Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023

Tifton, Georgia

GrapeNew
478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

RABID FOX ATTACKS WOMAN, DOG IN TIFTON NEIGHBORHOOD

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The South Health District of the Georgia Department of Public Health is working with Tift County Animal Control regarding a rabid fox attack on a pregnant woman and her chihuahua Thursday on Murray Avenue in Tifton.


The fox was caught and exterminated the day of the incident and was sent for lab testing immediately, where a rabies diagnosis was confirmed, said Kristin Patten, public information officer/risk communicator with the South Health District.


Eric Wisham with Wisham Jellies in Tifton said the fox attacked his wife, Katie, and their dog at 6 a.m. Thursday outside their home between 12th and 14th streets. Wisham said Katie let their dog Piper out about 6 a.m., and then heard her yelping. Katie went outside to see the dog being attacked, running in circles from a fox.

 

Katie picked Piper up and then fell,” Wisham said. The fox then began attacking her legs, scratching and biting. “She kicked the fox a few times and started screaming.” 


Wisham heard his wife screaming his name, ran outside, and saw the fox running away. He took his wife to Tift Regional‘s Emergency Department, and his mother-in-law took Piper to the veterinarian


Katie spent five hours in the ER, receiving nine shots – one vaccine, and one in each of eight wounds on both legs. She was bitten once and scratched several times.

“It was pretty bad, pretty serious,” Wisham said. 


Unfortunately, because of the dog’s injuries and her age, 17, she had to be euthanized.

 

“We’re trying to take it day by day,” Wisham said. Katie is about 5½ months pregnant with a due date of Jan. 25, so the couple is concerned. “Nothing is guaranteed, and they have to pump a lot of this medication into her,” Wisham said. 


In all, she will have 12 shots to prevent the disease. Katie is a third-grade teacher at Matt Wilson Elementary School.


Wisham mentioned that foxes are pretty skittish and run when they see humans, and this one wasn’t backing down. “I’ve seen possums, but never foxes” in the neighborhood, Wisham said.


If a person comes into contact with an animal that is believed to be rabid, the individual should seek medical treatment for post-exposure as quickly as possible, said the South Health District.


“After a person seeks medical care, it is very important that they report the bite to Tift County Animal Control or Tift County Health Department,” said Tamika Pridgon, environmental health specialist. “We take reports of possible rabies exposure extremely seriously and want to ensure we can take the proper steps to protect the public’s health.”


It is also important to immediately contact animal control when animals are acting strangely and exhibiting signs of rabies. Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis. Warmer weather increases the possibility of coming across wild animals – many of which can carry rabies – so residents are encouraged to be especially vigilant during warmer months.


Several species of wild animals that are native to South Georgia – including raccoons, foxes, and bats – can carry rabies. Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. 


The Tift County Environmental Health office offers the following tips to protect individuals from rabies:

  • Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
  • Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines by four months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later, and another one every year as prescribed by your veterinarian.
  • Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
  • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
  • Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.


If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Tift County Animal Control at 229-382-7387 and the Tift County Environmental Health office at 229-386-7967.

MISSING KAYAKER FOUND IN TIFT AFTER ALLEGEDLY FAKING DROWNING

ATTEMPTED TO EVADE RAPE CHARGES, POLICE SAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An Oklahoma man who faked his drowning death on a Louisiana river in an apparent attempt to evade rape charges was arrested Sunday in Tift County, authorities say.


A Georgia State Patrol trooper in Tift County had attempted to stop a motorcycle for not having a license plate, but the motorcyclist fled and ultimately crashed. The motorcyclist tried to flee on foot but was captured and gave police a false name. Police later identified the man as Melvin Phillip Emde, 41, of Talihina, Okla.


Emde had been reported missing by his son on Aug. 7 while kayaking on the Mississippi River in Hahnville, La., according to the St. Charles, La., Parish Sheriff's Office.


While investigating the apparent drowning, sheriff's detectives learned that Emde had pending charges of indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape of a child in North Carolina. His court date was scheduled one day after being reported missing, authorities said.


“We immediately became quite suspicious that this may have been a faked accidental drowning and death in order for Mr. Emde to escape charges in Brunswick County, N.C.," said St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne in a statement.


"However, we could not publicly expose our suspicions for fear of tipping him off,” Champagne said. 


Anyone with any information pertaining to the case is asked to contact Detective Joshua Deroche with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office at 985-783-6807, or jderoche@stcharlessheriff.org

IMPENDING RETIREMENT OF TCHS PRINCIPAL SPARKS REACTIONS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The surprise announcement that Tift County High School's popular principal Dr. Chad Stone is retiring at the end of the school year has created a wave of reactions from students and parents who allege that school officials are forcing Stone to leave.


The hashtag "#IStandWithStone" has been appearing frequently in social media.


On Tuesday, Stone took to social media, posting a video explaining his side of the situation and stating, "I was not forced to resign or retire from my position. I chose to move toward retirement because that option is the best for myself and my family."


A spokesman for the Tift County School System, Jonathan Judy, told the Tifton Grapevine: "With it being a personnel issue, we currently have no comment."


When contacted, Jonathan Jones, chairman of the Tift County Board of Education, said, "We are evaluating the situation to make the best decisions for the students of our school system."


In his video, Stone noted that the past two years were "challenging" for his family, with his young daughter undergoing surgery for a brain tumor and with the death of a parent. In his video, he cited several meetings with school officials during the past two years during which some of his actions, or alleged actions, were criticized.


Just days before his daughter's surgery in 2021, he said, school officials approached him to "make sure I understood that school officials cannot use their position to gain personally." Stone said he had nothing to do with online funding initiatives that had been set up to aid his family with medical costs.


Then last year, he was told that district officials had concerns about his attempt to trademark his longtime slogan "Better Today Than Yesterday," or "BTTY." He dropped those plans, he said.


"Last year I was asked to apply for state principal of the year," Stone said, which he won.


"I view the honor as an honor for Tift County, not for me," Stone said, adding that he wanted to "showcase" the teachers and students at Tift County High. He is now up for national principal of the year.


Stone said that just a few days ago he was called into a meeting, and "I was told it appeared to school leaders and the board that I was putting myself over the (school) system to win a national award; this hurts my heart because I was trying to promote our great school district."


At that latest meeting, he said he was also questioned about some his numerous social-media posts highlighting local businesses and was told it appeared he was making commercials.


"I have not received any monetary payments" from those businesses, Stone said, adding that he was promoting students and recognizing stakeholders in the community who support the schools.


Following the latest meeting, Stone said he and family decided that since his actions were apparently hurting the school system, he would resign at the end of the school year. However, he said he discovered that he is essentially two years away from getting retirement and that he hopes to purchase the remaining time to reach retirement benefits.


So, he said, he plans to retire June 30. Stone has been TCHS principal since 2020. Before that, he spent eight years as principal at Eighth Street Middle School.

TIFTON MAN FACES CHARGES IN AUTO BREAK-INS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton Police recently arrested a Tifton man wanted for several break-ins in two Middle Georgia counties, authorities say.


Jakwan Golson of Tifton faces charges of entering auto and criminal trespass in Monroe County and multiple charges involving break-ins in Baldwin County, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.


A surveillance system helped law enforcement identify a suspect in a car break-in Sept. 1, at a boat ramp in Juliette, east of Forsyth, the sheriff's office said. Investigators say they uncovered evidence linking the suspect to multiple auto break-ins in both Monroe and neighboring Baldwin County.


When apprehending the suspect, Tifton Police were led on a brief chase, authorties said.

PRINCE AUTOMOTIVE DONATES TO TIFT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Prince Automotive of Tifton donated $2,500 to the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence (TCFEE) on Tuesday in addition to $2,500 from the Toyota Dealer Match program.


During the past 12 years, Prince of Tifton has donated a total of $60,000 to TCFEE to promote educational excellence in Tift County public schools.


In the photo above, Heidi Prince Massey, left, and Heather Prince Stripling, right, of Prince Automotive, present a check to TCFEE President Nathan Johnson.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE/J.A.K.E.S. DAY

FREE ACTIVITIES THIS SATURDAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The annual Outdoor Adventure Day and J.A.K.E.S. Day is being observed Saturday at Paradise Public Fishing Area in Brookfield.


The fishing and outdoor event, hosted by Paradise Public Fishing Area and the National Wild Turkey Federation, is for children up to 15 years old with their parents.


Fishing begins at 7:30 a.m. until noon. Registration for prizes begins at 9 a.m. The National Wild Turkey Federation will provide a free hotdog lunch with prizes drawn afterward.


Activities will include adult-child fishing in Lakes Cup and Saucer, bass fishing in Lake Bowl, where an experienced bass angler will answer questions and offer help to catch bass.


There will also be a supervised archery and skeet range with shotguns, a Georgia hunter education BB-gun range, a Hunting and Fishing Federation fishing simulator, Georgia Forestry equipment display, ABAC forestry wildlife and Georgia Herpetological Association exhibits, Coastal Plain Regional Library activities, a Mell Baptist Association bouncy house, snacks and water, and a casting contest sponsored by Tifton Bass Busters.


Saturday is the 51st annual National Hunting and Fishing Day and is a free fishing day for all Georgia residents on any public waters, including lakes, streams, ponds, and public fishing areas.


J.A.K.E.S. Day stands for "Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship." Established in 1981, the J.A.K.E.S. program is dedicated to informing, educating, and involving youth in wildlife conservation and stewardship of natural resources.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Barbie" arrived at the animal shelter more than 100 days ago and has overcome the odds and survived after being severely ill. This gorgeous girl is now ready for her very own home. She's available at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON'S FIRST BRICK RESIDENCE

BEING CONSTRUCTED

~ SEPT. 21, 1906

On Sept. 21, 1906, J.L.L. Phillips began building the first brick residence in Tifton. The house was being constructed immediately north of the A.B. Hollingsworth residence on the corner of North Central Avenue and 12th Street. The brick residence was estimated to cost $7,000.

REACH THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN THE TIFTAREA ~
ADVERTISE IN THE TIFTON GRAPEVINE!

Call Us at 478-227-7126


IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com


Your Locally Owned Digital Newspaper!


To Subscribe, CLICK HERE!


Our MidWeek Edition includes 'This Week in Tifton History'

Our Weekender Edition includes Recent Local Deaths


www.tiftongrapevine.com

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday


Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher


Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor

A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC, Tifton, Georgia
See what's happening on our social sites:
Facebook  Instagram  Twitter