Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com ~ 478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

To SUBSCRIBE, Click Here!

NOTE: Depending on your computer's settings, you may need to click the link at the bottom

of the edition to download its entirety.

Photo by Bonnie Sayles

Local supporters promote their candidates on Election Day at the corner of Tift Avenue and Fourth Street, a traditional spot for campaigning near Tift County elections headquarters.

TIFT SEES RECORD NUMBER OF VOTERS

By FRANK SAYLES JR. and BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County saw a record number of voters cast ballots in Tuesday's general election, based on data from elections officials.

Tift County Election Supervisor Leila E. Dollison said that 17,077 of 25,715 registered voters in the county participated. "That's 66.41%," she said. "It was a great turnout."

According to data from the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, in the general election four years ago, there were 16,351 votes cast in Tift County; in the 2016 general election, 14,334 Tift Countians voted.

In one of the more unusual races this year, the District 1 seat on the Tift County Board of Education was decided in a special Democratic primary on Tuesday's ballot. Incumbent Marilyn R. Burks was re-elected over fellow Democratic challenger Ambrose B. King Jr.

Burks had defeated King by two votes in the Democratic primary this past spring, but King successfully challenged the results. A court found that Casey’s Court Apartments on South Carpenter Road was incorrectly placed in the wrong BOE district, denying residents there the opportunity to vote in the correct BOE race.

A judge then decided that a new election must be conducted. Since there was no Republican candidate in that race, Burks' victory Tuesday means she keeps her seat on the Board of Education.

"It has been a challenging but rewarding journey to victory," Burks told the Tifton Grapevine. "I am so grateful for the support from not only citizens in School Board District 1, but also everyone who did not live in School Board District 1 but encouraged their family and friends in my district to support me."

In the state House of Representatives, Tift County has two new representatives. Republican Jaclyn Dixon Ford succeeds longtime Rep. Penny Houston, who is retiring.

"It is my greatest honor to be the representative-elect for District 170. I look forward to learning and working with the other representatives from South Georgia to benefit our area," Ford told the Tifton Grapevine.

In House District 169, Republican Angie O'Steen won the seat held by Rep.Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, who is also retiring from the Legislature. O'Steen could not be reached for comment.

Tift Election Supervisor Dollison said that overall, the election ran smoothly in the county. During early voting, she said a few people were told to remove their hats or T-shirts supporting candidates.

"People were good about it," Dollison said. "They went outside or to the bathroom." Also, anyone with bumper stickers or magnets indicating their choice of candidate had to either remove it or park at least 150 feet away from the polling place. 

On Tuesday, Election Day, poll workers at the Election Central precinct on Chesnutt Avenue said that it seemed like half of voters there came to the wrong precinct.

"This is why we tell people to make a plan to vote," a poll watcher said.

There are 12 voting precincts in Tift County where voters are assigned depending on their home address. Only people assigned to the precinct on Chesnutt Avenue may vote there on Election Day. However, early voting before Election Day was conducted there.

Dollison also said that provisional ballots must be verified by today (Friday). These are ballots cast by people who did not have their IDs with them or who would not have time to travel to another precinct to vote before polls closed. They had three days to bring their IDs to Election Central to verify their ballots.

3 STUDENTS CHARGED WITH HAVING GUN AT 8th ST. MIDDLE SCHOOL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Three Eighth Street Middle School students have been arrested on charges of possessing a firearm on the school's campus, according to Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

A student apparently brought a handgun to school on Monday and passed it along to two other students in a locker room. One of the students posted a photo of the gun on Snapchat social media; and one of the students then got rid of the gun by tossing it into some woods, authorities said.

The gun has not been located.

Officials were not made aware of a gun on campus until after the school day had ended. On Tuesday, school officials conducted a search and found no weapon. The matter was turned over to Tifton Police for investigation.

The three juvenile suspects were taken to a youth regional detention center following the formal charges.

Tift County Schools is in the process of installing automatic detection systems for weapons. The cutting-edge technology is expected to be in place by the beginning of the new year.

The Xtract One system provides entry screening that automatically detect guns, knives, and other threats more accurately than metal detectors, and doesn't require students and staff to remove items from pockets or bags or endure pat-downs. When the school-security system detects a weapon, security personnel are discreetly notified where the weapon is located on the person's body, allowing an immediate response.

McBRIDE & THE RIDE, '90S COUNTRY TRIO, HEADLINES ALAPAHA STATION CELEBRATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The annual Alapaha Station Celebration on Saturday, a tradition since 1981, includes a parade, arts & crafts and food booths, children's games, and free musical entertainment starring renowned '90s country band McBride & The Ride.

Retiring State Rep. Penny Houston and her successor, Alapaha's own Jaclyn Dixon Ford, will lead the opening parade as co-grand marshals at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Entertainment continues all day. Kids’ cartoon characters will be at the gazebo from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. And back by popular demand, the Second Annual Antique Tractor Parade & Exhibit begins at 11:30 a.m. behind the Depot after the festival parade.

Mayor Waymond Smith will offer the welcome at 11:35 a.m., and the Moody Air Force Base Honor Guard will present the colors.

Among musical entertainment are Mendi Stone at 11:50 a.m.; Brent Browning at 12:10 p.m.; McBride & The Ride, 1:10 p.m.; Caston Dorsey, 2:40 p.m.; Rocky Creek Band, 3 p.m.; and the Danny Dawson Band, 3:40 p.m.

The headliner, McBride & The Ride, a ’90s country phenomenon, has frequented Billboard’s country chart with “Same Old Star,” “Sacred Ground,” “Going Out of My Mind,” “Just One Night,” “Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run,” “Hurry Sundown,” and “No More Cryin’.”

The original trio of bassist Terry McBride, guitarist Ray Herndon, and drummer Billy Thomas was discovered and produced by Elvis Presley's keyboardist Tony Brown, who later became president of MCA Records.

Herndon has played with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band; Thomas has played drums for Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, and Steve Wariner; and McBride has been in the music business since graduating from high school, joining his father Dale, a country singer with minor success in the late ’70s, and serving a brief tenure in Delbert McClinton’s band.

McBride & The Ride has been the opening act for Naomi and Wynonna Judd, among others. McBride himself has a slew of songwriting credits in Nashville and has played bass in the studio and on the road with Brooks & Dunn.

The only Georgia date on McBride & The Ride’s “Cool To Be Country” tour is the Alapaha Station Celebration.

Monday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and Tifton will again observe the day with a salute to our troops at the Jack Stone Veterans Park in Downtown Tifton.

Gather with us to recognize the selfless service of our Veterans who have made this a strong and resilient nation.

The 11 a.m. service includes guest speaker

Representative Clay Pirkle.

Local officials will also be in attendance at the public ceremony. 

Please join us in this recognition of Veterans.

'KEEP 'EM WARM' COAT DRIVE UNDERWAY FOR CHILDREN'S COATS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

On the heels of her re-election to the Tift County Commission District 2 seat, Commissioner Melissa Hughes has kicked off her annual “Keep ‘em Warm” coat drive, asking for children’s coats through Dec. 19. 

Coats may be dropped off at Kelly’s Cleaners locations or the commissioners’ office on the second floor of the Charles Kent Administration Office Building on Tift Avenue. 

Hughes told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday that on her way to work, she used to pass children walking to J.T. Reddick school during the winter. “You see children with shorts on, and T-shirts or light jackets” looking so cold, she said.

“One morning, I actually parked on the side of the road, and watched these children. It broke my heart,” she said. “Right then, I decided I needed to do something.”

In the first year, in only one month, she said the program received 537 coats. The coat drive has been going on for 12 years now, and Rotary Club members have participated.

Hughes said she had to get a storage building for the donated coats. Kelly’s Cleaners cleans the donated coats free of charge and have been doing that every year. New and used coats are accepted. People may call Hughes at 229-326-0241 for more information.

As a Tift County commissioner, Hughes said she was first elected to fill an unexpired term; when she first ran for a full term, she lost.

“I felt that this was a calling for me,” she said. During the next four years, she stayed active and “visual,” she said. “People kept calling me. I kept trying to point them in the right direction.”

The next time she ran at the end of those four years, she won by three votes – “the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” she said, laughing. “That’s how I’m claiming it. Here we are on our fifth term. I really believed that God called me to do things.”

As president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia two years ago, Hughes traveled around the state and heard how other commissioners talk about their boards. She feels fortunate to have the “best board” to work with. “We work together.” 

She also praised the young people from Northside Baptist Church who came with chainsaws to clear trees that fell on houses in South Tifton after the recent hurricane. One woman had a tree on her house and had gotten a $2,500 quote for removal, and she didn’t know what to do.

“They cleared the tree and found somebody to put a tarp on her roof,” Hughes said.

“In one day, we did nine or 10 homes. It was just amazing just to see the outpouring of the love coming from Northside, and the reactions of the people that were being served," she said.

“The relationships that we build in the community are so important. We need that connection, those resources.”

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

Commissioner Melissa Hughes:

A Triumph Rooted in Dedication, Community, and Leadership

As Commissioner Hughes often recalls the wise words of her Grandma Hughes from her beloved front porch – now Commissioner Hughes’ front porch – “God will make it all right;” indeed, He has. 

Tift County has spoken, and their message resonates loud and clear: Commissioner Melissa Hughes is the leader they trust, the voice they cherish, and the advocate they know will champion their causes for another four years. In an election season fraught with challenges and distractions, the unwavering spirit of the community did not falter. The voters showed up, not out of loyalty to a name, but out of confidence in the steadfast service and undeniable impact Commissioner Hughes has brought to their lives.

Commissioner Hughes’ victory is more than a political achievement; it is a testament to resilience, service, and an unyielding commitment to the betterment of Tift County. For the past 15 years, she has embodied leadership, not with grandiose speeches, but with tangible actions that ripple through the fabric of the community. From spearheading the "One Street at a Time" cleanup campaign to the yearly sock and coat drives that ensure no one in her district faces the chill unprepared, Commissioner Hughes has shown that public service is not merely a position – it is a calling.

Her advocacy extends beyond acts of charity. Commissioner Hughes has been a relentless voice for the county employees, fighting for salary increases to recognize their dedication and contributions. She has spent countless hours engaging with local, state, and national leaders, bringing the stories and aspirations of Tift County to broader audiences, ensuring that the community’s needs are heard and addressed on every level. It is this blend of compassion and strategic vision that has earned her not just votes, but deep-rooted trust.

Reflecting on her journey and the firm support she received, Commissioner Hughes reminds us of her words from a forum held months before: “I am here.” And indeed, she is still here, more committed than ever to stand for her constituents, to fight for progress, and to unify the community in common purpose. Her re-election is not merely a continuation of her service; it is a powerful renewal of a shared promise between a leader and the people she serves.

Commissioner Hughes extends her heartfelt gratitude to every supporter in her district, recognizing the shared belief in her mission that fueled this victory. She also expresses appreciation for those who, though unable to cast their vote, offered words of encouragement that bolstered her resolve. “I thank you as well,” she stated, embracing the collective strength that makes Tift County remarkable. “Let’s work together,” she urges, with the warmth and determination that has defined her tenure.

As Commissioner Hughes embarks on another term, she carries forward the lessons of her past service, the trust of her community, and the promise of a future built on continued dedication. Her leadership is not only an inspiration – it is a testament to what can be achieved when vision and heart lead the way. They do so with the reassuring knowledge that their champion is, indeed, still here and ready to serve.

The future is waiting, and with leaders like her at the helm, there is no limit to what we can accomplish in Tift County. 

Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Commissioner Melissa Hughes

TIFTON MEALS ON WHEELS SEEKS HELP FROM COMMUNITY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton’s Meals on Wheels organization is asking for help from the community.

The organization said it "needs help from individuals, civic organizations, churches and their small groups, the business community – Meals on Wheels needs help from every corner of Tift County."

Tifton's Meals on Wheels is an entirely local and volunteer organization, which said that every cent donated is used to feed local home-bound residents; no one receives any pay. The local group is separate from the national organization.

This year, the cost of meals being delivered are running more than charitable donations being received.

"If this math continues, there is a date on the calendar at which Tifton’s Meals on Wheels will begin reducing the number of meals delivered and ultimately cease to deliver meals," the organization said in a written statement. "The dozens of volunteers involved with administration, organization, and the deliveries of meals every day need your help."

During the past month, Tifton Meals on Wheels delivered 1,269 meals. Currently, 66% of the organization’s budget comes from donations; 18% comes from memorials and honorariums; and the remaining 16% comes from the recipients themselves.

Recipients are not required to participate but are encouraged to do so, as far as they are financially able.

Tifton’s Meals on Wheels was begun in 1975 by renowned nutritionist Dr. Glenn Burton and public health nurse Pallie Coleman to ensure that homebound Tift Countians, who have no one to prepare a nutritious diet, can receive a hot meal five days a week. In the nearly 50 years since, the organization has delivered meals five days a week, including holidays.

Any individual or group wishing to help Tifton’s Meals on Wheels may call 229-831-6635. Donations may be mailed to Tifton Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 2053, Tifton, GA 31793.

Tifton American Legion Post 21 members cut the ribbon Tuesday to open the 88th Annual Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair at the Tifton Fairgrounds.

COASTAL PLAINS FAIR THIS WEEKEND IN TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 88th Annual Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair is underway this week at the Tifton Fairgrounds on U.S. Highway 82 E.

Tifton's American Legion Post 21 hosts the fair, which runs daily through Sunday. Although the Ferris Wheel is not in service following damage from Hurricane Helene, organizers say the fair has more attractions, rides, and food vendors this year.

Arm bands are available for sale, allowing unlimited rides.

The fair is open today (Friday) from 6 p.m.-midnight, on Saturday from 2 p.m.-midnight, and Sunday from 1- 7 p.m.

For information, call American Legion Post 21, 229-392-2632.

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.

Your subscription is free because of the support of local advertisers.

Please support the businesses and organizations who make this possible.

To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, Nov. 10, is observed as the Marine Corps' birthday, showing appreciation for the United States Marines. Having participated in nearly every U.S. conflict, the Marine Corps has defended our country since America’s inception. On Nov. 10, 1775, the Corps was formed following the introduction of the Continental Marine Act. At the time, the Continental Congress organized the Corps to intercept ammunition cargo from Britain. The group was first known as the Continental Marines.

FRIDAY, NOV. 8

• ABAC Fillies (women's) Basketball vs. LaGrange College, 5:30 p.m., Gressette Gymnasium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• 88th Annual Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair, 6 p.m.-midnight, fairgrounds, Tifton
• Swingin' Medallions, live in concert, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
• Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. John Milledge Academy Trojans, first round – GIAA playoffs, 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

SATURDAY, NOV. 9

• Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Alapha Station Celebration, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Alapaha Station Depot, Alapaha
• ABAC Fillies (women's) Basketball vs. Beacon College, 2 p.m., Gressette Gymnasium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• 88th Annual Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair, 2 p.m.-midnight, fairgrounds, Tifton
• Roots of Our Legacy: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, hosted by Greenwood Cemetery Foundation of Tifton, 3 p.m., Tifton Neighborhood Service Center, 2737 S. Central Ave., Tifton
• ABAC Stallions (men's) Basketball vs. Beacon College, 4 p.m., Gressette Gymnasium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton

SUNDAY, NOV. 10

• 88th Annual Coastal Plains Agricultural Fair, 1-7 p.m., fairgrounds, Tifton

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE!

To Advertise Your Yard Sale, Contact:

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Floppy" got his name for a reason; his big, bouncy ears are his signature look, and they add to his charm. This sweet, funny boy is always ready to perk up, flop down, and make you laugh. Floppy is a fun, friendly guy with a lot of love to give. 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).