GOV ADDS TIFT, BERRIEN TO DISASTER AID

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift and Berrien counties have been added to the list of Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Idalia that are eligible to apply for disaster assistance.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration allowing residents in Cook, Glynn, and Lowndes counties to seek emergency relief funds after they sustained significant damage from the Aug. 30 storm.

During the weekend, Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced that residents in 25 additional counties affected by Hurricane Idalia are also eligible to apply for disaster assistance – Tift, Berrien, Colquitt, Coffee, Clinch, Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Brooks, Bullock, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Echols, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Lanier, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Thomas, Ware, and Wayne counties.

The designation for these additional counties, including Tift, allow public assistance to local governments and some nonprofits to help to cover costs for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) says that in addition to Cook, Glynn, and Lowndes counties, small businesses and most private nonprofit 

organizations in Tift, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Colquitt, Echols, Lanier, McIntosh, and Wayne counties are eligible to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster 

Loans.

State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said he and the Ga. Department of Agriculture are continuing to work with federal, state, and local officials to push for an expanded federal disaster declaration for all counties affected by Hurricane Idalia.

“Supporting Georgia agriculture is not about politics – it’s about doing the right thing on behalf of Georgia’s farmers and farm families. And while this (federal) declaration is a welcome first-step, we remain committed to ensuring it’s expanded to include all impacted counties,” Harper said.

“As a seventh-generation farmer, I know first-hand the devastating impacts severe weather can have not only on our farmers and producers but on rural communities, local economies, and our state’s economy as a whole,” said Harper, who is from Ocilla.

The agriculture commissioner said South Georgia's pecan crop was especially hit hard by the the hurricane with an estimated 50-60% loss of this year's crop in the affected areas. Tens of thousands of pecan trees were downed during the high winds.

Hurricane Idalia also dropped about 10 inches of rain along the Georgia-Florida border into Valdosta, along with about three inches of rain in Tifton. But as Tyron Spearman said in his Peanut Marketing News, "rain was a blessing to peanuts."

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SRTC HITS RECORD ENROLLMENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) announced Monday it had achieved historic, record student enrollment for the 2023 fall term with 5,070 students.

The number represents a 7.6% increase in total enrollment and a 6.7% increase in fulltime equivalency when compared with SRTC’s fall 2022 figures.

The last time the college’s enrollment reached over 5,000 was in fall 2019 before the pandemic. President Jim Glass said the rebounding numbers are because of an extraordinary team effort.

“SRTC’s teamwork has been phenomenal,” Glass said. “This extraordinary pattern of growth is a direct result of the dedication of our hardworking and devoted faculty and staff. When students walk through the doors at SRTC, they are met by our compassionate team who are focused on every student’s success. This team comes to work to serve students, and it shows.”

Glass said the college’s positive local and regional reputation has further supported growth. “Our No. 1 goal is outstanding workforce development. It is what we promise our communities, and it is what we deliver. I am so proud of our reputation among our business and industry partners of producing high-quality graduates who are ready to go to work the moment they graduate. Our 99% job placement rate is proof that we are earning that trust every single semester.” 

The college’s associate of science (ASN) in nursing program was recently recognized for producing the highest ASN graduation rate in the Technical College System of Georgia and the fourth highest among all ASN programs offered at colleges and universities throughout Georgia. 

“Graduating well-trained, qualified nurses is mission-critical for us here in South Georgia,” said SRTC Nursing Chair Athalena Benton. “Hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices across our service-delivery area depend on us to provide them with a steady stream of capable nurses who graduate prepared to care for patients.” 

SRTC also continues to maintain one of the largest dual enrollment programs in the state, with more than 2,000 students taking advantage of the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school during the 2023 academic year. With recent changes to the program, any student enrolled in a Georgia high school that meets SRTC dual enrollment and admission requirements is eligible at no cost to students or their families up to 30 credit hours.

Students, American Legion members, and citizens gather Monday at ABAC's Chapel of All Faiths for a 9/11 observance in the photo above. In the photo below, Tifton Fire Department personnel participate in the Sept. 11 ceremony at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center.

TIFTON HONORS 9/11 IN TWO CEREMONIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton observed Patriot's Day on Monday with two solemn ceremonies honoring those who lost their lives in terrorist attacks on the United States Sept. 11, 2001.

At the Leroy Rogers Senior Center, the Exchange Club of Tifton hosted an observance with Mittie Vaughan of Blackshear speaking on how 9/11 unified the nation and how patriotism has been expressed throughout history.

The Tifton Fire Department rang a bell signifying a moment of silence to honor first responders and thousands of others who died on 9/11/2001.

Across town at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Chapel of All Faiths, ABAC's Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a ceremony on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Featured speaker Lester Smith of American Legion Post 515 said on that day 22 years ago, "a total of 2,763 people died, including 2,192 civilians, 343 firefighters, and 71 law enforcement officers, as well as all the passengers and crew on the airplanes. Most of those who perished were civilians, including 55 military personnel who died at the Pentagon.

"These attacks were the deadliest terrorist acts in world history, and the most devastating attacks on United States soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor,” Smith said.

For many ABAC students, 9/11 occurred before they were born.

“Without events like this, it’s just words in a textbook. Events like this make a connection,” said student Emily Rowland, one of the organizers of the ABAC observance.

ABAC President Tracy Brundage said she was “proud that today’s events were organized by SGA, a group of young leaders who will go on to do great things. For those who lived through this, these moments take us back to those flashpoints in our memories.”

Brundage noted that ABAC offers veterans’ assistance programs and said the college honors – not only on days of remembrance but throughout the year – those who served and who continue to serve the nation.

GDOE OFFERING TUTORING

TO ADDRESS 'LOST LEARNING'

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Ga. Department of Education (GDOE) is offering new tutoring resources to students in grades K-12 during the 2023-2024 school year as part of its strategy to continue addressing lost learning opportunities.

Tutoring in grades K-8 will be provided through a partnership with the AmeriCorps tutoring programs Reading Corps and Math Corps. Trained tutors will be placed at select schools to deliver evidence-based tutoring. In grades 9-12, GDOE will launch the GaTutor program, available through Georgia Virtual Learning. 

“We are committed to investing in our state's academic recovery and addressing lost learning opportunities as a result of the pandemic by providing direct academic interventions to our students," said state School Superintendent Richard Woods. “We know it is possible for our students to regain lost ground and will continue to make investments as a state to ensure they do so."

Using a combination of state and federal funds, GDOE will partner with AmeriCorps' Math Corps and Reading Corps programs to provide tutoring for up to 5,000 students in grades K-8.

GDOE's School and District Improvement and Teaching and Learning teams have worked with Reading Corps/Math Corps to identify schools for tutor placement.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the GaTutor program will be available through Georgia Virtual Learning. GDOE is hiring 100 Georgia-certified teachers to serve as tutors for the program, which will be available in all Georgia Milestones End of Course subjects and free to public high-school students. GaTutor is prepared to provide approximately 60,000 individual tutoring sessions this school year.

S.GA WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP GROUP NAMES FIRST CLASS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The South Georgia Women’s Leadership Initiative has announced the participants in its inaugural cohort of women leaders who will engage in an "immersive development experience" designed to create "clarity of voice and intentionality" for female leaders across the region.

Representing a cross-section of public, private, and non-profit sectors, the cohort will be involved in a seven-month program focused on needs, challenges and opportunities facing women in 32 counties. With an emphasis on what is unique to female leadership, the Leadership Initiative will provide women a platform to discuss the challenges they face in business, education, local government, and non-profit management.

The Leadership Initiative is a partnership with founding sponsor Georgia Power Co. and South GeorgiaLEADS. The 2023-2024 inaugural class includes:

From Tift County: Nancy Bryan, Ruth’s Cottage and Patticake House; Melody Cowart, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce; Cindy Evers, Alliance for Children Georgia; Dr. Audrey Luke-Morgan, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; Dr. Tonja Tift, Tifton Urban Redevelopment Agency. 

From Colquitt County: Dale Rickett, Colquitt County Schools Foundation; Emily Watson, Colquitt Regional Medical Center; Tommie Beth Willis, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

Dougherty County: Lori Clemons Gadson, Keller Williams Realty Group; Lequrica Gaskins, City of Albany.

Lee County: Cicily Florence, Entrepreneur/Self-Employed; Cindy Wisham, United Way of Southwest Georgia.

Lowndes County: Mary Crawford, Girls on the Run South Georgia; Sharah’ Denton, City of Valdosta; Kristi Hill, The Valdosta Daily Times; Christie Moore, Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce; Chanel Randolph, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

Mitchell County: Christy Wray, Mitchell County School System.

Thomas County: Carrie Viohl, Southern Regional Technical College.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY'S

TEACHERS OF YEAR SHARE

TENNESON NISSAN VEHICLE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tiftarea Academy presented its 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year with a car provided by Cory and Mia Tenneson and Tenneson Nissan on Friday.

Haley Crosson, (at left) Upper School Teacher of the Year, and Melanie Royal, (right) Lower School Teacher of the Year, will share the 2022 Nissan Armada throughout the year.

"We are thrilled for this new partnership with Tenneson Nissan. Both of these teachers work tirelessly both inside and outside of the classroom to ensure our students are supported and provided the resources they need," said Heather Fletcher, marketing & development director. 

"To be able to reward them with something of this magnitude is so exciting. We are thankful to these teachers for their hard work and grateful to Tenneson Nissan for honoring them with this generous gift."

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Belovese Med Spa

215 Central Ave., Tifton

Sept. 7

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Athena" was surrendered by her owner and is very afraid in the shelter environment. She needs a quiet home to help her feel safe again. This sweet kitty loves to be held. She's available at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFT COUNTY HIGH BOYS TOLD

TO GET 'REASONABLE' HAIRCUTS

~ SEPT. 14, 1967

Press dispatches from Sept.14, 1967, noted that only five to six boys had not yet complied with Tift County High School's rules to wear their hair at a "reasonable length." During the previous week, school officials had told 200 boys to get "reasonable" haircuts. Officials noted that the Student Handbook read: "Exaggerated hair styles, beards, mustaches, open shirts or shirts worn on the outside of trousers, and other extremes of dress are not conducive to ... learning, and do not meet the approval of the faculty and administration."

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