Sept. 12, 2017
Tifton, Georgia
478-227-7126
tiftongrapevine.com
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Eighth Street near Tift Avenue in Tifton shortly after Tropical Storm Irma blows through.
IRMA'S GONE BUT VISIT
STILL DISRUPTING LIVES
THOUSANDS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY; TREES, LIMBS DOWN
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Hurricane Irma arrived in
South Georgia on
Monday as
Tropical Storm Irma, packing punches of nearly
60 mph winds with
heavy rain, leaving thousands without
electrical power, toppling
trees and disrupting
daily routines of many residents.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, here is what we know:
- Tift County public schools will be closed Wednesday -- "With at least 50 percent of our refrigerated food items
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U.S. Highway 82 in Tifton on Monday.
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compromised and several
roads
currently
blocked
with downed power lines, school will be
cancelled
tomorrow for
students
only. All
faculty and staff
are
asked to report
to work at
9 a.m.
All schools now have power," the school system said Tuesday.
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Tiftarea Academy will be closed Wednesday. "Due to widespread power outages impacting our students/staff, we have decided to close for tomorrow,
Wednesday, Sept. 13. We will resume normal hours on
Thursday, Sept. 14."
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will be closed Wednesday, "due to the effects of bad weather. The campus will reopen for normal business hours at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14," ABAC announced.
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Both the University of Georgia-Tifton campus and Southern Regional Technical College
will
be open
on a regular schedule
Wednesday
.
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Approximately 6,120 customers are still without power in Tift County. On
Monday afternoon, more than
16,000 were without electricity in the county.
"
Georgia Power has gone from over 9,000 to 2,118; Colquitt EMC has gone from 7,000 to 4,000. This is fantastic for such a short amount of time. Please ask everyone to be patient. They are working non-stop to try and get everyone restored," the Tift
County
Emergency Management Agency (EMA) reported late Tuesday afternoon.
About 680,000 Georgia Power customers were still without power across the state Tuesday afternoon, while 270,000 customers had power restored. The power company is working more than 9,600 instances of individual damage to lines, poles and transformers.
Irma's
wind gusts Monday
were recorded up to
57.8 mph
at UGA Tifton's
weather station
.
- Tifton city residential garbage collection will run a day behind this week. Golden Environmental will begin picking up Monday's route on Wednesday. Commercial routes are expected to be picked up on regular schedules. Because of extra yard waste and debris from the storm clean-up, delays in route schedules are to be expected during the next few weeks.
- The Tift County EMA is conducting a damage assessment of homes and businesses in the county. It does not Include damage to outbuildings, fences, cars, etc.
The
EMA is asking residents with
structural damage to send their name, address and phone number to
tiftcountyema@tiftcounty.org, and EMA personnel will respond. The information will be provided to the state. Residents will still need to contact their individual insurance company for adjusters to assess damage.
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CANCER COALITION HAS
'NIGHT FOR HOPE' IN TIFTON
The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia is hosting a "Night for Hope" in Tifton at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19.
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COLLINS
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The event at the
Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage honors local cancer survivor
Kari Collins and will
benefit the
Cancer Coalition.
The evening will include wine and beer, heavy hors d'oeurves, desserts, a silent auction and live musical entertainment. Tickets are $40 each and may be purchased online
here.
One hundred percent of funds raised stay local to help benefit the
32 counties in the coalition's
South Georgia region.
Tift Regional Medical Center's Anita Stewart Oncology Center is the presenting sponsor of the event.
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TIFTON'S BELL PLANTATION NAMES NEW CEO
Craig S. Entwistle
has been named chief executive officer of Tifton-based Bell Plantation Inc., with ownership in the company.
J.C. Bell, Bell Plantation founder and pioneer of the original powdered peanut butter known as PB2, announced the appointment.
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ENTWISTLE
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"
PB2 is an innovative, winning product that consumers love. Its introduction was so successful, we saw an immediate influx of
competitors and 'me-too' brands into the marketplace," said Bell. "We now have to ensure we keep our
dominance in this space, and I'm extremely grateful to have a
food industry leader and seasoned veteran like
Craig Entwistle to lead us in the right direction. He has
29 years of food sales and corporate leadership expertise, and I'm confident he is the right person to move us ahead."
A native of South Africa, Entwistle, who previously worked with Rich Products, resides on St. Simons Island. He and his wife, Leslie, have four grown children. General manufacturing operations for Bell Plantation will continue to be based in Tifton, while the executive team leading sales, marketing, finance and accounting activity under Entwistle will be transitioned to St. Simons Island.
"
J.C. is a remarkable product innovator, and I couldn't be more thrilled to join him in moving this company forward,"
Entwistle said. "We have extensive
opportunities to grow the brand and this product category, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves to help build on the success J.C. already has achieved with this outstanding organization."
PB2 heads an extensive lineup of product innovations from
Bell Plantation that are available in approximately
45,000 retail outlets across the
United States. The company, headquartered in
Tifton, also has been marketing its products
online and in
emerging markets around the
world.
Known as the
original powdered peanut butter, PB2 can be mixed with water or other liquids to create peanut butter without the calories and fat. In addition to being all-natural and certified gluten-free, the product has been certified
kosher by the
Orthodox Union.
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TRUCK & TRACTOR PULL SEPT. 21-23
Trucks and tractors of all shapes and sizes will rev their engines and roar down the track Sept. 21-23 at the AET Truck and Tractor Pull sponsored by the Agricultural Engineering Technology Club at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
On Sept. 21, ABAC students and the community can participate in the amateur night beginning at 7 p.m. Participants may enter their vehicles in the event for fee. Gates will open at 6 p.m.
On Sept. 22-23, the Southern Pullers Association will provide the show featuring professional pullers.
On Sept. 22, gates will open at 6 p.m., and pulling will start at 7 p.m. On Sept. 23, the gates open at 5 p.m., and pulling will start at 6 p.m.
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PART OWNER BUYS OUT PARTNERS IN RADIO COMPANY
In a filing with the
Federal Communications Commission,
John O. Higgs is buying out his partners in
Broadcast South LLC, the licensee of several
Georgia radio stations including
Country WKZZ 92.5 "The Farm" in Tifton.
Higgs is buying out
Nearly Famous Properties,
BGW LLC and
Kerry Van Moore
for $1.05 million. The stations in the deal also include
Classic Hits WHJD-A-W290BR 105.9 "The Sting" in Hazlehurst; Classic Rock WVOH-F 93.5 "The Eagle" in Nicholls; Regional Mexican WDMG-A "La Que Buena" 860 in Douglas; Hot AC WDMG-F in Ambrose; Oldies WBHB-A in Fitzgerald; Classic Hits WRDO in Fitzgerald; and Top 40 WPNG "Shine" 101.9 in Pearson.
The three sellers and Higgs each owned 25 percent of the licensee; Higgs will end up with 100 percent of the company.
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For Information, Call 478-227-7126
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'SELF' DANCE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
"SELF," Singles Enjoying Life Forever, will have its
monthly dance
on
Friday, Sept. 15
, at the
Leroy Rogers Senior Center
in
Tifton
.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Organizers say more men are encouraged to attend.
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YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
2202 Rutland Road, Tifton, GA
MLS #
126616
Beautifully remodeled home with 3 BR, 2 BA and 2,461 square feet on west side
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Visit Us Online:
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Call us TODAY!
229-386-4222
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FRANK SAYLES JR.
Editor & Publisher
A Service of
Sayles Unlimited Marketing
Tifton, Ga.
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478-227-7126
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