Recycling May Be Suspended

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

TIFTON MAY SUSPEND CURBSIDE RECYCLING

BUT IT CONTINUES FOR NOW, SAYS CITY MANAGER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton is considering suspending residential curbside recycling because of its cost and lack of local sites to handle recyclable material.

Recycling is "becoming counter-productive for us; the cost is rising, and it's very hard to find a market for our recyclables," City Solid Waste Director RIcky Hobby told Tifton City Council last week.

Hobby said the Cordele recycling facility, where Tifton's recycling had been transported, has closed.

"We're up against the wall on this one," City Manager Pete Pyrzenski told City Council at its workshop last week. "I don’t know what we're going to do for the next couple of weeks."

However, Pyrzenski told the Tifton Grapevine on Tuesday that, for now, the city is "going to continue on (with recycling) – if we have clean loads."

Pyrzenski and Hobby said an ongoing problem is contaminated loads of recycling, such as garbage, food, or other non-recyclable materials in recycling bins. "One can can make the whole load contaminated," Hobby explained.

Once recyclables are contaminated, they have to be dumped in the landfill, Hobby said. He added that some residents are using the recycling bins as a second garbage can.

Pyrzenski told the Grapevine that the city contractor, Ryland Environmental, is still accepting “clean" recyclables and "storing it in containers" until something is decided.

"As of right now, we don’t have a place to market the stuff," Pyrzenski told City Council.

Hobby said there is a recycling center near Columbus, but there would be added cost to transport loads there.

Vice Mayor Jack Folk said, "We're kidding ourselves" if the city thinks it is ever going to get many fully clean loads of recyclable materials. They said more education is needed about what materials can be recycled.

Folk and Mayor Julie B. Smith suggested opening "convenience centers" around the city where residents can take their sorted recyclable materials.

Pyrzenski suggested "putting a pause" on recycling for six months to give the city time to have a solid plan to move forward. "Our recycling program is in a state of flux," the city manager said.

Council took no action during its workshop and is expected to revisit the matter at its council meeting on Monday.

The Tift Theatre opened in February 1937 showing "Pennies From Heaven," and to help celebrate Tifton’s year-long sesquicentennial celebrations,

the Tift Theatre will be showing the film again on February 18 at 6:00 p.m.

"Pennies From Heaven" is a 1936 American musical comedy starring

Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, and Edith Fellows.

Tickets will be $1.25; the ticket price for the original showing was 25 cents.

To help celebrate and reserve your tickets, visit www.purplepass.com/pennies

POLICE CHARGE TWO YOUTHS IN TIFTON GUNSHOT DEATH

Two 17-year-old Tifton youths have been charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of a 38-year-old Tifton man, Tifton Police said.

Juan Diego Rodriquez and Noe Sandoval Jr., both 17 of Tifton, were taken into custody by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Sylvester Field Office agents, by U.S. marshals with the South East Regional Fugitive Task Force, and by Tifton Police detectives.

The pair are charged in connection with the death of Jorge Armando Rodriguez of Tifton.

At approximately 12:40 a.m. Feb. 5, Tifton Police responded to Ira Drive regarding a gunshot victim. Officers found a man with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. He was transported to Tift Regional Medical Center, where he later died. The victim was identified as Jorge Rodriguez, 38, of Ira Drive.

Tifton Police requested the assistance of the GBI Sylvester Field Office, and the investigation is continuing, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or leave a message with Tifton Police Detective Lt. Chris Luckey at 229-382-3132.

STAR STUDENTS 2022

Ben Wilson, left, and Michael Gregus have both been named Tift County High's STAR Student for 2022. Both students made the same score on their SAT's.

STAR Teacher Cindy Marzen with

Ben Wilson.

STAR Teacher Dr. Adriana Gregusova with Michael Gregus.

TCHS NAMES CO-STAR STUDENTS & TEACHERS

Tift County High School has co-STAR Students this year.

Seniors Ben Wilson and Michael Gregus have been named the 2022 TCHS STAR Student as both of them had the exact same high score in one sitting of The SAT. Their score was higher than the national average.

The SAT is a test created and administered by the College Board and used for admissions by many colleges and universities.

Cindy Marzen and Dr. Adriana Gregusova have been selected the high school's co- STAR Teacher. Wilson selected Marzen, and Gregus selected Gregusova as the teachers who had the most significant contributions to their education.

TIFT COVID-19 CASES

SEE DRAMATIC DROP

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Cases of COVID-19 in Tift County have declined dramatically in the past two weeks, according to data Thursday from the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift reported a total of 267 positive cases within two weeks; the previous two-week period recorded 1,487 positive cases in the county.

During the past week, Tift recorded four additional COVID-related deaths, along with 30 confirmed PCR cases and 101 confirmed cases within two weeks. When positive rapid Antigen cases are added, Tift County reports a total of 267 positive cases during the two-week period.

Tift has recorded a total of 6,229 cases with 158 deaths, the DPH said.

The state reported 1,887 positive cases Tuesday with 97 additional deaths and 240 new hospitalizations. Georgia reports a total of 1,896,497 cases with 28,781 related deaths, according to the DPH.

TIFTON

2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793

SOUTHWELL MEDICAL LAB IN ADEL EARNS TOP ACCREDITATION

Southwell Medical in Adel has announced that its laboratory has earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) based on results of a recent on-site inspection.

The CAP accreditation is awarded to laboratories that meet rigorous requirements and maintain the highest standards of laboratory quality, accuracy, and consistency, the medical center said.

“Congratulations to the Southwell Medical laboratory team,” said pathologist Dr. Jessica Beier, system laboratory medical director for Southwell.

“Our labs, which include Southwell Medical in Adel and Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, are committed to delivering the highest quality, clinically actionable information to clinicians and their patients.”

Recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program, the CAP laboratory accreditation program is recognized as the gold standard in clinical laboratory accreditation.

“We are extremely proud to receive this accreditation,” said Jay Carmichael, Southwell Medical chief operating officer. “This provides further evidence to physicians, patients, and partners that we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in laboratory quality and accuracy.”

GUEST OPINION: TIFTON FOUNDER PAVED WAY FOR TODAY'S ABAC

Opinion by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

When Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College celebrates its 114th birthday on Feb. 20, all faculty, staff, students, and alumni should give a hearty shout out to Henry Harding Tift.

The founder of Tifton was the key figure in securing the location of the Second District Agricultural and Mechanical School in Tifton when 30 men traveled to Albany on Nov. 23, 1906, to bid on the rights to host the area school.

The Tifton delegation, worth an aggregate of $10 million, according to The Tifton Gazette, bid against representatives from Albany, Pelham, Camilla, and Ashburn. The newspaper reported that Tift County’s offer was 315 acres lying along the Georgia Southern and Florida right-of-way located a mile north of town, and $30,000 in cash.

“When he rose to fill five minutes of the time allotted Tift County, Mr. Tift presented an amended bid of $55,000 in cash, free lights and water and telephone service for 10 years, a sewage system and 315 acres of land worth $50 per acre.

“Later, learning that the timber on the land was desired for forestry study, he contributed this also, it being valued at $4,500. The raise of $25,000 at a jump caused the audience to catch its breath,” according to the Gazette story.

“Mr. Tift gave out of his own pocket, having subscribed $6,500 before going to Albany, a total of $36,400 in cash, the land, $4,500 worth of timber, and a portion of the light and water offer. It was estimated that Tifton's offer now netted $95,700.

“In the committee room, Tifton led every ballot, and in the fifth balloting had eight votes, while Pelham reached seven votes, its high-water mark. Finally, in the eighth balloting, Tifton received 11, one more than necessary.”

The newspaper proclaimed in its next edition, “The Hallelujah Day Has Come, Tifton Lands the A&M School.” At a commencement ceremony years later, Tift said, “Of all the investments I have ever made, this school has brought me the biggest dividends.”

The dividends continue to this day. In 2020, ABAC had an annual economic impact of $390,015,778 on Tifton and the surrounding area. The college now has nearly 4,000 students from 155 of Georgia’s 159 counties, 52 of Florida’s 67 counties, 19 countries, and 18 states.

Most of the students major in one of 12 bachelor’s degree programs, and more than 1,300 students live on campus in apartment style residence halls.

ABAC has certainly changed over the years, including name changes to the South Georgia A&M College in 1924, the Georgia State College for Men in 1929, and ABAC in 1933. It changed from a two-year college for 75 years to a traditional four-year college in 2008.

A group of 27 students walked up the steps of the main classroom building on Feb. 20, 1908, to begin classes at the Second District A&M School. That building is now named Tift Hall. Complete with pictures and memorabilia, an area just inside the main entrance is devoted to the legacy of Henry Harding Tift.

As Tifton celebrates its sesquicentennial this year, there’s no question that Tift paved the way to the future for the community and for ABAC.

MLK BREAKFAST RESET FOR FEB. 26

PLIGHT Tifton Inc. has rescheduled its Martin Luther King Jr./Black History Month Breakfast to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Tift County Recreation Center, says Tift County Commission Vice Chair Melissa Hughes.

Dr. Shirley Hardin will be the guest speaker. She is a retired director of African American studies and English professor at Valdosta State University.

Tickets are $10 and available from any PLIGHT member, or call Clara Gray at 229-386-1552, or Hughes at 229-326-0241.

PLIGHT stands for Proud Loving Individuals Giving a Hand to Teens. The organization recognizes families that exemplify support for teenagers.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 17, the annual MLK Jr. Day Breakfast was postponed because of the surge in COVID-19 cases locally.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

'Ol' Blueye,' a very friendly female kitty with a healed eye scar, is among those available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit the shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055

NEW COCA-COLA PLANT

ANNOUNCED IN TIFTON

~ FEB. 13, 1936

Local manager C.B. Holmes announced on Feb. 13, 1936, that a new $40,000 Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plant was to be erected on the southwest corner of Tenth Street and Love Avenue in Tifton.