Irma Gone, Not Forgotten

Sept. 12, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

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


	U.S. Highway 82 in Tifton on Monday.

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.

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.

Both the University of Georgia-Tifton campus and Southern Regional Technical College will be open on a regular schedule

Wednesday .

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.

"Tropical-force winds from Irma resulted in extensive damage to the electric infrastructure," the EMC said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "Since yesterday, Colquitt EMC's crews and service personnel have been battling tough conditions and working to repair severe damage to power lines, power poles and equipment. Due to the extent of damage, we encourage members to prepare for power outages that could last several days."

Colquitt Electric Membership Corp., which also serves Tift County, reported a total of 18,500 customers still without power Tuesday afternoon across its service area. Colquitt EMC has 43,000 member customers in a seven-county area: Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Lowndes, Tift and Worth.

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.

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.


COLLINS

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.

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.


	ENTWISTLE

" 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.

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.

For information, contact AET club advisors Ray Lundy at rlundy@abac.edu or Todd Hicks at thicks@abac.edu

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.

For Information, Call 478-227-7126

'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.