Cigar Lounge Sparks Comments

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

CIGAR LOUNGE PLAN SPARKS COMMENTS AT CITY WORKSHOP

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Three people spoke in favor and one spoke out against a proposed upscale cigar lounge in Downtown Tifton during a public hearing Monday night at Tifton City Council's workshop meeting.

Those in favor said many folks are looking forward to a cigar lounge downtown so they won't have to travel out of town to visit one, and City Council was cautioned against "vice policing" – attempting to regulate people's behavior of choice.

Opposing the plan is the owner of a downtown antique shop who serves as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and said a cigar lounge poses a health risk through second-hand smoke.

Local realtor Lester Cromer Jr., who is a member of Tifton City Council, wants to create a "premium cigar lounge" at 214 Main St., next to the Cuban restaurant. Cromer has said he hopes to attract a sophisticated clientele.

"Our establishment will offer a unique experience in the city's heart," he told council members.

"We're dedicated to addressing smoke-control concerns," Cromer said. "We are installing state-of-the-art smoke-control and air-purification systems to ensure surrounding businesses are not affected."

Cromer said he is going beyond a standard system to control smoke and odor. He intends to install a three-level system with units on the ceiling, six units on the walls, and more on the floor.

He also plans to collaborate with surrounding restaurants, offering his patrons the ability to purchase food from them.

Lee Turner, who owns Bula's Antiques in the next block across the street from the proposed lounge, said second-hand cigar smoke would still be present and would be a health risk to passersby and to workers at the cigar lounge.

"No one should have to choose between health and a paycheck," Turner told council. "We cannot allow Tifton workers to become another statistic. ... There is no safe level to the exposing of second-hand smoke."

Marianne Dow of 3rd & Main Antiques in Downtown Tifton, spoke in favor of the plan and told council that "lots of folks are looking forward" to an upscale cigar lounge downtown.

Melissa Hughes, who is a Tift County commissioner, also favors the lounge and told council that she is "an occasional cigar smoker" who goes to Atlanta to visit cigar lounges. "Why do we have to travel for these places?" Hughes asked.

Local real estate investor and developer John Bowen encouraged City Council to "make Tifton a business-friendly destination," and cautioned the city against "vice policing." He agreed that cigar smoking can be hazardous to one's health, but said so is over-eating and over-drinking.

"Be pro-business," Bowen said.

At its regular meeting April 15, City Council is expected to address issuing a conditional use permit for the cigar lounge.

ADAM FALL

NIKKI GANDY

SECOND VICTIM DIES IN TIFT SHOOTING

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The other victim of a deadly shooting last week has now died, and additional charges are expected against the suspect in custody.

Adam T. Fall, 31, of Tifton, who was in critical condition after being shot March 26, died on Friday at a hospital in Macon.

Anzley Nicole "Nikki" Gandy, 39, of Tifton, had died at the scene of the shooting on West 21st Street in the Phillipsburg area of Tift County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

Shortly after the shootings, Wayne Doyle, 38, of Tifton was apprehended and charged with murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, attempted removal of a weapon from an officer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the GBI said.

The GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester could not say Tuesday whether Doyle faces additional charges in Fall's death because the "case agent is out of town at this time," the Tifton Grapevine was told.

Doyle remains in the Tift County Jail.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the GBI at 229-777-2080.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY NAMES BASEBALL COACH, UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Chance Benson has been named Tiftarea Academy's athletic director effective July 1.

Benson has served as Tiftarea's upper school principal during the past four years and as varsity baseball coach for six years. With 10 years as an educator, Benson has spent seven of them at Tiftarea Academy.

He said he's excited to be moving into a new role at the private school and continuing to serve student athletes while working to enhance athletic programming and facilities.

Benson has bachelor's and master's degrees in health and physical education as well as an educational leadership certification from Kennesaw State University.

He succeeds Dr. Kip Stevens, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

MISS GA FORESTRY PAGEANT

OPEN FOR CONTESTANTS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 85th Annual Miss Georgia Forestry Scholarship Pageant is accepting county and college representatives to compete in the pageant June 22-23.

Winning Forestry Queens receive a prize package including $4,700 in cash scholarships and in-kind college scholarships totaling $128,000, along with a custom crown, custom rhinestone studded sash, velveteen and fur robe, and emerald custom Forestry Queen ring.

Age Divisions are Baby Miss, ages birth to 23 months; Teeny Miss, ages 2 to 3 years; Tiny Miss, ages 4 to 6 years; Little Miss, ages 7 to 9 years; Junior Miss, ages 10 to 12 years; Teen Miss, ages 13 to 16 years; Miss, ages 17 to 24; and the Ms. division.

For information, email missgaforestry@yahoo.com, call 229-386-2681 or 229-238-2851.

TIFT COUNTIANS URGED TO

'WEAR BLUE' ON FRIDAY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Council on Child Abuse will hold the annual “Voices for all Children” pinwheel ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at the Tift County Recreation Department Special Programs Building (in front of the swimming pool) at 202 Baldwin Drive.

Tift County Commission on Children and Youth (TCCCY) will also observe Wear Blue Day on Friday as April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“This unified, community-wide act of wearing blue will help raise awareness that child abuse is preventable,” said Lillie McEntyre, TCCCY executive director.

Residents are encouraged to wear blue and post photographs on social media with the hashtag #TiftWearBlue2024. Photos may also be emailed it to tc3y@friendlycity.net

“We have had awesome participation in the past,” said Lillie McEntyre, executive director of TCCCY. “We hope to have an even greater number participating to show their support of the prevention of child abuse and neglect.”

Individuals and organizations across the nation will band together to make a visible commitment to preventing child abuse and supporting strong families and healthy children, McEntyre said.

Why blue? During spring 1989, a Virginia grandmother began the blue-ribbon campaign as a tribute to her grandson, a three-year old who died at the hands of his mother’s abusive boyfriend. Since then, concerned citizens all over the country have worn blue as a symbol of the need to prevent child abuse and neglect.

KEEP TIFT BEAUTIFUL NAMES APRIL BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Keep Tift Beautiful, a city-county citizens advisory board, has named the residential and commercial Beauty Spots for April.

Benita Faircloth's home at 109 Fulwood Boulevard, pictured above, is this month's residential Beauty Spot.

Watkins & Associates LLC at 1606 Whiddon Mill Road, pictured below, is the commercial Beauty Spot.

Keep Tift Beautiful promotes recycling, community gardening, litter abatement, and outdoor beautification.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Central Jewelry's New Lighted Sign

301 Main St. S., Tifton

April 2

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Lovely Rita" is a sweet girl seeking a new home. Come see Lovely Rita and 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).

GROUND BROKEN ON DOWNTOWN

BUILDING TO CONTAIN FOUR STORES

~ APRIL 3, 1903

S.M. Clyatt broke ground on April 3, 1903, for a large brick building on the corner of Main and Third streets that was to contain four stores, each 25 feet by 70 feet. The brick storefronts were planned to include marble trim.