CONGRESS DROPS FUNDING FOR

GEORGIA FARMERS

NO HURRICANE RECOVERY HELP IN BUDGET DEAL

Congress on Thursday passed a massive budget deal to avert another government shutdown but omitted the expected federal funding for Georgia farmers devastated by Hurricane Michael.

Georgia lawmakers said they had repeatedly gotten assurances that emergency money for hurricane recovery efforts would be added to the final spending deal. Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, was so frustrated that he voted against the spending compromise.

“In October, Georgia was hit hard by one of the strongest hurricanes the state has ever seen. The destruction was unimaginable . It battered cities and small towns and destroyed thousands of acres of farmland. For months, I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues in the House for timely disaster relief for farmers and communities impacted by Hurricane Michael and the other natural disasters of 2018," Scott said Thursday night .

"  When this spending package was released without disaster assistance , I was disappointed and frustrated that the assurances we have heard for months that relief would be included in spending measures to reopen the government were empty promises ."

Scott, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, said that "for this reason, along with the glaring absence of adequate funds to protect Americans and curb illegal activity by building a physical barrier along our Southern border, I could not vote for this spending measure.

"I promise the people of Georgia and the Southeast that I will continue to do everything I can to ensure the devastation they experienced in the wake of these natural disasters does not go forgotten.”

Hurricane Michael entered Georgia as a Category 3 storm and was the first major hurricane to directly impact the state since the 1890s. Projections conducted by the University of Georgia place the losses for Georgia’s agricultural industry at more than $2.5 billion.

Photo via Facebook/Shared by Meredith Rutland

HAROLD HARPER TO TRAVEL MAIN STREET ONE LAST TIME

The late Harold Harper , the godfather of Downtown Tifton redevelopment , will take a final trek through downtown today (Friday) en route to Oakridge Cemetery .

Harper's family and Mayor Julie Smith have requested to alter the funeral procession route in Harper's honor. Upon leaving Albritton’s Funeral Home, the procession will head south on Tift Avenue , taking a right onto Eighth Street and then a left onto Love Avenue and Main Street .

Harper's casket will travel through downtown in respect for his decades of work for Tifton . The procession will then take a right onto U.S. Highway 82 and then to the cemetery .  

Downtown merchants have been asked to step outside to the sidewalk at 11:45 a.m. as Harper passes along Main Street for the last time .

Harper, 89, died Tuesday morning. The businessman and real estate developer began restoring old buildings in Downtown Tifton during the early 1980s. His most ambitious project, in partnership with the city, was the rehabilitation of the old Myon Hotel into City Hall, apartments and retail space.

He received many state and local awards for his work, and First Street was designated Harold Harper Way in his honor.

Come enjoy a wonderful evening as McAlpin Entertainment presents

an evening of songs and stories with Darryl Worley, Ray Scott and special guest Heath Deloach at the Tift Theatre in downtown Tifton

tomorrow night, Saturday, Feb. 16.

There are also a limited number of VIP Packages available. These packages include Meet & Greets with both Darryl Worley and Ray Scott,

as well as reserved seats within the first five rows!

This show would make a great post-Valentine’s date!

Dr. Craig R. Wentworth, president of Southern Regional Technical College, announced his retirement this week in a letter to his colleagues, board and the SRTC community,

 

"After much reflection, I have decided to retire effective July 1, 2019. The time has come for me to spend more time with our children and grandchildren, as well as travel and spend more time with recreational endeavors," Wentworth wrote in his letter Tuesday.

Wentworth has served as SRTC president since November 2010 . He led the college in its full merger and subsequent accreditation as a new two-year institution. Under his leadership, the college opened a 52,000-square-foot Health Science Building which houses a virtual hospital and fully functioning veterinary clinic. Additionally, three other buildings went through significant renovations and upgrades.

Wentworth has nearly 37 years of experience in higher education. Before becoming president, he was vice president for academic affairs at Central Georgia Technical College in Macon for seven years. He has also served in academic administrative positions as director of instruction and dean of academic affairs. During his tenure at Central Georgia Technical College, the institution grew from 1,000 credit-program students to more than 7,900 students, and from 30 credit programs to over 190 programs.

He received his bachelor of arts and master of science degrees in psychology from Valdosta State University and a doctor of education degree in occupational studies from the University of Georgia, during which he received the Delta Pi Epsilon (national graduate honor society) Outstanding Doctoral Research Award.

"In the upcoming months, I will work hard with you in continuing the great things that are going on at our college and in our system of technical colleges," Wentworth said in his letter. "I look forward to the next four and a half months in continuing the work of preparing a highly skilled workforce for our service delivery area and for Georgia ."

SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTS 107 IN JANUARY

During January , the Tift County Sheriff's Office arrested 107 people, some on multiple charges.

Sheriff Gene Scarbrough said there were 101 fraud charges, 48 charges of parole/probation violations, 15 crimes against persons charges, 15 property crimes charges, 11 failure to appear charges, five weapons charges, six child support cases, six obstruction cases and 14 non-traffic cases.

Traffic stops conducted by Tift deputies led to four charges of driving under the influence, four drug charges, 31 individuals having a suspended or revoked driver’s license as well as two weapons charges.

Deputies responded to 2,997 calls for service, conducted 1,905 business and property checks, 710 mobile home park and subdivision checks with 42 school checks.  

Scarbrough said deputies served 253 warrants, 90 civil papers and 285 subpoenas.

He added that deputies completed 504 reports, worked 37 accidents, issued 904 traffic citations, 216 traffic warnings and patrolled 59,594 miles. The sheriff also said deputies provided 68 transports, totaling 202 hours and 7,498 miles.

GRAB YOUR TENNIS RACQUETS:

6th ANNUAL 'RALLY FOR READING'

FUN DOUBLES IS SUNDAY, FEB. 24

The Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence's 6th Annual Rally for Reading tennis event will be Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Red Hill Tennis Center on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

The foundation joins the ABAC men's and women's tennis teams to pair up with participants for an afternoon of fun doubles to benefit the education foundation's "Terri Nalls Reading Angel Chair" Read Aloud effort. The $100 entry donation is tax deductible.

The event, scheduled for 1:30-4 p.m., is limited to the first 36 participants. Donors do not have to participate on the courts and may sponsor a player. Players will be grouped by age and skill level , with at least one  ABAC player  for a  doubles  rotation.

For information , contact  Mike Brumby at  229-382-7515  or email [email protected]

'HENRY CLAY & MAKING OF AMERICA' LECTURE SET FEB. 28

An statesman  who was responsible for the creation of the politics and governmental institutions we take for granted today will be the focus of the History Lecture Series at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Feb. 28 as Dr. Hans Schmeisser speaks on Kentuckian Henry Clay .

Entitled “Henry Clay and the Making of America,” the 7 p.m. lecture in Howard Auditorium is open to the public.

“ Henry Clay was a titan of an often-forgotten American political landscape , lost in the antebellum decades between the founding and the Civil War,” said Schmeisser , an associate professor of political science at ABAC. 

“Americans often drift past this momentous period, missing the concurrent majesty and terror saturating those who defined the American calling for ‘a more perfect Union .’”

Clay  was an attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives , served as the seventh speaker of the House and served as the ninth secretary of state . He received electoral votes for president in the 1824, 1832 and 1844 presidential elections. For his role in defusing sectional crises, he earned the nickname of the "Great Compromiser."

“This lecture will grapple with Henry Clay , gauging his life and overwhelming charisma as they elucidate the promise and peril of statesmanship in today’s America,” Schmeisser said.

The final lecture in this series features “The Georgia Chautauqua in Albany,” a presentation by Dr. Wendy Harrison on March 12 .

MEETING AT THE STATE CAPITOL

Darian Peavy of the Tiftarea YMCA, who is this year's chairman of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, met last week with state representatives in Atlanta during the legislative session. From left is state Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn; Peavy; Rep. Penny Houston, R-Nashville; and Rep. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie.

All three House members represent parts of Tift County.

GEORGIA AG MUSEUM OFFERS 'VICTORIAN STARGAZING'

Walk among the stars during the Victorian Stargazing program from 7-9 p.m. March 8 at ABAC's Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village .

Historic Village Supervisor Gina Beckman said Victorian Stargazing opens the new “History After Dark” program series which provides guests the opportunity to experience the museum after hours . The series will feature evening programs throughout the year on a variety of topics and immersive activities .

“Guests of the Victorian Stargazing program will learn about the rise of hobbies and leisure time during 19th-century America ,” Beckman said. “We’ll focus on how Americans of that generation used astronomy as a favorite pastime.”

The program will feature stargazing on the Tift House lawn using telescopes and binoculars , a walk among handmade ground constellations and a chance for guests to create their own luminary constellation .

Tickets must be purchased in advance ; no tickets will be sold at the event. For information , contact the Country Store at 229-391-5205 .

ROTARIANS LEARN ABOUT PATIENT PORTAL

Lisa Hudson , patient portal program coordinator, from left, stands with Marion Curry , the Tifton Rotary Club president, and Chandler Day , last Wednesday's program coordinator. Hudson discussed Tift Regional Health System’s new online “HealthELife” patient portal program that started June 1 . The online program allows patients to conduct secure messaging with their providers , request appointments and view upcoming appointments. The website can be used to research health records , register for workshops , set personal health goals and pay hospital bills . The Tifton Rotary Club meets at noon Wednesdays at Tiftarea Conference Center on U.S. Highway 82 .

THREE KAC SITES GET TOP QUALITY RATING

Three sites of Tifton's Kids’ Advocacy Coalition (KAC), a nonprofit after-school childcare program, recently received the top rating of Three Stars from the state's Quality Rated program under the Ga. Department of Early Care and Learning.

The three sites who recently underwent the Quality Rated program are Omega

Elementary, Len Lastinger Elementary and Northside Elementary . When a childcare program participates in Quality Rated, it means that program has voluntarily decided to subscribe to higher standards than the state’s basic licensing requirements and is

committed to improving the quality of care it provides to children and

families.

Programs undergo a rigorous three-phase process to be awarded a 1-, 2-, or 3-star rating (with 3 stars being the highest rating), the latter indicating that the program is of exceptional quality . 

Pictured are KAC after-school directors, from left, Jan Kitchens at Omega Elementary, Greta Simmons at Len Lastinger Elementary, and CaMicha Ryce at Northside Elementary.

YOUR WEEKEND

...at a Glance

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Tifton Grapevine

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