Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

TIFT BOE ACCEPTS SUSPENDED TCHS PRINCIPAL'S RESIGNATION

DR. CHAD STONE RESIGNS EFFECTIVE FEB. 12

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Embattled Tift County High School Principal Chad Stone, who has been suspended since a state commission last month found that he violated professional standards, has resigned.

In a special called meeting of the Tift County Board of Education (BOE) on Tuesday, the BOE accepted Stone's resignation effective Feb. 12.

Stone has not responded to the Tifton Grapevine regarding questions about his resignation. BOE Chairman Jonathan Jones also has not responded to messages from the Tifton Grapevine.

Jonathan Judy, a spokesman for the Tift County School System, confirmed that Stone's resignation was effective Feb. 12, and he is officially retiring March 1.

The Ga. Professional Standards Commission (GPSC) on Jan. 11 had suspended Stone's educator 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.

Immediately following the GPSC's decision, the Tift County BOE put Stone on paid administrative leave for 30 days and announced it was not renewing Stone's contract after this school year. The BOE later named an interim principal at Tift County High for the remainder of the year.

The "misuse of public funds" referred to Stone paying his daughter, a TCHS student, a total of $3,300 during the 2022-23 school year to clean the Brodie Field stadium after events. The remunerative and unethical professional conduct charges referred to Stone soliciting sales for a golf-cart dealer using his popular slogan "Better Today Than Yesterday" (BTTY), using students to cut out his "BTTY" decals for a vehicle he was using from a local business, and using school equipment to record a personal video critical of school district leadership that he posted on social media.

Stone previously told the Tifton Grapevine that he was appealing the GPSC's decision. He also previously told the Grapevine that the school district had said it would "re-evaluate my employment status for the rest of the year on Feb. 26."

The Tift County BOE had previously placed Stone on administrative leave in September for five days. Immediately following that action, Stone made a public apology for unspecified "ethical lapses," which he said he would "repay restitution to the school system."

Stone was Georgia's 2023 Principal of the Year and had vied for the national title.

SATURDAY MUSIC FEST TO AID 4-YEAR-OLD BATTLING LEUKEMIA

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Saturday’s “For the Love of Revel Music Fest” will benefit four-year-old Revel Crosby, who is battling leukemia.

Revel is the daughter of Tifton native and singer Danielle Hicks Crosby and granddaughter of Tifton real estate agent and musician John Hicks.

The fundraising event upstairs at the Tifton Harley-Davidson features a different area band every hour from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Connie Stover, owner of Savor the Flavor and Donatello’s in downtown Tifton, and Lonnie Lewis dreamed up the event to bring together people to make a difference.

“People need to feel like you did something for a good reason,” Stover said. “I want to give people a reason to feel better about things. I’m all about the community.” 

“This whole thing is about that little child, Revel,” said Lonnie Lewis. He said that up to a dozen members of the Tift Area Auto Club and other classic car and motorcycle owners will participate in a cruise-in at the Harley-Davidson parking lot, weather permitting. 

Tickets to the music fest are $30 individually or $50 for a couple. “It’s amazing the way this community has donated for the auction and door prizes,” Lewis said. 

Revel’s parents, Danielle, a Tiftarea Academy graduate, and Blake Crosby, are entertainers in the Savannah area.

“Their world went 180 degrees” with the diagnosis of their daughter, Lewis said. “They had to cancel all their performances in all their venues when Revel was diagnosed with a catastrophic illness. The hospital bills are running up.

“I was a sickly child, and I know what my parents went through,” Lewis said. “It touched my heart.”

Revel’s grandfather is John Hicks, who performs locally with the Mood Doctors.

“It ain’t been pretty,” Hicks said. Revel is “right back in delayed intensification, which knocks her immunity down,” so she won’t be able to attend the event as they had hoped. 

Her diagnosis came at the end of August/early September, Hicks said, after she had been on antibiotics for what they thought was bronchitis. A blood test revealed the more serious situation. Hicks said that they hoped the latest treatment beat the leukemia down to a small amount, but they just learned it will be about a two-and-a-half year battle.

The American Dream national TV show will film the event from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, interviewing participants, showing the performers, and giving out T-shirts.

“They broadcast positive things from different communities,” Connie Stover said.

Musicians performing are: 11 a.m. – Randy Wiley; noon – G-Man Garfield Rhaney;

1 p.m. – Mood Doctors; 2 p.m. – Evergreen Family; 3 p.m. – Music Solution; 4 p.m. – 10 Mile Bay; 5 p.m. – Headline; 6 p.m. – The Page Brothers; 7 p.m. – Unknown Allstars; 8 p.m. – Derrick Dove; and 9 p.m. – jam hour with all participating bands performing together in a grand finale.

Stover is calling the silent auction portion of the program “Diamonds and Puppies, Oh My!”

“We have a full-blooded Pom-Chi puppy donated, along with its papers,” she said. A breeder is donating the puppy, along with another puppy, a Shih-poo. Both are eight weeks old and fully vetted, valued at $1,500 each, Stover said. 

Another big ticket auction item is a one-carat, marquis-cut diamond from Central Jewelers, valued at $2,200. Discount Diamonds donated a diamond cross in white gold, and a men’s Seiko and a lady’s Bulova watches. Turner’s Furniture donated a recliner. A total of 25 items have been donated to the silent auction. 

Also, at least 30 items have been donated as door prizes to be given away to every ticket holder, and attendees may buy more chances to win. Door prizes include a leather totebag, Yeti drink tumblers, gem necklaces from Little Hippy Chick, and gift certificates from Fresco Italiano and Mi-Lady Bakery. Also, a 50/50 drawing will be conducted.

“My goal is to raise $10,000,” Stover said. “It’s for Revel, whatever she needs. We will have a unicorn to fill with donations for her. She loves unicorns.” 

TCHS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTS CHASON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Mike Chason, public relations director emeritus at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been inducted into the Tift County High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Named the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award, Chason had previously been inducted into the ABAC Athletics Hall of Fame and the Valdosta State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Thank you very much for this significant honor,” Chason said. “I am fortunate that God has given me the ability to sit in gymnasiums and stadiums across this state and talk about Tift County High School athletes on radio and television. I feel like I have won the Triple Crown Hall of Fame with ABAC, VSU, and now Tift County. It’s still a lot of fun.”

Chason continues to be the play-by-play voice for VSU basketball for home games and postseason tournament action. Since 1990, Chason has also called the names of the graduates at the annual TCHS commencement ceremony and at ABAC’s fall and spring commencements.

Hired by Tifton radio station WWGS in 1984 to call TCHS football games, Chason continued to call Blue Devil football on various stations through 2011. He also hosted Blue Devil Review, a half-hour highlights show on the Northside Baptist Church TV channel, which also featured the replay of TCHS games.

Chason has also called many TCHS basketball games from 1986 through 2013. He was the voice of ABAC basketball from 1979-2008.

Serving as ABAC's public relations director from 1979 until his retirement in 2011, Chason received emeritus status in 2012 and still handles part-time duties with the college.

CHAMBER HONORS SCHOOLS' 'STARS'

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

STAR Students and STAR Teachers from Tift County High School and Tiftarea Academy were recognized Thursday during the monthly membership luncheon of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce. In above photo at left is TCHS Star Teacher Erin Davis with TCHS Star Student Ujvali Patel. In above photo on the right are Tiftarea Academy Star Teacher Johnny Branton with TA's Star Student Jesse Jones.

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE LINKED TO TEEN SUICIDE, ROTARIANS TOLD

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Teen dating violence is linked to teen suicide, the second-highest cause of death for teens, Nancy Bryan, executive director of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House, told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday. 

February is a time to bring awareness to teen dating violence, defined as an unhealthy or abusive relationship between teens.

“The relationship is often volatile, but teens may not understand that some behaviors are not healthy,” Bryan said. “For example, a young woman may think that her boyfriend teasing her about her weight or constantly talking about her appearance is normal – but it is not. It is a form of emotional abuse that may lead to physical violence.” 

At 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, Ruth’s Cottage and the Patticake House, with support from Target, is presenting a free movie at the Tift Theatre entitled “The Last Drop.” It’s a 40-minute sci-fi film designed to reveal early signs of abuse before a relationship turns violent.

“It’s a great vehicle for making the point to teens about relationships and recognizing those that are not healthy,” Bryan said. The film’s creator, Adam Joel, will be on hand to tell his story. 

Teen domestic violence includes four types of behavior, Bryan said: Psychological aggression, physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking. 

The Centers for Disease Control has declared that teen suicide is a public health problem, and a major risk factor is whether the teen encountered any form of domestic violence. 

Before they become adults, one in three teens will experience emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from someone with whom they are in a relationship, Bryan said. Usually, it involves females, but one in 36 males experience the same abuse.

Bryan said 1.5 million high school students in the United States are physically abused by their partner. She said 8.5 million women first experience rape before the age of 18. Before the age of 18, approximately 3.5 million women and nearly 1 million men first experienced being stalked. 

Among college students who were sexually assaulted, many assaults occurred while on a date. 

“What can you do?” Bryan said. “Become a trusted source of information about relationships. Be sure your child understands the importance of respect in relationships, respecting others and expecting respect for themselves. Raise your child to be assertive – to speak up for themselves and voice opinions. 

“If you do hear that a young person is being abused, don’t try to handle the situation on your own,” Bryan said. If the abuse is taking place at the school, people should inform school officials. Otherwise, contact the 24/7 Stop the Hurt local hotline at 229-388-1541.

Amanda and Timothy Oswalt of My Little Cupcake in Omega, in photo at upper left, won the Best Presentation Award, and Cole's Cakery received the Judge's Choice Award in Friday's "Choc-It-Up for Literacy" chocolate event. In photo at upper right, Literacy Volunteers Executive Director Andrea McLemore (standing at left in photo) poses with Cole's Cakery representatives.

TIFT'S TOP CHOCOLATES CHOSEN AT 'CHOC-IT-UP FOR LITERACY' EVENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Rutland Farms swept two categories last Friday at the 10th annual "Choc-It-Up for Literacy" chocolate event at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture's conference center.

Rutland Farms received the awards for Best Taste and for Most Original at the fundraiser hosted by Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County.

My Little Cupcake won the Best Presentation Award, and Cole’s Cakery was awarded Judge’s Choice.

Guests vote for their favorites during the event.

Eight restaurants and bakeries showcased their chocolate creations, and many local businesses donated items to the live and silent auctions. The top auction item was a trip to Dahlonega, donated by Liz Carson Keith.

The event raises awareness and funds for Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, which provides scholarships and transportation to GED students at Southern Regional Technical College Tifton campus.

Jimmy John’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, Panera Bread, Publix, and Red Lobster also provided chocolate desserts. South Georgia Banking Co. sponsored and staffed the coffee, milk, and water station. Laura Wiley provided music, and Rick Phillips was the auctioneer.

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COVID-19 data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Feb. 14:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,249 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 40 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks: 129

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 316 

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,447,258

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 8,891

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 36,278 ................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 50 

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE TIFTAREA

Saturday, Feb. 17, is National Random Acts of Kindness Day, created to cultivate feelings of kindness and brighten up another's day. The day was initiated in 1995 in Denver, Colo., by a nonprofit organization called The Random Acts Of Kindness Foundation. The event spread to New Zealand in 2004, and has become even more widespread. Every small act of kindness is significant. It may seem like it doesn’t accomplish much but, just like the domino effect, one act of kindness can lead to more positive outcomes.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

• James Gregory, live comedy show, 7:30 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

• "For the Love of Revel" Music Fest, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Harley-Davidson, Tifton

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

"Coal," a fun-loving guy, has a heart as warm as his name. Visit this sweet guy 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).