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TIFT BOE SETS

3 HEARINGS ON PROPOSED 19.5% SCHOOL TAX HIKE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) has announced the dates of three public hearings on its plan to increase Tift property taxes by 19.54% after rolling back its millage rate by 2.5 mills.

The public hearings on the tax increase will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19; at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7; and 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the BOE offices, 506 W. 12th St. in Tifton.

"Essentially, we are rolling back the maximum amount allowed in order to remain in consideration for equalization grant funding" from the state, BOE Chairman Jonathan Jones told the Tifton Grapevine.

"The Tift County Board of Education is expected to roll the current millage rate of 16.501 back by 2.5 mills to 14 mills," said Dana Spurlin, communications chief at Tift County Schools. "Under current state law, reducing the rate below 14 mills could jeopardize approximately $6 million in state funding."

The BOE will set its millage rate after the three public hearings are held, as required by state law when there is a property tax hike.

In a written statement, the school system said that the recent Tift County property revaluation "resulted in an overall increase to the tax digest that amounts to 27.17%. When property values increase, applying the same millage rate results in higher property taxes for taxpayers. By law, school districts must disclose this as a tax increase, even if the millage rate remains unchanged."

Tift County Schools received a little more than $6 million from the state in equalization funding for 2024.

"In today’s tax digest value, that is the equivalent of roughly 3.6 mills. So, if Tift Schools took the full rollback of 11.7 (resulting in the loss of $6 million-plus in equalization), the school system would need to increase the millage rate by 3.6 mills to maintain similar funding for the school system. The end result would be a millage rate of 15.3," the school system said in its statement. 

Based upon the recent property revaluation, the City of Tifton and Tift County governments plan to roll back their millage rates to maintain current funding levels, resulting in no overall tax increases.

The millage rates for the city, county, and school system will be set during the next few weeks. The county tax commissioner's office hopes to mail out tax bills by Jan. 20. Property taxes will be due within 60 days of the mailing date.

Fire destroys the Church of God tabernacle in Tifton in April 2022. On Dec. 5, the rebuilt tabernacle was dedicated.

CHURCH OF GOD TABERNACLE RISES FROM THE ASHES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

On April 21, 2022, a massive electrical fire destroyed the tabernacle at the South Georgia Church of God Campground on Kell Road in Tifton.

Referencing the pandemic, local Church of God officials said that day that the "past two years have presented so many difficulties for us all, but we believe that we will continue to overcome and rebuild together."

Last week, that belief became a reality as the rebuilt tabernacle was dedicated in a joyous, triumphant ceremony.

“This is an awesome time of celebration for us," Dr. Tony Cooper, administrative bishop of the South Georgia Church of God, told our news partners at CBS 44 TV.

Cooper said the dedication of the new building was for the glory of God as well as the purpose of the church, but also for the community at large.

"Because we love our community; we love Tifton; and we love South Georgia. And this belongs to South Georgia; it doesn’t belong to me. I’m just a steward. I’m just a servant,” Cooper said.

The tabernacle has been rebuilt even better than before. Church officials say the facility not only serves today's needs but will continue to serve generations yet to come. The facility has a capacity of more than 1,800 people and will serve the nearly 220 congregations of the Church of God in the region.

"Our motto is 'We Are the Church of God and We Care,' and so, we care for people. We care for the community," Cooper said.

"This building is to serve this community as well. It has to be purposed; it can’t just be used as a church building. I mean, there’s probably graduations and ceremonies that need to take place, and the community needs to come and experience this. And we’re hoping that that’s what happens."

Tifton First Methodist Church invites the community

to its annual Christmas presentation.

“Silent Night! Holy Night!” will be presented Sunday evening

at 6:00 in the main sanctuary of Tifton First Methodist.

The program will feature the Chancel Choir, the Tifton First orchestra, the Wesley Ringers handbell choir, and the Son~Beam Children’s Choir.

Join us for an evening of beautiful music

as we sing in the holiday season.

FAKE CURRENCY FROM MOVIES SHOWING UP AROUND TIFTON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Several local businesses have recently accepted fake currency for payment only to later discover the cash was "movie prop money," the Tifton Police Department says.

"Several businesses have encountered movie prop money in denominations of $10, $20, $50, and $100 without inspecting the bills before transactions," Tifton Police said. "Although movie prop money may appear authentic from a distance, it typically contains wording that identifies it as fake currency."

Police are strongly encouraging both merchants and residents to thoroughly inspect all denominations of bills before accepting them as genuine cash. 

Movie prop money – fake bills used during filming of movies and TV shows – typically are imprinted with “For Motion Picture Purposes” and “Copy” on both sides of the bill.

Additionally, phrases such as “Not Legal Tender” or “Motion Picture Use Only” are typically found on the bill, the name of the person pictured on the bill is often omitted or altered, and serial numbers are usually identical across all pieces of movie prop money.

Such fake currency began circulating around Georgia in recent years as several movies and television shows have been filmed around the Peach State, including in Tifton.

"Be vigilant and ensure that you verify the authenticity of any currency you receive," Tifton Police said.

140-ACRE CHRISTIAN RETREAT CENTER PLANNED IN AREA

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tiftarea will soon have a new Christian retreat center called Holy Land Farms with the goal of “Retreat, Rest, and Restore,” Jason Womack told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday. 

“Eighteen years ago, I went on a men’s retreat in Pine Mountain,” Womack said, and that experience was an impetus to create a similar Christian venue for the local area. 

Womack and his father were in the farming business. Womack was also involved with The Road Less Traveled music ministries through which, he said, “we were able to share the Gospel with 50,000 plus people.”

Four years ago after his father passed, Womack felt it was time to work on a place of retreat “to share the love of God and offer a place to retreat where one can find rest in the Father,” which Womack chose as the mission statement for the new venture. 

“I was raised to go as hard as you can,” he said, and he felt “rest” was for the weak. But when his father died, he "got still and encountered the presence of God.” 

The idea of a place of rest and retreat began to take shape on a 140-acre property off U.S. Highway 82 near Enigma. It will include RV hookups, primitive camping areas, and seven cabins, seven yurts, seven glamping tents, and seven silos. A retreat center will house 230 people for meetings across a 30-acre lake from a 60-foot cross that is currently under construction.

A 38-foot tall chapel designed in the style of an early 1900s church will seat 120 people, providing a place for services or for private contemplation. It wasn’t planned as a wedding venue, but could be used for this, Womack said.

A hillside amphitheater surrounded on three sides by water will provide a concert venue for 5,000 up to 50,000 people. Womack envisions a kind of “Godstock” in the style of the Woodstock festival; the amphitheater should become available in late 2025.

Proposed side businesses include apparel with Holy Land Farms logos and Holy Land Farms honey. Womack raises cattle and plans to direct-sell beef.

“This has been my life for four years,” Womack said.

For information, Womack suggests visiting the website HolyLandFarms.org

Patrick Towns Ethredge, center, receives the David and Kim Bridges Award during ABAC's commencement ceremony Thursday. With him are, at left, President Tracy Brundage, and Melissa Pierzchajlo, Alumni Association president.

GRADS RECEIVE AWARDS

AT ABAC COMMENCEMENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College held its fall commencement ceremony Thursday, and presented several awards to graduates.

Patrick Towns Ethredge, a horticulture business management major from Ailey, received the David and Kim Bridges Award in recognition of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. The award is bestowed on a graduate receiving a four-year degree.

Ethredge was active with the Horticulture Club, the Turf Club, the Agronomy Club, and the Red Door College Ministry with Tifton’s First Baptist Church. He assisted with Stallion Days, An Evening for ABAC, and both the Board of Regents meeting and President Tracy Brundage’s Investiture ceremony last fall. For those events, he designed and implemented large floral installations. He also worked at the UGA Tifton Entomology Research Station and was the first ABAC student to earn an internship at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.

His award is named for Dr. David Bridges, ABAC's longest-serving president, and his wife Kim, who are both ABAC alumni.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences held its pinning ceremony after commencement and honored several graduates with awards. Casey Harrison from Tifton received the Clinical Excellence Award sponsored by Tift Regional Medical Center. The Academic Excellence Award, sponsored by Colquitt Regional Medical Center, was awarded to Brenda Guerrero from Wray. Emily Everson of Edison received the Dedication to Nursing Award, sponsored by South Georgia Medical Center.

The Lisa Purvis Allison Spirit of Nursing Award was presented to Martin Fernandez of Norman Park, Madison Riggins of Concord, and Stephanie Garcia of Pelham.

Thursday's commencement ceremony honored graduates from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Stafford School of Business.

Tom McCall, president of Georgia Farm Bureau and an ABAC alumnus, was commencement speaker. Melissa Pierzchajlo, Alumni Association president, inducted the graduates into the association.

Crowds fill Main Street during Tifton's Hometown Holidays on Saturday night.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS IN TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton celebrated the Christmas season Saturday with its Christmas parade and the annual Hometown Holidays Celebration downtown. Thousands came out to watch the parade and have fun as Downtown Tifton was turned into a winter wonderland.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ELECTS 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) voting delegates elected the organization’s 2025 board of directors Tuesday during the 87th Annual GFB Convention at Jekyll Island. 

President Tom McCall, an alumnus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia, was re-elected to a third two-year term. He was first elected in 2020. McCall and his family grow a variety of grain crops, sweet corn, hay and straw along with beef cattle, hogs and sheep on their farm in Fortsonia in Elbert County.

Lamar Vickers of Berrien County was among those re-elected without opposition to serve two-year terms on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

GFB directors beginning the second year of their two-year terms include Scotty Raines of Turner County.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Today, Friday, Dec. 13 is National Cocoa Day. Hot cocoa is typically made with cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar. However, some also call it hot chocolate, which causes a bit of confusion. Hot chocolate is made by using ground chocolate containing cocoa butter. We can also make chocolate liquor by fermenting, drying, roasting, and grinding cocoa beans. After this, the cocoa butter is removed, and we are left with only the cocoa powder. This cocoa powder is used to make hot cocoa. It is a relatively healthy drink with very little fat and calories, depending, of course, on what you add to it, such as marshmallows.

FRIDAY, DEC. 13

• Homeschool Hangout Snowflake Painting, 10 a.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton
• Teen Dungeons & Dragons, ages 12-17, 4:30-6 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton
• Tift County Show Choirs Christmas Spectacular, 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

SATURDAY, DEC. 14

• Holly Jolly Second Saturday, free photos & letters with Santa, live music, storewide sales, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• Happy Hula-Days Hawaiian Christmas Parade, 10 a.m., Downtown Ashburn
• Cookies with Santa, crafts and Santa, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Margaret Jones Public Library, E. Pope Street, Sylvester
• Holiday Celebration at the Library, photos with the Grinch, Christmas cookies, crafts & games, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Victoria Evans Memorial Library, Ashburn
• Pet Pics with Santa, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Farmers Market, E. Marion Avenue, Nashville
• Christmas in the Park, hot dogs, cake walk, festivities, 11 a.m., City Park, Poulan
• Christmas Trivia, all ages – families welcome, 1-3 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton
• Market Night, 5-9 p.m., Donatello's, Myon Courtyard, Downtown Tifton
• Shaun Hopper, free concert, 6 p.m., The Depot, Downtown Adel
• Tift County Show Choirs Christmas Spectacular, 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

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"Tiger" is a loyal companion who can steal your heart – and your snacks! This dapper guy is not just a pretty face – he’s smart, sweet, and ready to be your new best friend. Tiger is young enough to keep up with your Netflix binge, but wise enough to know when it's time for a nap. 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).

We are Grateful for Our Many Friends and Customers Throughout the Tiftarea Who Allow Us to Serve Your Real Estate Needs. We Appreciate You, and Wish You and Your Family a Warm and Joyous Christmas Season.