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

EX TIFT COUNTY PRINCIPAL ARRESTED ON 7 MORE CHARGES AFTER GRAND JURY INDICTS HIM ON 13 COUNTS

By FRANK SAYLES JR,

Tifton Grapevine

Embattled former Tift County High Principal Dr. Chad D. Stone has been arrested on seven additional charges following his 13-count indictment last week by a Tift County Grand Jury.

Stone, 50, was arrested by the Tift County Sheriff's Office at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday and booked into the Tift County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance by Tift Superior Court Judge Melanie B. Cross.

The new charges are in addition to the six felony charges that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation brought in February.

All of the total 13 charges are related to Stone's time as principal of Tift County High School. He was Georgia's Principal of the Year in 2023.

The new charges allege three more instances of unauthorized usage of a school credit card, three charges of making false statements about purchases to the Tift County Board of Education, and a felony charge of theft by deception.

That later charge alleges that Stone on Sept. 29, 2023, unlawfully and intentionally obtained $8,318 in school funds designated for the purchase of school-related socks "and then took a portion of that money for his own use" using "deceitful means," according to court documents.

The three charges of making false statements relate to the purchase of the school-related socks. On Aug. 21, 2023, Stone is charged with creating false invoices under the names of Southern Media Creations and Pear Sox to be submitted as official bids for the purchase of school-related socks.

And then on Oct. 3, Stone is charged with creating a false invoice for $18,211 under the name of BTTY to be submitted "in an amount different than used for the actual purchase of the socks, and in an amount of socks different than contracted for by the Tift County Board of Education," according to Tift County court documents.

"BTTY" is an abbreviation of Stone's frequent slogan: "Better Today Than Yesterday."

An earlier felony charge of theft by taking occurred between June 6, 2022, and Jan. 11, 2024, in which Stone "did unlawfully take $1,886.87 in goods and services, the property of the Tift County Board of Education," according to court documents.

Stone was also indicted on and is charged with a total of eight instances of unauthorized use of a school-issued credit card. Those actions date from July 7, 2022, through Nov. 14, 2023. They include food, fuel, snack, room service, valet charges, and parking at a tournament and at seven conferences without authorization, along with Walmart purchases.

The charges result from a GBI investigation after a state commission found that Stone had violated professional standards. He formally resigned as TCHS principal Feb. 12 after being placed on suspension in January.

The Tift County BOE had put Stone on administrative leave after the Ga. Professional Standards Commission ruled that Stone had violated professional standards dealing with misuse of public funds and property, remunerative conduct, and unethical professional conduct.

The BOE had also placed Stone on administrative leave in September for five days. Immediately following that action, Stone made a public apology for unspecified "ethical lapses."

State Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, addresses the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce for the last time Thursday as a legislator. Pirkle, whose district includes part of Tift County, is retiring from the Legislature this year.

SOME BILLS PASSED; SOME DIDN'T, PIRKLE TELLS CHAMBER

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

While recounting some of the legislation passed by the General Assembly this year, state Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, told the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that some of the bills not passed were just as pertinent.

One bill, which he sponsored but wasn't approved, has gotten a lot of attention around the state. It would disallow the use of cameras for speed enforcement in school zones.

“With school-zone cameras,” Pirkle said, “you are guilty until proven innocent.”

The images capture license plates, and speeding tickets are mailed to owners of the vehicles up to five weeks after an incident. The mailer shows three ways to pay the ticket, but no way to appeal.

Pirkle said this represents a $125 contribution to the municipality. With a traditional ticket from a law enforcement officer, there is a line at the bottom telling a date, time, and place where drivers may appeal the ticket. 

Often, Pirkle said, cameras are trained on roads going away from a school zone, past the “End School Zone” signs, and often when school is out and lights are not flashing. He said the cameras are not minimizing pedestrian deaths in school zones but are enriching municipalities. 

One town of 300 in North Georgia has school-zone cameras running 24 hours a day, seven days a week whether kids are there or not, he said. “It raises $3 million in a town of 300. In the state of Georgia, we have paid over $300 million to the towns that have these,” Pirkle said.

Among legislation that did pass in the recent General Assembly session is the state budget of $37 billion. It includes $800 million in capital expenditures without borrowing any money.

“Our top priority is education,” Pirkle said, with 52 cents on every dollar in the budget going to education. 

Pirkle said the Legislature also lowered the tax rate, dropping the state income tax and property taxes and incentivized “you to have more kids” with tax credits for children.  

A bill that was approved by both houses is HB 581, the "Save Our Homes Act." This freezes homestead exemption taxes to help “granny save her home,” he said. If property values increase in the neighborhood of a person on a fixed income, the value of his or her house stays in effect until the property is sold or transferred.

Another bill, Pirkle said, “my bill, HB 51, took two years to get passed. It allows school systems to transport students in something other than a school bus.”

He said that he spent time at the Capitol with two students and an advisor visiting during FFA Day at the Capitol. He watched the three of them get on an otherwise empty school bus with a certified driver when they could have traveled in a Suburban or some other such vehicle.

The “No Patient Left Behind” Act signed into law last week allows a designated caregiver to stay with a loved one while they are receiving care in a health care facility. “It will never allow elderly to die alone again,” he said.

He said another bill approved dealing with squatters provides enhanced penalties that enable home owners to kick out people that don’t belong on their property.

Among bills that were introduced but not passed include a Seatbelt Admissibility Rule in which a jury may be told that someone was not wearing a seatbelt when a car manufacturer is sued for an accident involving death or serious injury.

Currently, a Seatbelt Gag Rule makes it unlawful to reveal that people were not wearing seatbelts when killed or injured in a serious accident, Pickle said. 

And a proposed premise liability bill would not hold a business responsible for an accident or crime committed there after hours. He cited a case in which a CVS pharmacy in Atlanta was held responsible and sued for $45 million when someone from Alabama selling a second-hand computer was robbed and shot when he met a potential buyer in the store's parking lot after midnight.

“These are costs in our businesses that are killing us in our business,” Pirkle said.

He has served as the state representative for District 169 since 2015, and this is his last term as he is not seeking re-election. 

Also during the Chamber luncheon, two Tift County High School students were honored with a Student of Excellence Award from the Chamber's Business/Education Workforce Committee. The award, sponsored by Southwell, honors students that go above and beyond expectations and exemplify standards of excellence that are the cornerstone of education in Tifton and Tift County.

Emily Sue Richards and Kaylon Zenari Hill were honored.

TCHS GRADUATES 533 THURSDAY AT THE BRODIE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In an event pushed more than 36 hours early because of Saturday's weather forecast, Tift County High School graduated 533 students Thursday evening at Brodie Field.

The ceremony had been scheduled for early Saturday morning but an 80% chance of thunderstorms then forced school officials to consider alternative times and locations

On Wednesday, the school system had decided to move the ceremony indoors Saturday to the UGA Tifton Conference Center because of the anticipated storms. However, many seniors had requested that the ceremony still be held at The Brodie.

A survey was then sent to the seniors.

"We received responses from 70% of the students. The survey options were as follows: Option 1 – to hold graduation on Saturday at UGA Conference Center; and Option 2 – to hold graduation on Thursday evening at Brodie Field," the school system said later Wednesday.

"Option 1 received 87 votes (23.39%), and Option 2 received 285 votes (76.61%). As a result, we will hold the 2024 graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 16, at Brodie Field."

Tift County schools officially close for the summer at noon today.

TIFT COUNTY DENIES ZONING TO ALLOW EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Commission at its meeting Monday unanimously denied a rezoning request to allow construction of an equestrian center for rodeo events on Old Ocilla Road.

Alicia Hill Smith, who owns a five-acre tract at 2110 Old Ocilla Road, had asked that her property be rezoned from agriculture use to community commercial. Smith sought the rezoning so that she could build an equestrian center, not only for riding lessons but to host horse-show events.

The county Planning & Zoning Commission had noted that the proposal would be "spot zoning." Several nearby residents also opposed the rezoning, saying it would increase traffic in a quiet agricultural community and could be the beginning of other commercial operations in that area.

TIFTON SEWAGE SPILL INVOLVES 6,000 GALLONS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A sewage spill in Tifton earlier this week was halted within 30 minutes, officials said.

Approximately 6,000 gallons spilled after high winds caused a power outage at 7:45 p.m. Monday. The spill went into the Little River Basin from the storm drainage system, said Inframark-ESG, which manages the city water and sewage systems.

The spill area has since been cleaned, the company said.

COOK'S KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY RAISES $12,000 FOR LIVESTOCK ARENA

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

On May 10, Chase Daughtrey, left, and Rachel Flythe, far right, presented the Cook County Livestock Association with approximately $12,000 in donations from the recent Cook County Kentucky Derby Party.

Billy Joe Lovett and Chad Sumner accepted the donations on behalf of the Livestock Association. The funds will be used for remodeling restroom facilities and new construction at the youth livestock arena in Sparks.

The donation is possible because of sponsors and businesses in Cook County who donated to the Kentucky Derby event.

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FREE PET VACCINATIONS TUESDAY AT TIFT ANIMAL SHELTER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift Animal Rescue Inc. is providing an all-day, walk-in clinic with free vaccinations for Tiftarea pets from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Tift County Animal Shelter.

The no-cost vaccines are made possible through Petco Love’s national vaccination initiative “Vaccinated and Loved,” which is providing a total of 1 million free pet vaccines.

Interested pet owners not able to attend Tuesday may call the shelter at 229-382-7387 to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccines. 

According to a press release, parvovirus and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats — the most prevalent deadly diseases affecting pets — are preventable with a simple vaccine. An estimated 30% of pet parents do not take their pets to a veterinarian annually for preventative care. 

To ensure the health and wellness of pets, Tift Animal Rescue and Petco Love have partnered to make pet vaccines free and accessible.

Tift Animal Rescue aims to vaccinate 600 pets beginning Tuesday. Vaccines distributed through the Petco Love initiative will be DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines.

“Thanks to Petco Love, we can offer these important vaccines at no cost to pet owners,” said Candice Hernandez, Tift County Animal Shelter director and representative of Tift Animal Rescue.

For information about vaccine distribution, contact Tift Animal Rescue at tiftrescue@yahoo.com. Learn more about Petco Love’s program at PetcoLove.org

Statewide influenza data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of week ending May 4:

Since Seasonal Tracking Beginning Oct. 23, 2023:

TOTAL INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS: 198 ............................................... LATEST WEEK: 1

TOTAL METRO AREA HOSPITALIZATIONS: 4,346 ..............................LATEST WEEK: 3

TOTAL INFLUENZA-ASSOCIATED DEATHS: 57 ................................. LATEST WEEK: 0

In Georgia, influenza is not a reportable condition, with the exception of influenza-associated deaths and outbreaks.

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

This Saturday, May 18, is Armed Forces Day celebrating all five branches of the United States military. Conceived by President Harry S. Truman, the holiday was established in 1949 and was made official in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, who served in the Navy during World War II.

FRIDAY, MAY 17

• Sip and Stroll & Scavenger Hunt, 5-7:30 p.m., Downtown Sylvester
• Lights on the Pond @ Paulk Park, music and community activities, 6:30 p.m., 341 Perry House Road, Fitzgerald
• Drive-In Movie Night, 7:30 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton

SATURDAY, MAY 18

• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Tifton Elks Lodge Ribs Cook-Off, 9 a.m., 422 Victory Drive N., Tifton
• Tiftarea Junior Gardeners Club, 2 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton

YOUR YARD SALE

HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Nepeta" a stunning girl who loves human affection. She would flourish in a home where she can be the only dog, soaking up all the attention from her humans. Come visit her and 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).