Tift County this week has seen its highest-ever daily average of new COVID-19 cases, reaching an average of 231 cases on Jan. 10, according to data from Emory University.

Tift's previous highest daily average of cases was 219 recorded on Aug. 22, according to the data.

On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported that Tift County has seen 561 confirmed COVID cases in the past two weeks – nearly 400 of them in the past week alone. When probable Antigen cases are added, Tift records a total of 1,145 cases in two weeks, or 2,804 per 100,000 population.

Tift’s testing positivity rate for the two-week period is 42.1%. During the previous two weeks it was 29.2%, the DPH said.

The total number of confirmed cases recorded in Tift County is 5,545 along with 143 related deaths.

Other area counties are also experiencing COVID surges; Ashburn and Turner County schools this week went to 100% virtual education, and the Valdosta City School System announced Thursday that it is closing until next Wednesday because it has "seen a large increase in COVID exposures and are experiencing higher than normal absenteeism rates in our faculty, staff and students."

Valdosta-Lowndes County reported 1,206 confirmed COVID cases in the past two weeks with a total 3,014 confirmed and probable cases, the DPH said.

Georgia reported 25,791 new confirmed and probable cases on Thursday.

A proposal to rezone undeveloped property off King Road for general business dominated much of the discussion during Tifton City Council's public hearing Monday night and workshop on Tuesday.

The nearly 40-acre tract is currently "spilt zoning" with the area along King Road zoned for business and the remainder zoned residential. Contingent upon the entire tract being rezoned for business, Tifton developer Denean Stafford said he plans to purchase the property and ultimately develop retail along King Road and create a professional/business office park in the back.

Stafford said he doesn’t yet have a detailed plan on what any development would look like.

Some residents who live behind the property outside the city limits told council they are concerned about additional traffic and development in their neighborhood. Several residents said any development should have a sufficient buffer around it to protect their neighborhood.

Councilman Jack Folk, who was elected vice mayor Tuesday night, said such a buffer would be required before any planned development proceeds. Council members plan to visit the site before voting on the rezoning.

Council also continued discussing ways to allow the establishment of liquor package stores in the city, which voters approved in November. Council is considering allowing no more than four package stores to operate in Tifton, based upon its population.

City Attorney Rob Wilmot suggested dividing the city into four districts, with each district holding a lottery for the package store licensing. No individual or company would be allowed to have more than one license, and at least 50% of any company's owners or partners seeking a license would have to reside within Tift County.

Mayor Julie B. Smith also gave a short State of the City address, saying that the "City of Tifton is in a strong position," and has "delivered very progressive growth" and is "adjusting and changing with the times."

"We are one Tifton – Tifton Strong," Smith said. "We look forward, not backward. ... Our future is bright."

Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) is closing its 20th Street entrance and lobby on Monday for approximately three months as renovations continue. 

Patients and visitors will be asked to enter through the hospital’s new 18th Street entrance.  

“Now that our new emergency center and patient tower are open, we will be finalizing the seamless connection of the older facility to the newer facility,” said Alex Le, TRMC chief operating officer.

Le said patients and visitors are asked to park in one of the 18th Street parking lots.  However, heart and vascular center patients may park in the 20th Street parking lot, and enter through TRMC’s 20th Street garage, taking the elevator to the second floor.

Chris Earls has been named soccer coach at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Earls is a biology lab instructor at ABAC, where he played intramural soccer as well as at Georgia Southern.

He succeeds Aliriza Sisman, who stepped down from the position at the end of 2021. Sisman and the Fillies lost in the semifinal round of the 2021 state tournament.

Athletics Director Alan Kramer said that Earls is “an ABAC alumnus who is talented at engaging and developing students both inside and outside of the classroom. He expects excellence in both and is a fantastic mentor. Chris has been involved with the sport of soccer his entire life."

Earls received his associate degree from ABAC and his bachelor’s degrees in agricultural education and agriscience and environmental systems from the University of Georgia. He worked as a UGA Extension agent for several years before completing his master’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University, He joined the ABAC faculty in 2018.

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County has appointed Andrea McLemore as executive director.

“I speak for the entire board when I say we are very pleased to have someone of Andrea’s caliber leading the nonprofit literacy program,” said Bonnie Sayles, president of the Literacy board.

“She has a lot of great ideas for community engagement and is very enthusiastic about recruiting and training volunteers to work with people who want to improve their reading skills or get their high school equivalency,” said Sayles, who was executive director from October 2014-January 2021.

One of McLemore’s initiatives is to fund transportation costs for students who need help getting to adult education classes at Southern Regional Technical College's Tifton Campus.

McLemore has a master’s degree in English education, and a bachelor’s degree in English literature and philosophy from the University of Tennessee. She has taught high school English in Tennessee and Oklahoma. She has been the communications director for the University of Tennessee Dance Company.

Coty James, a Tiftarea Academy graduate attending Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, led his college's clay target team to a title in the recent Division 1 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Collegiate Nationals in Marengo, Ohio.

James, a freshman, led his team, breaking 581/600 targets as the team took first place in Skeet, 5-stand, and second place in Sporting Clays and Trap. James also placed third in the 5-stand Individual category.  

He finished 2021 by competing in the National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas, where James again led his team, breaking 258/300 targets to take the Class A championship title, also taking the titles for Main Event Junior Class A, First-Time Attendee Junior Class A, and First-Time Attendee Class A.

Throughout the competition this past semester, James maintained his grades to gain recognition on his college's Dean’s List.

Among James' past achievements are second place in the state in 2019 GISA competition with Tiftarea Academy, being a member of the Worth County 4-H national championship team, and several SCTP wins.

His parents are Greg and Christine James. 

South Georgia Banking Co. has named Victor M. Pires to the newly created position of senior vice president and retail banking manager.

Pires has more than 20 years of banking experience and has helped develop new banking products, which will be among his responsibilities at SGBC.

Most recently, Pires led a banking team in Valdosta. He has degrees from Washington State University and American Public University.

2-minute survey regarding art classes.

Georgia General Federation of Women’s Clubs' Second Vice President Cathy Jones from Vienna, left, installed officers of the GFWC Tifton Woman’s Club for 2022-24 at a meeting Tuesday at the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

Next to Jones, from left, are immediate past president and new Corresponding Secretary Genie McCook, Parliamentarian Shirene Daniell, Treasurer Gail Merlin, Recording Secretary Waldene Barnhill, Second Vice President Nancy Nehring, First Vice President Bonnie Sayles, and President Jamie Stewart. 

To Subscribe, Click Here!

Your free subscription allows you to receive our MidWeek and Weekender editions in your in-box, along with occasional Sponsored Editions.

To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

Today, Friday, Jan. 14, is International Kite Day, a day to highlight kite-flying. It is believed that kites were invented in China during the 28th century B.C. During the U.S. Civil War, kites were used to transport mail and newspapers; and in the early 20th century, the Wright Brothers studied kites when designing their first airplanes.

“Brownie," a sweet-natured male pooch, is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).

205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055  

A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC, Tifton, Georgia