Friday, Aug. 16, 2019
Tifton, Georgia
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MAYOR JULIE SMITH
SEEKS RE-ELECTION
TIFTON'S FIRST FEMALE MAYOR RUNNING FOR 2ND TERM
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Tifton Mayor Julie Smith
announces that she is
seeking re-election
to a
second term.
“We have
made
a lot of
positive progress
, and there are so
many developments underway
that I
want to see through
to fruition,” said
Smith
, Tifton's
first female mayor
. She is a
partner
in a
local real estate business.
Smith
, reflecting on her
first term
as
mayor
,
outlined
what she said are some of the
highlights
since being elected, including:
- Streamlined Services. Creating a Community Development Office as a "one-stop shop for new business licenses, historic preservation and design, engineering plan reviews, zoning and building permits."
- Urban Redevelopment. "A long-neglected 20-block area in south Tifton is now in the spotlight with actionable goals set in place for revitalization," Smith said. The initiative includes a $750,000 grant that funded the removal of Captain’s Point Trailer Park – "an area long known for drugs and crime," Smith said. "In its place, a youth development center will be built, providing easy access to a safe place for children. The city will partner with the YMCA to provide services to children and families in the building; other approved organizations providing services to the area will also be able to use the center."
- City Departments and Employees. All city departments are fully funded without a tax increase, she said, and an initiative is underway to improve the health and wellness of all employees, including first responders.
- Communication. The city has created an annual report in an effort to make it easy for residents to see how tax money is being used, what progress has been made and how funds are allocated.
“I’m really
proud
of these
initiatives
as well as others, but we cannot rest on our laurels; there’s
more work to done
,” said
Smith
. “For example, the
Urban Redevelopment
is a
massive project
that has both
short
and
long-term components
, and we are really starting to see this movement gain traction. ”
Smith
said she is
committed
to
smart, planned, sustainable growth
: “
Industry
is certainly
important
, but
local businesses
are also
critical
to
growth, development
and maintaining
a sense of community identity
.”
The
mayor
said she promises to continue being
pro-business
, being
collaborative
in the approach to
problem-solving
and supporting
growth that benefits everyone.
“I’ve learned so much during my
first term
and look forward to spending dedicated time over the next months, just like I did during my campaign,
meeting
with groups of
people
across the
community
to learn what
issues
they want to see
addressed
.”
The
election
will be held
Nov. 5
.
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UGA'S BULLDOG BEST COLLEGE MASCOT EVER,
SAYS SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
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The
University of Georgia bulldog
is the
all-time greatest college mascot
,
Sports Illustrated
magazine says.
In honor of the
150th anniversary
of
college football
,
Sports Illustrated
has
ranked
the
Top 10
mascots, putting
"Uga"
at
No. 1
.
"
Georgia’s
line of
pure white English bulldogs
... has been a
staple
of the
mascot
landscape since
1956
," the magazine writes.
"Though every
new dog
is added to the
'Uga' line
—
Uga X
is the latest—each also has its own
unique name
, is given a
custom-made jersey
and a
varsity letter
, and resides in an
air-conditioned on-field doghouse
. When his day comes, each
Uga
is
buried
in a
marble vault
alongside his fallen predecessors
outside
the
football stadium
."
The
magazine
includes both
real
and
costumed mascots
in this week's edition.
The
No. 2
mascot is the
Duck
at the
University of Oregon
;
No. 3
,
Mike the tiger
at
Louisiana State University
;
No. 4
,
Bevo
the
longhorn bull
at the
University of Texas
;
No. 5
,
Stanford University's Tree
;
No. 6
, the
University of Colorado's
live
buffalo Ralphie
;
No. 7
, the
University of South Carolina's gamecock
named
Cocky
;
No. 8
,
Western Kentucky University's Big Red
;
No. 9
,
Syracuse University's Otto the orange
; and
No. 10
, the
University of Tennessee's bluetick coonhound Smokey
.
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Georgia Chamber of Commerce photo
Elaine Chao, U.S.
transportation secretary, tells the Georgia Chamber of Commerce that federal infrastructure grants to Georgia will focus on rural areas of the state.
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INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS TO FOCUS ON RURAL GEORGIA, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TELLS STATE CHAMBER
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Rural Georgia
will be the
primary focus
of more than
$189 million
in
federal transportation grants
to
expand infrastructure
in the
Peach State
, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Elaine Chao
told the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual congressional luncheon Tuesday
in
Macon
.
“
Rural communities
need a
fair chance
to
compete
and not be discriminated against when
federal funding
is being given out,” said
Chao
, who also
served
as
U.S. labor secretary
from
2001-2009
.
“We are
paying attention
to
rural America
," she said.
Chao
also spoke of
streamlined regulations
, and said "
pro-growth policies
and
investments
" are
boosting
the
economy
.
"The U.S.
economy
grew
2.8
percent in the first half of
2019
, the national
unemployment
rate of
3.7
percent is about the lowest in
50
years, and
businesses
have
added
more than
6
million jobs since the
2016
election," she said.
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Mandy Brooks, the TRMC Foundation executive director, left, stands with John Prince, Heidi Massey, Jay Prince, Heather Stripling and Austin Stripling alongside the mobile clinic.
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PRINCE FAMILY DONATES TO MOBILE CLINIC
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The
Prince family of
Tifton recently made a
substantial contribution to the
Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation designated for the
Tift Regional Mobile Clinic.
The
Mobile Clinic is a
six-wheeled unit consistIng of
three exam rooms, a
lab area and a
restroom. It is being
used to reach
medically underserved areas and for
residents who do not have
adequate access to
healthcare because of
resources and
transportation.
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SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK TELLS ROTARY ABOUT NEW TIFTON SITE
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Second Harvest Food Bank
Marketing Director
Eliza McCall
, from left, and Executive Director
Frank Richards
pose with
Tifton Rotary Club
President
Wayne Roe
on
Wednesday
.
McCall
and
Richards
told
Rotarians
about the
mission
of the
Second Harvest Food Bank
and about the organization's
new Tifton location
, which will have a
grand opening
Sept. 12.
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TIFTON'S BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH
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RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SPOTS
ARE RECOGNIZED
The
Keep Tift Beautiful
organization is
recognizing
the
home
of
David Carlson
and
Steve Dickson
at
1002 North Central Ave.
as the
residential Beauty Spot of the Month
.
The
commercial Beauty Spot of the Month
is bestowed upon
Chick-fil-A
at
1197 U.S. Highway 82 West
in
Tifton
.
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SRTC NAMES DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS
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On
Aug. 14
, the administration at
Southern Regional Technical College
(SRTC) recognized
180 exceptional students
achieving the honor of
President’s List
and
Dean’s List
for the
summer term
.
Each semester, SRTC recognizes students who have accomplished high academic achievement through the
President’s List
. In order to qualify, students must meet two criteria: Earn a
grade of “A”
in
all coursework
attempted and be
enrolled
in
12
semester credit hours or more.
Among
President’s List
designees are:
Mercedes Curles
of
Adel
,
Hailey Davis
of
Alapaha
,
Katelyn Patterson
of
Arabi
,
Charlie Maes
of
Poulan
,
Joseph Payan
of
Tifton
,
Clint Morgan
of
Tifton
,
Alana Johnson
of
Tifton
,
Cynthia Shirah
of
Tifton
,
Taylor Dean
of
Tifton
,
Jerica Johnson
of
Tifton
,
Abigail Woodall
of
Tifton
,
Robert Giddens
of
Tifton
,
Ramon Lagunas
of
Tifton
,
Angel Medina
of
Tifton
, and
Rebecca Marshall
of
Tifton
.
To qualify for
Dean’s List,
students must have completed between
nine and 11
semester
credit hours
and have earned an
A in all coursework
attempted. Among those
students
are:
Christopher Wilson
of
Nashville
,
Tanner Duckworth
of
Sumner
,
Shaniqua Scott
of
Sycamore
,
Virginia Lamb
of
Sylvester
,
Caleb Rice
of
Tifton
,
Robert Cothren
of
Tifton
,
Hunter Henderson
of
Tifton
,
Erin Page
of
Tifton
,
Felecia Applewhite
of
Tifton
,
Jessica Harmon
of
Tifton
,
Shellice Skeen
of
Tifton
, and
Shelby Garren
of
Tifton
.
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TO BENEFIT THE TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
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YOUR WEEKEND
...at a Glance
FRIDAY, AUG. 16
- SELF (Seniors Enjoying Life Forever) Dance, 6 p.m., Leroy Rogers Senior Center, Tifton
- Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Show, 7 p.m., Main Street, Tifton
- "Barefoot in the Park" live on stage, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- Gospel Music Fest, 7 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
- Gospel Music Fest, 11 a.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
- "Barefoot in the Park" live on stage, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- Motown and More! The Ultimate Tribute Concert, 7:30 p.m., The Grand Theatre, Fitzgerald
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AUG. 8
Clyde Bailey, 92,
Fitzgerald
Blondean Jones Lawler, 79,
Adel
Johnny Ebb Walker, 67,
Nashville
AUG. 9
Lisa Jane Singletary, 43,
Enigma
Kenneth Wayne Smith, 72,
Enigma
Bobby Charles Akridge Sr., 79,
Nashville
AUG. 10
Helen R. Willis Hayes, 78,
Lenox
Peggy Lawson, 80,
Tifton
Payton Hugh Vance, 38,
Lenox
Ronnie McCarver, 58,
Adel
AUG. 11
Marcia Kay Roberts Harris, 65,
Nashville
Mary Ann Clements Rinehart, 63,
Cordele
Keegan Lee Caves, 19,
Fitzgerald
AUG. 12
Francis Arthur Royce Sr., 89,
Tifton
Ella Mae Warren, 68,
Adel
AUG. 13
Robert L. Massey, 64,
Ashburn
AUG. 14
Rose Hall Wood, 69,
Tifton
James Dexter Moore, 62,
Alapaha
Billie L. Stone, 95,
Ashburn
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Tifton Grapevine
e-published every Tuesday and Friday
Frank Sayles Jr.
Editor & Publisher
Bonnie Sayles
Managing Editor
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A Service of
Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
,
Tifton, Georgia
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