COVID in Schools

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

SCHOOLS STILL SEE SOME COVID CASES

AS NUMBERS DECLINE IN TIFT COUNTY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Local schools continue to wrestle with sporadic COVID-19 cases as Tift County’s overall coronavirus case numbers decline.

A recent White House Coronavirus Task Force report has reclassified Tift from “Red" to an improved "Yellow Zone."

During the past two weeks, Tift County has had 69 new coronavirus cases and a testing positivity rate of 6.9 percent, says the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH). Barely a month ago, Tift was reporting 293 new cases in a two-week period and a 13 percent testing positivity rate.

However, schools have continued to see new cases in recent days. Some parents and family members of students in a first-grade class at Len Lastinger Elementary School tell the Tifton Grapevine that the entire classroom was placed on quarantine Monday after a positive case arose.

When asked about it Tuesday, the Tift County School System declined to either confirm or deny the report or offer any specifics.

"As we stated at the beginning of this school year, we will follow the Department of Public Health and local health officials' guidance as it relates to quarantines. Parents of students impacted by a quarantine should reach out to their school administration if they have any questions or concerns," the school system said in a written statement.

In its most recent weekly COVID-19 report dated Oct. 15, the Tift County School System reported that two students and two employees currently tested positive for the coronavirus, and those quarantined totaled 86 students and 14 employees.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM ENDING QUARANTINE

At the private Tiftarea Academy, the varsity football team remains quarantined until this Thursday. The school currently has five students (out of 600) and one staff member who have tested positive, Heather G. Fletcher, development and marketing director, said Tuesday.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we currently have 82 students under quarantine. Thirty-nine will be allowed back on campus on Thursday and three more on Friday, bringing the total back on campus to 42 by the end of the week," Fletcher told the Tifton Grapevine.

"Fortunately, our teachers prepared for this type of situation over the summer. They have all stepped up to continue to facilitate learning for our students who have to be off campus."

She said the school has been working closely with the Ga. Department of Public Health since the beginning of school. "We feel with every case, it is better to err on the side of caution," Fletcher said.

The majority of Tiftarea's quarantine numbers represent the "entire varsity football team being under quarantine, resulting from a staff member testing positive. Again, this has been done out of an abundance of caution," Fletcher said.

ABAC's POSITIVE CASES DECLINING

At Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, coronavirus cases have been steadily declining, said Lindsey Roberts, ABAC's marketing and communications director.

She said the college currently has two students and one staff member who have tested positive.

Overall, our numbers have been trending downward,” Roberts said. “It's shocking that it's so low."

She said students are spread out at least six feet apart in classrooms and that many students take the situation seriously and wear masks, even though they aren’t required.

Since mid July, ABAC has had 130 cumulative cases of COVID-19; of that number, 127 have returned to work or school and three are currently quarantined, Roberts said.

EARLY VOTING BREAKS RECORDS ACROSS GEORGIA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Voters continue to cast their ballots early in record-breaking numbers both in Tift County and the state of Georgia.

During the first week of early voting in Tift County last week, lines formed throughout the week.

"We had a line on Monday that, as far as I know, Tift County has not seen, or maybe I should say since I have been here," said Leila E. Dollison, election supervisor at the Tift County Board of Elections.

"The line continued through Tuesday and Wednesday, slowing down a bit on Thursday. However, it picked back up (Friday) with the same intensity."

At the end of the first week of early voting in Tift, 3,406 residents had voted, and another 1,534 absentee ballots had been accepted by mail, Dollison said.

As the Nov. 3 general election approaches, Georgia continues to break records in both in-person and mail-in early voting, says the Ga. secretary of state's office. There is a 143 percent increase in total voter turnout statewide as of 5 p.m. Tuesday compared to the same period in the 2016 election, the state said.

"We are setting records with every passing hour,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

A total of 1,887,148 ballots have been cast in the Peach State, he said. More than 1.1 million of those votes were cast in person.

In-person early voting in Georgia has already risen by 62.5 percent while absentee ballots have increased by 640.6 percent above the 2016 election.

This year, Tift countians have two places to physically return absentee ballots if they do not wish to mail them. A new ballot box has been installed and is available 24 hours a day in front of the Charles Kent County Administration Building at 225 Tift Ave. N. As in the past, there is also a ballot box for absentee ballots, available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, in the lobby of the Tift County Elections Board office at 222 Chesnutt Ave., Building B, where early in-person voting is also being conducted.

Advance voting in Tift County will continue from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays until Oct. 30 at the county elections office. The Tift polls will be open this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

On election day, Nov. 3, polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and voters will cast ballots in their assigned precincts.

ABAC ATHLETIC TRAINER NAMED JUNIOR COLLEGE TRAINER OF YEAR

Donna Kay Sledge, head athletic trainer at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been named Junior College Head Athletic Trainer of the Year.

The selection is by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine.

Sledge has been at ABAC for 15 years. She is a South West co-representative for the Georgia Athletic Trainers' Association, Region 17 athletic trainer representative for National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Athletic Trainers, and is a member of NJCAA Safety and Health Council.

She is also a member of the Health and Wellness Committee tasked with creating guidelines for NJCAA regarding COVID-19.

"Donna is committed to helping her athletes be healthy and succeed both on and off the field," the Georgia Athletic Trainers' Association said. "This is a well-deserved honor for an incredible athletic trainer."

Patrol Sgt.

Brett Womack, right

Patrol Sgt.

Sydney Saylor, right

Sr. Patrol Officer

Sam Wright Jr.

TIFTON POLICE PROMOTE 4 OFFICERS

The Tifton Police Department last week promoted four officers in the department.

The promotions are:

• Detective Chad Wentworth promoted to detective sergeant;

• Detective Sydney Saylor promoted to patrol sergeant;

• Officer Brett Womack promoted to patrol sergeant; and

• Officer Sam Wright Jr. promoted to senior patrol officer.

Chief Steve Hyman announced the promotions.

Chief Steve Hyman, left, with

Detective Sgt. Chad Wentworth

TIFTON KIWANIS CLUB RECOGNIZES NEW MEMBER OF YEAR

Barbara Pratt, pictured at right, was named the Tifton Kiwanis Club's New Member of the Year at its Oct. 15 meeting.

Pratt is a team leader at Diversified Enterprises in Tifton. Kiwanis President Jane Justice, pictured at left, presented Pratt with a plaque and lapel pin.

VIRTUAL SEMINAR OCT. 21 ADDRESSES TRAUMATIC STRESS DURING VIRUS

A virtual seminar will address "Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) During COVID-19" from 5:30-6:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College seminar will be presented online on Zoom. It is sponsored by the Helping Professions Association and Active Minds Club at ABAC.

Dr. Laklieshia Izzard, president of the American Counseling Association of Georgia, will speak on STS symptoms and other mental health disorders that can result from STS. October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening month.

Each year millions of adults and children in the United States endure the trauma of abuse, violence, natural disasters, and other adverse events. Now the COVID 19 pandemic has been added to the mix.

STS is the emotional stress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another from any source including family, friends, and social media.

There is no charge for the seminar. To register, Click Here!

REP. SCOTT LEADS BIPARTISAN PUSH TO LOWER INDIA'S TARIFF ON PECANS

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, has sent a bipartisan letter, signed by 32 of his House colleagues, to the U.S. trade representative seeking a reduction in India’s tariffs on U.S. pecans.

As trade negotiations are underway between the United States and India, Scott's letter notes that "we would like to stress the importance of removing existing barriers to the export of U.S. agricultural products, specifically pecans."

The letter notes that India imposes a 36 percent tariff on pecan imports but its tariffs on U.S. pistachios and almonds is at 10 percent.

"Lowering the tariff on pecans would provide the Indian people with more economical access to tree nut varieties, while providing a much-needed economic boost to rural America."

The pecan industry contributes more than $3.57 billion to the economies of the U.S.'s 15 pecan-producing states, including Georgia.

"Over the last 10 years, exports alone have pumped an additional $1.25 billion in economic activity into rural America," the letter reads. "Reducing trade barriers into India is an opportunity to strengthen the economy of rural America."

'GO LIGHT UP YOUR WORLD' WEDNESDAY

The Tift County Commission on Children and Youth's annual Go Light Up Your World is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The event promotes local organizations, clubs, faith-based organizations, businesses, agencies and individuals coming together to provide safe and productive activities for local youth by displaying luminaries.

For information, contact Lillie McEntyre at 229-388-1000 or at [email protected]

UGA TIFTON PROF ADVANCES TO NATIONAL COMPETITION IN

AGRICULTURAL DISCUSSION

Dr. Ashley M. Yopp, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia Tifton campus, has won the Georgia Farm Bureau's annual Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet.

Yopp, assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication, now advances to the American Farm Bureau Federation's national competition.

The Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant, who are evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic.

The judges look for contestants who offer constructive criticism, cooperation and communication while analyzing agricultural problems and then developing solutions.

"I love my rural South Georgia community and share it with others every chance I get," Yopp said. "The opportunity to collaborate with other rural/ag loving folks on ideas and solutions that enhance the quality of life for my family, friends, and neighbors is icing on the cake."

State competitors must be a Georgia Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 35.

TIFTON'S LEGACY VILLAGE NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Legacy Village of Tifton, an assisted living and memory care facility, has named Chris Beckham as executive director.

Beckham of Tifton recently served as vice president of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

“When my family and I moved to Tifton, I quickly knew I wanted to put down roots here,” Beckham said. “I am so honored to be serving as the executive director at Legacy Village of Tifton, which will allow me to continue to give back to the community that has given so much to my family over the years.”

Beckham is responsible for strategic planning, operations, team management and overseeing the quality of life for the facility's residents.

Beckham is known to high school football fans in South Georgia as host of the Chick-fil-A Football Friday Night radio show in its 17th season and broadcast on several stations. Before working in radio, Beckham was a newspaper editor in Tifton and Valdosta.

Destination Ag student instructors and GMA Director Garrett Boone accept a $5,000 donation to the ABAC Foundation from Georgia Power. From left, Caitlynne Youmans, Taylor Hodel, Lynn Lovett of Georgia Power, Garrett Boone, Chasity Denmark, and Kaitlyn Bullock.

GA POWER DONATES TO ABAC FOUNDATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, DESTINATION AG

The Georgia Power Foundation has made a $5,000 donation to the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation to support student scholarships and the Destination Ag program at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture (GMA).

“Georgia Power has been a generous supporter of ABAC through the years, and we are very appreciative of this continued support,” said ABAC Chief Development Officer Deidre Martin. “Through their investment in student scholarships and our educational efforts at the GMA, they are providing opportunities for our students to receive a top-notch educational experience.”

Destination Ag is an experiential learning program at the GMA that connects agriculture and natural resources to children’s daily lives and educates them on career opportunities within these industries.

“Thanks to Georgia Power’s contribution, we have been able to expand our playground and provide an educational and safe environment for all the little ones visiting with us and enjoying the museum,” GMA Director Garrett Boone said.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

This kitty is among several pets available for rescue or adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit the Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

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

TIFTON'S 'HOOVER CART PARADE'

POKES FUN AT GREAT DEPRESSION

– OCT. 22, 1932

Tifton decided to "poke some fun" at the Great Depression on Saturday, Oct. 21, 1932, by holding a "Hoover Cart Parade" down Main Street. Hoover Carts were named for President Herbert Hoover. According to news reports, the carts, or "Depression Chariots," also promoted three big trade days sponsored by the Tifton Board of Trade.