Earth Day in Tifton

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

These plants are among those available on Earth Day for a 'drive-by donation' to the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence's recently endowed Mother Earth Environmental Studies chair.

'EARTH DAY'

ARRIVES THURSDAY

EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROMOTES 20th ACADEMIC CHAIR ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES WITH EARTH DAY EVENT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An anonymous donor has endowed the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence's 20th academic chair – the "Mother Earth Environmental Studies" chair.

Funds generated through the chair will be used to award grants in Tift County schools in the area of environmental studies.

The academic chair endowment program, initiated in 1993, provides grants to classroom teachers to pursue innovative ideas for their students in specific disciplines. It takes a minimum of $25,000 to endow a foundation chair.

In honor of Earth Day this Thursday, April 22, the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence is hosting an Earth Day event: For each drive-by donation to the new the Mother Earth Environmental Studies chair, the donor will receive a plant.

A variety of native Georgia flowers, herbs, vegetable plants, fruit trees and vines will be available between 7 and 8 p.m. Thursday at the Tifton First United Methodist Church parking lot off 12th Street.

The plants are courtesy of the Georgia Native Plant Society and of friends around Tift County. Plants and information will be shared about Georgia's native species.

The education foundation hopes to make the Earth Day event an annual one.

TIFT SCHOOLS NAMES NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

From Staff Reports

Chris Martin, principal at Northeast Middle School, has been named Tift County Schools athletic director.

Martin succeeds Rusty Smith, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Martin has spent his professional career in Tift County. After teaching and coaching for five years at Tift County High's former Northeast Campus, Martin became the assistant principal of the school. He then moved to Eighth Street Middle School as assistant principal before returning to Northeast as principal.

Rusty Smith has more than 30 years as a coach and educator, spending the past decade as Tift County's athletic director after handling those duties at the middle-school level.

Refreshing careers for Tifton area CDL drivers and more.

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IN TIFT, 18% NOW FULLY VACCINATED, DPH SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In Tift County, 18% of adults have been fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) reported Tuesday.

The DPH also said that 21% of Tift County adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Across the state, 33% of adults have received at least one dose, and 21% of adults are fully vaccinated, the DPH reported.

During the past two weeks, Tift County has seen six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 representing 15 per 100,000 population, the DPH reported. During the two-week period, Tift had a testing positivity rate of 3.3%.

In the past year, Tift County has had 3,409 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 96 related deaths – one additional death in the past week, the DPH said.

Georgia reported 989 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday with 14 additional deaths and 131 new hospitalizations. The state has reported a total of 870,517 confirmed cases and 17,250 related COVID-19 deaths in the past year.

CINDY EVERS, NORTHSIDE BAPTIST GET 'CHAMPIONS OF HOPE AWARD'

Cindy Messick Evers and Northside Baptist Church are recipients of this year's Champions of Hope Award presented by Ruth's Cottage & The Patticake House, a non-profit organization combatting domestic and sexual violence, and child abuse.

The organization said Evers is one of the original seven founders of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House has "spent over 20 years in doing all in her power to advocate for women and children. ... The bonus is that she brought her entire church along with her on this journey and partnership with us."

Evers and Northside Baptist have supported numerous Ruth's Cottage projects through the years and have opened the church to "host trainings for those who work child abuse cases."

"Our recipients have thrown a 'shower' for supplies for our shelter, answered numerous calls for help as the program had needs, and last year she and her late husband put on their masks and came to our shelter to work with a terminally ill resident who wanted to find God, later baptizing her at their church," the organization said.

Evers has also served on the Ruth's Cottage board, including as president.

The award was announced as part of the organization's 17th Annual Champions of Hope Sporting Clays Tournament fundraiser last Saturday. This year's event raised a record $50,000 in net funds to support local programs.

CASA CREATES POSITION OF PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Jana Barfield of Tifton has been promoted to the newly created position of program coordinator at Coastal Plain CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care.

Barfield has been on the CASA staff since February 2018 and has contributed to the growth of the program in the past few years.

Her skills include volunteer and case management, social media, and brand awareness. As program coordinator, Barfield will manage all court deadlines, assure that all cases are being worked effectively, provide assistance to advocacy coordinators, and manage all social media and events for the program.

"This is a demanding position that requires dedication and focus. Mrs. Barfield is the perfect person to fill that role," the organization said in a press release.

For information about volunteering or supporting Coastal Plain CASA, visit www.cpcasa.org or contact Barfield at jbarfield@cpcasa.org, 229-386-9765.

The ABAC conference championship golf team includes, from left, Assistant Coach Hunter Dokey, Brady Kotkiewicz, Hagen Marion, Brock Barber, Ian Arnold, Gabe Lewis, and Head Coach Larry Byrnes.

ABAC GOLF TEAM WINS AGAIN, CAPTURES GA CHAMPIONSHIP

With an invitation to the national tournament already secure, the Golden Stallions of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College added to their wins Monday, capturing the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association golf championship at the Twin City Country Club in Tennille.

“Give all the credit to the guys,” ABAC Coach Larry Byrnes said. “They are hard-working players. It was a windy and cold day plus the course played extremely tough. I am proud of them.”

With a score of 624, ABAC finished ahead of Georgia Military College and Andrew College for the title in the 36-hole event.

ABAC’s Brock Barber from St. Cloud, Fla., tied for second in the individual standings with rounds of 83 and 72, and ABAC’s Ian Arnold from Blackshear wound up fourth in the tournament with rounds of 75 and 80. Both golfers were named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region 17 team.

Byrnes was selected as the NJCAA Region 17 Division II Coach of the Year. He has now guided the Golden Stallions to the national tournament five times since he took the reins of the golf team in 2015. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Only a week ago, Byrnes’ Golden Stallions won the NJCAA Division II Southeastern District golf tournament, securing their spot next month in the national tournament in Plymouth, Ind.

Alex Le, Southwell COO, from left, and Chris Dorman, Southwell CEO, accept a contribution from Josh Bowen, Tifton Ameris Bank market president. At right is William Bowen Jr., Southwell board member.

AMERIS BANK DONATES TO TRMC

Ameris Bank recently contributed to Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) through the Georgia HEART program.

“We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of those in our community and helping to create opportunities for healthy, safe and productive lives. This donation helps to provide resources that will create a positive effect for generations to come,” said Ameris Bank CEO Palmer Proctor.

Donations made to TRMC through the Georgia HEART program qualify for a 100% state tax credit. Participation in Georgia HEART (Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) is limited to rural hospitals that meet qualification criteria established under state law.

TRMC is the flagship hospital for Southwell health system.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Sophie," a female tabby, is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt your next pet, 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

PANEL HOPES TO RENOVATE OLD CITY POOL

– APRIL 21, 1938

The Tifton swimming pool committee met on April 21, 1938, and considered a proposal from Chairman C.R. Choate to spend $1,200 to renovate the city's old swimming pool on Second Street west of the railroad tracks. The hope was to have the pool ready for use by the summer.