Improving Tifton Streets

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

Forrest Avenue has just been resurfaced during the past several days.

TIFTON STREET IMPROVEMENTS

CONTINUE

Tifton residents are experiencing some temporary detours as street resurfacing work continues around the city.

Forrest Avenue from Eighth to 12th streets has just been resurfaced. Work is continuing at the southern end of Chesnutt Avenue , which is having nearly half-century-old water lines replaced, as well as street resurfacing ; and John Howard Way in front of the U.S. Post Office is being resurfaced between Ridge and Park avenues .

The intersection of Eighth Street and Magnolia Drive has also been resurfaced .

Based upon a recommendation from city public works contractor ESG Inc. , Tifton City Council approved the list of street resurfacing projects for 2019. In May , council OK'd the low bid of $573,870 from Reeves Construction Co. for the projects.

Among the streets being resurfaced are several stretches of Wilson Avenue; Belmont Avenue between 20th and 28th streets; Crescent Drive from Madison to Twila Drive; Pehler Drive from Timmons to the dead end; 22nd Street from U.S. 41 to Emmet Drive ; Branch Street from Baldwin to the dead end; Old Omega Road from Fire Training Road to I-75; Lakewood Drive from King Road to the dead end; Brookhaven Drive from Pehler to the dead end ; and Twila Drive between Windsor and Crescent .

The city is receiving $241,184 this year in Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds for road work from the Ga. Department of Transportation . The city is covering the remaining costs of the project.

Terrell County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Seth McAllister sorts peanuts on a maturity board during the Georgia Peanut Tour on Sept. 19.

RECENT WEATHER AFFECTING

DRYLAND PEANUT FARMERS

Georgia’s hot, dry weather has dryland peanut farmers making tough decisions about when to dig their crops, says Scott Monfort , University of Georgia Cooperative Extension peanut agronomist.

Since much of South Georgia has experienced little to no rainfal l in the past month and even less is expected, Monfort is encouraging farmers to move forward with digging their crops.

“We’re still not going to have rain for another month, maybe three weeks. To me, if you’ve got a crop right now, you probably want to get it ,” Monfort said. “If your crop is wilting during the day time and not recovering at night, and you don’t have any moisture at all, then I’d probably get it.”

To determine if their crop is mature enough for digging, peanut farmers sample about five areas in the field to acquire a total of 200 peanuts . Monfort said dryland producers experienced “split crops” early in this year’s harvest season.

A “split crop” refers to a sample of peanuts where approximately half of the peanuts are near maturity while the other half is immature. This happens when the peanut plants experience hot, dry weather , which typically occurs in dryland fields , or fields without access to irrigation .

“What farmers have to start doing there is determining, ‘Where’s my money?’ Do they have enough in that front group that’s mature enough to say, ‘That’s my crop’? If those peanuts are good quality , most of the time I would suggest that the farmer go ahead and dig to grab those, ” Monfort said.

TA CROWNS HOMECOMING QUEEN

Ally Pate , a senior at Tiftarea Academy , was crowned 2019 Homecoming Queen at halftime of the Panthers' football game last Friday night.

The Homecoming Court is, from left: Ava Lindsey (eighth grade), Madi Hartsfield (10th grade), Sara Kate Lupo (12th grade), Ally Pate (Queen, 12th grade), Audrey Young (12th grade), Sarabeth Royal (11th grade), and Peyton Gwines (9th grade).

A CHIEF'S FAREWELL

The City of Tifton said goodbye Monday to Police Chief Buddy Dowdy , who retired after 37 years with the Tifton Police Department . City staff and officials gathered for a reception and presented Dowdy with several gifts.

BROTHERS IN BLUE: From left, Steve Hyman, Buddy Dowdy, Joseph Abad and Garfield Rhaney.

Current Police Department members signed a special plaque for the outgoing chief.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON CUTTING

Awaken Church

3690 Highway 82 West

Tifton

Sept. 25

BALDWIN PLAYERS PRESENT COMEDY

When a French bachelor becomes engaged to three air hostesses at the same time, and they all show up in his living room, comedy ensues in the Baldwin Players ’ production of Marc Camoletti’s “Boeing Boeing” on Oct. 10-12 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Curtain time is 7 p.m. each night in Howard Auditorium.

“This play is a farcical romp through the experiences of a Frenchman with three fiancés, each a stewardess for a different airline,” Baldwin Players’ Director Brian Ray said. “He tries to keep them to a schedule of departures and landings , but eventually, the schedule breaks down, and everything gets really wild.”

Ray said the comedy is set in the early 1960s , and it puts a whole new spin on love in the age of transcontinental travel . Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased online at www.purplepass.com/ABAC or by calling 229-391-4895 .

Cast members include ABAC alumnus Alena Norton from Tifton as Gloria; Roderick Baisden , a general studies/theatre major from Tifton , as Bernard; Angel Rewis , a history and government major from Fargo , as Berthe; Parker Lewis , a general studies major from Macon , as Robert; Isabella Sauls , a writing and communication major from Albany , as Gabriella; and Hannah Moseley , an agricultural communication major from Cochran , as Gretchen.

For information , contact bray@abac.edu