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President Joe Biden, from left, speaks Thursday in Ray City along with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Buck Paulk, owner of Shiloh Pecan Farms in Berrien County.

TIFT GETS DISASTER DECLARATION AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITS SOUTH GEORGIA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Just hours after surveying storm damage in South Georgia on Thursday, President Joe Biden has approved the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Tift County, according to the county Emergency Management Agency.

Biden visited Ray City in Berrien County on Thursday afternoon and told reporters that every Georgia county seeking federal disaster aid will get approval.

“I imagine every county in the state will be approved,” the president said.

The Tift County Emergency Management Agency said Thursday night that it was notified of Biden's approval, making federal assistance available for Tift County residents.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

Residents and business owners with storm losses in Tift County can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA app.

Teams from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were in Tift County this week assessing damage. Officials said FEMA must assess each county individually before a disaster declaration is issued.

The president landed Thursday afternoon at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta and went through Berrien County, making remarks at Shiloh Pecan Farms in Ray City, which was devastated by the hurricane.

“I see you, I hear you, I grieve with you, and I promise you we have your back,” Biden said. “We’re going to stay until you’re restored.”

Earlier Thursday, Gov. Brian P. Kemp talked with the president and asked that more counties receive the disaster declaration. In his remarks in Ray City, Biden thanked Kemp, and also thanked U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.; U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton; and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., D-Albany, three legislators who accompanied him through Berrien County.

“In moments like this, it’s time to put politics aside," Biden said. "Again, it’s not one state versus another; it’s the United States. There are no Democrats or Republicans out here; it’s what we do to make sure we restore the economy. Only Americans are here.”

Buck Paulk, owner of Shiloh Pecan Farms in Ray City, told the president and lawmakers that “we don’t look to get handouts or things like that, but we do need help. And I know God can send us that help, some of that help in the way of government administration.”

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also accompanied Biden through South Georgia and said, "We know that losses to agriculture in the path of this storm are significant, through it will be some time before we know the full extent of those losses."

Vilsack said the USDA has tools "designed specifically for farmers and producers, to help with things like repairing structures and fences, removing debris, help with soil erosion, pay for livestock losses, and provide assistance to help feed animals and pay for uninsured losses."

The USDA is working with crop insurance to expedite payments, Vilsack said.

In Georgia, Governor Kemp has toured the state assessing damage and authorized an additional 1,000 Georgia Guard troops to assist with response and recovery efforts. He also extended the state of emergency for all 159 counties through Oct. 9, and suspended the state motor and diesel fuel tax starting Thursday, and continuing through the duration of the state of emergency.

Kemp is expected to join former President Donald Trump today (Friday) in Columbia County to discuss the hurricane aftermath. Trump had visited Valdosta on Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris surveyed storm damage in Augusta on Wednesday.

HELENE CLAIMS 33 DEATHS IN STATE; 4 IN NEARBY COUNTIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

At least 33 deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Helene in Georgia, Gov. Brian P. Kemp said Thursday, and at least four of those deaths are in nearby counties.

Caleb Meister, 35, of Moultrie died Friday after his car ran into a fallen tree on Fifth Avenue in Moultrie, authorities said.

Donna DeLoach Hart, 71, of Homerville, a retired Clinch County teacher, died Friday morning when a tree fell through her home during the hurricane.

In Valdosta, a three-year-old child and a mother died when a tree crashed through a home during the storm, authorities said. The victims were not identified.

Nationwide, the death toll exceeded 200 from the Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast and wreaked havoc through several states for 800 miles.

As of late Thursday, approximately 214,000 Georgians were still without power, including 450 in Tift County. There were 5,523 customers still without power in Berrien County as of Thursday night, and 14,410 in Coffee County. Cook County still had 1,994 customers without electricity.

By Thursday afternoon, 13 roads were still closed or partially closed in Tift County, including four in the City of Tifton. Immediately after the storm, 75 roads had been closed in the county. Local personnel have been working around the clock to clear debris and make roads passable and safe for residents and travelers.

2 LOCAL CANDIDATES ATTEND FORUM THURSDAY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

A local candidates forum was held Thursday evening in Downtown Tifton, sponsored by a group called Concerned People of Tift County. 

Two candidates were present: Melissa Hughes, vice chair and District 2 incumbent on the Tift County Board of Commissioners, and Marilyn R. Burks, vice chair and District 1 incumbent on the Tift County Board of Education (BOE).

Their opponents in the upcoming November election, Priscilla Prince (District 2 commissioner race) and Ambrose King Jr. (District 1 BOE race), were not present. 

Hughes has served on the County Commission for 15 years and said it was a calling.

"Everybody doesn’t know what their passion is; I do. One street at a time; that has been my slogan from day one, and that’s how I serve,” she said.

Asked what her greatest challenge was, Hughes referred to the relationship between the county and the City of Tifton, but said it is improving.

Among areas that need improvement, Hughes said, are having jobs in place for young people, instilling work ethics in children, and more housing options. The city and county should work together to apply for grants to repair abandoned houses and make them available as affording housing, she said. 

Hughes also said the county will “roll back the millage rate” on property taxes once the assessments are completed.

Asked about being a Democrat on a majority Republican board, Hughes said political affiliations are not an issue: "We vote people. We do what’s best for our citizens.” 

Burks, the BOE candidate, said school security is of utmost importance: “We all have a role in keeping our students, staff, everyone safe in the school system.” 

Burks said, “I believe in equal funding for all sports. Track and field is as important as football. I’d like to see chess competitions.” 

She wants to see the creation of more pathways for students to enter the teaching professions, enhancing recruiting, and reaching out to local colleges.

Burks said the school board could not promise rolling back the millage rate. She explained that the board would have to see the property value tax digest before making a decision.

She noted that her opponent, Ambrose King, was a student in her 11th-grade English class. “He’s a good speaker,” she said. “I was honored to be his teacher.”

Asked why she wanted to serve on the Board of Education, Burks said she was an educator in Tift County Schools for 32 years and felt a need to take her role to the policy-making level: “There are limits to what you could do in the classroom.”

Burks said the BOE works as a team. “They’re my friends. They’re my brothers and my sisters. They’re my teammates. I am a collaborator, not a rabble rouser. My role is to share. Every voice needs to be heard. I am a proponent of everybody having an opportunity to excel at the highest level.”

King told the Tifton Grapevine that there were several reasons why he did not attend the forum: “One, no one could tell me who was responsible for the forum, and I was skeptical about its legitimacy because no voters from Tifton were responsible for its existence.

“Two, the email that was sent to me was from the moderator, who is not from Tifton, and did not respond to me until a few days later after the forum’s flyer had been distributed – ignoring my questions could the date be changed. 

“Three, because of the storm, my after-school duties were rescheduled and shifted to make it impossible for me to attend, even if I wanted to,” King said.

Prince could not be reached for comment about her absence. She has announced a fish fry/meet the candidate at 5-7 p.m. today at 651 Tifton Eldorado Road.

FARMERS MARKET RELOCATES TO DOWNTOWN TIFTON; OPENS FOR FALL SEASON ON SATURDAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tifton Farmers Market has its grand opening at 9 a.m. Saturday at Tifton Gardens in Downtown Tifton.

Formerly the Wiregrass Farmers Market at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, the Farmers Market has now relocated downtown.

“The Downtown Tifton community is excited to welcome and host the Tifton Farmers Market. Now, more than ever, we need to support our local farmers and neighbors,” said Main Street Manager Hillery Culpepper.

“Through the Tifton Farmers Market, we will be able to purchase farm-fresh produce, shake hands with the people that grow our food, and support our local economy while creating healthy social connections.”

There hasn't been a farmers market in downtown Tifton in a decade when a farmers market operated seasonally every Saturday on the Train Museum depot platform facing Tift Avenue.

This relocated Tifton Farmers Market's fall season will run every Saturday morning, 9 a.m.-noon, through Nov. 23. On Saturday, a ribbon cutting will open the market at 9 a.m., followed by "Story Time" with Mayor Julie B. Smith. Along with the fresh produce and handcrafted items for sale will be a kids' table, yard games, and live music by Laura Wiley.

Spending totaled $60,841 during the Farmer Market's recent spring season, market officials said. Vendors at the market are all local from around the Tiftarea.

Along with the Tifton Farmers Market on Saturday, the Goin’ Hog Wild Car Show, hosted by the Tiftarea Auto Club, will be from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in downtown's Cato Knight Parking Lot.

Tift County Schools officials Klinton Guess, far right, and Michael Slaven, far left, discuss the Peach State Tax Credit program at Wednesday's Tifton Rotary Club meeting as Rotary President Toni Reid, center, looks on.

EDUCATION TAX CREDIT ALLOWS SOME STATE TAXES TO FUND LOCAL PROGRAM

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County residents are able to choose where some of their state tax dollars go through the Georgia Peach Education Tax Credit, Tift County School officials told Tifton Rotary Club members Wednesday. 

Klinton Guess, Tift County Schools deputy superintendent for business and operations, said that taxes may be designated to the Tift County Schools Summer Learning and Enrichment Project. 

“It’s easy to contribute,” Guess said. Applications may be made at the website www.gfpe.org/tax_credit. You will be notified of your approved tax credit amount and payment deadline.

Next, submit your payment before the payment deadline, which is 60 days after receiving pre-approval from the state Department of Revenue. Choose Tift County Schools to designate your donation.

Finally, claim the tax credit on your state income taxes. You will need to complete Form IT-QEE-TP2 and attach it to your income tax return when it is filed. 

“This is a way to keep state taxes local. You wouldn’t be paying any more in taxes,” said Michael Slaven, Tift assistant superintendent for Beyond the Core. 

“Every year we have the summer learning programs for Pre-K through 12,” he said. “Much of what we do is remedial.” It’s primarily for students struggling in reading and math, and has mostly been funded through federal grants. Tift County’s portion of Title 1 grants has been cut by $343,000, Slaven said. 

Also, COVID funds have been utilized for the summer learning program, and that has been depleted. 

The month of June has historically been devoted to the Summer Learning Program. It has been half a day, and the school system wants to expand it to a whole day. Also, the school system wants to offer enrichment components, such as adding more fine arts to elementary schools with music, drama, and art. 

The goal is a quarter-million dollars, which includes staffing costs and transportation, Slaven said. Through the Peach Education Tax Credit, the public can designate some of their state tax dollars toward the local program.

“A married/filing joint couple could designate up to $5,000 to go into this program instead of going to state coffers,” Guess said.

“The state has a rainy-day fund. This would reduce what goes into that fund” and benefit schools locally, Guess said.

TIFT SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ASKS COMMUNITY'S HELP IN CURBING THREATS, VIOLENCE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Following last week's incidents in Tift County Schools during which two teens were arrested for making threats of violence and another event in which a student was stabbed during a fight, Superintendent Natalie Gore is asking the community for its help.

In an open letter dated Wednesday, Gore wrote that the "threats and violence are happening too frequently in our community, and it has long-lasting implications for the children involved. Violence and threats of violence are unacceptable, and it needs to stop. We must respond together as a community to keep this violence from entering our schools."

Gore said the school system is taking measures to ensure school safety. It has school safety officers at each school and is hiring new ones "to meet the increased needs." Schools have safety plans that are actively reviewed, and have security measures in place such as the Centegix system enabling staff to immediately communicate about safety events and lockdown facilities.

"We have been researching and piloting the use of metal detection units, and we are purchasing units for use at our secondary schools," Gore said. "Further, Tift County High School is making some additional procedural changes to continue to improve safety and security at the school."

But the superintendent said "school staff cannot do it alone. We need your help! Will you help us teach our children that making threats is unacceptable, and there are healthier ways to communicate their feelings? Will you help us teach our children how to resolve conflict without violence? Will you limit and/or monitor your child's cell phone and social media usage and accounts, as the majority of major disciplinary situations in our school system involve social media (e.g., snapchat, messaging) in some manner?"

In her letter, Gore said, "We are committed to keeping our schools safe, and I know when we work together we can be successful in bringing peace back to our children and our community and allow our staff to focus on educating our students."

BATEMAN HAS ONE TOUCHDOWN, ALMOST SCORES ANOTHER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton's Rashod Bateman, a wide receiver for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, nearly scored his second touchdown this season in last Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Bateman went up for the catch in the end zone but was stymied by a Buffalo defensive back.

The former Tift County High Blue Devil currently has nine receptions this season for 144 yards and one touchdown, made during a Cowboys game. In Sunday's win over the Bills, Bateman caught one pass for a 23-yard gain. During the past two games, the Ravens have been relying more on their running game.

Bateman, in his fourth season, was a first-round draft choice in 2021.

The Ravens, with a 2-2 record, head to Cincinnati, 1-3, to face the Bengals later this week.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Today, Oct. 4, is National Cinnamon Roll Day, so let the sweet times roll! In about 2000 B.C., a type of cinnamon rolls were imported from Egypt to China for monarchs and royalty. The rolls contained cinnamon and cardamom, which were so precious and expensive that only the very rich could afford them. Cinnamon rolls in their current form are a product of Sweden and appeared in America during the 1700s.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

• City of Adel Animal Shelter Dog Adoption Event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 211 E. Second St., Adel
• Downtown Tifton First Friday Concert, with Josh Pridemore, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Richmond Hill High Wildcats, 7 p.m., Richmond Hill
• "To the Limit – Ultimate Eagles Experience," live in concert, 7:30 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

• Turner County Community Yard Sale, 7 a.m., 238 E. College Ave., Ashburn
• Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, Fall Grand Opening, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Pet Vaccine and Microchip Clinic Day, $20 donation to Tift Animal Rescue Inc., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tift County Animal Shelter, 278 Highway 125 S., Tifton 
• Free Spooky Movies: "Casper," 2 p.m.; "Friday the 13th," 7 p.m.; Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE!

To Advertise Your Yard Sale, Contact:

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

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Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Aioli" is a unique guy as cute as they come with an expressive face that will make you smile every day. Aioli plays well with other dogs and has a fun, playful personality that wins everyone over. Come visit him and see 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).