Coke Gives $1M to Tech Colleges for Drivers

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

COCA-COLA DONATES $1 MILLION TO TRAIN GA TRUCK DRIVERS

PARTNERS WITH STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGES

FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING PROGRAMS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. on Tuesday announced a $1 million donation to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Foundation for the college system’s commercial truck driving program.

The donation “aims to insure more drivers are in the pipeline to fill trucking industry jobs,” the company said in a statement.

Coke is also partnering with TCGS and local distributor Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United to create a statewide truck tour to raise awareness of TCSG’s truck driving program and career opportunities with Coca-Cola United, which recently opened a regional marketing and distribution operation in Tifton.

The truck tour, dubbed "Delivering the Future," will "make stops in five communities across the state, including Savannah, Athens, Vidalia, Macon, and Tifton,” said Gianetta Jones, vice president and chief people officer for Coca-Cola United.

“In Georgia, we’re fortunate to be able to hire drivers from TCSG’s world-class commercial truck driving program. Our goal is to raise awareness of the program and trucking industry opportunities available right in our home state, most specifically the 85 open commercial driving opportunities currently available with Coca-Cola United.” Jones said.

Alfredo Rivera, president of the Coca-Cola Co.’s North America operating unit, said the trucking industry has lost 6% of its workers nationally since the pandemic began, which exacerbated a driver shortage expected to top 160,000 by 2028.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the Coca-Cola Co. and Coca-Cola United, and look forward to leveraging this investment to attract more best-in-class trainers who are the foundation of our program,” said Greg Dozier, TCSG commissioner. “With the expansion of the program, this investment will allow us to prepare more commercial truck drivers to enter the industry, helping to ensure the continued transport of goods upon which we rely across the state.”

The Coca-Cola truck tour is scheduled to be in Tifton on Thursday, May 26, at Southern Regional Technical College.

DPH MOVES TO WEEKLY COVID-19 REPORTING AS CASES DECLINE STATEWIDE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As cases of COVID-19 decline across Georgia, the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) has transitioned from daily to weekly data reporting.

Case counts and vaccination updates will now be released each Wednesday. The last daily updated COVID-19 data was released April 15.

In that final daily report, Tift County showed two confirmed cases in the past two weeks with a 2.1% testing positivity rate. Tift showed a total of 6,285 cases with 163 related deaths.

Across Georgia, COVID cases are low, with the exception of Stewart County on the Alabama border, where 50 new cases were reported in the past two weeks with a positivity rate of nearly 10%.

The DPH said that reporting COVID-19 on a weekly basis will "provide a more complete picture than day-to-day changes or data fluctuations when determining areas of concern or COVID’s trajectory in the state.

"Given the number of at-home COVID tests that do not get reported, there is now a greater focus on other indicators such as hospital admissions, hospital occupancy, and overall vaccination rates when assessing the community impact of COVID-19."

TIFTON'S 'MARATHON MAN' DOES IT ONCE AGAIN

Staff Reports

Mike Beeman, Tifton's "marathon man," has just completed his 45th consecutive Boston Marathon.

Beeman, a teacher and coach at Tift County High School, was among more than 30,000 runners Monday in the 126th running of the Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world.

The Tifton runner said his 45th Boston Marathon was "the most fun I have had in many years. I predetermined to run halfway, and from that point on just enjoy and walk the course to thank people."

Archery is among activities Saturday during 'A Day in the Woods' at the Gaskins Forest Education Center in Alapaha.

'DAY IN WOODS' SATURDAY OFFERS A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

"A Day in the Woods" is back this Saturday at Gaskins Forest Education Center in Alapaha.

From 1-5 p.m. Saturday, there will be interactive activities and demonstrations related to forestry, wildlife, and cultural history. Among activities will be turkey calling, trapping, archery, BB range shooting, paper making, and activities with plants, soil, water, and crafts.

Staff and volunteers from the Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton will bring examples of turpentine distillation, blacksmithing, and historical crafts. Several other presenters will bring animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

The Ga. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will show their project raising gopher frogs. One of the attractions will be the mascot Burner Bob, who promotes using prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat. DNR’s Southeast Burn Crew will demonstrate a live burn and ABAC’s Vanessa Lane will lead a nature walk. You may also take a walk by yourself to view native plants in the pollinator garden, bog garden, fernery, wetlands, and arboretum.

Other presenters include the Longleaf Alliance, Ga. Forestry Commission, Jones Center at Ichauway, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, University of Georgia, Golden Triangle, and Berrien Middle School Wildlife Club.

There is no admission charge, no vending, and no food provided. Visitors should bring a tote bag to hold items made or collected during the event.

Gaskins Forest Education Center is located at 3359 Moore Sawmill Road in Alapaha. For information, contact Heather Brasell at 229-339-3966 or heather.brasell@gmail.com

10th BIG LITTLE RIVER PADDLE RACE

BEGINS AT REED BINGHAM APRIL 30

The 10th Annual Big Little River Paddle Race is set for 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 30, at Reed Bingham State Park in Adel.

Racing is not required along the route from Red Roberts Landing to the lake at Reed Bingham Park; many participants do a leisurely paddle.

The event is a fundraiser for the WWALS Watershed Coalition. The overall winner will receive a $100 cash prize. If first-place finisher beats the previous best time, there is an additional $200 prize. Winners in each category will also get a special award.

Participants may bring their own canoes or kayaks; no motors, rowboats, or paddleboards are allowed. Rentals for canoe and kayaks must be made in advance.

The course is a scenic three-mile, all downstream stretch of the Little River with winding, flat blackwater and some trees to maneuver around. Alligators, red wasps, and snakes may be present.

Life jackets are required, and participants must supply their own. A lunch will be provided at the finish.

Registration is $30 per boat and must be made in advance online here.

SPONSORED CONTENT

SYNOVUS OFFERS FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS

Synovus has a special program offering funding to support community revitalization projects. This effort is a collaborative partnership designed to improve the economic health of the communities that Synovus serves.

Synovus is ready to be a business’ financial partner for a revitalization and beautification program that helps to enhance the quality of life for the community, benefitting its residents and visitors alike. Under the program, financing is available for real estate acquisition/development/redevelopment and new construction.

“We want to help make more good things happen in downtown,“ says Marion Holland, Synovus Vice President, Professional and Executive in Tifton. “The terms and conditions are very exciting. We hope this will encourage more revitalization. We all benefit from revitalization and we’re very excited about the two active projects we are currently financing.”

Funding is available at special rates and terms on loans greater than $50,000 and up to $1 million, with a maximum loan to value (LTV) for real estate loans of up to 90%. For new construction, maximum LTVs are up to 80%. Terms of the loan repayment will vary based on a project-by-project basis, and on the collateral provided.

To be eligible, a community must be within counties, or contiguous to, where Synovus has a physical location. Properties must be located within the defined historic downtown business district determined by the local city or development authority and approved by Synovus.

Evidence of use of city guidelines is essential to the applications and written confirmation should be provided. Applications must demonstrate viable projects with clearly identified proposed use of the loan proceeds, as well as required injections of at least 10%. New construction/renovations must meet the standard guidelines the city has in place.

A portion of the funding provided must be used for exterior improvements. Special pricing will not apply to loans for working capital, furniture, fixtures, equipment, etc.

“We hope this is inspiration for bringing new business here, for attracting more business for Tifton,” Holland says.

For more information, call 229-388-6254 or email marionholland@synovus.com

ABAC JAZZ FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHTS

10 HIGH SCHOOL BANDS THURSDAY

Ten high school jazz bands and the Jazz Band at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will be on display Thursday at the annual ABAC Jazz Festival in the Commons area next to Edwards Hall on ABAC’s front campus.

ABAC Jazz Band Director Deborah Bradley said the public is invited to attend the jazz festival portion of the day at no charge.

The music begins at 10 a.m. with Worth County High School followed by Appling County at 10:30 a.m., Lee County at 11 a.m., Tift County at 11:30 a.m., and Crisp County at noon.

Thomas County Central cranks up the volume at 12:30 p.m., followed by Madison County (Fla.) at 1 p.m., Ware County at 1:30 p.m., Lanier County at 2 p.m., and Valdosta High at 2:30 p.m.

Bradley’s ABAC Jazz Band then takes the stage at 3 p.m.

ABAC’s jazz musicians will also be in concert later in the day with saxophonist Derek Brown at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium as a part of the ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series. Limited tickets to that event are available.

ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN 'FILLS IN GAPS'

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Cindy Evers, the self-proclaimed “Godmother of Weirdness,” told the Tifton Woman’s Club last week that she works to fill in the gaps for children whose needs don’t fit the ordinary aspects being met by other agencies.

Evers founded the Alliance for Children, a nonprofit organization that gauges the health and well-being of area children and seeks to connect them with appropriate resources and services.

“The landscape of child welfare is changing a lot,” she said. “More and more children are falling through the bureaucratic cracks. We needed another entity.”

The weirdness she referred to is the unusual nature of the requests for help that the Alliance for Children receives. For example, the organization recently helped a girl, who has been in foster care since she was eight years old, achieve her dream of entering a local beauty contest, selecting and wearing a beautiful gown, and “feeling equal.”

“We fill in gaps where funds are not covered to help children in need,” Evers said.

The organization hosts an annual summit to provide training in child welfare by police officers, GBI and FBI investigators, and nationally renowned speakers Attendees included 70 law enforcement officers, educational leaders, social workers, lawyers, and medical professionals from across the state.

The Alliance achieved not-for-profit charitable status from the IRS last August. A board of directors oversees the organization's activities.

For more information, visit www.alliance4childrenga.org or call 229-392-2387.

Joe Pope, Tiftarea YMCA board member and TRMC Foundation vice chair, at left, poses with Mandy Brooks, Foundation executive director, and Jason Bishoff, Tiftarea YMCA CEO.

TRMC FOUNDATION AIDS TIFTAREA YMCA's AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

The Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Foundation recently donated $15,000 to the Tiftarea YMCA for its after-school program.

The YMCA program begins with a daily devotion, nutrition, time for tutoring/homework, and outdoor enrichment activities and games. Speaking engagements from community leaders are encouraged as it allows the children to learn about different professions.

Before COVID-19, the program fed 450 to 500 children at eight community outreach sites during the summer and approximately 50-60 kids per day at two after-school sites during the school year.

The TRMC Foundation works to help improve the community and assist with medical equipment for area emergency medical services.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"April" is among the cats available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt April and see other pets available, visit the shelter between 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 CITY MANAGER DECLARES WAR

...ON MOSQUITOES ~ APRIL 21, 1928

Tifton City Manager R.E. Hall declared war on mosquitoes in Tifton on April 21, 1928, and said the campaign was beginning soon and would continue throughout that summer until the enemy was vanquished.