Coach Anders Resigns

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

ASHLEY ANDERS RESIGNS AS TIFT FOOTBALL COACH

SAYS 'OPPORTUNITIES COME ALONG WHEN LEAST EXPECT IT'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Ashley Anders, Tift County High's head football coach for the past six seasons, is leaving the Blue Devils, and says the future looks bright.

"In the coaching profession, opportunities come along when you least expect it,” Anders told the Tifton Grapevine on Tuesday. “I’m excited about the future and wish our Blue Devil family all the best."

The Tift County School System released a statement earlier Tuesday that Anders has "notified Tift County Schools of his decision to step down as the Blue Devils’

head football coach. Superintendent Adam Hathaway, Principal Chad Stone, Athletic Director Rusty Smith and the rest of Blue Devil Nation want to thank Coach Anders for his commitment to the student athletes of Tift County since 2013 and wish him well in future coaching endeavors.

"The search for the next head coach of the Tift County Blue Devil football program will begin immediately."

Anders joined the Blue Devil football staff as an assistant coach in 2013 and became head coach in 2015. He began this season as the third-winningest coach in the school’s history.

Anders ends his tenure as Tift County head coach with a 35-31 record after a disappointing 2-7 season this year punctuated by game cancellations amid the pandemic and the Blue Devils having been temporarily sidelined under quarantine earlier in the season – and Anders himself being hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus.

His Blue Devil teams have advanced to state playoffs during four seasons, twice moving up to quarterfinals.

"I’m very thankful for having the opportunity to be head coach at Tift County, coach so many outstanding players and work with such a great staff,” Anders told the Tifton Grapevine.

REP. SCOTT TESTS POSITIVE

FOR CORONAVIRUS

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the third Georgia Republican congressman to contract COVID-19.

Scott's office said he is "following guidance from the House attending physician as well as his personal physician."

There was no word about how Scott may have contracted the coronavirus.

Reps. Rick W. Allen of Augusta and Drew Ferguson of West Point in the Georgia congressional delegation have also tested positive.

At least a dozen lawmakers in Congress have announced they contracted the virus in the past month, according to The Hill political website.

"Congress has put measures in place to try to reduce the spread of the disease, including a requirement to wear masks on the Capitol’s campus," The Hill reported. "But it is common to see lawmakers gather in groups with minimal social distancing on the House floor."

TIFT REPORTS 219 NEW COVID-19 CASES IN 2 WEEKS

Tift County has seen 219 new coronavirus cases during the past two weeks, translating to 536 new cases per 100,000 population, according to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday.

Also, in the past 14 days, 15.7 percent of the people who were tested for the virus had positive results, the DPH reported.

Tift's total positive cases of the coronavirus total 2,323 with 67 related deaths.

On Tuesday, the state of Georgia reported 2,892 new cases in 24 hours with 23 additional deaths and 239 new hospitalizations. Since the pandemic began, Georgia has had 424,929 positive cases and 8,798 related deaths, the DPH said.

Southwell/Tift Regional Health System will be holding virtual focus groups as part of our Community Health Needs Assessment.

Let your voice be heard! We value your input and encourage you to participate!

Format: The all-virtual group discussions will be held via Zoom.

Length: Please allow for a 60-minute discussion, but if you need to leave early, we understand.

When: Focus groups will be held:

Tuesday, December 8, 8:00-9:00 AM
Tuesday, December 8, 12:00-1:00 PM
Thursday, December 10, 2:00-3:00 PM
Monday, December 14, 5:00-6:00 PM

RSVP: Use this link to register for one of the dates:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthwellFocusGroup2020

If you have any questions, please contact Tara Auclair at [email protected] and 561-212-0903

or Chris Efaw at [email protected] and 229-353-6310.

Southwell, Inc. | 901 East 18^th Street, Tifton, GA 31794 | 229-382-7120 | www.mysouthwell.com

YUM YUM SAUCE BOSS

MOVING COMPANY TO TIFTON

Superior Sauce Co., which makes Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce, is relocating to Tifton.

Owner Terry Ho said he is relocating from Leesburg to a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with 5,000 square feet of additional office space. His company is investing approximately $12 million in the Tifton facility and expects to ultimately employ at least 60 people.

“Our community continues to more forward, even in these challenging times. Superior Sauce is a quality company, and we are fortunate to have them choose Tifton for the food-processing operation,” said Brian Marlowe, president & CEO of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and the Tift County Development Authority.

Ho started the company in 2018 to manufacture his line of Yum Yum sauces.

“I have the Yum Yum Sauce, and I used another packer before,” he said. “To control my own destiny, I need to make my own product to keep the quality to my liking.”

Ho said his new facility will not only be manufacturing his sauces, including new products, but will be able to formulate and manufacture other products, and will be a business development and brokerage center to represent and promote other products.

“I see the need,” he said. “When I started, I literally had to go around looking for a company to do it for me.”

Superior Sauce has begun representing regional concoctions such as Captain Anderson’s seasoning and Cat 5 Salsa, both out of Panama City, Fla., and Ho said he hopes to include other products and help them get into regional stores.

“The atmosphere is there,” he said. “Millennials like to experience different things. Ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise just aren’t enough.”

Ho said the new facility, which has been under construction for several months, is slated to be up and running around by Feb. 1.

“We’re hoping to grow with Tifton,” he said.

IT’S BEGINNING

TO LOOK

A LOT LIKE....

Yes, ’tis the season for decorations, and workers set in place Tifton’s Christmas tree Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.

The tree will be lighted at a short ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Saturday during Downtown Tifton's Christmas Open House event.

SUPPORTERS AID ABAC

ON 'GIVING TUESDAY'

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College officials and supporters convened at a local coffee shop Tuesday for "Giving Tuesday" with a goal of raising a record amount of funds for the ABAC Foundation.

A beautiful golden stallion reared over the festivities at Espresso 41, and people of all ages decked out in green and gold mingled with Thunder, the stallion mascot in the parking lot.

Ric Stewart, ABAC annual giving and development coordinator, said they set a goal of $100,000 and started fundraising in November. Last year was the first time college officials participated in Giving Tuesday, and they raised $88,000.

“We were at $42,000 when we started at 7 a.m. (Tuesday),” he said. “Now (at 4:30 pm.) we’re at $82,000.”

Gifts through the end of December will be counted toward the Giving Tuesday goal. Donors may support the college at www.abac.edu/giveback. Contributions will also be accepted by mail at ABAC Box 13, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, Ga., 31793 or by phone at 229-391-4897.

“A lot of people stopped by and a lot of people made their first gift ever to the ABAC Foundation,” Stewart said. “December 1 could become the most generous day of giving in the 112-year history of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.”

Those who sign up for a monthly recurring gift of any amount receive a pair of ABAC socks, while they last.

“Because of COVID-19, many students and their families are facing financial hardships. It has been inspiring to see the generosity of ABAC alumni and the members of our community as they have come together to meet the unprecedented needs of our students,” Stewart said.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been observed as Giving Tuesday since 2012 as a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage giving and to celebrate generosity worldwide.

KEMP APPOINTS TIFTON MAN

TO STATE PHARMACY BOARD

Gov. Brian P. Kemp has appointed Cecil Cordle of Tifton to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

Cordle has held various management positions in both retail chain and independent pharmacies – as well as in hospital settings – during more than 35 years of working in Georgia's pharmacy industry.

He is a graduate of Mercer University's College of Pharmacy and is currently employed with CVS Health. Cordle is a preceptor for the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and PCOM's School of Pharmacy. He is also a member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and served on the 2016 Opioid Abuse Senate Committee.

Originally from McDonough, he lives in Tifton with his wife, Angie. They are members of Tifton First United Methodist Church and have three children.

'MOTLEY CRUTONS' ANYONE?

SOUTH GEORGIANS SHOW CREATIVITY ON FACEBOOK

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

We all see the funny posts that get shared around Facebook, but once in a while one will take off in just a few hours and outdo others in its ability to tickle our funny bones.

Such was the case with a post Monday night by Misty Sasser of Tifton.

"Make a band name edible" was the challenge, and South Georgians, including some Tiftonites, accepted the challenge with gusto. Sasser started the kidding with “Maroon 5 Cheese Tortellini.” The accompanying photo showed an album cover art for “Fleetwood Mac & Cheese.”

Her friends went hog wild and hilarity ensued. Many admitted laughing uncontrollably as funnier and funnier band names stacked up like plates for a short-order cook.

There was the "Peach Boys," then, "Pearl Jam-filled Thumbprint Cookies" showed up. "Pearl Jambalaya" countered. "Creamed Korn and Sawyer Brown sugar ham glaze" made one think of our recent Thanksgiving holiday, along with "The Cranberries Sauce," and "Limp Bizkit and Gravy." "Tuna Phish" was next, joined by "U2-na."

Sasser’s friends continued with "Motley Crutons," "Tofu Fighters," and "Aerosmithfield Ham," served up with "Bread Zeppelin" and "Zac Brown-and-Serve Rolls." "Beach Boy-Ar-Dee" was served with "Hershey’s Kiss."

Meatloaf needed no enhancement, nor did Blackeyed Peas, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Cream. Lone artists included "Weird Alfredo," "Jimmy (Breakfast) Buffet," "Fats Domino’s Pizza," and "Donnie and Marie Callenders." And how about "Eddie Rabbit Stew," "TG Sheppard Pie," "Glen Campbell Soup," "Tom Petty Fours" and "Cream Puff Daddy."

Others contributed ".38 Special K," "OREO Speedwagon," "Earth, Wind and Firehouse Subs," "Diana Ross and the Supreme Pizzas," and "Culture Club Sandwich."

“You guys did NOT disappoint!” Sasser exclaimed. And it kept going: "New Kids on the Block of Cheese," "Wayne (Fig) Newton," along with "Salt N Pepa," "Clint Black Beans," and "Loretta Lynn-burger cheese."

They were feeding off each other now: "David Allen Coe-slaw!" "Thin Mints Lizzy!" "Boston butts!" "CeeLo Greens!" "Lovin Spoonful Cheerios!" "Steely Dannon Yogurt!" "Guns & Rose’!" "Uncle (Cheese) Crackers!" and on and on....

Sometimes, we all just need a little laughter.

GEMA TO HELP GEORGIANS PREPARE

FOR UPCOMING WINTER WEATHER

As nighttime temperatures drop drastically, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) is gearing up for Winter Weather Preparedness Week beginning Dec. 7.

The week encourages Georgians to prepare for inclement winter weather by learning about winter weather threats, reviewing or creating a family communications plan and considering what items to put in their "Ready Kits."

“Winter weather in Georgia has been always unpredictable so Georgians need to be prepared,” said GEMA Director Chris Stallings. “We encourage everyone to use this time to prepare for winter weather and educate themselves on how to respond before, during and after winter weather occurs.”

The week serves to raise awareness of winter weather hazards and reinforce understanding of winter weather terminology. GEMA will distribute winter weather preparedness information via social media and provide toolkits to local emergency management directors.

Each day of the campaign will address the following topics:

Monday, Dec. 7: Winter Weather in Georgia Hazards
Tuesday, Dec. 8: Winter Weather Terminology
Wednesday, Dec. 9: Winter Weather Preparation Tips
Thursday, Dec. 10: Winter Weather Driving Safety
Friday, Dec. 11: Winter Weather Outlook for the 2020-21 season

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

This cat is among several at the Tift County Animal Shelter looking for a new home. To adopt, 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 'CLOSED TIGHT' BECAUSE OF INFLUENZA

– DEC. 6, 1918

Tifton City Council on Dec. 6, 1918, prohibited all public meetings, shut down "moving picture shows" and mandated that schools be closed until the new year because of the widespread cases of influenza. While shops in the main business district may remain open, children are prohibited unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and all "soft-drink fountains must use sanitary cups."