Friday, February 27, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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GA HOUSE BILL PUTS LITERACY COACH IN EVERY K-3 SCHOOL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In an attempt to improve reading levels among Georgia students, the state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill that would fund a literacy coach in every public school with kindergarten through third-grade classes.

Data from the Georgia Council on Literacy indicates a reading crisis, with 62% of Georgia third graders not reading proficiently. As of 2024-2025, only 38% of the state's third graders are reading on grade level; Tift County Schools reports a much better result, saying that its third-graders reading on grade level is 58.4%. 

The House of Representatives passed the "Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026" on a 170-2 vote. The legislation now is being considered in the state Senate, where it has been referred to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.

“House Bill 1193 will have a generational impact on our children, our students, and I believe our entire state,” said House Speaker Jon Burns. He said the bill is “arguably the most impactful education legislation passed by this House” since the HOPE Scholarship.

In addition to literacy coaches in the schools, the bill creates regional literacy coaches for support, directs school districts to adopt specified literacy plans, sets criteria for coaches, and makes kindergarten mandatory unless children are assessed to be ready for first grade.

Structured literacy coaches at the elementary-school level is already being tried in Georgia with significant results. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE) placed full-time literacy coaches in 60 elementary schools throughout the state, focused on the lowest-performing 5% of schools.

After one year, students in those schools showed a 15% improvement in student reading, with the strongest gains in kindergarten, the GDOE reports.

FITZGERALD ARRESTS DRUG SUSPECT WHO MAY HAVE USED DRONES FOR PRISON DROPS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Fitzgerald Police arrested a suspect on drug charges last week, seizing cocaine, marijuana, a firearm, and drones believed to have been used to drop drugs at correctional facilities, authorities said.

Police stopped a vehicle on Feb. 18 and arrested the driver, who had an active arrest warrant. Following up, police detectives obtained a search warrant for the driver's residence on Middlebrook Street in Fitzgerald, where authorities found 58 grams of suspected cocaine, 109 grams of marijuana, a handgun, cash, items used in the sale of narcotics, and eight drones.

The suspect, who Fitzgerald Police has not yet identified, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to distribute both cocaine and marijuana, possession of a felony amount of marijuana, possession of illegal substance within 1,000 feet of public housing, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Further investigation is being conducted into the usage of the drones.

Katherine Brey of Tifton is presented the Distinguished Alumni Award from SRTC President Jim Glass.

SRTC RECOGNIZES

TIFT NURSE WITH DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) Foundation recognized three Distinguished Alumni Award winners during the Foundation's "Comedy for a Cause" event Saturday in Thomasville. The honorees are Katie Brey of Tifton, April Bentley of Moultrie, and Drew Maxwell of Boston.

Each received an award handcrafted by SRTC students. The college said that the "Distinguished Alumni embody excellence in technical education and beyond."

Katie Brey serves as clinical nurse educator in the Emergency Department at Tift Regional Medical Center. At SRTC, she earned her CNA in 2021, LPN in 2022, and completed the ASN-RN bridge program in 2024. In 2022, she was named SRTC's GOAL delegate, competing at the regional and state levels and advocating for technical education statewide.

Brey credits instructor Shae Spivey, whose ER background and expertise helped Brey develop critical thinking skills that now define her practice. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree alongside her certified emergency nurse and trauma nursing core course credentials, Brey also serves as a youth leader with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and volunteers with Peanut Butter & Jesus.

Her advice to students: "Technical education bridges classroom learning with real-world skills in ways traditional universities cannot. Come back to it with focus and determination, and the results will speak for themselves."

April Bentley serves as SRTC human resources director. After the loss of a seven-year job and as a single mother, She enrolled at SRTC and earned multiple diplomas and certificates in computer information systems between 2004-2011. She graduated magna cum laude from Liberty University and earned her SHRM certified professional designation.

Drew Maxwell is owner and CEO of Maxco Land Management, turning a childhood passion into a thriving business. Raised within the land, forest, and wildlife industries, he graduated from SRTC in 2020 with an associate degree in land, forest, and wildlife management, gaining the scientific foundation behind practices he had known instinctively since childhood.

DOWNTOWN 'FIRED UP' FOR PUBLIC ART

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Public art in Downtown Tifton is catching fire with up to 10 fire hydrants being painted creatively during the next several weeks.

On Thursday, Georgia Smith, the newly appointed executive director of Tifton Council for the Arts, and Chelsea Webster, director of children’s programming, painted a fire hydrant with images of books, a Reading Rainbow, and a globe – demonstrating a literacy theme – at the corner of Love Avenue and Second Street. 

“This project has been a year in the making,” Smith said. Tifton Main Street, the Downtown Development Authority, and the Tifton Fire Department gave the arts council the go-ahead to paint fire hydrants in downtown Tifton to feature local art.

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Fine artists and amateurs will participate, and children will also showcase their talent on hydrants along Main Street and its side streets.

“Each hydrant will have its own theme,” Smith said. “We’ve got a Main Street skyline, a landmarks of Tifton, and several designs that pay homage to Tifton’s history and heritage. Some will be kid-oriented, like an ice cream cone.” 

Keep watching for the “Public Art in Progress” sign to see where the next creatively painted hydrant will pop up.

Photos by Frank Sayles Jr.

Country singer Jo Dee Messina rocks the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Thursday night before a packed crowd.

REVIEW

JO DEE MESSINA GIVES TIFTON

AN EXUBERANT PERFORMANCE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Jo Dee Messina performed an exuberant show Thursday night at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center that was part '90s country hits, part classic rock, and part tent revival.

An accomplished performer, Messina knows how to light up a stage and engage the audience. Backed by a polished, rollicking band, she proudly sang her hits – including "Heads Carolina, Tails California," "Bye, Bye," "I'm Alright," "Stand Beside Me," and "My Give a Damn's Busted" – and seamlessly merged into performing some classic rock tracks from such artists as Journey, Joan Jett, and Bon Jovi.

Toward the show's end, Messina pulled out some country-rock faith-based tunes and shared her Christian faith in words and music. She also gave the audience a taste of some of her songs from an upcoming album, which she said will be her first new music released in a decade.

Following her two-and-a half-hour performance and after the house lights came up, Messina stuck around awhile at the end of the stage, greeting fans and posing for photos. She obviously enjoys performing, and her cheerful energy is contagious. Most folks in the large audience left the show and traveled into the night with smiles on their faces.

Tiftarea Ministerial Association

to Host Lenten Luncheons

As we enter the season of Lent, the TIftarea Ministerial Association would like to invite citizens of Tifton and the surrounding communities to participate in a series of Lenten Lunches at Tifton’s Leroy Rogers Center.

The lunches, which will be held from 12:00 to 1:00, will begin Wednesday, Feb. 18, and take place each Wednesday through April 1.

The lunches will be a “bring your own bag lunch and drink,”

and enjoy the program as pastors from area churches deliver a weekly message.

FITZGERALD HIGH HONORS STAR STUDENT, TEACHER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy's STAR Student this year is Katelyn Le, and the school's STAR Teacher is Rob Garber, school officials recently announced.

Katelyn earned the honor of STAR Student with the highest SAT score at the school — 1560.

"Her hard work, dedication, and academic excellence truly set her apart," the school said.

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As part of her recognition, Katelyn selected Garber as her STAR Teacher, honoring the impact and support he has made on her educational journey.

Georgia's Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors high school seniors who have the highest single-test SAT score and top 10% GPA, along with their most influential teacher. The honorees move from local to state levels, recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and mentorship.

TIFTON'S NEW FIRE CHIEF FORMALLY PINNED

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Kiefer Daughtry was formally appointed Tifton fire chief Thursday in a pinning ceremony. 

Before becoming chief, Daughtry rose through the ranks as firefighter, engineer, lieutenant in suppression, and training chief. He then was promoted to assistant fire chief in January 2025. Daughtry has 15 years of experience with the Tifton Fire Deparment.

“Kiefer is a true servant leader who genuinely believes in the fire service and in this department. He leads with integrity and lives by a strong moral compass. I have no doubt he will take this department to greater heights than I ever could. It’s truly an honor to pass the torch to such a deserving man,” said Tifton City Manager Bobby “Roho” Bennett, who served as the city's fire chief before being named city manager earlier this month.

Daughtry has a bachelor's of business administration from Georgia Southwestern State University, an associate of science from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and an associate of applied science in fire science from Southern Regional Technical College. He is currently studying for a master's degree in fire and emergency sciences from the University of Florida. 

“Tifton is fortunate to have public safety officials who are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our community. Kiefer Daughtry’s leadership within the City of Tifton Fire Department has earned the respect and trust of our residents and fellow firefighters. I am confident that as fire chief, Kiefer will continue to strengthen the department, support public safety, and serve this city with distinction,” said Mayor Julie B. Smith.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER

TIFTAREA

This Saturday, Feb. 28, is National Pancake Day. Who doesn't enjoy a hot stack of pancakes?! A flat cake prepared with a batter made from milk, eggs, flour, and oil or butter, the pancake and its variations are found in almost every culture. Since 1100 A.D., folks in the United Kingdom have celebrated Shrove Tuesday, or "Fat Tuesday," the day before Lent, with consuming pancakes. It was a traditional way to use up dairy products before Lent – and thus, the pancake breakfast was born. The largest pancake to ever be flipped was in 1995 in Rochdale, U.K. It measured 16.4 yards across and weighed 3 tons. In the U.K., they take their pancakes seriously!

Born on Feb. 27: Constantine the Great, Roman emperor, 272-337 A.D.; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet, 1807-1882; Hugo L. Black, U.S. Supreme Court justice, 1886-1971; Marian Anderson, singer, 1897-1993; John Steinbeck, writer, 1902-1968; John Connally Jr., 39th governor of Texas, 1917-1993; Joanne Woodward, Academy Award-winning actress from Thomasville, 1930–; Elizabeth Taylor, actress, 1932-2011; Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, 1934– ; Howard Hesseman, actor – Johnny Fever on "WKRP in Cincinnati," 1940-2022; Josh Groban, singer, 1981– .

FRIDAY, FEB. 27

• Home School Hangout: Scratch Project Presentation Day, 11 a.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Love Avenue, Tifton

• Worth County High School Baseball/Softball Complex Ribbon Cutting, hosted by Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce, 6 p.m., Worth County Elementary School, 1906 Ga. Highway 313, Sylvester

• Just Desserts Cabaret, hosted by Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Arts Council; show, desserts, beverages; 7:30 p.m., Carnegie Center for the Arts, 120 S. Lee St., Fitzgerald

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

• Sunrise Run (and Reed Bingham Plunge), hosted by Adel Main Street and Friends of Reed Bingham, 7 a.m., Reed Bingham State Park, Adel

• Jerry Moore Memorial Antique Tractor Show, free admission, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 3131 Vickers Church Road, Enigma

• Landscaping with Native Plants, free workshop hosted by Coastal Plain Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society, Georgia Native Plant Society, and Keep Tift Beautiful, 1-2:30 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton

• Museum After Dark: Tall Tales, 5 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton

• Paint n' Sip hosted by Tifton Council for the Arts, 6-8 p.m., Paulk Vineyards Tifton tasting Room, 201 E. Fifth St., Tifton

• Voices of Soul: A Motown Journey Through Black History, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

• Just Desserts Cabaret, hosted by Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Arts Council; show, desserts, beverages; 7:30 p.m., Carnegie Center for the Arts, 120 S. Lee St., Fitzgerald

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

"Twix" is about a year old and came to the animal shelter when his owner fell on difficult times and was no longer able to care for him. Twix is sweet and affectionate, and ready to be part of a family again. Come meet Twix and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

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