Football Playoffs: Tift & Tiftarea

Friday, Nov. 9, 2018

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

IT'S FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEASON

TIFTAREA ACADEMY HAS FIRST 10-0 REGULAR SEASON;

PANTHERS' SPENCE MASSEY GETS NATIONAL HONOR;

TIFT HIGH BLUE DEVILS TRAVEL TO ROSWELL

For the first time in school history, the Tiftarea Academy Panthers varsity football team is undefeated during its regular season with a 10-0 record and is region champions.

Under Coach Erik Soliday, a South Georgia coaching veteran in his first year at Tiftarea, the Panthers will host the GISA state playoffs at 7:30 p.m. next week, Nov. 16.

The Panthers will play the winner of tonight's match between Loganville Christian Academy and Trinity Christian. Tiftarea Academy has a bye this week.

Tiftarea's Spence Massey, a senior runner and receiver pictured here with the 3AAA region championship trophy, has been named a National Wendy's High School Heisman State Finalist.

Created by Wendy’s restaurant founder Dave Thomas, the national recognition honors some of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors who share Wendy’s values of giving back to their communities, treating people with respect, continuing education and excelling on the athletic field.

Wendy’s High School Heisman is a joint program between Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy Trust, host and custodians of the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Meanwhile, the Tift County High School Blue Devils, with a 6-4 record, is in the Ga. High School Association state playoffs, facing Roswell High, 9-1, at 7:30 p.m. today in Roswell.

The most recent Ga. Sports Writers Association's high school football rankings have placed Roswell at No. 7 while Tift County is not ranked among the Top 10 in Class AAAAAAA. The Sports Writers Association ranked Colquitt County High as No. 1.

Pictured from left: Christopher K. Dorman, TRHS president/CEO; Dr. James Scott, recipient of the John B. Prince III Distinguished Service Award; Lisa Fiveash, RN, recipient of the Dixon-Dorminy Employee of the Year for Tift Regional Medical Center; Stephannie Smith, RN, Employee of the Year for Cook Medical Center; Michelle Williford, RN, recipient of the 2018 Jensen-Patrick Nursing Excellence Award; and Jimmy Allen, chairman, Hospital Authority of Tift County.

TRHS RECOGNIZES SERVICE AT AWARDS BANQUET

Tift Regional Health System (TRHS ) honored associates at its annual awards banquet Monday at the at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“For those of us in healthcare, it is essential that this list of people be a long and diverse one. Those who have a positive impact on us enable us to achieve our full potential and influence others,” said TRHS President/CEO Christopher K. Dorman.

“There is no greater gift than that of good health, and your continued dedication to serve the residents of South Central Georgia is very much recognized and appreciated.”

TRHS presented the John B. Prince III Distinguished Service Award to Dr. James Scott , orthopedist with Georgia Sports Medicine .

Named after the chairman of the Tift County Hospital Authority , the Prince Award recognizes a long-standing TRHS associate who is also an established leader in the community, using their influence to enhance the hospital's mission.

TRHS named Lisa Fiveash the Dixon-Dorminy Employee of the Year for Tift Regional Medical Center . Stephannie Smith , RN at Cook Senior Living Center , was named Cook Medical Center’s Employee of the Year .

Recipient of the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation’s Jensen-Patrick Nursing Excellence Award was Michelle Williford with Hospice of Tift Area . The foundation also presented the Exceptional Physician Award to Dr. Greg Anderson , urologist with Tift Regional Urology .

TRHS also saluted employees with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years of service.

ELECTION BRINGS OUT TIFT VOTERS;

GOV RACE STILL UNDECIDED

In Tuesday's general election, 62 percent of Tift County's registered voters cast ballots, says the Tift County Board of Elections.

Tift recorded 13,687 votes in the election; there are 22,064 registered voters in the county.

Republican Brian Kemp received 69.65 percent of Tift County votes for governor, while Democrat Stacey Abrams got 29.73 percent of the county's votes. Libertarian Ted Metz received 0.59 percent of Tift's votes for governor.

While Kemp maintains a lead statewide, with 50.3 percent of Georgia's vote as of Thursday, the race has not been officially called. Nevertheless, Kemp has declared victory and on Thursday resigned as secretary of state, he said, to begin his transition to the governor's office.

Ballots are still being counted ; if Kemp's share drops below 50 percent, the contest would automatically go to a runoff Dec. 4 , even if Kemp ends up as the top vote-getter.

The Kemp campaign has argued that there are not enough outstanding ballots to force a runoff . The Abrams campaign contends there are enough uncounted ballots to force a runoff .

'NATURE BOY' COMES TO TIFTON

Retired pro wrestling legend "Nature Boy" Ric Flair appeared to a packed house Wednesday night at the Tift Theatre in downtown Tifton to meet folks, to talk about both his successes and his trials and tribulations, and to answer audience questions.

Flair is pictured with Kirsten McAlpin, left, and Austin McAlpin, right, of McAlpin Entertainment in Tifton, the show's promoter.

Rotary program coordinator Becky Smith, Tony McBrayer and Tifton Rotary President Marion Curry.

'PEANUT BUTTER & JESUS' MINISTRY

REACHES OUT TO LOCAL NEEDY

The Rotary Club of Tifton on Wednesday heard about the "Peanut Butter & Jesus" program that serves sandwiches to needy residents in Tifton.

Peanut Butter & Jesus is a community ministry offering "PB&J" lunches on Saturdays to needy children and families. Based at Pineview Holiness Baptist Church on Union Road, the ministry includes volunteers from other churches and civic groups as well as individuals who wish to give back to the community.

Pineview Church member Tony McBrayer, just elected to an upcoming term on the Tift County Commission, told Rotarians that the volunteers prepare and distribute bagged peanut butter sandwich lunches, which include a drink and a religious tract, to 1,125 people each Saturday.

More than 47,000 bags have been distributed, McBrayer said. He said the group has been blessed to have the peanut butter donated, but the lunches still have a cost of between 50 cents and a dollar per bag, including the cost for the vans to distribute the lunches.

McBrayer said up to 25 volunteers are needed each Saturday morning to prepare and distribute the lunches, and folks may volunteer by contacting the group on its Facebook page, Peanut Butter & Jesus - Tifton

Since the Tifton group has placed their outreach on Facebook, other churches around the nation have seen the Tifton program, and Peanut Butter & Jesus groups are being formed in such places as Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania, McBrayer said.

At the donation ceremony are, from left, Garrett Boone and Sara Hand, Museum of Agriculture; Lynn Lovett, Georgia Power; Wesley Langdale, The Langdale Co.; Kelly Scott and Blaine Holbrook, museum.

GA POWER DONATES TO DESTINATION AG PROGRAM

Georgia Power believes in connecting elementary school students with knowledge about agriculture and natural resources – that’s the message delivered from Georgia Power's recent $2,500 donation to the Destination Ag program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

“ Destination Ag continues to grow thanks to the support of several of Georgia’s biggest industries,” Museum Director Garrett Boone said. “Destination Ag reached over 6,000 Pre-K through second grade students last year. Thanks to Georgia Power, the program can add valuable educational resources which will enhance each student’s experience.”

Boone said Destination Ag’s goal is “to provide an interactive learning environment focusing on agriculture and natural resources, allowing participants a richer understanding of where their food, fiber and shelter originates.”

The program prides itself on the hands-on activities presented to students which allow them to have a fun, immersive experience while connecting agriculture to their everyday lives.

TRMC ASKS SMOKERS TO 'KICK HABIT' DURING GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

The Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Anita Stewart Oncology Center is encouraging residents to commit to a healthy, smoke-free life by participating in the American Cancer Society’s 43rd Great American Smokeout event on Nov. 15 .

“Addiction to nicotine in cigarettes is one of the strongest and most deadly addictions one can have,” said Jennifer Harnage , TRMC lung cancer navigator. “ Quitting is hard, but it can be accomplished. It takes commitment and starts with a plan .”

Harnage said getting help through counseling and/or prescription medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.

“The American Cancer Society offers a great program called Quit for Life that can help get smokers started,” she said. “Go to www.QuitNow.com or call 800-227-2345 for more information.”

TIFTAREA CROWNS HOMECOMING QUEEN

Tiftarea Academy last Friday crowned its 2018 Homecoming Queen before the Panthers football game in Chula.

Abby Carswell was named queen; in the photo above she poses with the homecoming court.

From left are eighth-grader Ali Strenth; sophomore Carrie Engram; seniors Shelby Sutton, Abby Carswell, Mary Grace White and Anna Cook; junior Adylein Hunt; and freshman Laura Ann Jones.

Tifton First United Methodist Church

is in search of a Director of Music Ministries

who will coordinate all music programs within the church

to include opportunities for all age levels, as talent and commitment allow.

The Director of Music Ministries will collaborate

with the pastors, music and worship teams to provide music

for traditional and contemporary worship services.

The Director of Music Ministries will lead the chancel choir,

other musicians and the congregation in traditional music worship

for 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday services and support leadership

of our contemporary service held at 10:42 a.m.

Attendance averages 100+ at 9 a.m., 200+ at 11 a.m.

and 65+ at 10:42 a.m.

Tifton, Georgia, is located on I-75 north of Valdosta and south of Macon.

The population of Tifton is approximately 17,000

with an additional 23,000 living in the surrounding county.

Please mail resume and contact information for three references to:

Tifton First United Methodist Church

107 West 12 ^th Street

Tifton, GA 31794

www.tiftonfumc.org

CONCERT BAND CONCERT NOV. 13

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Concert Band will present its fall concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Tifton.

The concert begins with " Burn," written for the prestigious Dallas Wind Symphony. Other compositions to be performed include " Visions of Flight," " Filum Vitae," "Gallant Seventh," " Ammerland," "And The Mountains Echoed: Gloria!" and " Intrada: Adoration and Praise."

The public is invited, and admission is free . Seating is limited. For information, contact Johnny Folsom , ABAC director of bands, at 229-391-4944 .

WALKING FOR CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Peace Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Cookie Walk and Yard Sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 , at the church's Fellowship Hall, 604 Tennessee Drive, Tifton.

Church members have been busy baking different kinds of cookies, cakes, breads, candies and German pastries, and making holiday candies and homemade peanut brittle.

Also available will be homemade Christmas ornaments and many new gifts.

Proceeds will be used to purchase phone cards for armed forces personnel. A donation will be made to Lutheran Services Disaster Relief Fund.

Supplemental funds have been received from Thrivent Financial.

UGA's BIG TIFTON WINNERS!

Prizes were awarded at last Saturday's game watch and tailgating event at the University of Georgia's Tifton Campus.

Patricia Brooks, left, and Shaun Nichols, right, each won two tickets to Georgia's football game against UMass on Nov. 17.

Donna Holbrook, center, won a UGA football signed by Head Coach Kirby Smart. The tailgating event was part of UGA Tifton's centennial celebration.

A VETERANS DAY STORY

THIS OLD HAT

Part One

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first of three parts written by local author and Vietnam veteran Warren Robinson of Lenox in observance of Veterans Day this month.

By WARREN ROBINSON

Special to the Tifton Grapevine

I’m just an old hat , but boy do I have some tales to tell! You’ve probably seen me around town somewhere, proudly sitting atop the head of one of my boys . They’ll always be “my boys” to me since I’ve been with them for more than half a century now.

We’ve been together through good times and bad. I know their innermost secrets, the ones that make them scream and wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat as the videotape of Vietnam plays over and over again in their minds. I promised I would never reveal what they hide from you, because you might think less of them if you knew. Most of them are pretty good at pushing the monsters back down into the deep recesses of their mind, but eventually it all comes back to the surface.

They probably look old, white haired, maybe shuffling along with a cane or riding in a wheelchair, but make no mistake: these men were once strong and mighty warriors, feared by their enemies and loved and respected by their friends. They don’t have much to say anymore, but they are always thrilled when you take the time out of your busy day to stop, give them a smile, a handshake or a hug and thank them for their service. Occasionally, they see one of their old comrades and are instantly drawn to each other as they warmly shake hands and ask the usual questions, “ What year were you there, and what outfit were you with?”

They share an unbreakable bond only brothers of combat are ever privileged to know. The old memories and emotions of long ago begin to bubble to the surface as their eyes start to mist over and they exchange goodbyes, moving on quickly with their day, knowing if they linger together too long, the memories will become unbearable. As they move along, often with heads down and backs bent, they instantly snap to attention whenever they hear the sound of the national anthem or the sight of the red, white and blue flying proudly in the land of freedom. If they hear a jet flying low or the “thump, thump, thump” of a helicopter in the distance, you’ll notice their eyes searching the sky as if they were still halfway around the globe, 50 years ago.

To read the rest of this installment, Click Here!

Collins is a historic grocery store in Tifton that was revamped to be a premier event space. Wisham Jellies crafts handmade, delicious pepper jellies in South Georgia, and their products are sold in grocery stores around the United States.

The concept of the Grocery Music Festival came after Milton Hall Jr. of Collins and Eric Wisham of Wisham Jellies recognized how much diversity is tied to food and groceries. These two owners recognize that when a person enters a grocery store, they enter a space filled with a chance to create dishes from various diverse communities which can ultimately result in an opportunity to experience a new culture.

The Grocery Music Festival is the recognition that we all, no matter our background, love two things: food and music. This festival is an opportunity to bring all our worlds together for a day filled with food, fellowship, laughter and music.