ABAC's Bainbridge Campus

JAN. 13, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

NEW DAY DAWNING

FOR ABAC

TIFTON COLLEGE ABSORBING BAINBRIDGE STATE

The consolidation of Bainbridge State College into Tifton's Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is " a real vote of confidence in ABAC, and we will make it work for all our students, whether they are in Bainbridge or Tifton or points in between," ABAC President David Bridges said Thursday.

"This expands our base, makes us a larger institution and will give us access to more resources," Bridges said during a press conference in ABAC's Tift Hall.

On Wednesday, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved a


Bainbridge State's Rayfield with ABAC's Bridges.

recommendation from Chancellor Steve Wrigley to consolidate ABAC and Bainbridge State, with Bridges as president of the consolidated institution to be named Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Interim Bainbridge State President Stuart Rayfield was at Thursday's press conference and pledged her cooperation to make the transition smooth.

"Enhanced opportunities for students will be the ultimate goal of this consolidation," Rayfield said. "I look forward to working with everyone at ABAC to make this a very successful venture."

ABAC has been growing in student enrollment while Bainbridge State has seen steady declines. In the fall semester, ABAC enrolled 3,475 students, and Bainbridge State enrolled 2,468.

Under the proposed timeline, the new institution will submit a proposal for consolidation to the board of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for approval in December. Once approved, the consolidated institution will be presented to the Board of Regents for final approval in 2018.

According to The Post-Searchlight newspaper in Bainbridge, the consolidation is seen as positive in Bainbridge and Decatur County, which is an agriculture community with many ABAC alumni.

"I think it is wonderful, and it will offer a lot of possibilities for students," said Lindsay Hayes, Decatur County's extension coordinator, 4-H agent and ABAC alumnus.

Martin and Denise Bius, both teachers at Bainbridge High School, praised their ABAC education. "It absolutely prepared us to go into the field as educators," Martin Bius, told the newspaper. "The academics at ABAC are very rigorous, second to none."

GA CHAMBER OPENING FIRST REGIONAL OFFICE IN TIFTON

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new strategic plan Tuesday creating a committee to address rural issues and, for the first time, opening a regional office in Tifton to strengthen the state's rural economy.

"We can't have a healthy economy if over half of our counties lose population and close


	CHRIS CLARK

hospitals," chamber President and CEO Chris Clark said during the chamber's annual Eggs and Issues breakfast.

"We are excited to announce that for the first time in our history, the chamber will open a regional office in Tifton, Georgia, in 2017," Clark announced.

The satellite office will focus on issues affecting South Georgia, including broadband Internet access, and will be located in the former Georgia Power Co. building in Tifton. The outreach is part of the state chamber's new "Authentic Georgia" initiative.

More than 2,300 business leaders, legislators and chamber members attended the annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

New school board chairman Jonathan Jones is sworn in to office.

JONES TAKES OFFICE;

BOE OK's CALENDARS

During the Tift County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Jonathan Jones was sworn in as the new BOE chairman, and John Waddell and Dr. Kim Ezekiel were sworn in for their four-year terms as board members.

The BOE OK'd school calendars for both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years because the school system is about to undergo a major grade realignment that will go into effect during fall 2018.

The school system says there is much physical work be done, including construction and moving entire classrooms. Thus, summer vacation in 2018 will be lengthened, meaning the school year will end a littler earlier than normal in May 2018 and start a little later that August.

To view the approved calendars, Click Here!

GEORGIA POWER AWARDS NEW TEACHER GRANT TO TCHS SPECIAL ED TEACHER

Jakin Tillery, special education teacher at Tift County High's Northeast Campus, was recently recognized with a $1,000 New Teacher Grant from Georgia Power Co. To receive the grant, the recipient must be nominated by their college, be in the top 25 percent of their class and show an aptitude for teaching.

Shown presenting the check is, from left, Lynn Lovett, Georgia Power area manager; Tillery is at center; and Kathy Barneston of Georgia Southwestern College.

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GA PEANUT FARM SHOW

OPENS THURSDAY

The Georgia Peanut Farm Show is set for Thursday, Jan. 19, at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

The annual show, coordinated by the Georgia Peanut Commission, will feature educational seminars from UGA and the peanut industry.

"The show provides an opportunity for growers to come in and learn more about the key issues in the peanut industry," said Scott Monfort, UGA Cooperative Extension peanut

agronomist. "They'll learn about how products will be marketed and how the next year will be affected by changes in the marketplace as well as other economic factors within the peanut industry."

UGA Peanut Team members will talk about the latest trends in the peanut industry during morning seminars with the main focus being on water issues and related topics, followed by the peanut seed seminar.

"The Georgia Peanut Commission has put together a program that provides a lot of information on the outlook for peanuts this year," Monfort said.

The trade show portion of the event will feature representatives from many areas of the peanut industry including chemical dealers, fertilizer distributors, equipment salesmen and manufacturing sector representatives, among others.

NEW PLANT TO CREATE 35 JOBS

IN ADEL, COOK COUNTY

The Linde Group will invest $40 million and create 35 jobs at a new, custom-engineered air separation plant in Adel in Cook County, the company announced this week.

The Munich-based manufacturer and supplier of industrial gases produces and sells

atmospheric gases such as argon, liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen for a variety of industries including healthcare, food processing and metal manufacturing.

"We have been expanding the market in the Southeast for several years and chose the location of the plant based on its proximity to customers and the strong, pro-business environment in Cook County and the City of Adel," said Pat Murphy, president of Linde Americas.

The new large-scale air separation facility will supplement markets currently supplied by plants in Cartersville and Aiken, S.C. The facility is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

"This is a major announcement for Adel, Cook County," said Mayor Buddy Duke. "The Economic Development Commission members and executive director have worked with Linde executives for over six months and proven to the Linde leadership team that our community has the excellent location, exceptional infrastructure and innovative leadership to accommodate the needs of their tremendously successful global corporation for many years to come."

or call 229-848-2366

AMATEUR GOLF EVENT TO STOP IN TIFTON

Georgia Amateur Golf Promotions has announced its GAGP Amateur Golf Week from April 10-14, with a stop in Tifton.

The event is open to male and female amateur golfers who are at least 21 years old. Format will be 72 holes modified stableford based on a current and official USGA

handicap.

Golfers will be flighted by age: Men, 21-49; Mid-Senior Men, 50-59; Senior Men, 60-69; Super Senior Men, 70-Up; Men's Open Gross Flight, all ages; and Ladies flight, all ages.

Among articipating golf courses is the Golf Club Of South Georgia in Tifton on April 11. Other locations include Thomasville and Valdosta, with the GAGP Golf Week Championship set for April 14 at the Kinderlou Forest course in Valdosta.

For information, call 614-441-3965.

ROTARY-SPONSORED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SAYS TIME IN TIFTON

'LIFE CHANGING'

Angela Ramos-Santodomingo, the 19-year-old college student from Colombia, South America, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tifton, told the club Wednesday "I am grateful for this opportunity; it has been and continues to be life changing."

The student spoke about her country and her experience with the Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP). The Tifton club has been sponsoring her year at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College since May.


	Angela Ramos-Santodomingo, a student sponsored by the Tifton Rotary Club, holds the Colombian flag with Club President Jeremy Campbell, left, and GRSP Chair Jeff Gibbs.

Ramos was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class and studied theater in New York City before beginning her education at ABAC.

She said her two passions are political science and musical theater. She also is an advocate for girls' education.

"U.S. education allows you to pursue a lot of different aspects," she said, rather than having to limit oneself. She found the students in the music program at ABAC very welcoming.

"I've been growing as a person, and I've been in charge of creating my own happiness," she told the room of about 75 club members. "I'm learning to be more tolerant and accepting. All preconceptions of the South and of the United States have been shaken. I have made friends I'll keep for the rest of my life."

Jeff Gibbs, the Rotary Club's GRSP chairman, said the program began in Georgia, and the Tifton Club has been involved for 40 years.

"This year, 50 students from foreign countries participated," Gibbs said. They attend Georgia colleges and universities with tuition paid by Georgia Rotary clubs.

UGA TIFTON EDUCATOR RECEIVES

COTTON RESEARCH AWARD

Dr. Peng Chee, a professor of cotton molecular genetics/breeding at the University of Georgia's Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, is the recipient of the 2016 Cotton Genetics Research Award.


	CHEE

The announcement was made during the 2017 Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference. In recognition, Chee received a plaque and a monetary award.

A nominator said cotton producers have benefited from Chee's research, which "drives innovations in both the science and grower communities."

Chee holds a B.S. in crop science and a M.S. in plant breeding and genetics from Montana State University. After earning his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics from North Dakota State University, he worked as a researcher at Texas A&M University before moving to the UGA Tifton campus.

YOUR WEEKEND

. ..at a Glance

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Governmental Prayer Service, 11 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, Tifton
Daryle Singletary in concert, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton