DR. CHAD STONE APPARENTLY OUT AS TCHS PRINCIPAL  STONE APPEALS GA SUSPENSION OF EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Although he has been placed on administrative leave for only 30 days, Dr. Chad Stone is apparently out as principal of Tift County High School.

On Wednesday, the school system announced that an interim principal will serve for the remainder of the school year and that a search for a new principal is underway.

When the county Board of Education on Jan. 11 had placed Stone on paid administrative leave for 30 days, it also decided not to renew his contract that ends June 30.

On Thursday, Stone told the Tifton Grapevine that "I have been told they will re-evaluate my employment status for the rest of the year on Feb. 26. ... I am on admin leave, is what I have been told."

When asked Thursday to clarify the situation, school system spokesman Dana R. Spurlin, the system's chief information officer, would only say, "Chad Stone's status continues to be on paid administrative leave."

On Wednesday, the school system announced that Dr. Jerry Baker, who had served as Tift's interim superintendent, will be TCHS's interim principal "throughout the remainder of the school year or until such time that a permanent replacement is hired for this position. The search for this position will begin immediately."

Meanwhile, Stone is appealing a state commission's 30-day suspension of his educator certification.

The Ga. Professional Standards Commission (PSC) on Jan. 11 had suspended Stone's certification for 30 days after ruling he had violated three professional standards dealing with misuse of public funds and property, remunerative conduct, and unethical professional conduct.

The PSC declined to give specifics of its findings "until there is a resolution."

On Thursday, Stone told the Tifton Grapevine: "Yes, I have filed an appeal to the PSC" over its ruling. Stone noted that the PSC "said I can teach and be a school leader after the days are served."

Popular with both students and parents, Stone has been TCHS principal since 2020. Before that, he spent eight years as principal at Eighth Street Middle School. Last year. Stone was named Georgia's Principal of the Year.

SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR TIFT FOOTBALL COACH; FORMER COACH RETURNS TO MICHIGAN

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County School System on Wednesday released a timeline in its search for a new head football coach at Tift County High School to succeed Noel Dean, who was announced Thursday as the new head coach at Chelsea (Mich.) High School. 

In Tift County, feedback sessions with "players, parents, and community stakeholders" are underway as well as conversations with potential coach candidates, the Tift County School System said in a press release.

Beginning next week, committee interviews will be conducted with candidates for the Tift position, followed by superintendent interviews with the top candidates.

Tift Schools Superintendent Natalie Gore hopes to have a recommendation to the Board of Education during February.

The position became vacant following Dean's resignation after three disappointing seasons in Tift County. Dean, a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, had coached three state champion teams in Michigan, and his teams there made three additional appearances in state finals, had nine regional championships, amassed 12 district titles, 10 conference championships, 20 playoff appearances, and 15 Academic All-State teams.

TIFT JOBLESS RATE RISES SLIGHTLY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County's unemployment rate rose slightly during December but still was below its jobless rate of a year ago, according to data released Thursday by the Ga. Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County's jobless rate rose to 2.5% in December, up from 2.4% in November. One year ago in December, Tift recorded a 2.7% unemployment rate, according to the GDOL.

Tift County’s labor force – the number of people who are employed or are unemployed and seeking employment – was at 20,902 during the month, which is an increase of 150 from the same month a year before, according to GDOL data.

December's jobless rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 3.7% vs. 3.7%; Worth, 2.6% vs. 3.0%; Irwin, 3.7% vs. 3.4%; Cook, 3.2% vs. 2.9%; Berrien, 4.6% vs. 3.5%; and Ben Hill, 4.1% vs. 3.8%.

Statewide, the December unemployment rate held steady at 3.4%, unchanged for the fourth consecutive month, said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson.

Georgia's rate remained three-tenths lower than the national jobless rate.

"Georgia posted incredible numbers in 2023, sporting a blockbuster year with over 5.1 million Georgians employed," Thompson said. "With existing companies continuing to expand and a stream of new companies calling Georgia home, 2024 appears to be headed for all-time highs again."

TIFTAREA YMCA BUILDS LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, DIRECTOR SAYS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tiftarea YMCA works to build partnerships with other local organizations, executive director Jason Bishoff told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday. 

Two initiatives this month and next are the "Try the Y" opportunity to get a free week to work out and attend YMCA classes in January and the Father-Daughter Dance on Feb. 9, to be held at the First Baptist Church Ministry Center. Tickets are available at the front desk of the Y on Carpenter Road. 

Bishoff said that taking his daughter to the dance when she was eight years old was his introduction to the YMCA. “That’s what the Y is about,” he said, “spending family time together doing things that are important.” 

“That day is just for her, spending time with her,” he said. “Stay off your phone and just enjoy your time with your dads and your daughters. Now I get to make things like that happen.”

The YMCA after-school program at the Anthony Bateman Center on 17th Street is a partnership with the City of Tifton.

“We’ve got 40-50 kids every day ... to get access to teachers, homework assistance, computer skills, and access to Wifi, which some kids in our community don’t have,” he said. The program is also hosted at Traveler’s Rest Church and at the YMCA on Carpenter Road.

And businesses and individuals help sponsor the Y Christmas event, which provides toys and gifts for about 145 kids that wouldn’t have Christmas gifts otherwise.

“We have partners that help us do those things,” Bishoff said. 

“We have events like the Tour de Tifton, a bike ride all over South Georgia, from Tifton to Rebecca and back,” he said. It has routes that are 11 miles, 20, 40, 60, and 100 miles long.

“It’s bringing people into our community from all around. Last year, we had somebody from Canada come to Tour de Tifton.” 

The YMCA is affecting people from all different ages, he said. Sports for children include soccer, T-ball, flag football, and basketball.

The YMCA also has six new pickleball courts in its airnaseum. The Y also updated the women’s workout section of the gym with new equipment provided through the sponsorship of The Howard Center. 

“That’s what we do, promote the health for all of our community,” Bishoff said.

The YMCA has been operating in Tifton for 25 years. Founded on Christian principles, the Tiftarea YMCA was a vision of the late local businessman Lamar Jackson, who saw a newspaper article about some young people who had gotten into trouble and were arrested. Jackson thought the community needed something more to help provide positive activities for youth.

One of those young people who was arrested more than 25 years ago is now a Tiftarea YMCA board member.

“That’s what the Y is all about,” Bishoff said. 

He noted that among upcoming events is the YMCA's Butch Davis Dinner on March 4, an event and fundraiser in memory of one of the local YMCA’s founders.

GLEN HARRIS RECEIVES PEANUT RESEARCH, EDUCATION AWARD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Dr. Glen Harris, (pictured at right) a University of Georgia Extension soil fertility specialist in Tifton, received the Georgia Peanut Research and Education Award last week at the 47th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference in Tifton.

Harris is a long-term member of both the UGA Extension peanut and cotton teams, working closely with county agents and growers through education and addressing soil fertility issues.

Presenting the award is Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman (pictured at left).

ADEL TO HOLD DOG & CAT FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS

Adel Animal Control Officer Regenia Wells will be giving away a truckload of pet food to people in the Adel community at the Adel Police Department from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, or until the food runs out that day.

A second event will be held at the Cook County Sheriff's Office from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31, or until the food runs out. Wells applied for and received the food donations to distribute to the community. 

Participants must be at least 20 years old and provide a valid ID. This is a "drive-through" event at both locations. There will also be cat litter, dog treats, and dog toys available on a limited basis. Volunteers, law enforcement officers, rescue personnel, and elected officials will be on hand to help load bags of pet food.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

'KEEP 'EM WARM' COAT DRIVE SUCCESSFUL: Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes’ 15th annual “Keep Em’ Warm” coat drive for children was another success. A total of 580 new and gently used coats were donated from around the community distributed to kids who needed a warm coat, including children in the Tifton Housing Authority's Peterson Apartments.

TIFT COUNTY HIGH'S STAR STUDENT & TEACHER: The 2024 Tift County High School STAR student, Ujvali Patel, and STAR teacher, Erin Davis, were announced Thursday at the high school. The STAR student designation can only be given to graduating high school seniors who have the highest score on the SAT for a single test date, as well as be in the top 10% or top 10 students of their class on grade point average alone.

TIFTON PLANS CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY: The six-week program helps participants learn about the daily operations of the Tifton Police Department. The Citizens Police Academy is a free program limited to 16 participants. The application deadline is Feb. 14 (Click Here!).

CLINT BLACK COMING TO TIFTON: Country music star Clint Black is making a stop in Tifton during his 35th anniversary "Killin' Time" tour. He will be in the Friendly City on Friday, April 12, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. Black has sold more than 20 million records, written and recorded 22 No.1 singles, and has been awarded nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards, a Grammy, and numerous CMA, ACM, and American Music Awards. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has been honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Nashville Walk of Fame. 

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COVID-19 data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Jan. 24:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,188 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 22 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES: 83

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 203 

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,434,925

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 7,898

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 36,129 ..................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 30 

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE TIFTAREA

Saturday, Jan. 27, is National Chocolate Cake Day. For many folks, chocolate cake was love at first bite. Chocolate cake became more popular in America after the Duff Co. of Pittsburgh introduced Devil’s food chocolate cake mixes to households. Then in 1947, Betty Crocker launched its first series of dry cake mixes led by – of course – chocolate.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26

• Tift County High Girls Basketball vs. Thomas County Central, 6 p.m., TCHS, Tifton
• South Georgia Gospel Sing-Out concert with The Inspirations, The Kingsmen, Jeff & Sheri Easter, and The Down East Boys, 7 p.m., Grand Theatre, Fitzgerald
• Tift County High Boys Basketball vs. Thomas County Central, 7:30 p.m., TCHS, Tifton

SATURDAY, JAN. 27

• Tift County High Girls Basketball @ Sumter County High, 6 p.m., Americus
• Tift County High Boys Basketball @ Sumter County High, 7:30 p.m., Americus

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Jolene" is ready to be taken to her forever home. Visit Jolene and other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).