An artist’s rendering of Orgill’s planned 800,000-square-foot replacement facility in Tifton.

ORGILL PLANS NEW FACILITY

IN TIFTON

DISTRIBUTION CENTER WILL REPLACE

CURRENT TIFTON CENTER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Orgill Inc., said to be the the fastest-growing independent hardware distributor in the world, plans to build a new, state-of-the-art 800,000-square-foot distribution center in Tifton, replacing its current 27-year-old distribution center here.

The current Tifton facility, which opened in 1995 and is 650,000 square feet, is the oldest distribution center in the company. Orgill employs about 355 local residents, and company officials said that number is expected to grow in Tifton with the new facility. 

"Twenty-seven years ago we opened our second distribution center ever in Tifton, which was a huge milestone and foundational step in our growth to a national and international distributor. Many of our managers and employees in Tifton today helped us open that distribution center in 1995. Today, that team will lead the company into the next step in automation and efficiency at Orgill,” said Boyden Moore, president & CEO.

Orgill is a "valued partner in our community,” and the new facility is exciting news, said Tony McBrayer, chairman of the Tift County Board of Commissioners and Tift County Development Authority.

"They are a company of excellence committed to our community of excellence, and we are grateful for their partnership,” McBrayer said.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp said "Orgill and Tifton's collaboration is a perfect example of how companies and communities come together to create great places to live, work, and raise a family. We're excited for Orgill's continued growth and success."

Construction is expected to begin on the new distribution center by the end of this year with its opening planned for early 2024. Officials said it will be built near the current facility, which is located on Jordan Road.

Orgill distributes hardware and home-improvement products to hardware, home improvement, and building materials retailers across North America and in more than 60 countries worldwide.

CITY, COUNTY HAVE ‘COMMON GROUND’ ON ‘LOST'

MAYOR SAYS IN LETTER TO COUNTY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As the end-of-the-year deadline approaches for Tift County and the City of Tifton to agree on a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), the two governments seem to have "some common ground” on the issue, Mayor Julie B. Smith wrote in a letter Tuesday to Tift County Commission Chairman Tony McBrayer.

“It seems we have some common ground and share the same feelings regarding the need to come to a resolution of the issues between the city and county and move forward together for the good of all citizens in our community,” Smith wrote.

If the city and county do not agree on LOST by the end of the year, it expires under state law. LOST revenues help lower property taxes for homeowners and businesses. The city and county recently brought in a third-party mediator to help reach an accord, but those negotiations were unsuccessful.

Smith’s letter Tuesday detailed the city’s proposal made during a City Council meeting last week. City Council voted to keep the LOST allocations the same and to equalize water-sewer rates for all customers both inside and outside the city.

In her letter, the mayor said the city will pay the county $10.4 million for its interest in the infrastructure and equipment in the water-sewer system, although saying that amount "greatly exceeds” what the county has put into the system. The city also agrees to "split the remaining SPLOST proceeds, approximately $1.2 million."

The city also asks that “each party shall dismiss its respective (legal) claims with prejudice and releases."

County Commission Chair Tony McBrayer told the Tifton Grapevine early Tuesday evening that he had been working his regular job all day, "and due to us just receiving the letter this afternoon, I have not had the opportunity to discuss it with my commission colleagues, and therefore, I am not prepared to discuss its contents or merits at this time."

In a letter to the city on Sept. 30, Tift County Commissioners had agreed to keep the LOST allocations at that same level if Tifton agreed to put its water-sewer system under a joint city/county authority, equalize water rates, agree to a $6 million allocation for the water authority in the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), set up a fund for the solid waste landfill, and agree to settle all pending legal actions between the city and county.

"The city has operated a water and sewer system since 1907, which was built to a large extent on the backs of the city taxpayers,” the mayor said. The city balks at putting the system under joint city-county control of an appointed authority. Smith said that the county already has its own water authority.

In her letter to McBrayer, Smith said, "I found your letter (of Sept. 30) conciliatory in its tone, and I hope you find this letter in the same spirit. ... We are hopeful, that at the very least, if we cannot come to an agreement on all the issues, we can come to an agreement to let the LOST distribution remain as is it is for the benefit of all our citizens."

MAN FOUND WITH GUN STOLEN IN TIFTON CONVICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES

A Quitman man with a lengthy criminal history has been found guilty by a federal jury on charges related to his drug distribution activities out of a Valdosta apartment complex, where, among other items, authorities found a loaded gun stolen in Tifton.

Barry Kiya Daise, 44, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of maintaining and using drug-involved premises following a four-day trial that began Oct. 3 in Albany.

Daise faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count, a $1 million maximum fine for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a $500,000 maximum fine for maintaining and using drug-involved premises. Sentencing will be later.

“The defendant was selling controlled substances out of a Valdosta apartment complex, and he has a long track record in the community of committing this type of criminal offenses,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Nov. 19, 2019, at Daise’s apartment on West Hill Avenue in Valdosta. Daise was on probation at the time for a prior state felony.

Officers recovered 48 grams of powder cocaine, evidence of crack-cocaine production, a loaded firearm stolen from Tifton, and ammunition. Daise’s cellular phone had communications about him selling drugs to others and meeting in the Valdosta apartment complex’s parking lot to conduct the transactions, as well as photographs of guns and narcotics on his phone.

Daise has multiple prior felony convictions at the state level, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The Lifetime TV movie brings ‘snow’ to Tifton’s Union Depot on North Central Avenue during filming in July.

‘HOLIDAY DATING GUIDE,’ FILMED IN TIFTON, PREMIERES ON LIFETIME TV DEC. 17

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

“The Holiday Dating Guide,” a TV movie filmed recently in Tifton, will be released at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, on the Lifetime TV network.

The Tifton movie, starring Maria Menounos and Brent Bailey, will be one of 26 original premieres that Lifetime has scheduled for the network’s "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" holiday movie season kicking off Nov. 5. Lifetime will premiere a new holiday movie every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Dec. 18.

A special Lifetime 2022 "Holiday Movie Preview" hosted by Sarah Drew will be available to stream via Lifetime video-on-demand beginning Oct. 27. The preview will include cast interviews, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from Lifetime's upcoming holiday movies.

The producers of the “The Holiday Dating Guide” had transformed the Tifton landscape in July to a winter wonderland complete with snow, and director Brian Herzlinger decided to change the actual location in the story to Tifton. 

“After seeing all the unique landmarks around town, Brian decided to change the setting to Tifton,” said Brent Bailey, the movie’s male lead and author of the original screenplay.

Setting the stage, the first lines of the movie say, “Tifton, Georgia. It’s beautiful.” In the voiceover of the first scene, Menounos says, “This is my home, Tifton.” Filming occurred in several locations around Tifton, including buildings and streets downtown, at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and at the Peach Barn event venue.

“There's something about those ‘big executive returns to small hometown and finds the love of their life’ storylines that just never seem to get old this time of year, and we're here for it,” TV Guide says about the movie set in Tifton.

TIFTON GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS WIN RIBBONS

Three Tifton Garden Club members won first- and second-place ribbons at the Camellia and Magnolia District Flower Show “Let’s Celebrate” held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry this past weekend.

In the photos above, Flower Show Chairman Genie McCook of Tifton stands at the sign describing the event. McCook won a blue ribbon for her creative design, “Easter Sunrise,” pictured above right. 

Two other Tifton residents also won ribbons. Karen Hendrix won a blue ribbon for her table design “Christmas Brunch,” and Marilyn Moore received a second-place red ribbon for her education exhibit “Plant America.” 

Alexis Braselton

Katelin McMillan

TWO ABAC STUDENTS RECEIVE BOYETTE BOOK SCHOLARSHIPS

On behalf of Henry Boyette and family and the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, the Ilse Boyette Book Scholarship was recently presented to two ABAC students. 

The award was established in memory of Ilse Boyette for her love of nursing and the healthcare field. Recipients were Alexis Braselton and Katelin McMillan. 

Braselton is a fulltime student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College pursuing her bachelor's in biology and health sciences. She has been shadowing at Georgia Sports Medicine since 2019.    

McMillan is attending ABAC and pursuing a degree as a registered nurse. After completion, she plans to work in the Intensive Care Unit at Tift Regional Medical Center while obtaining her bachelor of nursing degree.

The $500 scholarships are a cash award to be used on college textbook expenses. Funds come from the Ilse Boyette Memorial as well as the Tour de Tifton bicycle race sponsored through the Tiftarea YMCA.

A special thanks to all our wonderful sponsors who made our 29th Annual Chamber Golf Classic a success. Thank you for everything you do for your Chamber and your Community!

MAJOR SPONSORS

ADAMA

American Textile Co. Inc.

Asahi Express

Astro Exterminating

AT&T

Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC

Clearwave Fiber

Crown Real Estate Construction ...Dev. LLC

Dupont Pine Products

Georgia Power Company

Heatcraft

The Howard Center for Women’s        ...Health

Independent Retirement Professionals

MCA 

Mohawk Industries

SafeAire Heating & Cooling

Southwell 

Stafford School of Business

Superior Distribution

Superior Sauce

Tifton Coca-Cola

TruVista

Vista Clinical Diagnostics

Watford Pools

BREAKFAST SPONSOR           

City of Tifton

LUNCH SPONSOR

Ashley’s Business Solutions Inc.

Chick-Fil-A

Hog-N-Bones

Striplings General Store

Surcheros Fresh Grill

The Tifton Gazette

SNACK STATION

Abide Home Care

Servpro of Tifton

HOLE IN ONE SPONSORS

Griffin Ford, Lincoln, Inc.

Jeff Fender Buick, Cadillac, GMC

Prince Automotive Group

Tenneson Nissan

BEVERAGE STATION SPONSORS

Advantage Realty

Edward Jones

Hilton Garden Inn

Homestar Financial

Luxury Nails

Michelob Ultra

Quality Employment

Skip Hill & Associates

Springhill Suites by Marriott Tifton

RECEPTION SPONSORS 

Ambassador Personnel

Ameris Bank

C & C Home Improvement

Colony Bank

Commercial Banking Company

The First Bank

Golden Environmental

Hire Dynamics

LTF Farms

South Georgia Banking Company

Synovus Bank

CLOSEST TO PIN SPONSORS

Atlantic & Southern Equipment LLC

Checkers

Herring CPA Group

Wilmot & Powell

LONGEST DRIVE SPONSORS

Acres & Oaks Kitchen

Collins

RANGE BALL SPONSORS

Ag Georgia Farm Credit ACA

Agri-Supply

Collins Surveying LLC

La Quinta Inn & Suites

McDonald’s

Newton’s Body Shop

State Farm Insurance

...Companies

South Ga Burgers/Wendy’s

Southeastern Credit Union

Veazey White CPA’s & Business Advisors

HOLE SPONSORS   

Abide Home Care

Adams Exterminators

Allen, Pritchett & Bassett

AllHealth Choice

Amerimed EMS

Atwater Insurance Agency

Bishop Well & Pump

Bounce-N-Slide Inflatables Inc.

Bowen -Donaldson Home for ...Funerals

Brownlee Agency

Budget Blinds of Tifton

C & M Parking Lot Sweepers LLC

Campbell’s Construction & Roofing

Carroll’s Sausage

Central Plumbing & Mechanical Inc.

CDM Smith

Cody Dixon State Farm

Colquitt EMC

Conger LP Gas

Credit Bureau Associates

D&M Service Company

Dairy Queen

D. Coleman Realty

Dennis Sheppard Properties

Dogwood Pharmacy

Ellianos

Elm St. Mart

ESG Operations

Exchange Club of Tifton

Fifth Street Interiors

Frank & Solomon Nixon Funeral ...Home

Friendly City Pharmacy

Georgia Premier Services LLC

Griffin Lumber & Hardware

HBT

Hampton Inn & Suites

Homestead Hospice

Insurance Unlimited

Irwin County Warehouse

Irwin EMC

Jackson Consulting

Jones Construction Company 

Kelley Manufacturing Company

Kelly’s Fashion Dry Cleaners

Kincaid Insurance

Kumon Of Tifton

Kunes Real Estate & Appraisals Inc.

Labor Finders (2)

Legacy Village of Tifton

Liberation Missionary Baptist ...Church

McKee’s Auto Center

Medtech Southeast Inc.

Mickey Watson CPA

Montgomery Promotions

Monty Veazey & Company

Moore, Clarke, DuVall & Rodgers

MRS Homecare

New Hire Solutions

Orgill

Outdoor Services Inc.

Patrick Farms Inc.

Patriot Seven

Payne Electric Company

Pearson & Company

Perrin Farm Equipment

Pentas Wealth Management

Professionals Plus Realty

Roberts & Co.

Rotary Club of Tifton

Shiver Diesel

Short & Paulk

Southern Bodies

Southern Gearheads Car Club

Southern OB-GYN Associates PC

Southern Office Supplies

Southern Regional Technical ...College

Sumner, Beaumont & York Insurance Agency

Tenneson Collision Center

The Big Store

The Floor Shoppe @ Glynn ...Hendricks Interiors

The Spearman Agency

The Tifton Gazette (2)

Tidewater Agriculture & ...Construction Equipment

Tiftarea Academy Inc.

Tifton Auto Parts

Tifton’s Best Running

Tifton Coca-Cola

Tifton Quality Peanuts

TriEst Ag Group Inc.

The Trophy Shop of Tiftarea

Turners Fine Furniture

Utilco

Variety Vending

Vision Source – Family Eye Care

Watsons Pools & Patios

Work Smart

Your Pie Pizza

Zaxby’s

Ella Daniell

Photo by South Georgia Photography

Jackson Chatfield

TCHS CROWNS HOMECOMING QUEEN, KING

At Tift County High School’s homecoming game Friday night, Ella Daniell was crowned Tift County Homecoming Queen and Jackson Chatfield was crowned Homecoming King.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Hocus Pocus,” a female kitty, is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Hocus Pocus and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON OKs ANGLED PARKING

IN DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT

~ OCT. 10, 1963

The Tifton City Commission on Oct. 10, 1963, approved angled parking along the streets in the Downtown business district. The recommendation was made by the Tift County Chamber of Commerce’s retail merchants committee.