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CARTER FUNERAL PROCESSION SPANS SIX DAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The funeral procession for former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, will begin Saturday in his hometown of Plains, where it will end Thursday with a private burial after lying in repose in Atlanta and lying in state in the U.S. Capitol's rotunda.

The former president's state funeral on Thursday, Jan. 9, is also a National Day of Mourning, as declared by President Joe Biden. His executive order closes all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on that day. All U.S. flags are to fly at half-staff for 30 days.

The Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington have issued a press release detailing the timetable for all events connected with Carter's funeral:

SATURDAY, JAN. 4

• 10:15 a.m.: Carter Family arrives at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus.
• 10:20 a.m.: Carter's remains are carried to the hearse by current and former special agents in charge from the U.S. Secret Service's Carter Protective Division.
• 10:30 a.m.: Motorcade departs Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and travels through Carter's hometown of Plains.
• 10:50 a.m.: Carter and his family arrive at his childhood home for a brief pause in front of the family’s farm, during which the National Park Service will salute and ring a historic farm bell 39 times in honor of the 39th president.
• 10:55 a.m.: Carter's remains begin a journey to Atlanta.
• 3 p.m.: The motorcade arrives in Atlanta and pauses at Georgia’s State Capitol for a moment of silence by Georgia officials, including Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
• 3:05 p.m.: Motorcade leaves for the Carter Presidential Center.
• 3:45 p.m.: Carter’s remains are carried into the Carter Presidential Center.
• 4 p.m.: A private service begins at the Carter Presidential Center.
• 7 p.m.: Lying in repose begins.

The public is invited to pay their respects at the Carter Presidential Center, where Carter will lie in repose through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

TUESDAY, JAN. 7

• 6 a.m.: Lying in repose ends at Carter Presidential Center.
• 9:30 a.m.: Departure ceremony from the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta.
• 10 a.m.: Motorcade departs for Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
• 10:40 a.m.: Late president and family members arrive at Dobbins Air Reserve Base and board Special Air Mission 39.
• 11:15 a.m.: Special Air Mission 39 departs for Washington, D.C.
• 12:45 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, and Carter’s remains are transferred to the hearse.
• 1:15 p.m.: Motorcade departs for the U.S. Navy Memorial.
• 2 p.m.: Motorcade arrives at the U.S. Navy Memorial, and Carter’s remains are transferred from a hearse to a horse-drawn caisson.
• 2:15 p.m.: Funeral procession begins marching up to the U.S. Capitol via Pennsylvania Avenue, turning left onto Constitution Avenue.
• 2:40 p.m.: After arriving at the U.S. Capitol, the late president is carried up the stairs by military body bearers and into the rotunda.
• 3 p.m.: Members of Congress pay their respects during a service in the rotunda.
• 3:45 p.m.: Carter begins lying in state as the military maintains a guard of honor.
• 7 p.m. to midnight: Lying in state opens to the public at the U.S. Capitol.

The late president will continue to lie in state at the Capitol and the public is invited to pay respects from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 until 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

• 7 a.m.: Lying in state ends.
• 8:45 a.m.: Carter family departs from Blair House in Washington via motorcade.
• 9 a.m.: Departure ceremony from the U.S. Capitol.
• 9:15 a.m.: Motorcade leaves for Washington National Cathedral.
• 9:30 a.m.: Carter's remains and family members arrive at the Washington National Cathedral.
• 9:55 a.m.: Carter’s remains are brought into the cathedral during a brief arrival ceremony.
• 10 a.m.: National funeral service.
• 11 a.m.: Departure from the Washington National Cathedral.
• 11:15 a.m.: Motorcade leaves for Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
• 11:45 a.m.: Late president and family members arrive at Joint Base Andrews and board Special Air Mission 39.
• 12:15 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 leaves for Lawson Army Airfield in Fort Moore, Ga.
• 2 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield, and Carter’s remains are transferred to the hearse.
• 2:30 p.m.: Motorcade departs for Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
• 3:30 p.m.: Arrival ceremony at Maranatha Baptist Church.
• 3:45 p.m.: Private funeral service.
• 4:30 p.m.: Departure from Maranatha Baptist Church.
• 4:45 p.m.: Late president and family members travel by motorcade through downtown Plains. The public is invited to line the motorcade route as Carter's remains are brought through his hometown.
• 5:20 p.m.: Motorcade arrives at Carter's residence for a private interment, before which the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter’s Naval service and time as commander-in-chief.

ACTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR TIFTON JUDICIAL CIRCUIT D.A.

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Patrick Warren, acting district attorney for the Tifton Judicial Circuit, announced his candidacy Thursday for district attorney in the upcoming special election to fill the vacancy left by the sudden death of District Attorney Bryce Johnson. 

“Keeping the citizens of this circuit safe has been, and will continue to be, the No. 1 priority of the District Attorney’s Office. I will continue to be a partner to law enforcement, to not only work at crime prevention but prosecute those who prey on our community," Warren said.

"I ask for your vote and support as we move forward together.” 

The Georgia Secretary of State's Office is expected to announce that qualifying for the district attorney seat will be later this month, with a primary in February and the election during March.

Bryce Johnson died unexpectedly Dec. 2, less than a month after being re-elected to a second term.

Warren, a graduate of Creighton Law School, has served as a state prosecutor for 15 years and served as Johnson’s chief assistant for the past five years. In that latter role, Warren has secured convictions on hundreds of serious felony cases including murder and child molestation in the four-county circuit of Tift, Turner, Irwin, and Worth.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Warren said he is proud to announce the endorsements of Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough, Worth County Sheriff Don Whitaker, Turner County Sheriff Andy Hester, and Irwin County Sheriff Cody Youghn. Also endorsing Warren are Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman, Sylvester Police Chief Rodney Jackson, Ocilla Police Chief Ashley Jones, and Sycamore Police Chief Ben Reeves. 

Warren, his wife Amy, and their three children reside in Tifton.

'POLAR BEARS' PLUNGE INTO YMCA POOL FOR CHARITIES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tiftarea YMCA's annual Polar Bear Plunge raised nearly $15,000 for area nonprofits as 10 volunteers plunged into the YMCA's pool on New Year's Day.

The "polar bears" each fundraised for the nonprofit of their choice. The top fundraiser gets to donate 100% of his/her funds raised to their charity, and all others are split 50-50 between nonprofits and the YMCA.

Dr. Bret Wagenhorst was the first-place fundraiser, raising money for the local Meals on Wheels organization.

The total raised is the most since the 2020 Polar Bear Plunge.

Tom Shoup, who fundraised and plunged for the Kiwanis Club of Tifton, said the pool's water temperature Jan. 1 was a chilly 55 degrees – and a light breeze made the water feel especially cold that morning.

UGA BULLDOGS FALL TO NOTRE DAME, 23-10

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The University of Georgia's football season came to a crashing end Thursday: Notre Dame upset UGA, 23-10, in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The Fighting Irish had been ranked No. 7 and the Bulldogs were No. 2 heading into the rescheduled bowl game that was postponed for a day after the deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Notre Dame now moves on to a semifinal matchup with No. 6 Penn State at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 in Miami.

The other semifinal game has No. 5 Texas facing No. 8 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

TIFTAREA SPORTSMEN DONATE TO SHERIFF'S BOYS RANCH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough, at right in photo, accepts a $5,000 donation from Dale Fender on behalf of the Tiftarea Sportsmen for the Georgia Sheriff's Association Boys Ranch & Youth Homes.

The money was raised from the Sportsmen's annual Hunter's Unlimited Banquet.

The Boys Ranch & Youth Homes provide caring and secure residences in which children live in a family environment. The homes give the state’s most at-risk children the love, safety, and stability needed to become mature, successful adults.

THREE DOZEN RUNNERS BEGIN YEAR WITH 'RESOLUTION RUN'

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift Middle School cross country runner Mariah Hufford holds the trophy for winning the Tifton's Resolution Run on Wednesday.

About 38 runners, including members of Tifton's Sunbelt Runners, came out to run a 5K or Six-Miler on the first day of the year. The 40th annual run began at the visitor's parking lot of Tift County High School's Brodie Field stadium on Eighth Street.

The winner was determined by the highest poker card hand among those who completed the run.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, Jan. 5, is National Bird Day, celebrating birds and their numerous species. Birds are often considered living links to the past, being the closest-related animals to the evolution of dinosaurs. They’re often keystone species in the ecosystems, signifiers of its health and vitality. For example, holes left by woodpeckers are often used as homes for a variety of other animals. That means if woodpeckers were to run out of a food source – or out of the right kinds of trees – so, too, would all the animals dependent on their pecking skills.

FRIDAY, JAN. 3

• Karaoke Fest, 7-10 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SATURDAY, JAN. 4

• Super Saturday, free art project for 4-10 year olds, 11 a.m.-Noon, Fitzgerald - Ben Hill Arts Council, 120 S. Lee St., Fitzgerald
• ABAC Fillies basketball vs. Thomas University, noon, Gressette Gym, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• Free Market: Winter Necessities, 1-4 p.m., Carnegie Center for the Arts, 120 S. Lee St., Fitzgerald
• ABAC Stallions basketball vs. Thomas University, 2 p.m., Gressette Gym, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• Tift County High Lady Devils basketball vs. Lowndes County High girls, 6 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils basketball vs. Lowndes County High Vikings, 7:30 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton

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Meet "Floppy," the king of big ears. Floppy, who is about two years old, is all ears — literally. He is had a bit of a rough patch, but that hasn’t dampened his fun-loving, sweet spirit. 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).