Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com ~ 478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

To SUBSCRIBE, Click Here!

NOTE: Depending on your computer's settings, you may need to click the link at the bottom

of the edition to download its entirety.

EMMETT F. 'TONY' EATON

EMMETT C. 'CAM' EATON

AMANDA NICOLE AUBREY

GRAND JURY INDICTS EATON MEMORIAL TRIO ON 175 COUNTS BASED ON 525 CHARGES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Tift County Grand Jury this week returned a 175-count indictment involving a total of 525 charges of theft by conversion against the co-owners and an employee of two Tifton cemetery monument companies, according to Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney Patrick Warren.

Tifton residents Emmett Fred "Tony" Eaton, 73; Emmett Cameron "Cam" Eaton, 40; and Amanda Nichole Aubrey, 45, were indicted and charged with numerous counts of felonies and misdemeanors following a Tift County Sheriff’s Office investigation into scores of complaints of headstones, slabs, and monuments being purchased but never placed on graves. 

Theft by conversion is a crime that occurs when someone lawfully obtains another person's property or money and then uses it for their own benefit. In Georgia, theft by conversion is usually a misdemeanor, but can be charged as a felony if the value of the property or money is more than $500.

The grand jury indictment was handed down Monday.

The Eaton father-son team owned Tifton Monument & Memorials LLC and Eaton Memorials LLC. The Eatons and their employee Aubrey were initially arrested in November.

Those initial arrests involved each defendant originally facing nearly 70 counts, District Attorney Warren said. As the investigation progressed, special presentments were submitted by the district attorney, expanding the indictment to include additional charges.

All three defendants are being arrested and fingerprinted on the new charges, with bond expected to be denied. Victims are being notified of the date and time for the bond hearings with the opportunity to be heard by the judge prior to a ruling.

This case involves a significant number of victims, and District Attorney Warren commended both the investigators for their work and local residents who came forward with additional information, which helped uncover the full scope of the alleged misconduct.

“Taking advantage of grieving families during their time of loss is not only unethical, it is criminal,” Warren said. “This indictment sends a clear message that such conduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Warren noted that victim advocates, staff, and prosecutors from the DA’s Office have met personally with many of the families, listening to their experiences, and collecting the necessary evidence to move the case forward.

“Our office has heard heartbreaking accounts from people who trusted these individuals during one of the most painful moments in life – the loss of a loved one. We are committed to ensuring their voices are heard and justice is served,” Warren said.

Before his initial arrest in November, Tony Eaton had posted an apology last September on social media "for the unnecessary grief and concern caused by the delay in procuring the memorial for your loved ones. I know this delay has caused much stress and anxiety for my customers. I have been in business over 35 years and have never failed to complete an order. Unfortunately, many factors beyond my control have caused this delay. Please know that I am not making excuses, and I am working extremely hard right now to make everyone whole and deliver all memorials in an expeditious manner," he wrote.

The case will proceed in Tift County Superior Court, with a trial date to be determined.

REPORT LISTING IRWIN HOSPITAL AS 'AT RISK' IS WRONG,

HOSPITAL CFO SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A University of North Carolina study requested by congressional leaders had listed Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla as "at risk" of stopping services or closing altogether with impending Medicaid and other healthcare reductions, but a hospital official says the study is wrong and used outdated data.

"I’ve reviewed the report and unfortunately, it is not accurate," Krystal Carver, chief financial officer of Irwin County Hospital, told the Tifton Grapevine.

"The data referenced appears to have been pulled from 2020-2022 cost reports, during which time we were delivering between 450 and 500 babies annually. At that time, Medicaid was our highest financial class. However, that is no longer the case since we discontinued labor and delivery services in September 2023," Carver said.

Irwin County was listed among more than 300 rural hospitals in the United States at risk of closing because of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that recently passed Congress, according to research conducted by the University of North Carolina’s Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. 

The new law is said to cut about $1 trillion from Medicaid, primarily through stringent work requirements and reductions to how states fund Medicaid programs. Rural hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid funding because they have many low-income patients. 

"This report has understandably stirred up a number of concerns and misperceptions," Irwin County Hospital's CFO Carver told the Tifton Grapevine. "It’s important that before any such data is published, there is an effort to verify current hospital operations and financial status. Hospital landscapes can change significantly year to year, and relying on outdated information does not reflect the present reality."

Carver said that while Medicaid funding changes will "present challenges – particularly for hospitals heavily dependent on those reimbursements – it does not automatically mean closure is imminent. Many hospitals, including ours, are actively adapting. I also noticed Sandersville was mentioned in the report; to my knowledge, they are operating successfully as well."

Carver added that "accuracy and context are essential in these discussions, particularly when public perception and future planning are at stake."

The UNC report listed four "at-risk" Georgia hospitals: Irwin County Hospital, Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville, Fannin Regional Hospital in Blue Ridge, and Flint River Community Hospital in Montezuma.

A study commissioned by the American Hospital Association reported that Georgia's rural hospitals could lose $540 million during the next 10 years.

GA MAIN STREETS: AN $824M ECONOMIC IMPACT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Georgia's Main Street programs generated more than $824 million in combined private and public investment in 2024, according to the Ga. Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Office of Downtown Development.

"In 2024, Georgia’s Main Street programs continued to deliver measurable results across the state. Local programs helped open 677 new businesses and create 3,658 new jobs, while also supporting the construction of 1,861 new housing units," DCA reported.

"Communities completed 556 public improvement projects and 931 commercial rehabilitation projects, enhancing the look, function, and economic potential of their downtowns. Additionally, nearly 17,000 promotional events attracted more than 8.9 million attendees, boosting visibility for small businesses and reinforcing downtown as the heart of community life," the DCA reported.

“These results are a testament to the power of local leadership and the value of sustained investment in our downtowns,” said Cherie Bennett, director of DCA’s Office of Downtown Development. “Behind each new business or building improvement is a community working hard to create a more vibrant and resilient future.”

The Georgia Main Street Program supports 91 designated communities across the state through training, technical assistance, and strategic resources. The programs are committed to revitalizing historic downtowns while fostering strong local economies.

Tifton is one of 20 "Georgia Exceptional Main Street" communities, known as GEMS. According to the DCA Office of Downtown Development, GEMS identifies some of the state's most vibrant downtown districts: "These designated cities have demonstrated an exceptionally positive impact in their communities as measured by the monthly reporting and the annual assessment process."

TIFT SCHOOLS OPEN

IN TWO WEEKS WITH SEVERAL CHANGES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Summer we hardly knew ye!

For Tift County public school students, classes start two weeks from today on Aug. 1.

Freshman orientation has already been held, and other class orientations are scheduled in the coming days.

The beginning of a new school year is always exciting. This year, Tift County has implemented a few changes. A major one is that all students, from pre-K through 12th grade, are now prohibited from using cell phones and any personal electronic device or accessory during the school day.

A personal electronic device refers to any device used to access the Internet, Wi-Fi, cell phone signals or to capture images or videos. This includes cell phones, smart watches, tablets, gaming devices, and also includes accessories such as earbuds and headphones.

Students may use wireless devices while on school buses or during extracurricular activities that occur outside of school hours. While students are encouraged to leave cell phones or smart watches at home, if one is brought to school it must be locked in the school’s designated storage location during the school day.

The General Assembly this year passed a bill banning personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, during the school day for kindergarten through eighth grade in public schools, but the ban doesn't go into effect until July 2026.

Tift County decided to implement the ban this school year and extend it to all grades, "recognizing the growing impact of these devices on student learning, social development, and emotional well-being," said school system spokesman Dana Spurlin.

Another change involves extending the school day by 25 minutes. The new school start time will be 10 minutes earlier and classes will end 15 minutes later than the past year, adding 25 minutes to the instructional day for all three grade levels, Tift County Schools said.

"An additional 25 minutes a day will provide teachers and students with 75 additional hours of instructional time over the course of the school year. That is the equivalent of adding nearly two additional weeks to the school year; 25 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up," the school system said.

The move will mostly restore the 30 minutes lost each day when Tift County Schools moved to a two-tiered bus route system after the 2022-2023 school year, separating elementary students from middle and high school students.

Elementary schools will start their day at 7:35 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Middle schools and the high school will begin at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.

Tift County Schools has online links to all information needed to start the school year. To access the information, Click Here!

UGA SPORTS HISTORY EXHIBIT COMING TO TIFTON LIBRARY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Attention Georgia Bulldogs fans: The Tifton-Tift County Public Library is bringing an exhibit next week featuring UGA sports history and authentic memorabilia.

From noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, the Tifton‑Tift County Library will host the “UGA Athletics in Your Town,” a free traveling exhibit from the UGA Athletic Association Archives.

Featuring more than 130 years of athletics memorabilia — vintage helmets, rare photos, historic gear, and more — the family-friendly display has been a hit with Bulldog fans.



The traveling exhibit is presented by the Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library with the cooperation of the Georgia Public Library Service.

STATE RECOGNIZES 3 TIFT SCHOOLS FOR EXCELLENCE IN CURSIVE WRITING

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Celebrating excellence in cursive writing, the Ga. Department of Education has named three Tift County schools among 188 schools in Georgia as 2024-2025 recipients of the John Hancock Student Signature Banner and Proficiency Ribbon.

Recognized were Annie Belle Clark Elementary, Len Lastinger Elementary, and Omega Elementary.

To receive the recognition, schools submitted a portfolio demonstrating that 90% or more of their students can write their name in cursive — a milestone that showcases dedication to a timeless skill.

This award celebrates elementary, middle, and high schools that go above and beyond in teaching cursive writing — a skill that not only strengthens motor development but enhances literacy and helps students connect with historical texts in their original form.

“As Georgia’s state school superintendent and a former classroom teacher, I firmly believe learning cursive is more than just a writing skill – it’s a connection to history, critical thinking, and personal expression,” said State Superintendent Richard Woods.

“In an age of digital communication, the ability to read and write in cursive remains essential. It allows students to engage with foundational documents, develop fine motor skills, and write with individuality and fluency," Woods said. "Cursive writing builds cognitive connections that support literacy and learning across subjects. That’s why Georgia has preserved and prioritized cursive instruction as part of a well-rounded education. We’re committed to developing students who are not only college- and career-ready but also confident in their ability to read, write, and think for themselves.”

BRUNDAGE TELLS CONFERENCE THAT ABAC USES AI AS A SUPPORT TOOL

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) President Tracy Brundage was among the featured speakers at the “AI-Powered, People-Focused” Engage Summit recently in Charlotte, N.C.

The two-day event brought together leaders from higher education, including administrators, marketing, enrollment, IT, and content creation. The summit centered on how colleges and universities can use Artificial Intelligence to enhance student engagement and build better practices.

“There has been a significant transformation in the last year regarding AI,” Brundage said. “The technology will not replace our human capital, which is one of the best attributes of our institution, but it has the power to engage with students in each area of the student lifecycle. This personalization of communicating with our students at each point of where they are during their journey with us at ABAC is the underlying goal of our strategic plan."

The conference was organized by Element451, an AI-first customer relationship management system for higher education. Brundage joined two of the company’s leaders – Founder and CEO Ardis Kadiu and COO and Head of AI Dr. JC Bonilla – to close the event with a session titled “The Future is Ours to Shape.”

Each reflected on many of the ideas and connections discussed during the event and what higher education can expect to see in the future.

“President Brundage represents the kind of forward-thinking leadership that higher education needs right now,” Kadiu said. “She doesn’t just talk about transformation; she makes it happen. The transformation happening at ABAC shows what’s possible when visionary leadership meets powerful technology. President Brundage has proven that institutions can use AI to create belonging and connection at every touchpoint of the student journey.”

Brundage said those in higher education must consider what employers want regarding AI and how students will be trained with the applicable skills needed to thrive.

“We have to take a moment and realize that the next class coming in as freshmen in 2026 will be the first class that comes to college with all four years of high school using AI technology,” she said. “Their learning styles and industry demands have all changed in those four years, but has our approach to how we teach changed? That’s something we must take into serious consideration to remain relevant in the workforce.”

The president added that faculty and staff must be included in the adaptation of AI and that the process will take time, training, and transparency.

“The institutions that succeed with AI won’t necessarily be the ones with the best technology,” she said. “They’ll be the ones who take the time to build trust and structure for success. AI is a support tool, and we need to show how it can save time for meaningful work.”

ABAC STUDENT ONE OF 11 IN U.S. CHOSEN AS ASSISTANT FOR NATIONAL FFA MEETING

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Oscar Martinez Hernandez, a senior majoring in agricultural education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), has been selected to serve at the 2025 National FFA Convention & Expo during Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Martinez Hernandez is one of 11 college students chosen from around the United States to be a convention collegiate assistant in the Career and Leadership Development portion of the event. His duties will include event management and organization, as well as assisting with student competitions.

“It’s a tremendous honor for me because FFA really changed my life,” he said. “I got involved with it in high school, and it put me on a different track. The FFA and the ABAC Upward Bound and CAMP programs taught me about leadership and provided me with the foundation I needed to succeed in college.”

Martinez Hernandez was born in Mexico and moved to South Georgia when he was six. He grew up in Atkinson County, where he remains active as a volunteer first responder. At ABAC, he has been involved with the Ambassadors, served as a senator in the Student Government Association, spent two years as a resident assistant, and interned in the spring with U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, in Washington, D.C.

He served as the president of the Circle K Club and was the outreach officer with Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources. He also became a U.S. citizen during his freshman year at ABAC.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Downtown on Main ~ The Ultimate Cigar Experience

214 S. Main St., Tifton

July 11

To Subscribe, Click Here!

Your free subscription allows you to receive our MidWeek and Weekender editions in your in-box, along with occasional Sponsored Editions.

Your subscription is free because of the support of local advertisers.

Please support the businesses and organizations who make this possible.

To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, July 20, is National Ice Cream Day. President Ronald Reagan in 1984 proclaimed every third Sunday in July as a day to celebrate the "nutritious and wholesome food enjoyed by over 90% of the people in the United States.’’ The first mention of ice cream in the United States is in 1744 when colonists from Scotland brought an ice cream recipe to North America. On May 12, 1777, the New York Gazette printed the first advertisement for ice cream in the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, ice cream became popular throughout the United States.

FRIDAY, JULY 18

• Popcorn & A Movie: "Inside Out 2," 11 a.m., Victoria Evans Memorial Library, 605 North St., Ashburn

• Splash-tacular Pool Party, free admission, family-friendly event, free popsicles, waterslides, door prizes, DJ Garfield, Tidal Waves swim team demo, free water aerobics class; 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Tift County Recreation Pool, 202 Baldwin Drive, Tifton

• Gospel Music at the Depot, free concert: Debra Snipes & The Angels, bring lawn chairs, 7-9 p.m., The Depot, Downtown Sylvester

SATURDAY, JULY 19

• Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton

• 7th Annual Christmas in July, food & craft vendors, waterslide, kids' activities, special sales, bloodmobile, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Downtown Adel

• Mims Kids 14th Annual Stay in School Rally, school supples curbside pickup, noon, 41 South Farmers Market, 2505 S. Main St., Tifton

• Community Craft Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, Love Avenue, Tifto

• Evan Dupree's The Great Escape, master illusionist, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

While the Tifton Grapevine news may be free, journalism is not. If you enjoy reading the Grapevine, please consider donating to keep local journalism alive. Any amount is appreciated. 

.............. Just click HERE!

Thank you very much. Everyone who contributes to the Tifton Grapevine 

will be entered in a monthly drawing for a Grapevine coffee mug.

"Charlie" is a gorgeous German Shepherd girl looking for a place to call home. Charlie came to the Tift County Animal Shelter from an owner who could no longer care for her. Now, she’s ready to find a forever family. Come visit Charlie and see other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor

See what's happening on our Facebook site: