Fitzgerald’s Giant Chicken

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

'PLAYING CHICKEN' IN FITZGERALD POLITICS

DESPITE LOSING ELECTION, MAYOR JIM PUCKETT

STANDS BY HIS GIANT TOPIARY CHICKEN PROJECT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In Fitzgerald there is a 16-ton, 62-foot unfinished topiary chicken structure; its cost thus far: $291,000 – and one mayoral re-election.

Jim Puckett, mayor of the Ben Hill County city, recently lost his re-election bid with 95% of voters casting ballots against him. One of the deciding factors was Puckett's giant chicken project, a structure begun nearly two years ago to promote Fitzgerald tourism. The steel and wire mesh frame in the shape of a chicken – Fitzgerald is known for its wild chickens – is designed to be covered with living plants and an Airbnb rental unit inside it.

The project has gotten worldwide attention. Just in the past couple of weeks, The Wall Street Journal and CBC Radio (the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Toronto) are among the news organizations spotlighting the giant chicken topiary.

Much of the current press is focusing on how the chicken project got Mayor Puckett ousted from office. The project is now on hold until the new mayor, Jason Holt, takes office in January.

Puckett hopes the project will be completed in future months. He told the Canadian radio broadcaster the other day that he has no regrets: "My giant chicken has done exactly what I wanted it to do, and that's promote the City of Fitzgerald," he said.

"We've got a great little town and a great little story here, but I needed a hook, and this chicken has garnered us worldwide recognition. The voters obviously don't see the importance of that, but they knew going in. ... One of the very few things I promised them was that you might not like everything that I do, but you're never going to say I sat around and didn't do anything."

Puckett noted that some critics in town complain that money is being misspent on a giant chicken rather than filling potholes in streets or building affordable housing, but "there's two different pots of money," he told CBC Radio.

"This is not money that I took away from the general fund or money that we took from anything else that could be done with some of the things that they're asking about."

He said the money used for the chicken project was earmarked for tourism and for promoting the city. Puckett said his giant chicken is already doing just that with more than a hundred newspapers and news organizations around the world talking about the Fitzgerald chicken topiary/bed-and-breakfast.

"Every time it hits a national article or interview, I get calls from people saying, 'Hey, I've got my credit card in my hand; I'm ready to book that chicken right now. We want to come to Fitzgerald.' – I'm not kidding," Puckett told the Canadian broadcaster.

A live "chicken cam" on YouTube, set up to show the construction progress of the giant chicken topiary, is still broadcasting but no work seems to be occurring at the moment. To view the live feed, Click Here!

Members of the 'Googling through Life' Howard Center team claimed first place in the Literacy Volunteers annual trivia contest, the Howard Center Carnival of Knowledge. Teams representing local businesses and organizations competed for the grand prize of $1,000 in cash.

TEAMS COMPETE IN TRIVIA 'CARNIVAL OF KNOWLEDGE'

Two Howard Center teams were among the top three winners of the 21st annual Howard Center Carnival of Knowledge at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture on Tuesday night, the last day of Family Literacy Month.

The event, in which teams answer trivia questions, is a fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County.

First place went to a team of Howard Center employees calling themselves “Googling through Life.” The six players split $1,000. Second place went to the Tifton Rotary Club, with club President Chris Beckham, Amy Hightower, and Bryce Johnson. They each received dinner for two and a night at the Hilton Garden Inn with breakfast.

Third place went to a Howard Center team calling itself “Jasper the Friendly Ghost.” The members received tickets to Wild Adventures theme park in Valdosta. Seven Howard Center teams were among the teams participating. Additional team sponsors were Bowen Donaldson Home for Funerals, the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, the FUN Channel, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Southwell, the Tift County High School Quiz Bowl Team, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, the Tifton Exchange Club, and Towson Foods.

Georgia Power was a Bronze Sponsor of the event.

Dave Holmes, a trivia host from Gwinnett County whose daughter Hannah Holmes Lovelace is a Tift Literacy Board member, emceed the event and kept the competition going with all participating teams playing simultaneously for two hours.

“We were very satisfied that everyone who came had a good time and went away happy, especially that they were able to help the cause of educating adults in our community,” said Bonnie Sayles, president of the Literacy Volunteers board. She introduced the interim director of Literacy Volunteers, Andrea McLemore.

This photograph by Victoria Whiddon in Worth County was chosen for the month of February in the Georgia Peanut Commission's 2022 Georgia Peanut Calendar.

GA PEANUT COMMISSION CHOOSES PHOTO WINNERS FOR 2022 CALENDAR

A dozen photographs have been chosen to be featured in the Georgia Peanut Commission's 2022 Georgia Peanut Calendar, “The Farm – The Natural Providence.”

The Peanut Commission, based in Tifton, hosted a photo contest encouraging peanut farmers from across Georgia to submit their best photos of peanut production.

More than 60 entries were submitted, and photos were selected based on quality, originality and diversity in the field.

Calendar photos selected were:

♦ January: Mike Newberry, Early County;

♦ February: Victoria Whiddon, Worth County;

♦ March: Julie Hardy, Thomas County;

♦ April: Shelby Mains, Screven County;

♦ May: Sami Mastrario, Turner County;

♦ June: Kay Polk, Grady County;

♦ July: Ashley Parrish, Tift County;

♦ August: Cody & Victoria Whiddon, Turner County;

♦ September: Shelby Mains, Screven County;

♦ October: Jason Lockart, Miller County;

♦ November: Roger Wayne Davis, Miller County;

♦ December: Holly Anderson, Ben Hill County.

Photo submissions will also be used in promotional materials throughout the year. The 2022 Georgia Peanut Calendar is available at the Georgia Peanut Commission office at 445 Fulwood Boulevard in Tifton.

To see all of the calendar photos selected, Click Here!

TIFT SEES 8 COVID CASES,

NO DEATHS IN PAST WEEK

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County recorded eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no related deaths in the past week, according to data released Tuesday.

In the past two weeks, Tift has seen 14 confirmed cases, representing 34 per 100,000. When rapid Antigen test results are added, Tift had 29 total cases during the period, representing 71 per 100,000, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift's testing positivity rate is 3.3% in the past two weeks. The county has a total of 4,890 confirmed cases with 139 related deaths, the DPH said.

The state has recorded a total of 1,285,265 confirmed cases with 25,713 deaths, the DPH reported. During the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, Georgia reported 931 new confirmed cases of the virus with nine related deaths, and 123 new hospitalizations, the DPH said.

The vaccination rate statewide is 51%; in Tift County, 40% of the eligible population is vaccinated, the DPH reported.

John Webb, center, is recognized as Tift County's Farmer of the Year on Monday at the Agriculture Appreciation Dinner sponsored by the Tift Chamber of Commerce and Lasseter Tractor. At left is Chamber President Melody Cowart and Chamber Chairman Derek Sumner.

TIFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

LASSETER TRACTOR RECOGNIZE

TIFT COUNTY FARMER OF YEAR

John Webb was named the Tift County Farmer of the Year on Monday during the annual Agriculture Appreciation Dinner sponsored by the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and Lasseter Tractor Co.

Webb was selected by his peers as someone who is a hard worker and is integral to farming in Tift County, the Chamber of Commerce said.

TIFTON

2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793

GA SEES 97% INCREASE IN NEW BUSINESS APPLICATIONS, SAYS STUDY

Georgia has had a 97% increase in new business applications compared to 2019 (pre-COVID vs. now), placing the Peach State second nationwide, according to newly published research.

Business applications made in 2019 were compared to those made in the past year up until this past August, according to CardConnect, a company that aids businesses in payment processing.

Across the U.S., the average increase in business applications when comparing figures pre-pandemic to now is 44%, the company reported.

In Georgia, approximately one in 30 people made a new business application during the past year; nationwide, the average was one in 63 people during the time period.

Georgians also ranked eighth in the nation in those seeking to start an online business, determined by analyzing Google Trends data.

KIWANIS RUN TO 'PINCH THE GRINCH'

The 17th Annual Kiwanis Run for the Kids is scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.

This year's event theme is "Pinch the

Grinch 5K and Fun Run" and is being held in conjunction with Tifton's downtown holiday celebration.

The run raises money for local children's programs, promotes physical fitness in the community, and highlights Tifton's historic district.

The one-mile flat course starts/ends at the corner of Forrest Avenue and Fourth Street across from the Tifton water tower. Participants receive a long-sleeved T-shirt, race bib, Kiwanis lunch meeting ticket, medallions to each child participating, and Christmas present prizes. Cash awards are presented to overall and masters male and female winners.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Polly," a polydactyl kitty, is ready for a good home. To adopt this kitten and to see other pets available for adoption, visit the Tift County 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

JAYCEES CONVERT BUS TERMINAL CAFE

TO TIFTON SHOPPERS LOUNGE

~ DEC. 1, 1947

Murray Marcus, president of the Tift County Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), announced on Dec. 1, 1947, that Southeastern Greyhound Bus Lines gave the Jaycees permission to convert the bus terminal cafe into a shoppers lounge and rest room for holiday shoppers in Tifton during the month of December that year.