Tift BOE Race Has 2-Vote Margin

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

MARILYN R. BURKS......

...AMBROSE B. KING JR.

INCUMBENT BURKS EDGES KING BY

2 VOTES IN BOE RACE

TIFT OK's T-SPLOST BY 59%

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Marilyn R. Burks, incumbent Tift County Board of Education (BOE) member, narrowly edged challenger Ambrose B. King Jr. by two votes in unofficial results during Tuesday's Democratic primary election.

Also Tuesday, Tift countians voted to continue the one-cent Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax, or T-SPLOST, by a vote of 59% to 41%.

In the BOE race for Distrct 1, in which the Democratic nominee faces no opposition in November, Burks received 156 votes to King's 154. When contacted, King said he intends to request a recount and is assessing the situation.

Georgia law allows a recount to be requested if the margin is less than or equal to 0.5%. Burks received 50.32% of the vote to King's 49.68%, according to elections officials.

“I want to thank the voters in School Board District 1 for their continued support, and I look forward to serving another four years,” Burks told the Tifton Grapevine late Tuesday night.

In the T-SPLOST vote in Tift County, a continuation of the current one-cent sales tax for transportation projects passed 1,650 to 1,132.

In several other results Tuesday, incumbent Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes easily won the Democratic nomination for District 2 with 70% of the vote, 155-66, over challenger Cal Russell Thomas.

In state House races, Jaclyn Dixon Ford won the GOP nomination for state House District 170 over Danny Roberson by a vote of 3,497 to 821, or by 81%. The seat, which has been held by Rep. Penny Houston, who is retiring, encompasses part of Tift County. In Tift, Ford received 78% of the vote.

In House District 169, Angie O'Steen led William E. Roberts with 75% of the district's votes tabulated in the Republican primary. The winner of the GOP nomination will face Democrat Theresa R. Rewis in the fall to succeed Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, who did not seek re-election.

In the Democratic primary for Congressional District 8, Darrius Butler led Vince Watkins by 70% to 30% of the vote with 90% of the district reporting, according to the Georgia secretary of state's office. The winner of that race will face U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, in November.

TIFT SCHOOLS SAYS ADIOS 'DIABLO'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

"Diablo," we hardly knew ya!

After a five-year run, Tift County Schools' "Diablo" devil head logo has been "discontinued" with the end of the school year last week.

The logo had both its supporters and its critics. It had replaced a traditional devil head and was intended to represent the true origin of the "Blue Devils."

During World War I, the Chasseurs Alpins unit, nicknamed "les Diables Bleus," or "the Blue Devils," were well-known French soldiers. They gained attention when fighting in the French Alps.

Their distinctive blue uniform with flowing cape and jaunty beret captured public imagination. When the United States entered the war, units of the French Blue Devils toured the U.S. to help raise money in the war effort. Even songwriter Irving Berlin captured the spirit in song, describing them as "strong and active, most attractive ... those Devils, the Blue Devils of France."

The Diablo logo represented the fighting Blue Devils along with the Tift "T" on the helmet.

When asked why the logo was being retired, school system spokesman Jonathan Judy would only say: "We will explore logo options over the next few months. We will engage more community feedback before we have any replacement logo for the 'Diablo' logo."

So, adios Diablo; let's hope the school system doesn't have a "devil" of a time creating a new logo that's well received.

Celebrating the completion of the Fulwood Park Nature Trail Disc Golf Course are, from left, Angela Elder with Tifton-Tift County Tourism, Jason Urroz with the Kids In Parks program, Tim Petrea with the Tift County Recreation Department, Dr. Glen Harris with the Tift County Disc Golf Association, and Rosalie Reeder with Tifton-Tift County Tourism.

FULWOOD DISC GOLF COURSE ALSO OFFERS KIDS 'INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES'

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A nearly two-year project redesigning and enhancing the disc golf course in Tifton's Fulwood Park has been completed this week with the installation of new permanent tee signs that not only give pro tips to disc golfers but offer information about the trees and plants in the park.

The Fulwood Park Nature Trail Disc Golf Course is part of the nationwide Kids in Parks TRACK Trails program, and Fulwood Park now has the first Kids in Parks TRACK Trail in Georgia. The free program is a growing network of family-friendly outdoor adventures, called TRACK Trails, that offer children interactive experiences outdoors in nature.

"While moving through the course, kids will be able to utilize interactive elements on the signs to learn about history and nature while having an individualized adventure allowing them to earn badges and prizes," said Tift County Recreation Director Tim Petrea.

"As always, I am excited to get kids and families more active in the outdoors while also sharing my love for the sport of disc golf," he said.

Kids in Parks offers activities, such as identifying the parts of a flower, as well as numerous brochures online; kids can go online and track their nature adventures to earn free prizes.

"In addition to the redesign of the disc golf course, this partnership opens the course to not just a disc-golf experience but also a continued learning experience for both the young and young-at-heart who come to play the course," Petrea said.

In recent months, Fulwood Park's disc golf course has been redesigned and reconfigured, new concrete tee pads were installed, and new disc golf baskets have been placed along the course. The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Commission provided tourism product development funds for the project.

"For the local disc golfer, this project has already enhanced their experience at Fulwood Park and introduced more players to our course. In addition, this will allow for more challenging tournament opportunities in hopes of making Tifton an even better destination for disc golf," Petrea said.

"I am very grateful to have been able to partner with the City of Tifton and Tifton Tourism on this project. ... I truly believe that this project has brought a great improvement to the already loved Fulwood Park."

SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS

20 POSITIONS VACANT, SCARBROUGH SAYS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Twenty positions are unfilled in the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Gene Scarbrough told the the Tifton Rotary Club last week.

Ten of those vacant positions are sworn officers, and 10 are non-sworn. The department is funded for 113 officers, and they are down to 93.

“Nobody wants to do it any more,” the sheriff said. “It’s what they have to go through. Law enforcement is not a job; it’s a calling.”

He said the department was down 14 sworn officers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interactions with the public are more contentious every day, Scarbrough said. The hourly rate for deputies is $21.25, “which is not nearly enough for what they do and what they have to put up with,” he said. Investigators’ pay is $22.24.

The most dangerous situations officers face are traffic stops, the sheriff said, and the biggest problem for the department is young gang members breaking and entering cars.

“Ninety-five percent of it goes back around to drugs,” Scarbrough said, “and they want to feel like they belong to something.”

He said there are about 17 gangs operating in Tift County, and he's seen gang members as young as 9 and 10 years old.

The CHAMPS program for fifth graders is making a difference, he said. Founded in 2003 by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, CHAMPS stands for Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety.

Scarbrough said the community needs to show kids they care before they are teenagers.

The sheriff said the department answers “every call we get.” From May 2023 through May 2024, the department answered 26,210 calls. “That’s almost a hundred calls a day,” he said.

The number of business properties checked was 7,940, to make sure doors are locked. Residential checks numbered 5,944. Scarbrough said deputies will check residential properties when people notify them that they will be out of town.

The number of arrests made was 573, mostly property crimes and misdemeanors, not including traffic citations.

In the past year, the Sheriff's Office served 1,273 warrants, worked 291 traffic accidents, completed 1,109 incident reports, and responded to 300 domestic violence reports, which are going up, Scarbrough said. “That’s tragic; we get a domestic call just about every day.”

During the year, the Sheriff's Office wrote 6,348 traffic citations, and criminal investigations numbered 721. Deputies transported 1,229 inmates for 170,940 miles. “That’s where a lot of our gas money goes,” Scarbrough said.

Court security amounted to 620 events and 12,580 cases tried and handled in Tift County. Jail activity included 2,464 inmates booked and 2,698 inmates released from jail. “We run about 200 inmates a day,” he said. The cost to house them is about $30 a day per inmate.

“It’s a strain on our people to do what we have to do, with 10 people down,” he said. “If it wasn’t something they wanted to do, they wouldn’t do it with the conditions they have to work under.”

Scarbrough said his upcoming term is his last as sheriff; he is unopposed for re-election in November.

Tiftarea YMCA Tour de Tifton representatives present a check to Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation Director Mandy Brooks. From left are Penny Peters, Tiftarea YMCA CEO Jason Bishoff, Brooks, David Nelson, and Paul Horst.

YMCA'S TOUR de TIFTON DONATES TO TRMC FOUNDATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tiftarea YMCA recently donated a portion of its proceeds from the 14th annual Tour de Tifton and Ilse Boyette Memorial Bike Ride to the Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Foundation.

Tour de Tifton, held March 23, had 67 cyclists participating. There were different scenic routes ranging from beginner to experienced riders, 11 miles to 100 miles in length.

A portion of the funds from the Tour de Tifton and Ilse Boyette Memorial Ride will benefit the Ilse Boyette Book Scholarship made possible through the TRMC Foundation.

“Two $500 scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis to non-traditional students who need assistance with books,” said Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation director.

Boyette’s family established this scholarship to help students obtain a college education.

“Ilse is remembered for giving back. She was an avid bicyclist who helped organize, volunteer, and participate in the first Tour de Tifton in 2009. She was also a dedicated registered nurse at Tift Regional, where she spent over 20 years making a significant impact in the lives of others,” Brooks said.

AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION SERVICE HIRES OUTGOING REP. CLAY PIRKLE AS DIRECTOR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Clay Pirkle, a Turner County farmer who is ending his service in the state House of Representatives, has been named director of operations for the Ga. Federal State Inspection Service.

The service inspects agricultural commodities grown and/or marketed in Georgia.

As director, Pirkle is training to become president of the inspection service. Its Board of Directors said it has chosen this approach for a smooth transition by providing Pirkle on-the-job training. T.E. Moye will remain as president during the training period.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture "sets the guidelines and parameters for the inspection process, and it can be a lengthy learning period to completely understand the working relationship Ga. Federal State has with farmers, buying points, shellers, and USDA," the board said.

Moye said he looks forward to working with Pirkle "as he learns the procedures for inspecting peanuts, other nuts, fruits, and vegetables that are produced and/or imported into the state of Georgia."

Pirkle has served as the state representative for District 169, which includes part of Tift County, since 2015; he is not seeking re-election.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Edward Jones – Alec Joiner

602 N. Central Ave., Tifton

May 16

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Lunaflare" has a story of luck and resilience. Accidentally trapped in a storage building, she endured a near-death experience. It’s taken some time, but she has regained a healthy weight and strength. Now, she’s thriving and eagerly awaiting a loving home. Come visit Lunaflare between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

FIRE DESTROYS MAIN STREET STORE

~ MAY 21, 1913

A fire on May 21, 1913, destroyed Sam and Harry Kulbersh's dry goods store on Tifton's Main Street. The stock and fixtures were valued at approximately $18,000. The

Kulbershes had $7,200 in insurance.