Hester Wins Runoff For Tift Commission

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

DONNIE HESTER EDGES OPPONENT FOR TIFT COMMISSION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Democratic incumbent Tift County Commissioner Donnie Hester edged challenger James E. Burroughs Jr. by seven votes in Tuesday’s primary runoff election.

Hester, who has represented District 1 on the County Commission for 24 years, received 133 votes to Burroughs' 126 in unofficial results.

This will be Hester's seventh term on the County Commission. He does not face any GOP opposition in November.

"Thanks, everyone, for your many years of support; I also want to thank God," Hester said Tuesday night. "I look forward to serving you all."

In statewide races on Tuesday's Democratic runoff ballot, Bee Nguyen won the nomination to face GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

In other races for the Democratic nomination, Charlie Bailey defeated Kwanza Hall in the lieutenant governor race; Janice Laws Robinson won the nomination for insurance commissioner; and William Boddie won the labor commissioner nomination.

There were no GOP runoffs on the statewide ballot.

Photo by Frank Sayles Jr.

A hot sunset on a long day in Tifton.

THE LONGEST DAY &

THE HOTTEST SEASON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

"Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby"

Tuesday has been the longest day of the year: the summer solstice arrived at 5:14 a.m. in the Northern Hemisphere, heralding the formal arrival of summer. In Tifton, there was 14 hours and 41 minutes of sunlight Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said that the "summer solstice ushers in another heat wave with triple-digit temperatures forecast midweek.” Tifton is forecast to reach an air temperature of 101 degrees on Wednesday and 103 degrees on Thursday, the Weather Service said.

Tifton's forecaset for Friday is a high of 99 with a chance of showers in the evening. On Saturday and Sunday, high temperatures will drop to the low 90s, offering some relief.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers information about dealing with extreme heat and how to recognize signs of heat-related illnesses. For that information, Click Here .

SOUTHWELL REINSTATES MASKS AS COVID CASES RISE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As the COVID-19 testing positivity rate triples in Tift County during the past month, and cases rise across Georgia, Southwell healthcare system is reinstating a mask requirement after loosening those requirements one month ago.

In a statement effective last Friday, Southwell said: "Due to rising COVID-19 transmission rates within the community, all employees, patients, and visitors will be required to wear a mask while in a Southwell facility as of 6/17/22. Thank you for your understanding and support."

The facilities include Tift Regional Medical Center.

Effective May 16, Southwell had removed the mask requirement for patients and visitors, with the exception of the Dialysis Center, Hospice of Tift Area, the Anita Stewart Oncology Center, and Southwell Health and Rehabilitation.

Masks were optional in public areas, such as hallways and nursing stations.

At that time, Southwell Chief Operating Officer Alex Le had warned that "we will continue to monitor CDC guidelines and case rates, and may reinstate additional safety measures should we experience another significant surge.”

A month ago, Tift County's COVID-19 testing positivity rate was 4%. It now is more than three times higher at 12.3%, according to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Statewide, cases have increased by about 20% within the past week, and hospitalizations are also up about 17%. Still, the rates are far below previous pandemic levels. Health officials point to vaccinations and booster shots for the relatively low levels.

But as COVID-19 cases rise in Georgia, officials say the numbers are likely much higher because at-home testing results are not usually reported to the health department.

County health departments across the state now have free at-home testing kits available, and the federal government has announced a third round of free COVID-19 test kits, providing another eight tests per household. Those tests may be ordered here.

FORMER TIFTONITE JOHN BERRY TO BRING ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TOUR

TO TIFT THEATRE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Country music Grammy Award-winner John Berry, a former Tifton resident,

has announced dates for his 26th Annual Nationwide Christmas Tour, which will end in Tifton on Dec. 20.

“Twenty-six years – I could not have imagined that I would be so blessed to have this opportunity to share my music, celebrating the birth of Christ all these years," Berry said.

"It has meant so much to me to have many of you come time and again with your families and friends to share in the music of the season. I look forward to singing for all of you that have been with me before, as well as those that will be joining us for the first time.”

Berry is well known for his seasonal, fan-favorite holiday performances, which are filled with traditional Christmas songs, many of his most requested hit songs, and a few of his childhood stories.

The Christmas tour begins Nov. 25 in Sugar Hill, Ga., then moves to North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Alabama, returning to Georgia with performances in Cedartown, Athens, Macon, Augusta, and Tifton.

A decade ago, Berry lived for a time in Tifton before moving to Tennessee. In 2019, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, requiring a combined 35 treatments of radiation and chemotherapy.

Berry has had 20 singles on the country hit parade charts, six of which went Top 5 as well as a No. 1 on the Billboard and Radio & Records country charts. He has earned numerous Gold and Platinum records. Berry’s co-written “A Mind Of Her Own” and “Kiss Me In The Car” introduced him to radio audiences in 1993.

“Your Love Amazes Me,” “What’s In It For Me,” and “You And Only You” thrust him to stardom in 1994. “Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye,” “I Think About It All The Time,” and “If I Had Any Pride Left At All” were all major hits the following year. “Your Love Amazes Me” earned Berry a 1995 Grammy nomination. In 1996, he scored a Grammy win for his participation in "Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel."

Berry took “Change My Mind” into the country music Top 5 in 1996, and “She’s Taken A Shine” became an even bigger hit in 1997. He was nominated for CMA Vocal Event of the Year for “Long Haired Country Boy” with Charlie Daniels and Hal Ketchum.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

TO HOLD 'CATS ON MAT' YOGA

You may have heard of "goat yoga;" well, in Tifton, cats are on call for a new monthly exercise program starting Friday at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library.

The library is presenting "Cats on Mats" – a night of yoga along with some cats from the Tift County Animal Shelter. Rachel Strom will lead the yoga class.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, “participants are invited to bring a yoga mat and join us for a free night of yoga with kittens,” the library says. The program is designed to help the Animal Shelter find homes for some of its many kittens.

“Yoga is free, and so are the kitten cuddles. The kittens will adapt to their environment, and hopefully let their little personalities shine, so that you fall in love with them and give them a loving new home,” the library says.

For information, call 229-386-7148.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Taffy," a female kitty, is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Taffy and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 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

TIFTON TELLS RESIDENTS TO CLEAN UP YARDS

~ JUNE 22, 1906

Tifton City Marshall G. Coarsey announced on June 22, 1906, that "all property owners and all residences of the city must at once cut down all weeds and clean up their back yards or cases will be made against them."