Cryptocurrency Plan Withdrawn

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

CHINESE FIRM WITHDRAWS PLAN

TO ALLOW CRYPTO MINING IN TIFT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Chinese company has withdrawn its proposal seeking a revision in Tift County zoning codes to allow cryptocurrency mining operations at a site that was under consideration off Carpenter Road.

At Tuesday night's Tift County Commission workshop, a public hearing had been scheduled on the proposal from White Rock Solutions, a Chinese cryptocurrency mining company.

However, the application was withdrawn following stiff public opposition and the county zoning commission's recommendation against allowing cryptocurrency operations on property zoned wholesale light industrial. The proposed Carpenter Road site has that zoning classification.

"We haven’t heard anything from them since," Tift County Zoning Administrator Chris Davis told the Tifton Grapevine on Tuesday.

At its meeting May 12, the Greater Tift County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended against amending the zoning codes to allow cryptocurrency mining in wholesale light industrial zones.

The Chinese company was seeking a text amendment to county zoning codes to allow cryptocurrency mining facilities under that zoning classification. County officials said that the Chinese company had been focused on property off Carpenter Road, roughly behind the Lowe’s store, which is already zoned wholesale light industrial.

County Commissioner Donnie Hester, whose district includes the proposed site, said he is opposed to any cryptocurrency mining facility in Tift County. County Manager Jim Carter previously said that he had serious reservations about the proposal and didn’t foresee a recommendation for it from his office.

Cryptocurrency mining facilities handle digital currency, such as Bitcoin, using specialized, high-powered computers, servers, and software to verify and secure the currency. The operations use a high volume of electrical power and generate a lot of heat, using huge air conditioners to cool the operation, causing constant noise.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION HONORS DR. STEVE RIGDON

WITH NEW 'COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAIR'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Dr. Steve W. Rigdon, a Tifton physician who recently retired, is being honored with an endowed chair within the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence (TCFEE).

The Education Foundation has established the Steve Rigdon Community Service Chair from which Tift County public school teachers may receive grants for innovative, community service-related teaching initiatives.

"Dr. Rigdon has been a long-time supporter of the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence and was one of the founding board members," said Foundation President Nathan C. Johnson.

"(Foundation Executive Director) Mike Brumby has even stated, 'We would not have the TCFEE were it not for Steve,'” Johnson said.

Rigdon practiced medicine in Tifton for 40 years and quietly retired at the end of 2021. He told the Tifton Grapevine that he was "totally surprised and humbled," and is "very appreciative of all those who contributed" to establishing the chair.

"Many other people deserve this as Tifton is filled with community servants. Volunteer community service is one of the things that holds us together, and it is essential that those who follow us understand its value and continue it," Rigdon said.

Rigdon, along with the late Dr. Bob Wight and others, established the TCFEE in 1989 to help advance the public school educational system. Rigdon, a product of Tift County schools, was the valedictorian of the Class of 1970. He graduated from Emory University with honors and then graduated from the Emory School of Medicine in 1978.

"He works tirelessly to make sure Tifton is a great place to live. No one knows, and he doesn’t want anyone to know, of the countless hours he works to make our community a better place. From purchasing, planting, and watering trees, cleaning up trash, participating in neighborhood development, mentoring new doctors, volunteering for the Downtown Development Authority, the list goes on and on," said Dr. Joe M. Turner and W. Ray Cross in a letter to potential donors to the Foundation chair.

"Steve leads by example, and he is a wonderful example of supporting and working to improve our community as a whole."

The Rigdon Community Service Chair is the Foundation's 23rd endowed chair. The Academic Chair Endowment Program is designed to provide exceptional opportunities for Tift County public schools to strengthen and enrich education in specific disciplines through creative learning experiences that are not part of the regular curriculum.

These experiences are made possible through funds generated from the academic chairs, each established and endowed in the name of an individual closely identified with the selected discipline or area.

EXCHANGE CLUB PRESENTS 'GOLDEN DEEDS AWARD'

TO SCOTT GOODMAN

The Exchange Club of Tifton recently honored Scott Goodman with the club's 69th Annual Book of Golden Deeds Award.

The club said that Goodman is involved in a number of non-profit organizations. He has served on the Salvation Army board as well as its chairman, volunteering "from the front of the store to the back of the warehouse," and ensuring the the food pantry was stocked, and ringing the bell for the Red Kettle Drive.

He has supported Ruth’s Cottage by "Walking a Mile in Her Shoes," collected can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, supported events and fundraisers of Called to Care, Coastal Plain CASA, and the Pregnancy Care Center, and volunteered with Peanut Butter & Jesus.

Goodman has supported a number of foreign and domestic mission trips, provided toys for needy children in the community, and hosts holiday meals for those without local family, the Exchange Club said. Goodman also has volunteered at the local Soup Kitchen and supports activities of the Tift County Commission on Children & Youth.

"Scott truly exudes the qualities of a great humanitarian. His leadership and service in the community serve as a prime example for others to follow, and Tifton is fortunate to have people like him. These are the reasons that so many agreed no one is more deserving of this year’s Golden Deeds Award," the Exchange Club said.

The Book of Golden Deeds Award is a national project of the Exchange Club that recognizes volunteers who give hours and their talents toward making their communities better. The Tifton award was renamed in honor of longtime chairperson Helen Rainer, who died in 2013.

Tift County Recreation Director Tim Petrea holds the book “The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball” in his office at the Recreation Department.

NEW TIFT COUNTY REC DIRECTOR

SAYS 'PLAY MATTERS,' SEES MANY OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tim Petrea, the new director of Tift County Recreation, says the most important thing is “play for the sake of play.” Petrea formally assumed his role June 1 after being acting recreation director and assistant director for the past year.

“Play matters,” Petrea said during an interview with the Tifton Grapevine on Monday. He held up the book, “The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball – Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work” by Kevin Carroll, and said that’s where some of his philosophy comes from.

“It’s important to have a passion for something,” he said. Petrea's passion has been all things sports.

“I came here because I saw it as an opportunity to be director of the greatest parks program in the state of Georgia. This is one of the most respected programs in the state,” he said.

Petrea grew up in Claxton, and began working in Georgia Parks and Recreation in 2012. He then worked in the outdoor recreation department in Waynesville, N.C., and in Wyoming before returning to Georgia.

Petrea has a bachelor of science degree in recreation from Georgia Southern University with an emphasis on outdoor and community recreation and asset management.

Disc golf has been his passion for 27 years. A portable disc golf “hole” shares his office space, and a portion of his collection of discs from parks and tournaments where he has been involved are hanging on the wall as part of an eventual giant clock.

As a board member of the local Fulwood Legends disc golf team, Petrea is serving as a liaison between the group and the City of Tifton to redesign the disc golf course at Fulwood Park.

In his formal role as director of Tift County parks and recreation, Petrea said he is “seeing things I need to do for the next 10 to 15 years ahead.”

The first thing he’s looking forward to doing is overseeing Tift County’s $5.5 million upgrade of E.B. Hamilton Park. The upgrade will include a facelift of the baseball fields, new fencing, new dugout, and an all-new playground. The playground will be all access, with a special type of surface for wheelchair maneuverability.

Also, the parking lot will be improved, and a batting cage area will be added. He expects work to begin at the end of summer with bids going out for the entire project.

Petrea is also excited that upgrades have begun on the Tift County pool on Second Street, with a new heater and resurfacing of the pool area. The pool is open to the public for minimal activity fees, with swimming lessons, lane swimming, and water aerobics.

The director is working with the Tiftarea Tidal Waves and Tift County High School swim team, with a goal of hosting the state swim meet again. “We’re hosting the Class C meet here in July,” he said.

Petrea said he is also working toward a stronger effort to take care of all parks.

“The county wants to provide safe, equitable parks to the community so everyone can a healthy lifestyle,” Petrea said. “It’s not just baseball, football, and soccer. We want to provide opportunities where people can get out to enjoy a space, to fly a kite, or read a book.”

AREA HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OFFER FREE AT-HOME TEST KITS FOR COVID-19

The Ga. Department of Public Health’s South Health District is offering free at-home COVID-19 test kits at all county health departments, including Tift, Turner, Irwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, and Cook counties.

At-home test kits are rapid antigen tests and offer results within minutes. They do not require a lab or clinician to read or process the results.

To receive a test kit, individuals may visit their local health department. Test kits are offered at no cost, and no health insurance information is collected.

The South Health District says self tests should be used if one is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and if attending an indoor event or large gathering.

Each test kit comes with instructions. If you test positive, health officials say you should stay home for at least five days and isolate from others, alert close contacts so they can take precautions, wear a well-fitted mask when around others, and monitor symptoms – if they worsen, seek emergency care.

If you test negative, that means the test did not detect the virus but it doesn’t rule out an infection.

For more information, visit www.southhealthdistrict.com/covid19 or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Simply Stated Boutique & Interiors

219 Main St. South, Tifton

June 2

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Cleo," a female kitty, is already spayed and available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Cleo and to 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

GRAND JURY INDICTS TIFTON THEATER OPERATORS FOR SUNDAY MOVIE SHOWS

~ JUNE 6, 1940

A Tift County Grand Jury on June 6, 1940, indicted R.E. Martin, operator of a chain of movie theaters – including ones in Tifton – and M.H. Whitham, manager of the Tift and Ritz theaters, for "pursuing business and work of ordinary calling on the Lord's Day" – opening the theaters to show movies on Sunday.