Tift Tourism's Big Impact

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

The Georgia Museum of Agriculture, operated by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, is among tourism sites in Tifton. Tourism generated more than $109 million during 2019 in Tift County, according to a new report.

TOURISM GENERATES $109 MILLION IN TIFT

Tourism generated $109 million in Tift County during 2019 – $4 million more than the previous year, the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association announced Tuesday.

A study by the U.S. Travel Association showed that Tift County saw $109.16 million in direct, domestic traveler expenditures in 2019, the latest year that information is available.

The study, made available through Explore Georgia – the tourism division within the Ga. Department of Economic Development – reported that travel and tourism created $4.71 million in state tax revenues and generated $3.09 million in local tax revenues for Tifton and Tift County in 2019.

Each household in the county would need to be taxed an additional $515 per year to replace taxes generated by tourism activity, the local Tourism Association said. The industry also directly supported more than 931 jobs and created $22.02 million in payroll for Tift County.

In 2019, the unemployment rate in Tift County was 3.4 percent. Without the jobs supported by the tourism industry, it would have been 8.1 percent, officials said.

“It is always exciting to see the incredible impact that tourism has in Tifton and Tift County. The economic impact of tourism in our community has grown year over year for the last 10 years. That is encouraging that we have been doing something right."

said Angela Elder, Tift County assistant tourism coordinator.

"These numbers also give us something to strive for as we begin the recovery of the tourism industry. The 'Think Tifton' staff is working hard to keep Tifton on the minds of travelers and visitors. We are ready to welcome them back to our wonderful little town, whether they are here for work or play.”

Mark Jaronski, the state deputy tourism director, said that the “record-breaking figures from 2019, when Georgia’s tourism generated $68.96 billion in economic impact and supported more than 484,000 jobs, demonstrate the enormous impact the tourism industry has on our economy.”

He said that the state is rebuilding its tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

BOE LOOKING AT FUTURE

OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The need for a new strategic operational plan for the Tift County School System, including a “facilities needs list," dominated much of the discussion Tuesday at the Tift County Board of Education's (BOE) work session.

Superintendent Adam Hathaway told board members that he “needs direction" about the board's vision for the future of school facilities. He said that some of the school buildings, many of which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, will need renovation and upgrading in the coming years.

“Are we maintaining the current facilities we have or are we building modernized, upgraded facilities?” Hathaway asked. He said deciding the answer will allow the school system to determine its plans going forward.

“I think we need to stop putting lipstick on a pig,” said board member Rusty Harrelson.

The BOE plans further discussion as it develops its strategic plan.

Hathaway also asked the board to allow staff to bid the cost of placing artificial turf on the lower practice field located below the mini-stadium at Tift County High School.

“Almost everywhere our soccer team goes, everywhere our football team goes, they’re playing on artificial turf,” Hathaway said. He stressed that he isn’t suggesting changing the turf at the mini-stadium or at Brodie Field – “We’re Tifton, and I think we need to be playing on grass.”

Having a practice field with artificial turf will allow the football and soccer teams to prepare for away games when they face such fields, he explained.

Hathaway said the lower field often floods and “becomes a bog hole when it starts raining.” Placing artificial turf on it will not only aid the athletic teams but the field could also be used by the marching band and ROTC students, he said.

“Even if we put something out for bid doesn’t mean we’re doing it,” the superintendent said; bidding the project merely gives the school system an accurate estimate of the costs involved.

Click Here for Available Positions.

www.cocacolaunited.com/careers

COVID-19 CASES DROP

IN TIFT, STATEWIDE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

New COVID-19 cases have dropped dramatically during the past week in both Tift County and across the state, according to data from the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

In the past week, Tift County reported 22 new cases and two deaths, while Georgia's new cases fell by 28 percent.

In the past two weeks, Tift has had 82 coronavirus cases, representing 201 per 100,000 population, the DPH said. The county’s positive testing percentage was 6.3 percent, the lowest in months. Daily new cases average 24 per 100,000, according to Emory University.

Tift County has had a total of 3,307 COVID-19 cases and 90 deaths reported, the DPH said.

Georgia saw 2,622 new cases on Tuesday, with 123 additional deaths and 334 new hospitalizations, the DPH reported. Since the pandemic began, the state has seen 778,049 cases and 13,481 related deaths, according to state data.

TIFTON'S LARRY DEAN

SIGNS WITH NEW CFL TEAM

Larry Dean, a renowned professional football player from Tifton, has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Dean, 32, a linebacker, had a stellar year with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in 2019, starting 17 games at middle linebacker and making 86 defensive tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three special teams tackles, one quarterback sack and four pass knockdowns.

He was named a CFL West Division All-Star and Edmonton’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player that season. The CFL had canceled the 2020 season because of the pandemic.

Last year, Dean was inducted into the Valdosta State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He led the VSU Blazers in tackles for three years and ranks second all-time in Valdosta State history in that category. His performance was so influential that he was named both an All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year.

Dean also was a four-time All-State player at Tift County High School and was inducted into the Tift County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018 .

The 6-foot, 226-pound Tifton native has appeared in 72 career Canadian Football League games with 69 starts at middle linebacker during four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2016-18) and Eskimos (2019).

Dean is a three-time divisional CFL all-star. Before his arrival in the CFL, Dean played in 61 National Football League games with the Minnesota Vikings (2011-13) and Buffalo Bills (2014), registering 37 defensive tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In 2012, Dean was one of only 11 special teams players on the NFC’s Pro Bowl ballot.

Through his local foundation, Dean annually partners with the United Way of South Central Georgia to distribute turkeys and food to needy Tift County families during the holidays.

Source: Facebook

Tifton photographer Daniel Shippey takes photos of actor Bruce Willis, right, during filming of the actor's latest movie in Southwest Georgia.

BRUCE WILLIS FILMS AGAIN IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

Actor Bruce Willis is becoming somewhat of a regular in Southwest Georgia; he just completed another film in the area. Willis has been here three times in the past 18 months.

During the past week or so, he has been filming his latest movie, “Reactor,” in Fitzgerald and Cordele. Willis plays a leader of a gang of mercenaries who holds a nuclear power plant hostage.

The "Die Hard actor was also in Fitzgerald filming in November. In fall 2019, Willis filmed the science-fiction movie "Breach, in Fitzgerald and was spotted in Tifton dining at a local restaurant.

His local movies are filmed in part with TMG Studio One based in Fitzgerald. Tifton photographer Daniel Shippey has been called upon to take action shots and photographs of the cast and crew for promotional purposes.

"Very thankful for the opportunity to photograph Bruce Willis for the third time," Shippey wrote on social media. "Being a part of the crew for another movie has been a blessing."

U.S. HOUSE SETS 'DANGEROUS PRECEDENT,' SAYS REP. SCOTT

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives set a "dangerous precedent" last week when it removed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, from her committee assignments, says Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton.

Greene has been criticized for making controversial remarks and espousing conspiracy theories.

Scott said that Greene's comments "do not represent the values of the Republican Conference, nor of my home state of Georgia," but "if Democrats would have put a resolution on the floor to condemn her remarks, I and many Republicans in Congress would have supported it. But that’s not what this is about.

"Removing her from her committees is an attempt for Democrats to seize further control in the House. In the past, the majority party has never attempted to remove a member of the minority party from their committees, and it is a dangerous precedent that will have far-reaching implications for years to come,” Scott said.

The Tifton congressman previously lambasted House Democrats for impeaching President Trump, saying, "Speaker Pelosi and liberal Democrats seek to further divide our nation rather than work towards unity – unity that many on both sides of the aisle have stated is critical for our country at this time."

TIFTAREA ACADEMY CLUB THANKS SOUTHWELL CLINIC EMPLOYEES

Tiftarea Academy's Key & Excel Club made a special delivery of goody bags to the employees at Southwell's Medical Clinic recently to show support for their efforts combatting COVID-19.

Pictured are, from left, Michelle Hilton (Southwell), Sarabeth Royal, Marlee Taylor, Allison Carter (Key/Excel members) and Lyndsae Griffin (Southwell).

RED CROSS SETS TIFTON BLOOD DRIVES

The American Red Cross has two blood drives scheduled in Tifton this month.

Blood donations are set for noon-6 p.m. Feb. 16, at the Tifton First United Methodist Church, and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 17 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Each Red Cross blood drive follows safety and infection control standards, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment before arriving at the drive-thru and are required to wear a face mask. Appointments may be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have antibodies and may help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions.

WOMAN'S CLUB 'SOCKS IT TO 'EM'

Members of the GFWC (General Federation of Women's Clubs) Tifton Woman’s Club delivered 89 pairs of socks at a local fire department on Tuesday in support of the “Sock it to 'Em With Love” project created by Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes.

Hughes started the sock project eight years ago to ensure every child has socks to wear to school.

Pictured from left are Woman's Club members Nancy Nehring, Shirene Daniell, President Genie McCook, Debbie Thompson, and Karen Hendrix.

Socks will be distributed from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Copeland Park on Southern Avenue.

Socks are still being collected at the Tift County Commissioners Office in the Charles Kent Administration Building on Tift Avenue, and at all Tift County Fire/Rescue Departments.

ABAC SETS RECORD FOR STUDENTS IN BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS

More students are seeking bachelor’s degrees than ever before at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, officials say.

Of the 3,990 students enrolled at ABAC during the fall semester, 2,353 are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, says Dr. Amy Willis, assistant vice president for academic affairs. That tops the mark of 2,194 students who enrolled in four-year degree programs the previous academic year.

“Bachelor’s degree programs will be the lifeblood and the future of this college,” President David Bridges predicted when he came to ABAC in 2006. A total of 40 students enrolled in junior and senior level classes for the first time on Jan. 7, 2008.

ABAC offered classes leading to associate degrees for 75 years before it became a state college of the University System of Georgia in 2006. ABAC now offers 12 bachelor’s degrees and continues to offer associate degrees.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON-CUTTING

Friendly City Pharmacy

1202 U.S. Highway 41 N.

Feb. 8

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

This kitty is seeking a forever home and is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt or see other pets available, visit the Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

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

MILL AVENUE CHANGED TO PRINCE AVENUE

– FEB. 9, 1923

Tifton city commissioners, at their regular meeting on Feb. 9, 1923, changed the name of Mill Avenue to Prince Avenue. Commissioners also agreed to continue the city's $25 per month donation to the Tifton Twentieth Century Library Club throughout the year of 1923 for operation of the Tifton Library.