GBI MAKES ARRESTS IN 2 UNRELATED DEATHS IN BERRIEN

ONE INVOLVES 15-YEAR-OLD FITZGERALD BOY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said Monday it has made arrests in two recent unrelated deaths in Berrien County, one involving a Fitzgerald youth who died after falling from a truck.

Aaron Hedman, 25, of Jesup, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Huffman, 15, of Fitzgerald. The GBI said a preliminary investigation indicates that the teenager was on the back of Hedman’s vehicle on Jan. 29 when he fell from the truck, was severely injured, and died.

The incident occurred at Paradise Public Fishing Area in Enigma.

Once the investigation is complete, the GBI said the case file will be given to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

In a separate case, the GBI said Monday that it has arrested and charged four people in the death of Ja’kesse Middleton, 20, of Valdosta, who was found dead Feb. 25 on the side of Highway 122 near Possum Creek Road in Berrien County. 

Norman Wright, 21, of Warner Robins; Ernest Smith, 23, of Valdosta; Eric Smith, 26, of Valdosta; and Yas’mine Harris, 21, of Valdosta, are each charged with three counts of felony murder, kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assault, the GBI said.

Wright is being held in the Fulton County Jail. The Smiths, who are siblings, and Harris are being held in the Berrien County Jail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office at 229-686-7071 or the GBI Region 4 Douglas Office at 912-389-4103. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online here, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

MISSING MAN’S BODY FOUND; DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The body of a missing 67-year-old Tift County man was found late March 2, and the cause of death is still being determined, authorities said Tuesday.

The Tift County Sheriff's Office said its investigators located the body of Bobby Darvin Spires (pictured at right) in a wooded area in Tift County.

"The manner and cause of his death remains under investigation, and the case has now been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation,” the Sheriff’s Office said, referring inquiries to the GBI’s Sylvester Field Office.

The GBI office, however, referred inquiries back to the Tift County Sheriff's Office and said the death remains under investigation.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Tift County Sheriff's Office at 229-388-6021 or the GBI Field Office at 229-777-2080.

RHYTHM & RIBS BBQ FESTIVAL

DRAWS 25,000 TO FULWOOD PARK

Tifton’s Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival last weekend at Fulwood Park was a resounding success with record crowds, organizers say.

"We had the biggest crowd we have ever seen, estimated to be over 25,000,” said Angela Elder of the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association.

"The 10th anniversary of the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival turned out to be the best one yet. The weather was gorgeous; the azaleas showed out; and the park was absolutely packed."

The Rides & Ribs Car Show, added this year, was a big hit, and there were more vendors and BBQ teams than ever before.

“And the entertainment was fantastic. The weekend of 'partying under the pines’ was all that we could have hoped for,” Elder said.

The Georgia Barbecue Association-sanctioned professional BBQ competition brought pro cookers from all over the state around around the Southeast. The professional Grand Champion was the team "Bite My Butt BBQ," and the Reserve Champion was "Rescue Smokers."

In the amateur Backyard Competition, the Grand Champion was "Glory, Glory to Ol’ Porky" with a $1,200 prize. The Reserve Champion ($600 prize) went to "Deez Butts.” Both of those teams have been winners in past Rhythm & Ribs festivals.

For the first time, a People's Choice award was given, sponsored by the Exchange Club of Tifton. "Reu-B-Que” got the People’s Choice, and in the Ancillary Competition, "Butcher & Banker" won in BBQ Sauce; "Know Smoke Cooking Team & Social Club" won in Dessert; and "Flesh and Bone BBQ” won in Bloody Mary.

SRTC LEADS GA TECH COLLEGES IN ASN NURSING GRADS

From 2019-2022, Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC) associate of science in nursing (ASN) program produced the highest number of ASN graduates (375) in the Technical College System of Georgia and the fourth-highest among all ASN programs offered at colleges and universities in Georgia.

The figures came from the Georgia Board of Nursing.

SRTC says it has been working to help stem the ongoing nursing shortage. Georgia is one of the states most affected by nursing scarcity, and rural Georgia is particularly vulnerable.

“Graduating well-trained, qualified nurses is mission-critical for us here in South Georgia,” said SRTC Nursing Program Chair Athalena Benton. “Hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices across our service delivery area depend on us to provide them with a steady stream of capable nurses who graduate prepared to care for patients.”

The nursing shortage is a combination of a rapidly growing elderly population and an increase in nurse retirements. The shortage rose to critical levels during the COVID-19 pandemic when more than 100,000 nurses across the nation left their posts.

Tammy Bryant, president of the Georgia Board of Nursing and state curriculum director for allied health for the Technical College System of Georgia, is SRTC’s

former dean of nursing. She said SRTC’s nursing program maintains a 100% graduate job placement rate.

SRTC offers the ASN program in Tifton and Thomasville, as well as a nursing bridge program in Moultrie and Thomasville that transitions licensed practical nurses to registered nurses.

TIFT BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH

Keep Tift Beautiful has named this month’s Beauty Spots.

The residential Beauty Spot for March is the home of Wayne and Melinda Howell on Plantation Drive in Chula.

The business Beauty Spot of the month is Albritton Funeral Directors on Tift Avenue.

Grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are always popular each year during PB&J Day at the state capitol.

GA PEANUT COMMISSION HOSTS

PB&J DAY AT STATE CAPITOL

The Georgia Peanut Commission, headquartered in Tifton, kicked off the National Peanut Month celebration in Georgia on Thursday by hosting the annual PB&J Day at the state capitol in Atlanta.

Executive Director Don Koehler and his team served grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to lawmakers and staff, which is always a hit. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated 10,080 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp issued a proclamation recognizing March as National Peanut Month, while state Sen. Russ Goodman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey, chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, presented resolutions recognizing the importance of Georgia's peanut industry.

"Peanuts are Georgia's official state crop, and the state boasts the largest share of peanut production in the U.S. at nearly 52% for the 2022 crop,” said Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. "Georgia's 4,000 peanut farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy."

Victor Pires of South Georgia Banking Co. with fourth-graders at Northside Elementary School.

MONEY BASICS: SGBC ‘GOES TO SCHOOL'

As part of South Georgia Banking Co.’s initiative to promote financial education, Victor Pires, senior vice president and retail banking manager, recently visited Northside Elementary School to read and discuss money basics with fourth-grade classes. 

The students received a mini-coin purse to begin collecting their own savings and were informed of the importance of being in charge of one's money. 

“It’s never too soon to begin the conversation about money with your kids. Financial conversations used to take place in the home, but we are seeing more and more youth who haven’t had any guidance in the area of money management," Pires said. "We want to be a part of the change in our community so the future of Tifton is financially equipped for success.”

Pires serves on the advisory board for the City of Tifton’s Financial Literacy Initiative.

FORMER TIFT COACH KERMIT PERRY DIES

A memorial service was held Sunday in Newnan for former Tifton High School head football Coach Kermit Perry, 89, who died recently.

Perry was Tifton's football and golf coach from 1960 to December 1963, when he resigned to become district executive secretary at the Newnan YMCA.

Perry had attended UGA on a football scholarship. In 1971, he returned to his alma mater as the business manager for the Georgia Bulldogs, later becoming assistant athletics director for UGA Coach Vince Dooley. In 1981, Auburn head Coach Pat Dye hired Perry as assistant athletics director. Perry later returned to Newnan.

THERE SHE IS – MS. ABAC

Emily Groat, a senior agriculture major from Ruskin, Fla., was crowned Ms. ABAC on Thursday night at the 53rd annual pageant at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Groat also won the Interview Award and Miss Congeniality, which is voted on by contestants.

Jenna Williams, a sophomore biology major from Douglas, was the first runner-up; Brooke Vanzant, a sophomore agricultural education major from White Oak, was second runner-up; Jazzmyn Armstrong, a sophomore biology major from Collins, was third runner-up; and Jordan Hurley, a sophomore agribusiness major from Hartford, Ala., was fourth runner-up.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Milo” a male kitty, is among the pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Milo and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON’S NEW NATIONAL ARMORY

NAMED FOR MIKIE WOLFF

~ MARCH 7, 1963

Tifton dedicated its new $110,000 National Guard Armory on March 7, 1963, to

Mikie Wolff. The inscription on plaque read: “It is the desire and wish of the men of this unit that this Armory bear the name of Mikie Wolff for past achievements and accomplishments done by him for this unit.” Wolff was a military veteran and a well-known volunteer and philanthropist in Tifton.

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor