Friday, December 12, 2025

Tifton, Georgia

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City representatives and several other residents hold signs of support for Tifton Police Detective Jerry Fulford as law enforcement personnel escort him home Wednesday (in photo below) after being discharged from the hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds.

BOTH TIFTON OFFICERS HOME FROM HOSPITAL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Both Tifton Police detectives who were shot last Friday when attempting to serve a search warrant on Lee Avenue have now been discharged from hospitals to recuperate at home.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says that the Tifton man arrested and charged with the shootings has killed himself in the Coffee County Jail.

Tifton Police Detectives Michael Gaskins and Jerry Fulford were both given police escorts home from the hospital. Gaskins, an 11-year veteran of the Tifton Police Department, was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Fulford was more severely injured and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He underwent another surgery Tuesday and was discharged to home recovery on Wednesday.

One day before he was shot, Fulford was congratulated on the Tifton Police Department's Facebook page for serving two years with the department.

Davy Deonte Royal, 35, was charged with shooting the two officers. After barricading himself in his home after the shootings Friday, he surrendered following a two-hour standoff. Royal was initially booked into the Tift County Jail and was transferred Sunday to the Coffee County Jail in Douglas.

On Monday night, "an isolated incident occurred in the Coffee County Jail involving an inmate that was found non-responsive," the Coffee County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "The individual was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment and pronounced deceased after life-saving attempts were made."

Coffee Sheriff Fred Cole requested the GBI to independently investigate Royal's death.

On Wednesday night, the GBI released a statement: "Preliminary information from the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office indicates that Davy Deonte Royal died from self-inflicted injuries while in the Coffee County Jail."

Neither the GBI nor the Coffee County Sheriff's Office have offered any details about how the suspect died. The GBI investigation is continuing.

On Thursday, the City of Tifton posted on social media that "both of our detectives are now home. We are beyond grateful for our law enforcement family across the state of Georgia that escorted Detective Gaskins home over the weekend and Detective Fulford home yesterday. We thank all that have showed out for both of our detectives in this time of need and healing, and we thank you for your continued support and prayers."

"Mo Mo," the City of Tifton's Elf on the Shelf, is spotted making the rounds in Downtown Tifton. Sources say Mo Mo may even appear during Saturday's downtown parade.

'TIS THE SEASON ... FOR TIFTON'S CHRISTMAS PARADE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton celebrates the Christmas season Saturday when the city's annual Christmas Parade takes to the streets.

Rescheduled from last Saturday because of inclement weather, the parade is always a highlight of he season for local families. Although the full Hometown Holidays festival with downtown carnival rides, live music, ice skating, and numerous street vendors won't be part of parade day this year – because of last week's rescheduling – the city is planning a winter festival sometime in January to make up for it.

Saturday's parade begins at 5 p.m. and follows the usual route, starting at the corner of Second Street and Magnolia Drive, then traveling east toward downtown on Second Street, taking a left on Love Avenue./Main Street and then traveling down Love Avenue and ending at its intersection with Eighth Street.

This year's parade theme is "Candy Land."

There are other downtown activities Saturday along with the parade. Local vendors will hold a Mistletoe Market from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at downtown's Cato Knight Parking Lot, with gift ideas as well as snacks.

Throughout the day, downtown shops are also offering special holiday sales to help you get that perfect gift; from 5-8 p.m., Donatello's Speakeasy sponsors a Holiday Night Market in the Myon courtyard with Santa and Mrs. Claus; and the Tift Theatre presents a free Holiday Talent Showcase at 7 p.m.

Several area cities also rescheduled their Christmas parades because of last weekend's weather. Among those also holding parades Saturday are Ashburn, Poulan, and Adel.

TIFTON COURT CLERK NAMED PRESIDENT OF

GA COURT CLERKS COUNCIL

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton Chief Municipal Court Clerk Gail Drayton has been sworn in as the 2026 president of the Georgia Municipal Court Clerk Council, among many other accolades awarded that same day.

"I really love my job as a court clerk, and it is not always about collecting fines from violators – I like helping educate drivers so that they will not violate again," Drayton said.

Among her other duties with the City of Tifton, Drayton also mentors other clerks from across Georgia to help them navigate their career.

She has spent more than a decade in her position at the City of Tifton.

"We are so thankful at the City of Tifton to have such dedicated, passionate, kind, and educated individuals working for our citizens," the city posted on social media.

Retirement Sale Now Underway!

THE BIG STORE | 346 MAIN STREET | DOWNTOWN TIFTON

HOLIDAY TREES AT THE SYD RAISE $8,000+ FOR CHARITIES

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

More than 100 Tiftonites celebrated the season at the Holiday Hearts fundraiser Thursday night at the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, where 18 decorated Christmas trees were auctioned for a total of $8,600 to area nonprofits, said Chelsea Webster with the Tifton Council for the Arts.

Auctioneer James Mock kept the excitement and fundraising going, with attendees bidding $300 to $800 for trees. The donations for each tree went to the nonprofit that decorated it.

The People’s Choice Award for the tree with the most votes by attendees and readers on Facebook went to Tift Animal Rescue Inc. Candice Hernandez and Leah Robbins had placed photos of animal shelter cats and dogs, some adopted and some still available, inside Christmas ornaments adorning the tree.

The Hall of Trees will continue to be on display at The Syd through Saturday night after the Tifton Christmas Parade. Winning bidders will take their trees home on Sunday. 

Participating nonprofits included Alliance for Children, The Bridge of Tiftarea Inc., Coastal Plain CASA, Easter Seals Southern Georgia, Grace & Mercy Church Food Pantry, Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, Mims Kids, Plight Inc. of Georgia, Ruth’s Cottage & The Patticake House, Southwell Foundation Breast Cancer Support Fund, Tiftarea Community Food Bank, Tift Animal Rescue Inc., Tift Regional Health System Community Spirit, Tift Regional Health System in honor of CEO Chris Dorman, TRMC Foundation, Tift Council for the Arts Inc., and Tifton Tift County Public Library. 

Fifth Street Interiors also sponsored a tree with a family photo opportunity setting, and the proceeds of their tree will go to charities of their choice.

FREE NARCAN AVAILABLE FROM SOUTH HEALTH DISTRICT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Department of Public Health's South Health District is offering free Narcan (naloxone) to any adult within the district who requests it.

One must be at least 18 years old and live within the district's 10 counties – Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, and Turner.

Naloxone can quickly reverse an overdose from opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine, and prescription pain pills.

It can be requested online here and will be delivered by mail.

The state also has a plan underway to place Narcan in every public school in Georgia. The opioid overdose reversal kits are being funded by opioid settlement funds. State officials said the initiative could save the lives of students, teachers, and staff.

“Narcan in schools is going to save lives, not just students but teachers and visitors. Maybe because it’s there, there’ll be one less funeral and one more student walking across the graduation stage,” said Jeff Breedlove, CEO of The American Addiction Recovery Association based in Atlanta.

Breedlove is a former opioid addict who has visited Tifton to talk with recovering addicts at the Oasis Recovery Community Organization on South Main Street.

STUDENTS CREATE DESIGNS

FOR TIFT COUNTY SCHOOLS'

OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS CARDS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County Schools recently held a Holiday Card Art Contest with the winners having their artwork featured on the school system's official holiday cards.

More than 145 creative and festive entries came from students across the school system.

"Our students’ talent and imagination were truly outstanding, and although we wish we could select them all, we are proud to recognize one winner from each grade category," the school system said.

Winning entries are:

• Kindergarten‒2nd Grade: Raylie Grace Snow (2nd Grade), Len Lastinger Elementary School;
• Grades 3‒5: Ja'keem Silas (3rd Grade), Charles Spencer Elementary School;
• Grades 6‒8: Gabriela Lopez (8th Grade), Northeast Middle School;
• Grades 9‒12: Kyndal Turner (10th Grade), Tift County High School.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Little Acres Farms

629 Ty Ty Omega Road, Tifton

Dec. 10

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER

TIFTAREA

Sunday, Dec. 14, is the beginning of Hanukka, the eight-day Jewish festival known as the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the victory of the Jewish people over the Greeks in the Maccabean War and the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem. The holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts.

Born on Dec. 12: John Jay, first U.S. chief justice,1745-1829; Gustave Flaubert, novelist, 1821-1880; Edvard Munch, artist "The Scream," 1863-1944; Frank Sinatra, singer & actor, 1915-1998; Bob Barker, host of "The Price is Right, 1923-2023; Ed Koch, New York City mayor, 1924-2013; Connie Francis, singer, 1937-2025; Dionne Warwick, singer, 1940- ; Dickey Betts, co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, 1943-2024; Mayim Bialik, neuroscientist & actor "The Big Bang Theory," 1975- .

FRIDAY, DEC. 12

• Ferry Lake Lights, free display, 6-11 p.m., 1719 Ferry Lake Road, Tifton

• Tift County Show Choirs 2025 Holiday Spectacular, 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

• Tifton Mistletoe Market, 10 a.m-4 p.m., Cato Knight Parking Lot, Downtown Tifton

• Ashburn Christmas Parade, 10 a.m., College Avenue, Ashburn

• Nashville Farmers Market "Kids Club," learn about fruit & vegetables and planting them, 10-11:30 a.m., 503 East Marion Ave., Nashville

• Poulan's Christmas in the Park & Parade, 11 a.m., Poulan City Park

• Christmas in Downtown Adel, snow slides, family fun, festive shopping & dining; Noon-4 p.m, .Hutchinson Avenue, Adel

• Fitz Express Experience, free event with live Christmas music, arts & crafts, hot cocoa, model train demonstrations, visit from Santa; 1-4 p.m., Historic AB&A Railroad Depot, North Johnson Street, Fitzgerald

• Tift County FFA Student Holiday Market, baked goods, fresh flowers, crafts, and more; cash only; 1-3 p.m., in front of Eighth Street Middle School, Eighth Street, Tifton

• Tifton Christmas Parade, 5 p.m., Downtown Tifton

• Holiday Night Market with Santa, 5-8 p.m., Donatello's, Myon Courtyard, Downtown Tifton

• Ferry Lake Lights, free display, 6-11 p.m., 1719 Ferry Lake Road, Tifton

• Adel Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., Downtown Adel

• Tift County Show Choirs 2025 Holiday Spectacular, 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

• Holiday Talent Showcase, free admission, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SUNDAY, DEC. 14

• Christmas in Cumbee Park, Santa pictures, games, bouncy houses, obstacle course, hot chocolate, hot dogs; 2-4 p.m, 111 E Park St., Ocilla

• Kraken Pro Wrestling, 4 p.m., Chino & Letty's Place, 102 W. Third St., Tifton

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

Meet "Jeep," a one-year-old, 70-pound sweetheart who is incredibly social, loves spending time with other dogs, and genuinely enjoys every person he meets. Jeep is young, playful, and full of affection. Visit tail-wagging Jeep and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

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