WORK BEGINS ON FULWOOD PARK PLAYGROUND

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton has started construction work to replace the old playground on the north side of Fulwood Park with a modern “inclusive”playground that will be accessible to physically handicapped children.

The old playground equipment was dismantled this week and the site is being prepared for new equipment, which is expected to be installed beginning Dec. 27, said City Manager Emily Beeman.

The new playground is estimated to be completed by mid-January.

Plans include “special-needs features” such as "sensory play items,” ramps, swings, and a merry-go-round that are wheelchair accessible, as well as a "swizzler." The swing set includes a “mom-and-dad” swing next to one for a young child, along with a harness swing and bucket swing.

The surface will be poured-in-place rubber that looks like turf, which is not only child-friendly but will alleviate current drainage issues at the site. The playground will include shaded areas for protection from the South Georgia sun.

In June, Tifton City Council agreed to award the $650,000 contract to Bliss Products & Services of Lithia Springs for the playground design and installation. The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association allocated $250,000 in tourism product development funds for the project with the remainder coming from the city.

"This is going to be a great addition to the park," Beeman told City Council on Monday.

VOTE FAILS TO REZONE PROPERTY FOR OUTREACH CENTER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A proposal to rezone a site on Tifton Eldorado Road for an outreach center failed on a 2-2 vote of Tifton City Council on Monday.

City Councilman Lester Cromer Jr. had requested the rezoning of 0.687 acres from residential and multiple residential to residential professional, which would allow an outreach center. Because he was seeking the rezoning, Cromer recused himself from council's discussion and vote on the proposal.

Councilmen Josh Reynolds and M. Jay Hall voted in favor of the rezoning; voting against it were Mayor Julie B. Smith and Vice Mayor Jack Folk. Approval requires a majority vote of those present.

The proposed rezoning had been discussed for months. Cromer, through his company Cromer Outreach Center LLC, initially requested that the site be zoned general business, but, after getting opposition from some members of council, revised his rezoning proposal to the more restrictive professional business classification.

However, the revision failed to sway Vice Mayor Folk. "This property is surrounded by houses," Folk said. "It just doesn't fit."

While Folk said he supports community outreach centers in the city, they need to be in the proper locations. He said he takes the long view regarding rezoning: What could happen to the property in the future if it's sold. Rezoning potentially would allow myriad types of businesses in the residential neighborhood, he said.

Mayor Smith said she initially favored the rezoning for a community outreach center but ultimately considered the long-term ramifications. "I sort of flip-flopped around," the mayor said, but decided "it's got to be in the right place."

TIFTON GETS GANG ACTIVITY GRANT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tifton Police Department and Tifton Circuit District Attorney's Office are two of the 34 organizations awarded the Georgia Gang Activity Prosecution Grant (GAP Grant).

Tifton Police Department was awarded $60,000, in partnership with the Tifton Circuit DA’s Office, to be dedicated to successful prosecutions of gang activity.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency was appropriated $1,250,000 in the FY 24 state budget for the competitive Gang Activity Prosecution Grant program. The purpose of the program is to support state and local efforts to prosecute gang-related crime. 

“Drug and gang-related crimes cause severe damage to Georgia communities," Director Chris Hosey of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said recently.

“Keeping our residents, visitors, and businesses as safe as possible is a key priority for the Tifton City Council. I'm grateful for the partnership between the Tifton Circuit DA's office and the Tifton Police Department," said Mayor Julie B. Smith.

"Working together to take criminals off the streets and in jail where they belong is a good start. We take safety and security seriously. Sadly, no community is exempt from gang activity, but this partnership and the grant will give Tifton the needed resources to get started with eliminating as much as we can from the streets of our town,” the mayor said.

“This funding will be used to purchase software designed to track gang activity in order to develop initiatives aimed at disrupting and prosecuting gang activities," said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman. 

Tifton Circuit District Attorney Bryce Johnson said he "look(s) forward to working with Tifton Police Department on how to best allocate this grant to reduce gang violence in our community."

GBI PROBES INFANT'S DEATH IN WORTH COUNTY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Worth County Sheriff’s Office has asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to aid in investigating the death of a two-month-old in the county.

On Monday, Worth County deputies responded to a call in the 6000 block of Thomas Road and found Ma’Kynlee Clussman unresponsive. The infant was declared dead at the scene, authorities said..

The child's body has been sent for an autopsy, authorities said.

EXCHANGE CLUB NAMES ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OF YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Zachary Hancock was recently named the 2023 Animal Control Officer of the Year by the Exchange Club of Tifton.

Exchange Club President-Elect and Public Safety Chair Levetta Jefferson presents the award to Hancock in the above photo.

Hancock has been with Tift County Animal Control for approximately three years. Animal Control Director Candice Hernandez said that when she came aboard three years ago, she was the only officer until she found Hancock, who is an integral member of the team.

Tift County Animal Control currently has eight employees. Three are officers and the others are kennel or office workers. Director Hernandez said the shelter has created some great relationships with animal rescues across the nation. This allows fewer local animals to be euthanized as they are transported to fosters and then adopted into forever homes.

She said community education is important: People need to understand about pet ownership, spay and neutering, and proper treatment of animals.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Georgia Department of Transportation workers were in downtown Tifton this week doing safety maintenance at the railroad crossing near the Cato Knight Memorial Parking Lot.

The crew repainted the stop bars and added something new – painted islands.

Brad Redding, left, has a handful of small, glass beads that he's about to throw onto the fresh paint. The glass beads give the road markings their reflectivity.

Meanwhile, Jacob Willis is running the handliner machine to repaint a stop bar.

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GBI PROMOTES OCILLA NATIVE TO

REGIONAL OFFICE IN EASTMAN

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has promoted an Ocilla native to assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) of the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Eastman.

Joe Hilton will be responsible for assisting with the daily operations and supervision of special agents at the office.

“I congratulate ASAC Joe Hilton, who has been a dedicated agent for a number of years,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “He will be a great leader as he continues his work in our office in Eastman.”

Hilton began as a GBI special agent in 2015 in the Douglas regional office. In 2020, he transferred to the Southwest Regional Drug Enforcement Office in Albany.

Hilton completed the FBI Hazardous Devices School in 2021 and is a certified bomb technician. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University.

COVID-19 data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Dec. 13:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,133 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 7 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES: 39

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 96 

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,414,589

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 5,213

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 35,942 ..................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 29 

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE TIFTAREA

Today, Friday, Dec. 15, is National Cupcake Day. Bearing a resemblance to English Fairy Cakes, cupcakes were enjoyed throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1828, the earliest written reference of the cupcake appears in Eliza Leslie's “Seventy-Five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats.”

In 1919, Hostess Bakery started mass-producing its first snack cake, calling it the "CupCake."

FRIDAY, DEC. 15

• Tift County High Girl's Basketball vs. Sumter County High, 6 p.m., Tift County High School Gym, Tifton
• Tift County High Boy's Basketball vs. Sumter County High, 7:30 p.m., Tift County High School Gym, Tifton

SATURDAY, DEC. 16

• Tift County High Girl's Basketball vs. Valdosta High, 6 p.m., Tift County High School Gym, Tifton
• Comedian Lee Hardin, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton
• Tift County High Boy's Basketball vs. Valdosta High, 7:30 p.m., Tift County High School Gym, Tifton

ADVERTISE 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

"Milly," a young German shepherd, is one-to-two years old and weighs about 75 pounds. She is great with other dogs and very playful. Come meet this sweet girl and visit 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).

We are Grateful for Our Many Friends and Customers Throughout the Tiftarea Who Allow Us to Serve Your Real Estate Needs. We Appreciate You, and Wish You and Your Family a Warm and Joyous Christmas Season.