Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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TIFT BOE HALTS PROPOSAL TO BROADCAST ITS MEETINGS AND WON'T SAY WHY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County school system was prepared to begin broadcasting Board of Education (BOE) meetings live to the public in July but BOE members halted it and won’t explain why.

The Tifton Grapevine obtained an email dated July 12 from Board Chairman Jonathan Jones to Superintendent Natalie Gore in which Jones wrote: “The Board has not discussed this change, and does not approve, consent, or plan to discuss changes to the board meeting proceedings at this time. I have polled the board members, and no one supports this.”

When asked why the Board is against broadcasting or taping its public meetings, Jones responded: “Live-streaming and/or recording of board meetings was not discussed with the board, and to the best of our knowledge was not a budgeted expense.”

When confronted with his email about polling the board, Jones told the Grapevine: “Correct, to make sure board members continued to have the same thought process about live-streaming as discussed in years prior.”

Jones did not address why the Board is opposed to it. 

It is the Grapevine’s understanding that the equipment and technology was already available without additional expense, to broadcast and record the meetings for the public. The school system has routinely livestreamed other events, such as Tift County High School’s graduation ceremony.

For more than a decade, Tifton City Council has video-recorded all its public meetings, posting them a day later to YouTube, where the public may access them, and linking the videos on the city’s official website.

The Grapevine reached out individually to each school board member and asked why they opposed livestreaming and/or video recording their public meetings.  None of them responded to the question.

The only responses the Grapevine received from the elected Board members was Jones’s response cited above and a note from Board member Pat Mckinnon thanking us for our email. McKinnon is seeking re-election without opposition this year.

Attached is the full email on the topic from Jones to former Superintendent Gore, who was fired Sept. 2. She told the Grapevine that she is not receiving any severance pay or payment from the remainder of her contract.

From: Jonathan Jones

Date: Sun, Jul 12, 2026 at 3:18 PM

Subject: Directive

To: Natalie Gore

Cc: Marilyn Burks

Good Afternoon Superintendent Gore,

We have read in the Tift Schools Update, provided to us yesterday, that the board meetings will be livestreamed going forward according to that note. This comes at a surprise to us.

The Board has not discussed this change, and does not approve, consent, or plan to discuss changes to the board meeting proceedings at this time. I have polled the board members, and no one supports this.

Please take this communication as a directive that board meetings shall not be livestreamed, video recorded, or audio recorded without the consent of the board.

Respectfully,

Jonathan Jones

Chair - Tift BOE

CORRECTION

Because of a typographical error in Friday's Weekender Edition, the date of Tift County Superintendent Natalie Gore's placement on administrative leave was incorrect. It should have read that she received a written Notice of Dismissal and Termination of Contract and was placed on leave on Aug. 27, not April 27.

The former Tifton Gazette building at 211 N. Tift Ave. across from the County Courthouse (top photo) has now been repurposed as the Tift County Government Annex (pictured below). The totally renovated building will temporarily house the county courtroom when renovations begin on the Courthouse as a new Courthouse Annex is constructed. The former newspaper facility will also become home to the Tift County Board of Elections and voting machines.

RELEVANT OLD BUILDING BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER

The old gal is getting a new life.

The former home of The Tifton Gazette, when it was a daily newspaper chronicling life in Tifton and the Tiftarea, has now become the Tift County Government Annex, dedicated in memory of the late County Commissioner Fred "Buck" Rigdon Jr.

The old building – constructed in 1951-52 by then-Gazette owners Publisher Homer M. Rankin, David H. Tift, and A.C. Tift Jr. – has been gutted and totally renovated. It looks better than it ever did.

"I just think this building is fantastic. I'm proud of how it turned out," said County Manager Jim Carter. "Of course, I'm proud of the (E.B. Hamilton Sports) Complex, but I'm really proud of this."

I am proud too. This was my building for a dozen years when I was publisher of the daily Tifton Gazette.

For 70 years, the building at the corner of Tift Avenue and Second Street had been the heart of the community, for a newspaper is much more than just another product, and its offices are more than just another structure with walls and a roof. It is where local news – both good and bad – is written and disseminated, where new brides are announced, and recent deaths are solemnly recorded.

It is where the stories of local lives are told.

Articles detailing both triumphs and tragedies emanated from within its walls. Local athletes were heralded and local, state, and national catastrophes were reported. On 9/11 – Sept. 11, 2001, our newspaper staff watched the newsroom TV as the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember the stunned silence from everybody in the room.

For the past few years, the building has sat vacant, a victim of the changing news media landscape across the nation and world. I am glad to see this well-built, important structure repurposed for the community.

Tift County, which will soon begin renovations on the current courthouse as well as constructing a new courthouse annex, will initially use the former newspaper facility as a temporary courtroom and for housing the county Board of Elections offices and voting equipment.

Within those walls, the newspaper once sought truth and sometimes justice for those oppressed. Once again, truth and justice will be sought when court convenes there.

The county purchased the site for $499,000 and spent another $2,695,818 on total renovations and parking/landscaping. County Manager Carter said the total cost of nearly $3.2 million translates to $245.73 per square foot, which he said is a bargain as brand-new construction runs between $400 and $600 a square foot.

The county held a ribbon cutting and tour Monday. The building's interior has been opened up, paint and paneling have been removed from interior bricks, and a new ceiling with pine boards has been installed.

Much is different inside, but something feels the same. Even though the press equipment had been removed long ago from the back of the building, the odor of ink and newsprint – my favorite scent – still lingered years later.

While touring the newly built offices and storerooms in the back of the building the other day, I thought I could almost smell the old pressroom – or perhaps it was merely a fragrant memory hanging in the air.

CITY OF TIFTON

REDUCES MILLAGE RATE

FOR 2026 TAX YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton City Council on Monday reduced the millage rate for Tax Year 2026, reducing the city's property tax levy for two consecutive years.

The city millage rate was set at 6.114, a reduction from last year's 6.262. Tifton's property tax levy for the current year is $3,905,581. It was $3,957,159 in 2025, and $3,986,525 in 2024.

"The City of Tifton remains committed to keeping property taxes as low as possible for our citizens while also meeting the needs of our citizens. This commitment to the needs of our residents means providing the best police and fire protection available and constantly improving city infrastructure," the city said in a press release.

A mill represents $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. In Georgia, taxable assessed value generally equals 40% of a property’s fair-market value before applicable exemptions. For example, a home with a fair-market value of $200,000 has an assessed value of $80,000. At the 2026 city rate of 6.114 mills, the city portion of tax on that assessed value would be approximately $489.12 before exemptions. 

Tifton's General Fund Budget has been reduced each of the past two years: It is at $19,203,995 for the current budget year, $19,285,947 in 2025, and $20,462,657 in 2024.

Property taxes comprise 20% of the city’s general fund revenues. The revenue generated helps support the General Fund for essential municipal services and operations, including public safety, streets and infrastructure, parks, and other services provided by the City of Tifton. 

The city reminds residents that the amount shown on a property-tax bill reflects more than just the City of Tifton millage rate. Tift County and the Tift County Board of Education establish their own rates, and those separate levies are combined with the city rate on the property-tax bill. 

"We encourage residents to review their annual tax assessments, confirm that they are receiving all exemptions for which they qualify, and contact the appropriate local office with questions about property values, exemptions, or billing," the city said in a release.

TIFT COUNTY OK's ENCLOSING DOG KENNELS AT ANIMAL SHELTER SO A/C CAN BE INSTALLED

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

On Monday, the Tift County Board of Commissioners approved funding in the amount of $12,500 from the county’s contingency fund to enclose the dog adoption wing at the Tift County Animal Shelter so that an HVAC system can be installed.

In June, approximately 50 citizens attended a commission meeting and asked that the shelter's adoption wings be air-conditioned to alleviate the intense heat and noisy fans in the dog housing area. At that meeting, a shelter volunteer said she had secured the funds for installing air conditioning, including parts and labor.

“The only thing that would cost the county is electricity. I can’t imagine running the AC at the modest 76 to 78 degrees would cost any more than the huge, current industrialized fans that are running 24/7," the volunteer had said.

At the June meeting, citizens had also asked commissioners to expand the animal shelter, completed in 2001, as the animal population continues to grow. However, County Manager Jim Carter told the crowd not to expect any animal-shelter enhancements in the near future.

“Do I see spending $1 million in the next 12-month cycle on an animal-control addition, probably not,” Carter said. “Do I see it in 24 months? Possibly."

TCHS FORMALLY OPENS MULTI-PURPOSE PAVILION

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Surrounded by Tifton-Tift County Chamber members, Tift County School Board members, school staff, and building contractors’ representatives, Tift County High School Principal Jennifer Johnson took the scissors Tuesday and cut the ribbon on the new Multi-Purpose Pavilion at Tift County High School.

“Today is much more than opening a new facility,” said Interim Tift County Schools Superintendent Jennifer Howell. “It’s about creating opportunities for our students. While this pavilion will certainly support athletics, it also creates a space for all students, their organizations, school, and community events and other programs that give our students the opportunity to lead, compete, serve, and belong.

“This was built for our students. We hope they use it, take pride in it, and create memories for years to come. Today represents what the ‘T’ is all about – pride in our schools, belief in our students, and a community committed to creating opportunity for every child,” Howell said

Tift School Board Chairman Jonathan Jones said the board strives for higher standards, higher expectations, and greater engagement “to help our students achieve more so they can do the hard things.

“We can’t expect all of that unless we are willing to provide the high level of support,” Jones said. “Most of that support in our school system is delivered by our school leaders, teachers, coaches, and all the support staff that does all the daily functions. But the other part of that support is facilities like this. We have to marry our people with the capital projects that help our students achieve more.” 

Jones said no property taxes or SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes) were used to pay for the construction. Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations Klinton Guess said the approximately $9 million project was funded by interest from investments of district funds. 

“We’ve been very fortunate to be in a very sound financial condition,” Jones said, “and over the years to be saving, accumulating, and setting aside to be able for projects like this to be funded and accomplished.” He thanked GMC Architecture and Parrish Construction for their work on the project.

Tift County High Principal Jennifer Johnson said the facility has been in use for the past two or three weeks, not only for football and marching band practice, but also ROTC practice and was able to provide a place for the cross country team to run during recent rains.

“We’ve seen an array of student activities happening here already, and it’s only going to grow,” Johnson said. “We’ve made Tift County High School a better place. We are continuing to build opportunities for our Blue Devils. We are excited to see all the ways our students will benefit from it for years to come.”

TWO MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHARGED WITH MISUSING FLOCK CAMERAS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The GBI has arrested and charged two more law-enforcement officers with misusing Flock license-plate camera systems.

Former Colquitt County Deputy Bentley Hughes, 37, of Moultrie, is charged with two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and two counts of violation of oath of office.

Hughes turned herself in on Monday and was booked into the Colquitt County Jail.

The GBI also arrested and charged former Emerson Police Officer Anthony Trapani, 32, of Rockmart, with two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and violation of oath of office.

The Acworth Police Department requested the GBI to investigate allegations of misuse of the Flock Safety System. Preliminary information indicates that Trapani used the Flock System for non-law enforcement purposes while employed with the Acworth Police Department, and that misuse continued after Trapani transferred employment to the Emerson Police Department in 2025.

Trapani turned himself in on Monday and was booked into the Cobb County Jail.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Shady Lane" is serving up something extra sweet today. This handsome little guy is curious, bright-eyed, and just waiting for somebody to decide he needs to be their favorite attraction. Come meet Shady Lane and take this local favorite home with you, and visit other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

HENRY BOSTICK ELECTED TO GA HOUSE,

CHARLES KENT TO COUNTY COMMISSION

~ SEPT. 15, 1966

In an election for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, Tifton attorney Henry Bostick upset state Rep. Henry Banks Allen on Sept. 15, 1966. In other elections, J.W. Franks defeated W.D. Doss for the Chula-Brighton-Brookfield seat on the Tift County Commission, and Charles Kent of Tifton outpolled Amos Marchant in the Tifton Militia District for a seat on the Commission. Austin Coarsey and Ray Taylor were headed to a runoff election for another County Commission seat. Taylor ultimately won that race.

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