy. For him, getting away from the daily grind is a welcome change. Youngblood recently completed the Lance Corporal Leadership and Ethics Seminar hosted by 2nd Maintenance Battalion in the field at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from April 8-12 .  Youngblood spent his early 20s working on railroads throughout the East Coast . At 28 , he joined the Marine Corps after seeing the success of high school classmates who joined the military.  "I wanted to better myself as a person and provide a better life for my family," said Youngblood, a light armored vehicle mechanic with 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.  The Lance Corporal Leadership and Ethics Seminar is a prerequisite to becoming a noncommissioned officer (NCO).  "It's good to get out and network with Marines from different companies," said Youngblood.   The most important thing Youngblood says he learned during the five-day course was, “You don’t have to be an NCO to act like one .”

TCHS NAMES VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN

Tift County High School has announced its top students at its upcoming graduation. Pictured from left are: TCHS Principal Kim Seigler, Star Teacher Debbie Salter, Salutatorian Joshua May, Star Student Maylla Patrick, Valedictorian Logan Owens and School Superintendent Adam Hathaway.

YOUR WEEKEND ...at a Glance  FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Good Friday SELF' Senior Dance, 7 p.m., Leroy Rogers Senior Center, Tifton SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton SUNDAY, APRIL 21 Easter Sunday

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APRIL 11 Henry Grady Snipes, 96, Sylvester Frances Reaves, 92, Quitman Melvin Gregory Moore, 77, Gainesville, Fla. Robert Lee “Bob” Bridwell, 79, Fitzgerald Shirlene Mcleod Lee, 91, Ashburn APRIL 12 Russell Adams Sr., 90, Sparks Essie Estelle Cook, 89, Fitzgerald Charles Edward Hardy, 83, Sycamore APRIL 13 J. B. Womack, 91, Chula Jimmy Lee Joiner, 57, Ty Ty APRIL 14 Anthony Wayne Nunnery, 57, Sumner Emmanuel Keyon Whitehead, 18, Tifton Raymond Edward Milling Jr., 72, Bridgeboro Sharon Broadaway Carter, 65, Adel Lloyd Phillips, 70, Tifton Kenneth J. Karcher, 82, Sycamore APRIL 15 Larry Grady Massey, 70, Tifton Daniel D. Schaffer, 61, Ocilla Joseph Duane Torrence, 91, Tifton Betty Ann Flowers Driggers, 78, Tifton Evelyn R. Walker, 80, Valdosta Wendell Patton, 78, Fitzgerald APRIL 16 Jason Howard Boshart, 46, Tifton JoAnn Holton, 71, Sumner David Henry Leavens, 58, Quitman APRIL 17 Madge "Mama" McMillan Doles, 86, Inverness, Fla. Reva Leland Rice, 98, Ray City APRIL 18 James Day, Sylvester William D. “Buck” Reaves, 78, Fitzgerald William M. “Bill” Roberts, 80, Fitzgerald John L. Walker, Sumner

Tifton Grapevine e-published every Tuesday and Friday Frank Sayles Jr. Editor & Publisher Bonnie Sayles Managing Editor

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