Friday, May 22, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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2 MILLION-PLUS GEORGIANS VOTE IN PRIMARY

IN TIFT COUNTY, 22.1% OF VOTERS CAST BALLOTS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Georgia had a record-breaking voter turnout for a primary election, according to the Ga. Secretary of State’s Office.

More than 2 million voters cast ballots in Tuesday's primary in the Peach State – 28.2% of Georgia's nearly 7.4 million registered voters.

In Tift County, 5,914 of 26,708 registered voters, or 22.14%, turned out for the primary election.

The big upset locally was newcomer Angela Haggins unseating Donnie Hester in the Tift County Commission District 1 race. Hester has held the seat on the County Commission since first being elected in 1998.

Haggins received 282 votes (59%) to Hester's 196.

"Thank you voters, campaign advisers, family and friends, and fellow people of District 1. I humbly and respectfully accept the position of Tift County commissioner of District 1," Haggins said. "Thank you for believing in me and believing in change. To the current Commissioner Hester, thank you for your work and being of service to the people of District 1."

As the Democratic nominee for the seat, Haggins will be elected in the Nov. 3 general election as she has no opposition on the ballot.

Because many of the statewide races had numerous candidates in Tuesday's primary, there will be several runoffs June 16. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson will face off for the GOP nomination to face Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the governor's race in November.

For the Republican nomination for U.S. senator to challenge current Sen. John Ossoff, D-Ga., Mike Collins and Derek Dooley will be on the runoff ballot.

Both parties will have a runoff election to determine their candidates for lieutenant governor. For the GOP: John F. Kennedy and Greg Dolezal; for the Democrats, Josh McLaurin and Nabilah Parkes.

Both parties will also have runoffs for secretary of state; Democrats will have runoffs for insurance commissioner, and labor commissioner; Republicans also have runoffs for state school superintendent, and public service commissioner District 5.

If you voted in a political party's Tuesday primary and wish to vote in the runoff, you must vote in the same party's runoff. However, if you didn't vote on Tuesday, you can vote for either party on June 16. Georgia is one of only seven states that has runoffs, In Georgia, a candidate must receive 50% plus one of votes. In most states, the majority vote-getter automatically wins.

GBI CHARGES

15-YEAR-OLD WITH FELONY MURDER IN BERRIEN COUNTY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A 15-year-old male is facing felony murder and related charges in Berrien County, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI has arrested and charged Austin Abrams, 15, of Ray City with felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in connection with the shooting death of a Ray City man earlier this week.



At about 10:18 p.m Monday, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting on Weaver Road in Ray City. When deputies arrived, they found Michael Paris, 42, in the road with gunshot wounds. Paris was pronounced dead at the scene, the GBI said.

The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Macon is performing an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death

Abrams was arrested and booked into the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center.

The investigation is active, and anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative 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.

Once the investigation is complete, the GBI said it will forward the case file to the Alapaha District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

NEW PROPERTY TAX LAW COULD LOWER TIFT TAXES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TOLD

By BONNIE SAYLES and FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A property tax relief law passed this year in the General Assembly could have a major impact on lowering local property taxes, Tift County Tax Commissioner Chad Alexander told the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

Georgia Senate Bill 33, signed by the governor, is crafted as a comprehensive property tax relief law. It introduces the possibility of a "Local Homestead Option Sales Tax" (LHOST) and mandates statewide base-year homestead exemptions to help homeowners manage rapidly increasing property taxes.

Eligible counties and municipalities could decide to place a 1% LHOST measure on local ballots. If voters approve it, this sales tax revenue is used exclusively to fund homestead exemptions and lower local property taxes.

It would increase the local sales tax from 8 to 9%. However, Alexander explained, since more than 50% of Tift County sales taxes are paid by people coming into Tift from outside areas, Tift property owners could see large reductions in their property taxes.

“Your county and city tax portions would be directly reduced,” Alexander said. “I don’t want to increase my sales tax, but we’ve got a lot of (sales) generated through I-75 and U.S. 82,” he said. “Hotels, gas, food – we’ve got other people helping to reduce our property tax.”

Alexander also noted that Tift County property tax bills are going out in the next week or two, The notice of assessment will have last year’s fair market value of the property, this year’s fair market value, and what exemptions the property owner qualifies for. 

Alexander was asked to explain SB 33 as part of an overview of this year's legislative action in Atlanta. Tift County's state Reps. Jaclyn Ford, R-Tifton, and Angie O'Steen, R-Ambrose, told the Chamber of Commerce about some of the other legislation recently approved.

“My favorite,” Ford said, “is we are spending $1.6 billion to extend and do work on I-75 South. I was stuck on I-75 for an hour and a half yesterday trying to get home.” Ford said another $250 million is designated for local road assistance programs. 

She mentioned $70 million allotted to literacy, to fund one literacy coach in every kindergarten through third grade school in the state.

“Sixty-five percent of our children in third grade are not reading on grade level,” Ford said. Each teacher in the state is receiving a $2,000 bonus, she said, for teacher retention. 

Five million dollars is also budgeted to the Department of Veterans Services to alleviate homelessness.

Ford noted that the state's income tax rate has dropped to 4.99%, and taxpayers in the state are receiving a $550 refund. She also mentioned that the state gasoline tax has been suspended through Labor Day to give some relief at the gas pump.

Rep. O’Steen discussed bills related to health care that she supported, one that established a grant for rural hospitals to apply for an additional generator to be used in times of crisis. 

She noted she and Ford have been appointed to a joint committee to study the sustainability of family farms.

TIFTON CEREMONY TO OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton's formal Memorial Day observance gets underway at 11 a.m. Monday in Jack Stone Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Tifton.

The program will feature an invocation, presentation of colors, various patriotic music performed by local artists, and a keynote speech from Tift County Commission Chairman Tony McBrayer.

The program will conclude with the playing of Taps. 

The ceremony is open to the community.

On Saturday, the community is invited to join Tifton-based American Legion Post 21 in placing flags on veterans' graves. Folks will gather at 9 a.m. Saturday in Tifton's Oak Ridge Cemetery to place flags, and then the group will move on to other cemeteries in the area.

All ages are invited to participate in honoring deceased veterans.

Images via livestream

(HIGH) SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER

(FOR TCHS GRADUATES)

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County High School awarded diplomas to 480 graduates Thursday evening at The Brodie.

Family and friends of graduates filled the stadium for a night of celebration, smiles, tears, and goodbyes to former classmates.

Today, the graduates begin the next phase of their lives. The future is wide open.

Congratulations to the Class of '26.

ABAC NAMES VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

President Tracy Brundage recently announced the selection of Dr. Raymond E. Carnley as Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s next vice president of external affairs.

Most recently, Carnley served as principal and senior vice president with Winkler Consulting Group, where he advised organizational leaders, foundation boards, and executive teams on advancement strategy, governance, and external relations. 

Throughout his career, he has helped secure more than $275 million in philanthropic support and played front-line leadership roles in campaigns totaling more than $2 billion in fundraising efforts.

“ABAC has experienced tremendous positive momentum in recent years, and Dr. Carnley’s experience and leadership will help us continue building on that success,” Brundage said. “His record of strengthening institutions through strategic partnerships, philanthropic support, and external engagement makes him uniquely positioned to help ABAC reach new heights.”

Carnley previously served as vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation at Middle Georgia State University, where he led fundraising and external engagement initiatives, cultivated relationships with legislators and community leaders, implemented institutional branding initiatives, and increased foundation support. He has also held leadership positions at Georgia Highlands College, Presbyterian College, Emory University, Habitat for Humanity International, and several other mission-focused organizations.

As vice president of external affairs, Carnley will serve as a member of the president’s senior leadership team and oversee the college’s advancement and external engagement efforts. His responsibilities will include providing executive leadership for fundraising initiatives, alumni and donor engagement, government relations, corporate partnerships, and oversight of the ABAC Foundation. He will also serve as the college’s chief external relations officer and principal advisor to the president on matters involving philanthropic, public, and private partnerships.

“ABAC’s mission, values, and commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers deeply resonate with me,” Carnley said. “I am honored and excited to join President Brundage and her leadership team and look forward to working alongside alumni, donors, community partners, faculty, and staff to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and the industries and communities they will ultimately serve.”

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER

TIFTAREA

Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day." Originally called Decoration Day because the observance began with decorating with flowers the graves of those who died during the Civil War. In the ensuing years, the day encompassed honoring all those who died during military operations, including during later wars. Although the day had been observed around the country for more than a century at the time, it wasn't an official federal holiday until 1971. In more recent years, the three-day weekend has also come to mark an unofficial start to summer.

Born on May 22: Richard Wagner, German composer, 1813-1883; Mary Cassatt, impressionist painter, 1844-1926; Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes author, 1859-1930; Ilya Tolstoy, Russian writer, 1866-1933; Laurence Olivier, actor, 1907-1989; T. Boone Pickens, oil tycoon, 1928-2019; Richard Benjamin, actor & director, 1938–; Bernard Shaw, TV journalist, 1940-2022; Paul Winfield, actor, 1941-2004; Tommy John, baseball pitcher, 1943–; Bernie Taupin, Elton John lyricist, 1950–; Ann Cusack, actress, 1961–; Naomi Campbell, model & actress, 1970–.

FRIDAY, MAY 22

• Glass Blowing Rose Paperweight, hosted by Tifton Council for the Arts, noon, Main Street Arts Studio, 910 Main St. S., Tifton

• Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, in concert, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton

SATURDAY, MAY 23

• Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton

• Community Garden Volunteering, hosted by Keep Tift Beautiful, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1413 Central Ave. S., Tifton

• Glass Blowing Rose Paperweight, hosted by Tifton Council for the Arts, 6 p.m., Main Street Arts Studio, 910 Main St. S., Tifton

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

"Aladdin" is ready to grant the wish of someone seeking a great companion. He is playful, lovable, and fully convinced every person he sees just came to see him. He’s got looks, charm, and enough silliness to keep life entertaining. If Aladdin had a magic carpet, he’d fly straight into a forever home. Until then, he’s waiting patiently for you to scoop him up and let him work his magic on you. Come meet Aladdin 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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